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Robert Clarke Says Nigeria Could Collapse In Six Months; There’s Civil War In Eastern Nigeria |The Source

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Chief Robert Clarke

By Charles Igbo

Chief Robert Clarke, SAN, is 83 years old. But in the full view of his television audience, he passed a damning verdict on the life span of Nigeria.

Looking grave and, at that age, swearing by his father’s grave, Clarke says it is hard for him to guarantee a-six month life span to Nigeria. Meaning there will be no country called Nigeria in six months if care is not taken.

He also said there is civil war in the Eastern Region. In the past few weeks, the South-east has become the epicentre of violence, destruction and inexplicable killings.

Clarke spoke while answering a question during a Channels Television  Political programme, Politics Today, Sunday evening, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.

He spoke against the threat on Sunday, by the Directorate of State Security, DSS,  warning those it said were doing everything to destabilise the country.

The DSS had said that while it appreciates freedom of speech, it would no longer stand by and watch highly placed people, including some religious leaders, incite Nigerians against the Government, and pushing for  a change of Govrnment.

In the past few days, many highly placed Nigerians, and groups, had expressed concern over the state of the Nation. They include serving and former members of the National Assembly, Elder Statesmen and Religious Leaders, including those earlier thought  to be close to the Presidency.

Asked what he thought about the DSS warning, an apparently pained Clarke gave his damning verdict.

He said: “The problem with Nigeria is that people who should know don’t know and don’t want to know, and do not know.

“The Security section is talking and talking. What are they doing? The situation in this country is so bad that I, Robert Clarke, I cannot guarantee Nigeria staying another six months.

“Because the problem is so overwhelming, and they were created by this same politicians.

“Since the 1999 Constitution came to be and this crop of Politicians, young boys then, who are swimming in Abacha’s loot and trying to form as many political for him, got into money and came into politics, Nigeria has never been the same.

“Nigeria is worse than it used to be in 1982. When  Shagari was the President Nigeria was better than what it is today. And, what is the cause? It is bad leadership.

“Look at what is happening  in the Eastern Region. It is no longer banditry. It is Civil War.

“Many things are happening, and if care is not taken, and I swear by my father’s grave, Nigeria will collapse in six months time.”

Stop Politicizing Insecurity, APC warns PDP |The Source

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Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has sent warnings to the main Opposition Party in Nigeria, the Peoples democratic party, PDP,  to stop politicizing the issue of security in Nigeria.

Sadly, it does seem the PDP is paying back the APC in its own coin,  Nigerians say. When the APC was in opposition, it so politicised the insecurity in Nigeria that the PDP Government was completely written off by the world. Now Nigerians admit, insecurity is worse than it was then.

The PDP had lent its voice to the ongoing general disillusionment over the security situation in the country, expressing concerns over the issue.

But in a statement signed by the National Secretary of the APC National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention planning Committee, CECPC, John Akpanudoedehe, the ruling party said well meaning Nigerians should avoid politicizing the issue.

“Let no one be in doubt as to the urgency and capacity of the President Muhammadu Buhari government to end the recent security incidents”, the communique said.

“We urge stakeholders and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians to avoid politicizing or being simplistic about the security situation,” the statement said. “At a time like this, our duty to our nation as good citizens should outweigh political party coloration.

“As those who receive constant security briefings, PDP Governors should know that divisive rhetoric can only embolden the criminals who are carrying out these cowardly acts. This is not the time to play to the gallery, but sit down to find real and lasting solutions. The latter is what the President Buhari administration is doing.

“While high-level investigations are ongoing to fish out sponsors and perpetrators of the security incidents, President Buhari has already given marching orders to our security services to check the security incidents. We pray the investigations should not reveal conspiracies by the opposition to weaken the government in furtherance of their desperate 2023 aspirations.

“We are however confident that our PDP governors and indeed all stakeholders will cooperate and support ongoing efforts to quickly and permanently end the security incidents.”

Security meetings are being held by the Federal government to find ways of tackling the situation, though opposition governors are accusing the security agencies of being complicit in the security crisis.

For example, a former Presidential aspirant, Martin Onovo, in a viral video, has accused the APC Government of being the sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria, a position recently echoed by the governor of Benue State, Samuel Orthom.

In same manner, respected Cleric, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, expressed deep shock at what he called Buhari’s indifference to the insecurity  in the land saying if the President wanted to stop it, he would have. He has all the powers to do so, Ighodalo said, but added: sadly Buhari is complacent.

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo Says He Is Shocked By Buhari’s Indifference |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Itua Ighodalo

By Akinwale Kasali

Before now, most people knew Pastor Ituah Ighodalo as a calm and collected Cleric. Polished, decent, the Senior Pastor of the Trinity Church, a Church he founded after the Redeemed Christian Church of God, showed him the other side of life, is also a Corporate man. He is a high flying accountant, and runs an Accounting Firm.

Quiet looking, the Pastor is even regarded by many as an establishment man. But no longer.

Ighodalo has shown in the last couple of months that beneath that calm and quiet mien is a raging volcano. He is a very angry man, and frustrated by what Nigeria has descended to, especially, security wise.

The first time he spoke up, he wondered how Nigeria got where it is. He offered advice here and there, and bemoaned the state of the Nation.

Last week, he was one of the signatories, on behalf of the New Fabian Society of Concerned Professionals of Nigeria, who, in a strongly worded article titled “Time To Raise The White Flag”, advised President Muhammadu Buhari, to forget Nigeria’s ego, and seek for help over the worsening insecurity in the country.

But Ighodalo’s latest intervention which began to make  the rounds on Sunday,  was a direct indictment of Buhari over the state of affairs. It was a cry for help for Nigeria.

He held the President responsible for the insecurity in the country, and said he was shocked at Buhari’s indifference , a retired Army General, to the worsening insecurity.

If Buhari wants to stop the horrifying situation, the Pastor said, he would. But he wondered why the President is, Ighodalo observed, exhibiting an I- don’t-care-attitude while innocent Nigerians are kidnapped, raped and slaughtered. He accused the President of conplacency and unseriousness, insisting that those in authority were making money out of the pains and blood of innocent Nigerians.

Following is an angry Pastor Ituah Ighodalo in his own words.

“Let me say it bold, loud and clear. The problem of insecurity lies on the table of Muhammadu Buhari.

“If Buhari is ready today to stop all this insecurity, he has the power, he has the ability, and he knows what to do. You can read my lips, he knows what to do.

“The reason why he is not doing it, I don’t really understand. The reason why he is not showing more energy, effort, interest and direction on this, I really don’t understand.

“For a person who was a General in the Nigeria Army, he looks a little bit complacent, lackadaisical concerning this issue of insecurity.

“The insecurity problem started with the tone at the top. The last four years we had a bunch of security leaders who were disunited, quarrelling among themselves. They couldn’t agree on anything. They couldn’t stand behind one common purpose. They were just doing what they liked and Buhari, tha gentleman, was just looking at them.

“Everyone told him that these people are not united, these  people are not working together, these people have different ideas and agendas, and he did nothing about it.

“That can’t  continue to work. Now, we have a new set of security leaders, let us hope that these ones can come together and face this common problem.

“You know, how can you capture 256 girls and we don’t know where they are. It is not possible in this day and age with technology and everything. Do you know the amount of efforts it takes to move 250 People across a certain place, and nobody saw them and they disappeared.

“And we heard that this girl Leah Sharibu,  is captured and having babies every year. And you can’t find her. What nonsense is that? What does that mean? And you are telling us that she had a baby. Who made that announcement that she had baby?

“Why don’t you bring the person and ask questions about who she saw? And we can’t find her?

“We cross our hands and we are looking. If Leah Sharibu is my daughter, I will go and look for her, because you see we are not really serious about these things.

People come into the village and rape 20 people. They carry the women, and the children and we cannot find them. Who does that in this time and age, who does that?

“They pick up a man and take him out to the forest and cut off his head, eight of them. They  are videoing, they cut of the head and video it, showing it to us and nobody did anything.

“I mean, how can that happen. All these herdsmen and kidnappers in the forest,  the Police know them and know  where to find them.

“But nobody is saying anything. Nobody is engaging them, Nobody is eyeing them. It is a business. And people are making money from this.

“People are selling arms and making money from security votes. People are making money from these things, people are making money from the pain and death of innocent ones, and that’s why this problem is not being solved.

“Somehow we are all looking away.”

The President’s Party, APC, this other day, said the President is capable of stopping the deteriorating insecurity in the country. Why he has not done that is a question nobody has answered.

Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Advocates Media Freedom And Responsible Journalism |The Source

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The Source
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The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) has called on governments in Africa to  ensure press freedom in their countries even as it calls on media practitioners to use information as a tool for nation-building. The Foundation stated that the continent will be better off when information is used for public good and not as weapons of destruction and disintegration.

A statement by the communications officer of the Foundation ,Wealth Dickson Ominabo to commemorate the 2021 World Press Freedom Day,  quoted Executive Director of the Foundation, Ms Ann Iyonu  as saying that this year’s theme: ‘Information as a Public Good,’ is a call to action on the shared responsibilities between citizens and government  to use information to advance justice, peace, security and development.

The Foundation maintained that  journalists and other media professionals are partners in progress in our quest for peace and sustainable development. Therefore,  should be treated with respect and dignity.

 

The statement reads :

“The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation( GJF)  joins the rest of the world to celebrate journalists and media professionals on this year’s world press freedom day.

“We renew our call for press freedom, access to information and the respect of the rights of journalists in Africa.

“Across our continent are unsavoury reports of deaths of journalists,  violations of their rights and media  censorship by state actors.

“According to the 2021 World Press Freedom Index by  Reporters without Borders,  there is a 13% deterioration in the abuse of rights and privileges of journalists in  Africa in the last one year.

“This, according to them is  ‘one of the reasons why Africa remains the world’s most dangerous continent for journalists in 2021.’

“Journalists and other media professionals are partners in progress in our quest for peace and sustainable development. They,  like other professionals in our society, are patriots who deserve our support, encouragement and respect,  therefore they  should be treated with dignity and love.

“We urge all stakeholders to reflect on the theme of this year’s celebration: “Information as a Public Good,”  which serves as a call to action on the shared responsibilities between citizens and government  to use information to advance justice, peace, security and development.

“Our nations will be better off when information is used for public good and not as weapons of destruction and disintegration.

“In this era of digital communications and media convergence,  misinformation,  fake news,  and hate speech are becoming threats to press freedom, justice, unity, and development.
We, therefore, urge everyone;  organizations and governments to place public interest ahead of other interests in their conversations and the discharge of their responsibilities even as we seek for  a free press that will propagate truth and pursue hope and justice for all.

Ebonyi: NPF Intercepts 753 GPMG Ammunition In Abakaliki |The Source

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The Source
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GPMG Ammunition in Abakaliki

• Recover 2 AK47 Rifles, 5 Pump Action Guns, 6 Pistols, others, from Onueke Commercial Bank Robbers 

The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Ebonyi State Police Command have intercepted 753 live ammunition of General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG). The Police also killed three criminals, including a woman, who took part in the Onueke branch of a Commercial Bank in the State.

A Press Release by CP Frank Mba, NPF Spokesperson, said the ammunition were  concealed in a sack being transported in a commercial vehicle from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State to Umuahia in Abia State. 

The intelligence-driven covert operation, which led to the interception and recovery of the deadly ammunition, is part of efforts by the Force to identify and crack down on criminal networks and supply chains for weapons and ammunition in and around the country. 

Comprehensive investigations aimed at bringing to book all persons linked to the crime are ongoing.

Similarly, following investigations into the foiled bank robbery on the Onueke branch of a commercial bank in Ebonyi State which occurred on Tuesday, 27th April, ​2021; Police operatives led by the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, on 29th April, 2021, stormed the criminal hideout of suspects indicted in the investigations located at Oriuzo village in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The suspects on sighting the Police squad, opened fire on them. The Police team engaged them and professionally. At the end, three (3) members of the gang including two (2) male and one (1) female met their waterloo following bullet injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire. Other suspects fled in different directions.

GPMG Ammunition in Abakaliki

Two (2) Ak47 riffles, five (5) pump action guns, six (6) pistols, fifty (50) Ak47 ammunition, one hundred and twenty-six (126) cartridges, Jack knives, cutlasses, and a 40-page notebook containing inventories of ammunition purchased by the gang were recovered. A Honda Pilot Jeep with Reg No. ABJ 163 NV used for the foiled bank robbery was also recovered by the Police Team. 

The remaining suspects, the Police team traced the suspects to a shrine where the robbers usually go for mystical powers before embarking on their robbery operations. Two (2) of the suspects were eventually arrested from the supposedly safe haven – the shrine, which led to the arrest of additional three (3) members of the gang. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang and their spiritual godfather – the chief priest of the shrine. 

“We Have Identified Those Behind Mayhem In Imo State” – Uzodimma |The Source

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The Source
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The names of those behind the unprecedented insecurity in the Imo.State will be made public in a few days time. They have been identified by Security Agencies, and will face the full weight of the law.

Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, disclosed  this on Sunday. He said that “the Security Agencies have identified those behind the recent disturbances in Imo State and in a few days their names will be unveiled together with what they did so that they can face justice”

Addressing the congregation at the end of the Church Service held at Government House Chapel Owerri, on Sunday, the Governor assured that Government will use all within its powers to identify and flush out criminals in Imo State, promising that his Government cannot fold its arms and allow terror reign in Imo State.

Governor Uzodimma noted that he will “never, and is not going to negotiate with criminals,” warning anyone involved in any form of criminality aimed at bringing down Imo State by any means to have a rethink, or such persons will have themselves to blame.

He said those out to bring the state down must be prepared to be brought down as well.

Governor Uzodimma thanked the people of Imo State for their understanding and resilience throughout the period of security breaches and skirmishes.

He reiterated that the mayhem in Imo State was carried out by hoodlums, bandits and a small percentage of IPOB members and aggrieved politicians who decided to sponsor violence to derail the Government of the day.

He promised that the Government will always use its powers in line with the  oath it swore to protect the people and their property, emphasizing that no individual, group or criminals will be stronger than government. 

 “Never again will criminality reign in Imo State”, he said. 

 Uzodinma enjoined Imo people to be calm “because God is with us and  that is why the criminals and bandits failed in their nefarious activities.” 

The Governor also warned the people of Imo State, especially political appointees, to be careful with what they say or post on the social media, insisting that one may be interacting with criminals and bandits “knowingly or unknowingly”. 

He therefore enjoined all to be careful in everything they do in their daily activities, especially now that the country and the State are going through security challenges,  saying “to be fore warned is to be fore armed” and that “prevention is better than cure”. 

He warned those acting as wolves in human clothes to change or they will definitely be indentified and flushed out.

Gov. Ganduje Extends Retirement Age For Teachers, Lecturers To 65 |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje

By Akinwale Kasali

In commemorating and celebrating  this year’s May 1, Workers Day, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, has extended the retirement age from 60-65 years.

The Governor disclosed this at the 2021 Award Night, organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Kano State Chapter. Henceforth, the Governor said, teachers and lecturers working with the state owned institutions of learning will be retiring on attaining 65 years.No longer 60.

His words:”The Federal Government has since approved this for teachers and lecturers working in its institutions, hence, teachers in Kano State are also not left behind.

“Therefore, our teachers and lecturers  as from now on  will start to enjoy such retirement age from 60-65, and years of service from 35-40 as the Federal workers are enjoying,”

According to Ganduje, the State Government has introduced so many policies aimed at improving the welfare of its workers.

He added, “We have introduced a contributory health scheme for workers in the state and their families to have the cheapest health services.

“I am happy that with your co-operation, today we have the best contributory health scheme in Nigeria.

“We are, also, collaborating with the private organisations in the state to see how they can benefit from such schemes aimed at strengthening the policy.’”

The Governor also said that the State Government had introduced a health trust fund where five per cent of the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and one per cent from the earnings of Local Governments would be contributed.

“And that will provide health services to our workers and the people of Kano State.’’

Ganduje added that the State Government would serve as a guarantor for civil servants working in the state who would be willing to access loan facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He also said that his administration had introduced free and compulsory primary to secondary school education.

“Through that, our workers will not have to pinch from their salaries to pay school fees for their children.” he said.

The Governor also presented a letter of permanent and pensionable appointment to one Khadijah Umar.

Umar who had been working as a temporary staff member for the past 15 years at Hotoro Health Care Clinic lost her legs in the course of duty.

Kogi State Commissioner, Shot Dead |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Solomon Adegbayo

By Adesina Soyooye

The Kogi State Commissioner for Pensions Board, Solomon Adegbayo, has been shot dead by yet to be identified gunmen.

But pointers are that it was a kidnap attempt that went awry.

The Chairman of Yagba Local Government Area of the State, Pius Kolawole, in whose company the late Commissioner was travelling, was luckier than him.

Kolawole was abducted by the gunmen, while Adegbayo was shot dead on the spot, and his body abandoned on the road. They were in same vehicle.

The two were travelling back to their home town, Egbe, Kogi, from Illorin, Kwara State, when they met the gunmen along the road. Egbe is a border town, between Kwara and Kogi State.

The Kogi State Police Command confirms the story.

Nwodo Denies Indicting IPOB, Says Group’s Struggle, Justified |The Source

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The Source
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Nnia Nwodo

By Charles Igbo

The immediate past President of the Ohaneze Nd’Igbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has denied ever indicting the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, over the unprecedented killings and destruction going on  in the South-east.

Chief Nwodo was reacting to a news item credited to him by IKETEX MEDIA TV, to the effect that he recently said he has been vindicated over his statement, in 2019, that IPOB was responsible for the killings in the South-east, and that Fulani Herdsmen were being innocently accused.

In a statement he personally  signed, Chief Nwodo said the allegation was a lie from the “pit of hell.” He also denied, strongly, making any statement on the recent torching of the country home of Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.

The Governor’s country home in Omuma was torched, a couple of weeks ago, by a yet to be identified group. While some people attributed the daring attack to IPOB, Uzodinma attributed it to disgruntled politicians who he described as “lilliputians.” IPOB strongly denies any involvement in the attack which has been condemned by a number of groups, including the Imo Traditional Rulers Council, the South-east Governors’ Forum,  and the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF.

IKETEX had credited Nwodo as saying if he was Uzodinma, the country home of the IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, would have gone up in flames, and the recent gory killings in Ebonyi  State was carried out by IPOB.

Nwodo: “The puerile, mendacious and provocative story also credited me with saying that even the recent killings in Ebonyi State was carried out by IPOB, and that I was not Governor Uzodinma, and wouldn’t be cowed  by IPOB, and that any attack on my property would attract a reprisal attack from me on Afara Ukwu.”

Afara Ukwu is the home town of Nnamdi Kanu.

The former Ohaneze Nd’Igbo President said the fabrication was meant to put him on a collision course with IPOB, and attract an attack on him. He claimed IPOB members as his children, insisting that they have always been.

“This is a terrible lie from the pit of hell, and intended not just to tarnish my image but to set me on a collision course with IPOB”, he said.

He also said he was on the same page with IPOB on its struggle in defence of the Igbo, but said he only disagrees with the group on the method. While IPOB is fighting for an Independent Biafra, he said Ohaneze Nd’Igbo which he headed  stood for the restructuring of the “nation in a United Nigeria.”

Nwodo, also, denied any interest in becoming Nigeria’s President in 2023, insisting that that was the impression IKETEX sought to give with its news.

Indeed, in 2019, unconfirmed speculations were strong that Nwodo had sought to be running mate to Abubakar Atiku, the PDP Presidential candidate. Atiku, eventually, picked Peter Obi, a two-time Governor of Anambra State.

Following is the full text of Chief Nnia Nwodo’s statement.

“It has come to my notice that a news item is being peddled in IKETEX MEDIA TV alleging that I have been vindicated on my statement in 2019 that IPOB was responsible for the killings in the South East and that herdsmen were innocent of the killings.

“The puerile, mendacious and provocative story also credited me with saying that even the recent killings in Ebonyi State were carried out by IPOB and that I was not Governor Uzodimma and wouldn’t be cowed by IPOB and that any attack on my property would attract a reprisal attack from me on Afara ukwu.

“This is a terrible lie from the pit of hell and intended not just to tarnish my image but to set me on collision course with IPOB.

“Let me state categorically that I have not stated or given anybody the impression that I was interested in the 2023 presidential race, neither does my body language suggest it.

“Furthermore, I couldn’t have indicted IPOB on killings in the South East when I have always held the view that they are my children and share in their grievances arising from the overt marginalisation of the Ibo in the country.

“In my inaugural speech as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 2017, and in my address at Chattam House in London, I had stated clearly and firmly that the struggle of IPOB is my struggle except that we differ in modalities because while they sought outright independence for Biafra, Ohanaeze Ndigbo stood for the restructuring of the nation in a united Nigeria.

it is also instructive that in the twilight of my service to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, we had reached an understanding to work in concert with IPOB to achieve the desired objective for Ndigbo.

“Where and when did I fall out with IPOB to make a public statement accusing them of any crime or denouncing their activities ?

“Moreover, it is on record that since I left as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, I have deliberately shied away from making any public statement in order not to distort public view as to who speaks for Ndigbo after my exit.

“The only public speech I have made since then was recently on the day of tributes in honour of the deceased Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin.

“The obvious conclusion from the ill_conceived story is that it was intended to indict me and justify an attack on me.

“This mischief is as condemnable as it is indecent and should be roundly condemned by all decent minds.

“Nobody gains anything from unjustifiably engaging in a smear campaign on an innocent person.”

The South-east, the once most peaceful Zone in the country, has been engulfed in an unprecedented and inexplicable violence, blood shed, killings and destruction, of especially Police facilities, No group has, explicitly, been identified as responsible for a situation that is, gradually, but successfully reducing the Zone to a no-go area.

Time To Raise The White Flag |The Source

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The Source
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MAP of Nigeria

By The New Fabian Society of Concerned Professionals

“We should raise the white flag of surrender, not to the forces of evil that threaten our way of life, but yo humble pie. We must tell the World that we need help”

Our country is crippled. Our compatriots are being slaughtered like chickens all over the country. Insecurity has become the most interrogated phenomenon of our time and the result is clear for all to see.

Food inflation is way over 20% and the people are starving because Terrorists and Bandits have made a visit to the farm grave risk to their lives. Meanwhile Tariffs and Taxes are going up and incomes are collapsing even as inflation is rising and unemployment soars into record territory.

Funding budgets have become a nightmare. Given Crude Oil price decline and the mismanagement of petrol pricing, refining, importation and distribution the States are being threatened that FAAC Account meetings to share revenue may be put on hold.

The lack of imagination in public finance management which keeps out monetization of assets and external sector stimulation of the circular flows of income in Nigeria, further worsens the budget crisis. The stress and tension on the streets are so palpable you could slice the air with a blunt Knife.

A real emergency, whether declared or not, exists. It can be felt in refusal of many to travel even short distances and in the daily shedding of innocent blood across the country.

Change is imperative with an urgency of yesterday, far more hurriedly than an urgency of now.

It seems the Robert Kaplan prediction of a coming anarchy has come.

The time for bravado is over.

We should raise the white flag of surrender, not to the forces of evil that threaten our way of life but to humble pie. We must tell the world that we need help.

We must shout from the rooftops to the world that they need to come to our aid now or risk the cost of coming late as they did in  Rwanda and lose more lives trying to flush out the undesirable in the interest of human solidarity in this our interconnected world, belatedly as was the case in Iraq.

We support the call of Professor Wole Soyinka to seek external assistance ASAP to prevent Nigeria from getting on a “one chance” transport on the road to Somalia.

Beyond pleading for help we have some home truths to admit to ourselves and some serious conversations to engage with on a way forward. Have we reached the  point where the legislature can turn to the  idea of a Doctrne of necessity to create new leaders and refocus the agenda of the country. Yes we have. Perhaps we should invoke that doctrine of necessity to introduce a government of National Unity.

They say we cannot afford a civil war but Nigeria is at war already.  A government of National unity, just like General Yakubu Gowon put together in 1967,  in the wake of the last civil war, will provide a war chest of wisdom that can lead us to a new Nigeria.

People in public life have been seen as largely driven by self-love and the pursuit of gain without pain. Most of the things we should have done or failed to do that have got us where we are, derive from corruption, nepotism, and disregard for merit and accountability. We must confront them all now. Consequence must not be ignored.

Now the results have come in, collapse stirs us in the face.

The Commissioner for Security matters in Kaduna State Samuel Akuwan provides some of the evidence of how current conditions check off most boxes on the failed states index.

Providing data on the current conditions in the state he said 323 people had been killed and 949 kidnapped in 3 months. Few of the many civil wars in the country  throw up such statistics of death. But it gets worse.

Three years earlier, the then Governor of Borno state,

Kashim Shetima  more than 100,000 people had been killed,  and displaced more two million people.

It is pertinent to note that the  IMF has indicated that Nigeria rank160 out of 166 on the 2030 MDGs, and that we need to be growing GDP at 14% per annum when we are afraid of another recession, which is quarter on quarter negative growth.

These are all grave enough conditions for extraordinary measures to halt our rush towards state failure.

As if the foregoing  are not enough, the people on the street feel despair and investors are unwilling to commit until they have a sense of a halt in the drift and the setting of a new course

Can we commit to changing the conduct that brought us to this sorry pass?

Can the crisis of values that has brought collapse to our door steps be reversed?

With our reality as a true existential threat, we must move from emotional rationalizations of our past behavior to recognizing that we have created our troubles.

 

Talk may not be cheap as often suggested but now is a time for ACTION . None can afford to look on like bystanders.

We call on Leaders of Thought across the land, Traditional Leaders, Religious Icons, Elders of the nation in groups of past leaders, to rise in one accord to demand change right now.

For the New Fabian Society of the Concerned Professionals

*Prof Pat Utomi

*Prof Anthony Kila

*Femi Falana (SAN)

*Tola Mobolurin

*Pastor Ituah Ighodalo

*Dr Usman Bugaje

*Dr Muiz Banire(SAN)

*Dr Isawa Dogo

*Joe Atueyi

*Bisi Olowoyo

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