INEC SCORE AN OWN GOAL TO NIGERIANS!

In 1998, General Abdulsalam dissolved NECON and established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC organized the transitional elections that ushered the Nigerian fourth Republic on 2019, 1999. Since then, INEC has successfully organized and conducted elections in 2004, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2019 respectively, headed by different chairman with the solid mandated of consolidating Democracy through free, fair and credible.

The political atmosphere in Nigeria begun in 2018 which political parties were formally allowed to campaign for office bid for, the incumbent party and oppositions parties have move round the 36 state of Nigeria FCT inclusive canvassing support for victory in February 2019. A lot of money was spent for logistics and planning by all political parties, serials of debate was organized by different media bodies, so that Nigerians will decide wisely who will pilot their affairs for the next four years.

In the midst of loggerhead between and among the executive and legislative arm of government over the propose 2019 election budget, yet according to INEC election project planning propose about 189 billion naira, which was broken down into four important viz the election operational cost which is estimated at 134.4 billion naira, the election technology cost estimated at 22.6 billion and 144.6 billion naira for election and election administrative and contingencies respectively.

It was reported that INEC has received 80% of money budgeted for the 2019 general elections. Yet 5 hours to the presidential and National Assembly elections, the INEC chairman in person of Prof. Muhmud Yukubu in national broadcast ‘in view of logistic and operational costs’ postponed the elections for feburary 23, 2019. It was quite a disappointment for Nigerians especially for youth corpers that slept in classes, open places and squatted in rooms with no security, other INEC ad hoc staffs and elections observers.

INEC Job is mostly seasonings; once in four years.  It takes good 3 years to prepared for the  2019 general  elections,  upon all the money and man power needed which was been provided by the federal government but at the very few hours to elections. INEC disappoints Nigerians without any apology; the President was in, his home town ‘Daura’, the vice President in Lagos and leading opposition candidate in Adamawa for their civic responsibility.

  

The postponement has curse a lot to Nigerians because what we see today is simply a waste of national financial resources that were committed in terms of transportation of electoral officers, deployment of security personal from state to another, invitations of foreign and domestic observers, ordinary Nigerians engaged in patty business feeding from hand to mouth were remain in door, market closed, business shut down, offices closed and school closed. So many parents traveled

across different state to move their children out schools, sequel to the public holiday given as a result of anticipated election, many Nigerians travel back home from different places across the world to exercise their civic right. Is government going to reimburse them for such expenses? This simply put that INEC is not a goal but score an own goal at midst of international community but can still do better.

The president and the leading opposition party candidate have depict their disappointment over the postponement of the election to 23^rd February  by INEC and urge Nigerians not to relent to come out and vote next week. The electoral body has taken a step by organizing the stalk holders conference to resolves lingering issues, I urge INEC to re-strategies its plan for next week general elections and also retrieve the already distributed sensitive and non sensitive materials to avoid further national disgrace in  midst of international observers.

To conclude with the words of Samir Amir “Nobody is fighting for ideology but for materials benefit and better future for its love once”. Please Nigerians come out in mass on 23^rd February 2019 to vote for candidate of your choice, your vote is for better education, health, infrastructures and employment.  ‘No sit down look’ “No sleeping on election day”.

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PMB: FOR MASSES OR ELITES?

For the past couples of years, President Muhammad Buhari have been bidding for presidential ambition but his mandate was denied in April 2007 presidential elections competing with late Umar Musa Yar’adua of People Democratic Party (PDP) and in April 2011 presidential elections competing with Goodluck Janothan of PDP; PDP was said to have won the elections respectively. PDP for the last 16 years of leadership was reported to be found in gross economic misconduct, insecurity, corruption and poverty.

It takes courage, confidence and trusts for PMB with almighty merger of some political parties that form All Progressive Congress (APC) which defeated the PDP in March 2015 presidential elections. Who are the masses? Who are the elites? How did the both contribute in the victory of PMB in 2015 general elections? Masses are the ordinary people who form the largest groups in the society, while the elites are some selected groups that are superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of groups. Karl Marx posit that ‘the history of the society is that of class struggle between the proletariat and bourgeois’

PMB in 2015 APC primaries informed the delegate that ‘I don’t have dollar to share to you but I have Nigeria at heart’ his statement attracted delegate sympathy and therefore makes him to won the APC primaries elections, defeated kwankwanso, Atiku and Rochas. PMB bedeviled with financial constraint and incumbency factor of PDP in 2015. The elites gave their private jets and cars for mobilizations while some masses donate an amount through a customized recharge cards which amounted to millions of naira for his campaigns and above all the masses came out in their mass number to vote out PDP in 2015; I can deduce that PMB in 2015 presidential elections was a product of both the masses and the elites.

Immediately after the presidential inauguration in may 2015, the led administration started in slow bureaucratic process   and the economy induce with recession and inflation; the policy of PMB embargo in importation of food items most especially rice imposed hardship to ordinary Nigerians, find it difficult to have food on their tables, on other hand some politicians were been chase by EFCC for an alleged corrupt practice. For the past three years in government, the led administrations remind faithful in implementing its campaign promises of improving the economy, securing the country and fighting corruption. But obviously much have to be done in security, economy and human capital development.

The recent defections of APC senators, house of representatives members, and governors from APC to PDP has became a top public agenda in Nigeria, as of today  15 APC senators including the senate president, 37 reps members and 2 governors were reported to have defected to PDP. The PDP is now carrying weight in Nigerian politics with members both from the masses and influential elite like Atiku, Kwankwaso and Tambuwal to write few but few. One cannot predict the outcome of 2019 general elections because all parties are really ready and drawing all the strategies for victory in 2019 but the questions is that, did the elite vote? What is percentage of the elite in Nigeria? The elites are few in number, most of them don’t vote and even their sons and daughters are not living in Nigeria and do not even have PVC talk less of voting. PMB in 2019 might be for the masses but the question is that, are the messes happy with his administration? The answer will be for another day.

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THE LEGISLATOR DUTY AND YOUTH EMPOWEREMENT

The legislator are the members of the legislative branch of government,which are responsible for making new laws and changing existing laws, the govern by proposing bills, beholding votes and passing bills. similar the legislature is the representative of the people, this is because, it is elected by the people from all area of the country.

I will give president Muhammad Buhari a pass mark in setting up social investment programs such as the conditional cash transfer, Npower, home feeding program and lot of more. Although the government have to do more, to set up adequate entrollement into federal jobs because Nigeria struggle to create jobs is getting worse. New data published by Nigeria Bureau of Statistic pegs the unemployment rate at 14.2% in the last quarter of 2016 up from 13.9% in the preceding quarter.

The recent interview made by National Daily to Hon. Aminu Suleiman Goro a member representing Fagge Federal Constituency aroused youth public interest on social media, which i deemed it necessarily to applaud his contribution in securing 789 federal jobs for his own constituents youth, 789 jobs in Federal Government will go a long way in ameliorating poverty and social deviance.

How many Legislators can did such? only very few, we have seen the live of a former member of Jos North/Bassa Constituency in person of Hon. Samaila Muhammad and the current member of Wase Federal Constituency in person of Hon. Ahmad Idris. they have did so much in impacting the live of youths in social, economic and political milieu.

Is an irony to the people of Jos North/Bassa because the current member in person of Suleiman Yahaya kwande value sports and tourism morethan the constituent project and youth empowerement. 2019 is not far, our legislators please adhere to rule of law and social justice. Please the electorate shine your eyes!   

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Subsidy removal: A Panacea for change!

The scenario of fuel subsidy removal has bounce back again which has a long history of debate and has a multiply effect on both politics and economic. Right from return of Democracy in 1999, every regime came with fuel subsidy politics which can be flash back in Obansanjo, Yar’adua, and Jonathan administration.

It became a matter of concern in this current administration, when government are on thin line to remove subsidy or not! Finally the State Minister of Petroleum in person of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu address the nation  that  henceforth fuel will be sold not beyond 145 per litre. There is no harm to Nigerians in subsidy removal, as the government promises to increase and stabilise the supply of fuel, added that individual is free to import the product subject to existing quality specification and guidelines issues by regulatory agencies.

Nigerians need to calm down and remember who is ruling the country, as we have trust on the president to fulfil his campaign promises especially as depicted in 2016 budget. The exorbitant amount of money been paid as subsidy to oil cabal is exploitative, as we are inform such amount is equivalent to some African countries budget. Why Nigeria? When abject poverty is bedevilled millions of Nigerians, dilapidation of social amenities, when average Nigerian bought water, health and power, yet our government is paying a huge chuck to few individuals who are by far above poverty level and can even feed thousand Nigerians.

When is Nigeria going to be developed? Are we waiting for manna from heaven? When you travel to some developed countries like London, USA and china no single kobo is paid as subsidy and petroleum resources is available all over couple with adequate and standard social infrastructure and above all citizens are happy. In Nigerian case is an irony, subsidy removal should be a panacea for change to average Nigerians lives through job creation, social amenities, improve in health standard, adequate money in circulation, loan for small scale farmers, traders and support for young graduates as depicted in 2016 budget of change.

The hike in food items and transports fierce will be in just a moment as negotiation is still on going to come with a stable price of fuel, if you can look back before the hike some Nigerians sold fuel at 1000-1500 per gallon and now when sold at 145 per litre,  gallon  of fuel will be 580. As far as the fuel will be available and money is in circulation, Nigerians will waves hands and   shout ‘sai baba buhari’.

I will like to called all Nigerians to be patients, let the going get going, it shall be well by god grace, let us gave chance for subsidy removal, also urge the government to revisits the Subsidy Re-investment Programs(SURE-P) as thousands of Nigerians benefited from such programs. Please ‘baba buhari’ we have so much trust in your administration, do not disappoint us.

Sadiq Ibrahim Ayuba

Ibrahimsadiq194@gmail.com

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SO IS NIGERIA FINALY BROKE EH

Wow! So Nigeria finally succumbed after all the millions, billions and trillions disfarahan? We have been asked for several years: how much money is in that Country when so much keeps on disappearing? We wish we know how much we lost, actually nobody knows for sure. What is surprising is that the Country is still standing. Right now there is a consensus between the ruling Party and the Opposition that we are on our way to the poor house. Lower prices! I doubt it.

Some of you might have been too young when General Gowon declared that our problem is not money but how to spend it. When this writer told people he was in Nigeria when Gowon was the Head of State, he was told everyone they know got rich then. Instead of keeping quiet, he also said he was in Nigeria when Shagari was the President. Anyone not rich during the time of Gowon or Shagari, must have got a curse on him!

 

Economic recession is usually a slowdown in economic activities over a period of time like two or three quarters in a business circle which our people have endured for even longer period of time. In the western countries, it will qualify for a depression that lasts for two or more years.

One would expect that in a deflation where there is a negative inflation rate, the general price level of goods and services would decrease below zero percent; not in Nigeria.  All prices keep going up just as we pay more when African currencies are devalued on foreign experts’ advice. What do you expect when only less than one third of economic activities are between Africans?

Deflation by negative price index may be good if naira is not devalued. We have gone through recession. Indeed we had depression with the rest of the world. Note the difference between these terms though. Economists and other academics have technical definitions but the man on the street has another definition that is acceptable to most. A popular one is that if you know people that are out of jobs, that is a recession but if you are out of a job that is a depression O! 

Awolowo whose achievement was fueled mainly by agriculture, warned Shagari’s Government Nigeria would go broke. Mismanaged economy and liberal imports killed textile. Not even Awo predicted this level of poverty in the land flowing with wara, honey where any crop grew if we only plant. He was ridiculed by R. Akinjide and called Prophet of Doom. Little intra-African trade, in Africa’s total trade over the past decade was only about 11%, compared to 70% with Europe.

Africans must kill an inferiority complex that we can only be rich when we trade with Americans and Europeans not with ourselves at home or with Africa. We must not forget that Groundnuts, Cocoa, Coal, Palm Oil, from North, East and West of Nigeria gave us more in terms of quality of life than our new found oil wealth crooks looted away. While West Africa achieved relatively growth of 6% in 2014 despite its battle with the Ebola virus; slowly and gradually,  Nigeria’s growth of 6.3% came mainly from non-oil sectors showing that the economy is diversifying.

The irony of all these is that African markets in general and Nigerian business in particular never respond to the economic model taught in foreign schools. Applying old wine to new bottles will always fail. Yet, those that are looting the treasury are preaching austerity measures to tighten our belts for another roller coaster ride. Any further belt tightening, stomachs would burst PAU!

We have this mentality that the best managers of our treasury are foreign employed and trained staff of International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Paris Club etc. that can navigate the trick and complexity of African aspiration. After devastated us accordingly, the so called experts go back to their masters where they are recognized with foreign jobs and awards. Well done!

Another case in point: Money Nigerians pour into the so called “American” or “English” schools. If they can only spend half of it with parents’ participation in many neighborhood schools, these private schools will have good competition from locals but they will never survive with the little starving salaries they pay local teachers while their “expatriates” are handsomely paid. Apart from teaching children how to “speak like European and American” what else do they offer?

Poor people complain too much. Well, Saro say na poor I poor, no be craze I craze. What an excuse from a poor man, eh! One can now understand why they sent their children to Jakande School in FESTAC. No wonder, the mothers told some wives we have gone crazy by sacrificing the children for Jakande’s cause: “Our families do not send children to such primary schools”.

The only way to understand this is that some Jakande’s schools, especially the one in FESTAC and another by Eric Moore in Surulere were run like private schools mainly because of parents’ participation in those areas. FESTAC was the best town in Nigeria where the houses and streets were pretty and smooth even better than American cities. If you got out of FESTAC town, you could not wait to get back home, sweet home. Boy, that is now history!

   

What has this got to do with broke-ass Nigeria? Our mentality got us broke. Even after Jakande left Office, many people expressed fears they would never have had the opportunity to own a house but for Jakande. Federal Govt. was forced to compete with states in providing housing, schools spurring private trades and manufacturing jobs. So when we say poverty is relative, it means Nigeria has never had so many poor people with so little, while a few got filthy rich.  

We are now in the age of impunity and callousness where the very few dare so many poor people and those that complained are labelled as the enemy of progress or political opponents. We cannot recognize which party is for the masses and the one for the very few rich because crooks are evenly spread across the parties. The masses are so confused; they do not know who is against them or who is using them to acquire more loot into individuals and cronies‘ pockets

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