Who will stop this looting spree?

The contradictions in our failed economy are probably best captured by the stark reality of deepening poverty and unbridled unemployment despite the celebrated recent increase in our Gross Domestic Product, with increasing revenue and bountiful external reserves to boot for almost two decades!

We may recall that despite the paltry $4bn national reserves during the Gen. Sani Abacha years, when Nigeria also remained a pariah nation, our country and our people continued to enjoy credible ratings as a developing country with great promise with the naira exchanging for just N80=$1.

Ironically, Nigeria became a regular contender in the list of the world’s poorest nations only in recent years when our dollar reserves hardly fell below $30bn with the attendant more favourable, extended payments cover for our import bills.

Indeed, a closer examination of prevailing fiscal and monetary strategies may suggest that we are in denial of the deeply rooted causes of deepening poverty.

For example, it is inexplicable that a country with acute infrastructural deprivation will progressively tilt its annual budgets in favour of consumption, such that the 2015 Appropriation Bill presently allocates barely 20 per cent for supportive social infrastructure.

Desperation In The Jonathan Camp In Anticipation Of Defeat-A Can Of Worms Nigerians Should Be Ashamed Of By Dr. Wumi Akintide

The debate currently going on whether or not a 4 star General has requisite qualifications to be certified as a candidate in the next election is a development that would come back to haunt Jonathan long after he loses the election on February 14. It is a development that can open a can of worms on the first Prime minister and most of the past Presidents of Nigeria from the North who were flag bearers of the same PDP and its predecessors like the NPC, the NPN and NRC. What qualification did Tafawa Balewa have to qualify him as the first Prime Minister of Nigeria? The same people raising the question should tell me what qualifications did Ahmadu Bello have to emerge as the pre and post- Independence leader of the Northern Peoples’ Congress and de facto leader of the whole country?
What paper qualifications did Aguiyi Ironsi have to lead Nigeria after the January 15 coup of the Majors in Nigeria led by Chukwuma Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna?  What qualification did Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha or Abdulsalam Abubakar to qualify them as Heads of State in Nigeria? Umaru Yar Adua who succeeded Obasanjo in 2007 had a Master’s degree and could be said to be the most educated by way of paper qualification among the rest of his predecessors.

Judge threatens to jail Ohanaeze leaders

An Enugu State High Court judge, Justice Romanus Odugu, has threatened to jail some leaders of the Igbo pan cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for contempt if they disobey an order restraining them from conducting an election to elect a new executive committee for the organisation.
The threat was contained in a Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order (Form 48) issued by the court on the Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftains, including an elder statesman, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi, Senator Chris Ngige, Chief Enechi Onyia, SAN, Dr Eze Agbogu, Prince Richard Ozobu, Prince Chukwuemeka Onyesoh, Chief Raph Obioha and Chief Chekwas Okorie.
Others are Prof. Ukwu I. Ukwu, Senator Offia Nwali, Dr. Jumbo Offor, Dr. Zed Chukwujama, Prof. Elochuchukwu Amucheazi,   Elder Oyibo Chukwu and Lady Maria Okwor.
The court warned that unless they obey the directives contained in the order, they would be guilty of contempt of court and liable to be committed to prison.
The court had earlier issued an interim injunction, restraining Amechi and four others from holding any election in December 2014, or before January 7, 2015, to elect a new executive for the organisation.

Even Babangida Comments: I Never Looted Nigeria's Money

A former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has said that he is not corrupt as being insinuated in many quarters.
He asked any Nigerian with facts on corruption against him to release them to the public.
He also said the $12.4billion Gulf Oil War windfall of 1991 was not stolen.
Babangida made the clarifications in an exclusive interview with a team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s press crew for the agency’s in-house magazine, “Zero tolerance.”
The EFCC released the transcript of the interview to journalists in Abuja on Monday.
He denied looting billions from the treasury, challenged anyone with proof of corruption against him to reveal it.
He said: “Let me tell you something, maybe you have a hand in it. I have been the most investigated President Nigeria has ever had. By now, somebody should have come forward to say here it is.
“Every government that came after me investigated me because of that perception because they wanted to retrieve the billions I stole.”
He said he and those who served in his administration were saints and angels going by the level of corruption in the country.

PRESIDENTIAL POLL: We’ll deal with Jonathan – Ndigbo reveal why they are angry with president

MAJORITY of South-East and Igbo votes may not go to President Goodluck Jonathan in the February 14 presidential polls contrary to expectations unless the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) takes the complaints of the zone seriously, Founder of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) and Deputy Secretary of the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), Evangelist Elliot Uko, has said.

To make amends and continue to enjoy the support of the Igbo, Uko urged President Jonathan to unveil his plans and blueprint and what he had done for the zone in the last six years.

In an interview with Vanguard, Uko said the polls would be fierce but assured that ‘’This time around, Ndigbo will vote right, we have learned painfully over the years that if we vote right, it will be well for everybody. Ndigbo do not want to make mistakes any more.’’

INEC gets positive signals over N75bn budget

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday said it had been receiving positive signals from the Federal Government on the disbursement of N75bn budget for the 2015 general elections.
The commission also said it was the duty of relevant security agencies to enforce laws whenever political parties breached their code of conduct.
Mr. Kayode Idowu, chief press secretary to INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said this while reacting to enquiries by The PUNCH on efforts being made to get the money few weeks to the 2015 elections and sanctions for violation of code of conduct by parties.
“I don’t know where the indicated figure (N75bn) will be sourced. INEC is in talks with relevant authorities on disbursement of outstanding and is receiving favourable consideration,” he stated.
The Political Parties’ Code of Conduct 2013 reflects the determination of parties and INEC as major stakeholders in the Nigeria democratic project to establish an enduring platform for sustained and constructive political engagement, within and between political parties and then between parties and the commission.

Ballot and blood? Never again!

Yea, they are greedy dogs/Which cannot have enough,/And they are shepherds
That cannot understand:/They all look their way,/Everyone for his gain Isaiah 54 v11
On the surface of it, the recent appeal made by President Goodluck Jonathan canvassing a violence-free general elections and the subsequent endorsement by the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, are both patriotic and auspicious. No one’s vaulting political ambition should put the country’s troubled soul literally on fire. Or, the unity of the nation on the edge. No power seeker’s desperation is worth the shedding of the innocent blood of a fellow citizen. Indeed, I had warned several times against the wanton wasting of priceless and irreplaceable blood of innocent citizens on the altar of political ambition. That was through my opinion essays in my Drumbeats column a national newspaper. These include: 2015 and tongues of fury(September 18s,2013);God’s warning: There is too much bloodshed here!(October 2,2013), 2015and arms build-up(February 12,2014) and Insurgency and the enemies within(September 3,2014).But would the politicians ever listen to words of caution?

Presidential Poll: ‘Forget your re-election’ – OAU students tells Jonathan

Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to reduce their tuition or be ready to face their wrath during forthcoming presidential election….You need to read this
The Student Union President, Mr. Isaac Ibikunle, and the Secretary, Mr. Oludare Bamidele, stated this in a statement.
Jonathan met briefly with the student union leaders when he attended a political meeting organised by some Yoruba leaders in the university.
Ibikunle then told our correspondent that the President promised to act fast to reduce the fees in the university.

How to make your child love reading

I am among the luckiest fathers on earth. My wife is also among the luckiest mothers. Why? Our children prefer reading to eating. One is nine while the other is seven. Any time they have a novel in their hands, they cannot concentrate on whatever they are doing. I may get angry and reprimand them, but deep inside, I am overjoyed.

When our friends see or hear about it, they ask: “How did you do it? I have bought my children all manner of books, but they don’t like to read them.”

And the result is that our kids have got the fundamentals of language. They easily know when there is an error in tenses, which is the critical element in the English language. So, when you say something like, “I wish I were there,” you would need to explain to them why “were” should be used for “I” instead of “am” or “was.”
In addition, whenever you tell them anything, they think about it, and if it does not sound logical, they ask you questions. So, I am confident that they will not grow up to become adults that will be led by the nose.

2015 Election: ‘A litmus test for Nigeria’ -Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland

Foremost religious leader and businessman, Asiwaju Khamis Badmus has warned that failure in the 2015 election in the country would affect the growth of Nigeria.

The Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland said this in an Eid Maolud message through his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Alhaji Dawood Ajetunmobi.

Badmus also said it was important both candidates of the Peoples Democtratic Party, PDP, and All Progressive Congress, APC, while canvassing for votes from the electorates across the country, to refrain from using combative words so as not to set the nation on fire.

He added that “peace and unity of the country before, during and after 2015 election should be made the focal point of prayers of all adherents of Islam. Unity of the country is not negotiable, adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the country enjoys free , fair , credible exercise in the February, 2015 general elections.