MC Oluomo, Bayo Success And The Curse Of Lagos Motor Park Kingpins

MC Oluomo

The fracas in Lagos on January 8, 2019 during the rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the Skypower Grounds, Ikeja Government Reservation Area has, once again, brought into grim reality how Nigerian politicians have overtime played upon the tripodal factors of illiteracy of members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW) their naivety and the huge uncensored daily cash inflow in their hands to cause unmitigated political crises in many parts of the country. At that rally, the Lagos State Treasurer of the union, MC Oluomo, was stabbed while some other persons, including journalists, escaped death by the whiskers. Incidentally, in the Second Republic, that same Lagos birthed the transformation of the road transport union with the name of NURTW, into a deadly anvil in the hands of a sadistic political class, thus heralding its ascendancy as kingpin of politics. At the cusp of that Second Republic deployment of motor park irritants in unholy wedlock with politics, was an Ekiti State-born man called Adebayo Ogundare, ak.a. Bayo Success, a notorious member of the union whose knack for violence was legendary.

The road transport union had been a major contributor to the social harmony that Nigeria enjoyed in the informal sector. Indeed, there are heaps of scholarly works on the immense contributions of road transporters even in pre-colonial Nigeria and how the union impacted on the society and by that very fact, constituting an important segment of the Nigerian economy.

By 1934, Nigeria had begun to feel the union’s importance, especially with its formation that year, prompting it to have offices in many cities in the country. Not only did it defend the collective interests of its members within the colonial setting, in the 1930s, the NURTW was at the vanguard of the fight and resistance against attempts made by the colonial government to impose higher duties on vehicles. The colonial government had intended to use the high taxes to combat the challenge of vehicles competing with the railway.

During this period in Lagos, one leading transporter of renown was W.A. Dawodu. S.O. Ojo and Maiyegun operated from the Abeokuta sector. While transporters like Timothy Odutayo Kuti, known as Abusi Odumare, plied the Ijebu flank, one Dr. Orisadipe Obasa who resided in Ikeja gave the sector noticeable form in Lagos. Obasa, in company with his wife Olajumoke, a renowned and wealthy road transport owner, both owned buses operated in Lagos as early as 1915. The intrusion of John Holt and the Miller Brothers, who earlier operated from the Ijebu lagoon market called Ejinrin around 1917 (remember Ebenezer Obey’s evergreen vinyl and lyrics, b’okokan o r’Ejinrin, egbegberun e a lo? If a vehicle declines to ply the Ejinrin route, thousands others will) also gave transport business a lot of respect. In Ibadan, Salami Agbaje became a major motor transporter and so successful at it was he that the colonial government had to shut its own transport services in Southern Nigeria. During the 1937 general motor strike, Agbaje’s transport company was said to have actively participated in it.

By the Second Republic however, the NURTW had begun to morph into a bastion of violence and disorder. Around the 1970s, municipal buses had been taken over by danfos owned by private owners. As against the practice in the 1950s when local councils handled motor park management, parks were taken over by illiterate and hemp-smoking transporter union members and thus emerged the first manifestation of the albatross of violent and uncontrollable motor park warlords who were amenable to all forms of notoriety. This park politics led to schisms and antagonism and thus the transformation of parks into central hubs of political disorder. What helped to fuel this typecast was the politicization of parks.

With the contest for power by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN)-led federal government of President Shehu Shagari with its seat in Lagos and the Unity Party of Nigeria-led Lagos state government headed by Lateef Jakande, Lagos became a hot testing ground for the might of politics. The ruling NPN secured the gritty brawn of Bayo Success and gave him the task of winning to its side all motor parks in Lagos. This he did by mobilizing a huge clientele of motor park drivers, which was not secured without the multiple shed of human blood in the fracas that ensued at the parks. Bayo Success became a kingmaker and planted his acolytes as chairmen of parks in Lagos, with himself becoming the Oshodi branch chairman. MC Oluomo is also the chairman of the NURTW, Oshodi. So what is in Oshodi that breeds motor park hirelings of politicians who use them for political ends? Abetted by the federal government, so much cash and power resided in the hands of the leadership of NURTW of the time. Bayo Success died in October, 2002 at the age of 61 and was probably in his forties while he held sway. MC Oluomo is said to be 42 years old.

I went into this short history to be able to explain the twine that connects the current NURTW crisis in Lagos with a cancerous blight which the NPN government sowed into the Lagos and by that very fact, Nigerian political equation, whose metastasis is beginning to society a lot of headaches. You will recall that in Oyo State, egged on by the chaotic mini-government ran by the enfant terrible of Oyo politics, Lamidi Adedibu, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led government of Adebayo Alao-Akala was advertised to the world as an exemplar of how not to subject politics or government to the machinations of touts in motor parks. Its apogee was the murder of Eleweomo, an NURTW kingpin, in broad daylight, in the undecipherable alliance between government, politicians and motor park touts.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu picked the infamous gauntlet from where the NPN left it in Lagos and promoted it into a political art. A researcher, Laurent Fourchard, of the University of Bordeaux, had written in a journal article entitled Lagos, Koolhaas and partisan politics in Nigeria how, on April 20, 2007, in Ikeja, Lagos, then outgoing Governor Tinubu had assembled what she called “5000 strong militant crowd” of his party, then the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) apparently interspersed with NURTW kingpins and told them, “I am not happy with you. I gave for this electoral campaign five millions (sic) Naira and Lagosians did not come to vote en masse for the party” but the “militants” replied,“five million Naira! But it did not reach the grassroots!”

Even out of government, the NURTW is a potent weapon used by the Generalissimo of Lagos politics to sustain his hegemonic hold on Lagos politics. The motor park touts are very rich, sending their families abroad to live, are powerful, have access to the innermost recess of the political class’ dwelling places and are factored into every of their political scheming. They are the ones who are sent to silence political opponents, cause mayhem in places where law and order seem to be too sophisticated to penetrate and constitute the major weaponry deployed on Election Day. They snatch ballot boxes, scare electorate to their pants off the polling booths in places where opponents have major holds and are generally the brains behind violence that undergirds Nigerian politics. Thus, the violence that attended the stabbing of MC Oluomo is in consonance with the political culture that is the core of the roots of politics in Lagos of the Tinubu era.

The hegemony is further sustained by a vice hold on the other lawful arm of violence, the police. Nigerians were baffled last week when, within the spate of 24 hours, instruction and counter-instruction on postings of commissioner of police in charge of Lagos, emanating from the office of the Inspector General, though one departing and the other assuming office, jammed each other. The outgone IG had ordered Edgal Imohimi to leave Lagos on transfer and for a former police aide of Tinubu, Kayode Egbetokun, to take over. The new IG however ordered a reversal to status quo ante. What devious plan inhabits the mind of this clique? Or was it for love of country that a former police hireling was primed to be in charge of a state as delicate as Lagos, when elections are few weeks hence?

However, some other manifestations have emerged from Lagos which are worthy of examination, with grave implications for governance. From what is being filtered into the news-wave, it is apparent that Akinwunmi Ambode, the governor of Lagos, is once again in the belly of the Lagos political clique’s whale. The news is that the clique wants to use the MC Oluomo fracas to demonize the man whom the clique have incongruously stampeded off a second term in office and who has shown unusual fortitude in this regard. This attitude belies the public estimation of a Nigerian politician who, if he was in the shoes of Ambode, would have employed the Samson model of ensuring that the roof of the house caved in on the collective. Some even alleged that a plan to impeach Ambode is in the offing, using his alleged but obviously concocted romance with the opposition as a potent charge. The fortitude Ambode demonstrated in the iniquitous spiking of his bid for a second term by the Tinubu clique is said to be attributable to the fact that he is not a politician but has over the years cultivated a latent tendency to bow to process, steeped in his years of grooming in the civil service. The service is predicated on the belief that order is inherent in process and process, in order. Apparently unconvinced that Ambode could have given in to their machination without a fight, there are reports that the governor is being parceled to be fish-grilled by the imperial powers of the Tinubu group.

 BAT ( Cappo di tutti ) & MC Oluomo

Aside his initial grump at having been that side-stepped for Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ambode has since then demonstrated political traits alien to politicians. Not only has he openly identified with Sanwo-Olu, he has publicly urged Lagosians to vote for him in March. His political traducers however believe that he is double-dealing, maintaining that the fracas in Ikeja where MC Oluomo was stabbed was his handiwork. The logic of this reasoning is baffling. Shockingly un-politician-like, Ambode has recently been quoted to have said this of the man parceled to take over from him: “The qualities of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a former banker, former cabinet member are very strong and he is also very strong in public sector management. When you compare his qualities to the qualities of other candidates, he is very competent and he is very reliable and I have no doubt that we will have him as the next Governor of Lagos State. So, come February 16, we will vote President Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Osinbajo and come March 2, we will vote Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.” Which, to me, drinks from the brooks of that wise-saying by the Yoruba, to wit that a grown up man who sings the panegyrics of a fellow man deserves our salute, for such a task is reserved for the valiant.

The calculation of the Tinubu clique is that, when he is out of the governorship seat, Ambode may soar higher at the federal if APC retains the presidency, going by ostensible general sympathy for his being illogically sacrifice by the Tinubu camp, in spite of his apparent loyalty and sterling performance in Lagos; that he may become another “rebel against the order of Lagos hegemony” like Babatunde Fashola.

The Tinubu group seems to have unlearnt all the ills of the First Republic. You will recall that musicians were also employed in the service of the political hegemony of the time. While Hubert Ogunde sang the ideals of the Action Group, Dadakuada music exponent, Odolaye Aremu, sang for NNDP, a.k.a. Demon. The haughty Wasiu Ayinde Marshal currently serves the Tinubu hegemony in that regard. His song was said to have began the shootings and stabbings which, but for providence, would have cost MC Oluomo’s life. The Tinubu group’s intellectual brain box however revs up its consolidation of the base of power and daily ups its ante by consolidating its hold on the power of coercion, using the NURTW as the marionette. The good news is however that empires fall and emperors crash. Humanity will live forever.




 © Festus Adedayo, 20/01/2019

Again Violence Erupts at the APC Presidential Women and Youth campaign Rally in Imo State.

                              

Violence erupts again at the APC presidential women and youth campaign rally in Imo State.
Many APC supporters were injured as violence broke out at the presidential rally for Women and      Youth  in the IMO state capital, Owerri earlier yesterday.

Nigeria’s current president, and presidential candidate of the APC Muhammadu Buhari and his wife Aisha were surprisingly absent. Their absence may not be unconnected with security reports which indicated that the type of mayhem that occurred in Lagos may be repeated at today’s event.

Instead, the Wife of the president insisted the wife of the vice president, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo represent her at the event.

Trouble started when supporters of the Uzodinma and Okorocha factions clashed. The brawl which lasted several minutes, was only contained after an exchange of gunfire. Many are reported to have suffered a variety of injuries including Stab wounds and gunshot injuries but no one has been reported dead.

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More details later.

2019: PPA Candidate Idris Mamukuyomi Assures Constituents of Developmental Reforms

Idris Mamukuyomi, the candidate of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) vying for Ondo State House of Assembly has assured the Ondo West constituency II of structural and developmental reforms if elected as a member in the state assembly come 2019.

He said that his ambition is to bring structural and developmental, growth to his constituents, adding that if elected as a member in the State Assembly to represent Ondo West constituency II, he will work to strengthen the weak areas of the current reforms of the outgoing administration.

Mamukuyomi, in a statement made available, said he is of the belief that the, "constituency needs structural reforms to meet our developmental goals which can only be guaranteed by a progressive and popular leadership with the welfare of the people at heart."

"My ambition goes beyond what is obtainable in politics these days as I seek to create an impressive environment for the present generation and the new ones to come, who are moved by their visions but wouldn't want to come out due to the perceived votes buying, thuggery and the financial muscle to compete with the incumbents, that it is possible to contest against all these backgrounds and liberate the community," he added.

He lamented that the outgoing administration have done its best for developmental take-off in the constituents, noting that hunger, poverty, ignorance and socio-infrastructural deficiency still persists in the land.

"It isn't gain saying that our dear state, most especially the constituency 2 of Ondo West where I was raised, has gone not only through series of unbearable political trauma but also infrastructure deficiencies under the present administration," Mamukuyomi noted.

The Elevation of Incompetence

BY :- SHAKA-MOMODU

There is a struggle going on in Nigeria. It is a struggle between two evils – one, less so with a touch of human face and the other, extremely so – aloof, insensitive, unfeeling, deeply hypocritical and incompetent on a level never before seen in our country. My dilemma is not so much with choosing between the two, but about some people’s warm embrace of the latter. Ordinarily, one would think that the less dangerous of the two would be more attractive to many people. But I have been shocked by some people’s blind craving for danger masked in superlative adjectives of integrity, character, honesty, etc.

President Mohammadu Buhari 

I must confess that I have been struggling to understand the rationale and motive of some of these people for their willful blind support for a man whose legendary  lack of competence and capacity for the job of president of a diverse country as  Nigeria has been established beyond a shadow of  a doubt,  not  by murmurs of  ill-feeling  or  whispers of rumours born out of partisan jealousy,  but by loud evidence, albeit with the tragic consequences  that  have come through  the massive decline in all facets of our national life. We are in strange times, an era where failure is hailed as excellence by a vocal group of revisionists hell-bent on continuing the path of destruction.

This government has been laying the blame for its poor performance on others. President Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters have remained in lockstep with him, creating excuses and celebrating his stunning incompetence as excellence. All policy decisions made by the previous government are bad in the eyes of this government which unfortunately has shown no intellectual depth, vision, rigour of character or creative ingenuity, to create superior alternative solutions.  Sometimes I get amused when I read the president’s complaints and lamentations in the newspapers. I ask myself, how can someone whose government is totally bereft of ideas and energy condemn the work of others. A man who brazenly claims other people’s achievements the result of thoughtfulness has the temerity to condemn the same people for lacking imagination.

Let us even set all that aside and restrict our assessment to three key areas, viz., economic reforms, restoring security and intensifying the fight against corruption – the tripod upon which then-candidate Muhammadu Buhari anchored his vision to transform Nigeria.  He received thunderous support from who’s who on this tripod, pushed through on the strength of the Buhari triangle of personal integrity, character, and ascetic lifestyle.

But as things stand today, can Buhari’s supporters really tell us from the bottom of their heart that he has delivered on his promise in the area of security? Some of us will not be surprised at the ”yes” chorus from the self-deluding Buharists. Buhari’s strongest selling point was that as a retired general, he was best equipped to deal ruthlessly with the anarchist Boko Haram. Of course that belief was somewhat not misplaced given his advertised track record. Well, it has proved to be misplaced after all – an exaggerated regard for a man who has repeatedly demonstrated contempt for values of national cohesion. In the mad hysteria of 2015, our nation was lured with sweet nothings into the hangman’s noose. Now in 2019, those same characters that lured the people are not done yet; they want to finally kick the stool off our nation’s feet. What is wrong with the black man of the Nigerian specie?

A report of the US-based International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA) released last week spoke volumes about the state of the war against Boko Haram. Extracts from the report indicated that the Nigerian government had completely and comprehensively lost control of the engagement with Boko Haram and could show no instance when the government had tactical, theatre, strategic or information dominance of any aspects of the conflict. According to the report, as the insurgent groups grow stronger by the day, the government forces grow weaker and more beset by morale collapse.

It said: “It is fair to say that the Nigerian intelligence community itself is no longer sure what groups even comprise ‘Boko Haram’, nor has it addressed the international logistical, ideological, and support aspects contributing to the ongoing viability of the groups. The conduct of the war in the North is tied to the corruption in the military and Buhari — ring-fenced by his own team — is unable to tackle the issue.”

The report stated further that the leadership of the military, including the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd), rather than concentrate on how to defeat the insurgents is preoccupied with how to stop the leakage of information about the massive corruption running into the equivalent of many billions of dollars that has taken place on the pretext of fighting Boko Haram. All these happened on the watch of “Mr Integrity” and a “no-nonsense anti-corruption czar”.

When Buhari took office in 2015, we were dealing with a largely decimated Boko Haram. Four years down the line, our country is dealing with at least four major security threats, a strengthened and highly equipped Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa Province (ISWAP), terrorist herdsmen, and heavily armed bandits that have turned Zamfara State into a killing field. Recall that when 39 people were slaughtered in Zamfara in February last year, the state Governor Abdulaziz Yari lamented how he supported and campaigned for Buhari on the strength of Buhari’s advertised capacity to end insecurity in the country. Yari, a staunch Buhari ally, spoke the truth many in Buhari’s orbit would never admit when he thought he had seen the worst.

That is the tragedy of Nigeria. Needless to remind every concerned Nigerian that the Zamfara situation as in other parts of the country has progressively gone worse, and yet the government’s response has been lacklustre, aloof and totally irresponsible. Because of the worsening security situation in Zamfara State, Yari is now begging for a state of emergency to be declared. Unsurprisingly, Buhari insensitively launched his reelection campaign in Akwa Ibom on the back of the most recent killings in Zamfara. His campaign saw nothing wrong with that. They want to win the election by all means. Talk to those in his campaign team and all you hear is the pompous rhetoric of  how they “will win in February”.

In the president’s home state of Katsina, Governor Aminu Masari has joined in crying out about the state of insecurity at an extraordinary security meeting in Katsina. This was how he put it: “Our state is currently under serious siege by armed robbers, kidnappers and armed bandits who arrest rural people at the grassroots at will and demand ransom, which if not paid, they kill their victims. The people of Katsina, in the 34 local governments, now sleep with one eye closed and the other opened.” Despite the poor situation in Katsina, Masari isstill campaigning for Buhari, for whom he has vowed to deliver millions of votes for his reelection. Does this make sense? Is this not a classic case of suffering and smiling?

For these people, Buhari must continue not because he is performing, but because of their “conscientious stupidity”. What a shame! While we embrace incompetence, it is Nigeria that suffers and human lives that are lost. Have you not also heard? Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima has raised the alarm that the security situation is getting worse, but said he would not criticise Buhari because the president has given him (the governor) “unfettered access to him”. So because of that unfettered access, he cannot criticise the president, even when it is obvious the situation is getting out of hand? Another classic case of “conscientious stupidity”.

Who would forget in hurry how under former President Jonathan, the Borno Elders regularly held meetings and issued statements that undermined the fight against Boko Haram? They have not issued one statement since Buhari became president (please correct me if I am wrong). There is more to this than meets the eye in this Boko Haram tragedy. Let me ask Buhari’s supporters; are Masari and Shittima PDP members? Or are they now moles who want Buhari to fail?

Now, is anyone surprised that the killer herdsmen have suddenly paused their bloody takeover of farmlands in the middle belt and across the country? You see, they are very wise; they wouldn’t do anything that negates the reelection bid of their patron saint, and President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. Their umbrella association, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders, has already endorsed Buhari who has been protecting and shielding herdsmen from prosecution for all the unspeakable crimes committed against our country. Is it not curious that all the marauding herdsmen from Libya, Mali and Senegal (as the president wanted us to believe), have suddenly ceased to find their way to Nigeria as the elections approach? What we are witnessing now is merely a pause to ease the path for Buhari’s reelection.

But it is a testament to foolishness for some people to celebrate Buhari for that. I bet you, if he wins (God forbid), herdsmen will resume their slaughter of innocent people and the burning down of communities with even more ferocity and vehemence. Mark my words: those who are allowing themselves to be deceived by the appearance of peace and praising Buhari for restoring order should continue in their “conscientious stupidity”. Are you surprised that all the talk of establishing “cattle colonies” across the country has suddenly been put in abeyance as the elections approach? These guys are wise!

Now let’s look at the reality on the ground. What is the state of the economy under Buhari? The economy by his own admission is in bad shape. For the president to admit the obvious is even putting it mildly. The economy is actually in terrible shape owing principally to the president’s poor handling of it. But his supporters are having none of that. The economy, they say, is in excellent shape. Every king, the saying goes, needs a jester.  Buhari does have them in abundance.

The labour report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown that the country’s unemployment rate worsened in the third quarter of 2018, rising from 18.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2017 to 23.1 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2018. In effect, over 20.9 million people were out of jobs. Inflation is on a steady rise once again. Since this government came to power, there has been an unprecedented decline in economic activities in the country while GDP growth has stagnated. An alarming 85 million people are living in extreme poverty culminating in the country being crowned the poverty capital of the world. This was a telling indictment of his government; a government that inherited an economy that was on a growth trajectory but watched it plunge into recession in less than a year cannot be trusted with anything. Please I want to know where Buhari has performed well in the last four years.

I once asked a diehard supporter of the president if he would recruit someone like him to run his business. His response froze me to the ground. “No,” he said. “Why,” I asked. He just rambled incoherently. Then I asked him if Buhari was not good for his small business, why should he be good for Nigeria. His response was more coherent this time. “Oh he has recovered some money, besides, he has integrity.” Recovered money? Well folks, that is the tragic mindset of many a Buhari supporter.

Buhari’s reign has left Nigeria in near-mortal ruins and imperiled the future of generations living or unborn. But despite his fumbling with power and the danger he now poses to Nigeria’s national security, economic, political reforms and ultimately survival, Buhari’s supporters have arrogantly hoisted him on a petard as the moral arc of integrity, character and exemplary conduct even though he has so far failed miserably the test of these attributes in his second chance to right the wrongs of his past.

All the economic reforms initiated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) have been killed by Buhari. He refused to sign the historic Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) which was conceived to liberalise the governance structure of Nigeria’s oil industry and was one of the four bills that formed the omnibus PIB. His excuse for rejecting the PIGB was that it whittled down his powers. Meanwhile, the Buhari government is still neck-deep in endless turnaround maintenance of the nation’s obsolete refineries that are not still working with all the attendant corruption.

I have had to deal with doubts that crept into my understanding of the meaning of integrity, applying less scholarship and more common sense and ancient wisdom to find some meaning. But on both scores, I have come out empty-handed and more confused because scholarship and common sense have failed to situate or explain Buhari’s supporters’ blind endorsement. The problem is what a great black American activist, Martin Luther King Jr, called “conscientious stupidity”.

It is impossible to reason with the president’s supporters. They are dismissive of obvious evidence.  Show them the facts and data to prove that things have progressively gone from bad to worse under Buhari, and they respond with tired, recycled lies. A common denominator runs through them: they love lies. Indeed, the more lies Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Lai Mohammed, Babatunde Fashola spew to the public, the more energised Buhari’s supporters become.  The more Buhari hunkers down on his nepotistic and clannish disposition, the more his supporters gyrate in thunderous applause for him as the messiah who is fixing Nigeria’s problems.

I for one do not believe that our democracy can function for long on lies, especially on lies of achievements. If we allow facts to become negotiable by Buhari and his supporters, we would have acquiesced in the erosion of the one thing that is constant for all ages: truth.  This is precisely one of the areas Buhari and his governments are deficient in. Telling lies is second nature to this government. First, immediately he assumed power, he repudiated all the campaign promises that won him the election. His supporters hailed him and told us it didn’t matter. He refused to appoint ministers immediately, claiming that they were “noisemakers” and his supporters hailed the move, stating astonishingly that ministers were not needed since that would save the government huge money.

It was therefore dishonest and grotesquely preposterous to say the least for one of the spokesmen to the president to carelessly claim that the delay in the appointment of ministers was because former President Goodluck Jonathan did not give Muhammadu Buhari handover notes until 48 hours before his departure from office. “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” Martin Luther King seemed to have Buhari’s supporters in mind when he made that immortal statement. Indeed what we are seeing from this government and its supporters is beyond fidelity to stupidity. Now, is Jonathan also responsible for his inability or delay in appointing ministers to the vacant cabinet positions?

The truth was and still is that the man came to the table of leadership with nothing to offer. He lacks capacity for the job he was elected to do. For six good months, he was groping in the dark trying to figure out what exactly his job description was as president. He was utterly clueless and has remained so thus far.  This government is limping on towards the 2019 presidential election on barefaced lies, intimidation of opponents and false claims of achievements. We have all seen the consequences of his provincial mindset to governance. His contempt for safeguards of national unity is legendary.  Indeed, this is a man the nation “cannot call to order”.

Indeed, Albert Einstein was right when he stated that “no problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it”. Buhari is at the heart of the problems plaguing Nigeria. He cannot be part of the solution. More so, he lacks the mental capacity to rise higher, above the status quo and visualise a great nation. He is a tribal lord with courtiers and sycophants – right from the vice-president down the line to ministers, state governors and members of civil society who have been praising him for “saving Nigeria” despite the grim reality staring us all in the face that the country is gradually losing relevance amongst the community of nations.

Many supporters of the president’s don’t give a damn about the implications of another four years of Buhari so long as he is in office just enjoying the perks. It’s all about their candidate winning the election willy-nilly and the preservation of their self-interest. The national interest has no meaning to them. They will choose Buhari over Nigeria as demonstrated by their utterances. To them, the atrocities reigning under Buhari are being perpetrated by either former President Jonathan or the PDP. They cheer him on when he is directly or indirectly implicated in acts of corruption. They make excuses for him and blame others for his clear leadership failures and hail him as the deliverer.

Now let’s look at Buhari’s record on corruption where he derives his mythical integrity. Buhari’s integrity first took a dive when he appointed the former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, a man who was then facing multiple criminal charges of fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and outright corruption in court, as co-chairman of the Transition Committee.  It was a body blow to the acclaimed anti-corruption posture and integrity of the “no-nonsense anti-corruption czar”. I pointed out that disturbing contradiction then but either many were too soaked in celebrations of Buhari’s victory, or they saw it but simply didn’t care. Curiously, the charges against Sylva were dismissed a few months after and the 48 houses he acquired during his four-year reign as governor were returned to him.

Buhari’s anti-corruption war has since moved on to reveal a less-than-noble intent and a reputation far more tainted than Bola Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi and Fashola wanted us to know. His war on corruption is a targeted war on opposition elements while shielding and protecting his party men, close aides and friends. While his supporters continue to force-feed us with tales of his integrity and honesty, the evidence on the ground points to the contrary.

Buhari appointed the ex-secretary to the government of the federation Babachir Lawal, indicted and sacked for corruption and embezzlement of IDP funds as his campaign coordinator in Adamawa State. He has also just appointed Godswill Akpabio, a man under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the national coordinator of his presidential support committee. Governor Abdulahi Umar Ganduje of Kano, a staunch ally of Buhari, was caught on several videos receiving dollar bribes from contractors. What did Buhari do? He sang Ganduje’s praises.  Lest we forget, Ganduje promised to deliver five million votes to Buhari in the 2019 presidential election. Where is the integrity in all of these? Does integrity now mean hobnobbing with suspected thieves and even benefiting from them? There is a time honoured adage that says, show me your friends and I will tell who you are.

Under Buhari, $25 billion contracts were awarded by Maikanti Baru, GMD of the NNPC without following due process. The Senate set up a committee headed by Senator Aliyu Wamakko to probe the transactions. Pronto, Buhari invited Wamakko to the Presidential Villa for a meeting.  That was the end of the probe. Mr. Integrity my foot!  The train has since moved on. What a country!

What about the astronomical consumption of petrol that is riddled with fraud and subsidy payments that are shrouded in secrecy? Baru has given multiple figures of the daily consumption of petrol. Under Jonathan, we were told 33-35 million litres. Under Buhari, it has been a revolving door: 60 million, 70million and as high as 80million litres a day, in a difficult economic environment with no corresponding purchasing capacity by Nigerians. These are the figures Baru, the sole importer of petrol, collects subsidy on. From 35million litres under Jonathan to as much as 80million in some months under Buhari.

The man his supporters claim has integrity has four times vetoed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill that was meant to make the 2019 elections more transparent and credible, the last being on the flimsy grounds that its implementation was too close to the elections. Consequently, INEC has just said they would use the controversial Incidence Form in the conduct of the elections. Yet, Jonathan assented to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill on the 26th of March 2015, a few days to the election. It is a shame that even his supporters want him to rig the elections. They applaud his refusal to sign the bill as “superior politics”. The truth is he wants to benefit from the magical numbers that come out of Kano and other northern states.

Indeed, Buhari has become the nemesis of a progressive Nigeria. To those campaigning for him to continue in office, history will be less forgiving of what they have done to our country.

Happy New Year to All.

UPDATED : Russian Spy Poisoned

Britain accused Russia of masterminding Krispals death and fired the first shot by expelled 23 Russia diplomats from Uk, Russia hits back by sending out 23 British Diplomats from Moscow as in tit-for-tats

Now, EU, US, NATO & Non-NATO allies back Britain. 

NATO: The following NATO allies announced Russia diplomats expulsion, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Canada

Non-NATO: Which already sent Russian Diplomats packing are Ukraine, Finland and Sweden.

Expulsion list. According FT, Russian officials expelled 131. Britain Officials Expelled by Russia 23.

Britain: 23 Russia: 23
US: 60
Ukrain 13
Canada 4
Poland 4
Germany 4
France 4
Chech Rep 3
Lithuania 3
Italy 2
Netherlands 2
Denmark 2
Spain 2
Latvia 1
Estonia 1
Sweden 1
Romania 1
Finland 1 

Obasanjo’s `Third Force’: Group to moblise youths

The Youth Lead Nigeria, a mass movement, says it will moblise youths across Nigeria to join the `Third Force’ proposed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Pelumi Olajengbesi, the group’s National Coordinator, who briefed newsmen on Friday in Abuja, said that Obasanjo was credibly qualified to advise President Muhammadu Buhari on national issues.

Obasanjo had in statement on Tuesday, suggested the creation of a new political movement-third option-in the country and advised Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019.

He urged the President to join the league of the country’s former leaders whose “experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the side line for the good of the country.”

The former president said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had failed the country.

Olajengbesi said that the primary objective of the group was change the narrative and enforce necessary change in the leadership constitution of Nigeria, with the youths ably represented in power.

“We make bold to say that we are ready to join the `Third Force’ to liberate our country from those holding it to ransom.

Frm. President Olusegun Obasanjo 

Our organisation shall begin to moblise youths across the country to make this a reality.’’

He said that the arrest of Mr Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was worthy of applause and long overdue as there should be no sacred cows in Nigeria.

On the prevailing security challenges in the country, he said that it was high time the leadership of the nation’s security agencies was overhauled.

The legal practitioner said it was regrettable that bloodthirsty hoodlum, herdsmen, terrorist groups and others continued on bloody rampage across the country unchecked.

Speaking on the `Not too Young to Run Bill’, he expressed displeasure that the bill sponsored to promote youth inclusion in politics continued to suffer neglect.

“This is a terrible development that members of the legislature must make haste to resolve.

“Given the opportunity, the youths in Nigeria will deliver on democratic dividends as they were duly equipped with the vigour, passion and sense of service to take on more political responsibilities,’’ he said.

Olajengbesi said that youths should be allowed ample input and leadership roles in several capacities in order to achieve balanced governance.

He said that the Federal Government ought to be more proactive and resourceful in conflict resolution and attending to the nation’s economy.

NAN

Text of an Address on the State of the Nation by the Youth Lead Nigeria Movement Delivered by National Coordinator, Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq.

Date: 26th January, 2018
Venue: 53, Nile Crescent, Suncity Estate, Abuja.

Gentlemen of the Press,

Introduction.

It is a popular movement with traction in the FCT and all 36 states of the Federation, raising the bar in the advocacy for vigour, positive exuberance and new ideas- all of which are embodied by the youths, to take centre-place in the nation's political running. Our primary objective is to change the narrative and enforce necessary change in the leadership constitution of Nigeria, with the youths constituency ably represented in power and the nation's political affairs.

In line with our stated objectives, we have been at the vanguard of the advocacy for a better and more fulfilling Nigeria and taken the pain to educate our immediate and remote society on the need to be politically and socially conscious. Our engagements have been several and serial, we've held talk workshops, mentorship seminars and partnered with firms of national and international repute to shape up a more robust discuss and case for the inclusion of youths in more active roles in the nation's political set-up. All of the above are premised on the need to play an active role in shaping up Nigeria into a modern nation-state, envied for its unyielding progress and innovation.

We at Youth Lead Nigeria have, however, observed with much apprehension and concern the state of affairs and trends in Nigeria- both individualistic and institutional trends, by so-called ordinary members of the public and it's 1% elite class that threaten the fragile foundation of our union, it's unity and, most importantly, the peaceful and harmonious co-existence of its diverse citizenry. It is only fit, therefore, and as prefects of a new Nigeria, that we take a stand on pertinent issues and admonish erring members of the public accordingly, as serialised in no particular order below :

State of the Nation Address.

1. On General Olusegun Obasanjo's Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

We read with appreciation former President, Olusegun Obasanjo 's open letter to Mr.President advising him against seeking reelection in next year's presidential election. Our position is that General Olusegun Obasanjo, having served in twice in said capacity and once as a military Head of State, is preeminently qualified to speak on the issues he raised, and present a scorecard- favourable or not against the President Buhari-led goverment. We advise that Mr. President duly consider the issues raised and weigh his options and choice of action in light of what best serves the interest of the nation.

We are particularly surprised that the president's body language has in recent times revealed that he would likely contest the 2019 election and several governors are urging him to do. The question is should this be the priority of the ruling party now at a time when there is so much insecurity and hardship in the country? We are in doubt of the patriotism of the group of leaders.

We make bold to say we are ready to join to the third force to liberate our country from the total collapse. Our organisation shall begin to mobilise youths across the country to make this a reality.

2. On the Arrest of former Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal.

Let it be stated emphatically that we consider the recent arrest of Mr. Babachir Lawal as worthy of applause, and long overdue. There are no sacred cows in Nigeria, and in due course every economic and political antagonist must be made to face justice. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission must be commended for doing the needful and continuing to be a stand-out crime-fighting agency in Nigeria.

We are, however, not oblivious to the suspect timing of his arrest coming on the heels of General Olusegun Obasanjo 's Open Letter to President Buhari and the public reactions raised by it. There is the temptation to dismiss his arrest therefore as a political plot to distract from the serious claims against this goverment in said letter. While this theory gains traction amongst the general populace, we charge the EFCC to prove it's critics wrong by going for all political criminals regardless of party affiliations that populate the corridors of power.

3. On the prevalent Security Challenges in the Country.

As a nation we have continued to suffer the inadequacy of our security outfits as bloodthirsty hoodlums, herdsmen, terrorist groups or sects continue on bloody rampage unchecked. In certain parts of the country, our fellow country men go to sleep half-awake, ever mindful of their hapless exposure to real threats to their lives and properties.

The success of these crimes is a negative commentary particularly on the capacity of the Nigerian Police Force and its sister agencies. It is no doubt time for Mr. President to summarily dismiss the Inspector General of Police, Idris Kpotun, whose lack of initiative and demonstrated incompetence threatens the police institution.

4. On the Not Too Young to Run Bill.

Before the National Assembly, the bill sponsored to promote popular youth inclusion in politics continues to suffer neglect. This is a terrible development that members of the legislature must make haste to resolve. Given the opportunity, the youths in Nigeria will deliver on democratic dividends as they are duly equipped with the vigour, passion and sense of service to take on more political responsibilities.

5. On General Governance and the Political Process.

As stated earlier, our position on this present goverment is that it is simply not doing enough to meet the exigencies of the country. The Buhari administration 's only bite have been on social media, where it seems to have invested it's time and resource to raise an army of propagandists and e-soldiers to confuse and misdirect any thorough scrutiny and critic of its actions.

We are yet to take delivery of the several democratic dividends promised us, just as nepotism and structural gerontocracy- which is goverment by the severely aged, continue to be the order of the day. This disparity between words and action cannot be allowed to continue, as the time to act is now and never later.

Conclusion.

The Youth Lead Nigeria Movement remain committed to the path of true democracy and better governance. Our position is also that the goverment ought to be proactive and resourceful in conflict resolution and attending to the economic aspiration of the country.

It is our deep conviction that our woes as a nation are not beyond redemption-a task that places as much demand on the government as on the governed. Enough cannot be said about the need for youths to be allowed ample input, and by input we mean take on leadership roles in several capacities, as a necessary measure towards achieving balanced governance. Youths are sure to inject fresh ideas and new spirit, new drive and sure strength as the nation's ship of affairs is steered towards more better times.

As we all do our bits, especially you media-men, rightfully referred to as the Fourth Estate and curators of truth, it is our conviction that Nigeria will yet again be a nation with proud and fulfilled citizens.

Thank you.