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House of Reps Caucus, Timi Frank, Reject, Appointment Of Administrator For NDDC |The Source

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House Chamber

By Akinwale Kasali

The House of Representatives Minority Caucus members has rejected, and condemned, in its entirety the appointments of  Effiong Okon Akwa as the Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Over the weekend, President Muhammadu Buhari sacked Prof Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei as interim Managing Director of the NDDC and in his place approved the appointment of  Akwa, the Ag. Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Commission, as the Sole Administrator of the Agency.

Reacting to the development, the House of Representatives Caucus, described the appointment “as a disservice to the people of the Niger Delta region”.

The Lawmakers, in a statement by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, described the appointment of a sole administrator for the NDDC “as a further pathway to deprive the people of the Niger Delta of the much desired infrastructural development in their area”.

The caucus stressed that: “The recourse to a sole administrator instead of the Governing Board, is ill-advised as it will promote corruption, alienate the people, trigger disagreements and worsen the managerial sleaze that is crippling the commission and impeding the development of the area.

According to the Lawmakers, “The earlier resort to an Interim Management Committee and now,  a Sole Administrator, instead of a governing board, has heightened apprehension in the region. This is not healthy, particularly given the strategic place the Niger Delta occupies in national economy and development.

“Our caucus, therefore, urges President Buhari to douse the tension by immediately inaugurating a Governing Board for the NDDC as provided for in the establishment Act, so that the people of the Niger Delta region can start enjoying the much-needed infrastructural development through a properly constituted commission”.

In the same vein, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Monday, condemned in strong terms, the appointment of a Sole Administrator (SA) for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Frank who made this assertion in a statement in Abuja, insisted that the appointment of SA to manage the affairs of the NDDC is illegal as there is no such provision in the Act establishing the Commission.

He urged the Governors of States in the region and Elected Representatives of the people in both Chambers of the National Assembly, as well as the people of the area to outrightly reject the abnormality.

He warned that appointing SA which is against the Act establishing the Commission is “detrimental, unproductive and will end up in further destroying the already worsened situation in the NDDC.”

He vowed to challenge the appointment of the Sole Administrator in a court of competent jurisdiction should the Federal Government refuse to rescind its decision.

He noted that following the assumption of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, there has been an alarming rise in acts of illegalities in the Commission some of which were exposed by Committees of the National Assembly that recently probed embarrassing corrupt practices in the agency.

Frank, a consistent advocate for good governance, rule of law and equitable development of the Niger Delta region and her people, added that the already discovered cases of looting in the NDDC will get worse with the appointment of a Sole Administrator “who will ultimately be used as tool for personal gain by the cabal that facilitated his appointment and thus create ample room for more fraud, impunity and illegalities in the intervention agency.”

He urged the leaders of the Niger Delta region to reflect on the sacrifices of their leaders past, while he insisted that, “this was not what the likes of late Isaac Boro and Saro Wiwa paid the supreme price for.”

Frank said: “I want to use this medium to call upon the elders, governors and youths of the Niger Delta to reject this appointment of a stooge by Godswill Akpabio and his cohorts in the Presidency to further do their bidding in the continued impoverishment of our dear region and people.

“The reign of impunity, fraud and illegalities in the commission must not be allowed to continue.

“Why is Akpabio and his cohorts in the presidency refusing to appoint a substantive Board for the NDDC, but instead, they have moved from an Interim Management Committee to a Sole Administrator that is not known by the Act establishing the NDDC?

“If Akpabio is honest, transparent and has no skeleton or ulterior notions, why appoint a Sole Administrator from Akwa Ibom state that is against the extant Act which clearly states that the Managing Director of the NDDC must come from either Delta or Bayelsa states?”

He further warned that the appointment of a Sole Administrator was against the growth and development of the region as those behind the reprehensible development are only interested in the continued pillaging of the resources of the NDDC.

“No government since the return of democracy in Nigeria has ever stood against the development and prosperity of the people of the Niger Delta region like the regime of General Muhammadu Buhari and this, we must resist.

“The refusal to ensure that the right thing is done, will lead to protests by the good people of the Niger Delta because despite the claims of conducting a forensic audit of the NDDC, no report has been issued till date.

“This is condemnable, despicable and an outright deviation from the purpose of establishing the NDDC which is to ensure an even development of the Niger Delta region and her people. What we have today is the Niger Delta Sharing and Impoverishment Commission.”

“The NDDC is not a platform for the settlement of cronies but a commission that will help accelerate the development and growth of the Niger Delta region.

“Akpabio is only taking advantage of the people of the Niger Delta region through the Commission knowing too well that there is no President in charge of this country.

“Therefore, the needful must be done if we, genuinely, want the development and growth of the Niger Delta,” he declared.

How ‘Wonder Bank’ Scams Ekiti People |The Source

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Ekiti State

By Ayodele Oni

Wonder banks, where you invest, and within three months, you get triple of your investments have resurfaced in Ekiti state.

Investigations revealed that one of them, operating under the name, Atlas Initiative Scheme, may have scammed some market women funds running to millions of naira within two weeks of its existence.

Following lamentations from some of the victims, the State government has warned people in the state to be weary of those to transact business with.

Some of the victims, while narrating their experience, explained that they were registered by the company after which they paid N16,000 with a promise to come back and collect N100,000 within two weeks.

It was learnt that over 500 individuals and groups had registered with the outfit since it began operations in the state.

On expiration of two weeks, the investors returned with the hope of getting money on their investment but none of the officials could be traced.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Akin Omole, in a statement on Monday, cautioned people against transacting business with unverified and faceless individuals or organizations that are going about swindling innocent people under the guise of giving out juicy loans.

Omole described the viral video of some women in the State that were allegedly swindled by a company operating under the name ‘Atlas Initiative Scheme’ as unfortunate and sad, stressing the need to avoid such unknown entities to avoid being scammed.

He said that it is heartless for anybody to take advantage of the innocence of traders and artisans that are only trying to make ends meet.

The Commissioner assured victims that relevant security agencies are already on their trail, emphasizing the Fayemi administration’s zero tolerance for criminal activities.

FUOYE VC: Governing Council Members Relocate To Lagos |The Source

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Federal University, Oye Ekiti

By Ayodele Oni

The boardroom politics on the selection of a new Vice Chancellor for the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, (FUOYE), has shifted to Lagos as members of the Governing Council of the institution are meeting in the city from today, Monday.

The Council, had last week, announced the suspension of further action on the selection process till further notice following mounting pressures from within and outside the University.

It was gathered that the meeting, which commences in Lagos Monday is to allow members of the co5uncil to deliberate on over 2000 copies of petitions already received on some of the aspirants to the slot.

The Governing Council, headed by Dr Mohammed Yahuza, is already divided on the choice of a successor to Prof Kayode Soremekun, who is expected to bid the University  bye early next year.

A faction of the Council , is backing the incumbent deputy VC, Prof Abayomi Fashina, while the other one favours an external person for the plum job.

The Lagos meeting, which is in continuation of the botched one, held at the University  campus, in Oye,  Ekiti, last week, is expected to work on the guidelines of the National Universities Commission, (NUC) on the choice of a candidate.

Last week’s meeting in Oye Ekiti had a representative of the NUC in attendance among other regular members.

In a statement at the end of the meeting, a spokesman for the University , Adeyinka Ademuyiwa, stated that: “In a session presided over by Council Chairman,. Dr Mohammed Lawan Yahuza on Wednesday December 9, 2020, where all members were in attendance including officials of the National Universities Commission, NUC, members agreed to temporarily halt the on going process and thanked NUC officials for their support and encouragement.

“FUOYE Governing Council remains committed to credible, transparent, fair and just processes and is open to suggestions and corrections that will help deliver on this onerous assignment.”

Unions within the University  have equally taken a stand warning the outgoing VC and members of the Governing Council  against imposing any unpopular candidate on them.

Lagos Begins Demolition Of 300 Buildings |The Source

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By Fola James

The Lagos state government has revealed that it has earmarked 300 defective buildings for demolition before the end of the year.

Abiola Kosegbe, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, who spoke during an event themed ‘Prevention of building collapse: A collective responsibility’, said the state government marked the buildings for demolition after investigation that showed that they are depressed.

She, however, stated that recent statistics indicate that buildings collapse in the state has reduced tremendously.

According to her “Right now, we have a list of almost 300 suspected buildings. This is based on our own visual inspection.

“The initial thing we do is visual inspection. If we carry out visual inspection of your property and we believe that it appears distressed, that is the initial thing; it is not a scientific thing.

“Then, we will mark it and serve you the necessary services and tell you to go and conduct your non-destructive integrity test.

“Some will ignore and some will comply. When you comply and you have gone for your test, the next thing is to engage an engineer to do a complete structural assessment of your property and submit that report to us.

“If they have carried out their report and have been cleared, they can go on with their building.

“But on the other aspect, if it fails, we tell you immediately, this property needs to be removed. Then we take all the necessary steps to ensure that nobody files any legal matter against us.”

 

OPINION: The Umahi-Buhari Love Affair: Differentiating Fact from Fiction |The Source

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By Nwoba Chika Nwoba

When  I first came across the report of the love jamboree between the President of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari, and the estranged Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi on the media space, I was smeared in the dew of guffaw. Why was I laughing?

I was laughing because, the two men who claim to be entangled by common love are actually not known to be two lovebirds, neither do they have respect for friendship. Though one could vouch for President Buhari in this regard, having brought close to the corridors of power his few friends, such cannot be said of the “Defector-General” of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi.

I am writing as someone who knows the Governor and a very critical student of his public lifestyle. I can be said to have graduated from this voyage of characteristical scholarship of him.

Engr David Umahi doesn’t have a known friend in his entire life and doesn’t keep friendship for that matter. He goes contractual about everything that he does. Whenever he’s in dire need of your services or assistance, he calls you in, either pays you or would trick you into seeing him as a genuine friend and when the result is achieved, he discards you and later denies having known you for the very first time in his life. Evidences abound.

Dave Umahi
Dave Umahi

In the buildup to the 2015 general elections, then, Engr David Umahi was deputy governor. His principal, the then Gov. Martin Elechi denied him an endorsement to succeed him as governor after telling him that he learnt he’s not a good with power, pointing out that he’s mercantile with power and obviously amorphous to opposition. Something later happened. Umahi befriended all the political actors in Ebonyi State and beyond. It was a superficial show of affection, or what could at best be described as political love affair.

The then president Goodluck Jonathan was one of such friends he made at the time. Others were: Patience Jonathan, Arthur Eze, Cletus Ibeto, Anyim Pius Anyim, Sam Egwu, Franklin Ogbuewu, Lawrence Nwuruku, Obinna Ogba, Fred Udeogu, Sylvanus Ngiji Ngele, Fidelis Nwankwo, Sonni Ogbuorji, Emmanuel Agboti, Emmanuel Onwe, etc.

These men are the top-notch political actors in Ebonyi State whom he befriended around 2014-15 when he justled for the guber ticket of the PDP in the state.

After winning the election, the friendship took a mysterious flight. I want to ask you who are reading this article, ‘have you ever heard that former president Jonathan Goodluck or his wife was in Ebonyi State since 2015 for an official function? Have you ever read Umahi eulogize the former president or his wife who was particularly hellbent on installing Umahi against the wishes of Ebonyi PDP and the then outgoing governor? His friendship with them was momentary. Once he achieved the purpose for which the friendship was established, he turned them political foes.

He instead wangled his way into the APC as a PDP governor. He abruptly forsook all of the men that made him who he is today politically.

He forsook Cletus Ibeto and Arthur Eze. He forsook Anyim Pius Anyim and Sam Egwu. He forsook Obinna Ogba and Franklin Ogbuewu. He forsook Sylvanus Ngiji Ngele and Fidelis Nwankwo. He forsook Lawrence Nwuruku and Emmanuel Agboti, etc. That’s the kind of friendship Engr David Umahi keeps.

Now, he has come up with another theatrical parlance: “President Buhari loves me and I love him, too”. This was exactly how he started it in 2014. But the difference is clear now: acquisition of presidential ticket is not as easy as that of gubernatorial ticket. People are now wiser. Those he used and dumped, but who are still very much relevant in the political space have got a lot of tales to tell about Umahi’s love stage show.

Many people are not going to fall victim of this decrepit or outdated political smokescreen. He has disappointed many who are still apparent in the business of politics in Ebonyi and at the national level. Maybe you are yet to hear that Osborne Umahi, his 22 year old first son has refused continuing marriage rites with the last child of president Buhari. His father has superimposed the mandate on him – success of which he thinks could lubricate the viability of his aspiration to get the APC’s presidential nomination come 2023.

The young boy is averse to such a mercantile connubial escapade. He’s presently enmeshed in a domestic battle of interest with his superlatively desperate father. And this is one of the driving forces of the fictive love that the governor has said to have with president Buhari.

And in the event that Gov. Umahi later loses the APC presidential ticket come 2023, would he still be in love with his soulmate, president Muhammad Buhari owing to his history of contractual and theatrical political love affair with the political class?


Nwoba wrote in from Amangwuru Village, Ekpelu, Ikwo LGA of Ebonyi State.

SGF, Wife Isolate As Covid 19 Ravages Family |The Source

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Boss Mustapha

By Ayodele Oni

Secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha and wife have gone into self isolation, as some immediate family members tested positive to Covid 19.

This was contained in a statement he personally signed on Sunday in Abuja.

The SGF is the head of the federal government’s body saddled with the responsibility of managing the Covid-19 facts and figures, as well as distributing Palliatives.

The statement reads “I would like to inform the general public that some members of my household tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday evening.

“Although they are currently asymptomatic, they have been isolated, and are receiving care in one of the government treatment centres.

“My wife and I tested negative, but will remain in self-isolation and work from home according to protocols by the health authorities.

“I would like to remind all Nigerians that COVID-19 is real. As the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced last week, we are recording an increase in cases across several states.

“Please stay safe and protect yourself. Adhere to all public health and safety measures so that we do not lose the gains we have made in the fight against COVID-19.

“As a family, we covet your prayers.

“Please Take Responsibility for yourself and to protect our country!”

In Lagos, Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu, who isolated himself a couple of days ago because a close aide of his tested positive for COVID-19, has also been confirmed positive. It is not yet known if his wife, Ibijoke, a medical doctor, or any other member of his family or close aide tested positive.

Adichie Wins The Frederick Neuman Foundation African Freedom Prize 2020 Award |The Source

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

By Uche Mbah

Today, 14 December  2020, the Federick Neuman foundation will be awarding Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie the prestigious “African Freedom Prize” for 2020.

On her verified Facebook page, Adichie stated that the award will ”be presented digitally”. The event will be hosted by South African media personality Redi Tlhabi, with a special musical performance by Zolani Mahola.

“Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the long-lost, undogmatic voice of liberal feminism in the 21st century. She represents the success and self-image of a new generation of African women writers who are increasingly making their voices heard on the world literary stage. In her fight for freedom and self-determination for women, Adichie contributes to the consolidation of liberal values and goals – not only in Africa but all over the world ”, explains Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Paqué, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the jury’s decision.

In her award-winning works, Adichie relentlessly addresses the central social grievances and political challenges of our time. As one of the most important intellectual champions of women’s rights, she inspires people around the world in their pursuit of freedom. Works like Half of a Yellow Sun, Americana, Purple hibiscus, has won international acclaims and garnered literary prizes in recent times placing her among the prestigious circle of international authors.

“I very much appreciate the honor of The Africa Freedom Prize. It is always gratifying to be recognized, and particularly so in this case, to join the good company of others who share my commitment to our beloved continent.” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born in 1977 as the fifth of six children in the Nigerian university town of Nsukka. At the age of 19, she moved to the United States to study communications and political science, where she graduated from Princeton University and Yale University. Today Adichie is one of the great voices in world literature. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the National Book Critics Circle Award and the International Hermann Hesse Prize. Her lectures “We should all be feminists” and “The danger of a single story” is among the most-watched TED talks. Adichie’s work is translated into 37 languages. She lives in Lagos and the USA.

With the Africa Freedom Prize, Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has been honoring outstanding personalities who provide decisive impulses for the development of liberal civil society in African countries every year since 2016. Previous winners are Mmusi Maimane, Bobi Wine, Gareth Cliff, and Hakainde Hichilem.

General’s Kinsmen Allege Foul Play Over His Death |The Source

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By Tosin Olatokunbo

The death of General Olubunmi Irefin, of COVID 19 has steered controversy between his kinsmen in Ayetoro, Kwara state and the Nigerian Army.

The military authorities, on December 10, announced that General Irefin died from corona virus complications while attending the Chief of Army Staff, COAS annual conference in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

But the community where he hailed from said, they suspect a foul play in the death of their son, who had, two weeks before, attended the burial of his mother in the town.

According to a statement signed on behalf of the Ayetoro-Gbede Traditional Council and the Ayetoro Development Association on Saturday by Chief A.A. Aminu, his kinsmen said the death of their son must be interrogated to find out what actually killed him.

The statement read in part, “The sequence of events before the death of General Irefin and the main cause of his sudden death as propounded by the military authority, which they claimed was COVID-19 made the highest decision organs of Ayetoro-Gbede community namely, Ayetoro-Gbede Traditional Council and Ayetoro-Gbede Development Association to interrogate the main cause of his death as propounded by the military authority.

Tukur Burutai
Burutai: Chief of Army Staff

“We should not forget that General Olubunmi Irefin was in Ayetoro Gbede two weeks ago for the burial ceremony of his late mother.

“During the brief period of his stay at home, he was full of life, and, observers of the eneral will agree that every movement of his, was with military precision.

“Suddenly, a signal came to him from Abuja to attend Chief of Army Staff Conference which started last Monday (December 7, 2020).

“We did not hear of his sickness until the sad news came to us yesterday, 10th December, 2020 that the General died of Covid -19; and the sudden rush for his burial tomorrow (Sunday) 12th December, 2020.

“The mouthpiece of Ayetoro-Gbede community namely, Ayetoro-Gbede Traditional Council and Ayetoro-Gbede Development Association were not happy with the military establishment over the reason it claimed was responsible for the death of General Olubunmi Irefin for the following reasons:

“If the incubation period of COVID-19 is two weeks after which the victim will start to show symptoms like high fever, severe headache etc, is that the case for late General Olubunmi Irefin?

“Even if the symptoms mentioned above manifest in the general, does it also kill it victim instantly?

“At an advance age of 80 years, the former Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the late Abba Kyari, battled COVID-19 for weeks before he died.

“Common logic should tell us that General Irefin at younger age, even if it is true that he contracted COVID -19 should be able to battle it for a longer period of time.

“Except there is C0VID-20 which we doubt, COVID-19 does not kill its victims within three days.

“Why the sudden haste in the burial of the general by the military authority?

“Not until convincing answers are provided by the military authority for the above questions, the Ayetoro-Gbede community will not be happy with the military establishment over the reason they claimed was responsible for the death of our son, General Olu Irefin.”

Sagamu Agog, As Joshua Retains Boxing Heavyweight Title, Knocks Out Pulev |The Source

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Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev

By Akinwale Kasali

Sagamu, in Ogun State, Nigeria is agog. The town is celebrating its son, Anthony Olasheni Joshua, World Boxing Heavyweight Champion, who successfully defended his title by defeating his Bulgarian Challenger, Kubrat Pulev.

Joshua knocked out his mandatory challenger, Pulev, by a knockout in the ninth round to retain his three world heavyweight championship belts — after a year away in a title defence.

The Nigerian regained his WBO and IBF titles in a rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. last December in Saudi Arabia, after being stopped by the Mexican-American in an upset at Madison Square Garden that summer.

Joshua, born to Nigerian parents, beat the Bulgarian at the Wembley stadium Sunday morning, to hand Pulev his second defeat in his professional boxing career.

The first round saw both pugilists with lots of single punches, while none of them really managed to get anything special in, but Joshua had the snappier jab.

Unbelieveable scenes in the third round saw Pulev barely survive a huge AJ onslaught.

Although the Bulgarian came out for the third round more active than he was in the first two rounds, Joshua landed a one-two for the first meaningful shot of the round.

Then Joshua landed uppercut after uppercut to complement his overhand rights, and Pulev was left barely able to survive.

Joshua secured his 22nd knock-out against Pulev, bringing his bout records to 24-1, 22 KOs.

The 31-year-old uppercut was the story of this bout, because he worked the body and the head with jabs, but when the opportunity presented itself, Joshua destroyed Pulev — an amazingly tough man — with an uppercut to floor the Bulgarian in the ninth round.

Joshua landed a right hand flush on Pulev’s chin to win it, but the Bulgarian was barely in the room, having just got up from the first knockdown in the ninth round.

The world heavyweight champion put on a show at the Wembley Arena in London against the experienced Bulgarian to set up his clash with Tyson Fury in 2021.

“Less talk, more action,” Joshua said after the bout.

“I hope everyone was satisfied tonight. For me, I stuck to what I know best, boxing. You ask the crowd what they want to see!”

Joshua has also said he wants to fight his British compatriot Tyson Fury next.

“I’ve been chasing the belts since I started this. It’s not about the man; it’s about the belt and the legacy. If it’s Tyson Fury with the WBC belt, then let it be Tyson Fury!” he added.

President Buhari Says Elites Are Responsible For Nigeria’s Problem |The Source

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Muhammadu Buhari

By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari has made a shocking revelation, alleging that the Nigerian Elites are responsible for the numerous problems confronting the nation.

Buhari also added that the fast-growing young and dynamic population that feel alienated and disempowered are a threat to national stability.

The President made this statement at the graduation ceremony of 78 participants of the Senior Executive Course 42 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) on Saturday.

According to the President, his declaration was based on the premise that his administration set its sights on lifting 100 million people out of poverty over the next decade.

Buhari said the country has come a long way from the era in which the government was the principal actor in the economy, adding that the administration has come to recognise that prosperity and growth lie in unleashing the Nigerian genius for enterprise and industry that is domiciled in its  private sector.

He said: “The role of the government is now primarily that of facilitators. The old dichotomies between the state and the market no longer apply. We recognised that the path to the future will be paved by consolidating the independence of these sectors.”

President Buhari, who was represented by Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State, said that was why the Government was building a new ethic of collaboration in which the public sector sees its role as enabling the private sector to perform optimally.

He said: “This is why we are building a new ethic of collaboration in which the public sector sees its role as enabling the private sector to perform optimally.

“Job creation and youth empowerment can be undertaken at scale by the private sector, but it requires government officials to encourage enterprise by promoting the ease of doing business. “For many Nigerian entrepreneurs, the government is perceived more as a hindrance than a help whether in terms of taxation, infrastructural deficits and the general lack of an enabling environment.”

According to him, while the administration will continue to pursue the course of digitization of governance processes, it is important to point out that neither laws nor technology can totally eliminate the role of discretion in bureaucracies.

He said as people of authority, a measure of discretion is inherent in official capacities.

“This too is part of your unique privilege. Your high station affords you the license to make choices based on your preferences and perceptions as well as to register dissent with directives that conflict with your values through official channels.

“This institution and this course in particular were established to enrich the exercise of official discretion with sound judgment and strategic discernment.

“The bureaucracies to which you belong will either rise or fall on how ably you wield your discretionary powers.”