COVID19: Erect Barricades at Boundaries, Group Urges SE Governors

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May 12, 2020

Amid increasing allegations of violation of interstate travel restriction by the federal government, the South East Revival Group (SERG) has commended all the 17 local government chairmen in Enugu State over their commitment to measures aimed at curtaining the spread of Coronavirus disease in the state.

The group, especially, gave a pass mark to efforts by the council chairmen at the state boundaries for enforcing the directive by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi that they mobilise to man their land borders, urging governors in the region to construct lockable barriers manned by local vigilante groups to stop defiant interstate travellers violating federal government directives.

In a statement signed by its President/National Coordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the national pan-Igbo pressure urged other state chairmen in the South East to emulate Enugu State council chairmen and increase the policing of their boundaries to check interstate movements, particularly the influx of the South East by Almajiris from the northern part of the country.

“The deliberate efforts of all the local government chairmen in Enugu State to stem the spread of Coronavirus disease in the state in line with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s directive that they mobilise and man their boundaries to reduce interstate movements is highly commendable.

“We believe that the Anti-Coronavirus measures by the federal government can only produce the desired results if there is a buy-in by all citizens, particularly grassroots leaders and influencers at the local levels.

“At this stage of the war against COVID19 pandemic, the need for grassroots leaders to do more in area of sensitisation, enlightenment campaigns and palliatives distribution to vulnerable families affected by the impact of the anti-COVID19 measures cannot be overemphasised.

“Therefore, we urge all local government chairmen in the South East to emulate their counterparts in Enugu State to ensure that returnees to their domain observe the prescribed protocol to ensure we win the war on Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world and causing mass deaths globally.

“We equally urge all South East Governors to erect gates or lockable barriers at all their interstate entrance routes and empower local vigilante groups and youths to man them day and night until the pandemic is over to put an end to interstate movements by defiant travellers.

“This has become very needful following reports of continued violation of both curfew imposed by the federal government and non-adherence to interstate lockdown directives, which not only poses health challenges but also security risk”, the SERG stated.

It Isn’t The End Of The World

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May 12, 2020

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By Emeka Asinugo, KSC

The recent demolition of Prodest Hotel and Edemete Hotel in Rivers State of Nigeria by Governor Nyesom Wike raises very sensitive questions about policy in government and about the level of executive fiat that can justifiably be exerted in democratic governance. The demolition of the downstairs hotel has been viewed with mixed feelings by concerned Nigerians and the rest of the world. Some spoke in favour of, and others against, the actions of Governor Wike.

Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode was of the opinion that the governor may have applied the big stick too heavily. Some Nigerians say Wike’s action was simply wicked. The Convener of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike called Governor Wike unprintable names. He said he was angry about what the governor did to his fellow citizens. And I would imagine that as a Nigerian, Uwazuruike was in a good position to understand and possibly interpret government policy in the circumstance.

Wike had issued an executive order banning hotels from opening for business in the state, in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus. He had repeatedly warned that any hotel that violated the executive order would be demolished. The two hotels became the first victims of the government’s exercise after they violated the executive order of the state governor.

The government claimed that some people whose test results on Covid-19 were positive had been discovered in hotels in the state. But it failed to say whether any of the infected persons was found in any of the demolished hotels. The managers of those hotels were arrested, anyway.

Certainly, we need to get some issues clear here. Can, and should, “unwritten laws” that have been the social norm over years still influence the decision of government in a democratic setting? In England, for example, some unwritten laws can be applied in governance and because the citizens know what happened, no one knocks his head on a brick wall about it. But can that be said about Nigeria?

Did Governor Wike use the government media outlets like the state television and radio to inform the citizens about the severity of punishment that could possibly be meted out to violators of the executive order? Was it possible many residents were not aware of order as they claimed? According to BBC, some citizens claimed they did not know about the documents outlining the severity of punishment for defaulters.

Another point is: can it be established that one of the hotel owners actually got youths to beat up government officials who had come to remind them that the executive order was in vogue? If that was the case, is it possible that any Nigerian governor would have brushed such contempt of authority under the carpet?

On the other hand, did government consider the possible side effects of such an exercise, like loss of jobs which would affect many families, the ability of parents who may have lost their jobs to pay their children’s school fees, their rents, their NEPA and other bills? Should it not have been a better and more democratic approach to seal off the hotels in the first place, and later heavily fine the owners (like N50 million) and if they were unable to pay, they could be jailed for three or six months barring parole? That would have as well sent the message across that the governor was a no-nonsense administrator who would make do with his threat any day.

The manager of Prodest hotel denied that his hotel was in operation on the day the government swooped on it. He told the BBC that about 70% of their staff had been sent home and that only three members of staff were on ground when the government struck. And in a dramatic twist, the manager also said the government officials had asked for money when they first came into his premises. The officials had said that if they were given some bribe, they could allow the hotel to operate. But government flatly denied the accusation.

The point inadvertently made here by the management of the hotel synchronizes with Governor Wike’s contention that government officials had earlier visited the hotels to warn them that the executive order was in place. It also gives flesh to the version of the story which said that government had actually gone to the hotel to remind the staff that the lockdown was in effect and that the hotel management got youths to beat up the government officials and chase then away. They then reported the incident to the governor and possibly aroused his anger over the motif of his subjects who would willingly flout his executive order with such brazen impunity.

In an interview with Nigeria’s Punch newspaper, the owner of the hotel, Mr. Gogorodari claimed that his business did not violate any publicly known law to warrant the demolition of his property. He may have been right. Apart from executive orders, there are unwritten laws that can be applied in governance and it is possible this was one strong message to the people of Rivers State that as our people say, ‘the okra is never taller than the man who planted it’.

Mr. Gogorodari had complained that the government did not give him fair hearing and that no investigation was carried out before the demolition of his property was effected. The point again, was that government didn’t need to investigate into a policy that every Nigerian knew was traditional in the politics of their country. Law is law and those concerned with the law must not be encouraged to violate it.

Mr. Gogorodari said the incident had created a condition that rendered his staff completely redundant. He insisted that it was negative development for investors in the state. “I am based in Lagos but I am not in the right frame of mind to speak now. There is nobody who will not feel bad about this. It is a hotel that I built for the past seven years. The demolition of hotels is a setback to the state in terms of investment. That was an investment that was taking care of my family and relatives and people around me. There was no fair hearing before the demolition took place. With this, many people are out of jobs. I did not violate any order. The government was supposed to do some investigations before doing that. And if they found me wanting, then another procedure should be followed, not demolishing a structure like that” he said.

Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Dakuku Peterside and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, were of the opinion that Governor Wike’s action was unlawful. Other civil rights groups like Spaces for Change, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre and the Action Group on Free Civic Space condemned the demolition of the two hotels and explained that the owners had no opportunity to remove any valuables before the buildings were pulled down. They said it was particularly distasteful to watch Rivers State government’s campaign of terror over the last few weeks, ruthlessly clamping down on civic freedoms in the name of combating the spread of coronavirus.

Dakuku said he believed the governor had no concrete plan on how to fight coronavirus. But could he have been right when he said Governor Wike’s utterances did not suggest that he was fighting the coronavirus pandemic alone: that his actions suggested that there was more than what he was telling Rivers people? Perhaps he was right.

Dakuku contended that the governor’s action was capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order in the state. He said those who bore the crude method of the governor and their families could resort to mass protest, capable of exposing the state further to danger.

Governor Wike insisted that his administration could not be faulted or accused of any wrongdoing for demolishing those two hotels in the state. Government had even said it would auction vehicles impounded during the operation to apprehend violators of the executive order on lockdown in the state. Wike said his action was backed by law. “We acted against the hotelier because, apart from using the facility to jeopardize the lives of our citizens in violation of the extant law, the owner audaciously unleashed thugs led by the Eleme Local Government youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party and inflicted severe injuries on our task-force members who went to enforce the law against the continued operation of the hotel,” the governor said. “And so, we’ve done no wrong as all our actions were taken in good faith and justified by, under and within the purview of the Executive Orders, which have neither been challenged nor set aside by any competent court of law.”

Wike said his administration admitted genuine criticisms, but would not join issues with those he described as “uninformed critics and social media legal practitioners who, blinded and prodded by sheer politics, bias and hatred, have opted to demonize and paint our lawful and responsible actions in bad light”.

The truth of what exactly expired may never be known to anyone who is untutored in the Sambisa forest procedure called Nigerian politics. Even when it may seem absolutely in order to challenge Governor Wike’s action in court, the unwritten laws have to be considered by organizations like SERAP which have threatened to go to court on behalf of the ‘victims’ of the demolition exercise.

If it was a mistake or excessive use of power or whatever, the act has been committed and there is no going back. All anyone would possibly meet with now are accusations and counteraccusations, blames upon blames. So, I think our best option as things stand now is to put all that behind and trust that everyone has learnt his lesson. The executive order is necessary in emergency cases. And obviously, the pandemic is an emergency case that calls for emergency handling.

Now what government should be looking to do is avoid another situation in future where emergency applications tend to conflict with democratic governance and the rule of law. It is obvious that at some point, if the governor feels he may have been high handed in handling this particular incident, he knows how to compensate the owners of the two hotels even better than what he did to them. Just one contract before his tenure expires could settle them. So let us stop whimpering and behaving as if the world has come to an end because Governor Wike demolished some downstairs hotels. It isn’t the end of the world.

Chief Asinugo is a London-based veteran journalist, author of ‘The Presidential Years from Dr. Jonathan to Gen. Buhari (Vols. 1 & 2), and publisher of Imo State Business Link Magazine (Website: imostateblm.com)

Covid-19: WHO Partners Traditional Healers For Cure, Vaccine; Urges Caution Over Madagascar

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May 12, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The need to find a lasting solution to Coronavirus has prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO), to meet with 70 African traditional medicine experts to find a cure for it.

WHO African Region made this known via its Twitter account on Tuesday.

The organisation said it agreed with the experts that clinical trials must be conducted for all medicines in the region.

@WHOAFRO tweeted, “70 traditional medicine experts from countries across #Africa held a virtual meeting with @WHO on the role of traditional medicine in the #COVID19 response.

“They unanimously agreed that clinical trials must be conducted for all medicines in the Region, without exception.”

The meeting was held after WHO had repeatedly warned that the COVID-Organics infusion, which the President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, touted as a remedy against the deadly coronavirus, had not been clinically tested.

Some African countries have taken delivery of consignments of the COVID-Organics infusion, which was launched last month. They include; Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, and Tanzania.

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, approved the importation of the remedy on Monday from Madagascar to curtail and cure those affected by the Virus.

The Almajiris: Used, Rejected And Dumped

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May 12, 2020

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By Comfort Obi

You know them. The Almajiris. You see them everywhere. They are the down trodden. The dredge of the society. The poorest of the poor. The abandoned. The abused. The humiliated. The homeless. The illiterate. The street children. The used and dumped.

They litter the streets. Particularly in the Northern part of the country. They roam the streets in hundreds. In thousands. Kids! Their parents give birth to them. And just “throw” them away. They throw them into the streets.

From every part of the North, they criss-cross the States of the Federation, particularly within the Northern States. In some states in the South-east, for example, they are, in their scores, in front of supermarkets and, almost, mob one as soon as one steps out after a purchase.

The Northern elite are proud to tell you it is their culture. That it is part of their religion, part of their way of life. They tell you they send them to go and learn the Koran from Koranic teachers.

A number of such teachers, many allege, atimes, abuse them. They are dehumanized. They are starved. They are subjected to unbelievable corporal punishment. They are chained and flogged.

In the past months, Nigerians have watched, in shock, how the children, aged from three years, are packed like sardines in small-small rooms. No toilet facilities. No health facilities. They, atimes, steal to survive. When they die, they die. Nobody cares. When you intervene, you are declared an enemy.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan tried to help. He was declared an enemy. At least, two Governors, then, declared him an enemy of the North. And reported him even to the USA. They accused him of trying to destroy their culture. During the 2015 General elections, it counted against him.

The deposed Emir of Kano, Dr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was an ardent, bitter critic of that culture. It counted against him, just as a couple of other positive changes he wanted in the region did.

But the elite of the region know why they love this culture. The kids are their soldier ants. Their reserved army. Very useful when it matters most to them.

During General elections, they are their winning team. Their aces. Like sardines, they are packed to voting centres, or wherever, and they have them vote for their adopted candidate. They help them thumbprint. They win.

And they are happy.

In times of roots, particularly, over mundane issues, they come in handy. They are a ready army. Raw. They attack and kill without mercy. Atimes without motive. Just a proding, and they explode.

Now the chickens have come home to roost.

In the era of COVID-19, the Northern elite have seen the dangers there-in. At their meeting penultimate week, they decided to ban their beloved culture. And they decided to pack the Almajiris back to their various states. In the past many days, they have been packing them home from one state to the other.

Suddenly, they remember the kids could be sent back to their parents, and put in proper schools, where they can also learn about their religion.

Smart guys. The Governors want to cut costs. They fear the spread of Coronavirus through the Almajiris. Managing them is an expensive venture. It costs a lot of money.

They are right.

Many of the Almajiris so sent back to their various states have tested positive for the Virus. And, it is danger unlimited, not just for the North, but the whole of Nigeria.

Here is why.

The kids are used to street life. To begging to feed. To stealing to feed. To violence. To living dangerously. So, with conniving truck drivers, pretending to be transporting food to the Southern part of the country, the Almajiris are invading the South. They are helped by, without doubt, some unscrupulous security personnel. They are coming in their hundreds.

And nobody is testing them, or have tested them for COVID-19.

Many groups in the South are crying foul.

You cannot invade our region, they say. There may be something more sinister behind this move, they chorus. They gradually want to take over their region, they think. It is a well- laid plan, they emphasise. Otherwise, they ask, why are they taking all the risks to invade their region like locusts? What about COVID-19, they ask?

With the Presidential order closing inter-state borders, how come they are having a free ride, they wonder. This is an organised business and invasion, they scream.

So, a number of them are being intercepted and turned back from where they were coming from. It is like “Back to sender”.

But the main opposition party, the PDP, sees it differently. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party accuses President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling APC, of abandoning the Almajiris.

Following, the PDP statement, entitled:

COVID-19: Buhari, APC Have Betrayed Almajiris, Poor Nigerians

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says President Muhammadu Buhari and his manipulative All Progressives Congress (APC) have completely betrayed the Almajiris and other downtrodden, poor and vulnerable Nigerians after using them to grab power in 2015.

“The party asserts that the APC and its government have continued to show their true colours especially as manifested in the neglect and dehumanizing treatment they have met out on poor and vulnerable Nigerians since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

“The PDP notes that APC’s disdain and desertion of our citizens had further exposed it as a deceitful party which used lies, propaganda and false promises to mislead the people in 2015 to denounce a system of governance which had their interest at heart and worked day and night to ensure a better life for them.

“Today, the APC and its government have succeeded in wrecking the lives of ordinary Nigerians; stole their common patrimony; rendered many homeless, turned their joy into sadness, hope into hopelessness, fortune into abject poverty; reneged on all their enticing promises, swindled and abandoned our citizens to a life of misery.

“From Katsina to Lagos, Kano to Edo, Kaduna to Osun, Yobe to Ekiti; Plateau to Kogi and all the places where the APC has left footprints at the federal and state levels, the downtrodden people have been exploited and now abandoned; treated by the APC as sub-humans in their own country.

“Today, the APC relishes in abusing and insulting Nigerian youths; from Kano to Lagos, they deny them access to economic opportunities and jobs, yet tag them as lazy. The APC deny our youths good education, health care, comfortable homes and access to basic necessities of life, yet demean them as outcasts and undesirable elements fit only for life on the streets and as tools to manipulate elections for corrupt APC leaders.

“The APC lied to a people who were already organizing their lives along the path of economic prosperity, development and national cohesion; they beguiled and misled them into believing that they were being led to Eldorado only to abandon them in the middle of the nowhere, stripped of honour and means of survival.

“The APC posed as the messiah; promised free houses, millions of jobs, monthly allowances and even to bring the value of dollar to one naira. President Buhari promised more prosperity and to rout out insurgency with the snap of the finger.

“Unfortunately, what we witness today are total reneging on these promises, degradation of citizens, hunger and starvation, intimidation of dissenting voices, untold corruption, neglect of our infrastructure, annexation of electoral and judicial system, violation of human rights, in addition to escalation of insurgency and bloodletting while the President, who promised to lead from the front, recedes very far into the luxury and safety of Aso Presidential villa.

“Nigerians can recall how the PDP championed the cause of the downtrodden, established Almajiri schools, the e-wallet initiatives for rural farmers, built new universities, revamped our economy, overhauled our health care system, established the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), revamped the mortgage system to give Nigerians access to own homes and expanded the political space to promote youth and women participation in governance among others.

“The APC has reversed all these gains. President Buhari and the APC cannot point to any people-oriented project they have executed to better the lot of the poor.

“In fact, this pandemic has further exposed the APC as a party without plans for Nigerians, which only came to grab power to enrich themselves at the expense of the ordinary Nigerians.

“The PDP however urges Nigerians not to despair but to rally among themselves, help each other and ensure that a party like APC, which has become an emblem of misfortune, does not come to power at any level after the end of this tenure.

“On our own part, the PDP as a party, will continue to stand with Nigerians, especially the downtrodden and remain committed to protecting their interests at all times.”

Breaking, COVID-19 : It is official, Nigeria Turns To Madagascar For Help

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May 11, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the importation of the Made-in-Madagascar Herbal concortion for the treatment of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Disclosing this Monday night at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, its Chairman, Boss Mustapha, the SGF, said he has been given a marching order by the President to bring in the Herbal remedy. The medication is already in Guinea Bissau, awaiting freighting to Nigeria.

The Madagascan President, had, a couple of weeks ago, announced to the applause of his people, that their country had the medication for the Virus.

The USA had reportedly given the country, two million USD to continue with its research.

Buhari’s Presidential order and the feat by Madagascar, would, no doubt, be a little embarrassing to the many Nigerian Scientists and Health Personnel who had claimed they had the Herbal medication for the Virus.

Breaking: FG Suspends Evacuation Of Nigerians Abroad

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May 11, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

For Nigerians desperate to come back to their country, it is a case of hope dashed.

The Nigerian Government on Monday suspended their evacuation.

Explaining the disappointing suspension, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geofrey Onyema, attributed it to logistics problem.

Since the COVID-19, which is ravaging the whole world, countries have been evacuating their citizens from other countries, especially, those who got caught up in the suspension of international flights.

Last week, Nigeria started the evacuation of its citizens, but it has met with one problem or the other.

The first evacuation from the United Kingdom ended in an embarrassment as the evacuees were left stranded, at the MMIA, Lagos tarmac, for hours, from where they ought to have been airlifted to Abuja for the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Onyema apologised, saying it was due to the late arrival of the operating aircraft.

The second batch from Dubai, made an air-return when an evacuee gave birth to a baby on board the Emirates flight an hour into the flight. The flight, however, operated later, after a change of the aircraft type.

The third batch arrived from the USA on Sunday.

The FG had assured, earlier, that proper arrangements had been made for the accommodation of the evacuees in hotels in Lagos and Abuja.

But earlier, there were reports that hotel owners in both Abuja and Lagos had rejected the use of their facilities for quarantine.

Onyema did not disclose the nature of the logistic problem, but said the FG would, for now, concentrate on the about 600 who have already been evacuated to the country.

He did not, also, indicate when the evacuation would resume.

Over 700 Nigerians are reportedly still waiting to be evacuated.

Unbelievable: Kalu Still In Jail

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May 11, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

Days after the Supreme Court delivered a judgement which everybody thought offered Senator Orji Uzor Kalu freedom from the prison, the former Governor of Abia State and Senate Chief Whip, is still in jail.

In a ruling which attracted commendation and condemnation in equal measure, the Supreme Court had, last Friday, said that the Hon. Justice Mohammed Lima who convicted and sentenced Kalu to a 12-year jail term, had no jurisdiction over the case.

At the time Lima gave the judgement, he had been elevated to the Court of Appeal. But, with a fiat given by the President of the Court of Appeal, Lima went back to the Federal High Court, Lagos, to deliver the judgement. He was the Judge handling the case before his elevation.

Indeed, Kalu had released a statement immediately after the judgement bemoaning the fate that befell him, but said he had learnt his lesson during his five- month jail term.

So, everybody thought he had been released.

But not true.

Kalu is still in jail.

The Nigeria Correctional Service on Monday, confirmed that Kalu was still in its custody at its Kuje facility.

Its spokesperson, Chuks Njoku, revealed: “We have not received any paper; the order was just made on Friday, and we have to get the Warrant of release him from the Court. He would not be released until we get a warrant from the court”

With this, Kalu’s hope of joining his colleagues at the Senate on Tuesday has been dashed.

The former Governor was prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged fraud and corruption to the tune of N7.1 billion when he was the Governor, and his assets at SLOK forfeited to the Federal Government.

The former Director of Finance, Government House, Jones Udeogu, with whom he was jailed, had since been granted bail on health reasons.

He was suffering from a bad case of tuberculosis.

Another Nollywood Actress, Chizoba Bosah Dies

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May 11, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Less than three weeks after the death of Yomi Obileye a veteran Nollywood Actor, the nation’s movie industry has been thrown into mourning again with the demise of Chizoba Bosah.

The Nollywood Actress died at at the age of 52 Years, to the disappointment of her colleagues who saw her full of life few months ago before the Coronavirus Pandemic that saw the nation been lockdown for over a month.

The Tinsel actress reportedly died yesterday, Sunday, May 10th, 2020, after a brief illness.

The deceased was said to have battled with diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure.

Her demise was confirmed by the convener of Yoruba Films & Music Festival, Otunba Omotayo Ogunlade on Facebook.

He wrote, “Chizoba Bosah Sam-Boye, my sister my friend. Surely God knows the best. Rest in peace. Aunty Chizzy as I fondly called you. Can’t control this tears, it’s so painful”.

Her colleagues couldn’t hold back years as they recall their good times with her.

No doubt, she will b fondly missed by colleagues, friends, fans and families who are yet to come to terms with her demise.

Post COVID-19 Imo: History Beckons On Senator Uzodinma

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May 11, 2020

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By Nick Opara-Ndudu

Lately, there has been palpable concern over political developments in Imo state, with the spate of unsavoury social media battles that have exposed the fragile nature of the relationships currently existing amongst key political actors. Regrettably, sundry events in our dear state have become the subject of intense public discourse and disagreements in the blogosphere. Imo has, rather unfortunately, become one of those states that has been subject to intense public scrutiny and judgement.

Amid all these developments, the world is witnessing an era of unparalleled disruptions in the links that define our global ecosystem. The COVID-19 pandemic has, more than any other event in the past century, altered just about everything and anything that mattered to everyone. With the global economy shrinking in a manner never envisaged just three months ago, and livelihoods threatened in a fundamental way, the world as we knew it, would never be the same. The new normal that is about to emerge was the extreme abnormal of 2019.

Practically no reasonable prediction, whether secular or religious, prepared the world for what we are currently experiencing. The sad part is that there is every indication that things will get even much worse, before they begin to improve.

It was, therefore, a matter of concern, that such a pandemic, along with its secondary effects that had far reaching implications for our survival as a people, was of little significance to our major political actors. In an emerging scenario, where our survival would depend on selfless cooperation and collaboration; where we must strike a note of seamless harmony in the pursuit of a common purpose, we appear rather focused on issues that divided us in the past and tore away at the fabric that held us together as a people.

One must reiterate that as a people and society, we face severe challenges in ways that were never imagined a few months ago. With oil prices moving south in an unprecedented manner, and our continued dependence on its proceeds, at least in the short to medium term, for survival, it can no longer be business as usual. For the avoidance of any doubt, here are the facts:

1) Oil accounts for approximately 60 percent of Nigerian government revenue and 90 percent of its foreign exchange earnings;

2) The drop in oil prices has translated to a lower distributable revenue for the three tiers of government;

3) Nigeria’s total debt currently stands at approximately $84b with two-thirds of all government revenue committed to debt service obligations;

4) On account of the foregoing disruptions, the Central Bank of Nigeria projects that Nigeria’s GDP would contract by about 3.4 percent in 2020 and with the current account deficit expected to be about 3.3 percent of GDP;

5) Based on the decline in oil revenue, an external financing gap of $14b would have to bridged, possibly through a drastic cut in expenditure or borrowing. There is no short cut here.

Imo state, as a subnational unit within the Nigerian federation, has been almost completely dependent on federally allocated revenue for its sustenance. In the recent past, monthly collections (state and local) averaged roughly N10b. Now, when you factor in outgoings related to the running of the bureaucracy and debt service obligations, the state has roughly N1b of unencumbered funds! With internally generated revenue at an average of a little above N1b, the state would be facing severe fiscal imbalances in a matter of months. This was the grim picture of Imo public finances that Emeka Ihedioha inherited from Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s administration and which Senator Hope Uzodinma must confront as Governor. Regrettably, the structural deficiencies of the Nigerian federation have relegated productivity of the subnational units to the background in a political and economic framework appropriately described as “feeding bottle federalism”.

Therefore, the challenge we face now is how to generate at least N10b in revenues monthly within the next six to twelve months. This can only be achieved through an aggressive revenue diversification and optimisation programme. It is only at such levels of revenue that we can maintain the current level of services and achieve some measure of revenue sustainability and Independence. These are crucial for social stability and civil peace. Such an ambitious programme requires bold initiatives and courageous action.

In the Chinese Confucian philosophy, the concept of ‘crisis’ is seen in positive terms as ‘opportunity’. Therefore, as painful as the COVID-19 challenges have been, they bring with them immense opportunities. We must seize the opportunities present to transform our society to a new order, defined by improved revenue sustainability and Independence. The strategy would be to act like a sovereign entity striving to provide for its citizens in an environment that enables them fulfil their manifest destiny. With a population of about 4 million, a land mass spanning 5,530 sq kms, and an array of human and material resources, I daresay that we can!

If Imo state were a country by itself, it would rank in population with countries like New Zealand, Panama, Kuwait and Croatia. It will be ahead of countries like Eritrea, Uruguay, Jamaica, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Gabon. In terms of land mass, it is bigger than much-touted countries like Trinidad and Tobago, Cape Verde, Mauritius, Hong Kong and Singapore!

All too often we have referred to the post-independence Nigeria as the golden years of the Nigerian state. This reference has been more, in particular, when referring to Eastern Nigeria. With the official record of being the fastest growing economy in the entire world just before the onset of the Nigeria/Biafra war, Eastern Nigeria witnessed its most rapid phase of economic growth and development. It must be borne in mind that practically all the resources (human and material), that funded its regional development plans and achievements of that era, were endogenous to the region, with agriculture as the mainstay of the economy. With the Commodity Boards and Regional Development Agencies/Corporations, agriculture was the driving force for the quantum growth and development witnessed in the region during the golden era. As we reflect on the existential threats and economic challenges we now face, should we not be reminded that we are in a position to recreate that environment that engendered such productivity and revenue sufficiency as cornerstones of the development agenda?

Undoubtedly, charting this course would be daunting, particularly after decades of unbridled profligacy and a severely distorted and inefficient fiscal regime that placed little emphasis on productivity and merit. Old habits die hard, one could assume. Nevertheless, it is a journey we must embark upon given the existential threats we face as a people.

Times like this are rare and when they arise, they call for the type of leadership that is visionary and aligned to the goal of energising the citizens for collective action and the pursuit of a common purpose. Such a rare opportunity is what has dropped on the laps of the present leadership in Imo state. We expect that Senator Hope Uzodinma will rise to this historic challenge and, working with Imo citizens, chart this new direction for the benefit of his people and to the glory of God. History is replete with heroes that emerge from situations like these.

Admittedly, the politics of our state has been needlessly polluted in the recent past by the actions of politicians who have remained in the trenches of war and refusing to yield grounds to embrace a new beginning. According to Ecclesiastes in the Bible, there is a time for everything. Regardless of our grievances and ideological differences, this is the time that we must rise to the greater challenge of survival and recovery for our people and our economy.

We must now adjust to the reality that we have Senator Hope Uzodinma on the seat as Governor. And in that role, provided he acts in the overriding interest of the state and its citizens, he deserves the unalloyed support of all well-meaning Imolites in the arduous task of piloting the affairs of our state. If we are true Christians and I have no doubt that we are; and if we truly believe that God is the dispenser of all positions of power and influence, then we must accept the outcomes of political contests as providential. In tandem with this understanding, we must not seek or wish the failure of any government just to make a point, or to confirm existing prejudices or stereotypes. A government fails to the detriment of all its citizens and we must, for the sake of our collective interest, guard against that.

Now to Senator Hope Uzodinma, the new sheriff in town (apologies to Prof Nnamdi Obiaraeri), you must rise to this historic call to duty and provide the leadership which these difficult times demand. Furthermore, you must rein in your lieutenants who appear to be spoiling for battle in defense of whatever they may construe as your interest. Let instead your performance in office speak for you as opposed to phyrric victories at the ongoing social media battles which some of those around you seem intent on waging. The sparring sessions with the immediate past administration must give way to new rapprochement devoid of distracting recriminations. We must row in one direction or the boat of the state will crash on the rocks along with the collective fortunes of Imolites. That is not to say you should not insist on accountability in the actions of the Ihedioha administration. However, the strategy adopted for such exercises should minimise distractions that will overshadow any intended noble objective.

In conclusion, this is the time to consolidate a broad coalition of imo professionals and technocrats to continue the process of redirecting our energies towards the common enterprise of creating a new and prosperous future for our state and her citizens. Literally, we have to act as if Nigeria does not exist and take our destiny into our own hands. We must begin the search for new revenue sources that would help mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and its disruptions in the workings of our subnational economy. This call to duty requires that we act and you must lead the way while we all follow.

Some states have already set out on this journey, building post-covid -19 scenarios, and establishing the frameworks for implementing them. For Imo state, this project must begin in earnest under the present leadership in the state. There is no time to lose. It is a task for which imo citizens would be prepared to give you the necessary support. Oil prices may recover momentarily and the conditions that necessitated this change may lose the force of urgency, but the need for revenue diversification and optimisation can never disappear. It is a reality that faces us and which must be confronted squarely. And we must recognise that it is a course of action that must be beyond divisive politics and requires constructive engagement involving all relevant Stakeholders.

The hands of all imolites and lovers of the state must be on deck now. As the saying goes, ‘United We Stand; Divided We Fall’. We have a common destiny and there is no better time to pursue it than now.

Opara-Ndudu, F.C.A., former Banker, former Commissioner for Economic Planning, Imo State, wrote from Lagos

Late Keshi’s Dirty Deals Forced Us Out Of Super Eagles, Say Taiye Taiwo, Obasi ; Amokachi Calls Them Hypocrites

By

The Source

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May 11, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Super Eagles and Olympique Marseille Football Club left back, Taiye Taiwo, has dropped a Bombshell.

He has indicted Late Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, as the major reason why he quit the National Team.

Taiwo alleged that the dirty deals of the late head coach of Nigeria’s senior men national team forced him to exit the squad.

The 35-year-old former Queens Park Rangers Football Club of England Player made his Super Eagles debut in 2004 and went on to play at three Africa Cup of Nations competitions and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The former AC Milan and QPR defender scored five goals for Nigeria during his eight-year international career.

Taiwo’s last international outing for Nigeria was in February 2012 against Rwanda. He is of the Rovaniemen Palloseura. accused late Keshi of his early

“I am someone who don’t want dirty glory, and in my life, I have never been involved in what is not clean, and that was why I packed my bags and left the Super Eagles,” Taiwo was quoted by Goal as saying.

“I can’t work or stay where I see that is dirty because I am serving a clean God, and if I am in an area that is not clean, I will have to leave the place.

“When they appointed Stephen Keshi as a coach, he was acting somehow in which I told myself that it was time for me to leave the Super Eagles.

“I packed my bags, and I told my wife and family that I can’t be involved in dirty deals.”

Taiwo’s declaration comes in the wake of the latest controversy in the Super Eagles after former Schalke 04 forward, Chinedu Obasi, disclosed that he was dropped from Keshi’s team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil because he refused to pay a bribe to the Late Keshi.

Meanwhile, former Keshi’s assistant during the period, Daniel Amokachi, popularly known as ‘The Bull’ has reacted to Obasi’s claim.

Amokachi said: “Why come forward with such now when the man in charge is no longer alive to answer it?”

“Even look at it, this happened in 2014 and 6 years after, you are coming forward with such claims.

“Why wait until now? It does not make sense to bring such an issue when the head is no longer alive to respond to you?”

Amokachi stressed that it was an act of hypocrisy on the part of the players and are wrongly accusing the late Keshi.

He added why they refused to come forward since 2014 to say this, and asked: why now that he is late?