Southern Regions and Middle Beltans challenge Buhari on Restructuring

In the New Year message delivered by President, he said: “I have kept a close watch on the on-going debate about “Restructuring”. No human law or edifice is perfect. Whatever structure we develop must periodically be perfected according to changing circumstances and the country’s socio-economic developments. We Nigerians can be very impatient and want to improve our conditions faster than may be possible considering our resources and capabilities. When all the aggregates of nationwide opinions are considered, my firm view is that our problems are more to do with process than structure”.

We need to remind ourselves that most of the laws as contained in the constitution are based on white man’s policies and principles. We are now the ones wearing the shoes giving to us by the Whites and should not by whatever reason pretends that it does not hurt. Our constitution should be revisited to accommodate the needs of Nigerians.  We cannot deny the fact that we have seen where our problems lie, so let us focus on formulating principles and policies that will address the problems of Nigeria, and it can only be done through restructuring. Anything short of this will not help Nigerians.

Nigeria is bigger than every single citizen and therefore, the interests of Nigeria should be prioritized above anybody’s interest. This is not the time to play ego games or the game of ‘who says what happens’. This is the time to think about growth and development of Nigeria which is also the growth and development of Nigeria citizens. Foundations of Nigeria must be revisited before any positive change can take place. Restructuring is the answer.

Meanwhile, the southern region and the middle belt have reacted to buhari’s statement on restructuring. This Day of January 2, 2018 has the full report.

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum as well as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. John Nwodo, have disagreed with President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on the restructuring of the country, saying that the only way to go is for the federal government to restructure the federation and devolve powers to the states.

The president had in his New Year broadcast Monday said that the problem with Nigeria was not with its structure but its processes.

Buhari argued that the country had tried many systems of governance in the past and had jettisoned them because they failed. He explained that if things were done properly, the country would perform better.

However, disagreeing with the president’s stance on the thorny issue, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum insisted that restructuring was the only way to go to save Nigeria from imminent collapse.

In a statement signed by Yinka Odumakin for the South-west, Senator Bassey Henshaw for the South-south, Prof. C. Ogbu for the South-east and Mr. Isuwa Dogo for the Middle Belt, the forum insisted that powers must be devolved to the states.

The group said: “We cannot become a productive country under a 1999 Constitution which keeps 68 items on the Exclusive List including mineral resources which abound all over the country but which the states whose governors are constitutionally vested with authority over land cannot touch.

“We need to give authority to the federating units over their resources for self-sustenance and paying all necessary dues to the federation to sustain common services.

“We must devolve more powers and authorities to them to have effective state administrations.

“The federal police has shown it lacks the capacity to deal with crimes in a multi-ethnic society like ours, the imperative of state police has never been more urgent than now.

“Restructuring means nothing else than the above.

“It is a call for the return to a Nigeria that worked under federalism as against the failing state we are becoming under a unitary structure.

 “Nigerians must organize, mobilize and work towards building an inclusive and productive country in 2018 using all democratic and peaceful means.

“It is a year to battle for the soul of the country by the forces of federalism and upholders of a suffocating unitary system. “May victory be on the side of those who seek the progress of Nigeria.”

Continuing, the forum said the president could not resolve Nigeria’s problems by either running away from it or ascribing it to the wrong source.

“Unfortunately that is what we are doing as a country by playing down our crisis of ‘structure’ while on a wild goose chase about ‘processes.

“This is akin to a man going to Benin City while driving towards Benin Republic. The faster he runs the farther he is away from his destination.

“The truth of the matter is that our nationhood crisis has peaked and there are no further opportunities to guarantee opportunities for our citizens no matter the good intentions of leaders or even unrealistic promises packaged to offer them false hope.

“In 1983, when the Shehu Shagari administration was overthrown, its budget for a country of 80 million people was $25 billion. Thirty-five years after, the Buhari government has just proposed a $23 billion budget for about 180 million people!

“The above clearly shows that there is no way out of our systemic crisis except we resume productivity which was our hallmark in the years that we practiced federalism as an entity.

“We have exhausted all possibilities of a rentier and sharing economy and all that is left is unemployment, hunger, gnashing of teeth and conflicts among nationalities over shrinking opportunities,” the forum added.

It welcomed Nigerians into the New Year after a “grueling and harrowing 2017 in which our people went through untold hardship as the crisis of our dysfunctional structure took its worst toll”.

According to the forum, it was a hellish time when “suicide” became the “man of the year” as many citizens found life unworthy of living and jumping into rivers or hanging from ceilings became the order of the day.

It noted that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a loss of four million jobs in 2017 with millions of those employed working without pay for several months.

The forum also stated that many citizens who fled abroad because there was no hope for them at home were subjected to all manner of degrading and inhuman treatment as the horror tales from Libya where Nigerians were auctioned for $400, turned to sex slaves, and subjected to extreme violence, continue to abound.

“On the home front, life is becoming short, nasty and brutish as death and violence are now common place in the hands of AK 47-wielding herdsmen, armed robbers, kidnappers and enraged spouses.

“It is a time when we should be having national introspection to know where the rain began to beat us, how to dry our clothes, and ensure that we are no longer exposed to rainfall.

“Unfortunately, we are not addressing the cause of our affliction and only trying to rationalize our needless failure, passing the buck and running from the solutions to our problem.

“We are in a period where empty platitudes are being offered our people instead of concrete assurances on reasoned prescriptions,” the forum said.

Nwodo, who also spoke with THISDAY on the phone, said that he was yet to read the president’s speech but with Nigerian’s main source of income from crude oil threatened, government must unleash Nigeria’s potential by devolving powers to the states.

He warned that the world’s demand for oil was receding and that it might even further decline substantially in the next seven years, with implications as the main stay of the nation’s economy.

“Unless we begin to develop alternative sources of revenue our country will cease to exist. The only way to avoid this is to release our potential by devolution of powers.

“Until the government is nearer to the people and the people take their destiny into their hands the country cannot progress.

“We never agreed to be a country where the federal government will be a united policeman for the whole country. We are not running a federation, we are running a unitary government and we cannot escape this,” Nwodo said.

Meanwhile, a former governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, in his reaction to the president’s stance on restructuring, called for the country’s economic restructuring to ensure the delivery of good governance.

Musa made the call in a phone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Monday.

The former Kaduna governor said the problem with Nigeria has always been leadership rather than its structures, explaining that the regional system failed because leaders were pursuing a secessionist agenda.

Although he aligned with the president’s position that the process of governance needs to be improved upon, he faulted the economic system being operated currently.

Musa said the economy was in the hands of the private sector, hence the impoverishment of the masses, and suggested the restructuring of the economy to ensure that the government plays a greater role.

“The economy should be restructured. What we are operating now in which the economy is in private hands cannot help us.

“We should restructure the economy so that government can play a greater role for sustainable development,” he said.

The former governor agreed that saboteurs were behind the current fuel crisis and urged the government to address the situation.

He also called on Buhari to form a government of national unity in the New Year for all-inclusiveness, adding that Nigeria would be better off in 2018 if people subordinated personal interests to the public interest.

In his reaction, the publicity secretary of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State, Shakirudeen Olofin, commended the president for restating the government’s commitment to the fight against corruption.

He, however, advised that the president should ensure that all pending corruption cases are speedily resolved to serve as a deterrent to others.

Olofin urged Buhari to be decisive in dealing with the fuel crisis, especially persons suspected to be responsible for the situation.

Culled from This Day

Back on the issue of restructuring, some politicians and activists have also disagreed with President Muhammadu Buhari on the same issue he raised in his New Year broadcast against restructuring. Never the less, Chairman, House of Representatives committee on information, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas says the National Assembly is committed to ensuring that the voice of Nigerians prevails in the current calls for restructuring. If President Buhari cannot respect and work towards meeting the needs of Nigerians, then he is not worthy to be called a president.

Brought to you by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

Powered by Samweld Nditah

Mass Killings in Rivers, Kaduna and Kwara on New Year Day

Many people have celebrated and are still celebrating the gift of another year. It has become a custom for many people especially Christians to meet in their various churches to pray and welcome the New Year in the presence of God. While many people have successfully welcomed the New Year and prepared themselves to attain greater heights, some others who are also expectant of a prosperous year have lost their lives during the early hours of January 1, 2018. Many were attacked on their way home after midnight New Year prayers in their churches while others were attacked in their various worship centres.

At least, 14 persons or more were murdered in Rivers state, a traditional ruler and his pregnant wife were killed in Kaduna while in Kwara state, worshipers were attacked by youths who wanted to organize a New Year carnival.

While many people are celebrating after ushering in the New Year, a lot of people have been thrown into mourning as a result of their loved ones that lost their lives in the New Year mass killings. It is so alarming the rate with which people lose their lives like animals on daily basis in Nigeria. On my way home with friends after the New Year midnight prayers, I saw a police security vehicle on patrol and I was happy that at least the police men are doing their job to ensure that people had a smooth transition into the New Year. Little did I know that it is not so in some places.

Police people more than anybody knows the height of insecurity in this country and should know what to do at all times. Is it that we don’t have enough policemen in this country to send to patrol around the cities, towns and villages in this country or what? Is it that they were deployed but do not know their job or what? Do they lack the equipment to do their job? Why are they just mobilizing their men to investigate and restore peace only when the deed has been done? How many times will things like these happen for the security personnel to sit up and know what to do in case of another? Are they always learning to do their job?

On this note, read below the report of the attacks as it happened at Rivers, Kaduna and Kwara state.

According to Punch of January 2, 2018, Some gunmen between 12.10am and 1am embarked on a shooting spree in Omoku, in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, killing 14 persons.

It was gathered that the victims had earlier gone to their various churches to pray into the New Year and were coming back when they were ambushed.

Other people also reportedly sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to hospitals by other residents of the community.

Some of those killed during the mayhem were said to be four members of a family, including a man and his wife.

The incident, according to a resident of the area who identified himself simply as Ukandu, occured at two places in the area – Omoku and Aligwu.

Ukandu said the fireworks that usually greeted the New Year made it almost impossible for residents to notice that hoodlums were shooting residents.

He said, “We were shocked to see some corpses in Aligwu and Omoku. About 14 persons were killed; and some of them were shot at close range.

There were, however, conflicting reports on the number of those who sustained gunshot injuries as some put the number at 24, while others said it was about 30.

A resident of the community, Desmond, told one of our correspondents that the Monday’s attack could be a reprisal from a cult.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Zaki, had ordered a manhunt for the perpetrators of the crime.

The police spokesman added that he could not immediately speak on the number of casualties of the incident because he had yet to be told.

“I can confirm the incident, but at the moment, we cannot confirm the number of casualties. The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and heads of police units have been mobilized there to restore peace.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Zaki, has ordered a manhunt for the hoodlums so that they can face the law.”

Omoku has been experiencing violent crimes since 2014, even as some cult members, who initially embraced the state government amnesty programme, went back to crime.

A former militant leader, popularly known as Don Nwanee, had been on the run after security operatives raided his shrine and discovered over 10 human skulls, weapons and charms.

Monarch, pregnant wife killed in attack

Gunmen, at the break of the New Year, invaded Arak village, in the Sango Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing the paramount ruler, Etum Numana ll,  Dr Gambo Makama, and his pregnant wife.

Sango, with headquarters at Gwantu, is hundreds of kilometres away from Kaduna metropolis, and located in the southern part of Kaduna.

The Monday attack was third in the series of attacks in the Southern Kaduna within a week.

The first was in Nindem in Godogodo chiefdom, in the Jema’ah LGA where a lone gunman attacked Christians observing the Christmas carol on December 23, 2017, killing four persons and injuring eight others.

In less than 24 hours, gunmen again attacked a nearby village on Christmas Eve, killing six persons and injuring several others.

In the latest attack, it was learnt that the monarch had travelled from his place in Gwantu to celebrate the New Year with his subjects in his village, Arak, but was murdered around 12.07am.

It was gathered that the gunmen, who reportedly opened fire on the entire family, including the monarch’s 45-year-old son, fled into the bush after the attack.

The traditional ruler and his pregnant wife died on the spot, while the son who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to a hospital.

The monarch’s house was said to have been razed by the attackers, who reportedly wore masks.

The spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mukhtar Aliyu, said, “We got a distress call about 4am that armed men stormed the monarch’s house and shot him and his wife.

“The hoodlums also set his palace ablaze before fleeing. We are intensifying efforts to ensure that we arrest them.”

The Chairman of Sango Development, Bala Audu, said the monarch was with his second wife when the gunmen invaded his home.

The chairman said, “The traditional ruler was seated with his second wife, who was pregnant. The gunmen, who covered their faces with masks, suddenly invaded the house and opened fire on them.”

The state Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on Monday condemned the attack and ordered security operatives to fish out the attackers. He said the attack was a calculated threat to peace in the area and the entire state.

The governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, said, “The late Etum Numana was a peacemaker. The government commiserates with the immediate family of the royal father and his wife, the people of Numana Chiefdom and the entire Sango Local Government Area.

“The government has directed security agencies to investigate this criminal incident and bring the assailants to justice.”

“We urge the people of Numana Chiefdom to remain calm and to support the security agencies as they investigate this latest threat to the hard-won peace in the area.”

Youths attack worshipers in Ilorin

Scores of people were on Monday injured after an attack on both Christian and Muslim worship centres allegedly by youths from the Taiwo Isale area of Ilorin, Kwara State.

While the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, said three people were injured, the Special Adviser on Security to the Kwara State Governor, Amusa Bello, said no fewer than 25 people were injured. There was, however, no report of any death.

Our correspondent gathered that the youths were prevented by the community leaders in the area from embarking on what they termed, ‘New Year carnival,’ around 2am for fear of the carnival turning into a security threat, owing to previous experiences.

Sources said the youths resorted to throwing bangers indiscriminately at all gatherings in the vicinity, including religious gatherings celebrating the New Year.

It was gathered that churches in the area and a Muslim group, called Quareeb, were attacked.

Property belonging to the churches and the United Secondary School in Taiwo Isale were also damaged.

A statue of Mary was burnt, while another was smashed at the St, Joseph Catholic Church, Taiwo Isale. Some windows and other property of the church, as well as a car were vandalized.

The hoodlums also destroyed property at the Methodist Church, Taiwo Isale.

Also, the building where some Muslims were holding a session was vandalized, while some of the faithful were injured.

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed condemned the attack. Ahmed in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahaab Oba, described the attack as criminal, satanic and alien to the state.

He commended people who protected some of the victims regardless of their religious inclination.

He also called on security agencies to investigate the incident and unravel the perpetrators of the “unholy act” with a view to bringing them to book.

Ahmed said, “Peace is sine qua non for the development of any society and the government will not tolerate any act capable of breaching the peace, unity and tranquility of the state.”

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, also condemned the attack.

Ahmad in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, AbdulRahman Sanni, called for calm.

According to him, the attack was not religious, but was carried out by hoodlums, who must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

He said peace was pivotal to the socio-economic transformation of the state and commended the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ado Lawan, for sending police officers and urged him to commence full-scale investigations into the incident.

He stated that Kwara State would not compromise on sustaining peaceful coexistence of the residents.

The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, said 10 suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack.

Okasanmi said, “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to assure the people of Kwara State of its capacity to deal decisively with anybody arrested for being a part of the breakdown of law and order that was witnessed in the Taiwo Isale area of Ilorin.

“At about 2am of today (Monday), some youths were prevented from carrying out what was termed New Year carnival and in protest to the denial, the youths resorted to throwing bangers indiscriminately at all gatherings in the vicinity, including religious gatherings celebrating the New Year. Three persons were injured in the resulting stampede.

“The Catholic, Methodist churches and other churches in the area, as well as a Muslim group, Quareeb, were attacked.

“It is important to note, that the attack has no religious undertone. It is simply an unlawful act by the disgruntled youths of the area, as both the Christian and Muslim gatherings in the area were attacked.

“Ten suspects have been arrested, while the injured had been taken to hospitals.  Investigation into the matter has commenced.”

Brought to you by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

Powered by Samweld Nditah

REV. FR. EJIKE MBAKA WARNS BUHARI TO QUIT 2019 PRESIDENTIAL RACE

The founder Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria and a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike during early morning hours of January 1, 2018 lashed at President Buhari’s administration saying that he should not contemplate to run for a second tenure as Nigerians have experienced the worst times in his administration.

He said that Buhari will be disgraced if he dares to run for a second tenure.

Recall that before the 2015 elections, he prophesied that President Good luck Ebele Jonathan will not win the election, saying that he has turned from being a good luck to a bad luck for Nigerians. Here he comes again with another bombshell saying that Buhari will be disgraced if he dares run for a second tenure. Nevertheless, this is a New Year message and it was delivered before legion of worshipers at his adoration ground in Emene, Enugu, Nigeria.

Read below the record of the message as published on Daily Post of January 1, 2018.

I had wanted to pray for you and go because I don’t want anybody to attack me; I don’t want the Bishop to invite me; I don’t want politicians to attack me anywhere. But God forced me, you must say it. Listen to me. 2017 became one of the most horrible years in this country and that is the message.

The Lord says, Nigerians, he says, captive Nigerians, you will be speedily rescued; Nigerians, things are very very difficult, hard and tough nowadays; the hardship is not from God, they are manmade; the wicked cabals and satanic agents in this country have wickedly kidnapped the goodwill and good intentions of Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari; his good intentions have been kidnapped; President Buhari must wake up and sit up immediately or…heaven demands him, heaven demands Buhari, our President to change all those who are holding and caging him in captivity; if he will not change them, he will be changed; Mr. President wake up; sit up; God said you are toying with the privilege given to you; there is no time; Nigerians are dying in your hand; people are not happy with your system. Change or you will be changed; God said that Buhari is in trouble; Buhari is hypnotized; Buhair is in a horrible bondage; Buhari’s mantra has been canibalized. Unless President Buhari quickly and strategically, positions the right people and changes the former ones he inaugurated by him, the wind of change that he himself inaugurated will blow him away shamefully. The wind will be too strong that Mr. President and the cabal will be blown out of office shamefully. The wind will be irresistible for it will come like a hurricane. Buhari can handle this problem but number one, his office, if he is not careful, another will take.

Number 2, if he is doesn’t want to move Nigeria forward, God says He himself will plan a strategy of moving Nigeria forward. His pattern of embattling corruption is not just archaic, barbaric but is witch-hunting, terribly selective. Mr. Buhari as the President, why should you be picking and choosing those that you and your so-called EFCC man would want to arrest, so that your party becomes a hideout for criminals, so that any person who does not want to be arrested will become an APC person? Is that corruption on itself?

Change or you will be changed, after all you are the one who introduced change as your mantra. Nigerian economy is in shambles and Nigerians are in sorrow. Nigeria is not just passing through an economic depression but also it is a time of economic repression and compression. Very soon, Nigerians will know that the country is in terrible mess. The cabals have messed up the President and confused him. So, Mr. President, you are to be blamed, not your cabals. You have your brooms, but the cabals have their bags; either you sweep them away or they throw you into the bag. Heaven cried that your methodology is not just archaic but too sluggish., very slow. The situation in Nigeria needs speed but you are too dull.

Your change mantra is questionable; you are to change your change or you will be disgraced out of office. Your agriculture scheme has an anti-agenda that is cancerous. Why should be talking about agriculture and you leave the Fulani herdsmen? Farmers don’t have hope; don’t you hear what is happening in the country? Can’t you use your presidential mandate and help the less privileged? The spirit of God says that Mr. President is just president in the mouth; he is not the real president per say; he is a pseudo president, people are running the government the way they like and giving him to articles to sign; Mr. President doesn’t know what is happening in his government, what a pity. But no matter what is happening, God assured us that Nigerians and Nigeria are not just in His hands but in his heart and his eyes.

Mr president tried his best to war against insurgency, he tried to stop excessive spending, living in opulence, he is an expert in stopping opulent life, swindling of government property but the way he is going after it, he is too slow. God loves him and gave him the mandate, he wanted to fight corruption but corruption is fighting him back, so that anyone who wants to perform corruption in a very smart way, will run into APC. Mr President wake up, save destiny and save your integrity. God said that the sitting President is not the one Nigerians trusted, wake up. There are areas the President started doing well before he became sick; anybody can become sick, don’t rejoice because Mr. President is sick; we prayed and God granted him healing but you know that age is not on his side. Even if you are healthy but you are not strong, there will be problem.

So, Mr. President, as I was waiting on the Lord, I’m asked to advise you, don’t come out for 2nd tenure, after this, retire peacefully. Mr. President you are the cause of your own problem. God gave you an adviser, a wonderful mentor, a visionist, a matriarch, in the person of your wife, Aisha, but you don’t want to listen to her, that woman is heartbroken; because she understood that you are not yourself. Come back to yourself or you will cry by the time you will be sent out of office. So, those who are encouraging you to come out and run again, they want to disgrace you shamefully and publicly.

We keep on praying for your quick recovery but you know when the President is sick and age is not on his side, the message came, that is why the government schools are sick, the government hospitals are sick, the government roads are sick; power, electricity, sick, the economy is sick; unemployment becomes the order of the day, our graduates, our youths are living in abject poverty and hopelessness, the countrymen are sick, hunger is ravaging ravaging the people of God; investors have no more confidence in Nigeria. The agro-vision has become a mere illusion; even to take loan for farm has become the favour of the rich, so that as you keep on fighting corruption, many who are around you are incubating and manuring corruption. Business men are confused; because they don’t know to do as a result of the unstable economy.

Some of us may begin to ask, but why did God choose Buhari at all? God has His reasons; when he chose Saul, He had His reasons, but at a time he rejected Saul, that is God for you. Jesus chose Judas, in His divinity he chose Judas as an Apostle, the same Judas betrayed Him and Judas office another took; you can see the message is not sweet. The same God chose Jonathan, Goodluck, during the oil boom, had Jonathan invested well, then Nigerians won’t be suffering what we are suffering now; even in his hometown Otuoke, go to Niger Delta, there was no impact of governance, nothing. That’s why God pushed him out. Mr. President, if you don’t want to be pushed out, you have to wake up. So, God who chose Buhari, it is for a purpose. At a particular time in the life of Jonah, the whale swallowed him; at time Jonah could not prophesy, he could not do his prophetic duty again; that is how Buhari’s vision was swallowed.

And then what shall be done. God doesn’t make mistake. When God said Buhari will become the President, he became the president; when God decided to put Adam and Eve in paradise, he loved them, but at a time, the same God chased them out. So, the cabal thing, Mr. President Nigerians are getting disappointed in you; I was thinking of the kind of prayer we are going to share, because this year is a year of primary for all the parties. Some will start this year, I am not talking about PDP or APC, I’m praying God to give us a man after His heart. Now, it is the turn of the Northerners, the Northerners will complete their eight years. If mr president, Buhari will not continue, if you go to Gombe, go to Gombe, it was a rural state, the present Governor there, Ibrahim Hassan, has turned that place into almost an ultra modern city and that man was a former accountant general of the country. If you go to Gombe, you won’t know Gombe again; why can’t such a person come out; I don’t know the party he is in; and he is still a young man; in his early 50s, whether in PDP or APC I don’t know but whoever is doing that kind of magic in Gombe can handle Nigeria. A man who did Phd in accountancy, chartered in marketing, chartered in accountancy, a lot of things, a guru, we need somebody with such aura. And the Gombe people will tell you, he does not discriminate between Muslims and Christians, he is shielding even Christians there. Some pastors he gave them land, gave land for churches. I am not campaigning for him, but I am talking about somebody who can lead us forward, somebody with vision, with agenda, to change Nigeria is not difficult; wherever such a person is, let his party make him available for Nigerians to see it.

Before it will be the turn of the Igbos, it is not yet our turn, it will soon be our turn, when it is our turn, all of us will talk about it.

Therefore my people, we are talking about value chain economy; healthy economy; security in the country, employment, educational system that is working, then God disclosed a time when most of our run-away Nigerians started coming home. A time is coming when Nigerian is going to be a country that is worthy for investment, investors will come from the North, South and East, from foreign countries to invest in Nigeria; at that time, the people can see that the government of Nigeria and the pattern of governance is our problem. God has given Nigerians everything and He says, ‘Nigerians be patient with me.’ It will not take time I will begin to deal wickedly to those who are dealing wickedly to you people. Those who are punishing you, I will punish.

In Nigeria today, there is the hidden tribal religious and interdenominational wars that are looming. God is promising that He will send a credible President that will handle the unity of the country not by shooting anybody but by preventing the occurrence; even if the person is in a no party; whether the person is in PDP, PDP is not bad; it is the same people that go to APC: drop their umbrella and pick broom, but instead of using the broom to sweep away corruption, they are using it to sweep money into their pockets. So, those who love Mr. President don’t be angry; from the same pulpit where his dynasty was prophesied, the wind is blowing again. When God says, ‘His office let another take, then Nigeria will move forward, and corruption will be adequately embattled in the proper sense, then he economy will improve and Nigerians will rejoice.

Many families will be visited by the spirit of death, so the people of God are encouraged to soak themselves in the blood of Jesus Christ. The secret of victory over this spirit of death is continuous indwelling in the blood of the lamb.

Brought to you by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

Powered by Samweld Nditah

MY NEW YEAR DREAMS

Change is difficult but at the same time very easy. It is difficult because it requires sacrifice, discipline, determination and courage to achieve. This is about positive change which comes with amazing rewards. On the other hand, when we idle about, procrastinate or do things that are illegitimate, we experience negative change which of course comes with regrets, slavery, poverty, depression, etc.

A new year is here again. Other years may have been wasted years to so many people. Will you again watch this year to slip off with an empty diary? This year has a lot of blessings locked up in it and among those blessings are admissions to study higher, job creation abilities, job opportunities, business expansion, personal cars and houses, etc. These blessings are not for everybody. They are for those who are ready and prepared to plan ahead, strategize and implement. Spice your year with worthwhile activities and be more fulfilled. Make every hour in this year count. It starts now.

Some of these nuggets below can help you.

1.      Don’t just say what you will do, write them down in your diary and make sure you consult your diary. It doesn’t end there; make sure you write the time you want it accomplished and work towards it.

2.    Replace those old habits which might distract you with better ones. If you are the type that can watch T.V for a long time, try spending some of those times with people who will help you realize your dreams.

3.    Share your dreams with people. Some of the people you share your dreams with might be interested to partner with you or give you suggestions or solutions on how to realize your dreams. You might even be surprised that they will be the ones to remind you in a case that you forget. I bumped into my old friend sometime ago and gave her a copy of my book. I was shocked when she said, “Ah! Olive, you told us you will write a book and you have published one; it is remaining for you to build your school”. It was at that point that I remembered that owning a school is part of my dreams, as those dreams were shared when I was in secondary school and I have no knowledge of diary then.

4.    Define your intentions. What you intend to achieve or the end result of your dreams when achieved will give you the needed motivation to fire on.

5.     Forget about your past failures or reasons for such failures and try new things. It might just be your time to succeed.

6.    Distance yourself from people that distract or discourage you from achieving your dreams and be closer to those who inspire you to do great things.

7.     Don’t jack all trades only to master none. Prioritize your goals and take as much as you can at a time.

8.    Track your progress on daily basis and make sure a positive change or result is occurring.

9.    Crown your daily efforts with prayers. Make sure you communicate or keep in touch with your maker.

If you can start this January to make daily progress, you will laugh by December. No matter the situation or circumstance, you can add value to your existence. More grace!

We wish you a successful New Year!

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

Powered by Samweld Nditah

DESIGN YOUR YEAR FOR LAUGHTER

Sluggishness, lack of knowledge, procrastination, and the likes all contribute to delays in life which brings about worries, restlessness, regret, depression, crashed hopes and dreams, poverty, insults and the likes. When we set out early, we beat the traffic and avoid any disappointment that may be caused by hold ups on the way. Severally, I have attended programmes either early or late and I have been able to experience the difference. I tend to be more relaxed, organized and attentive when I attend a programe early compared to when I am late to any programme.  When we do those things we are supposed to do and on time, we will achieve results and appreciate life more. Life is all about planning and timely implementation. 

This is New Year. Please let the planning and implementation begin. Make every hour count so that by December, we shall all count our blessings because God himself is prepared to crown our year with goodness if we are able to do every good work with our brain and hands.

I want to inspire your year by the story bellow culled from: http://www.Spiritual-Short-Stories.comUR?

 I Can Sleep When The Wind Blows

Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. “Are you a good farm hand?” the farmer asked him. “Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.

The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters.

He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!” The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins.

The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

Brought to you by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

Powered by Samweld Nditah

Fuel Scarcity – Why Every Christmas

I can’t stop wondering why fuel scarcity occurs during Christmas season. I have gone through reports but instead of getting an answer, I got more confused because the stakeholders in the oil sector are busy playing blame games. Join me as we go through some reports; maybe it will make sense to someone.

During the time of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the issue of fuel scarcity was timely handled. The short period that Nigerians experienced fuel scarcity then, the Federal Government met with marketers through Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who spoke to journalists then in Abuja saying that the scarcity then was mainly due to pipeline vandalism and logistics and not payment of claims to marketers.

Haruna Momoh, Managing Director of the PPMC, also lamented the absence of effective pipeline network, due to pipeline vandalism across the country, saying it is a major challenge to fuel distribution across the country.

Speaking further to marketers, Okonjo-Iweala urged Nigerians to question the motive of some marketers who refused to open Letters of Credit to facilitate their payments, thereby making it difficult for the fuel scarcity situation to end.

Meanwhile, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho attributed the persistent scarcity of petrol to monopoly of the product by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) saying that the inability of NNPC to create a window for private importers to import petrol also contributed to the scarcity. Consequently, Mr. Adewole blamed the NNPC for the fuel crisis. He accused the state-owned oil corporation of assuming the role of the sole importer of petroleum products, despite the fact that DAPPMA members owned 80 per cent of the functional fuel storage facilities and retail outlets in the country. He went further to say that it is on record that any time NNPC assumes the role of sole importer, there are issues of distribution, because it is marketers who own 80 per cent of the functional receptive facilities and retail outlets in Nigeria.

Moreover, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho stated that shortage of foreign exchange and increase in crude prices have made it unprofitable to import petrol and sell same at N145 per litre, adding that private importers backed out because the increase in crude price has made the landing cost high.  Consequently, Iheanacho said that the marketers’ huge debts of over N800 billion had also contributed to the inability of marketers to import petrol, adding that most independent marketers had closed their companies due to inability to pay their workers. He however, traced the roots of the current fuel crisis to the inability of those contracted by the NNPC to supply petrol under the Direct Sales – Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement to deliver, due to pricing challenges and urged the Federal Government to settle all the outstanding debts owed marketers since 2015.

In the same vein, Mr. Adewole said that although NNPC usually rely on the facilities of the marketers, including DAPPMA, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN and independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to distribute imported products, that the corporation was unable to meet their demands.

He added that their members pay PPMC (Pipelines and Products Marketing Company)/NNPC in advance for petroleum products. But, fully paid up PMS orders that have neither been programmed nor loaded is in excess of 500,000 MT (about 800,000,000 litres) as at today, enough to meet the nation’s needs for 19 days at a daily estimated consumption of 35,000,000 litres.

The NNPC on the other hand said that it became the sole importer and supplier of petrol to the Nigerian market because DAPPMA members were unable to meet expectations despite the concession by government giving DAPPMA access to foreign exchange to import petrol at an official rate of N305 to the dollar.

On what the corporation was doing to resolve the crisis, the NNPC said that in addition to the increase in the supply of petrol since the beginning of this month (December 2017), it has also programmed to supply over 1.2 billion litres of the white products in January 2018 which will translate to about 40 million litres of PMS supply per day.

Moreover, major oil marketers expressed optimism over the current fuel scarcity, saying that it will end soon if the NNPC continues with its steady supply.  They stated that a new ferry have reportedly arrived the country and is ready to discharge fuel. 

Obafemi Olawore who is the executive director of MOMAN however confirmed on Wednesday, December 27, saying they have been receiving the product from NNPC and supplying it to consumers, adding that the fuel scarcity will gradually end as long as NNPC continues with the quantity they are supplying presently.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the federal government of covering up their corrupt practices and lying to the suffering Nigerians. In a statement by its publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Wednesday December 27, the party said that APC and the federal government have continued to lie to Nigerians, particularly on the real reasons behind the biting fuel scarcity as well as their exposed attempt to embezzle $1bn from the Excess Crude Account (ECA). The PDP charged the APC-led federal government to tell Nigerians the truth regarding its handling of fuel related funds, rather than dissipating its tenuous energy on name callings. The party also tasked the APC Government to speak out on reports of fraud in the oil regime whereupon 18 unregistered companies were used to lift and divert $1.1 trillion worth of crude oil in the last one year.

There is no smoke without fire. Who are we to blame among the blame game players? Who is the sincere one among them that is qualified to tell the truth? Whose report shall we accept? Why must it always be during Christmas period when movement is high? If the Federal Government cannot handle or control the excesses under its power, who will? When will there be an end to fuel scarcity in an oil producing country? Anybody who contested and is elected to any position of power should endeavor to do his or her work and prove his or her ability to handle his position, salary and allowances, and stop blaming anybody for his or her failure. Common Nigerians have suffered enough.

Brought to you by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

Powered by Samweld Nditah