There is no doubt that the negative ripple effects of sixteen consecutive years of maladministration (1999-2015), by the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (PDP), management team have made minced-meat of assumed claims/achievements, in most areas of the economy and security which President Buhari’s Change administration of six years is gloating about, considering the fact that the over 200 million Nigerian population have condemned him for non-performance!

The following facts are verifiable: that during the PDP era, Nigeria in the year 2000 became the leading petroleum marketer in Africa and was economically upgraded as follows:
1) That CRUDE OIL played a pivotal role and the country’s oil and gas exports of that year accounted for more than 98% of export earnings.
2) Garnered eighty-three per cent (83%), of Federal Government’s revenue.
3) Generated more than 14% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
4) Provided 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and
5) Accounted for about 65% of government’s budgetary revenues!

However within the FIFTEEN YEARS (2000-2015), of economic buoyancy and national affluence the extravagant lifestyle of political leaders coupled with brazen institutional corruption reversed the trend and fortunes of the nation to deprive the masses of the people of all basic amenities of life!
Unemployment of able-bodied youths, contrary to human rights provisions gave birth to poverty, decadence, degradation and gave vent to crimes/criminalities which attracted international negative indexes in respect of massive corruption through leadership mismanagement of the MONO PRODUCT crude oil accruals, and foreign exchange earnings!

The appalling situation was further compounded when suddenly in December 2013, international crude oil prices plummeted from USD$110 dollars to USD$28dollars until the dramatic emergence in 2015 of APC which inherited a battered economy and an “almost empty treasury”!

WHICH WAS WORSE - 30 YEARS OF MILITARY LOOTING OF THE NIGERIAN TREASURY OR 16 YEARS OF PDP’S BRAZEN INSTITUTIONAL ROBBERY AND CORRUPTION?

The startling revelation that 55 Nigerians in position of authority stole over NGN1.34 trillion naira within a period of 8 years (2006-2013), was never denied by the obnoxious PDP damagers, BUT only very few rogues among them were successfully prosecuted by the Buhari Administration which declared war against corruption right from inception in 2015!

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL INDICTED NIGERIA AGAIN!

In January 2021, Nigeria dropped from 146th to 149th position in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), released by Transparency International (TI), as a result of glaring failure in the anti-corruption campaign! Nigeria was classified as the second most corrupt country in 2020 – an indication that APC Managers were as bad as their predecessors!

In spite of the classification however, the President and his handlers have scored the leadership very high by claiming that the avalanche and myriads of socio-economic/security/corruption challenges which were inherited from consecutive PDP previous administrations had been largely decimated!

For instance the President and his lieutenants claimed that the Boko Haram’s insurgency which debuted from August 2009, and metamorphosed into a terrorist group was technically defeated between 2015-2016, when Federal troops recovered 17 Local Governments Areas (LGAs), of the Bornu North East State from the terrorists!

BUT contrary to that claim, as of January 2021 to date of this publication, the renegades were collecting taxes from farmers and traders in the North East Bornu including neighbouring North West and North Central States before they could venture into their farms!
(B) Because farmers from those regions have been hampered from cultivating the land by Boko Haram terrorists, armed herdsmen, bandits/gunmen, who kill and slaughter them at random, food scarcity and inflation of goods and services have remained an albatross to legitimate administration - a development that has made non-sense of the Central Bank of Nigeria interventionist agricultural “Anchor Borrowers Programme” which over TWO million farmers are believed to have benefited! Government has played down on rumours of a slide into another economic recession!
(C) Although the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC), administration claims that “normalcy had returned to those regions except for dastardly attacks on soft targets by the terrorists who still wanted to remain in contention”, it is an open secret that those claims are fallacies and cheap propaganda!

APC’S SCORECARD IN 2021 - COMPLETION OF POWER/ROAD PROJECTS ETC!
*Construction of the abandoned Mambilla Hydro Power Project, Taraba State, commenced in earnest in 2021 and Minister of Power assured Nigerians of early completion and delivery.
*Construction of of the AKK Gas Pipeline, OB3 Gas Pipeline and the expansion of the Escravos – Lagos Pipeline, commenced in the first half of 2021 and ongoing.
*Ease of doing business through liberalisation of the Power Sector which allows for increased private sector participation to generate and sell power has been encouraged to expand the economy.
*Work was intensified on the Second Niger Bridge under construction in Onitsha, South East, which should be completed and delivered in 2022.
*Strategic damaged major bridges across the country are being repaired while in some States new ones are being constructed.
*The National Social Housing Programme got attention with completion of 13 Housing Estates in 2021.
*Construction of forty-Seven (47) ongoing road projects including those leading to major Ports from 2020-2021, are being completed and delivered.
*Refurbished Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri and Enugu International Airports were commissioned in 2020.
*Agricultural rural mechanisation scheme to spread over 700 Local Government Areas (LGAs), over a period of three years, was launched in 2020, to boost massive diversification to agriculture and increase the nation’s internally Generated Revenue (IGR), outside of CRUDE OIL!
*Launching of a Livestock Development Project Grazing Model in Gombe State, where 200,000 hectares of land has been identified began in 2020 and still ongoing.
*The training of 50,000 workers to compliment the country’s 7,000 Agriculture extension workers to increase the workforce to 75,000 began in earnest in March 2021 to boost quality of agricultural produce.
*The Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri rail lines were commissioned in the first quarter of 2020.
*The Ibadan-Abuja and Kano-Kaduna rail lines also commenced in the first quarter of 2020.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SOLDIER AND A DEMOCRAT!
QUESTION: How can President Buhari who had been a soldier from his mother’s womb suddenly claim to become a “reformed democrat” because of politics? As soon as he completed his WAEC, he joined the Nigerian Army and reluctantly left when he was forcefully retired with the rank of a Major General through a military coup which ousted him as Nigeria’s Head of State 27th August, 1985!
A soldier is a person who voluntarily submits himself for the service of his country and takes an oath of allegiance to die in defence of his nation’s territorial integrity in the line of duty!
A soldier is immune to fear, frivolities, timidity, empathy etc, in the line of operational duties – especially in war situations! He is ready to kill or be killed! Soldiers hardly enjoy life after retirement because of their regimental mentality!
“ORDER IS ORDER” – is the soldier’s marching order having been programmed to obey orders without question - live and die without questions! Professional soldiers can neither be good administrators nor politicians after retirement by virtue of orientation to “Vertical Order From Above” operational command which they will always expect all citizens to imbibe!
Army power play transcends beyond the barracks! Retired soldiers dare not confront or disobey their superiors –they MUST remain subservient for life!
Retired Genenal Aremu Obasanjo – has publicly told the world that President Buhari was his “junior in the Army” and that he had every right to criticise or correct his actions in government! Buhari has NEVER disputed the fact nor talked back at his superior!

President Buhari’s propaganda that he is a reformed democrat is untenable. It’s nothing but a brazen deceit - a fluke! Since he assumed office he stuck to his 2015 Investiture declaration: “I am for everybody and I am for nobody” – and true to his words, he listened to nobody except the cabal of old friends mostly from the army!

BUHARI’S AUTOCRATIC AND OVERBEARING CHARACTER!

The soldier President is intolerant of opposition or dissenting voices because to him, “Order is Order”! To this septuagenarian soldier the Rule of Law is a paper tiger..... a ruse of law!

DIGITAL AUTHORITARIANISM DUBBED DECREE 4 I984!
During his short tenure as military Head of State from (31 st December, 1983 – 27th August, 1985), Major General Buhari enacted an anti-media law: “Protection Against False Accusations Decree” referred to as Decree 4 which gave his military regime powers to shut down newspapers and radio/tv stations adjudged to be hostile or detrimental to the administration!
It is believed that he intends to subtly re-introduce a similar or worse law to gag the Press through the Press Council Bill!

NOT-TOO-YOUNG-TO-RULE ACT PROPAGANDA!

President Buhari merely signed the Not-Too-Young-To-Rule Bill into law before the 2019 General Elections for very selfish reason and ambition to clinch a second term in office!
He does not seem to believe in the divine order of succession of the young generation of Nigerians as future leaders otherwise he would have spoken, pacify and counsel them as a loving father on 20-10-20 during the #EndSarsEndPoliceBrutality Youth Protest instead of abandoning them to soldiers bullets which sent some of them to untimely deaths!

ANTI-CORRUPTION.
His anti-corruption campaign has turned out to be a political stunt because all those who have either been fingered for the crime, or are already facing prosecution in the law courts are glaringly protected with the connivance of the Courts once they defected to the ruling APC and are treated with kid gloves! Nigerians will not be second class citizens in their country anymore! “Soldier go, soldier come but barrack remains!”


WHAT WILL BUHARI BE REMEMBERED FOR WHEN HE DEPARTS OFFICE “DO’OLE” ON MONDAY, 29TH MAY 2023!

The Grape Vine says, he would be remembered as a “Leopard that cannot change its spots;” because all of his travails are self-inflicted and his “good works” of Change Agenda are just few drops in the ocean – SHI’KEE NA!!




I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

“E PLURIBUS UNUM” – FROM MANY, ONE!- Dr David Olufon.

"E Pluribus Unum", is the United States of America's Latin motto which appears on the nation's coins, currencies and many of its public monuments; which means, "From many, one"! America, a nation of immigrants of different nationalities boasts of a population of over 300 million people of diverse tribes, languages, cultures, castes and traditions with which it has built a united nation in which the American citizen's welfare remained government's priority of action and with such an uncommon policy, is globally classified as the best democracy in about 300 years of existence as an independent nation!
When the Nigerian Military eventually handed over to politicians in 1999, they left behind a very clumsy constitution which further divide instead of uniting the over 500 tribes, about 250 languages, enacted and established a unitary presidential system instead of a true federalism!
Unlike the US, Nigeria’s diversity was deliberately allowed to fester through divide-and-rule land mine bequeathed by the colonialists!
BUT the citizens are now agreed to resolve all controversial and nagging political issues through REFERENDUM! [Please join this campaign that will resolve the nation’s myriads of violent agitations and introduce a period of everlasting PEACE.] Share and look forward to next edition (NO. 2), in the coming days.

With his refusal to assent the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, within the constitutional 30-day provision into law, President Buhari has lost the last providential opportunity to leave any legacy for the posterity of Nigerians!

The truth is that in the absence of INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY enactment in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, DIRECT PRIMARIES for picking political parties candidates for elective offices is the only alternative for credible elections – not INDIRECT or CONSENSUS!

But the President was influenced by the cabal to veto the very credible and harmonized document passed by 469 Citizens’ Representatives of the National Assembly and forwarded for his assent on 19th November, 2021, because it violated the “spirit of democracy”?

Who whispered to Mr President that Direct Primaries would induce “plethora of litigation from party members/stakeholders or that the process would fuel corruption and encourage over monitorization? Who told him that Direct Primaries was undemocratic and could raise credibility issues, undue interference, huge financial burden on political parties, INEC, the economy and Security Agencies?

Under President Buhari’s watch, Nigerians have suffered the worst kind of governance in all ramifications! His fight against corruption just like the war against insecurity died on arrival from 2015 to date because he allowed rebellious Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defectors to take over the National Assembly (NASS), throughout his first term in office! A very terrible mistake which gave his detractors ample opportunity to deplete all of his strategies which were taken over by the cabal that held him by the jugular and stifled all efforts of recovery!

His manifestoes fell like a pack of cards from the onset in 2015 and even though he won the second time according to prophecy from the Servant of God in ZION, he became the lame duck due to his selfish choice of an oligarchy administration, suffocated with nepotism, separatism, marginalization and tribalism!

BUHARI WAS NOT THE MESSIAH AS THE PEOPLE THOUGHT!

His desperation to occupy the number one seat between the years 2003 and 2015 made the citizens to believe he would deliver them from the PDP Taskmasters who inflicted so much pain on the people and the economy for 16 long years; that HE WOULD AIM TO BECOME A RECIPIENT OF THE PRESTIGIOUS “MO” IBRAHIM FOUNDATION AWARD; but his regime turned to be the worse!

The “near empty treasury” which PDP left in 2015 was ravaged by NASS APC “mixed multitude” in collusion with civil servants of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the only option open to Mr. President was to travel cap-in-hand all over the world every year to borrow money from stronger economies!

In addition to all of these institutional maladies, he believes he could block the masses electoral emancipation through his veto but has failed to realise that he and his cabal have lost credibility because SOVEREIGNTY in the execution of the 1999 Constitution –in spite of all its flaws – still belong to the PEOPLE who are set to invoke the option of REFERENDUM to settle all pending issues in respect of RESTRUCTURING OF NIGERIA!

NASS SHOULD ABORT HOLIDAY RECESS TO VETO PRESIDENT BUHARI!

The President has already lost the last opportunity to redeem his battered image due to wrong choices and ineptitudes of his administration through his refusal to communicate NASS within 30 days stipulated for assent by the Constitution in line with Section 58(4)!
The 1999 Constitution did not specify any window for NASS to collect the unsigned Bill at the expiration of 30 days, from the President, attend to his whims and caprices and then re-forward to him for assent!

The only constitutional line of action is for the NASS muster two third majority of the house, veto and call off his bluff and the document automatically become an Act of Parliament!

***PRESIDENT MAHAMADOU ISSOUFOU OF NIGER WINS 2020 IBRAHIM PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT AFRICAN LEADERSHIP!

The “Mo” Ibrahim Foundation Award for Achievement in African Leadership first winner emerged in 2007, when Major General Muhammadu Buhari, made a second attempt to clinch the Nigerian presidency. Way back in 1984-1985, when he was military Head of State, the duo of Buhari and his second in command, Brigadier Idiagbon initiated some radical socialist measures which endeared them to Nigerians and which scorecard eventually secured his desire!

If President Buhari had maintained that socialist tempo from 2015, by now Nigeria’s economy would have been very buoyant, with peace and tranquillity reigning supreme. He would also have been a sure candidate for the “Mo” Foundation Award after retirement from politics – but all of that is now wishful thinking!
Alas, the 2020 “Mo” Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership has been awarded to Mahamadou Issoufou erstwhile two-term President of the land-locked, Republic of Niger as the sixth recipient.
The Prize Committee in its citation praised his exceptional leadership after inheriting one of the world’s poorest economies, facing seemingly insurmountable challenges but fostered economic growth under very challenging circumstances of violent extremism, increasing desertification etc.
He was adjudged for leading his people on the path of progress through poverty eradication which decreased from 48% to 40% during his 10-year tenure and paved way for a better future through exceptional leadership!

“Mo” Ibrahim expressed hope that President Issoufou’s LEGACY would inspire generations of African leaders.

“Mo” IBRAHIM’S VISION AND MISSION!

Sudanese-British businessman, Engineer Mohammed “Mo” Ibrahim, founder of Celtel, an African-based Mobile Telecommunications Company (1998-2007), initiated the “Mo” Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, which awards USD$5million to African Heads of State who deliver security, health, education, and economic development to their constituents and democratically transfer power to their successors.

According to Wikipedia, Ibrahim has pledged to give at least, half of his wealth to charity by joining “The Giving Pledge” – a campaign body – dedicated to encourage extremely wealthy people to contribute a majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. As of August 2020, the pledge has 211 signatories from 23 countries. Most of the signatories of the pledge are billionaires and as of 2016, their pledges are estimated to total USD$600 billion dollars.

According to Forbes 2011 Billionaire List, 75-year-old Mo Ibrahim is worth USD$1.8 billion making him the 692nd richest person in the world. He was selected for the TIME “Top 100” List in 2008, and was ranked first in the annual Powerlist of influential Black Britons and credited for “transforming a continent”!

The first recipient of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership was former Mozambique President, Joaquim Chissano (2007), followed by President Festus Mogae of Botswana (2008), President Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde (2011), President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia (2014), President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia (2017), and the latest recipient, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger (2020)!

THE ROLE OF IIAG.

Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), established in 2007, provides an annual assessment of the quality of governance in 54 African countries and with the most comprehensive collection of data on African governance the IIAG provides a framework for citizens, governments, institutions and the private sector to accurately access the delivery of public goods and services and policy outcomes across the continent. As well as being a tool to help determine and debate government performance, the IIAG is a decision-making instrument with which to govern.

The Foundation defines governance as the provision of the political, social and economic goods that a citizen has the right to expect from his/her state and that a state has the responsibility to deliver to its citizens.

The IIAG assesses progress under four main conceptual categories: (1) Safety and Rule of Law, (2) Participation & Human Rights, (3) Sustainable Economic Opportunity and (4) Human Development.

These four pillars are populated with data that cover infrastructure to freedom of expression and sanitation to property rights. IIAG is a key initiative of the “Mo” Ibrahim Foundation. It has been published annually since 2007, with launch events in various African cities, including Accra, Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg and Nairobi.
Was it not high time that emerging patriotic Nigerian political leaders and their counterpart billionaires across the continent took a cue from “Mo” Ibrahim, IIAG and Nigerien President Issoufou to improve on the life of the poor masses and entrench peace in their ?

***2022 DEFICIT BUDGET OF NGN16.4TRILLION JERKED UP BY LEGISLATORS TO NGN17.12TRILLION!

Like the past budgets from 2015 to 2021, the just approved 2022 financial document of Wednesday 22nd December, 2021, by the NASS was in total deficit! The sum of NGN3.8trillion naira is appropriated for Debt Servicing; NGN6.83trillion (41.7%) for Recurrent Expenditure while NGN5.4 trillion is for Capital Expenditure!
International Crude Oil benchmark price was increased from $57 to $62 dollars in anticipation of a proposed increase in revenue expenditure! Daily oil production rate was pegged 1.86million per barrel and the increase of NGN700 billion to the over-burdened budget according to the legislators, was to accommodate “some other requests of national importance which have not been captured in the budget estimates and which could not be covered by the revenue increase”!

SHOULD ANYONE BE SURPRISED AT THEIR TWISTS AND TURNS?

Is anyone surprised about the increase? Of course not! It is an annual ritual for the law makers to carry out “oversight functions” of padding, re-writing, re-inventing, inserting, and injecting fresh unexplainable and untenable items/figures as buffer funds to still laden their numerous outrageous allowances!

BUDGET BREAKDOWN:
*Defence/Security – NGN2.41trillion (15%).
*Infrastructure – NGN1.45trillion (8.9%).
*Education: NGN1.29trillion (7.9%).
*Health: NGN820billion (5%).
*Social Development & Poverty Eradication – NGN863billion (5.3%).

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Prov 14:12).

Merry Christmas to all our readers across the world. May the Spirit of Jesus Christ dominate your lives in this Yuletide Season and into the New Year 2022! Shalom.



I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

It is very glaring that Nigerian legislators have deliberately misinterpreted oversight functions as license to appropriate humongous salaries, allowances, constituency votes that are alien to the constitution to augment legitimate monthly salaries of NGN1.5m and NGN1.3m naira respectively!

They clandestinely re-wrote, re-invented, amended, or padded annual budgets submitted by the executive at their whims and caprices for the sole purpose of aggrandizement! Although in the 21 years (1999-2021), of the fresh attempt to practice transparent democracy, the National Assembly (NASS), salary structure has remained very controversial and very secretive, the 469 Legislators’ flamboyant, expensive and stupendous lifestyle in the midst of over 190million poverty-stricken Nigerians had always exposed them as the proverbial ostrich which buries its head in the sand for safety!

With legislative impunity unbefitting of the
CITIZENS’ REPRESENTATIVES, the lawmakers completely sidelined the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the constitutional agency which fixes salaries of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), set up a parallel NASS Finance Section to allot and disburse their salaries and allowances which was always between NGN115-150 billion naira of annual budgets!

EVERY LIE HAS A TERMINAL DATE!

At a public event in Abuja on Monday 13th December, 2021, veteran politician (1999-2021) and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, disclosed that Senators/Representatives collect NGN52m and NGN32m, respectively as annual running allowances. According to him, the monthly salary of a Senator was NGN1.5m and that of a Representative was NGN1.3m! He told participants in a paper he presented at the First Distinguished Parliamentarians Lecture Series that the alleged NGN13m that dominated public domain some years back was a Senator’s quarterly office running allowance while that of the Representative was NGN8m, which according to him were the lowest in any presidential democracy in the world!

At that amount, each Senator collected NGN3.25m monthly while his House of Representative counterpart collected NGN2m! In 2016, Senator Shehu Sanni, (then of the All Progressives Congress, APC) unveiled the secrecy behind Senators’ running allowance which was then NGN3.5million and whereas Senator Mrs. ‘Remi Tinubu claimed she got NGN3.8m - monies being paid from BORROWED FOREIGN LOANS! These narratives are completely opposite to Senator Lawan’s claims!

HAS THE EXECUTIVE EVER COMPLAINED OF NASS EXCESSES?

The Executive and the 9th NASS Legislators work hand in gloves! Although Senator Lawan was quick to state in a recent paper that the Red Chamber legislators were not a “rubber stamp” appendage of the Chief Executive Officer,
President Buhari, but the citizens are too wise to believe such brazen lies! Every demand from both side of the divide was always treated with express dispatch to avoid confrontation and allow for smooth running of government according to inside sources unlike what obtained under the Saraki/Dogara debacle of the 8th NASS!

According to Senator Lawan the legislative allowances were to cover running costs which included but not limited to medical services; professional consulting; vehicles/office equipment, consisting of computers, printers, photo copying machines, television sets, etc, maintenance; books, magazines, newspapers; local/international travels, etc, BUT failed to mention that:
The legislators got presidential approval of NGN55billion naira to purchase exotic FOREIGN CARS/ JEEPS; and,
Collected N37BILLION TO RENOVATE THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, AND IN RECIPROCITY, the Senators were also quick to approve a foreign loan of USD$ 22.7 dollars for the president to execute fresh critical infrastructures across Nigeria
in May 2020, and subsequent loans in 2021!

Another N850 billion loan which was a conversion of a planned external loan to domestic borrowing (in a “rub my back …I rub your back” gesture), in spite of the negative fallout of the Coronavirus pandemic on the economy! ** * **BUT the nation’s DEBT PROFILE SINCE 2015, which is very close to NGN9TRILLION NAIRA AND STILL RISING MUST BE CONTINUALLY SERVICED ACCORDING TO CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT IF NOT RE-NEGOTIATED!!

ALL LOANS (from 2015-2021), according to the President were (a) To finance the Budget deficits, (b) Financing of critical projects and (c) Supporting some States of the Federation! [The same old STORY and with no concrete INFRASTRUCTURES TO MATCH ALMOST NGN9TRILLION DEBT ON HAND!]

Please find below some excerpts of our 2017 Christmas 288th Edition dated 24th December, 2017, in respect of abuse of constitutional provisions by legislators!

THE IMMENSE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS OF NIGERIAN LEGISLATORS!

“In Section 4 (1) - (9) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, legislators are empowered (in a nutshell), (a) to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof with respect to any matter included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part I of the Second Schedule to the Constitution, to the exclusion of the State Houses of Assembly; and (b) matters in the Concurrent Legislative List and any other matter with respect to which it is empowered to make laws in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Federal Constitution.“They are also backed by law to carry out legislative oversight functions on both the Private and Public Institutions, especially the Ministries Departments and Agencies, (MDAs), for the purposes of CHECKS AND BALANCES, to ensure probity, equity in appropriation and execution in budgetary transactions of government at the Federal platforms.“Under Sections 88 (1) (2)-89 (1) (2), legislators have powers to conduct investigations into any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make laws; and the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, Ministry or government charged, or intended to be charged with the duty of or responsibility for executing or administering laws enacted by NASS and disbursing or administering moneys appropriated or to be appropriated by NASS; EXPOSE CORRUPTION, INEFFICIENCY OR WASTE IN THE EXECUTION OR ADMINISTRATION OF LAWS WITHIN ITS LEGISLATIVE COMPETENCE AND IN THE DISBURSEMENT OR ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS APPROVED BY IT ........ETC!

WHO OVERSIGHTS THE CORRUPT LEGISLATORS STILL WALKING FREE?

But outside of these spheres, the legislators have become busy-bodies and meddlesome interlopers as they struggle very unsuccessfully, to take over executive functions and power from President Muhammadu Buhari at every opportunity, through spurious interpretation of their oversight functions, when constitutional INTERPRETATION OF LAWS is the sole function of the JUDICIARY and PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS, REST WITH THE EXECUTIVE! Should Nigerians wonder why Ibrahim Magu's confirmation was rejected twice and why Senator Ali Ndume was suspended for SIX LEGISLATIVE MONTHS OF 181 DAYS because he contradicted his colleagues? Legislators that are claiming relevance through the Constitution have messy antecedents: *Not less than 15 Senators are under EFCC investigations for corrupt enrichment; * Saraki has been ordered for re-trial at the CCT, for fraudulent declaration of assets between 2003-2011, when he served as Governor of Kwara State; * Corrupt ex-governors are members of the "hallowed chambers"; and * Some of them conspired to forge the Senate Rules to get into office by hook or crook!

TIME TO EXPOSE THESE ENEMIES OF THE MASSES IS NOW!

We advocate that the WHISTLE BLOWERS in conjunction with the NGOs, CSOs, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), Stand Up For Nigeria (SUN), SERAP and all downtrodden Nigerians whose sweat and blood constitute the common wealth being looted by these reckless and heartless politicians, should dig out the legislators' SKELETONS and expose the OSTRICHS, whose heads are buried in the sand!

LET'S NAME, SHAME THE CROOKED LEGISLATION WHO ARE HIDING BEHIND OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS TO CAUSE HAVOC AND KILL THE OBNOXIOUS AND ANTI-CITIZENS NGO AND CIVIL SOCIETY COMMITTEE OF NIGERIA BILLS, PENDING AT THE NASS, NOW!
"Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs. 14:34).
TO SHUT DOWN THE SENATE IN 2022 THROUGH POPULAR REFERENDUM IS A TASK THAT MUST BE DONE! [The following piece was first published in our Edition 414th of 18 July, 2021; please copy and circulate on the Social Media to garner support for an URGENT REFERENDUM that will usher permanent peace to the nation!]

“BUT WITH THE REFERENDUM’S SIMPLE “YES” OR “NO”, TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ALL CRIMINALS WILL DROP THEIR WEAPONS AND NIGERIA WILL EMBRACE EVERLASTING PEACE AGAIN!

Should the Nigeria SENATE be disbanded and shut down? YES!
Should a UNICAMERAL PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT with 74 or less members be established to replace the DOLLAR-GULPING PRESIDENTIAL REGIME? YES!
DEVOLUTION OF POWERS to the States through Resource Control/Self Governance SO THAT STATES SHOULD PAY NEGOTIATED PERCENTAGE TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? YES!
STATE POLICE AND STATE PRISONS to be run by all States of the Federation in respect of ALL crimes? YES!
INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY should be enjoyed if such candidate was not a member of any political party, six months prior to any election? YES!

Should the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), enjoy constitutional autonomy and be free to legislate and create any number of councils as they so desired? YES!
Food, Drugs and poison to be moved to the Concurrent List so that States could constitutionally legislate on those items, while narcotics/psychotropic substances should remain on the Exclusive List? Yes!

Labor issues, trade unions, industrial relations, conditions, safety/welfare, disputes/minimum wages/ industrial arbitration, should be handled by both States/Federal Governments who should enjoy independent legislation? YES!

Mines and minerals, oil fields and mining, geological surveys and natural gas that are ONSHORE will be vested in all States of the Federation, while all OFF-SHORE OIL shall be vested in the government of the federation? YES!

Registration of Business Names should be on the Concurrent List for companies to choose their areas of operations; State or nationwide? YES!

Collection of Stamp Duties should be moved to the Concurrent List, for the States to collect duties from individual and small businesses while Federal Government collects Stamp Duties from Limited Liabilities Companies? YES!

Issue of Citizenship, Local Government or State of Origin, which had hitherto been discriminatory, "should be replaced with State of Residence", through a proposed amendment to the Federal Character Commission Act to allow people domicile in a place to be considered as INDIGENES of such place? YES!”

LET US UNITE AND SAVE NIGERIA ONCE AND FOR ALL FROM 21ST CENTURY NEO-COLONIALISTS! (Psalm.133:1-3).


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

It is very unethical for President Buharis’ handlers to lament and protest over Nigeria’s inclusion in the Red List travel ban to the United Kingdom in view of glaring presence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the country!

Although Nigeria is also included on the Canadian red list, the temporary ban by UK has hit the nation’s money bags/launderers harder because British Isles is a second home to them and their families! Great Britain, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales are countries suitable for Western education, medical tourism, holiday resorts shopping destinations and safe havens for dispensing illicit financial flows!

The cacophony of local /international propagandists which were very quick and loud in condemnation of the UK’s decision to protect its public health from suspected Omicron carriers from Nigeria were in error because they were ignorant of the TRUTH that consecutive Nigerian leaders woefully failed to develop strong and formidable institutions in all sectors of the economy/security and must therefore rush to Britain at the slightest opportunity to enjoy the FRUITS OF OTHER PEOPLES’ LABOR!

QUESTIONS:
(1).Are the Christmas and New Year festivities not in the around the corner?

(2). Have the Nigerian health, security, power or economic sectors gotten any better especially in the last SIX YEARS under President Buhari’s watch?

(3). Did Nigerian post-colonial administrators learn any TRADE from Britain, its former colonial master?

(4).What stopped Nigerian leaders from copying the BLUEPRINTS of Industrial Revolution Institutions – the British hallmark of investments in institutional and human development that have entrenched their centuries of democracy and strong economy that has outlived all their great and very outstanding political leaders?


POST-COLONIAL ERA PRODUCED COVETOUS LEADERSHIP!

New Nigerian political leaders shortly after Independence betrayed the citizens by focusing on quick dollars which accrued from Crude Oil instead of entrenchment of the peoples’ security and welfare!

Export agricultural groundnut pyramids, abundant cocoa seeds, rubber raw materials and the excess natural underground pearls of mineral resources that could have addressed human development infrastructures and established very strong institutions were exchanged for imports of refined and finished products from UK and other European countries!

QUESTION: What is the meaning of TRAVEL APARTHEID? The British High Commissioner in Nigeria had said that travel ban measures were “SCIENTIFICALLY BASED” for the protection of its citizens!

NIGERIA TOOK THE WRONG STEPS AND EXPECTS THE RIGHT RESULTS – WELCOME RAMAPHOSA!

First, Nigeria was aware that the deadliest Variant was discovered in Botswana, South Africa in (just as the very first Covid Variant was discovered in Wuyan, China, in December 2019) and that it had debuted on its soil through two travelers who migrated from that country to Nigeria on 26th November, 2021.

As at Tuesday 7th December, 2021, six more Omicron Variant were detected and confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to further alarm an already frenzied population which is polarized in the respect of the presence of Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria for the last two years!

The travel ban which would affect Visitor Visa applications and all international arrivals to the UK from all red list countries, including Nigeria and took effect from Monday 6th December, 2021, require pre-departure Covid-19 tests by travelers from all affected countries to protect public health and avoid further spread in the UK!

The commotion generated by Nigeria’s apologetics was very unnecessary and uncalled for because it is not a total travel ban on citizens from the affected countries; as Nigerian/UK Citizens and residents will be able to enter the country, but will have to pay while in quarantine for 10 days!

In addition, the British High Commission in Nigeria in a statement says that compelling and compassionate circumstances will enjoy positive attention from red list countries while travel restrictions remain in place!

Second, without due attention to tracking of the South African migrants to ascertain all people they had contacted during/after flight at the airport, President Buhari opened its borders and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on 1st December, 2021, to ratify some economic/investment MOUs, with the camaraderie of African brotherhood at the expense of massive infection to the Nigerian Citizens!

Virologists predicted at the weekend that Nigeria could slip into a FOURTH WAVE, “in days to come” due to change in weather!
Third, the President’s advisers who had convinced him in the affirmative that the new Variant posed no serious danger in spite of travel bans to all South African travelers to virtually all countries of the world totally forgot that Nigeria was not an island in the global village!


OMICRON HAS SPREAD TO 57 COUNTRIES! AND STILL COUNTING

The latest epidemiological report by the World Health Organization (WHO), said the Omicron Variant which has spread rapidly in SA has been reported in at least 57 countries across the world!

*In the UK early figures were estimated at over 386 and has since risen to about 1,000 according to statistics released by Minister for Health on 8th December, 20, but the increase is on such deep trajectory that cases were doubling every two to three days and the country braces for 1 million cases by the end of the month!


WHY IS NIGERIA SO MAD WITH THE UK

Nigeria attained the prestigious status of sovereignty as a Republic on 1st October, 1963; politically discarded all vestiges of British colonialism and imperialism, replaced the Queen of England with an indigene as of Head of State and adopted a quasi parliamentary/presidential system of government.

However they failed to establish concrete economic foundation for industry, manufacturing, SMSEs etc, that would provide gainful employment for all able-bodied and school leavers at all levels as necessary foundation for human development and an enduring platform for foreign exchange earnings through massive exports of finished/refined products!

The founding fathers were probably taught by their colonial masters that the art of BORROWING to actualize set developmental goals was a universal norm which no nation could afford to shun and also an indispensible tool for “sound economic development and growth” – a doctrine which dominated consecutive administrations from Sir. Tafawa Balewa to the current President Muhammadu Buhari who is the most obsessive BORROWER of them all!

The colonial masters must have also told them that the richest country in the world [the United States of America], also borrows from the World Bank Group and advised that borrowed money must be invested in CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT!


THE BUHARI CHANGE ERA!

President Buhari’s desperate bid to occupy the number one seat paid off in 2015; but in his SIX years of governance as at June 2021, Nigeria - through his mastery in DEBT NEGOTIATION - is indebted to almost all developed countries, the United States, China, Canada, UAE, Britain, Japan, France, India, Germany, Saudi Arabia; not excluding top international financial institutions, - the World Bank Group, Islamic Development Bank, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, African Development Bank (AfDB), Exim Bank of China, etc, to the tune of USD$ 17billion dollars and Nigerians are still counting because of the avowed passion of the President to continue to borrow more funds for infrastructure until he departs office!


BUHARI AND NOT NIGERIANS IS THE SHAMELESS BEGGAR!

President Buhari had hardly assumed office in 2015 when he embarked on a trip to China to learn from President Xi Jinping (so Nigerians believed), how to take the most-populated African country out of POVERTY once and for all like China did to become the SECOND LARGEST ECONOMY AFTER THE UNITED STATES, but they were all wrong!

The man went cap in hand to BEG for money and between 2015 and 2021, had borrowed USD$ 3.40billion dollars or NGN1.3trillion naira from the most-populous country of more than 1.4 billion people in the world according to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office! (DMO).
Although China’s concessional (20-year-tenor) loans with 2.5% interest and 7-year moratorium (grace period), are tied to some 11 projects- majorly in the Nigerian Railway, the South East Second Niger Bridge and rehabilitation/upgrading of some road projects in the North Central, most part is diverted to payment of salaries/allowances/excesses of the executive, legislative, judiciary and the MDAs – who are less than 2 million of Nigeria’s population!
In addition to the economic quagmire, NOT ONE DOLLAR of accumulated loans has been paid back but regularly SERVICED, while more loans were sought to increase debt profile! According to the Federal Minister of Finance, the sum of NGN2.89 trillion, 74% of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), was spent between January and August 2021, a tradition common to all annual budgets!


IS THIS NOT A NEW WAVE OF AFRICA’S ECONOMIC COLONIZATION?

The countries that kept lending huge funds to support phantom “infrastructural development” in the Nigeria do so for very favorable reasons which are contained in the CONTRACTS which allow LENDER NATIONS to take over contractual asset of the DEBTOR until all borrowed funds and interests were completely paid!

PROPHECY: Nigeria will NEVER BE RE-COLONIZED because all current corrupt leadership who are RICHER THAN NIGERIA [through institutional manipulation of THE OIL WEALTH in favor of a few], are going to be STRIPPED OF ALL THE ILL-GOTTEN MONIES starched in PANAMA, PANDORA HAVENS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022!

***THE PROCESS OF SHUTTING DOWN THE 9TH AND LAST NIGERIAN SENATE WILL COMMENCE IN EARNEST EARLY IN THE YEAR AND PRESIDENT BUHARI WILL HAVE NO OPTION THAN TO SUCCUMB TO A POPULAR REFERENDUM THAT WILL ALSO TAKE CARE OF OTHER RESTRUCTURING AGITATIONS BEGINNING WITH DEVOLUTION OF POWER FROM THE FEDERAL TO THE FEDERATING STATE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE POLICE!

***Nigeria will be salvaged by DIVINELY APPOINTED MANAGERS from among the RIGHTEOUS MASSES who will boldly step out to CHANGE THE NEGATIVE DESTINY OF POVERTY TO AFFLUENCE!
*** FURTHER BORROWING WILL SEIZE FROM THE YEAR 2022 DUE TO PRESSURE BY NEW LEADERS ON INTERNATIONAL BODIES TO BLACKLIST NIGERIA!
***LEGAL PROSECUTION OF MANY LOOTERS OF THE NIGERIA TREASURY WILL BE FAST-TRACKED BY LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHO WILL SECURE POSITIVE JUDGMENTS THAT WILL SEND THE CULPRITS TO JAIL!
***FEAR WILL GRIP ALL PILFERERS IN THE MDAs, WHO HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR ANNUAL BUDGET PADDING AS A SPIRIT OF ANTAGONISM WILL FORCE THEM TO EXPOSE THEM AND THEIR CRIMES!
Nigeria will rise again from the ASHES before the 2023 General Elections!

God will bring down the PROUD OLIGARCHY and raise a RIGHTEOUS GENERATION UNTO HIMSELF! ‘’Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people’’. (Prov. 14:34).




I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

The Whistle Blower Policy introduced in 2016 by the Federal Ministry of Finance to encourage a confidential culture through which corruption in the public sector could be easily detected, exposed, addressed and punished, died on arrival because the interest of majority of Nigerians was the mouth-watering monetary reward aspect which promised whistle blowers 2.5 - 5% of illicit funds or of recovered concealed assets!

The Policy which was not an Act of Parliament heightened the craze for quick money which confidants of treasury looters seized to expose their malfeasant principals in order to acquire their shares of the fraud and simultaneously opened floodgates to unscrupulous law enforcers who recovered the funds to covet large portions of every successful raid!


EFCC, WHISTLE BLOWERS AND DEFENCE LAWYERS QUARREL OVER NGN 850 BILLION REWARD!

In November 2017, Whistle Blowers, defence lawyers and some unscrupulous officials of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), fought dirty over the N850million naira reward for the recovery of USD$43.4million, NGN23.3milliom and 27,800 Euros, concealed in one apartment of the Osborne Towers situated in Ikoyi, Lagos Island on 22nd April, 2017!

Defence Lawyer to three friends who disclosed the hidden Ikoyi loot to EFCC threatened to take legal action before the matter was resolved and a sum of NGN421million was paid to one on 13th December 2017, to Stephen Sunday, the lead whistle blower by the Federal Ministry of Finance, and it was reported that he flew out of the country for safety!

Whereas, amounts paid to the other two friends of Stephen could not be ascertained!
Alleged malfeasant EFCC operatives tried fruitlessly to outsmart the three bona-fide squealers who exposed the Osborne loot linked to DG National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr. Ayo Oke, whose where about remains a mystery till date!

There was a controversy over the authentic whistle blower in respect of the cache of monies recovered from the flat at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos State in April 2017, and the last Nigerians heard about the whistle blower reward was in December of the same year when the much-traumatised authentic principal whistle blower Stephen Sunday got certain amount of money not up to 2.5% of the recovered sum because of insincerity on the part of covetous EFCC operatives and Federal Ministry of Finance!

Stephen’s lawyer who had earlier threatened court litigation against the anti-graft agency, claimed that EFCC officials subjected his client to emotional trauma through the administration of psychotic drugs at the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital, Lagos, which they claimed cost NGN 250,000 naira “to cure him of an assumed madness” believed to have been caused by the sudden windfall of tremendous riches!

Apart from Stephen’s lawyer, another legal firm which also claimed to represent Stephen and his two co-whistle blowers, Abdulmumin Musa and Bala Usman with whom he informed EFCC about the discovery, also petitioned the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, to compel EFCC to pay the reward to the THREE MEN!

It is very pertinent for the new EFCC Administration under Abdulrasheed Bawa to re-open the OSBORNE CASE and fish out culpable officers who would likely damage his reputation if urgent measures were delayed!


WHISTLE BLOWER POLICY WAS BUHARI’S BABY!

Although the Whistle Blowers and Witness Protection Policy was President Buhari’s innovation, his ambitious manifesto to crush corruption from its very root in the polity, his six-year occupation of Aso Rock Villa has debuted the worst kind of the infectious disease in two decades of the nation’s new democratic dispensation!

However the 9th Senate reintroduced the old Policy as one of 11 Bills read for the first time at plenary in November 2019, to seek protection for whistle blowers and witnesses with provision for financial rewards to encourage citizens who expose corruption and protection against victimisation or loss of jobs!

The reason for NASS reintroduction could not be far-fetched because President Buhari’s determination’s to stamp out the evil crime of corruption backfired and festered the malaise beyond imaginable proportion instead of reducing it!


ICPC CHAIRMAN IS NEW WHISTLE BLOWER WHO CANNOT BE GAGGED!

The Independent Corrupt Practices and related Offences Commission (ICPC), Chairman Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has confirmed that there was gross abuse of personnel budget as duplication of projects by some Federal Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs), amounting to NGN20,138 billion!
He disclosed that a review by his anti-graft agency revealed that duplication and padding occurred in the implementation of the 2021 Budget which involved about 257 projects adding that ICPC was investigating Ministry of Labour for corrupt employment/ issuance of fake letters of employment and fraudulently enrolling them on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and posting them to unsuspecting MDAs to work! Also on the ICPC searchlight are the University College Hospital, Ibadan and corrupt staff members of MDAs suspected of massive illegal recruitment!

In his privileged position as an academic and head of such an anti-corruption government institution, Professor Owasanoye’s claims which include but not limited to; massive budgetary scams, unilateral increase in wages, indiscriminate travels resulting in high inflation of personnel budget among other financial improprieties reflecting huge wage bills up to about 70% of annual budget can neither be faulted, wished away nor dismissed!

He also disclosed that ICPC was prosecuting one of the leaders of the syndicate from whose custody several fake letters of recommendation purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Honourable Ministers, Federal Civil Service Commission and other high-ranking Nigerians!

ICPC RECOVERS 300 HOUSES FROM TWO CIVIL SERVANTS IN ABUJA!

In the October, 2021, the ICPC Chairman disclosed at a Public Hearing on Real Estate, organised by the HOR Ad Hoc Committee on Investigation of Operations of Real Estate Developers in the FCT, that the anti-graft agency recovered over 300 Houses from two civil servants in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FTC)!

He expressed dismay that public officers were using real estate developers as conduits for illicit financial flows!

It is therefore gratifying that the House of Representatives (HOR), has already moved to confirm all recent findings of the ICPC boss which were contained in his welcome address at the 3rd National Summit on Diminishing Corrupting in the Public Service and Presentation of Public Service Integrity Award held at the State House Conference Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday 30th November 2021.


OFFICIAL PROTECTION FOR WHISTLE BLOWERS!

Although the Whistle Blowers and Protection of Witness Act sought to (1) Encourage, (2) Facilitate disclosure of malfeasance by public officers/bodies and (3) Protect such disclosures under the law, two major Clauses: 34 and 45 of the were categorical on gains and stringent punishment of not less than five years or a fine of NGN10 million for false alarms by whistle blowers!

Whistle Blowers are protected from defamation, civil and criminal liability. They also enjoy preclusion/immunity from contractual or other remedies that could be enforced against a whistle blower while monetary incentive of 2.5% of the recovered monies (after all tax deduction), is provided in the Act by Federal Government as reward for genuine disclosures that lead to successful raids!

FEDERAL HIGH COURT SAYS EX-NNPC GMD HAS CASE TO ANSWER!

Another exposed illicit money by a whistle blower also led to the arrest and prosecution of a an ex-Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu who served between 2012-2014, by the EFCC in February 2017, for allegedly concealing foreign currencies in the sums of USD$9.7 million and 74,000 British Pounds sterling in his Kaduna State Guest House!
As at the time of his arrest the Federal Government law against non-declaration of assets and money laundering/Whistle Blower and Witness Protection Act of December 2016, was in operation!

INSTITUTIONAL LOOTING MUST END WITH ABDULRESHEED BAWA!

Gone are those days when unscrupulous operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), could intimidate, harass, brow-beat and fleece patriotic whistle blowers of their legitimate rewards and get away with such dastard institutional crimes without bating an eye lid!

Young, ebullient, diligent, resilient and resourceful Bawa MUST CLEANSE THE AUGEAN STABLE AND GIVE EFCC A BRAND NEW/IMPECCABLE NAME AND IMAGE! “To whom much is given, much is expected”!





I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

Nigerians especially the Niger Delta indigenes deserve a better deal than the clueless economic solutions proffered by the Buhari Administration to solve the 63-year-old all-comers massive robbery in the Petroleum Sector!

They all applauded the President’s victory in 2015 as a civilian leader because of the assumption that he had vast experience to re-order, re-direct, re-invent, re-organize and harness the great potentials of the Oil Industry of the endemic institutional corruption which has been its acclaimed trademark!

He was Military Chairman from 1977-1978 when the Nigerian National Petroleum was created and later Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources when government invested in pipelines and petroleum storage infrastructures and as two term-President (2015-2021), he has jealously kept the Petroleum portfolio under his armpit for closer scrutiny! But in spite of the citizens’ assumptions, the petroleum regime has witnessed its worst hiccups through blatant disregard for accountability and had exposed a brazen penchant for retention of a blank cheque ie, an unspecified percentage of total IGR before remission to the TSA!

But with the planned incorporation of the NNPC, should Nigerians hope for sanity in the up, middle, and down streams now that the PIA is now assented by Mr. President or the document is another “paper tiger”?

During Ibe Kachikwu’s tenure as Minister of State for Petroleum the NNPC GMD whose loyalty was to the President allegedly by-passed Kachikwu to award dubious contracts in spite Kachikwu’s seniority as Chairman of the NNPC Board!
Ibe Kachikwu’s bold petition directly to President Buhari at the Aso Villa was discarded because “some animals are more equal than others!”

WHEN “FUEL SUBSIDY” IS REMOVED, WILL OFFICIAL PRICE OF N165 PER LITRE OF PMS JUMP TO N340 (over 200%), BY JUNE 2022 IN ORDER TO ATTRACT MORE INVESTMENTS TO THE SECTOR ACCORDING TO OLD NNPC GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, MELE KYARI? WILL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAY N5, 000 AS PALLIATIVES TO 40 MILLION POOREST NIGERIANS TO CUSHION EFFECT OF THE PURPOSED INCREASE TO FULFIL THE NEWLY SIGNED PIA? ANSWER: NONE OF THE ABOVE WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE SUCH MONEY WAS NOT APPROPRIATED IN THE 2022 BUDGET! Is foreign exchange not N560 to one US Dollar – due to the devaluation of the Naira?


WHAT IS LOCAL DEREGULATION OF THE PETROLEUM SECTOR?

1) No downstream deregulation could take place when SUBSIDY of the PMS never existed in the first place! It is a monumental fraud against the poor masses!
2) Nigeria is the third largest producer of crude oil in Africa and yet opted for IMPORTING REFINED FUEL instead of building new Refineries!
3) Presently, there exist in the Niger Delta Region (THE GOOSE that lays the GOLDEN EGG), tens of tens of indigenous MODULAR REFINERIES churning out refined PMS, DIESEL, and other lubricants which SUPPLY all petroleum needs for the people; and they hardly experience any form of SCARCITY!
4) Government is aware of this “illegal” strategic thriving industry which embraces civilians, members of the armed forces, and the police was always patronized just like the official Depots located across the nation but has turned BLIND EYE!

RECOMMENDATIONS:
***Since the implementation of the newly signed PIA document has been put on hold because of policy somersaults, Federal Government should give approval to INGENIOUS LOCAL MODULAR REFINERIES and encourage other INVESTORS to build more!

QUESTION: When will the FOUR COMATOSE NIGERIAN REFINERIES PRODUCE PMS ETC,? HOW MUCH IS BEING PAID FOR REDUNDANT WORKERS WHOM MR. TIMIPRE SYLVA SAYS CANNOT BE SACKED EVEN IF TAKES FOREVER BEFORE THE OFFICIAL REFINERIES TO RESURRECT?

*** Mr. President directed that swearing-in of new NNPC BOARD MEMBERS scheduled for 26th November, 2021, be put on hold because it was a wrong step as we had pointed out in one of our past publications that no board could be in place and be collecting FREE SALARIES when their institution had not become a LEGAL ENTITY!

MUST NIGERIA BECOME THE LAPDOG OF OPEC, IMF OR WORLD BANK AND DANCE TO THEIR DICTATES?
The President and his cohorts may be BEGGARS, all patriotic Nigerians are not and will never be cowed into submission to THE FRAUD CALLED FUEL SUBSIDY!

MEMBERSHIP TO AFFECT LOCAL DEREGULATION POLICY? NO!

Out of the belly of Oloibiri, a small community of farmers and fishermen in Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State, eastern Niger Delta region of Nigeria flowed out the first thousand litres of crude oil “liquid black gold” which was destined to prosper and destroy Nigeria simultaneously!

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), in 1956 at this ancient town after half a century efforts of exploration discovered crude oil and in 1958, the country registered as an oil producer and its first oil field delivered 5,100 barrels per day (bpd).
Also in 1958, petroleum was discovered in Ogoni, Rivers South East Niger Delta, with 96 wells which brought nine fields on stream and before oil production ceased in early ‘90s, due to devastating and uncontrollable oil spillages; over two million barrels in 2,976 separate spills polluted the area between 1976 and 1991!

During the last seven years of military occupation of the Nigerian State; 1992-1999, pressure groups agitated for special attention from Federal Government in respect of the upkeep of the region – especially in the areas of CLEAN – UP of polluted lands and prevention of future spillages but some who believed in application of force introduced militancy which forced authorities to pay more attention to the region!

Billions of US dollars have been paid militant groups which took up arms and continuously vandalized oil/gas pipelines to compound the already chaotic insecurity for them to lay down their arms for peace to reign!

According to the Minister of Environment between a period of four years, 2015 to March 2021, Nigeria recorded 4,919 oil spills and lost 4.5 trillion barrels of oil theft!

And scars of the environmental wounds inflicted on the once aquaculture/agriculturally-friendly Ogoniland in the forms of abandoned/discarded Shell-BP pipelines, are scattered and traverse the condemned, uninhabitable/contaminated land, creeks and waterways!

According to a May 2019 Report by Friends of the Earth International, “over two decades after Shell first was called out for its destruction of the Niger Delta, oil still contaminates the land, compensation is owed and Shell continues to obstruct justice.”


THE BRUTAL MURDER OF KEN SARO-WIWA AND CO!

Twenty-five years ago, late Social Activist and president of the MOVEMENT for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ken Saro Wiwa was executed along with eight associates (globally acclaimed as the Ogoni Nine), by the government of maximum military head of state, General Sani Abacha, for standing up to Shell’s destructive exploitative operations in their communities and not until Four Nigerian Farmers in conjunction with “Friends of The Earth, Netherlands”, instituted a court case against Shell at the Hague, to hold the Shell Petroleum Development Company culpable for its destruction of the Niger Delta!


SHELL AGREES TO PAY OGONI COMMUNITY N45.9BILLION FOR OIL SPILLAGE AS ORDERED BY THE SUPREME COURT!

It took a period of almost 32 years, but on 11th August, 2021, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), finally agreed to pay the Supreme Court order of N45.9billion compensation to an Ogoni Community, Ejama-Ebubu in Tai Eleme LGA of Rivers State, which sought damages against Shell for an oil spillage incident after a long-drawn legal tussle which began at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt which awarded damages in 2010 in favour of the litigants and through to the Appeal Court and finally – the apex court!

Also on 8th June, 2009, Shell settled out-of-court with the Saro Wiwa family for USD $15.5 million having admitted complicity in military and human rights abuses which untimely terminated Ken and the Ogoni Nine in November, 1995


OGONI CLEAN UP SHOULD NOT BE DELAYED ANY FURTHER!

United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Oil and Gas Industry and Communities to begin a comprehensive clean-up of the region and take co-ordinated action to end to all forms of illegal oil bunkering, crude theft and artisanal refining of stolen crude causing oil contamination in Ogoniland!

Although the military junta alleged that Ken Saro-Wiwa and his members incited the murder of five prominent chiefs of the land, the late activist’s agitation for a clean and unpolluted environment of his birth place, Ogoniland did not die with him but miraculously resurrected through President Muhammadu Buhari, who eventually flagged off the clean-up exercise at Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday, 2nd June, 2016!

NIGER DELTA REGION DESERVES A BETTER DEAL AS THE FOREX FOOD BASKET OF NIGERIA!

They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. (Psa 125:1)




I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

The Republic of Nigeria is called the “giant of Africa” only because of its population of over 200 million people; not because of exemplary leadership devoted to principles of democracy and social justice based on security and welfare of its people as a core responsibility!

Nigerian politicians since 1999 neither humbled themselves nor sought the face of God for the forgiveness of national sins and healing of the land soaked with tons of blood of innocent citizens who paid the supreme price during 30years of military aberration of the polity!

They were very desperate to have their portion of the “national cake” that they failed to scrutinize the “land mine” 1999 Military Constitution placed into the hands of a soldier-president to execute for Eight years following the “victory” of his party at the general elections supervised by his comrade-in-arms and were therefore alienated from his divine benevolence!

Beginning with institutional corruption which gave birth to insurgency, insurrection, civil disobedience, brigandage, banditry, kidnappings, 12-year-Boko Haram terrorism, farmers/pastoralists armed conflicts, brazen attacks on critical institutional infrastructures – including attempts to overrun some Governors’ Lodges – are the score cards of all consecutive political administrations of ONE PARTY SYSTEM till date!

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was hurriedly formed in 1998 after the demise of military maximum ruler/treasury looter with the aim of CONTINUITY because all pseudo political parties flowed into the MEGA PDP and the partying continued for 16 years when those who felt sidelined in the looting arrangement broke out to also hurriedly formed the All Progressives Congress (APC), which professed a CHANGE AGENDA – and they have all flowed into it to balance the equation!
The minority political leadership cared less about all negative international condemnation of Nigeria as the MOST CORRUPT/ POVERTY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD; THE DIRTIEST COUNTRY, THE MOST INSECURE COUNTRY TO DOMICILE ETC, ETC, but were only interested in accumulating their own share of the BLOOD MONEY at the expense of the vast majority of the poor masses whom the pretend to represent in government at all levels from Federal to States and the Local Government Areas (LGAs)!

IN PRESENT DAY NIGERIA, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!

The Minister of Defence and some Governors in the Federation have advised citizens to defend themselves in any case of attack by the criminal elements within the system because the security and welfare of the people was neither their concern nor primary objective and no wonder Nigeria’s ambitious neighbours - Cameroon Ambazonian renegades seeking to carve out a new settlement last week attacked unarmed and defenceless Nigerians in Taraba!

On Tuesday, 16th November 2021, suspected separatist Ambazonian group from Cameroon, invaded Nigeria’s North-East Taraba State, killed not less than five people, including the Chief of Manga border Village in the Takum Local Government and escaped without any form of confrontation or resistance BUT a ranking member of the National Assembly (NASS), Senate Ali Ndume described the horrendous attack as mere “communal clashes” between communities along the common border of both countries and also claimed that the incident should not be regarded as an external aggression against territorial integrity of Nigeria!
His vituperation was not unexpected because this Senator Ndume representing Bornu South Senatorial District was once alleged to have been one of the sponsors of the Islamist Boko Haram Terrorist in government – an accusation which he vehemently denied when interrogated by the State Security Service (SSS), in November 2014! He is now Chairman, Senate Committee on Army.

However, Chairman of Takum LGA, Taraba State, confirmed the armed invasion as an affront against the sovereignty of Nigeria and said several residents who fled were still missing following the deadly unprovoked attack! He emphasized that several people fell into the rivers while others climbed mountains for safety and added that casualty figure was uncertain and speculative at about nine or eleven!

According to other reports, this attack was not the first! In 2018, many of the Ambazonian separatists who crossed Nigeria borders to inflict mayhem on the defenceless and unarmed rural dwellers were accosted, arrested and detained by law enforcement agents in Nigeria, but were eventually released through diplomatic channels to the Cameroon Government for necessary disciplinary measures!

COULD THIS FRESH ATTACK BE REGARDED AS A REPRISAL AGAINST NIGERIA?

Nigeria covered an area of 923,769 square kilometres (or 356,669 square miles), before “Bakassi Peninsula” which lies between the Cross River estuary, close to the city of Calabar was ceded to neighbouring francophone Cameroon (bordering Nigeria on the east), by the International Court of Justice in August 2008, on the strength of a “Green Tree Agreement” between the two countries!

Several other encroachments had been recorded by Niger (northern border), Chad (north east), and Benin (western border); because the “helpless and corruption-drugged giant” has porous borders of over 450 un-manned all-comers entry points through which criminals and insurgents like the Ambazonians always had field days!

AMBAZONIA SEPARATIST LEADER SAYS ATTACK WAS MASTER-MINDED BY CAMEROON GOVERNMENT!

The separatist leader, Dr Cho Ayaba has claimed that his group was not involved in the attack which he claimed was masterminded by the Cameroonian Government which planned to portray the Ambazonians as Nigeria’s external enemies!

An Armed Forces Military base is believed to be stationed in Takum which always handled communal clashes and regularly deployed to flash points in the area which has no known delineation of land marks or walls/fencing demarcation possibly because of common historical antecedents between communities on both sides of the two countries - Cameroon and Nigeria!

Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Lucky Irabor, in a reaction to the Taraba invasion said the Nigerian Army was engaged across the nation and would definitely execute professionalism in all areas of assignment in spite commitments in 34 States of the Federation!

ANGLOPHONE SEPARATISTS DEMAND FOR AN INDEPENDENT STATE FROM CAMEROON!

Two Cameroons’ (North and South), existed up to 11th February, 1961, when the Muslim-majority North in a plebiscite opted for a union with Nigeria and its South counterpart voted to join French-speaking Republic of Cameroon with a population of 26.55 million on the Gulf of Guinea, according to a World Bank 2020 figure.
Octogenarian President Paul Biya (84), Africa’s oldest President, who is unconstitutionally having a third term in office has ruled Cameroon for 39 years (6th November, 1982 to date), and has lost all affection among the citizens except the Armed Forces, Gendarmes/Political jobbers who are supportive and very loyal to him!

Though Cameroon is a very small country in geographical size and economic status when compared to Nigeria but the disputed Bakassi Peninsular aggravated all areas of diplomatic relationship between the two countries because of the claim that the peninsular was endowed with large deposits of oil and natural mineral resources!

In those days before the International Court of Justice 2008 verdict in respect of Bakassi ownership went in their favour, the gendarmes were very aggressive against Nigerian rural dwellers of the peninsular whom they militarily attacked, illegally taxed and looted at random and went scot-free because they has official support!

Border incidents which worsened in the 1980s into the 1990s almost caused a full-scale war between the two countries until the Cameroonian Government filed litigation against Nigeria in 1994 at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and in spite of the fact that the judgment favoured them those gendarmes were always quick to attack Nigerian border communities at the slightest opportunity up to the year 2017 when the Ambazonians intensified their insurgency against Paul Biya’s Government!

WILL THE NIGERIAN EXECUTIVE UNDER THE WATCH OF PRESIDENT BUHARI MOPE WHILE CAMEROONIAN REBELS MURDER ITS CITIZENS IN COLD BLOOD?

Apart from Taraba State Governor and some Senators who have vehemently condemned the Takum invasion, the Federal Government’s reaction has not been made public but Mr. President’s body language through immediate deployment of large members of the armed forces to the affected areas had spoken loudest and from all indications those culprits would soon be fished out and punished right here in Nigeria!

Governor Darius Ishaku has disclosed that he would discuss details of the unfortunate incident with the President as soon as he had more facts adding that he had never kept quiet nor idle in respect of past incidents but had taken effective actions as the Chief Security Officer of the State!

NIGERIAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH CAMEROON!

Bilateral trade relations between Nigeria and Cameroun in the past 24 year had been cordial in spite of the Bakassi dispute. Exports of Nigeria to Cameroon increased annually at 29.7% from USD$1.7million in 1995 to USD$889 million in 2019, the year when it exported USD$10.3 million worth of commodity into Nigeria!

Cameroon imports mineral fuels, oils, distillation products, tobacco, iron and steel, beverages, spirits, vinegar, fertilizers, plastics, vehicles, soaps, lubricants, electrical/electronic equipments etc, annually in millions of dollars and on regular bases. In 2018, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade, Cameroon imports from Nigeria was USD$342.2 million dollars.

THE GIANT AND THE SOLDIER ANT MUST CO-OPERATE TO ENSURE AFRICA REMAINED THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC DESTINATION OF THE 21ST CENTURY!

Was it not high time Presidents Buhari and Biya mend security fences through all diplomatic channels and nip in the bud all incursions from Cameroonian Gendarmes, Ambazonians into Nigeria once and for all! They MUST be called order without further delay!

The Nigerian Armed Forces are internationally acclaimed as an elite outfit that participate in peace-keeping operations and NEVER invasion of the territorial integrity of other nations therefore must not be dragged into unnecessary diplomatic row with Cameroon!

As for Nigeria’s very selfish and conceited political leaders, there could be no better time than now for them to REPENT and seek the face of God afresh through RESTITUTION ie, by voluntarily returning all aggrandized illicit monies including movable and immovable properties that have been illegally acquired to the TREASURY SINGLE ACCOUNT and to the Federal and State Governments in order to avoid the impending divine judgment upon all INIQUITIES OF MAN in the Earth which will be very devastating!

And for all Faithful Nigerians, be consoled with the Word of God Romans. 8: 18-25; that your present suffering and bondage will give way to freedom and eternal glory sooner that your expectation!



I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

As Nigerians kept wondering why Major General Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, increased his speed in junketing across the world, in spite of our debt portfolio which has hit a record high of USD$34billion, the Grapevine just quipped, “Maybe because of a very cogent reason that Estacode is the only Forex earner among his 18 Jumbo Official Allowances”!

The President and his Vice are entitled to the following allowances according to Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFA), which is empowered by Section 32(d) of Part I, Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Apart of monthly salaries of NGN1, 171,568.00, and NGN1, 010,524.17, respectively, both men are also entitled to monthly: Hardship, Consistency allowances which run into thousands of Naira! Others are; Personal Assistant, Constituency, Vehicle fuelling/maintenance, Domestic staff, Entertainment, Recess, Newspaper/periodicals, Utilities, House maintenance, Security, Special assistance, Furniture, Wardrobe, Duty tour (per night), Accommodation, ESTACODE, and Medical Allowances, which are not published in the public domain!

Similar jumbo allowances are also paid to other political office holders of the National Assembly (NASS), State Governors, and perhaps some staff of the Judiciary, and MDAs Staff of less than 2 MILLION in population, who take the LION SHARE of the common patrimony while the WORK FORCE is abandoned to take their share through BRUTAL FORCE as it has unfolded in unbridled INSECURITY being perpetrated through terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, murderers, assassins gunmen, suicide bombers etc, under President Buhari’s watch!

AND in spite of the fact that Nigeria is in dire strait with this worst type of complicated insecurity and in spite of the truth that the President has just 18 months to retire from Aso Rock Villa, he had in his second term travelled SIX times – the latest being from 25th October-11th November, 2021, a period of about 15 days traversed North Africa’s Riyadh/Medina and Mecca, for an Investment Summit; to Glasgow, Scotland, for a Climate Change Summit, and in two days of his return, headed straight to France apart of earlier London journey for MEDICAL TOURISM (30th March, 2021 – 15TH April 2021), which kept him in Britain for 16 days! In 2021 alone he has travelled SIX TIMES outside of Nigeria and at least 52 TIMES SINCE 2015 to 2021 and had expended approximately NGN 4billion in the junketing having visited 30 countries cutting across Four Continents – including Africa!

THE FOREX VALUE OF ESTACODE ISVERY ENTICING!

Early in his first term between May 2015- January 2016, the President spent millions of the very scarce Naira in globe-trotting to Chad, Germany, France, Ghana, India, Iran, United States (twice); many of which should have been designated to his Vice, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries or even Political Aides and squandered the meagre resources left by the malfeasant PDP consecutive Administrations of 16 years!

OR were the foreign trips planned to generate a mass of estacode allowances in such hard times and possibly make up for the 50% Salary Cut which he ordered from his salary and that of his Vice?

BUT President Buhari once told an audience of the Oxford University that his frequent foreign trips were targeted at restoring NIGERIA’S BAD IMAGE caused through brutal military regimes just as Ex-President Aremu Obasanjo, who had a record of 97 foreign trips journey to his credit during his two terms (1999-2007), in office!

Estacode, a nomenclature for monetary travel allowance in Nigeria is a colonial heritage still in practice among Federal/State civil servants, politicians, diplomatic staff etc, on foreign official assignments!

Under the British Colonial masters, estacode was officially scrutinized by relevant agencies of government before formal payment was initiated and there was virtually no loophole for malpractices or manipulations but in 61 years of independence the process of implementation has been corrupted that it stinks to high heavens!

According to International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), estacodes released to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), under President Buhari’s watch from 2015-2021 stand at over NGN3.77billion!

This information was corroborated through the Currency Operations Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBNs), annual report of 2020, (released Thursday 4th November, 2021), which stated that a total amount USD$3.95 billion was procured in 2019 alone to fund estacode and personal travel allowances to MDAs and also to fund Bureaux De Change operations!

Allegations of gross abuses in the forms of over-bloated, forged, improvised, non-existent but faked journeys for purpose of fraudulently collecting Estacode Allowances during foreign travels in both the public/civil service had become house-hold gist in Nigeria but because no civil servant nor politician had been brought to justice the racket continued unabated while the Federal Government has approved a comprehensive review of the Financial Regulations in respect of the various allowances being enjoyed by personnel of the MDAs – including the estacode!

Presently, a Committee has been set up by the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), to consider, review and recommend appropriate Duty Tour, Estacode, Repatriation and Overtime allowances and also consider, review and recommend appropriate imprest amount for relevant public servants and political office holders.
Other allowances enjoyed by MDAs according to Rule 130102 include but not limited to: kilometre, disengagement, hotel accommodation, duty tour books, projects and overtime BUT without admitting glaring infractions of the estacode allowances, the Committee was also charged to recommend additional sanctions against infringements against financial regulations and extant laws!

QUESTION: What foreign socio-economic assistance have the poor masses of Nigerians gained from Buhari’s Government in SIX-AND-A-HALF-YEARS of his foreign jamboree of hand shaking/speech making other than increase in INSECURITY through the nation’s very porous borders!

UNITED ARAB EMIRATE arrested sponsors of terrorism in DUBAI but Mr. Buhari has not been able to arrest ONE single sponsor in his cabinet! TURKEY’S President came visiting the other day and asserted that some members of the Islamic terrorists who attempted to overthrow him on 15th July, 2016 were resident in Nigeria unknown to Buhari and his security outfits!

******Below are some excerpts of one of our past Editions: VOL. 5. NO. 130, dated 7th February, 2016.

PRESIDENT BUHARI SHOULD APPLY THE BRAKES ON FOREIGN SPACE SHUTTLES!

“The fact that President Muhammadu Buhari, had an impeccable antecedent, a humble and distinctive character, a charismatic personality and had always displayed a frugal and Spartan kind of life, in spite of being a soldier for an appreciable period of time could not be faulted by his antagonists, before, during and after the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria! In fact, PMB was and still is an acceptable and likeable global leader who had endeared to himself to the rich and the poor alike.

“Within the last eight months, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB), had made spirited efforts to bolster a new image as the Change crusader for the Nigerian Republic by attracting international attention for support in the areas of security, economy, the industry and general social welfare packages for the majority populace which had been suffocated with corruption as a way of life and could have drowned in the miry clay of national degradation without divine intervention at the last 2015 General Elections!

“The President had met with all of the world powers Presidents, Heads of States and Governments from all the continents throughout the globe and had solicited for all-round co-operation for the revival of the drowning “giant of Africa”
“But tongues are wagging on all sides of the political, social and economic divide, among the opposition and the social media of the TALAKAWAS who now wonder why it should take so many space-shuttles to get the country back on track – especially when ONE SPACE JOURNEY COSTS A WHOOPING US$350.000 – 500.000 million, all expenses paid - ESTACODES and sundry allowances of an enlarged 80-member presidential entourage at such an austere time according to “Black Market” foreign exchange auditors;

ANY GAINS FROM THE GLOBE-TROTTING?

“We did not criticize PMB’s 8-month international trips for the very plausible reasons that they were desirable for the much-needed co-operation mentioned in previous paragraphs and we were very correct in that Nigeria had become the beehive of foreign commercial investments by business entrepreneurs from all countries visited by the President.
.“In the meantime, Mr. President should delegate his overseas trips to his Vice and other diligent subordinates who will perform creditably and make him proud!

The President’s last journey to France was fraught with danger as it was reported that his aircraft landed amidst very bad weather but we thank God that his detractors did not have the luxury to rejoice over his demise because he is the LORD’S anointed President and deliverer for the nation of Nigeria for eight consecutive years of two terms (2015-2023)!”

BUHARI SHOULD STOP ALL FOREIGN TRIPS, AND TOUR THE 36 STATES OF NIGERIA INSTEAD!

CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER IS THAT THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC), SHOULD BE ORDERED BY MR. PRESIDENT TO SEIZE ALL ESTACODE ALLOWANCES FOUND IN THE BANK ACCOUNTS OF ALL PRIVILEGED (1) MDA OFFICIALS; (2) THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE BEGINNING FROM MR. PRESIDENT AND HIS CABINET; (3) NASS LEGISLATORS (4) ALL STATE GOVERNORS AND THEIR CABINET MEMBERS; (5) ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN AND THEIR COUNCILLORS; AND REPATRIATE SUCH INTO THE FEDERATION ACCOUNT TO PAY OFF SOME OF THE MONIES BORROWED FROM THE FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO LEAVE A GOOD LEGACY BEHIND!

NO OFFICER IS EXPECTED TO SAVE UNUSED ESTACODES IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS BUT MUST DECLARE THE SURPLUS TO THE ACCOUNTING OFFICERS WHO IN TURN MUST REPATRIATE THEM ACCORDINGLY! The Eighth Commandment in Exodus. 20:15 says, “Thou shalt not steal”! We shall all give account of our stewardship to GOD at the appointed time!.



I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

The Federal Government has formally admitted that foreign loans are seamlessly scammed from the Central Bank of Nigeria by economic saboteurs who sold them to Bureau de Change (BDC), operators and who in turn sold the foreign exchange to criminals who use it to import weapons to harm Nigerians and promote different forms of terrorism!
According to CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, the institution under his watch “won’t support the corrupt tendencies of those who illegally buy dollars from our forex market, carry them in aircraft, buy arms and ammunition and bring them back into the country and conduct crimes. Whether it Boko Haram, banditry and other nefarious activities!”
Emefiele who made the startling revelation at the Monetary Policy Committee meeting held in Abuja on Friday 17th September, 2021, also queried, “Why will CBN give people our forex to go and buy arms? And this is what people want us to continue to do. We cannot do that,” he added. Earlier he had disclosed that unpatriotic Nigerians purchased forex from CBN but end up selling them to BDC that promote illegal activities and who are involved in graft and corrupt practices.

PURPOSES OF FOREIGN LOANS!
And whereas foreign loans should have injected fresh life into the very heart beat of Nigeria’s economy, support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSEs) to flourish under the watch of the National Economic Council (NEC), and provide succor for the generality of the masses who suffer the brunt of maladministration at every turn of events!
Without expatriate loan, the Federal Government could neither plan annual Mid Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), activities nor execute regular Budgets!
BUT all critical infrastructures in the various sectors of the economy, which should produce basic necessities of life have remained comatose because scammers in government regard loans as veritable sources of corruption!

ADMINISTRATIVE INTERVENTION FROM THE NCC!

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), a Federal Government Agency had since August 2021, consistently warned citizens to BEWARE of Cyber Scammers who were on the rampage to rob citizens’ accounts through dubious financial offers!
One NCC Cyber Alert read, “DO NOT carry out financial, transactions or any activity you consider sensitive on public WiFi. Your data can be stolen. #BeCyberAware.”
Another warned: “Do not click on links offering free credit, Data, Gifts, Lottery Wins, etc. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is!” #BeCyberAware.”
And yet another sms alerted the citizens in similar manner: “DO NOT respond to any call/message that says you get a bonus after making a number of financial transactions. It is a SCAM!” #BeCyberAware.”

WE regard all of the above advertisements as NCC’s corporate social responsibility initiative which should portray it as a caring and responsible outfit; BUT IT TURNED BLIND EYE TO THE EXPOSURE OF THE most offensive, obnoxious and worst SCAMMERS who are the very corrupt key players at both the Federal and State levels of Government and who are OBSESSED with the idea that POLITICS is the surest avenue to get wealthy overnight without QUERY FROM ANY QUARTERS!
AND IN THEIR DESPERATION, HAVE MORTGAGED THE DESTINY of present and unborn generations with A CURRENT DEBT BURDEN OF N33.107 TRILLION NAIRA (about USD$87.239 billion dollars), AS AT 31ST MARCH 2021, according to the Debt Management Office (DMO)!

ALSO between the end of March 2021 (Quarter 1), and July-September (Q 3, 2021), the Federal Government under the watch of PMB has made fresh overture through the National Assembly (NASS), on 14th September, 2021, for additional foreign loans to the tune of USD$4 BILLION DOLLARS and 710 Euros?
BUT surprisingly, NCC, under the watch of the untouchable Minister of Communications, ISA PANTAMI, did NOT alert citizens that the worst scammer was the Federal Government because he would not want to lose his job!

ALL LOANS ARE BEING “SERVICED ANNUALLY”, NOT PAID BACK!

The deficit-riddled and debt-ridden 2021 Federal budget which totaled N13.6trillion naira was not only higher by 26% above the N10.8 trillion 2020 figures but DEBT SERVICING financing was thrice above total allocation to Education and Health combined at 24.5% of the total budget!
New borrowings were 12% higher than 2020 levels at N4.7trillion naira, shared equally between domestic/foreign.
Projected internally-generated revenues, over the years had been very infinitesimal due to over-dependence on oil and gas above agriculture/natural mineral resources AND for budget year 2021, it was not clearly specified but believed would be 37% higher than 2020 through increase in oil prices and sundry incomes from revenue-generating agencies, taxes etc.

DOMESTIC DEBT- FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S SHARE!

Federal Government’s share includes FGN Bonds, SUKUK and Green Bonds used to finance infrastructure and other capital projects as well as the N940.220 billion Promisory Notes!
Source: Debt Management Office (DMO) of Nigeria .

HOW MUCH LOAN HAS BUHARI COLLECTED IN SIX YEARS?

From China alone Buhari’s Government has borrowed N830 Billion or USD$2.02 dollars and still counting!
Who will pay back all these loans?

WHAT SAYS THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT IN RESPECT OF BORROWING?

All of the above boil down to the fact that the 1999 Military Constitution bequeathed to the people of Nigeria has metamorphosed into a yahoo worksheet document that makes millionaires of deft/smart politicians who capitalize on loopholes deliberately created through quasi-conspiracy by the duo to perpetually keep dumb Nigerians in servitude by playing them on their Corruption Chessboard and by MIGRATING seamlessly through wholesale DEFECTION unchallenged from one political to another in spite of the unconstitutionality of the process!

THREE PDP STATES: EBONYI, CROSS RIVER AND ZAMFARA, MOVE EN-MASS TO APC AND CELEBRATED BY PRESIDENT BUHARI!
AND OF ALL PEOPLE FANI KAYODE ALSO?
Controversial politician, Femi Fanikayode defected to APC from PDP in spite of his BRAGGADOCIO! “Kaka ka dobale fun Gambari ka kuku ku!” [ It is preferable for a Yoruba man to die than prostrate before a northerner!]
FOREX EXCHANGE LATEST – As at the date of this publication forex rate was N570 naira to USD$1 dollar!
BUT MUST THE MAN OF INTEGRITY, PRESIDENT BUHARI LEAD THE BAND WAGON OF THE SCAMMERS AS APC ENDORSES PMB’S ADDICTED BORROWINGS?
The fresh USD$ 4 Billion AND 710 Euro external loan being sought by Nigeria’s addicted borrower, President Muhammadu Buhari, and which is generating massive public condemnation has been laid before the National Assembly (NASS), for consideration and urgent approval in spite of the fact that his All Progressives Congress (APC), has only 20 months to get booted out of office!
Party members, who had beneficiaries of all previous loans [external/internal], have given thumbs up for the retired military Major General whom they described as a man of integrity who would deploy the “gbese” (debt), to finance (1) development projects, (2) critical infrastructure projects for economic growth, (3) create jobs in the nation’s interest, (4) to reduce poverty and (5) improve the general well-being of the citizenry!

FINANCE MINISTER CONCURS WITH APC!

In August 2021 the Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, claimed that the borrowing level at 23% of GDP was quite sensible and responsible. She also claimed that government borrowed to invest in critical infrastructure, including power, water roads and rails required to enhance business productivity in the country in accordance with Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, No. 31 Section 3 (1a-e).

BUHARI GOVERNMENT HAS NO CLEAR STRATEGIES TO SAVE THE AILING ECONOMY!

There are no clear national strategies nor major investments to justify APC CLAIMS in spite of all the propaganda and shenanigans! – There MUST be deep cut in EXPENDITURES at all level of government from the Executive –Legislature –Judiciary; from the Federal through to the States and the Local Government Areas (LGAs)!
FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME, WE DEMAND THAT COST OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE BE CAST OVERBOARD THROUGH THE DISBANDMENT OF THE SENATE BEFORE 2023!
Nigeria should opt for a PARLIAMENTARY system from 2023 with a reduced membership of 74!
There should be a very CLEAR INDUSTRIAL CUM NATIONAL STRATEGY BASED ON massive investments and PRODUCTION!
It has become imperative that international and foreign lenders should BLACKLIST NIGERIA FROM FURTHER BORROWINGS!

“For the LORD thy God blesseth thee as He promised thee; and thou shalt lend onto many nations but thou shall not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations but they shall not rule over thee.”
NIGERIA WILL NOT BE RE-COLONIZED OVER DEBT BURDENS IN JESUS NAME. .

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

The President MUST bequeath a worthy and lasting LEGACY to Nigerians at all costs in spite of the very glaring, chaotic security challenges, coupled with a virtually failed economy and a humongous impunity-driven institutional corruption – the type that has never been witnessed in any country of the world to date!

In contemporary classification, legacy should be associated with social service at any level of life in which diligent, outstanding, deliberately-planned and comprehensive achievements, designed to positively touch millions of lives from one generation to another is engendered!

About two-and-a-half years ago, precisely at the end of March, 2019, President Buhari declared that he needed the support of a totally-discredited National Assembly (NASS), in order “to leave behind a good legacy after his eight years in office” instead of seeking the FACE OF GOD to discard the MIXED MULTITUDE of 2015 marriage of strange bed-fellows which have destroyed what was left of his acclaimed “integrity”!

IS IT NOT OBVIOUS THAT THE “ARM OF FLESH” HAS FAILED MR. PRESIDENT?

Can the President build a sound legacy on FALSEHOOD? When he took over in 2015, the Boko Haram, insurgency which was about SIX years old had strong tentacles in Bornu State, North East Nigeria, where it controlled 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with the Islamic Caliphate Flags flying at FULL MAST!
Nigerians believed that the old General wiped out the scoundrels within Five months of his investiture according to official sources from the Military but it turned out to be CLASSICAL FALSEHOOD because the INDIGENES faulted the claim!

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN, GARBA SHEHU, BLAMED SLAIN FARMERS FOR FAILING TO REQUEST MILITARY PERMISSION!

Seventy-six Bornu State Village farmers were gruesomely slaughtered on their FARMS on Saturday 28th November 2020, by Boko Haram terrorists, close to Zarbamari for” daring to arrest and handing over one of its brothers to the Nigerian soldiers!” BUT while the nation grieved and mourned, Mr. Garba Shehu in an interview with BBC, blamed the unfortunate and dead victims for failing to OBTAIN MILITARY CLEARANCE from Federal soldiers who would have given them security cover!

THE MIRACLE 2021 GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)!

In spite of the general uproar over inept performances of the APC Government: The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has claimed a GDP growth of 5.01% in Quarter 2 of 2021 and just like when Mr. President appended his signature on a 20-year processed Petroleum Industry Bill and received a “STANDING OVATION”, he and his handlers ALONE are already rejoicing over the Thursday 26th August, 2021, NBS report which states that Nigeria’s “economy” grew by 5.01%, year-on-year in the second Quarter!

According to that report the 5.01% marked “three consecutive quarters of growth” following the negative growth rates recorded in the second and third quarters of 2020; because the Q2 2021 growth rate was higher than the -6.10% growth rate recorded in Q2 2020, and the 0.51% recorded in Q1 2021, year-on-year.

NBS has attributed the “miracle growth” to the return of normalcy to business and economic environment prior to Covid-19 related restrictions coupled with gradual commercial activity which encouraged local and international travels noticed since the end of 2020. How did the “magic” occur? According to another NBS report in 2020, the Nigerian economy recorded a SECOND RECESSION after the 2016 occurrence in Q3 which ended in September 2020!

According to the agency, the 2020 recession was the worst since 1987 as the GDP in real terms declined by 3.62% (year on year) in the third quarter of 2020 in the oil and non-oil sectors and claimed that the recession was driven by the ‘’long closure’’ of the Nigerian borders which restricted economic movement across borders
Q. Which report should we believe, considering current super high inflation of goods and services and the nation’s heavy debt burden?

GENERALS ABACHA AND BABANGIDA LEGACIES!

Late General Sanni Abacha’s, (Nigeria’s Head of State, 1993-1998), style of treasury-looting broke all criminal records in the annals of the history of human ingenuity in financial crimes till date!

The day before President Aremu Obasanjo’s investiture (28th May, 1999), ex-General Abacha’s successor, Abdusalami Abubakar (also an ex-General), published in the Official Gazette a list of items worth over USD$ 1 BILLION DOLLARS seized from the family and top aides of the late military maximum ruler which included:

About USD$800 dollars in CASH!
Estates in Nigeria and Holdings in Sierra Leonian Refineries. BUT that list was limited for lack of details in that SEVERAL MILLIONS of US Dollars have been further recovered from several countries of the world, by successive democratic administrations since 1999 to date!
The incumbent APC Administration in February 2020, also discovered another ABACHA LOOT of USD $321 million dollars starched away in the Island of Jersey and others in the United States which We strongly believe MUST have been recovered by now SINCE ALL RECOVERED ABACHA LOOTS ARE YET TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE BUHARI ADMINISTRATION!

WHAT HAPPENED DURING EX- GENERAL BABANGIDA’S REGIME? EXCERPTS FROM PAGE TWO OF OUR 338TH EDITION OF 2ND FEBRUARY, 2020.

“The military economic policy of almost 30 years was a total disaster! It was characterised by institutional corruption of the highest degree – especially during Babangida’s era when “the doctrine of cash settlement” was very prominent to keep him on seat in transition to democratic presidency! He annulled the results of elections of June 12 1993, Presidential elections, because it did not favour their candidate!

Having successfully deposed, General Muhammadu Buhari and Brigadier ‘Tunde Idiagbon, whom Nigerians believed would restore national confidence for an improved economy, Babangida exhibited gross incompetence through mismanagement of resources which led to institutional decay, increased poverty, with its ripple effect in crimes and insecurity

“There was a reckless neglect of the non-oil agricultural sector/ natural mineral extraction for dependence on crude oil exports and importation of refined petroleum products and exotic food items through the private sector participation to the detriment of made-in-Nigeria products while huge chunk of foreign-exchange earnings was spent on debt servicing!
“Under the watch of General Babangida (1985-1993), about USD$ 12 billion earned from an oil windfall during the Gulf War was reportedly mismanaged!”

*****BUT in a recent interview during his 80th birthday anniversary, the “MARADONA” said that the corruption credited to his administration was A CHILD’S PLAY, compared to THE BUHARI’S SIX YEARS IN OFFICE!

BUHARI’S LEGACY SHOULD BE “PEACE THROUGH REFERENDUM”!
BUHARI COULD BEQUEATH THE BEST LEGACY IF HE WOULD CHAMPION AND FAST-TRACK THE DRAFTING AND APPROVAL OF A BRAND NEW CONSTITUTION, SHUT THE SENATE AND OPT FOR A PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM OF 74 MEMBERS ETC, THROUGH REFERENDUM WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY! NOW! NOW! NOW!

PRESIDENT BUHARI MUST PRIORITIZE THE FOLLOWING CITIZENS’ DEMANDS!

All official PADDINGS during financial, monetary, and fiscal allocations/appropriations – among the three tiers – Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary, especially during Budget preparation, defence, approval and execution, MUST be totally blocked through meticulous, painstaking and monitoring by righteous and trusted citizens w.e.f 2022 Fiscal Year!

Senate must be scrapped on or before 29th May, 2023! Buhari must achieve this feat through REFERENDUM without recourse to the current NASS!
House of Representative members must be reduced from 360 to 74 members by 29th May, 2023 and placed on civil service salary structure!

Legislative processes must commence HENCEFORTH to establish:
STATE POLICE ADMINISTRATIONS in all 36 States of the Federation according to one of the 13 recommendations of the 23-Member El Rufai Restructuring Committee of January 2018, which is now TWO YEARS, EIGHT MONTHS OLD!
Derivation Principles.
Fiscal federalism and revenue allocation.
Devolution/De-centralisation of powers from Federal to States.
Resource control (exploitation and revenue sharing of resources from oil/minerals) through the proposed BRAND NEW CONSTITUTION.
Local Government Authority (LGA) autonomy.
Application of REFERENDUM to decide all the CONTENTIOUS National or State issues.
The non-inclusion of INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY which MUST preclude citizens from being compulsorily forced to join political parties – must be inserted in the new constitution to accommodate all interested citizens to vie for political offices at ELECTIONS. All of the above recommendations MUST be implemented by President Buhari without further delay if he TRULY WANTS TO LEAVE BEHIND A GOOD LEGACY WHEN HE DEPARTS OFFICE ON 29TH MAY 2023, WHICH IS: ONE-YEAR-AND-FOUR- MONTHS FROM SEPTEMBER, 2021!

“ When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. ‘’(Prov 29:2)


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

NIGER DELTA MILITANTS SHOULD NOT ROCK THE BOAT! - Dr David Olufon.



There seems to be a bi-partisan consensus that incumbent President did a yeoman’s job by giving assent to the aged Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), BUT Niger Delta militants who rejected some contents of the Bill which they claimed were unfavourable to the region as prepared by the current National Assembly (NASS), have plans to “HUMBLE THE ECONOMY” through resumption of bombings of pipelines and strategic oil installations!

And whereas Nigeria’s economy is in a dire strait! Unemployment rate is at 33.3%, while double digit inflation of goods and services was at 17% in the Quarter 1 of 2021, and risen to 17.28% in Quarter 2. The country’s debt profile of N32.9 trillion naira in Quarter 1 is still rising because the APC government of President Buhari still borrows with IMPUNITY!

On 19th August, 2021, the Federal Government disclosed that it would borrow N5.6trillion naira to fund the 2022 Budget while it is indebted to the WORLD BANK in the sum of US$11.19 billion dollars! DEBT SERVICING was summed up at 24% of the 2021 (N13.5trillion naira), Budget!

Definitely, this is not an opportune time to burst, destroy or blow up pipelines in order to HUMBLE Nigeria’s economy according to THREATS made by the militant Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), now headed by a woman leader credited to be a top notch member of the group’s ELITE STRIKE FORCES which attacked and brought down the Chevron Valve Platform on 4th May, 2016, and the Shell Forcados 48-inch Export line on the 3rd of June, 2016, and the Exxon Mobil Qua Iboe 48 Crude Oil Pipeline on the 11th July, 2016!

DID PRESIDENT BUHARI STUDY THE PIB BEFORE APPENDING HIS SIGNATURE?

Although the President thought he was very clever to score cheap political points by quickly assenting to the very controversial, defective, contentious and bungled Petroleum Industry Bill which history credited with 20 years journey from the first to the ninth National Assembly from ex-Olusegun Obasanjo, PDP 1999 to the current APC 2021 administrations, he has inadvertently exposed the fact that he did not thoroughly study the DOCUMENT before putting pen to paper having served as a Military Minister of Petroleum!

BUT in continuation of his belief that he was on the right track has set up a 8-man Implementation Committee which OMITTED the Vice President, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), will work for 12 months to actualize the smooth running the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which WILL NOW provide adequate legal framework and enabling regulatory provisions for the otherwise mumbo-jumbo all-comers enterprise of several decades which had made multi billionaires of thousands of Nigerians; in the military and among the politicians of consecutive governments, including portfolio investors, private entrepreneurs, not excluding “hangers on”/political jobbers in the corridors of power!

THE “BUCK” STOPS AT THE PRESIDENT’S TABLE!

We are much aware that no amount of protests, criticisms, castigations, condemnations demands, ultimatums or free offer of solutions by patriotic citizens of this great nation ever had any positive impact on President Buhari and his selected CABAL, We need to inform him that, this PIA could be his ALBATROSS if he turned deaf ears to GENUINE DEMANDS of the Niger Delta Youths and continue to live the life of Emperor NERO of ROME, who dinned and wined when his country was on FIRE in 64 AD!

FACTS ON GROUND!

The oil-rich Niger Delta Region comprising of the South-South States of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers, have been the most degraded and environmentally-abused and devastated – with much emphasis on the OGONI LAND of Rivers State which attracted United Nations intervention since 2015, but with nothing to show for it in 2021! QUESTION: Is the President aware that Crude Oil from this region provides up 75% of Nigeria’s export earnings and when combined with Natural Gas extractions, rose to 97% of the nation’s Foreign Exchange revenue annual budget input as the major FOREIGN EXCHANGE earner BUT that in spite of the meagre allocation of 13% revenue of taxes on oil and other natural resources according to derivation formula to the region and other oil-producing States in South East/West, traumatized citizens of the region died daily of horrible environmental pollution of its worst type?
While We do not deny the fact that consecutive Federal Government Administrations fulfilled regular constitutional deductions of the 13% Derivation formula, allocated special funds to the multi-faceted development programmes of the region through Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to the tune of N9.43 trillion naira between 1999 to 2019, a period of 20 years, a lot still needed to be done through the new PIA , which should bring sanity to the Region!
However, the 30% of NNPC profits recommended by the new PIA to fund exploration activities in frontier basis is untenable, unworkable and very unrealistic for the very reason of this supposition that: If NNPC for some unexplainable but obvious reasons did not make profits at a particular season then, does it that translate to the fact that the said frontier basins would become grounded and comatose?
Another area of contention is the Host Communities Development funding demand of 5% in the Bill but now reduced to 3% in the assented Act! According to Clause 240 (2), the SETTLOR (i.e. operator of an oil licence), should pay 3% of total profits to Host Communities for development while operators MUST prevent environmental pollution and gas flaring BUT provide immediate remedial safety measures in case of unforeseen incidents!
The clamour for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) aka. “Nigerian Towers of Corruption”, to be UNBUNDLED, received attention in the new Act at last! Clause 53 has mandated the Minister of Petroleum, (by implication, Mr. President), to incorporate NNPC as a Limited Liability Company with 100% Federal Government share ownership NOT later than SIX MONTHS of coming into effect of the new Act for it to operate in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act. (CAMA).

IT IS GOOD NEWS THAT SOME LAWS ARE NOW IN PLACE TO REGULATE THE UPSTREAM, MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM SECTORS OF THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY BUT OUR CANDID OPINION IS THAT CONTENTIOUS AREAS SHOULD BE FINE-TUNED DURING THE 12-MONTH PERIOD OF PREPARATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION!

THE OLD ORDER MUST NOW GIVE WAY TO THE NEW!

Can the President who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources unequivocally inform Nigerians and the international community the exact figure of oil being lifted from Nigeria per day? IS THERE ANY FORM OF METERING TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, PRUDENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE DEPOTS ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICE?

Investigative journalism has revealed that from time immemorial, official lifting bays and volume of lifted crude oil was TOP SECRET to the presidency and so was the allocation/award by Mr. President of OIL LICENCE, OIL RIGS, OIL WELLS to very special individuals which had been the exclusive but unconstitutional right of the number one man who made billionaires of his chosen friends at his whim and caprice AS MINISTER OF PETROLEUM!

AND the creeks militants and their collaborators also resorted to lifting their own portion of crude, refine and sell them through bunkering to ready markets! It is on record that the Army, Naval, Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), operatives carried out several raids on identified illegal refineries in those terrains but no meaningful arrests nor successful prosecution of offenders could be fingered in all these past years! According to some reports, official collusion with the criminals changed the operation plan!

MILITANCY AT THE CREEKS FROM OBASANJO TO YAR ‘ARDUA!

Militancy was at its highest peak when the late President Umaru Yar ‘Adua assumed office in 2007, but he was quick to identify the solution through granting of a GENERAL AMNESTY in which all militant groups in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria “lay down” their arms in 2007 to save the economy which was almost grounded through co-ordinated pipe line vandalization!

NIGER DELTA YOUTHS SHOULD DIRECT THEIR ENERGY TO WINNING ELECTIONS AT ALL LEVELS IN 2023!

The future of this nation belongs to Nigerian Youths and We will continue to encourage them to close ranks and FLUSH OUT all the old generation who have held on to power since 1999 till date with their collective VOTES!

No meaningful victory is ever achieved through violence! NDA and other militant groups should “sheath their swords” and strategize collectively to give to helpless innocent Nigerians a peaceful Nigeria of their dreams!

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts’’ (Zech 4:6)


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

The coming on board in the next year of the US$12 billion dollars 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), of Dangote Integrated Refinery and Petrochemical Complex Lagos, would no doubt complement the dwindling fortunes of the Federal Government in the oil/gas sector, which had been badly affected by the effects of the Covid 19 Pandemic on international oil price which crashed to its lowest ebb in almost two years!

BUT should the citizens rejoice over this “industrial feat” when developed nations are moving speedily to embrace renewable energy through environmental-friendly and modern sources of wind turbine and solar photovoltaic (pv), cells which convert solar energy into electricity!

Are the adamant and stubborn oil prospectors of the Northern States elated when at any slight opportunity Niger Delta citizens always boasted of contributing the largest share to the nation’s foreign reserves and its resources to develop infrastructures in other parts of the country?

And for all those claims, passionate northern leaders at the seat or corridors of power had been relentless with the obsession to continue the exploration of oil which was aggressively pursued in most Northern States throughout the 30-year military aberration in Nigeria with a view to confound those Southerners who believed that Niger Delta had monopoly of the God-given natural resource!

Some antagonists of the 1914 Amalgamation have claimed that the second coup-de-tat master-minded by the soldiers of the Northern extraction in July 1966, was a deliberate strategy to grab power at the centre with a view to elevate the region’s culture of civilization their region to a level which would be at par or very close to its Southern Siamese twin through massive oil exploration (if it were possible), in all Northern States!
It is a general belief that the CRUDE OIL endowment of the Southern States had in no small way contributed to its modern development – especially when the South-South indigenes kept drumming it down that they were “feeding the North with their oil money”!

Although it is a constitutional right through the Exclusive Legislative List that the Federal Government should control/disbursement of the proceeds from all Extraction/Exploration activities in any part of Nigeria (on-shore, off-shore), even when the bulk of crude oil is gotten in commercial quantity in the Niger Delta, was it not logical that the principle of derivation and resource control should have been applicable to the region?

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S SUDDEN INVESTMENT IN DANGOTE’S REFINERY IS A SHOCKING SURPRISE!

AUGUST 4, 2021: (1) FEC approved $1.5 billion to rehabilitate Kaduna/Warri Refineries; (2)FG invests $2.76 billion in Dangote Refinery; (3) FG approves Acquisition of 20% minority stakes by NNPC in Dangote Petroleum and Petro-Chemical Refinery!

NNPC Group Managing Director is already celebrating the Dangote debut as he claimed that with its 650,000 bpd and Nigeria’s 445,000 bdp combined refineries and other modular refineries, the nation would be at an advantage to supply petroleum products legitimately across Africa and other parts of the world!

The rational or wisdom behind the sudden FEC decisions which would still involve a lot of external borrowings at a time when the nation is neck deep in all manner budgetary debts is yet to be explained by government!

Historians were correct to have posited that Northern Nigeria since the geographical marriage still lagged behind in all areas of socio-economic developments because it focused more on Islamic rather than Western Education!

The jihad of the Fulani War in 1804 by Usman Dan Fodio, debuted the Sokoto Caliphate, North West, (1806-1906), and further heightened the resolve of the average Northerner to embrace Islamic studies, capitalize in commercial activities including trade-by-barter with the neighboring countries of Benin, Chad, Cameroon, Niger not excluding North African countries of Sudan and Egypt in the Horn of Africa!

There was also the influence of Kanem and Bornu Empires of the North East (1810-1893), which encouraged trans-Saharan trade, firmly entrenched Islam and pilgrimages to Mecca were commonplace!

NATURAL MINERAL DEPOSITS FAVOR IGRs!

BUT the good news is that outside of CRUDE OIL EXPLORATION all 36 States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are divinely favored with various mineral deposits that can be commercially harnessed for Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs)!

Nigerian geologists have confirmed discovery of over 40 types of mineral resources and that at least THREE solid mineral types ranging from: Iron Ore, Gypsum, Talc, Lead, Zinc, Bitumen, Coal, Bentonite, Barite, Marble, Gold, Silver, to OIL & GAS, Granite, Lithium, Gemstones, Iron, Ore, Lead, Salt Tin, Limestone etc, can be harnessed in each State!

HOWEVER the current Oil Producing States (2021), are only 9 out of 36 – Abia (South East), Akwa Ibom (South-South), Bayelsa (South South), Delta, (South South), Imo (South East), Lagos (South West), Edo (South South), Ondo (South West), Rivers (South South). However, 80% of the total crude oil produced among the nine identified States flow from South South’s Akwa Ibom, (31.4%); Bayelsa (18.07%) Delta (21.56%) and Rivers (21.43%)!

OIL EXPLORATIONS IN THE NORTHERN STATES!

As far back as the early 1970s, Military Administrations had engaged in crude oil exploration and had claimed success in the 1990s but not until October 2019 that NNPC officially came out boldly to confirm the discovery of hydrocarbon deposits in Kolmani River II Well on the Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin, North East, which was flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari, on 2nd February, 2019! According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), was engaged in the computation of hydrocarbon volume and would in due course commence the drilling of additional dwells to determine full evaluation of the hydrocarbon volume in the Gogola Basin.The Federal Government-owned News Agency also disclosed that the Gongola Basin discovery would attract foreign investment, generate employment for the people to earn income and increase government revenues.
NIGERIA DISCOVERS ONE BILLION BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL IN THE NORTH EAST ZONE!A new discovery of crude oil in the North East totaling about One Billion barrels was announced on 12th February, 2020, Minister of State for Petroleum, at the close of that year’s Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), held in Abuja, FCT.The Minister believed that with the evaluation of that kind of figure, the geological structure of the region portends that with more exploration a lot of oil still remained to be discovered in Nigeria.

THE HEALTHY RIVALRY BETWEEN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN NIGERIA TO INCREASE THE VOLUME OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF MORE REFINERIES IS AN ASSERTION THAT NIGERIANS WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOSSIL EMISSION/ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION FOR DECADES TO COME!

‘’The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it’’. (Prov 10:22)

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

[IN COMMEMORATION OF JUNE 12 DEMOCRACY DAY, 2021]

Social analysts always postulate that politics is a game of numbers where majority would have their way and minority, their say! True as the assertion might seem, the reverse obtained in diarchy where strange bed fellows comprising the military and politicians run despotic/feudalistic agendas and are backed by defective constitutions as obtains in Nigeria!
Imagine if the military had allowed democracy to thrive through trial and error, commission and omission, from Independence, the late sage, erudite politician/legal practitioner, Chief Obafemi Awolowo [who through visionary leadership, transformed Western Nigeria into a hub of economic destination, introduced FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION TO ALL RESIDENTS irrespective of their tribe or region; established the first in Africa victory TELEVISION SERVICES, even before the European nation of France debuted the electronic tube etc, etc], would have been VOTED PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA and would have served very creditably!
Imagine if Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, a resourceful/tested, erudite business mogul and billionaire was allowed to claim his mandate at the 1993 Presidential Election and was NOT robbed by the Military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida, he would have become Nigeria’s President in a landslide victory which gave him the upper hand even in the local government area of his opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, who hailed from Kano State!

BUT those thoughts were never to materialize because the continuous/consecutive gun-toting administrations in Black Africa’s most-populous nation has relegated the country to the bottom of the ladder in all international perception indexes – corruption, insecurity, poverty, infrastructural deficiency/decay in education, health facilities, social welfare and the economy at large BECAUSE TRUTH was truncated for FALSEHOOD!

Apart from the dwindling foreign exchange earnings from oil and gas, Nigeria cannot boast of any substantive internally generated revenues from other sources because agriculture which was the nation’s financial mainstay was gradually abandoned by consecutive military governments due to “easy oil money” source readily available for imported foreign goods from virtually every country of the world!
AND BECAUSE the minority northern oligarchy in government believed they should remain in power at the Federal level forever therefore ganged up to truncate the JUNE 12, 1993 Presidential Election which marked a watershed in the annals of Nigeria's political history!

A day when all Nigerians on that date in 1993, voted overwhelmingly for the Southerner among two Muslim presidential candidates of North/South political divide, in an election supervised by the Military Government of General Ibrahim Babangida and adjudged to be one of the freest, fairest, credible and peaceful ever held in Nigeria!
Though that election was annulled by the military junta, 28 years ago (1993-2021), the annual commemoration of that memorable event had never ceased to be held by political pressure groups - especially in the South West, where the acclaimed winner, late business mogul, Chief Moshood Abiola hailed from!

In that epoch election, all Nigerians agreed in one accord to vote for both candidates without the sentiments of religion that none of the candidates was a Christian in an unprecedented patriotism of the national conscience and in the doctrine of ONE NIGERIA!

June 12 which overcame ethnic, tribal, cultural, traditional barriers and diversities, has proved beyond all reasonable doubts that positive national ideologies have more impact among the citizens of this modern civilization than the mere geographical amalgamation of Nigeria's Northern/Southern Protectorates of 1914, which only aimed to expand the business empire of the colonial masters who governed with veto powers.
But has the Spirit of June 12 died in almost all the ethnicities/tribes who now opt for the break-up of our dearly-beloved indivisible, indissoluble, naturally and resourcefully-endowed country of over 250 tribe/ethnic groups and about 500 diverse languages?

MILITARY INCURSION TO NIGERIAN POLITICS WAS ABERRATION!

The military as security organ of government that defends the country from external aggression WAS NOT IN MAJORITY and subject to civil authorities according to Chapter I, Section I (2) of the 1963 Republican Constitution which forbids “……the governance or the control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution”, BUT with brazen effrontery and defiance to the said document, staged a coup-de-tat and took over government by force on 15 July, 1966, as the very first group of persons in Africa to carry out such dastard act to get mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records!

Since that unfortunate incident the MINORITY has always had both its SAY AND WAY in every administration in Nigeria!

FACTS AND FIGURES.

Although Northern Nigeria always claimed larger population according to census demographic data, it has always been faulted by the South which alleged that COWS AND SHANTY HUTS were included in the figures always computed by successive Federal Governments mostly headed by NORTHERNERS!
The Prime Minister at Independence in 1960 was a Northerner supported by a figure-head “President” from the South!
In May 1962, the first post-independence census organized by the Federal Government began amidst fears by Southern politicians who were apprehensive of a repetition of past manipulation by the North and were poised to put an end to their dubious dominance of the Nigerian political space! Advocacy and massive mobilization through the media – print, radio/electronic and distribution of pamphlets were employed to sensitize the people but at the “end of the exercise”, final results were not made public because the North was very desperate to maintain a false status quo!
In 1963, a new census was held, and another in 1973 which produced alarming figures that were disputed and nullified! In 1992 General Ibrahim Babangida conducted another census which result in March 1992 was officially put at about 89 million people! In 2006, another census was conducted and the result was put at 140 million, more than 50% of the 1992 figure because more figures accrued to the North in the new exercise! The National Bureau of Statistics website is replete with all census data from independence!
There are more Northern Military Heads of State/Democratic Presidents than from the South: Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; General Yakubu Gowon; General Murtala Mohammed; General Olusegun Obasanjo; Alhaji Shehu Shagari; General Muhammadu Buhari; General, Ibrahim Babangida; northern leaders foisted the feudalistic hegemony; Interim President, Chief Ernest Shonekan; General Sanni Abacha; General, Abdusalam Abubakar; Retired General Olusegun Obasanjo; Alhaji Musa Yar Adua; Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; Retired Major General Olusegun Obasanjo; Retired Major General, Muhammadu Buhari – NINE Northerners as against TWO from the South?
Each and every one of the nine northern leaders foisted the feudalistic hegemony of “supremacy” of their region!

LET’S GIVE IT TO PRESIDENT BUHARI WHO RECTIFIED THE JUNE 12 INJURY ON NIGERIAN ELECTORATE!

In an historic recognition of late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 cancelled election, President Muhammadu Buhari on June 6, 2018, awarded to him posthumously the highest honor of the land, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR). On that date, the President also assented to a Bill amending May 29 previously set aside as public holiday to be replaced by June 12 as the new Democracy Day.
President Buhari’s gesture including the change of Abuja National Stadium to Moshood Abiola Stadium will remain an indelible, magnanimous/exemplary act of statesmanship and an unusual gesture from a sitting President to rectify an issue which had polarized Nigerians for 28 years!

JUNE 12, 2021 PROTESTS ACROSS NIGERIA!

There were street protests across Nigeria by aggrieved people who were tired of the Buhari Administration and wished that he should quit if he was bereft of solutions.

We thank God there were no human casualties because We have counseled them to KEEP OFF THE STREETS but preserve their YOUTHFUL ENERGIES till 2023 and take over the government with their VOTES!
THE NORTHERN MINORITY IN SEAT OF POWER HAVE CONTINUOUSLY EMPLOYED DUBIOUS CENSUS DATA AS SMOKESCREEN TO REMAIN IN OFFICE AT THE CENTRE!
Data collected by census determine the number of seats each State has in the House of Representatives and also used to adjust or redraw electoral districts/constituencies based on where populations have either increased or decreased with a view to assist in revenue allocation, including employee appointments into the civil service ministries, departments and parastatal by Federal Government which has prerogative of the Exclusive Legislative List (of 68 items), which virtually determines the LIVELIHOOD STATUS of the entire population of Nigerians!

Nigeria’s 2020 population is estimated at 206,139,589 people at mid-year according to United Nations (UN) data. Nigeria population is equivalent to 2.64% of the total world population and ranks number seven (7), in the list of countries (and dependencies), by population.

The 2006 census data which placed Nigeria’s population at 140 million people was most recent and was plagued by political interference from design through to implementation but in 2020, census was estimated at 206 million people.

The PDP Government of Dr. Ebele Jonathan could not conduct any census according to lack of funds neither has the current administration of President Buhari! The VEIL of deceit in respect of greater population of the North has been torn to shreds because all high density and commercial are located -south of Rivers Niger and Benue – with their population increasing by the hour! Whenever funds were made available and high information technology employed – TRUTH will prevail! “Thou shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

A rational assessment of the insurmountable act of incendiaries and bloodshed across Nigeria may be pointing to only one direction that Nigeria could be on the precipice of collapsing into a FAILED STATE if urgent, decisive and workable solutions were not proffered to fix all agitations and grievances!

The current spate of atrocities that have consumed both security operatives and the hapless citizens of this great nation is no longer respecter of any persons as the situation has created a scenario of “everyman for himself and GOD for us all!”

However, We have respite in the narrative of the Book of Ecclesiastes that: “There is nothing new under the Sun. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eyes never has enough of seeing nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again!” As long as the present specie of irrepressible Man remains on planet Earth, times, seasons and events would continue to evolve again and again until the Dispensation of Accountability/Judgement which will usher absolute RIGHTEOUSNESS to Humanity!

THERE WAS WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, ALL MANNER OF UNIVERSAL PLAGUES, OUTRAGEOUS FLOODING DESCRIBED AS TSUNAMI OF THE FAR EAST, DEVASTATING STORMS/TORNADOES ACROSS THE AMERICAS IN PAST YEARS, WILD FIRES IN NORTH CALIFORNIA, AUSTRALIA, AND NOW, THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC OF THE 21ST CENTURY WHICH IS KILLING HUMANS IN THEIR THOUSAND OF THOUSANDS IN 202 COUNTRIES ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION; [WHO], AND YET THE INHUMANITY OF MAN AGAINST HIS FELLOW MAN BECAUSE OF OBSESSIVE “LOVE/GREED FOR MONEY” HAS NOT ABATED!

QUESTIONS: CASE STUDY – NIGERIA!

Why did soldiers stage double coups SIX years after attainment of independence in 1960 and sent the politicians packing?

Why did soldiers remain in power for almost 30 years as they succeeded themselves in coups and counter coups-de-tat?

Why were politicians always at each others’ throat at elections and some Presidents declare the war of “do-or-die” because their parties MUST WIN at all costs in desperate bid for CONTINUITY?

Why have terrorism, banditry, kidnapping etc, become a very thriving money-making business which now provides for the players to re-coup their arsenal with more deadly weapons to prolong the war!

PRESIDENT BUHARI MUST PROVE HE IS STILL IN CHARGE!

The seriously traumatized President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Major General Muhammadu Buhari who is being bombarded with multiple accusations/condemnations from all citizens and even party faithful over the inappropriate and horrible dimension which insecurity of lives and property has devastated the polity in the last 12 months has vowed to take drastic/profound measures to end the unsavoury stigma at all cost!
In an on-going crucial meeting with all stake holders, especially his war theatre commanders, all possible options within the shores, sub-Saharan Africa Region Countries of Chad, Niger, Cameroun, and international interventions from the US Germany and UK, including the engagement of foreign mercenaries are all being considered – especially now that the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), released a gory, frightening/damning report on escalating violent killings and kidnappings across the nation!

The report released at the weekend stated that 4,556 persons were violently killed and 2,860 were kidnapped in 2020 alone in Nigeria while the Kaduna State Government said bandits operating in the State, killed a total of 323 residents and kidnapped 949 others in the last three months [February-April, 2021]!

In what is similar to a War Situation Room, the President’s meeting with his Security Chiefs will resume Tuesday 4th, May 2021, to consider other proposals by the Commander-In-Chief which include:

Appeal to the United States Government to relocate headquarters of US Africa Command [AFRICOM], from Germany to the African Continent to provide more and direct responses to ongoing violence and insurgencies throughout the region – especially in Nigeria where recent clashes with armed rebels combined with efforts to push back the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram is still ongoing.
Increasing funding to the Defence Ministry for the acquisition of modern artilleries to further equip the armed forces in order to successfully conclude the 12-year-old internecine war!
Cohesive efforts to collect all arms/artilleries, 12 Super Tucano A surveillance and attack planes, helicopter gunships among other weapons etc. already claimed to have been purchased with the approved US$1bilion dollars by the Senate in 2018, from the Excess Crude Oil Account to fight the insurgency war to its conclusion! The money was to cover a whole array of needs which included purchase of military equipments, training for military personnel and logistics.
Engagement of foreign mercenaries [soldiers of fortune], as it was purportedly done in 2015 by ex-president Ebele Jonathan before the March presidential elections of that year, to engage the terrorists and their collaborators and completely defeat them once and for all!

WHAT JONATHAN TOLD VOICE OF AMERICA IN 2015!

Ex-President Jonathan confirmed the presence of foreign military personnel in Nigeria but disclosed that they were contracted as technicians, brought in to for maintenance and instruction; while some government officials said they were only advisers who accompanied military equipment purchased from South Africa, Russia and Ukraine!
But Nigerian soldiers disputed government’s story and told VOA that many of the hundreds of foreign soldiers were military contractors who were participating in actual combat!

An army corporal based in Maiduguri military barracks disclosed the white soldiers were the experts who could operate the MOBILE ROCKET LAUNCHERS adding that South African pilots had been flying combat missions, aerial attacks with Nigeria jets, surveillance planes and helicopters.
It was further confirmed that the white mercenaries operated armoured personnel carriers, mine sweepers and open-backed troop transport trucks, during the periods before the 2015 General Elections and that their involvement actually destabilized the terrorists for elections to take place in the North East war zone!

From its eruption in 2009, the Boko Haram insurgency took the form of guerrilla warfare which government treated with kid gloves and now a monster that can no longer be tamed; therefore: THE FOLLOWING CONCRETE DECISIONS MUST BE TAKEN WHEN PRESIDENT BUHARI RE-CONVENES THE HIGH-LEVEL SECURITY MEETING WITH HIS SERVICE CHIEFS ON TUESDAY, 4TH MAY, 2021, IN ABUJA!
An urgent convocation of the COUNCIL OF STATES composed of the: President (Chairman);Vice President (Deputy Chairman); All former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation; All former Chief Justices of Nigeria; President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; All the Governors of the States of the Federation; and Attorney General of the Federation; to URGENTLY advise the President on the precarious state of the nation which MUST not be allowed to degenerate any further and urge him to take the following steps to douse the horrible tension through initiation of a REFERENDUM FROM THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL!
Establishment of STATE POLICE in the 36 States of the Federation which will be complimented by the existing vigilante squads and for necessary legislations to be put in place not to allow Governors misuse them for other purposes order than security and welfare of their citizens!
IMMEDIATE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING LAUDABLE BENEFITS OF TRUE FEDERALISM AS CONTAINED IN APC's GOLDEN DOCUMENT IS GATHERING DUST IN THE PRESIDENT DRAWERS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AS PUBLISHED IN OUR 389TH EDITION OF 24TH JANUARY, 2021, BY THE COUNCIL OF STATES, TO DOUSE THE TENSION!

“The Governor El Rufai-led All Progressives Congress [APC], Committee on True Federalism, submitted its very detailed report on Thursday 25th January, 2018, on the following planks:
Devolution of powers to the States through Resource Control.
State Police and State Prisons to be run by all States of the Federation in respect of certain crimes.
Independent candidacy which can only be enjoyed if such candidate was not a member of any political party, six months prior to any election.
There should exist constitutional autonomy for the 774 Local Governments, which should be free to legislate freely and create any number of councils as they so desired.
Food, Drugs and poison to be moved to the Concurrent List so that States could constitutionally legislate on those items, while narcotics/psychotropic substances should remain on the Exclusive List.
Labour issues, trade unions, industrial relations, conditions, safety/welfare, disputes/minimum wages/ industrial arbitration, should be handled by both States/Federal Governments who should enjoy independent legislation.
Mines and minerals, oil fields and mining, geological surveys and natural gas that are ONSHORE will be vested in all States of the Federation, while all OFF-SHORE OIL shall remain vested in the government of the federation.
Registration of Business Names should be on the Concurrent List for companies to choose their areas of operations; State or nationwide.
Collection of Stamp Duties was also recommended to be moved to the Concurrent List, for the States to collect duties from individual and small businesses while Federal Government collects duties from Limited Liabilities Companies.
Issue of Citizenship, Local Government or State of Origin, which had hitherto been discriminatory, "should be replaced with State of Residence", through a proposed amendment to the Federal Character Commission Act to allow people domicile in a place to be considered as INDIGENES of such place.”The Council of State should realize that desperate situations demand desperate measures! This period does not call for debates for pros, cons ayes and nays but 100% support for the masses of the this great nation!

GOD alone will bale Nigeria out of its predicaments, NOT America or Mercenaries who came to make quick money in 2015 and left the country worse for it! WHO SAYS THAT MERCENARIES ARE NOT MAKING MONEY FROM THE TERRORISTS TOO? “A word is sufficient for the wise”.


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.

Let’s call a spade a spade! Nigerian political leaders past and present have consistently shown disdain for the Constitution of the Federal Republic, trampled on the rights of the People from whom they derived all powers and authority to govern and have thrown overboard all democratic principles based on human rights, equity and social justice!

Although Chapter II Sections 13, 14 (1-4), succinctly emphasized that “Sovereignty belongs to the People of Nigeria” whose SECURITY AND WELFARE must be the primary objective of government which should also reflect the principle of Federal Character in the appointment to positions of authority among the diverse people, there had been flagrant abuse of the grundnorm with much impunity!

BUT MR. PRESIDENT SAYS, “WE ARE DOING OUR BEST AND THEY SAY OUR BEST IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!” [Please find below some of what President Buhari described as his BEST SHOTS!

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, [NAN], President Muhammadu Buhari, assured Nigerians that the abduction of female students from Government Girls Secondary Science School, Jangebe, Zamfara State, on Friday, 26th February, 2021, would be the last to happen! He spoke through leader of a Federal Government’s delegation sent to sympathize with people and government of Zamfara, Hadi Sirika, who is also Minister of Aviation. The President said new measures had been developed by the Federal Government which would bring a complete end to all forms of criminality in the nation! The official figure of Jangebe 279 students were released on 2nd March, 2021, after successful negotiations with government and were hardly re-united with their families when the bandits struck again at Kaduna and Uromi in Edo State simultaneously, less than two weeks of the President’s declaration! Contrary to his assurances about 30 Students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Kaduna North West, very close to the State Capital were abducted early Friday 12th March, 2021, and earlier on Wednesday night, 10th March, 2021, at Uromi, Esan North East LGA, Edo State, suspected gunmen abducted one teacher and two students at a specialized higher institution, National Institute of Construction Technology!
NSA SAYS ARMS MONEY WAS MISSING UNDER EX-SERVICE CHIEFS! Judging by the level of institutional impunity of government at the Federal level, the most recent Nigeria’s ex-service were reluctantly relieved of their positions by retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari, at his own pleasure without any respect to over 36 months of massive demands by OVER 80% of the People who voted him to the transient position! BUT THE PEOPLE have been vindicated by the National Security Adviser [NSA], who claimed recently that Arms Money was missing under the ex-service chiefs who overstayed their welcome when he said “…..some funds meant for the purchase of arms got missing under the leadership of the ex-service chiefs.”The NSA was quoted to have disclosed during an interview with BBC Hausa that ….. “funds running into billions of naira meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition under the past service chiefs were unaccounted for”! “No one knows what happened to the money but by God’s grace, the president will investigate to find out whether the money was spent and where the arms went. “It is not that we are not working to end the security challenge in the country. The president has done his own part and allocated huge amount of money to purchase weapons but they are yet to be here. We don’t know where they are. “I am not saying that the past service chiefs have diverted the money, but presently we don’t know where the money is.”

COMMENTS:

IF THAT WAS NOT AN INDICTMENT ON PRESIDENT BUHARI’S WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION……?

Ex-President Ebele Jonathan’s NSA, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki Gate US$2.2 Billion dollars Arms deal still undergoing legal prosecution is inconclusive and now this!

Having been rattled for his undiplomatic disposition, NSA Babagana Monguno, has made a U-Turn that he had been quoted out of context! According to a statement from his office on Friday 12th March, 2021, he did not “categorically say that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the watch of former service chiefs”.

He only said that President Buhari was committed to deal decisively with insecurity and provide arms, equipment including all necessary support to the Armed Forces but that procurement orders were either inadequate or yet to be delivered and that did not imply that the funds were misappropriated!

QUESTION: What about the ONE BILLION US DOLLARS ARMS FUND approved by Senate for weapons purchases from the United States in April 2018?

BREAKING NEWS: President Buhari on 10th March gave marching orders to the new service chiefs to end Boko Haram insurgency within the next SIX WEEKS! He also ordered security operatives to “shoot at sight”, anyone caught with possession of AK 47 RIFLES illegally while addressing some traditional rulers who paid him a courtesy call the State House recently!

“DON’T BE COWARDS, DEFEND YOURSELVES AGAINST BANDITS!” BUT Minister of Defense Bashir Magashi, while addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex on 17th February, 2021, had said that victims of banditry should resist such attacks and let the criminals know that “even the villagers have the competency and capability to defend themselves”, while responding to a question on the growing security challenges of bandit attacks across the north. Magashi believed that security challenge should be the responsibility of both the military and the people and asserted that at times the bandits usually attacked with “about three rounds of ammunition” and added that those attacked should stand and fight back!

QUESTION: Did he retract his outrageous suggestions that citizens should fight bandits armed with AK 47 Rifles with bows, arrows or cudgels or would he supply arms and ammunition to the people for their defense

IS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RENEGING ON N30.000 MINIMUM WAGE? LEGISLATIVE BILL TO AMEND CONSTITUTION IN MOTION! President Buhari signed into law on 18th April, 2019, the national minimum wage of thirty thousand naira (N30,000.00), for Nigerian workers. Many States have been paying the minimal wage since it became an Act of Parliament while some were still disputing the sum in question! In February, 2021, one Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad, [All Progressives Congress, Kaduna], proposed a bill which has scaled second reading at the House of Representatives to transfer the matter of minimum wage from Exclusive to Concurrent Legislative List so that State Governors might continue to pay peanuts to their WORKFORCE while they continue to enjoy fat salaries/allowances including billions of naira in SECURITY VOTES which they have never accounted for! The Nigerian Labour Congress [NLC], President and his team have moved against the National Assembly and vowed to stop its progress during PUBLIC HEARING! The bill will DEFINITELY NOT see the light of the day because of the massive opposition against it by ALL WELL-MEANING NIGERIANS!

FUEL HIKE FROM N165.00 TO N200.12K IN MARCH 2021! Panic purchase of Premium Motor Spirit [PMS], or Petrol, persisted for about 10 days in March following rumor of an impending increase in Filling Station pump price and by Friday 12th March, 2021, some greedy petroleum marketers sold for an official Petroleum Products Pricing Agency Pipeline [PPPRA], new price of N200.12k which was published on its website! However, Minister of State for Petroleum has reversed PPPRA notice which prominently dominated website, apologized to Nigerians for the mix up and promised that government would deal with any marketer selling beyond N165.00 naira!

COMMENTS: The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC], is the sole importer of refined petroleum products; a move supposedly and deliberately aimed at deceiving Nigerians that SUBSIDY on the crude oil products was totally abolished – as it was not reflected in the 2021 Budget Appropriation!

BUT IS THE SUBSIDY TRULY SCRAPPED? All hidden agenda by this administration to further impoverish the Citizens will be exposed and resisted!
IS BUHARI’S BEST ENOUGH?
‘’Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house’’ (Prov 17:13).


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, 08130669886, 08080243066. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.com.

Contrary to the 1999 Constitution and the “rule of law” and with a display of brazen executive impunity, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, 5th February, 2021, extended the tenure of a RETIRED Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Adamu, [1st February, 1986- 1st February, 2021], for three months!

Though appointed by the President on 15th January, 2019, Adamu attained the mandatory retirement service period of 35 years on 1st February, 2021, and should have processed his retirement papers three months before that date and not after, according to the letters and spirit of the Police Act 2020, but the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, was quick to justify the shameless act without batting an eye lid!
His Press Briefing: “Mr. President has decided that the present IGP Mohammed Adamu will continue to serve as IG for the next three months to allow for a robust and efficient process of appointing a new IGP ...I think this is not unconnected with the desire of Mr. President not only for a smooth handover and ensure that the right officer is being appointed into that position.”

Long before 1st February, 2021, the social media had speculated on likely successors to Adamu assuming that he would naturally bow out at the appointed time; but NAY! He believed he should be an exception to the rule since similar concessions had been made to the Service Chiefs and some other civil servants in past administrations! He strategically waited for the president to return from his home town Daura, Katsina State, to pronounce an extension which he now relishes in spite of its ILLEGALITY!
It is on record that ex-President Aremu Obasanjo extended the tenure of ex-Inspector General, Sunday Ehindero for ONE YEAR, when he tried to pull a stunt for THIRD TERM ELONGATION which died on arrival!

VERY STRONG LEGAL OPINIONS AGAINST THE ADAMU’S EXTENSION!

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, described the president’s action as, “unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, unconscionable, arbitrary, whimsical and capricious” and added that President Buhari usually engaged in fire brigade approach to appoint members of his cabinet!
He quoted Section 7, sub section 6 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, which states that the IGP shall serve for four years, and Section 18 sub section 8 of the same Act which unambiguously stated that the IG shall retire from office when he would have served for 35 years or he has attained the age of 60 years!

Another SAN, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa was also reported to have faulted the extension of Adamu’s tenure and described it as “illegal, unconstitutional and runs foul of the law” adding that it defied provisions of Sections 215 (1)(a), and 216 (2), of the 1999 Constitution which deal with appointment and removal of an IGP; and that as presently constituted, the Federal Republic has “no IGP properly so recognised by law”!
He also referred to Paragraph 27 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution which also stipulated that, “The Nigeria Police Council shall comprise the following members: the President who shall be the chairman; the governor of each of the federation; the chairman of the Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police.”

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE THREE MONTHS EXTENSION!

Question: How many DIGs & AIGs will retire from the Nigerian Police Force between 1st February 2021 and 1st May 2021? Answer: Apart from Adamu, THREE DIGs and TEN AIGs are due to retire on 1st February 2021, with Mohammed Adamu!
QUESTION: Now that Adamu is enjoying Presidential fiat to remain in office of three months extension, what will happen to his course mates?
Answer: They must bow out according to the Police Act and lose forever the opportunity of one of them to have ever become IGP!
Through his arbitrariness, the President has deliberately introduced disaffection, bad blood, rancour, rivalry, hustling, resort to godfather syndrome and destruction of morale among the top echelon of the force with a view to completely erase what is left of the flagging Zeal of the Force following the #End Sars #End police Brutality Youth Protests which occurred under the watch of Adamu who retired from the Nigeria Police Force with effect from 2nd February, 2021!

THE OPPOSITION PDP ALSO CONDEMNED PRESIDENT BUHARI’S UNILATERAL ACTION!

‘Kola Ologbondiyan, Peoples Democratic Party, Publicity Secretary, commented that President Buhari and his Party, All Progressives Congress were laws unto themselves and not respecters of the 1999 Constitution!
HAS PRESIDENT BUHARI BEEN A PRUDENT MANAGER OF CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISMS THESE FIVE YEARS?
It is our candid opinion that President Buhari has learnt absolutely nothing from genuine criticisms, suggestions, solution from passionate Nigerians who believe in good governance and convinced that only RIGHTEOUSNESS would exalt Nigeria and that INSTITUTIONAL CORRUPTION would always give birth to POVERTY AND CRIMINALITY IN THE NATION!
He is still surrounded by charlatans whose penchant for manipulating the system to their advantage was so perfected that they were always found in the corridors of power of every government!
Only himself and very few others that can be counted on finger tips are bona fide APC members, all others in his cabinet – ministers and advisers – are political prostitutes who have given him nothing but bad image!
President Buhari should know by now that he had neither “locus standi” to re-appoint, re-absorb nor extend the tenure of the officer in question without recourse to the NIGERIA POLICE COUNCIL which did not play any in the ONE MAN SHOW, but was goaded to “carry go” by his highly-remunerated advisers!
Where were Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari and Minister of JUSTICE, Ibrahim Malami in the whole SAGA! HAS the President not cleared the way for another preferred candidate in line with his nepotistic agenda?

OTHER ACTS OF OFFICIAL IMPUNITY BY PRESIDENT BUHARI!

1) In spite of public outcries, President Buhari, retained TIRED AND SPENT Service Chiefs who could not restore peace to Nigeria for over eighteen months after their statutory retirement dates with absolute disregard or respect to THE CITIZENS who suffer degradation and insecurity through atrocities by Boko Haram terrorists and systematically wallow in squalor and abject poverty in the midst of plenty everyday!
2) Mr Idris Ahmed, Accountant-General of the Federation, clocked the retirement civil service age of 60 years in November 2020, but is still being retained by the president in spite of protests by Labour Unions! Labour and Employment Minister, Chris Ngige, says the president’s action was constitutional according to Section 171 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. He claimed that although that Idris was appointed in June 2015 by the president, re-appointed in June 2019, and although he clocked the retirement age of 60 years in November 2020, President Buhari had the powers under the Constitution to retain him until June 2023 – when he Mr. President would have exited his seat on 29th May, 2023!Section 171, according to the minister also granted powers to the president to extend the tenure of “heads of extra-ministerial departments or agencies, permanent secretaries, secretary to the government of the federation, ambassadors and high commissioners”!
3) The recently retired Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Service Corps [NSCDC], Abdulahi Gana, enjoyed a six-month extension of tenure from 17th July, 2020 to January 2021, instead of FIVE years, “to further grow the organization to the standard expected of an international organization like civil defence”, according to spokesman Emmanuel Okeh!
4) Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service Muhammad Babandede, had his service tenure extended for six months alongside his counterparts at the Civil Defence, Correctional, and Fire, Services in 2020 by Minister of Interior, [to whom the President delegated his authority], though they had exceeded the mandatory age limit and number of years of service! Babandede is said to be the longest serving CG of NIS. He joined the Service in June 1985 and has spent 35 years and is still “SERVING”! He hails from Jigawa State!

The tenure of the NCoS Comptroller General, Jafaru Ahmed, was initially extended by President Buhari for one year from 21st July, 2019,to 21st July 2020 “due to his track record of pioneering innovative reforms in the prison service”, although he clocked 60 years in 2019 and mandatory 35 years in service in 2020!
He also had his tenure extended for the second time for six months by Interior Minister, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, [Chairman of all the paramilitary services], for him “to consolidate and implement some key programmes and policies, especially on human rights compliance, infrastructural development and welfare of staff and inmates”! Ahmed was appointed CG on17th May, 2016. And whereas, all of these paramilitary agencies are reeking of fraudulent deals, misappropriation of funds and institutional looting through unremitted funds to the Treasury Single Account [TSA], UNUTILIZED APPROPRIATIONS, AND REVENUES generated by some of them!

From all of the ABOVE, should anyone be surprised that this administration is run by some mediocre who find it very difficult to study their Constitution, all corresponding Acts and Statutes in other to think outside of the box to get things right in a 21st Century World! THERE IS NO NIGERIAN STATE THAT CANNOT PRODUCE EGG-HEADS/CEREBRALS TO FILL ALL AVAILABLE VACANCIES AT THE TOP!
President Buhari should sack all those surrogates who are denting and destroying his image, integrity on a continuous basis, flouting the Constitution and gradually dragging his name into the MUD, with immediate effect! The departure year 2023 is just a stone throw! It is not too late for the President to REVERSE IGP Adamu’s three-month extension!

IF THE CURRENT NEPOTISTIC TENURE ELONGATION UNDER PRESIDENT BUHARI’S WATCH IS NOT CORRUPTION, SOMEONE SHOULD GIVE US ANOTHER NAME FOR IT! “A word is enough for the wise”!



I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

Who is threatening the life of actor/politician/Lagos State law maker Hon. Desmond Elliot? Definitely they are not the soldiers, nor the peaceful protesters who are still mourning the sudden demise of their compatriots!
They are the aggrieved social media youths who are demanding his “pound of flesh” for his audacity in condemning them for unleashing “legitimate” anger of mayhem and destruction on public, private and cultural institutions in Lagos and across the nation!
But they forgot one very important detail that those attacks on Lagos Police Stations, Medical institutions, the Oba’s Palace and the various political constituencies, were dangerous invasion to the Honourable’s “Lion’s Den” which incurred his fury! Oluwashola Desmond Elliot, (ODE), 46-year-old is an indigene of Lagos, who studied in Lagos and Jos, married in Lagos, had almost all of his professional life in Lagos and now as a politician, represents (for the second tenure), Surulere Constituency 1, 2015 to date, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ruling party. SURULERE CONSTITUENCY INCURRED WANTON DESTRUCTION AND INJURIES TO LIVES AND PROPERTIES!
As an actor, he was loved by the Youths who patronized his over 200 films and soap operas in which he featured since prominently since the year 2003, have gotten very fond of him and more or less idolize and voted en mass in 2015/2019, to secure his legislative ambition when he veered into politics!

THE SINS OF DESMOND ELLIOT IN OCTOBER 2020!

During the #EndSARS peaceful protest which lasted from 8th-20th October, 2020, without pandemonium and in spite of the fact that Desmond stood aloof even as a youth who benefited from youths votes via Social Media campaigns, he “supported Anti-Social Media Bill in Nigeria”!
He vehemently criticized social media users and influencers on the floor of the Lagos State House of Assembly by claiming that if urgent action was not taken, the favourite youth portal would destroy the very fabric of the nation and there would be no Nigerian State in the next FIVE years because social media was eroding “our cultural heritage!
He also told plenary of the House on Thursday 29th October, 2020, that youths had desecrated cultural norms and values through deliberate disrespect to elders by raining curses/abuses on elders with reckless abandon – especially the raid upon the Palace of Lagos during which the Oba’s Staff of Office (now recovered), was carted away!
He criticized CELEBRITIES for clandestinely supporting violence, condemned the carnage at the Lekki Toll Gate and the #EndSARS/#EndPolice Brutality aftermath as one of the negative aspect of the excessive freedom of Social Media in Nigeria!
Desmond addressed the youth protesters as CHILDREN who are cursing the elders adding that all those who looted and destroyed lives and properties were also youths; an assertion that the protesters vehemently detested and rejected! *Nigerians at home and the Diaspora including members of the international communities, witnessed on social media, the #EndSARS/#EndPolice Brutality street protests which in TWO WEEKS produced Federal Government’s agreement to the entire FIVE-FOR-FIVE demands by the peaceful Youth Protesters who refused to return home throughout that period!

THE 5-FOR-5 DEMANDS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Immediate release of all arrested protesters.
Justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families.
Setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all aspects of police misconduct (within 10 days).
In line with the new Police Act, psychological evaluation retraining (to be confirmed by an independent body), of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed.
Increase police salary so that they are adequately compensated for protecting lives and property of citizens.

The announcement by the Inspector General of Police coupled with a televised broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari that SARS had been DISBANDED should have been a welcome balm for the youths to RETURN home to give room for implementation but for the distrust that government might not fulfil the demands after all!

FACE-OFF BETWEEN MILITARY AND THE LAGOS STATE JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY!
It was reported that Military authorities at the Military Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, initially denied access the Chairman and Members of the Commission on fact finding mission; but superior orders eventually prevailed!
MILITARY AMNESIA? – “WE WERE NOT AT LEKKI TOLL GATE ...OOPS! .... WE WERE THERE BUT DID NOT FIRE A SINGLE SHOT!
“We were not involved in the over three weeks of general commotion/disruption to social activities, wide-spread destruction of lives and properties orchestrated through the initially PEACEFUL #EndSARS, #EndPolice Brutality, which began in Lagos on 8th October, 2020; etc. etc.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT DESMOND ELLIOT!

Members of this platform are acquainted with the gradual success of young Desmond from 2004 when he began his acting career on the popular soap opera, “Everyday People”, where he distinguished himself as a very talented and promising movie star. And he progressed in the industry, he was identified as a philanthropist who was ever ready to support worthy social events in his State of Origin and also in Plateau State where he sunk bore holes to support the supply of potable water to the citizenry in remote areas!
He was a cheerful giver who was ever ready to part with his financial resources to the needy with great passion.

WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS ABOUT RESPECT TO PARENTS AND ELDERS!

As a Christian faithful, Desmond was zealous to condemn youthful exuberances which led youths to abuse and curse the elderly and hoary head and would not hold his peace even at the peril of the quagmire in which he had found himself!
Children who obey and respect parents and elders would live long to declare the glory of the Lord in the land of the living while those who derelict would perish before ripe age according to the Word of God!

KILLING/WANTON DESTRUCTION OF LIVES & STRATEGIC PROPERTIES!

Thou shall not KILL! This is one of the holy commandments of the Lord. Whoever kills by the sword will perish by the sword is another! Thou shall not covet your neighbour’s properties, is yet another!
BUT the looters despised all of those laws and more and Desmond had to speak out!

GENERAL COMMENTS: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS!

Was Desmond’s contribution/comments at plenary NOT pre-meditated and laden with anguish/anger in view all of the listed ”SINS” against him in the preceding paragraphs and in view of the fact that he spoke publicly on Thursday 29th October, 2020, (21 days after commencement of protests from 8th October, 2020)?Answer: Not quite! Firstly, the young man, having become a successful politician and a card-carrying member of the ruling party is now on the other side and must be cautious about his actions that could be termed Anti-party activity if he had spoken in favour of protesters!
Was he qualified to refer to the protesters as CHILDREN? Yes and No! Yes because some of the addicted Social Media users in Nigeria are between age 15 to 25 and were easily indoctrinated to social vices on internet rather than qualitative/educational ideas that could influence positive civic responsibilities! And No because majority of those protesters capture on electronic, social or print media were responsible young professional, ebullient patriots in their 20s and early 30s, who believe in good governance and is advocating for same with absolute maturity which government quickly recognised and respected! So, Hon. Elliot should not have employed a blanket description for the two different categories of youths!
Was he impetuous or emotional as he claimed in a recent television interview? Yes he was both; but more emotional as he confessed following total condemnation for his unbridled vituperations!
Is he sorry, remorseful penitent and ashamed? Yes! He was completely broken down and wish he could turn back the hands of the clock – but alas, the deed has been done and our staunch belief is that the Word of God which states that, “The LORD shall fight for you and you will hold your peace”, will manifest at this time in his life for divine protection!

WE IMPLORE THE RESPONSIBLE/PATRIOTIC YOUTHS WHO SPEARHEADED THE SUCCESSFUL PROTESTS TO RE-STRATEGIZE & BE FOCUSSED TOWARDS 2023 PRESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL ELECTIONS AND SEAMLESSLY AND PEACEFULLY TAKE OVER FROM THIS EVIL GENERATION OF BAD LEADERS!
Aggrieved youths should forgive Hon. Desmond Elliot, because he is their FRIEND AND NOT AN ENEMY! “To err is human; to forgive is divine! The foundation for a better Nigeria has been laid by those honourable INNOVATIVE YOUTH PROTESTERS and we believe that Posterity will always honour them AMEN!


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

Except for a deaf or insensitive government, the persistent/vehement nation-wide street commotions/ uproars over the demand for the disbandment of the ubiquitous and notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad Unit (SARS), of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), ANY further delay by President Muhammadu Buhari, to act on the burning issue could have resulted in chaos/anarchy of a dimension that might have been impossible to contain!

Following weeks of youth demonstrations across the nation, SARS, a Police management initiative established to counter the spate of armed robbery evolution and cyber fraud and crimes by “yahoo boys” of unprecedented dimension from the early years of the 21st Century which informed Presidential Committees on Police Reforms in Nigeria 2005, 2006, 2008 etc, with a view to improving organisational structure/welfare because of the primary duties of the civil security outfit which tally with government’s constitutional provision to provide security and welfare as a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice, has prompted the incumbent president to further encourage the police force with better and greater incentives through his assent to a fresh Police Bill on 17th September, 2020!

The NPF happens to be the first security contact to visitors at all entry points by land, air or sea ports - including international visitors/watchers who play the role of Ombudsman and monitor closely human right violations in every country to ensure the equality of all citizens of the world and therefore its officers must therefore be well-kitted, presentable, professional and diligent in the performance of their huge responsibilities!

BREAKING NEWS! According to newspapers, electronic and social media reports; “The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has announced the dissolution of the dreaded police formation, Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS or FSARS).
“The dissolution is coming on the hills of the #EndSARS protest nationwide.
“The IGP made the announcement on Sunday afternoon (11th October, 2020), during a press conference at the force headquarters in Abuja.
“The IGP reports directly to the president and could only have taken such decision with President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval or authorization.
“The SARS, a police unit, has been accused of extortion, intimidation, harassment and murder of many young Nigerians.”

POWER BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE!
President Buhari has behaved wisely and has proved his critics wrong because he was aware of the enormous constitutional sovereignty which belongs to the people from whom government derives its power/authority and MUST therefore ensure their security, welfare in order to prevent social disorder and anarchy!

F SARS IS AN OFF-SHOOT OF POLICE MOBILE FORCE!
The acronym “kill and go” is synonymous to the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (PMF), which was so termed because of the brutality of the group which never bothered about pains/agonies inflicted on people, provided their strike operations were successful!

For some decades since independence to date, personnel of NPF had been widely accused as unrepentant human rights violators who behaved with impunity in the discharge of their duties!

The special anti-riot para-military outfit – also called Mopol- debuted on the Nigerian security architectural platform at a time when the docile civil Nigeria Police Force (NPF), saddled with the enormous/strategic role of maintaining law, order, protecting lives and property nation-wide without adequate provisions of training, funding, man power/modern combat equipments AND had been virtually run aground by the Nigerian Army which forcefully gate-crashed into the political arena within six years of independence and pushed the former’s constitutional roles into the abyss!
Pioneer Mopol (Mobile Police), recruits were flown to acquire special training in Malaysia which was credited for having successfully operated highly-professional para-military strike forces of international standard of that nature for several years in the past and until the late 80s into the 90s, Mopol officers have performed creditably across Africa and especially at the United Nations (UN), Peace Keeping operations!

GOING DOWN THE MEMORY LANE: EXCERPTS FROM OUR NEWSLETTER NO. 223 OF 19TH NOVEMBER, 2017.
“BAD COPS ARE NOT SPARED BY POLICE HIGH COMMAND!
The NPF is the only Para-military organization with constitutional powers for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, and shall perform such military duties within or without Nigeria as may be required of them.
In the discharge of these very daunting duties, the Force had to cope with some "BAD COPS" who attempted to smear the dogged and formidable image which had been built with sweat and blood of PAST HEROES in 156 years and would have succeeded but for the determined courage of the majority population of highly efficient and dedicated officers who had kept the flag flying through lawful discharge of their constitutional duties with decorum and probity.
In all of the years of existence of the NPF, junior officers of the Rank and File, had been the BLACK SHEEP until IGP, Mustapha Adebayo Balogun, (2002-2005), who was alleged to have hired thousands of officers with criminal records during his tenure was eventually indicted and later convicted over corruption charges!
THE FORCE HAS ITS OWN IN-HOUSE DISCIPLINARY AND CLEANSING MECHANISM WHICH ENSURES THAT NO OFFENCE, MISDEMEANOUR OR CRIME COMMITTED BY ANY MEMBER IS EVER COVERED UP!
From the recruits to all Superior Police Officers (SPOs), crimes - including extra-judicial killings - were exposed and punished adequately according to the law and that why it was not easy for ex-IGP 'Tafa Balogun to wriggle out of the accusations that were proven against him at the law courts!

RECOMMENDATIONS; It is a welcome decision of government to have banned SARS at the Federal and State levels but it very important that the “Frankenstein Monsters” among them must be investigated, prosecuted and if found guilty be made face their punishments according to extant laws in order to restore some confidence that may be left in the Nigerian Police Force, which recently received the attention of the President who signed into law a very special Bill that favours further reformation for better performances as reproduced below:
“President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law the Nigeria Police Bill, 2020. The President in a memo dated September 16, 2020, communicated his assent to the Bill to the National Assembly, through the Clerk of the legislature.
“The Act repeals the Police Act Cap. P19. Laws of the Federation, 2004, and provides for a more effective and well organized Police Force, driven by the principles of transparency and accountability in its operations and management of its resources.
“Among others, the Act establishes an appropriate funding framework for the Police in line with what is obtainable in other Federal Government key institutions, enhances professionalism in the Force through increased training opportunities, and creates an enduring cooperation and partnership between the Police Force and communities in maintaining peace and combating crimes nationwide.”

NORTH EAST NEEDS MORE MILITARY AND POLICE COMBATANTS TO END THE BOKO HARAM ALREADY DEGRADED INSURGENCY!

It is our candid suggestion that the disbanded tough officers should be re-deployed to support the security forces in that region; who knows, their cumulative intelligence prowess of several years might proffer faster results than would end the war in no time!

WE GIVE KUDOS TO PRESIDENT BUHARI FOR HIS TIMELY INTERVENTION OVER #END SARS, #END POLICE BRUTALITY! HE HAS PROVED THAT HE IS STILL A VERY ALERT AGILE AND DILIGENT COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES AND THE NIGERIAN POLICE!
“A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE!”



I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

The helplessness of consecutive Nigerian leaders/ administrators to contain the spate of incessant insecurity of lives and property from independence to date points to serious character deficit that most of them – democratic or military - were mostly unprepared for the political offices they coveted or those that were thrust upon them by providence!

Before the two military coups of 1966; the first by soldiers mostly from the Igbo extraction on 1st January, and the other by the khaki boys from the Hausa invaders, 31st July, Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa and his management team believed that the Parliamentary system being practiced was on course; completely oblivious to the fact that the military whose rightful position had been strictly restricted to the barracks preferred to be in charge!

The seed of disunity which was birthed between Northern and Southern since then metamorphosed into the attempted secession of the Igbos from the rest of Nigeria which resulted in a 30-month-long Biafra War from 1967-1970, followed by more military coups and counter coups – about 11 of them altogether!

AT 60, IS NIGERIA AN INDEPENDENT OR DEMOCRATIC NATION?
An independent nation, country or state with its residents and population have the rights and privileges to exercise self-governance/sovereignty over the territory occupied while a democratic nation implies a country that operates a system of government in which power and civic responsibility devolve around adult citizens directly or through their freely elected representatives and rests on the principles of majority rule and individual rights.

Although the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, stipulates that sovereignty belongs to the people from whom government derives its constitutional powers, the reverse had been the case due to the bad blood which had been ceded into the polity through mindless military coups in the sixties!
In spite of ELEVEN military coups that made all the khaki generals multi billionaires within junta governments of about 30 years, they still had the audacity to craft/draft a dubious constitution that favours a presidential government as opposed to the Parliamentary System which that they overthrew in 1966, with a view to foisting a Diarchy which enabled them free participation in civil administrations as we have witnessed in the past 21 years in the total militarization of the entire nation of the country!

POLITICS IS A GAME OF NUMBERS!
How true is the pundits claim that politics is a game of numbers; but should the advantage of higher figures be synonymous with winners take all in a country as diverse as Nigeria?

Does the political class meticulously consider the significant role of the Constitution which spells out fundamental rights, federal character posture, faithful distribution of the common patrimony, equality before the law, freedom, equity, and justice when in position of authority either at the Federal or State levels?

Should the political elites always forget to consider the fate of the 250 ethnic groups or the over 500 tribes that amalgamated in 1914 as Northern and Southern Protectorates under the watchful supervision of Sir Lord Lugard, the British Colonial Governor General, and the over 200 million population of the most populous black African nation of the 21st Century which cannot be wished away but embellished in the scheme of administration to ensure the dividends of true democracy or good governance?

Should they always forget that the greatest asset of any nation is a well-nurtured HUMAN CAPITAL BANK chequered to give its best shot in every national assignment without employing parochial mentality/ nepotism to the detriment of fundamental rights etc, in the distribution of social amenities?
The British Colonial Masters were complicit to have given Northern Nigeria the false impression that their massive advantage of large expanse of land tantamount to greater population – a claim which is still being disputed by Southern politicians at every conversation/debate and all past CENSUS had not succeeded to arbitrate successfully!

HOW CAN DISUNITY BE ERADICATED PERMANENTLY?
The derogatory “Common man” parlance among Nigerian politicians must be deleted from the nation’s lexicon because if anyone must be addressed as COMMON, the greedy politicians are most suited like the common thieves in our societies because their motivation into politics was inordinate desire for pecuniary gains and not national service!
Between 1960 and 1999, OXFAM, an international watchdog reported that over US $ 3 trillion dollars were stolen from the common patrimony by these custodians in position of authority!
The NEEDS of the average Nigerian for survival are very minimal if a RIGHTEOUS GOVERNMENT is in place:
He needs a good job and a living wage, and in the alternative to be allotted with a moderate piece of land in his name to cultivate for all-year-round farming livelihood; a good shelter over his head, adequate security for himself and his family, constant electricity to power his machines, (grinding machines, motor bikes, “keke napep” “kabu-kabu taxis”, free education for his children from primary to Senior Secondary, good health care system for his family, flexible investment opportunities etc, etc,

With a conservative package such as mentioned above, the average citizen of Nigeria will dwell in peace without any form of agitation, will be law-abiding, will perform all civic duties without hesitation or coercion and would never engage in any form of confrontation!

HOW MUCH WILL COST THE NIGERIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PAMPER ITS CITIZENS?
Blockage of all wastefulness in the very unpopular Presidential System and a quick reversal to the Parliamentary which was aborted by the military shortly after independence.
Immediate move by Buhari Administration to close down the SENATE and pruning of the House of Representatives 360 members to 74!
Ministerial appointments to be limited to ONE per State and one for the Federal Capital Territory!
Employment opportunities for tertiary institution graduates and all able-bodied men/women to be engage in the various cadres of the SMSMEs.
Others to be absorbed by the Private Sector as government restores industrialisation through massive manufacturing/production and Exportation of FINISHED PRODUCTS; (there are 35 mineral deposits across the 36 States and the FCT.)
Continuous diversification to Agriculture, Mineral Extraction, Entertainment, Tourism, Film Industry, Information/Communication Technology, etc, etc,.
Re-organisation of the electoral process through necessary amendments to the ELECTORAL ACT, 2010?
Introduction of ELECTRONIC VOTING by 2023, in view of recent progress achieved by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the electronic transmission of results from polling to collation centres in the recently concluded EDO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION!
Re-furbish the existing refineries through OPEN transparent biddings, encourage the construction of new MODULAR REFINERIES through private sector incentives; re-visit the recent WATER REGULATION BILL to favour all stake holders and douse all areas of tension!
Total extermination of CORRUPTION from the polity, assuring all ACTIVISTS and PRESSURE groups that all forms of nepotism in government circles are eschewed to pacify the IPOB, MASSOB, OHAN’NEZE, O’ODUA, REVOLUTION NOW, etc, etc, “PAPER ALL CRACKS IN THE POLITY AND HEAL ALL THE AGGRIEVED”, then and only then can the current administration gain the co-operation of all and sundry for peace to reign supreme!
As a matter of urgency, creation of STATE POLICE for the 36 States of the Federation should occupy the front burner of President Buhari’s agenda for urgent execution.
It is the Will of God that Nigeria should remain; ONE INDISSOLUBLE NATION and so it shall be forever and ever! WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER!


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), is shadow-boxing again! Should not this body and its affiliate, Trade Union Congress, stop deceiving themselves that they are capable of shutting down Nigeria’s commercial activities and by extension the nation’s economy?
The other time when President Buhari’s government increased petrol pump price from N87.00 naira to N145.00, in a gradual process to “ removing the fraudulent fuel subsidy”, citizens refused to engage in massive protests when called out by the Union!
WHY? Because Labour had said that it was not opposed to deregulation of the Petroleum downstream sector as long as there was no scarcity of the commodity – a position similarly held by government!

Secondly, NLC and Government also believe that the increase in Electricity tariff was long overdue in order that Distribution Companies (Discos), would have sufficient funds to purchase, distribute electricity regularly and seamlessly without overcharging unmetered premises!
Thirdly, why did Labour fail to call for strikes and protests since September 1, 2020, when the new price hikes came into existence but waited until Monday 28th September, 2020, for a “a mother of all strikes”? Who does not know that Labour and any Government in power are birds of a feather? Who is deceiving who?
Fourthly, the NLC had been factionalized since 2014 and a merger was eventually brokered between the two major unions NLC and United Labour Congress (ULC), fresh challenges of losing positions and titles surfaced among field officers since Comrade Joe Ejero of the defunct ULC assumed the position of Deputy President of the new merger to make up for lost grounds!
NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT HAS STOPPED THE 28TH SEPTEMBER, 2020, NATION-WIDE STRIKE BY NLC!

LABOUR ANTECEDENTS IN NIGERIA – 20th -21st CENTURY.
Who does not know that politicians and labour union comrades are “paddy-paddy”? The history of labour unions in Nigeria dates back to the colonial era of the forties when political emancipation/consciousness gradually crept into the most-populous country in Africa, South-West of the Sahara but from all studies, these bodies which claimed their core mandate as the passionate protectors of workers legitimate rights, have performed woefully and abysmally in over eighty years (80), of corporate existence!

Reasons for their ineffectiveness and chains of failures in that long period could be traced to early enticement to partisan politics when a major party, National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC), which was desperate to have a strong foothold in the scheme of governance at the federal level, lured the then labour union comrades into a political merger which procured its desired goal!
According to newspapers reports the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC), settled their 6-year-old crisis in July 2020, merged, and avowed at a joint media press conference which was hosted by Ayuba Wabba, Joe Ajaero and other executive members, to protect the workers. Mr Ajaero was announced as the new Deputy President of the NLC at that august conference!

The Joe Ajaero-led faction of NLC announced the birth of the ULC, with over 25 affiliates including some aggrieved affiliates of Trade Union Congress (TUC), on December 18, 2016, following disagreements over the NLC general elections which took place in 2015! The reports also, mentioned that ULC was not an underdog in the merger as it boasted of two powerful oil unions, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN)! Its other affiliates include Nigeria Union on Electricity Employees (NUEE), Nigeria Union of Mine Workers, National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Employees (NUBIFFE), Nigeria Union of Rail Workers, National Union of Lottery Agents, & Employees, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE)!

The following were some excerpts from our 195th Edition of our previous Newsletter dated 7th May, 2017:
“MERCENERY LABOUR LEADERS NOW EYE POLITICAL OFFICES! WHAT GREED?
“It did not come as a surprise to many Nigerians when some leaders of a faction of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), during the last MAY DAY celebrations, expressed desire to metamorphose into a political party in view of the fact that since politics was a game of NUMBERS they could harness their numerical strength to advantage in order to CATER MORE for the basic necessities of life for their members as political gurus! Are they really passionate about the NEEDS of the downtrodden and over-used Nigerian workers or deviously planning to cut a niche for themselves in the rosy political landscape and line their pockets with the financial largesse which accompanies Nigeria's lucrative capitalist presidential system of government?
“In 1978, there was a merger of four different organizations which founded the NLC as an umbrella body for 42 restructured industrial unions with an initial membership population of 4 million, which has now grown to over 6 million, to "cater for workers specific and general interests in a more organized manner!
Before Comrade Wahab Goodluck, who emerged as the first President of that new body, there was the immortalized "LABOUR LEADER NUMBER ONE", PA MICHAEL IMODU, of blessed memory, who championed the cause of Nigerian down-trodden workers without seeking neither paraphernalia of office nor aspired to become a politician which today has become the vogue and vocation among the present crop of labour leaders of the 21st Century! Worthy of note also were Comrades Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar and Pascal Bafiyau, who followed Pa Imodu's footstep unlike Adams Oshiomole, who later veered into politics and spent 8 years in office as Governor of Edo State (2008-2016)! Nobody was surprised that the ex- governor was rebuffed by workers at the Eagle Square, on May Day, 2017, when he tried to calm a mild protest against Federal Government officials because he already belonged to the ELITES CLUB of capitalist politicians!

“The International Labour Organisation (ILO), has consistently advocated that labour agitations for improved workers conditions and enhanced living wages must always be predicated on mutual negotiations instead of confrontations, antagonisms or picketing with employers of labour in order to allow for a conflict resolution of "no victor, no vanquished", because when union leaders accused employers of deliberate exploitation of their workers, the later always accused their employees also of collecting free emoluments in spite of regular lackadaisical attitude to work!
“Nigerian workers have been maligned, sidelined and exploited by Governors of the various State Governments who owe them salary arrears of between 6 and 15 months up to May Day 2017, like Kogi State, which leads with 15 points on the medal table of unpaid N18.000.00 paltry stipends and even expected MARCH PASTS by the workers on empty stomachs because the Labour negotiators reneged on the bond of COVENANT through delay of serious negotiations with State Governments for their own selfish pecuniary gains!

During the disrupted 2017 May Day gathering at the Eagle Square, Abuja, the Federal Government delegation comprising of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senate President, and Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives were barred from delivering official addresses including that of the President!
Nigerians were also not surprised when in January 2017, some ambitious labour leaders announced the formation of a new Labour Union which emerged after a two-year internal crisis that split the NLC into two opposing factions following a disputed general elections in 2015. Out of the 42 Industrial Unions, of the NLC, no fewer than 25, elected Comrade Joe Ajaero who heads one of the splinter groups as President of the new United Labour Congress (ULC). As expected, the other group of the NLC, headed by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, described the emergence of the new labour party as a setback to the agitation for better conditions of service - especially on the issue of the new minimum wage being negotiated with the Federal Government.”.

POLITICIZATION OF LABOUR UNIONS HAS BEEN THE BANE OF CORRUPT CONSECUTIVE GOVERNMENTS IN NIGERIA!
Was it not high time that Nigerian Workers took their destiny into their own hands by barring political jobber comrades from participating in the administration of labour unions and instead beam the searchlight on progressive/vibrant peer group cadre who would henceforth engage any government meaningfully and get positive results that would enhance the total welfare package of every worker? From all indications, the new reconciled/reconstituted NLC, is nothing short of a fluke which is bent on perfecting hidden agenda of surreptitiously cornering what should be their fair share of the national cake! They cannot be trusted at all for the following reasons:
Since the signing into law of the N30, 000.00 naira National Minimum Wage, the document has remained a paper tiger because very few States have implemented the agreement between government and workers.
When the Covid-19 pandemic birthed in Nigeria between February/March 2020, Labour pushed behind the issue of minimum wage and capitalized on corona virus pandemic palliatives by supporting government’s excuse of economic down-turn!
From January 2020 to date, NLC had taken the back seat and is cleverly negotiating for political spaces come 2023 in order to have bigger bites of the common patrimony BUT they must be stopped by all well-meaning citizens!
These current labour leaders are definitely square pegs in round holes and MUST be jettisoned before they could do more damage to the psyche of both Nigerian workers and the citizens at large!
Nigeria does need more Adams Oshiomoles in the polity! “A Stitch In Time Saves Nine!



I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

SweetBrownBuns:
Tedious it lost the reader and didn't have coherency

You're very wrong friend, on the contrary, the article is very coherent and enlightening, you obviously did not read it.

The fear and fright engendered in South-South Edo State Nigeria, months before the much-publicized tensioned-soaked, very-intriguing and cantankerous keenly-contested gubernatorial election of Saturday 19th September, 2020, has been put to rest as the Electorate decided in favour of the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 307,955 votes against 223,619 of his age-long rival and closest contender, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), among the 14 other participants from smaller parties! He won 14 out of the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs), according to INEC Result Sheet which has gone viral on the social media and NOT SURPRISINGLY, EDO PDP ELECTORATE are celebrating and dancing on the streets of Benin the State Capital WITHOUT REALIZING THAT THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN MERE PIECES OF CHIPS ON THE CHESS BOARD OF THE TWO GLADIATORS WHO WILL RETIRE TO THEIR CLOSETS AND SAVOUR CHILLED BOTTLES OF CHAMPAGNE WHILE THEY RE-STRATEGIZE FOR THE NEXT MOVE!

We have always told whosoever cared to listen that there are very few righteous politicians in NIGERIA, because decent people in the polity always shied away for fear of being maligned and mauled when the terrain got rough and bloody!

The so-called political leaders are WOLVES IN SHEEP CLOTHING – who pun the foolish masses of the Electorate for financial gains year-in year-out because they belong to the same CULT which registered and financed the TWO BIG Parties as sources of MULTIPLE INCOME!

The scenario in Edo State is a good case study:
In 2016, Pastor Ize-Iyamu was an aspiring APC governorship candidate who lost to Godwin Obaseki in the party primaries and not satisfied, jumped ship to the PDP to achieve his in-ordinate ambition, BUT unfortunately he lost!
Before the year 2020, he played out a new permutation by returning to the APC with the succinct support of ADAMS OSHIOMOLE , former two-term Governor of Edo State and the erstwhile Chairman of the ruling APC at the Federal level with a view to contesting and winning the just-concluded elections!
Now that Ize-Iyamu has lost for the second time, he would definitely head for the Appeal Court to protest the victory of Obaseki who during the race to the coveted seat participated in the primaries of both the APC and the PDP, contrary to extant laws of the Electoral Act, for necessary intervention and adjudication!
Peradventure, the Pastor’s arguments were upheld at the Apex Court, he would then take over from Obaseki and the seamless rotation of juicy political offices would continue between the duo at the expense of foolish/downtrodden electorate of Edo State who had been subjected to abject poverty in the hands of political predators – even though Pastor Ize-Iyamu claims to be a practicing servant of the Most High God!

WERE THE EDO ELECTORATE DEAF TO ALL TANTRUMS THROWN UP DURING THE RUN TO THE BOTH 2016 AND 2020 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS?
Comrade Adams Oshiomole will be remembered by Edo people for a long time as “a confusionist” who would have turned the concluded election into a battle field and thrown Edo State into a bloody land if it had not been for divine intervention through the effectual and fervent prayers of the righteous children of God across Nigeria and the Diaspora!

Oshiomole spoke from both sides of his mouth at both elections of 2016 and 2020, for and against both prominent contestants while the electorate watched WITHOUT THE HIND SIGHT THAT THEY COULD DIVERT THEIR VOTES TO A MORE RELIABLE GREEN HORN AMONG THE 16 CANDIDATES WHO WOULD DELIVER CREDIBLE GAINS OF DEMOCRACY TO THE MASSES!

EDO ELECTORATE HAVE PLAYED THE FOOL AGAIN!
African, Asian, Arabian and Chinese literature is resplendent with philosophical witty/wise/intelligent proverbs fables, anecdotes, innuendoes, deliberately, employed as moral/ethical nuggets to guide and mould human character with a view to achieving mutual/decent living among communities, societies, neighbourhoods, counties dwellers, etc, etc, across the globe!
An Arabian/Persian poem philosophizes as follows:
“He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool; Shun him;
He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a (child) student; Teach him;
He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep, Wake him;
He who knows, and knows that he knows, is Wise; Follow him.”

THE FOOL! [African Proverbs]
“A fool is thirsty in the abundance of water;
Is offended by wise counsel
Thinks he cannot be fooled;
Mocks a wise person;
Knows that he is headed for destruction, still continues on that path;
Delights in speaking his mind but never minding what he speaks;
Continues to make the same mistakes without ever learning from it!
When he is being cursed, he thinks he is being praised!

ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AVERAGE NIGERIAN ELECTORATE WHICH IS 85% OF THE VOTERS!
Politicians have fooled the electorate for 60 years from independence in 1960 and are still succeeding!
Why has the country practiced OLIGARCHY, colored as either PARLIAMENTARY OR PRESIDENTIAL , from Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa – President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration which is currently playing out in the same manner?
How have the politicians able to manipulate the masses for sixty years and we are still counting? Money politics that promises dividends BUT never delivered until close to another election when sum “bread & butter palliatives were distributed as incentives to encourage them to vote as ZOMBIES!

NB. Please find below questions we ask the past PDP of ex-President Ebele Jonathan in our Vol. 9. 13-10-13, when he inaugurated on Monday 7th October, 2013, a 30-man National Dialogue Committee, to prepare modalities for a mutual and interactive forum that would discuss, conflicting, political, economic and social issues of the Nigerian entity.

The Committee was a prelude to the Jonathan’s National Conference of 2014 which gulped over N18 billion of tax-payers money without any result to show for it till date!
1. Why is there an uneven distribution of wealth and power in 53 years of independence?
2. Why is the great majority of Nigerians wallowing in abject poverty, while the few minority, (mostly, civil servants and politicians), who have illegally acquired and accumulated the ‘commonwealth’, dwell in affluence, gluttonous and abundant prosperity?
3. Why is the prevalent economic inequality, taking heavy tolls, especially in the Health and Education sectors? Treatable diseases, such as malaria, diarrhoea, whooping cough and measles, continue to take the lives of over 40per cent of children before the age of five; maternal mortality rate is on the upward trend- about 1.500 mothers die daily in child birth; with only 2 per cent of world’s population, Nigeria accounts for 10 per cent of world’s maternal deaths per annum, second only to India;(World Health Organisation statistics,2008); less than 20per cent of the rural Nigerians and 40 per cent of those in the urban, have access to safe and potable water; over two thirds of rural people, have no access to health-care facilities, because they dwell very far from clinics and can hardly afford their charges.
4. Why is the unemployment statistics sky-rocketing, with youth unemployment accounting for about, 35-40 per cent, and up to 3.5 million presently out of school because of the unresolved strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, [ASSU].
5. Why should our tertiary institutions, be classified as glorified secondary schools and our hospitals as ‘mere consulting rooms’;
6. Why has the Transformational Agenda of diversification of the economy from the petroleum-based mono- product, to the multi agricultural and mineral resources platform, been difficult to implement?
7. Why should oil be the common asset to take care of all and sundry in a nation boasting of 168million citizens?
8. Why should the monthly sharing of petroleum funds accruing to the Federation Account between States and Federal Government, be acceptable as the panacea to Nigeria’s economic challenges?
9. Why should oil bunkering, money-laundering and other national vices of corruption persist unabated?
10. Why has the industrial sector of the economy become comatose and all textiles, including, small and medium scale factories gone to bed?
11. Why are our borders so porous that vicious aliens have turned our common heritage into a den of robbers and terrorists?
12. Why should the findings and recommendations of the House of Representatives probe of the Power sector, be discarded and swept under the carpet, in spite of the discovery of economic crimes of embezzlement of about N16billion for contracts not executed?
13. Why did government pay petroleum subsidies, running into billions of naira to dubious contractors who never imported petroleum products into the country, only to request for refund of stolen monies without prosecuting them, to serve as deterrent to others of their ilk?

About two years ago the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), released a startling statistics that about $300trillion(USD), had been looted from the Nigerian treasury since independence, adding that, if these currencies were to be stapled together, would get to the Moon and back, in 26 times!

HAS ANYTHING CHANGED SINCE JONATHAN’S ADMINISTRATION TILL DATE? NO! NO! NO! BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL THE SAME! The CITIZENS must remember the letters of Chapter II, 14 (2) of the 1999 Constitution which unambiguously stated that, “sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government derives its powers and authority”;.....

The “Not-Too-Young-To-Rule” group should arise and shine NOW for the glory of the LORD has risen upon them! THEY SHOULD NO LONGER PLAY THE FOOL OR ZOMBIES TO THE POLITICIANS! They should carry their destiny to rule with diligence and dignity!



I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

In spite of the fact that the Nigerian Government under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari seems to be losing grips with the security challenges of the nation, his helmsmen kept deceiving him that they were “on top of the situation”!

Has the Commander-In-Chief lost his military prowess of strategies to secure citizens lives/properties and confounded with the quagmire of massive criticisms from virtually all traumatised citizens?

People are no longer comfortable with the present security architecture which crumbles at all fronts by the day through terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and gunmen attacks which have been so devastating in a nation held to ransom by tired Service Chiefs who should have been retired at the end of his first tenure!

Apart from the news that youths agitations which have continuously clamoured for improvements in security architecture, the general consensus is that all service chiefs be removed for fresh/determined officers with brilliant ideas to be appointed to revolutionize the system.

State governors who belong to the All Progressives Congress have also joined the conversation to tell President Muhammadu Buhari to address the unhealthy security situation urgently!
From north to south and from East to West, insecurity and hostility has taken unprecedented dimensions and nobody seems safe.

BOKO HARAM ATTACK ON GOVERNOR ZULUM OF BORNU STATE!
Recently Bornu State Governor was attacked by Boko Haram terrorists while visiting Baga Local Government, which was considered safe.
However the Army was wrong because they did not strategize properly for his return journey to the State Capital, Maiduguri as gunshots were fired on his convoy and the soldiers had to shelter him into an armoured vehicle which ferried him to safety.

The youth group which is known as "Revolution Now", staged protests in the Federal Capital Territory, Ondo, Lagos, Osun stater and demanded for tight security and good governance
They claimed that the whole nation was under Boko Haram/Fulani herdsmen bandit attacks and that even the President's home state was not spared!
Kaduna State has become the worst hit because lots of killings have been going on by unknown gunmen in the past several weeks whereas Nigeria has a retinue of security agencies beginning with the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force (the armed forces), not excluding the civil security and defence Corps the State Security Service, (SSS), the Police Mobile Force, yet insecurity persists everyday!

Now Nigerians are faced with TWO evil agents of (1) disunity and destabilization ravaging at the same time and (2) persistent insecurity which has overstretched security agents coupled with Covid-19 pandemic which is taking its toll on all people whether young, old, rich or poor!
Which is more dangerous, is it the physical security or invisible insecurity? But from all indications Nigeria is sandwiched between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's Army (ie, between ludicrous spokesmen and the reality of daily fatality due to insecurity of lives and properties), and only trusting that divine intervention would rescue the land without doing the needful since the present government seemed to be at its wit's end!

When the "Revolution Now" Group protested at the Federal Capital Territory and four states of Nigeria recently, government spokesman 'Femi Adesina described their action as “childish and. Irritant”!
And we want to ask what is irritant or childish in asking government to protect its people without provoking them to resorting to self-defence, civil disobedience or anarchy which Government has dissuaded all citizens against?

ALIEN INVASION IN NIGERIA?
Nigeria may be under alien terrorist invasion that even all security forces would not be able to contain!
The United States Commander Special Operations Command Major General Dagavin Anderson in the past week (Tuesday, 4th August, 2020), cautioned that the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda terrorist groups were exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria and gradually taking over the West African region after losing ground in Syria, Iraq and the Middle East.

But just like 'Femi Adesina who sits on a "high horse", the Co-ordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche said that the Military High Command of Nigeria's Defence Headquarters was NOT ALARMED because their activities were not new!
His verbatim statement: " The Nigerian armed forces is not oblivious of the potency of such infiltration noting that it was the Nigerian military which raised the alarm of movement of terrorist from the Middle East to West Africa and is conscious also of the movement of insurgents from Libya which was equally revealed by the Nigerian Security Services. Our attention being drawn to the fact that terrorist from others zones are coming here; I think it will be good for us to be keeping records of events as they unfold.
For me, this is not the first time they are raising such an alarm; the alarm is as old as maybe 5 or 10 years and the Armed Forces and the country are conscious of it.
“Have we not captured foreigners among the people that have been terrorizing us in this country? So it is just like a call to keep doing what we are doing so the general public should know that the security agencies are ON TOP OF THAT ONE.”

QUESTIONS BEGGING FOR ANSWER!
Now that the Nigerian Army has admitted that alien terrorist have been with us for FIVE TO TEN YEARS according to the Major General, it means that, right from the onset in 2009, the military had been battling with both the Boko Haram and alien forces simultaneously to prolong the battle which should have been won with less logistics and funding! It should not have been so difficult for the Nigerian army and all other security forces to have won the battle now in its 11th year!
President Muhammadu Buhari promised to protect the people, secure their lives and properties doing his political campaigns in 2014 and 2019 respectively, securing of the nation's borders, roads and highways which would be his priority. Has he kept those promises? Apart from recapturing 17 Local Governments previously occupied by Boko Haram before 2015 in the early months of his first term, not much had gains had been made in crushing the terrorists till date while lives and properties of the peasants – TALKAWAS, who always bore the brunt, were daily destroyed without compensation!
According to the Commander-In-Chief, Boko Haram was technically defeated all over the land and that there was no place in Nigeria that was occupied by the insurgents;
we make bold to say that boko Haram insurgents doubles as Bandits in other geopolitical areas of the country and also as killer herdsmen who carry AK-47 rifles and destroy lives and properties from the north-east Borno State, moving down into the North Central/Niger States and Nasarawa State, killing and maiming without any form of challenge from security agents!

SOLUTIONS TO THE ENTIRE INSECURITY QUAGMIRE!
Soldiers in the battle fronts complained of delay in payment and at times non-payment of allowances. They should be promptly paid!
Many combatants in the trenches have overstayed their contract! They should be discharge immediately to return to their families before next deployments.
Some commanders have been accused of abuse of their offices! They should be probed without further delay or cover-up!
It is common knowledge that the Armed Forces and other security agencies are overstretched! Monthly recruitment should be introduced to absorb the teeming youths who are well qualified to become gainfully employed.
Government should source for more revenues by seriously implementing the ORANSANYE REPORT, which is already in progress AND ALSO CLOSE DOWN THE NATION’S DRAIN-PIPE KNOWN AS THE SENATE, REDUCE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO 74 AND SAVE OVER ONE TRILLION NAIRA ANNUALLY TO SUPPLEMENT SECURITY VOTES!
OR, which alternative would President Buhari chose? KEEP CHARLATANS AND MONEY MONGERS AROUND HIMSELF AND DEPART OFFICE IN DISGRACE OR CAST THEM AWAY TO KEEP HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND PROVIDE THE BEST AND ADEQUATE SECURITY FOR THE PEASANTS – THE TALAKAWAS WHOM HE SWORE TO PROTECT EVEN WITH HIS BLOOD!
BUHARI IS A VERY WISE MAN, HE WOULD DO THE LATTER!
WE RECOMMEND THAT HE SHOULD CONSULT WITH THE SENEGALESE PRESIDENT WHO CLOSED THAT THE NATION’S SENATE SUCCESSFULLY AND IS AT PEACE WITH HIS CITIZENS!
“A word is enough for the wise”!


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

The United States Guatemala Bay Detention Camp in Cuba was established in January 2002, by President W Bush’s administration during the “War on Terror”, to indefinitely detain/isolate extraordinarily dangerous people, to interrogate detainees, to prosecute detainees for war crimes, extract information through torture instead of de-radicalising them in US Prisons - a system which Amnesty International condemned as major human rights violation which were also offensive to the “Due Process Clause”, of the American Constitution and principles of the Geneva Convention!

On assumption of office President Barack Obama according to Wikipedia, moved to close the military prison located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base but was opposed by strong bipartisan opposition from the US Congress which passed laws to prohibit detainees from the detention camp from being imprisoned in the US.

Obama however reduced the number of inmates from about 245 to 41 by freeing and transferring them to other countries while in May 2018, one prisoner was transferred during Donald Trump’ first term to reduce the number to 40.

Similar programmes across world nations were treated with “human face” because each country embarked on fresh ideas of de-radicalization peculiar and applicable to their culture, tradition, religion and environment. For instance, in South East Asian countries of Indonesia, Singapore, Malay etc, de-radicalization of terrorists normally took place when such criminals had completed their prison terms.

In Nigeria, the program did not receive much publicity until 600 de-radicalised Boko Haram terrorists were treated to a “send forth” ceremony organised by the Nigeria Army on Wednesday 13th July, all dressed in white fabric “aso ebi” (uniformed), and customised face masks which invoked an ambience of love and camaraderie.

SHOULD THESE EX-TERRORISTS BE RELEASED NOW?

Could this be the opportune time to release and re-integrate the “600 repentant” Boko Haram terrorists into the society when their counterparts were outrageously shedding innocent blood of fellow Nigerians and publishing videos of their heinous crimes on the social media?

*Can a leopard change its colour? Have the Nigerian Army authorities suddenly forgotten that these set of young Nigerians have been meticulously brainwashed and sworn to oaths of allegiance?

*Have they also forgotten that the so-called de-radicalized terrorists were indoctrinated on recruitment by their commanders with very bitter ideology of vengeance which have been permanently engrafted in their brains and may not or can never be erased from their memories till death?

De-Radicalization of repentant terrorists should be a two-way counter-terrorism approach:
to dissuade future occurrences and
Proffer assurance that government would always be faithful to provide all constitutional social needs to keep the citizens fully occupied in vocational/employable jobs, provide free education to at least senior secondary school level, functional clinics/maternity centres/hospitals etc.

But what format did the Army authorities apply in orientation/re-orientation of these renegades to assure law-abiding citizens that their re-integration, rehabilitation etc, would be seamless without backlashes and regrets? How could a wild animal like a leopard be tamed to forget to eat raw flesh and blood?

NIGERIAN ARMY’S REPORT ON DE-RADICALIZATION OF BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS!

De-radicalised programs were commissioned from 2014 with one in Kuje Prison, Abuja; the second, Operation Safe Corridor, in 2016 to handle captured BH combatants and the third, Yellow Ribbon Initiative, located in Bornu State communities, supervised a non-profit organization, the Neem Foundation, set up in 201, to cater for women, children and young people who were associated with Boko Haram, while the third, Operation Safe Corridor, supervised by the Federal Government to accommodate Boko Haram (BH), terrorists who voluntarily surrendered or were captured in the process of warfare to de-radicalize, orientate, rehabilitate and re-integrate them into the larger society.

On Monday 13th July, 2020, 600 of them who were captured in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe but have now denounced their membership and swore oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria have been freed according to a military spokesman who also disclosed that in past years, about 1,400 of them who had done likewise had been released while about 280 terrorist were still accommodated at the Army Rehabilitation Centre.

He further disclosed that BH terrorist attacks have recorded over 30,000 fatal casualties and displaced nearly 3 million since July 2009, in the North East region!
Government says that the releases were part of its four- year old de-radicalization program of Operation Safe Corridor predicated from 2016, on an assumption that a stick and carrot approach could diminish their radical extremist indoctrination and violent religious ideologies.

DE-RADICALIZATION OF TERRORISTS IN OTHER CLIMES!
De-radicalization programs in Africa – apart from Nigeria also include its Lake Chad Basin countries – Niger, Cameroon and Chad, who have their own versions just like South East Asia countries of Indonesia, Malay and Singapore where inmates serving the jail terms for terrorism-related offences, the South Americas, Northern Ireland, where inmates were treated with kindness and love – which explains why Nigeria cannot be the odd country out?

Has de-radicalization which is an attempt to bring terrorist inmates safely to good social life after the prison release and usually conducted in prison, actually worked in any country of the universe? OF COURSE NOT BUT SOME LITTLE PERCENTAGE OF THE WHOLE LOT OF DE-RADICALIZED TERRORISTS ACTUALLY CHANGED FOR THE BETTER!

ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA’S DE-RADICALIZATION PROGRAMS?

There were accusations and suspicions that the Nigerian attempt at de-radicalization of repentant terrorists was corrupted by unscrupulous officials who did not play according to the rules because unrepentant and most dangerous ones were often left off the hook to become spies for their groups which perpetrate more crimes with military precision!

HOW A RELIGIOUS SECT TURNED FRANKENSTEIN MONSTERS!

Mohammed YUSUF, formed a small Islamic group to perpetrate his own kind of religious ideology which was completely at variance to the most popular Sunni Muslims practiced in the Northern States of Nigeria and in August 2009, he was apprehended by the Army for disturbing public peace through his radical religious preaching, handed over to the Police who brutally murdered him in cold blood!

Since that incident, government neither denied, apprehended the culprits nor brought them to justice and so his disciples swore to avenge their leader’s death through violent reprisals!

WHERE WAS SENATOR ALI NDUME WHEN BOKO HARAM WAS BIRTHED?

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, Gwoza, Bornu State and many Nigerians were opposed to the entire exercise because THOUSANDS OF TRAUMATIZED Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), are languishing in isolation at the camps for several years without hope of reprieve or succor in any form from either State or Federal Government in spite of the establishment of the NORTH EAST DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (NEDC), established to cater for the region!

BUT where were they when the Government/Military de-radicalization idea was mooted? Whose idea was it?
What was the rationale behind the whole exercise from the onset because it was told that many of the BH PRISONERS OF WAR (POW), voluntarily surrendered to the Federal troops and confessed that they were CONSCRIPTED!

While the program lasted, what useful information did the “repentant” BH terrorists reveal to end the eleven-year-old brutal war against innocent Nigerian citizens?

What measures have Nigerian Army put in place to checkmate the new de-radicalized terrorists from going back to their vomit like dogs?

HAVE THEY BEEN GRAFTED WITH GPRS CHIPS IN ORDER TO MONITOR ALL OF THEIR MOVEMENTS?

In spite of the amnesty offered through de-radicalization of this new batch of 600 men, BH Terrorists had remained ruthless in their blood-letting operations for the past 10 years and was bent on establishing an Islamic Caliphate in North-East Nigeria.

SHOULD NIGERIANS FORGIVE AND EMBRACE THEM AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED?

The divine injunction of the Word of God says that if we refuse to forgive those who have offended us, our Father in Heaven would not forgive our offenses also! (Matthew. 6: 14-15). We should all remember that to err is human and to forgive, divine; and also that forgiveness does not favour the offender BUT the offended!

Someday not too far from now BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY WOULD HAVE BEEN BURIED IN THE HISTORY BOOKS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! Amen.



I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

It is now crystal clear that Economic Commission Of West African States (ECOWAS), Heads of State who physically gathered to broker peace in Bamako, the Malian capital from Thursday, 23rd to Friday, 24th July, 2020, were under the illusion that Covid-19 pandemic was a respecter of diplomatic immunity, otherwise they could have held the cross-national interventionist meeting virtually in the first instance!

Mali, with a population of 20 million people, has been ravaged by major internal armed conflicts which started between the north and south since January, 2012, and which subsequently forced the country’s military out of the north in a jihadist revolt for Ansar Dine, the prominent insurgency group and a number of smaller Islamist groups to impose strict Sharia Law in the region.

“The June 5 Movement”, another pressure group which staged a protest against the visit of the alien presidents, is seriously pushing for the Malian president’s resignation for his failure to revamp the dwindling economy, fight institutional corruption and crush the 8-year old Ansar Dine insurgency!

In addition, the June 5 Movement which adopted its name from the date of protests which eventually claimed the lives of several of their members [11 dead and 158 injured], when it turned violent on 11th July 2020, were determined that exit of the incumbent would restore peace to the Sahelian country because the long-delayed 31 results of parliamentary election was rigged in favour of his Party!

There is no doubt that the Malian political situation is similar to Nigeria’s where Boko Haram has held sway since August 2009, but Francophone Mali [one of the world’s poorest countries beset by environmental issues which include desertification, soil erosion, deforestation, loss of pasture land, inadequate water supply across the nation etc, and now the deadly Covic-19 pandemic], did not request for a meeting of meddlesome interlopers who should have stayed back in their nations to enforce sanitation protocols according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines!

NO WONDER THE UNSOLICITED PEACE-FOCUSED MEETING ENDED GRACELESSLY!

How did ex-President Ebele Jonathan qualify to become ECOWAS Envoy and was able to convince President Buhari to attend a fruitless meeting in a Covid-19 pandemic environment without opposition from Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the new Chief of Staff to the sitting president?

Other busybodies on the fruitless, time-wasting, Estacode-consuming journey to Bamako with Muhammadu Buhari were, Presidents Akufo Addo of Ghana, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, Macky Sall of Senegal, Alassane Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire, the host, Ibrahim Keita of Mali, and Ebele Jonathan, who could not broker a peace deal between the warring factions who insisted that the Malian President, who had just spent TWO of his FIVE-year tenure, must resign!
BACK TO SENDER!

According to fillers from Bamako, ECOWAS would convene a VIRTUAL SUMMIT on Monday 27th July, 2020, to resolve a matter which initially fell within their purview before it was hijacked by idle heads of states who should have stayed back in their countries and judiciously supervise all Covid-19 preventive measures to ensure that the prediction of Melinda Gates that “dead bodies would litter streets of African countries” would not come true!

Presidents of developed countries of Europe, United States, Asia and the Americas, are more concerned to mitigate the pandemic and succour their citizens rather than globe-trotting at a time of universal sanitation crisis during which every life is at risk because the corona virus is no respecter of colour, gender, race, rich, poor or political power!

THOSE PRESIDENTS POSE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DANGERS TO THEIR COUNTRIES NOW!

Were they quarantined before the journey according to WHO Covid-19 sanitation protocol and were they isolated on arrival in Bamako? NO!
When they returned to their various countries on Friday 24th July. 2020, did they go for the mandatory 14 days at the Isolation Centres? NO!

Have they interacted with their staff/family since their return from Bamako? YES!

Do they pose health dangers to their citizens? YES!
Must they be quarantined and isolated for the prescribed 14 days? OF COURSE!

Must they RESIGN their positions if infected by Covid-19 parasites? YES! YES! YES?

SHOULD BUHARI EMBARK ON A MEANINGLESS JOURNEY WHEN HIS OWN HOUSE WAS ON FIRE? NO!

One week before his inglorious Malian journey armed Fulani herdsmen killers invaded El-Rufai’s Christian-populated Southern Kaduna and snuffed out the lives of not less than 71 innocent citizens, without any arrests so far – as such killings have become a recurring decimal!

On the 22nd July, 2020, Boko Haram terrorists video of the gruesome murder of FIVE Nigerian Humanitarian Workers captured in Bornu State, went viral on the social media and the whole nation went a-mourning except for those who embarked on a jamboree to Mali on the 24th July, 2020, to pacify Malian terrorist from further insurgency against their nation!

We have long concluded that President Buhari’s foreign trips were on the high side and advised he should apply the brakes, but his advisers believe otherwise and could care less if all of the nation’s foreign exchange reserve was spent on Executive globe-trotting which at every point would consume millions of United States dollars of Estacode payments to Mr. President and his entourage of not less than 10-15 officials outside of the advance party of, ministers, secretaries, technocrats etc.!

This is the THIRD foreign trip of President Buhari in spite of Covid-19 pandemic!

AFRICA’S COVID-19 STATISTICS AS AT SUNDAY 26TH JULY 2020. 5pm. (WITH EMPHASIS ON NIGERIA, NIGER, SENEGAL, GHANA, COTE d’IVOIRE & MALI).

Added

Nigeria- 0
Ghana- 691
Senegal- 130
Mali- 0
Niger- 0
Cote d'ivoire- 241

Confirmed

Nigeria- 39,977
Ghana- 32,437
Senegal- 9,681
Mali- 2,510
Niger- 1,124
Cote d'ivoire- 15,494

Recovered

Nigeria- 16,948
Ghana- 28,927
Senegal- 6,409
Mali- 1,911
Niger- 1,025
Cote d'ivoire- 9,880

Deaths

Nigeria- 856
Ghana- 161
Senegal- 191
Mali- 123
Niger- 69
Cote d'ivoire- 94

Total Africa Cases: Confirmed.830, 3433; Recovered: 485,187; Deaths: 17, 546.

SHOULD BUHARI ALSO RESIGN BEFORE THE END OF HIS TENURE?

Wonders will never end! Of all politicians, Uche Secondus, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has mustered the liver to call for President Buhari’s resignation from office because of his non-performance!

In April 2018, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC), report alleged that Uche Secondus, Chairman of the PDP received a sum of N250 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), under the watch of Col. Sambo Dasuki, (retd), for special duties during the build-up to the 2015 General Elections. Secondus was Deputy Chairman (South), at the time.

The report states as follows: “Uche Secondus received N200 million in cash from the office of the ONSA with voucher 0244. His Special Adviser, one Chukwurah, signed for the money on his behalf on February 2, 2015. Earlier, he had collected N50 million, which was personally received by him on November 7, 2014.

“The funds were approved by Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), for unknown reasons but were merely referred to as “special duties”.
The report also accused Secondus and the erstwhile Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu as well as the lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, Senator Bassey Akpan, of receiving vehicles worth about N1.1 billion naira from Babajide Omokore, an oil magnate standing trial before a Federal High Court, in Abuja.

But Secondus has described the claim by the anti-graft agency as blackmail and a continuation of what he described as media trial and asked EFCC or anyone with proof of the allegations to come to court.

No one expected Secondus to admit the allegation, but it is on record that for SIXTEEN consecutive years, PDP despoiled the Nigerian Treasury with reckless abandon through institutional corruption of a horrible dimension that can be likened to the ABACHA ERA!

And the last supervisory head of the inglorious administration, now ECOWAS Special Envoy, ex-President Ebele Jonathan, publicly declared in response to a journalist’s question that “stealing was not corruption”!

However, Sambo Dasuki has confessed the Jonathan gave him approval to disburse the USD $2.2billion, allegedly spent to ensure Jonathan’s third term bid!

Ex-President Jonathan has also been linked to the billions of dollars allegedly looted by Allison Madueke, his Petroleum Minister, awaiting judicial extradition from London where she had been on self exile since President Buhari’s first term in office!

As it is written, “They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.’’ (Isaiah 66:17).

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

So much condemnation over insecurity in Nigeria has brought to the fore a number of proffered solutions ranging from secession to regionalisation, restructuring, or outright North/South dichotomy so that the over 200 million citizens of the existing “contraption” could go their separate ways!

Can Nigerian politicians and the entire citizenry claim that they are oblivious that the root-cause of the nation’s insecurity problems ARE THE ROAMING COWS or were they all pretentious to the TRUTH in view of illicit PECUNIARY GAINS that accrue to Cow dealers at the expense of massive loss of precious human lives?

It had been proved and established that majority of the COW POPULATION IN NIGERIA belong to the elites in the military, civil society groups of money bags, which employ peasants to herd the animals for grazing anywhere they found luscious fields of green grass though they maintained various Ranches across the country where they could be properly maintained and given necessary and adequate medical attention!

IT IS AN OPEN FACT THAT NORTHERNERS HAVE RATED A COW’S LIFE HIGHER THAN THAT OF A HUMAN!

Instances in the past have revealed that clashes between the pastoralists and farmers always resulted in heavy human casualties once ONE COW WAS EITHER INJURED OR KILLED – and it had been the trend till date!
KADUNA State Governor, El Rufai, said during his first term that he paid handsome compensations to some FOREIGN Herdsmen from West Africa to avoid a reprisal when some of their cows were killed during a clash with Nigerian farmers whose vegetations were completely ransacked by the foreign cows!

Governor El Rufai (A FULANI MAN), also said that Fulani herdsmen always avenged the slaughter of their cows even if took a hundred years!

QUESTION BEGGING FOR ANSWERS!

Was the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria in 1914 by the British colonial masters intended to UNITE or create DIVISION among the diverse people? If the answer is in the affirmative, why is greater premium being placed now on COW-REARING WHICH HAD BEEN THE MAIN PRE-OCCUPATION OF THE NORTHERNERS LONG BEFORE INDEPENDENCE IN 1960?

The nomadic herders between 1960 and 2009 were friendly, loving, ease-going people who blended with all tribes and always exchanged pleasantries as they roamed the nooks and crannies of the nation’s landscape for grazing areas and even traded some of their animals for cash along their itinerary routes across the length/breadth of the arable areas without quarrel or rancour and it was difficult to differentiate between FULANIS from Nigeria, Niger, Togo, Senegal or Sierra Leon, because of their look-alike features!

BUT with the debut of Boko Haram in 2009, the story changed as herders were manipulated through Islamic Doctrine and other deceptions which turned them to carry lethal arms and unleash mayhem upon innocent citizens through the destruction of their farmlands or through cattle rustling.

WHO DID NOT KNOW THAT THE ARMED NOMADIC HERDSMEN, THE VICIOUS ARMED KIDNAPPERS, THE RUTHLESS BANDITS, THE HIGHWAY ROBBERS/ASSASSINS, ARE NETWORKING WITH THE BOKO HARAM! Statistics of killings by these mindless groups between January and September 2018 alone was nearly 1,700, according to Global Terrorism Index.

Other years before the 2019 elections though were less intimidating, were very unacceptable!!

Check out the modus operandi of the mindless criminals and discover the similitude of operations which was why it was easy for them to CONVERT THE ITINERANT NOMADIC FULANI HERDSMEN INTO THEIR ARMED FOOT SOLDIERS WHO ARE NOT HINDERED FROM CRISSCROSSING THE NATION AND PRETENDING TO BE INNOCENT PASTORALIST!

In spite of the land borders closure before and during the Covid-19 pandemic the herdsmen movement remained unhindered because they are the unsuspicious decoy for Boko Haram seamless attacks across the nation!

IS NIGERIA THE 21ST CENTURY ANIMAL FARM?

George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”, a 1945 allegorical novella narrated the story of a group of farm animals which rebelled against their human owner/master, took over authority with a view to creating an egalitarian society where they could enjoy absolute freedom of rights and equality.

Orwell’s focus in that work was a highlight of the infamous Communist ideology which dominated Russia and the Soviet Union but eventually resisted and overcome!

However in the novella, the animals realised that some of them (the Pigs in particular), were “more equal” than the others, cruel and oppressive as the human farmers! SO THEY HAD TO ABANDON THE MISSION AND RETURN TO STATUS QUO!

Nigeria is not the allegorical “Animal Farm” where Humans could be kicked out by ROAMING COWS in an organized rebellion like the kind being witnessed in the nation as it is presently!

WHO EXCEPT THE AREWA THAT IS TOTALLY BLIND TO THE GLARING FACT THAT THEIR ROAMING COWS ARE THE ROOTED CAUSE OF INSECURITY IN NIGERIA?

According to the African adage: Arewa has “abandoned the treatment of leprosy to concentrate on body itches!”
A coalition of NINE Arewa Youth groups on 16th June, 2020, gave 14-day ultimatum from 15th June, 2020, to Federal Government to end insecurity in Northern Nigeria or face mass action because it has failed to protect the lives and properties of the citizens!!
In a statement, the coalition asked President Buhari to immediately sack all the Service Chiefs, abolish Security Votes for Governors. (All service Chiefs except Navy are of Northern extraction!)
Northern Elders Forum (NEF) demanded that the President took positive action on the very poor security situation in the North rather than merely condemning bandits each time they killed people.
Indigenous people of Katsina demand State of emergency to stave off frequent killings of innocent people by bandits.
Northern Christian Association (CAN) of Nigeria seeks an end to insecurity in Nigeria!

The groups claim that the five years of Buhari’s administration had escalated insecurity since greater number of Northerners had been exposed to avoidable deaths and loss of property in a manner that history had never witnessed before!

AREWA has no right to pronounce 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government because:
Arewa’s Boko Haram are the TERRORISTS!
Arewa’s Boko Haram are the Kidnappers, the Highway Robbers, the Marauders, the Assassins, the Insurgents.... and are being sponsored by AREWA MONEY BAGS!

THE SOLUTION TO INSECURITY IN NIGERIA RESTS SQUARELY IN THE HANDS OF PRESIDENT BUHARI, THE AREWA LEADERS AND THE AREWA YOUTHS!
Stop the Roaming Cows in their tracks.
Limit COWS to STATES OF ORIGIN!
Ban NOMADIC FULANI HERDSMEN from North and West African Countries from migrating into Nigeria &, the upsurge of the kind of INSECURITY BEING WITNESSED IN NIGERIA PRESENTLY WILL AUTOMATICALLY COME TO AN END!

BUT AREWA HOLDS THE KEY TO PEACE IN NIGERIA!

The LEADERSHIP STYLE OF AREWA Must be brought to accountability by both the Federal/State Governments and PEOPLE OF NIGERIA at this critical period that an acceptable solution MUST be proffered to SECURE the nation and salvage what is left of it for POSTERITY!

We appreciate that the ALMAJIRI SYSTEM OF EDUCATION which birthed and nurtured BOKO HARAM, in the North has been ABOLISHED ONCE AND FOR ALL!
BUT UNTIL AREWA....

Decides to limit COW-HERDING to individual States to legislate for RANCHING, RUGA etc; as they deemed fit;
Bans nomadic herders from West African/Northern Countries from migrating freely into Nigeria with their COWS under any existing international convention or protocol ....
Legislates against any form of animal grazing in any public/private spaces of the North BUT ensure that any individual who engaged in livestock business, would do so according to the NEW LAWS to maintain permanent peace!
But if Buhari fails to carry out all of the above, SOMEONE ELSE is waiting in the WING!

‘’Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.’’ (Prov 11:14)

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

President Buhari’s appointed Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari may not be a new Sheriff in town nor a Brigade Commander but during his maiden press interview he threw a bombshell that has caused tongues wagging in respect of where his allegiance belonged – “I will be accountable only to the President”, he unequivocally and vehemently affirmed! It is evident that the professional globetrotter who was the Minister of External Affairs during the military tenure of Major General Buhari, (1983-1985), took a queue from his master who said during his first investiture as a democratic President, “I am for nobody and I am for everybody”! BUT, has the new CoS, an eminently qualified scholar, academic/diplomat not forgotten that if truly he is 100% loyal to the President who took the subscribed oath of Allegiance and the oath of office as prescribed in the Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, he would have no choice than to serve and be accountable to “WE THE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA”!

PRESENTLY, PRESIDENT BUHARI HAS HIS PLATE FULL OF SEVERAL UNFULFILLED PROMISES WHICH GAMBARI MUST ADDRESS AND ADVICE RIGHTLY VERY QUICKLY!
Beginning from 2019, the President would take 1million persons out of poverty through gainful employment.
The Agrarian/Mineral Extraction Policy to secure a more sustainable economy and surer foreign exchange earnings outside of Crude Oil was to be intensified.
Education and Health Sectors, to be given more allocations and closer attention with a view to building the Human Capital and Stronger Institutions.
Insecurity of lives and properties through a further aggressive drive to eliminate the constant threat and menace of criminals, insurgents, terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, herdsmen/farmers bloody clashes, still remain a task to be fully accomplished.
Employment drive aimed at increasing the Armed Forces/Nigerian Police personnel, which had decimated and overstretched over the years is taking forever to accomplish and the morale of security operatives wane with fleeting moments!
The Labour Unions and the new National Minimum Wages which implementation began in some parts of the nation in January 2020, before global Covid-19 pandemic hit the Nigerian soil through the Lagos commercial city!
THE PERSISTENT ISOLATION/SHIELDING OF THE PRESIDENT FROM ENSURING REDRESS TO THE GENERALITY OF PEOPLE, ELECTORATE AND THE AGGRIEVED WHO HAVE AXE TO GRIND WITH HIS PAST ADMINISTRATION AS A MILITARY HEAD OF STATE AND PRESENTLY AS A DEMOCRAT!

GOING DOWN THE MEMORY LANE!
When he became military Head of State in December 1983, he made the following very crucial statements among several others:
When asked what gave him the greatest sorrow, Buhari said: “I honestly hate to see people suffering. Like crippled people..whose plight is not of their own making.....”
What about his future ambitions? He said: I hope by the time I leave office, I would have improved the lot of the ordinary man, the public service of Nigeria and Nigeria’s image in Africa and the world.

BUHARI COULD NOT SUCCOUR THE PEASANTS!
He could not fulfil those promises then due to a counter coup that suddenly deposed him from office within 23 months in office and now, at 78 years of age he is still unable to fulfil them! FIVE OUT OF EIGHT YEARS WITH CoS ABBA KYARI (whose tables/drawers/cabinets were filled with thousands of thousands of unattended petitions of aggrieved Nigerians who were sacked without proper Civil Service Procedure in 1983/84),IS GONE! AND NOW IN HIS REMAINING THREE YEARS WITH CoS IBRAHIM GAMBARI, WILL HE STILL REMEMBER AND REDRESS THE PETITIONERS? Time will tell!

THE PRESS IS CULPABLE IN THE UNNECESSARY ELEVATION OF A VERY OBSCURE OFFICE!
Why should so much attention be given by the Media to such a simple appointment such as that of a very personal assistant to the President? Informed Nigerians know that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made no provision for the office of the Chief of Staff (CoS), and neither compelled mandated nor forced a prerogative on the President to appoint one – so why the hullabaloo since the demise of the erstwhile occupant? It is a fact that the back-stage office exists globally in most political administrations and could be classified as a norm or convention, but limited to giving sound advice for good governance to his principal on whose table the “BUCK STOP!

GAMBARI’S DEBUT AS CoS AND CACOPHONY OF PUBLIC REACTIONS!
Prof. Gambari, like his predecessor neither went through the legislative rigours of interview nor took any oath of office, yet he will be unconstitutionally paid and up kept at this austere time of the down-turn of the economy due to Covid-19 global pandemic with the very scarce public funds! By the way, Grapevine told us that there was so much lobbying for the vacant post that the President was so inundated that he almost got confused! It was also revealed that he did not pick the new CoS from his ethnic constituency but from the FULANI CLAN of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria! Following the President in the order of precedence/protocol, are: Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representative, Secretary to the Government, Head of Service of Federal Government, Cabinet Ministers etc, all of who are to assist the President to achieve smooth operations according to Section 148 (1)(2 a-c) of the 1999 Constitution!

BUT THE OFFICE OF CoS WAS ACCORDED UNDESERVED RECOGNITION BY INCUMBENT PRESIDENT!
Not much attention was given to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President until the advent of President Buhari who surrounded himself with his so-called loyalists, who later turned out to be “Achilles Foot”, as the infamous CABAL which almost destroyed Buhari’s colossal image of several decades because the last occupant late Alhaji Abba Kyari, was enjoyed the unofficial appellation of “de facto President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!”

Duties of the Chief of Staff includes but not limited to the following:
To efficiently manage communication between president and government.
Handle official programme and communication through key presidential staff.
Controlling the flow of people to the president’s office, manage flow of information and protect his interests.
Negotiate regularly with the National Assembly and other tiers of government to implement the president’s agenda.
Advising the president the president on various issues including telling him what the people do not want to hear, etc.

THE ERSTWHILE CoS loomed bigger than the Vice-President and other presidential assistants (including the National Security Adviser (NSA) and all SERVICE CHIEFS put together – he was all together VERY POWERFUL because President Buhari ORDERED that all Cabinet Ministers, Political/Economic Advisers, Security Chiefs and the NSA, MUST communicate with the CoS’s before approaching his office! In other climes the President’s Chief of Staff who was to be seen and not to be heard! Even in the United States, the CoS is classified as “gateman” of the number one citizen because without his approval, no one could approach his boss – except the Vice President who should enjoy free access!

The new 75-year-old CoS who will have to tackle the enormous task with much diligence must also quickly look into the dwindling economy vis-a-vis Nigeria’s assumed population of about 200 million in comparison to the following indexes recently released by USAID, Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), World Bank and the United Nations in respect of: 50% of extreme poverty,70% without safe drinking water and sanitation, 69% of urban residents who live in slum conditions, 49% of children under five with stunted or overweight growth, 23% of unemployed labour force and how urgent measures could be advanced to stem the situation! Professor Gambari, is no doubt more than qualified to effectively handle all of the above and more to ensure that the President’s agenda on all social infrastructures did not derail in view of the short period before 2023!

NIGERIA’S 2020 BUDGET REVIEW- HOW EFFECTIVE?
The Federal Government has reduced the 2020 Budget spending by over N320 billion and the new figure of N10.27 now replaces the initial NASS approved, N10.59, in view of the adverse effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the global economy!
However this new projection cannot hold in view of the lowest ever international crude oil price which at 17th May, 2020, placed Brent at USD 32.50, WTI Crude at $29.43, and Natural Gas at $1.646 dollars respectively, while foreign exchange rate was pegged at N306 naira to USD$I.00 dollar!
The pruning touched all segments of the Budget – Capital/Recurrent because of the sharp drop in national revenue and fiscal deficit of N4.43 trillion naira, will now be financed through local borrowing. The initial budget allocated 4.5% for health, less than the 15% target the African Union (AU), had set for governments in 2001% and for Education N575.31billion far, far, less than 26% of total Budget sum as recommended by UNESCO since 1999, but now with the turn of global events, the 2020 Budget will have to depend on all local resources including all recovered loots from late General Sanni Abacha all donations from well-meaning Nigerians!
The ripple effects of Covid-19 pandemic could turn out to be a blessing in disguise to miraculously turn Nigeria’s economy around through prudent management with all hands on deck! We believe that CoS Gambari, may be the BALM OF GILEAD THAT NIGERIA HAS WAITED FOR, FOR SO LONG!


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

The Coronavirus pandemic in the first three months of the year 2020 –January-March, has almost succeeded in completely destroying earth’s environmental eco-system including health/sanitation structures, through total or partial LOCK-DOWN of global socio-economic activities and a general consensus of opinion claimed that SATAN, was responsible for the deadly scourge!

That line of thought was further buttressed by the renowned London-based servant of the Most High God, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, on a recent live Channel TV interview and a fierce debate had been generated among bible scholars who completely disagreed with his theory!
With a view to dousing the raging controversy, We decided to publish the inerrant, infallible and truthful and unadulterated Word of God from the Book of Romans. 1: 18ff, comments as appropriate:
18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, (NOT SATAN), who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (NOT SATAN).
20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart (NOT SATAN’S HEART), was darkened.
22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
“The whole world is full of idolatry, from East to West, North to South; China, to Hong Kong, Korea to Italy, Spain, United States, India, the Philipines, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Russia, the United Kingdom, Somalia, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Libya, etc, etc.”
24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
“Same sex marriages, bi-sex surgery, homo sexualism, lesbianism, and all manner of lurid sexual perversions, etc, have become the order of the day globally!”
28. And even as they (men and not Satan), did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31. Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
DOES THE WORLD NEED FURTHER CONVICTIONS THAT COVID-19 IS GOD’S JUDGMENT UPON A SINFUL WORLD!
During Saint Paul’s Biblical Second Missionary Journey, he travelled from Asia to Greece and into the capital city of Athens (51-52 AD).where found an altar with the inscription, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD”. Athens was wholly given to idolatry (just like other cities in Asia), and with, philosophers who disputed Paul’s messages of salvation through Jesus Christ and His Resurrection! However, the Apostle was not deterred by their ignorance but painstakingly revealed the following divine truths: “*That God created the heavens and had given life and breath to all things; *Hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation; *That God expected them to seek Him and find Him because He was very close to them; * That in God, His creation live, move, and have their being; *And that the times of that ignorance, God winked at: but had commanded all men everywhere to repent. *Because He hath appointed a day, in which He would judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.” (Acts.17:15-34).

THE SECOND ADVENT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO JUDGE THE WORLD OF THIS END-TIME; IS CLOSER THAN THE VAIN IMAGINATION OF MEN!
Since the time of the holy prophets and apostles till these last days, scoffers have walked in idolatry and their own lusts vehemently denying the second-coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, because nothing had changed in the world since the creation according to their warped comprehension!

IS IT TRUE THAT EVERYTHING IS WELL BETWEEN GOD AND MAN? NO!
There was a World before the biblical Book of Genesis. 1:1-3; but that world was judged by God and was overflowed with water and perished by the His Word. By the same Word of God, the heavens and the earth which are now kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men will also perish because of man’s unrighteousness! To buttress this biblical truth, the Book of the beginnings in verse two states as follows: “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Before Covid-19 was, God had been God, sovereign in power, might and glory; transcendent as the omnipresence, omnipotent and omniscient; in charge of all of the affairs of His host of Angels in Heaven and of the multitude of His children on Earth!
The God of Heaven would never require assistance from His creation to execute judgment on earth neither would He compromise His holiness with man’s sinful nature, inadequacies and confusion!

SATAN WAS A FALLEN ANGEL CAST OUT OF HEAVEN BECAUSE OF INORDINATE AMBITION!
World population stood at over Six billion people with China and India claiming almost three billion between each other as the two most populous countries of the world!
The novel CORONAVIRUS pandemic started from China, which promptly raised global alarm in December 2019, for all countries to create sanitation and adequate health defense around their citizens.
LIKE THE TEN VIRGINS: SOME WERE WISE AND SOME WERE UNWISE!
Statistics - Worldwide as at Saturday 4th April, 2020:
Confirmed cases - 1,123,024; Deaths: 59,140.
Recovered- 228,006.
RANDOM STATISTICS OF CASUALTIES ACROSS THE GLOBE!
Deaths – Italy:14,681; Spain:11,744; US: 7,146; France: 6,507; China: 3,326; Iran 3,294; UK: 3,605; Germany: 1,277; Russia: 43; South Africa: 5; Azerbaijan: 5; Nigeria: 4; Iceland: 4; Uruguay: 4; Belarus: 4; Kenya: 4; Niger: 5; Taiwan: 5; Jordan: 5; Ghana: 5; Afghanistan: 5; Sri Lanka: 5; Singapore: 6; Cuba: 6; UAE: 9; Hong Kong: 4;Bahrain: 4; Qatar: 3; Denmark: 1; New Zealand: 1; Latvia: 1; Slovakia: 1; Oman: 1; Georgia: 1; Cote d’Ivoire: 1;Senegal: 1; Palestine: 1; Kyrgyzstan: 1; Brunei: 1; Kosovo: 1; Isle of Man: 1; Reunion: 0; Vietnam: 0; Malta: 0; Faroe Islands: 0;Gibralar: 0; Montenegro: 2; Costa Rica: 2; Mayotte: 2; Northern Cyprus: 2; Jersey: 2; Martinique: 3; Cameroon: 8; Moldova: 8; Guadeloupe: 8.

OF SOME 197 COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD: (A) No deaths have been recorded in over 60 countries; and (B) Between 1-10 deaths, have been recorded in over 76 countries! And of the 61 countries which recorded higher figures, the SEVEN most devastated countries (with well over 1,000 deaths each), are technologically advanced and did deploy all sanitation tools to both stem and stop the tide of spread BUT from all indications, the fervent and effective prayer of the righteous Saints is responsible for the decline noticed in China and being replicated in others, because the potency of the deadly virus which was at peak in March. 2020, has been completely eliminated and routed!

A UNIVERSAL SHAKING IS GOING ON BUT WE HAVE PRAYED TO THE LORD TO SHOW MERCY!
His wrath and anger will give way to mercy in view of the predicament of the innocent and righteous saints who have been caught up in a calamity they never bargained for and the DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS SHALL BE HIS PLEASURE! ‘’For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.’’(Hag 2:6-7)

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com

The compound word “Spare tyre” is the Nigerian derogatory parlance for a serving deputy governor who has no constitutional job description and could only be functional at the discretion of his principal!

But could same be said of the current Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Professor ‘Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), whose roles are clearly defined in the Third Schedule Part 1 Section 18 (a), as Chairman, National Economic Council (NEC), a position which he had creditably held since 2015, with his team of the 36 Governors and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who were able the repel the recession of 2017-2018, established the Economic Recovery Plan Growth (ERPG), and kept the ailing economy afloat to deliver dividends of democracy to the people until the recession was killed and buried? The answer is an emphatic NO!

In addition to the foregoing, the President also appointed him as Chairman of the Governing Board of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Boundary Commission, the Border Communities Development Agencies, and the Niger Delta Holding Company, a limited liability outfit owned by the three tiers of government.

But recently the executive and constitutional powers of VP Osinbajo are being eroded by charlatans at the corridors of power just as they did when Buhari was on an hospital bed in London in 2018!

Villa watchers noticed that those members of the kitchen cabinet who by-passed acting President, ‘Yemi Osinbajo in August 2018 and FLEW TO LONDON FOR BUHARI’S SIGNATURE OF THE 2016 BUDGET DURING HIS FIRST TERM HEALTH CHALLENGE, WERE STILL OPERATING BEHIND THE SCENES!

That school of thought believed that a dichotomy existed between the two first citizens whom the Constitution recognises as ONE; in view of certain in-house actions/adjustments in the last nine months of the second term in this sequence:

First was the transfers/relief from duty in August 2019, of not less than 35 aides attached to the Office of the VP and the transfer of Special Intervention Programme (SIP), comprising of the Trader Money Scheme, Market Women Special Loans, N-Power Scheme for tertiary graduates, School Feeding Programme, (which were passionate inventions of Professor Osinbajo), etc, to the newly-created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; on the orders of Mr. President, allegedly without prior notice to his next in command!

He was equally ordered to always seek presidential approvals for official decisions over government Agencies under his supervision – which would include the administration of the National Economic Council (NEC)?
Next was the September 2019, investiture of a 7-member Economic Advisory Council (EAC), which took over from the disbanded Economic Monitoring Team (EMT), chaired by the VP, and which according to government would “accelerate implementation of urgent economic policies and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, in the second and last term of the ruling APC!

Third was that, when the substantive President returned after over 90 days rest in London, he reversed some policy decisions made on his behalf! (a) He removed Mathew Seiyefa, who was appointed to replace Daura as Head of DSS, following the unprofessional National Assembly (NASS), “invasion” on 8th August 2018. (b) The President also sacked the erstwhile Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, over false assets declaration issues!

FAILURE TO HAND OVER TO OSINBAJO IN THE SECOND TENURE! CAN BUHARI GO THROUGH THE SECOND TERM ALONE?

The GLOBE TROTTERS resumed their pastime by pursing him to append his signature on VITAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS in April 2019, while on private visit to LONDON for about 20 days.

Prominent among the documents was the “Bill to Amend the Deep Offshore Act”, and because HE DID NOT HAND OVER TO HIS VICE, he assented to the very vital constitutional document in A FOREIGN COUNTRY!

The President’s spoke persons said that the president could operate from any country of the world and attributed the supposed rift between the two first citizens as the handiwork of fifth columnists who were desperate to fan embers of discord because the Nigerian Constitution did not make it mandatory for Mr. President to transmit a written declaration to NASS except when the vacation exceeded 21 days!

THE PRESIDENCY, APC GOVERNORS, CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA AND THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THIS NEWSLETTER, HAVE DENIED THE EXISTENCE OF ANY RIFT BETWEEN BUHARI AND OSINBAJO, BUT HOW TRUE WERE THOSE ASSERTIONS?
BUHARI SHOULD REMEMBER HE IS ON HIS WAY OUT!

President Muhamadu Buhari is on his last political lap forever – just THREE YEARS, TWO MONTHS, to pack bag and baggage and exit the State House, Abuja, with all of the intrigues, his extended families, appointees, cabals, the kitchen cabinet, boot-leakers et al, just like his predecessors did!

By that time, the oily pen of history would be concluding its resume’ of accounts of BUHARISM – successes/failures for posterity to judge!

When in August last year (three months into his second tenure), the President addressed designated federal ministers on induction retreat, he was very categorical that he had placed an embargo on free access to his office to avoid distractions because, “FOUR YEARS IS NOT A VERY LONG TIME”!

Other part of the official Statement is reproduced below:
“In terms of co-ordination, kindly ensure that all submissions for my attention or meeting requests be CHANNELLED through the Chief of Staff (COS), while all Federal Executive Council matters be co-ordinated through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”

To unrepentant critics of his administration, the President’s statement was high-handed, despotic, unconstitutional and nothing short of a blanket order which was cleverly designed to reduce to serfdom/subjection of all subordinates including the VICE PRESIDENT, National Security Adviser (NSA), the Armed Forces Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police etc, in a subtle kind of oligarchy!

However, the President was emphatic that the move was in the interest of POOR PEOPLE, whom he was determined to bequeath quicker results of actualising a more prosperous Nigeria in the areas of adequate SECURITY, macro-economic stability through AGRICULTURE and FOOD SECURITY, the anti-corruption war, industrialisation, energy security for petroleum products/electricity, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, financing and consumer credit facilities, to be fully implemented to prosper them through regular good nutritional food, quality education for their children, including affordable health care for their families without delay.

RUMBLINGS WITHIN THE ASO ROCK COMPLEX!

Shortly after the unpopular directive, the social media was awash with contents of a purported letter written by the National Security Adviser, a retired Army General who would not stomach the insult of passing through a “bloody civilian” to meet with his Commander-In-Chief, and was reported to have security details attached to the Chief Security Adviser (CSO) removed. Presidency has kept quiet about the issue which went viral in February 2020!

IS IT REALLY TRUE THAT ASO ROCK IS DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF?

THIS DEVELOPMENT IS NOT GOOD FOR APC –NOT FOR BUHARI! (Re-published is a comment from one of our previous publication in respect of the CSO’s Office.)
“During his first tenure, he (Mr. Abba Kyari), caved under much pressure from all directions of the polity; from appointed ministers, secretary to government, heads of service and parastatals, political jobbers in the corridors of power, high profile contractors, captains of industries, organised labour, lobbyists, protesters, etc, etc., because it was the first term of his principal (who claimed to have become a “democrat”), after a long break from martial governance! The President then had to be very accommodative as he converted to a new trajectory in democracy but this time around he has barred them all (INCLUDING VP OSINBSJO?), from barging into the Villa as if it were a Village Square where the "baale" had no prerogative!

WOULD ABBA KYARI HAVE MERCY ON THE AGGRIEVED?

What would be the fate of the thousands of thousands of petitioners who can only communicate their president through the mails when the men of timber and calibre were barred from free access to the Aso Rock Office? We have it on credible authority that Mr. President was always oblivious to the pains of the aggrieved from one administration to another because documented petitions ended in COS trash bins - in most cases without any form of acknowledgement, even when the addressee was personalized! We want to believe that the presidential directive was a BLANKET CHEQUE to deprive aggrieved citizens from seeking redress from their CHIEF SERVANT who promised to cater for their welfare at all times!

VICE PRESIDENT OSINBAJO (AS A SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA),CAN NO LONGER DEFEND THE POOR MASSES?

During their first term, office of the Vice President handled the avalanche of petitions which the CSO could not attend to and now that all members of his staff have been disbanded, the aggrieved in Nigeria can ONLY PETITION GOD!

Buhari started well with his VP ‘Yemi Osinbajo, an amiable, highly-educated, professional, diligent, dogged, resilient, dependable, a meticulous legal luminary and very righteous worker; A MOST RELIABLE ASSET WHO IS NULLI SECUNDUS: He cannot afford to sideline him to please political NITWITS in order to avoid the anger and wrath of posterity and the Almighty God who gave him TWO TERMS IN OFFICE (according to our prophecies), to carry out DIVINE MANDATES over Nigeria, if he MUST REMAIN RELEVANT IN TIME TO COME AFTER HIS EXIT!

OSINBAJO IS ALSO A CROWD PULLER LIKE BUHARI! The CLOCK is ticking! “A word is enough for the wise!”

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.