Oshiomhole takes state by storm as campaign train moves around local govts

3:51 PM Politics No Comments

For the past two months, campaigns in Edo State have been the major activity from those who are aspiring to govern the State. From the North to the South and to Edo Central, it has been beehive of political activities across the length and breadth of the State as Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his campaign train present his scorecard to the people of Edo State and thus re-emphasizing the need for the people to give him a second term of office.

The campaigns have been full of political jabs and innuendos directed at certain quarters in a bid to undo one another in what seems to be a clear fight between the ruling Party ACN and the opposition PDP. Both parties have been engrossed in a long battle of supremacy with the Action Congress of Nigeria insisting that the PDP has nothing to show for its federalist status.

While there have been series of crises in the State as a result of the altercations between the PDP and ACN, political observers are looking forward to July 14, 2012 when the people will go into the real election to choose who becomes their Governor for the next four years.

Gov Oshiomhole, 2nd left, during his campaign

Governor Oshiomhole has been going from one Local Government to another in his campaign effort to woo the Edo electorates for the July 14 election and expectedly the campaigns have provided him opportunity to showcase his achievements in the last three and a half years. Basking on the euphoria of his numerous achievements and relying heavily on the strength of his political party, Oshiomhole has assured Edo electorates that if given another opportunity to lead the State, he would consolidate on his overwhelming achievements of his first term.

According to him, “the people of the State deserve good governance and accountable leadership. We will not rest on our oars because we must fulfill our promises to the people. We cannot afford to join others in telling lies and deceiving people.

It is our duty to adequately inform the people, present our scorecard, and ask for their mandate to continue the good work we have been doing in the last three years”, he declared, amid a tumultuous crowd at Agenebode, where over 1,000 PDP members led by Chief Francis Alimikhena publicly joined the Action Congress of Nigeria.

ISSUE-BASED CAMPAIGNS?

Oshiomhole in his campaigns dwells on issues that would help move the State forward. Reeling out several items from his list of achievements, the Governor has used every opportunity to inform the people about his achievements and what he intends to do in the next four years if given the nod. At Jattu area of the Edo North Senatorial District where tens of thousands of Action Congress of Nigeria supporters came out to receive him, it was some kind of home coming for the Governor who assured the people that his second term would be better than his first term; “our second coming would be better than our first term. What we have been able to achieve in our first term is to lay the foundation by building the basic infrastructure that our people need for their day to day activities. In our second term, we will add value to human existence by providing additional employment for our teeming youths and making sure that our aged people are adequately catered for. We will not relent in our effort to creating opportunities for our people so that they can make meaning out of life. Our people have suffered neglect for a long time; hence we will do anything humanly possible to make sure that we give them improved services as steward of the people”.

Among the several achievements of the Governor are the renovation and rebuilding of almost 140 schools approximating about 1, 550 classrooms in the State, the control of erosion danger in Benin City and its metropolis in the multi-billion naira Edo Storm Water project, rural electrification in most of the rural communities, rural water supply through borehole projects, provision of healthcare service delivery in all the Local Government Areas, and several other areas that have received attention in the past three years.

Other achievements include the employment of over 15,000 youths and the creation of an e-payment system that has saved the State a lot of wastages in the area of ghost workers, as well as the compliance to due process and procurement laws in the execution of contracts.

Oshiomhole told an ecstatic crowd at Benin City that rather than deploy the resources of the State in furthering the nest of political godfathers, such income has been deployed in the provision of infrastructural development of the State.

Some political observers who spoke to Saturday Vanguard expressed concern over the spate of political crises in the State, saying such atmosphere of uncertainty can prevent the electorates from coming out to express their choice come July 14. According to political pundits, the political atmosphere in Edo State is fully charged and as such capable of breeding further crisis if appropriate security measures are not put in place.

“People are generally apprehensive about the elections because of the politically motivated killings in the State. The Governor lost his Principal Private Secretary to the cold hands of death by unknown gun men while the Governor’s own convoy was involved in an accident in very curious circumstances. We are watching as keen political observers even though we know the Comrade Governor to be enjoying tremendous popularity”, enthused Goodluck Aigbe, a politician from Edo South Senatorial District.

THE BLAME GAME.

It has been a game of blame and counter blame between members of the PDP and the Action Congress of Nigeria in the build up to the July 14, 2012 election. While the PDP reportedly petitioned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission over the use of what it described as “foul language” of the Governor, the Action Congress of Nigeria has also at various times petitioned INEC over the shoddy manner the voters registration exercise was taking place. The INEC decidedly jettisoned the voters registration exercise over what it considered as “weighty allegations” against the conduct of the exercise.

The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Atahiru Jega while addressing news men penultimate week, told the nation that the exercise would commence later in the year after the July 14, election. Before the postponement, the Action Congress of Nigeria had led a protest march to the State office of the INEC to register its displeasure over it termed as “irregular” conduct of the INEC on the issue of voters registration exercise.

The protest which was led by Governor Oshiomhole himself and thousands of his party members closed down business activities around Aduwawa area of Benin City where the office of INEC is located. While the protest lasted, INEC had to suspend its activities on that day and later called for a stakeholders meeting where decision for the discontinuation of the voters registration exercise was taken.

These are part of the sign and symbols that would be on display until after the election. Oshiomhole has continued to insist that the campaigns for the elections should be based on issues in order not to personalize the campaigns. Speaking to Saturday Vanguardsometimes ago, the Governor had expressed optimism that come July 14, the people of Edo State would re-elect him; “we are not afraid of this election.

It is only those who do not have anything to show for their aspiration that should be afraid. The people, the electorates, the voters and the generality of our people have tested me and so they trust what we can do as a government. We are not going to join those who are lamenting about our plight. We were able to improve on our internally generated revenue because we felt the greater need to make visible impact on our people.

I don’t believe in lamentation that would not bring anything to the table, which was why we took the bull by the horn in the various aspects of our intervention and today we can boastfully say we have done our best within the limits of our scarce resources”. Continuing, he added, “What we have done in the last three years is more than what the PDP achieved in ten years. In fact, apart from Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia’s intervention in the seventies, governance has been on recess in Edo State”.

TOWN TO TOWN CAMPAIGNS.

The Governor has been on parade since the kick-off of his re-election campaigns. From town to town, he has been carrying his message of performance to every nook and cranny of the State explaining the rationale for his re-election campaign.

According to the Director General of the Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard, the Oshiomhole Campaign train was “unstoppable’ because every right thinking Edo person has bought into the frenzy of the moment”.

Speaking further, the Campaign Director posited that what obtains in Edo State as at the moment “is a political movement that cannot be rigged out by anybody whether there is federal might or not. We will keep vigil over our votes. We will educate our people to vote and defend their votes. The era of rigging elections is over. It is now the era of one man, one vote,” he added.

By Chioma Gabriel

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The Fourth Republic has failed, says Sagay

3:42 PM News, Politics No Comments

Since the enthronement of the Fourth Republic about thirteen years ago, Nigeria’s catalogue of woes appeared to have reached unfinished symphony. Her people groaned under the yoke of repressive successive government, unemployment, dearth of social amenities abysmal demonstration of travesty of justice.

Recent revelations from the different probe panels raised by both the upper and lower legislative chambers speak volume of the unbridled corruption that pervades the entire spectrum of governance.

Itse Sagay

‘The National Assembly is full of rogues and armed robbers,” former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo declared during the week. But President Goodluck Jonathan made futile attempt to absolve his administration from the near decadence the nation is experiencing when he stated that Nigeria’s problems were not caused by his regime. For Nigerians, democracy has brought them untold hardship and created a state of hopeless despair. Chief Obasanjo puts it better when he asked rhetorically in a conference held during the week in Lagos. “Is there hope for Nigeria?

However, renowned Constitutional Lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay, in an interview with Charles Adingupu declared out-rightly that the Fourth Republic has collapsed.

Appraisal of the Fourth Republic

Our Fourth Republic democracy is a complete failure in the sense that the very first threshold of what constitute democracy has failed. That’s free, fair and credible election. Since the inception of the Fourth Republic, we have not had any election that can be described as free, fair and credible. What we have had are very bad elections, extremely fraudulent and completely overwhelmed by rigging.

Though, some elections were not as bad as the others, but all bad is the degree of vice that they contained. For example, the worst elections we have ever had is the 2007 elections. Everybody knows that. The 2011 elections is an improvement on the 2007. But event that one it is still a long way off from what can be described as credible. So that’s the beginning.

Also, if one take a look of the practice of democracy itself, one would see that there is a lot of immaturity in the behaviour of the political actors. If you look at the politicians at the National Assembly, they behave like little children who have seen ice-cream and lolly-pop. They voted fo themselves high income and remuneration, the highest amount of money ever received at any legislature in the whole world. They were so immersed in seeing money that they forgot that is Nigeria’s money, not legislature’s money. So, we have a senator earning about 1.7 million dollars a year. When by contrast, his American counter part is earning just over two hundred thousand dollars a year. The President of America earns just four hundred thousand dollars a year. So, one can see not just the ironies but how ridiculous it is.

The orientation is very childish and infantile self interest. The politicians are there to promote their material interest without any consideration for the country. The teeming population of this country which currently stands at well over one hundred and fifty million are earning less than a dollar per day. The fact that a senator earns 1.7 million dollar, those in that one hundred million bracket are earning three hundred and sixty-five dollars. Therefore, one can see the magnitude of the impunity and criminal misconduct that is involved.

At the executive level, it’s all the same thing. We have heard a lot of scandals although not as overt as that of the National Assembly. The list is endless. However, few of them included, pension scam, petrol subsidy, the recent one, the Nigerian Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and so on. The country is overwhelmed by corruption. Democracy has brought nothing but misery to everybody. It was quite unfortunate that for one year, fellow Nigerians collected a whooping sum of 1.17 trillion naira from the federal government when they did not supply any petrol. That was the decree of decay and degeneration that 13 years of democracy has brought to us, Nigerians.

Though, they might be one or two things to celebrate. But if one looks at the general atmosphere, the roads are all bad. With the three successive democratic adminstration, the power situation got worse. Despite the huge amount of money budgeted for power, the situation remains static. Since Professor Barth Nnaji became the Minister, the power situation has deteriorated to an incredible level inspite of all the noise he’s making. The roads are the same, schools, universities, hospitals are all in bad state. The National Hospital in Abuja which is supposed to be the best in the country today, I understand is in no way any better than a morgue. If you have any serious illness, you dare not go there for treatment otherwise, you won’t come back alive.

Today, every Nigerian is now going to India for treatment of one ailment or the other. The Indians capitalised on our foolishness to establish a huge laboratory in Oshodi, Lagos in order to make things easy for us. Also, South Africa has established a similar laboratory in Lagos. Somehow, our government is incapable of establishing anything that is enduring and beneficial to Nigerians. I’m afraid, there is nothing positive about Nigeria’s thirteenth years of democracy. For me, it is thirteen wasted years. The wrong people have been in power and it will continue to be so as long as the wrong people continue to remain in power.

Structure of political parties

The political parties are too many. They are over sixty. This has weakened the political opposition and has prevented them from presenting a credible challenge to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is just an conglomeration of people who want to share power and resources without any ideology. The opposition is not mobilised. They are scattered all over the places. Most of them operate in one parlour office, just waiting for the usual financial support from the government to share. That is all they do. They are not organised.

In my view, with the state of our political orientation in the various zones of the country, it is possible for some of the major opposition parties to establish a formidable alliance with the intention of winning power and introducing real transformation in the Nigeria system. The opposition can do it if they plan properly. It is all about allowing each party to present credible candidates in areas where they are strong and work together. It is very important that Nigeria has a breath of fresh air which can only come if the PDP is defeated at the federal and state levels.

The other issue dragging this country back is lack of federalism. With the current structure of the country, virtually all the powers are concentrated in Abuja. All the resources of the nation are also domiciled in Abuja. The result is that the federal government is handicap. It has too much to do and failed to apply the resources of the country intelligently and beneficially. It si obvious the federal government is already lost in confusion over what to do with so much power and resources. But if these resources are transferred to the federating units, the states will be stronger politically and financially and then become an engineer of development. We have thirty six actors all applying resources wisely. In ten years, this country will be unrecognisable.

Is the problem with the people or the system?

The system is part of the problem. It is true that more may lead to temptation. But that is the problem of the wrong people in power. Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said recently that virtually every House legislature at various levels are being controlled by thieves and armed robbers.

And he should know better because he has ruled this country for more years than any other person. I’m waiting for people in power to challenge him. If we did not improve the quality of those in power, even the federalism would not make any appreiable difference. There had to be qualitative change in personnel. The quality of political elites has to improve. They must be cultured and endowed with integrity of honour.

Appraisal of INEC

The Professor Jega’s Independent National Electoral Commission is an improvement but he still has a long way to go. The major problem of INEC has to do with its commissioners and facilities at the headquarters. Presently, INEC has no system of vetting results coming in from the states. Therefore, for INEC to function properly, it must have a system of vetting, monitoring and rejecting results. The results of that was that whilst elections went fairly well in the South West and most of the North, those of South South and South East produced outrageous election result.

I was surprised Jega approved those results. South South had never produced any credible election result in this country. The rigging coming from the South South usually emanates from the riverine areas. Jega should put in place a mechanism that would checkmate electoral fraud, particularly in the South South and South East. Also, Jega should not allow any local Resident Electoral Officer to announce result because most o them are very corrupt.

They can be easily bought by states government. Before results are declare, they must satisfy certain parameters and if they are not consistent with those parameters, the results should be rejected and fresh election announced. This is the only way Jega can come out of 2015 with credibility.

The way forward

There are credible Nigerians. I’m not going to call names. Not every political elite that is bad. We as Nigerians must vote in credible and honest people, men of integrity, who want to serve and not political hawks who are there to share resources and power. We must be able to change the group of people who have been in power electorally. However, for that to happen, elections must be free, fair and credible. Also, the opposition must organise itself by forming formidable alliances.

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Rights group flays Adoke, wants Salami reinstated

3:35 PM News No Comments

A rights group, the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, has demanded the immediate reinstatement of Justice Ayo Salami as President of the Court of Appeal.

The body flayed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, for playing into the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Adoke had reportedly said the Presidency would not act on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council since doing so would be ‘subjudice’ to the existing cases in court.

In a statement in Warri on Thursday, the National Coordinator of FJHD, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, argued that the AGF’s statement showed that the Presidency was not disposed to the NJC recommendation.

Ikimi maintained that Adoke’s statement “not only belittled his office, but also speaks volume of the quality of advice that filters from the said office to the Presidency.”

While calling for the immediate resignation of the AGF, the group said it was not oblivious of the influence of the ruling PDP on the decision of the Federal Government.

“In the final analysis, we call on President Goodluck Jonathan to respect the rule of law and to rise above primordial sentiments and party politics by reinstating Justice (Ayo Isa) Salami as the President of the Court of Appeal as justice delayed is justice denied,” the group said.

It criticised the FG for allegedly paying N100m to the family of the slain Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, as compensation and described the government’s action as “demonic.”

“Statistically, the Boko Haram sect commenced its bloody campaign in mid June 2009 and this has in turn claimed over 1,000 lives of innocent Nigerians till date without any monetary compensation paid to the bereaved families.

“Yet, the Federal Government has deemed it proper to compensate the family of a slain terrorist, whose sect is responsible for the untimely deaths of innocent Nigerians,” the group said.

The former chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Delta State described the action of the FG as “a tactical blunder and a comedy of error capable of opening a floodgate of bloody militant groups and encouraging acts of criminality across the nation.”

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Subsidy report: EFCC probes Yar’Adua administration

3:34 PM News No Comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is extending its investigation into the management of the fuel subsidy to the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

SATURDAY PUNCH investigations in Abuja showed that as part of its probe, the commission had concluded arrangements to invite former petroleum ministers, ex-special advisers on petroleum and former general managers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

It was reliably gathered that the decision to interrogate the former special advisers, ministers and NNPC bosses was part of the efforts to block loopholes in the report of the House of Representatives ad hoccommittee on the fuel subsidy management.

The House report says N1.7tn was fraudulently paid.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), had in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, said the EFCC would investigate the subsidy issue properly to ensure that all loose ends were tightened.

According to him, this will guard against a situation, where prosecution will not be done because of paucity of evidence.

A source at the EFCC, who said that the commission was still conducting its probe, added that people, whose names came up during investigations, would be invited.

Although he declined to mention names of people that would be quizzed, he insisted that there would be no sacred cows.

According to him, operatives of the commission will invite anybody, whose name appears regularly in the process of investigation, irrespective of when such an individual served in the government.

Investigations showed that operatives, including the Director of Operations of the commission, Mr. Olaolu Adegbite, had been dispatched to all oil installation and distribution facilities across the country.

It was learnt that the four teams working under the EFCC Director of Operations had interrogated many workers in sensitive distribution facilities nationwide in a bid to ensure that a thorough investigation was done on the subsidy scam.

The EFCC source said, “I can tell you that the commission is not avoiding anybody and it is not working according to any timeline.

“This is not about timeline; an investigation does not commence with a timeline in mind. These things are not done that way.

“I can assure you that if in the process of investigation anybody’s name features repeatedly and prominently in the issue under investigation, such a person will be investigated.

“We are not going to mention names but it would not be wrong to say that past ministers or GMDs, who served in the NNPC would be interrogated to clear themselves if their names come up in the process of investigation.

“If you take a look at the way the EFCC did the investigation on the pension scam, they did not start off with a list of those to be investigated.

“It was during the investigations that the names were mentioned and those involved were summoned for interrogation and this led to other names. I think the same pattern would be repeated because this is how investigations are carried out.

“You don’t start out by saying I am going to interrogate this person or that person. If former ministers and Group General Managers of the NNPC and other heads of parastatals in previous administrations are involved, surely they will be summoned.

“I can tell you that the commission will do a thorough job on this issue of subsidy. Our operatives have been to all oil installations to carry out necessary investigations there. They have been talking to the people in those installations.”

Besides Adoke, who said the Federal Government would ensure a thorough investigation into the fuel subsidy scam, two government functionaries had faulted the House report on the subsidy scam.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, had on Tuesday said the House committee, which probed the oil subsidy, was unfair to her.

According to her, the late President Yar’Adua refused to punish his Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwan Lukman, for allegedly failing to comply with his directive on the removal of kerosene subsidy in June 2009.

Alison-Madueke said, “There was an issue on the directive of the late President in terms of the removal of kerosene subsidy, which happened apparently in June 2009 before I was appointed minister of petroleum.

“Now, under Section 6 of the Petroleum Act, the minister of petroleum may, by notice, publish in the official gazette, fix the price of petroleum products, which means that for it to actually become a law, the minister must publish that that petroleum product price has changed.

“I do not recall and I don’t think anybody in the country recalls any such directive published in 2009. It is not something that has to be hidden because it has to, by law, be published.

“Therefore, if it is not published by law and it is not in the gazette, it is not a directive that can be legally complied with. Many months have passed and the former minister did not comply with the direct of the President.

“The President also did not put in place any punitive measures, obviously for good reasons. He must have had very good reasons not to do that. So, it is very odd that a new administration and a new President and a new minister are being accused of flouting the law, which was given in the past to a minister and has nothing to do with us.”

On the deduction of funds from source by the NNPC, the minister said the position of the House was subject to interpretation in line with the Appropriation Act.

She said it was “unfair to conclude that the minister, I, did not take appropriate steps to stop the practice which, by the way, had been on before I came to office.”

Also, the Political Adviser to the President, Alhaji Ali Gullack, had on May 2, said that the report lacked credibility, alleging that the probe was targeted at some individuals.

He had asked, “Why did they not invite (Rilwanu) Lukman? He was the Minister of Petroleum Resources during the period of the probe. Where is Mohammed Barkindo, who was the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation at the time?

“Where are the other key actors who were at the vanguard of the subsidy regime? The House of Representatives must probe these individuals before we can truly say they are doing the right thing, otherwise the report will lack credibility. What is worth doing at all is worth doing well.”

The source, who explained the commission’s investigation, said the essence of the EFCC invitation was not to indict anybody.

He explained that not all the people that would be invited be guilty, but the commission believed that those people could assist it in its investigation.

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Food prices soar by 300% …as purchasing power gets weaker

3:33 PM Business, News No Comments

For the umpteenth time, the prices of food items have gone through the roof, investigations by SATURDAY PUNCH at major food markets in Lagos have shown.

The cost of importation, national insecurity, global climatic change, partial removal of fuel subsidy and lack of a thriving food policy are partly responsible for the current trend.

But one year into the Goodluck Jonathan Administration, the prices of almost all food items have tripled, making it more difficult for the poor to cope.

Currently, Nigeria spends a significant amount on the importation of wheat and rice among other food commodities, and rightly qualifies to be named an import dependent country in this respect.

Although Jonathan had indicated his intention to stop the importation of some staple foods, including rice and sugar by 2015, public opinion seeks to know what survival strategies would be put in place to forestall a scarcity.

A survey conducted in three major food markets in Lagos showed that prices of most of the food items had risen by over 300 per cent above the prices at which they were sold earlier this year.

At Oyingbo Market, notable as a wholesale and direct farm-to-market food centre, one of our correspondents found that patronage was poor, yet prices were unbearable.

The situation left the buyers lacking the sufficient purchasing power, while the sellers had meagre returns on investment.

It was found that comparing the prices to this time last year would be more heart-rending for the public, because the within-the-year rate of increase is worrisome.

At Oyingbo, a basket of Derica-brand of fresh tomatoes now sells at N14,000 as against N3,500-N4,000 at which it sold till March ending.

The small portion for family cooking, which used to sell for N100 now sells for N300 in the market and even N400 in some other places.

Some traders let SATURDAY PUNCH into the causes of the all time high prices.

Umaru Autah said the changes in prices of tomatoes and other types of pepper were not unusual.

He said it was an annual ritual following the rainy and dry seasons.

He said the type of tomatoes grown in Kano, Katsina and Gombe states were planted using irrigation; so, whenever the rains come, it becomes scarce because the farmers will not plant until the rains had gone.

“The tomatoes grown in April in the West are planted during the rainy season and they will soon be harvested between June and July, while the type planted in the North around September will soon be totally unavailable until harvest time around December to January. The prices of pepper and tomatoes will still go up more than this, until the other type is being harvested,” said Autah.

People who prefer yams planted in Benue and Abuja can testify that the prices have also gone up.

Earlier in the year, one moderate tuber sold for N150, but the smallest tuber of that species now costs between N350 and N400.

There are other species grown in the East and West, which are currently a bit cheaper. It was learnt that the difference has to do with the different planting seasons.

At the rice section of the market, it was found that a bag of rice currently costs between N9,000 and N12,000 depending on the brand.

Rice is mainly imported into Nigeria as the quantity of the locally grown species cannot take care of the population of rice eaters.

The price of the staple food rose by 200 per cent between January and April.

Autah added that the increase in price had been attributed to the reported flood in Thailand and Brazil, which are major rice markets for Nigeria.

“It sold at N7,000 earlier this year. Foreign exchange has also taken a toll on the rate at which the price rose,” said Chukwu, a rice seller.

A meat seller, Mukaila, said he and three others were buying one cow at N150,000 about six months ago, but the same size of cow now sells at N200,000.

Apart from that, he said the rate of exchange of the naira to the Nigerien currency also accounted for the high cost of cows.

The prices of virtually every other food item and condiments have increased.

Ten pieces of dried Maiduguri fish that used to cost N700 in November now sells at between N1,000 and N1,500, depending on the size.

A moderate bunch of plantain, which was sold at N1,500 two months ago, now sells for N3,000.

Mama Ramotalai told SATURDAY PUNCH that she sells plantain brought in from Ife, Ondo and Benin and that the season is currently not right for it.

“We have been experiencing swings in the season of plantation and harvesting but this year’s is worse. We hear the farmers are capitalising on the removal of the subsidy on fuel to increase their prices.

“The current challenge with plantain (ripe or unripe) is that it has become expensive right from the farm, the season notwithstanding,” she said.

At the Mile 12 Market, SATURDAY PUNCH investigations showed that the high cost of food items was occasioned by fluctuations in weather and the security threat in the North.

A trader in tomatoes, who identified himself as Adamu, said, “A basket of tomatoes and pepper now sells for N15,000 each. This is double the previous price. Although it has never really been this bad, it is the sudden change in weather that is responsible for this. At this time in the North when tomatoes and pepper are usually harvested, the rains are yet to start.

“This year, it is different. The rains have already begun in the North and it is ruining the tomatoes that are ripe for picking.”

The high cost of tomatoes and pepper is said to have also negatively affected the price of beans. A bag of beans is now said to go for N27,000, while a bag of rice now goes for N10,000.

Explaining the increase in the price of beans, another trader, who identified himself as Bolaji Balogun, said, “Majority of these foodstuffs come from the North and we all know that the current situation in the North is not friendly. Those who are still struggling to continue their business despite the present circumstances are doing so at a great risk. I guess that is the reason for the current hike in food prices.”

The only food item seemingly unaffected by this upward trend is said to be onions, which go for N4,000 or N4,500 per bag.

Even food items which are supposed to be in season such as okra and yam have fared no better in the price hike. A basket of okra is said to cost between N12,000 and N13,000 while a large tuber of yam is said to cost N300.

A parent, Mrs. Sola Adesanya, who was at the Mile 12 Market to purchase food items, complained bitterly toSATURDAY PUNCH about the price hike.

She said, “The rate at which food prices are going up everyday, the possibility of affording two square meals a day might soon become a thing of the past for most Nigerians.

“I spend so much weekly on food items for my family, but take away so little from the market.”

The story is not any different at Ile Epo Market on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The prices of foodstuffs have gone up so high that most people wondered how they would cope, if they didn’t come down soon.

Ile Epo, which is known as a depot for fresh tomatoes, earlier in the week, could not boast the usual crowd that used to storm the market to buy the commodity.

Explaining the reason behind the recent development, a tomatoes trader, who is known as Mama Kemi, said fresh tomatoes were no longer affordable.

Mama Kemi said the price of a basket of tomatoes, which used to be N4,000 had gone up to N11,000.

“With that kind of price, you don’t expect to see many people to continue to trade in tomatoes. For those of us who sell retail, we cannot make any gain. Nobody would agree to buy three or four pieces of tomatoes for N500. But if we don’t sell it like that, we would be at a loss. We don’t know what is happening. We don’t know whether it is as a result of Boko Haram that the price of tomatoes went up,” she said.

But Aminu, a Kano State-born tomatoes trader, claimed the high cost of tomatoes didn’t have anything to do with the Islamic sect.

Aminu said the price went up because of the rains, which have been disturbing the farmers in the North.

“This is not the first time it is happening. Usually, during the rainy season, the price of tomatoes goes up. It is nothing new. In fact, it has even come down. Last week, I sold a basket of tomatoes for N17,000. People still bought it. It is not our fault. It is not Boko Haram, we should blame the rains for the price increase,” Aminu said.

A bag of rice, which sold for N8,000 in December, has gone up to between N9,000 and N12,000, depending on the brand.

However, Sylvester Uko, a rice trader at Ile Epo Market, said people had got used to the difference.

“I am not sure a lot of people noticed that the price of rice has gone up. What can they do? Will they go hungry? It is not our fault anyway. Maybe if there is a ban on foreign rice, people might get used to eating our local rice,” he said.

Apart from rice, Uko said that the price of beans also went up a little bit.

“Now, a bag of beans is N22,500. It just went up with N500. Retailers might not even notice it because a ‘derica’ cup of beans still goes for N100,” he said.

At Ile Epo, SATURDAY PUNCH findings showed that some food items, including groundnut and palm oil have not been affected.

Mrs. Bola Akintola, who sells groundnut and palm oil, said there hadn’t been any increase in the items.

“A five-litre can of palm oil is N1,000 and that of groundnut oil is N1,500. This has been the price since last year. It hasn’t changed,” she said.

Oxfam, a global development organisation against poverty, had warned in its 2011 report entitled, “Growing a Better Future,” that the prices of staple foods would more than double in 20 years unless world leaders took an action to reform the global food system.

BY BOSEDE OLUSOLA-OBASA, ’NONYE BEN-NWANKWO AND COMFORT OSEGHALE

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Lagosians groan in traffic as IG visits

3:28 PM News No Comments

Gridlock caused by IG's visit to Lagos on Friday
| credits: Our Correspondent

For over four hours on Friday, there was traffic gridlock from the Ojota end of Ikorodu Road, Lagos to the Berger end of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, as scores of policemen cordoned off the route when the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, came to the Centre for Management Development, Lagos State.

Abubakar was in Lagos for the graduation ceremony of 13 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police on leadership and strategic management course at the centre located on Shangisha Road.

Our correspondent, who visited the affected areas, observed that policemen used patrol vehicles and armoured personnel carriers to block most of the major roads without providing alternative routes for motorists and other road users.

The traffic intensified as vehicles attempted to manoeuvre through narrow backstreets in Ketu.

The biggest victims of the visit, however, were motorists coming from Ogun State, who were blocked by patrol vehicles around the Otedola Bridge.

One of the trapped motorists, Baale of Ekotedo, Ibaban, Dr. Taye Ayorinde, said he was in the traffic for over 40 minutes, adding that the police should have explored a better alternative.

“The policemen who blocked the entire expressway were polite to us and explained why they did so but they should have at least left one lane open so that motorists wouldn’t be at one spot for so long. I was in the traffic for over 40 minutes,” he said.

A banker, who craved anonymity, said they were not aware of the IG’s visit, adding that the blockade caused problems for customers.

He said, “Friday is always a busy day because it precedes the weekend and you know there are five banks on this road. If the IG had announced that he was coming, we could have directed our customers to other branches instead of making them face such discomfort. It’s wrong.”

BY ENIOLA AKINKUOTU

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Ikhana upbeat on Falcons win in Harare

3:19 PM Sports No Comments

Super Falcons head coach, Kadiri Ikhana has expressed readiness of his team ahead of the 2012 African Women Championship qualifying first leg fixture against Zimbabwe in Harare on May 27.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard Sports after the unveiling his 21 women team list, Ikhana assured Nigerians that team will make the country proud.

“We are readily prepared for the Zimbabwe game and the players are in brilliant shape to execute the game. I am quite sure they will make Nigerians proud over the two legs.

“The team is a mix of the home-based and foreign players to execute the Sunday game after which the foreign players will return to their clubs leaving those based in Nigeria to face Bayana Bayana of South Africa in the June 3rd friendly,” the former Kwara United gaffer said.

The team is expected to play its return leg on June 16 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos following the approval by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

By Ime Bassey

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Family of Kogi slain student seeks justice

3:13 PM News No Comments

The family of late Idowu Halima Sadiya Aliyu who was killed by a cannibal man has called on the federal government and police to ensure that the killer of their daughter did not go unpunished.

Late Idowu, 22, a student of School of Technology, Zamfara State who hails from Egayi village in Ajaokuta Local government of Kogi State was on May 2. 2012 alleged to have been killed by one Jimoh Obabu Salau (a cannibal) who disguised as an Okada man and lured the victim to the bus while conveying her to a motor -park.

Head of the family, Mr. Aliyu Onuto, who spokewith Saturday Vanguard at his family compound in Egayi, Ajaokuta said late Idowu was killed on her way to board a vehicle to Zamfara State where she was schooling.

Mr. Aliyu noted in dismay that despite the suspect has been arrested for long and has confessed to have committed the crime, he is yet to be charged to court for prosecution ”Idowu had dreams but could not live to actualised that dream due to blood thirsty Jimoh.

I understand he killed his wife (a police officer) in 2003 and was allowed to go scot free without punishment. If justice had prevailed that time, this would not have happened.

Continuing, “Today it is Idowu, tomorrow it might be another person. All that we want is for justice to be done,” he said.
Mr. Aliyu, an Uncle to the late victim who revealed that the late Idowu and her sibling lost their parents recently and that he has suffered to take care of her along with her younger siblings; wondered why Jimoh could take the life of her innocent niece who was not only promising but look as if she will aid the family after graduation.

Kogi state police command are however saying the delay in prosecuting Jimoh Salau is the fact that they believed he must have accomplish who buy some of the human parts from him as he could not have been alone in the crime.

The state Police Commissioner, Mohammed Katsina said the cannibal who was dismissed from Army was known to eat the inside of his victim and selling the other parts to ritualists; ‘so, the command is still investigating to get behind those buying the human parts from him’

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, Lokoja

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Jonathan assures of press freedom

3:02 PM News No Comments

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday assured members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists that the freedom guaranteed media practitioners in the discharge of their constitutional responsibility would not be temper with by his administration the freedom of the press as enshrined in the country’s constitution.

The President who spoke while while declaring open the Fourth Triennial National Delegates’ Conference of the NUJ in Abuja also denied media reports that he had sent a list of ministerial nominees to the State Security Service for screening.

According to the president, the rights granted members of the Fourth Estate of the realm should be discharged with corresponding responsibilities.

President of NUJ, Muhhamed Garuba introducing the NUJNational Working Committee to President Goodluck Jonathan on His Arrival for the Opening of Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) 4th Triennial National Delegates Conference in Abuja Friday Photos--state House
“I am a firm believer in the right and obligation of the media as enshrined in our constitution. I assure you all today that under my leadership, journalists in our country will continue to fully enjoy their constitutional rights and freedom of expression.

“I am also fully convinced that the imperative of sustaining and nurturing our democracy required the existence of the very professional and practitioners of the mass media.

“My administration is very conscious of the vital role that the mass media has to play in engendering support for our transformation agenda and is therefore committed to properly enhance the practice.
“It was in this regard that led to our enactment of the FOI Law to further enhance the ability of our dear practitioners to discharge their duties.

“My administration will have nothing to do with those who try to curtail or abuse the right of the mass media” the president noted.

He advised journalists to ensure that their accounts of events is fair, balance and accurate, saying that they should be wary of manipulations by politicians and selfish people with sectional motives to the detriment of collective national interest.

The president enjoined media practitioners to go the mile to cross check their facts and ensure that only the truth are published.

While condemning the recent attacks on media houses by suspected terrorists, the President commended Nigerian journalists for remaining resolute despite the attacks.

He urged media practitioners to continue to foster peace, religious tolerance and harmony in the country.
The president of the NUJ, Mr. Shehu Garba, in his speech earlier called on the federal government and security agencies to addressed the current security challenges in the country in order to provide more conducive atmosphere for journalists to carry out their duties.

He said the union under his leadership had set up a committee to sanitise the profession and rid the society of quacks.
While commending the National Assembly for passing the Freedom of Information Act, the NUJ president called on all stakeholders to continue to work towards a better remuneration for journalists

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, commended the constructive role the media have been in the present administration.

He however expressed concern of the way some sections of the media have been reporting the security challenges in the country.

While admitting that journalists are expected to perform their roles with patriotism, he stressed that terrorists should not be given platforms to propagate their evil agenda.

He warned that terrorists won’t spare the media, saying that the incidents of bombing started several years back with the media.

Also, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Bala Muhammed, described media freedom as universal freedom.
Muhammed said without informed citizenry, the country would be in the grip of those he described as dubious individuals.

The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, who spoke at the occassion however disagreed with the minister of Information, Labaran Maku saying that what terrorists should be denied is “licence.”

“On terrorism, We will not deny freedom but we will deny them licence. Freedom is a bigger burden on the media. To defeat this, the government need to take more people into confidence, let’s collectively work together but it will not work for us all if we continue to draw the line. It is important to build confidence and close gaps” he said.

By Ben Agande, Abuja.

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2015: Outrage over Jonathan’s perceived ambition

3:01 PM Politics No Comments

Some eminent Nigerians yesterday expressed outrage over alleged determination by President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 Presidency, saying that the President should not abandon his promise to serve one term in office.

The indication that Jonathan would throw his hat into the ring was given by his political god-father and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who spoke in an interview to mark his 85th birthday in Abuja Thursday.

Clark spoke against the backdrop of the resolution by the 19 Northern Governors’ Forum of Nigeria, NGFN, not to support any presidential candidate from the Southern part of the country in 2015.

Apart from Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, individuals who spoke
included a PDP member of Board of Trustees, BoT, Yahaya Kwande, Olopade Agoro, former Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, Col Joe Achuzia, rtd, a chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Alhaji Isiaku Ibrahim, and a Benin- based Constitutional lawyer, Olayinka Afolabi among others. National Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya said Jonathan promised Ndigbo that he would spend only five years in office, pointing out that if he has changed his mind to stay longer, he would meet Ohanaeze for re-negotiation, since it was generally agreed that it ‘’is our turn to produce the next president after Jonathan.’’

President Goodluck Jonathan

However, Yahaya Kwande dared Jonathan to test his popularity in 2015 saying that the North would not be intimidated by his candidacy, just as an Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Igbozurume said that it was the turn of Ndigbo to produce the 2015 president.

We shall meet in the field— Yahaya Kwande

I am not surprised that Chief Edwin Clark made that statement. It was the like of Clark , who really brought Jonathan to power. They made him to break the PDP agreement on how presidency would be rotated in the party. And that action by Clark and his likes denied the north the right to contest for presidency in 2011. He is at it today. What he has reportedly said amounts to repeating himself. But what I can say is that we are not shaken by that statesment. We shall meet in the field.

Opportunity for PDP’s defeat — Balarabe Musa

Former Governor of old Kaduna State and Chairman of the Coalition of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Alhaji Balarabe Musa said Jonathan had the “inalienable right’’ to contest any election, adding however that it was for those opposed to him to come together and rally behind a candidate that could defeat him.
“President Jonathan has the inalienable right to contest the 2015 general election, but you know that he has no morality; he is not on any moral high ground to do so. This is a man who defied the zoning arrangement of his party even though he was a signatory to the decision that the south would rule for eight years before it would return to the north for another eight years.
Clark has right to express his views——Isyaku Ibrahim

We are in a democracy and everyone has the right to say what he feels. Clark has the right to express his own views on national issues. The president also has the right to do whatever he wants, but I cannot say anything, because Jonathan has not said that he will contest. I am in CPC and they are in PDP. Every individual has the right to say what he likes because we are in a democracy.

The statement was reckless and ill-timed—Olopade Agoro

The statement credited to Chief Edwin Clark is unexpected of an elder statesman. It was a reckless statement because Jonathan has not been able to have a focus since he was elected and someone is talking about 2015. I will say that bit was a reckless and ill-timed statement. And a statement like that is capable of setting the country aflame and also breed necessary passion. Jonathan’s presidency is already a threat to the nation. This kind of statement at this time is capable of bringing down his government.
Olayiwola Afolabi, a Benin based constitutional lawyer and Notary Public also asked the Ijaw National leader, Chief Clark to allow Nigerians decide the political fate of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
Afolabi said that although the President has the right to contest the 2015 presidential election, Nigerians were yet to savour the dividends of democracy since he assumed power a year ago as all basic infrastructures that would have bettered the lives of Nigerians have gone comatose.
“It is only Nigerians that can decide whether he will contest or not. He has messed up the judiciary particularly with the way he is handling the Justice Ayo Salami case. Virtually all basic infrastructures such as power, education, health etc, e have gone comatose.

This is time for governance, not 2015 — Anthony Sani, ACF

I am not aware that Chief Edwin Clark now speaks for President Jonathan.This is because he is not the spokes man. As a result,I cannot have a take on the basis of what he claims to say for the president.
However, it bears repeating that this time is not for politics of 2015,but for governance.I thought Mr President would be allowed to concentrate on the task of delivering on the promise of democracy instead of pushing him into politics of 2015 within one year of his inauguration.
It is too early to forget that President Jonathan told the world in Addis Ababa that four years were enough for him to deliver.

Abu King Shukuwa

Peoples Democratic Party stalwart, Chief Abu King Shukuwa said the constitutional right of President Goodluck Jonathan to run for the 2015 presidential election is not questionable but noted that it behoves the PDP to either decline his candidature or offer him the ticket.
His words, “Everybody in Nigeria as a Nigerian is free to contest for the presidency because the constitution of the country guarantees that, but whether he emerges or not depends on the party.
But one thing is certain, he will definitely not enjoy the support of all Nigerians. Even in Bayelsa State, there will be people who will not support him.
”I for one will not support him, but if he picks the party’s ticket, I will vote for him as a true and loyal party man.”

Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya

Ohanaeze has come out with its stand about the president and there is a book in which our President General, Chief Ralph Uwechue, had analyzed since three years ago. We do not want to dabble into politics, but the fact is that when Jonathan was contesting, he said he will only do only one term. That was what he said. So, the stand of Ohanaeze about presidency 2015 is clear. These are facts.
If Jonathan changes his mind which he has a right to change as a citizen, our position has always been consistent. Equality of zones as envisaged in geopolitical creation by Karibi-Whyte committee on the review of the Constitution is that the present geopolitical zones should remain: South-South, South East, South West, North East, North Central and Northwest. And it has been operational and they call it conventional.
So, Igbo people supported Jonathan for the same argument that this project called Nigeria belongs to all of us, and that at 52 years, a section of this country has monopolized the leadership of that master-key position called the president.If he wants another term, we have to renegotiate.

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Ignore Oritsejafor, PDP urges Christian

2:59 PM News No Comments

THE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has urged Christians across the country to ignore statements by the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor for castigating the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

According to PDP, rather than tongue lash the PDP and its leadership, the party must not only be hailed, but should be emulated by other political parties and organizations whose activities connect directly or indirectly to the unity of the nation.

From left: Co-Chairman, Nigeria Inter-religious Council (Nirec), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; National Co-ordinator/executive Secretary, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, and Co-Chairman, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, at a meeting of NIREC with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. NAN Photo

In a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh Friday in Abuja, the party noted that the CAN President got what it termed the harmless statement of the party’s National Chairman wrong.

It would be recalled that when the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur received a delegation of Gombe state PDP led by the governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo to the Wadata Plaza last week, had said that the Boko Haram activities that have led to loss of lives and property destroyed was a reaction to injustice.

According to Tukur, Boko Haram was another name for injustice by those people who may have been deprived, just as he called on Governors of the North East to create employment for the youths in the area as a way of reducing the level of insecurity in the zone, adding that the youths will continue to agitate for one thing or the other, once they are hungry.

He stated that youth restiveness were primarily hunger-induced, just as he urged the governors to find a lasting solution to this major problem.

While reacting to Tukur’s statement Thursday, CAN president, Oritsejafor described the PDP National Chairman as spokesperson of the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram.

Metuh’s statement read in part, ‘’The Party’s membership of millions of Nigerians who are Muslims and who are also Christians, Dr. Tukur is a father who can ill ford to give in to discrimination of any form.

“There is abundant evidence that the issue of religious divisiveness in the manner the CAN President has interpreted our National Chairman, is non-existent in our great Party.

In both the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC), the PDP has amply illustrated that Christians and Muslims can work together for the greatness of Nigeria. We therefore expect that we not only be commended but emulated by other political Parties and organizations whose activities connect directly or indirectly to the unity of the nation.”

“We therefore urge Christians to disregard any misinterpretation of the statement of our National Chairman and continue to live in peace with their Muslim brothers.”

‘’The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as a contextual misinterpretation of relevant facts, the remark by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor on the harmless statement by the PDP National chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur on Boko Haram and peace in Northern Nigeria.

‘’Dr. Tukur is a foremost Nigerian who in words and actions has shown himself a true patriot that cannot be conceived in the mould of ethnic or religious bigotry.

“Over the decades, he has built bridges of friendship across religions and regions of Nigeria, etching his name as an African statesman. It is on record also, that since he was elected the National Chairman of our great Party, his message has been consistent on the imperative of unity, equity and justice for every Nigerian.

“He has never hidden his resolve and determination to use the historic opportunity offered by his leadership of the nation’s ruling Party to champion the ideals of the founding fathers of Nigeria that irrespective of our tongue , tribe and creed, Nigerians are one and that our diversity is our greatest strength.

“He has spared no effort in deploring the incidence of violence in the Northern part of the country. He has stated in no uncertain terms that no reason can justify terror attacks. But he has also charged that those involved in the violence and their sponsors are our brothers, and there is therefore a need for our collective efforts”.

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13 years of Democracy: Looted hopes from leaders steering Nigeria to its end

2:57 PM News No Comments

The morning of 29th May, 1999 was like the first day in a new recreated Nigeria after 29 years military tyranny.

Drumming, singing, dancing and jubilation filled the Eagle Square, Abuja as Nigerians awaited the handover of power from a military regime to a new legitimately elected democratic government under the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo that morning.

It was same in all the 36 federating states of Africa’s most populous country – celebrating a future full of hopes for improved wellbeing of everyone.

Vice President Namadi Sambo with Other Heads of State, at the Global African Disapora Summit in Johannesburg South Africa on Friday (24/5/12). NAN Photo

The inaugural speech of President Obasanjo even re-enforced this faith the more, as Nigerians at the Eagles Square and millions more who werewatching live on TV or listening over the radio allowed tears of joy to drip freely when they thought of the past and what the new “messiah” was promising.

“Nigeria is wonderfully endowed by the Almighty with human and other resources” Obasanjo reminded all.

“ It does no credit either to us or the entire black race if we fail in managing our resources for quick improvement in the quality of life of our people.

“Instead of progress and development, which we are entitled to expect from those who governed us, we experienced in the last decade and a half, particularly in the last regime but one, persistent deterioration in the quality of our governance, leading to instability and the weakening of all public institutions ”, he said

“Good men were shunned and kept away from government while those who should be kept away were drawn near. Relations between men and women who had been friends for many decades, and between communities that had lived together in peace for many generations became very bitter because of the actions or inactions of government.

“The citizens developed distrust in government, and because promises made for the improvement of the conditions of the people were not kept, all statements by government were met with cynicism”, he pointed out.

“Government officials became progressively indifferent to propriety of conduct and showed little commitment to promoting the general welfare of the people and the public good.

“ Government and all its agencies became thoroughly corrupt and reckless. Members of the public had to bribe their way through in ministries and parastatals to get attention and one government agency had to bribe another government agency to obtain the release of their statutory allocation of funds.

“The impact of official corruption is so rampant and has earned Nigeria a very bad image at home and abroad. Besides, it has distorted and retrogressed development”.

Of course, he promised to reverse all, in a rare oration that pulled down the wary stand of pessimists.

Looking back these 13 years of democracy, those past leaders that Obasanjo so disparaged, would be completely right if they asked for an unreserved apology from Obasanjo, who left Nigerians arguably, worse than he met them .Virtually everything Obasanjo said has remained the same, and has even gone worse in some instances.

The tragedy of 13 years of Nigerian democracy is even more vexing when looked through Nigeria’s earning for this duration.

According to analysts, the country has grossed in far more income between 1999 and 2010 than the prior 35 years before 1999. It has been estimated that Nigeria’s GDP had jumped from $90 billion in 1998 to about $350 billion in 2009 alone, about 300% and on an absolute value.

Yet on Human Development Index, Nigeria remains among the most impoverished nations on earth, with an estimated 79 million of its 150 million populace living below the poverty level.

The North Western part of Nigeria, according to recent UNESCO rating, has the lowest literary level in the world.

Nigeria spent not less that $16 billion (N2.5 trillion) to improve on the 3,500 Mw of power that civil rule inherited from autocratic military rule. It is doubtful if Nigeria produces Imw above that figure today.

Yes, some roads, boreholes, hospitals and some schools may have been built, but on the aggregate that falls extremely far from expectation.

The story of Nigeria in the past 13 years is the story of corruption finding a cosy, ripe breeding ground. Never in the history of Nigeria had civil servants, politicians and even men and women in uniform stolen so brazenly.

With a judicial system that is a caricature of itself, all the billions spent on creating laws and institutions that should fight corruption, lay waste.

Since the Nigerian civil war, Nigeria has never been on the brink of collapse and disintegration like now.

After all these earnings, we have won fewer laurels in sports than for the same period under military rule.

Our image abroad has gotten worse as Nigerians make the bulk of thieves and drug criminals in foreign prisons.

There is hardly anything to cheer in the past 13 years of our democracy.

It has been the story of looted hopes by Nigerian leaders at all tiers of government, as Nigeria totters on the brink of disintegration.

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