Biafra already exists

Commentary@ITRealms:

I am particularly astonished by my fellow countrymen who are agitating for an independent Biafran Republic. In my own opinion, I believe they already have it. There are no less than 5 autonomous states that are being ruled and governed by Igbo people. If you want to count just the Igbo nation, I don’t remember any time since the 1999 democracy, that a Hausa person or a representative of any other tribe has become the leader, governor or mayor of an Igbo state or city.

The Igbo people have their land to themselves. These lands have not been taken over by Yoruba, Hausa or any other nationality in Nigeria. Igbo still have their territory where they are predominantly populated. They have the right, freedom and the opportunity to build heaven on earth in their area, anytime if they so wish. If the Igbo man wants to make his own state or region better than any other state there is nothing stopping him from doing it. The only thing that will change, if they get an independent Biafra Republic, is just the name. 

They will still need to govern themselves, only this time without any allocation from the Federal Government of Nigeria. So can you imagine those Igbo states governing themselves but without any government allocation from the Federal Republic of Nigeria? To say the least, things will be much more difficult for those states.

As I am writing this, I can almost hear the objection coming from my Biafran brothers, I think some are thinking that “No, we are going to go with the oil states”, which means in their own understanding, the South-South states of Nigeria also belong to Biafra. I am not too good in the history of Biafra itself so I will not take it upon myself to say if this is true or not, but one thing I am sure of is that the South-South states will need to declare their willingness to join the Biafran state. 

So far, as far as I know, none of the South-South states are willing to join Biafra. Even if they will not remain in Nigeria, they would rather stand alone. As things are however, these states are more than willing to remain in the Nigerian Union. In fact I just watched a few days ago, the video address of one of the South-South governors, banning the Biafra demonstrations in his state.

Another major challenge that the Biafran agitations and its actualization will create for the new Biafran Republic is that, as of today, the Igbos are hugely scattered all over Nigeria. It would not be an exaggeration to say that millions of Igbos are living outside of their enclave. Let’s take just the South-South states for example; if all the South-South states choose to remain in Nigeria, that will cause a huge economic and humanitarian catastrophe for the Igbo people. 

Can you imagine a situation where all Igbo people are been evicted from the South-South states? I can only imagine what a catastrophe that would be if all the Igbo people were to leave Port Harcourt today. If all these people were to leave their businesses, connections and in some cases their family members only to go and create the Biafran nation, there is just no way the economy of the Biafran nation would be able to absorb these people. For some of the people themselves it would be too late to start all over again, some of them would simply not survive it. My dear Biafrans, a second thought must be given to the idea of separation from the Nigerian nation.

I have only mentioned the South-South region that only consists of 6 states. What will happen if we begin to talk about the economic and humanitarian consequences of evicting Igbo people from our two capitals, Lagos and Abuja? Igbo people control Nigeria, at least economically and socially, there is no official deprivation whatsoever in Nigeria for any tribe. Yes, I know of the killings in the northern part of Nigeria, but that is not a policy of deprivation if we are to talk about it. If there was such a policy, how come the Igbo people wield such a huge influence over the economy of the nation? 

I know the objection of my Biafran friends, most of the agitators claim that they will be better off without Nigeria. If they could produce so much in Nigeria, the argument is that away from Nigeria they will produce much more; well I personally doubt it. Let’s look at the facts. If Igbo people could produce more, what stops them from producing more in their own states where they have the right and authority to build the nation of their dream? Why can’t they produce more where they govern themselves with little influence from the Hausa, Yoruba and Fulani people?

I know there are a lot of thoughtful and analytical people in the Igbo nation. Let’s assume the Igbo people managed to get their Biafra Republic; that will limit their sphere of activities to the square kilometers that the Igbo nations control primarily. What that means in economic terms is that, for example, the Nigerian land mass is a thousand square kilometers; in that the Igbo nation will only be at most three square kilometers. The economic activities you can have in a thousand square kilometers far exceeds what you can do in 3 square kilometers. In Nigeria the Igbo people have access to much more land mass and territories for their businesses, social and political activities. In the case of a separation, that will limit the potential of the Igbo people.

Today, statistically, the Igbo people as I have said above, are the most enterprising people in Nigeria. As a result of their high level business activities the Igbo nation are responsible for between 60-70 percent of all imports into the Nigerian nation. Obviously, all these imports are being supplied to the Nigerian market. Nigeria provides for the Igbo people the market and the consumption of their goods and products imported. Their business acumen are being realized and better realized in a united nation than in a less and constrained geographical territory.

How can the Igbo people claim marginalization when they are responsible for 70 percent of the imports of the whole country? If you take Nollywood for example, the Igbo people control that as well. Many other spheres and economic life of Nigeria are under the control of the Igbo people. It is therefore illogical to talk about marginalization. If the Igbo people have been marginalized as the Southern Sudanese were marginalized in Sudan, or as the English speaking people of Cameroon are marginalized in Cameroon, they would not have been allowed to control 70% of all imports. As of 2008, 80 percent of our movie industry was in the hands of the Igbo people.  Many Nigerian cities and states are totally dominated by the Igbos with no mass killing or eviction. In fact many of them are not just welcomed, especially in the western part of Nigeria, South- South, and the middle belt, many of them are actually celebrated.

I recently watched the world conquering Nigerian U17 football team. How beautiful it was to see that no nationality was protesting or complaining of marginalization in the national team this time. The picture of the national team was such that at least six of all the players were from the east (Igbo), Five were from South-South, two were from the west and all the rest were derived from among the over 500 tribes of Nigeria. Not a single one from the north, yet nobody complained. In a society where there is discrimination and deprivation, they would not have allowed the Igbo to control the majority of the spots on the team. But thank God that today in Nigerian sports, we are getting to a place where if you are good enough, you are allowed to express and display your talent. Believe me, in marginalized societies it doesn’t matter how talented you are, you are still not allowed to take the place of the majority nation. Friends, Nigeria has gone a long way, let’s work together to make it even better.

The Igbo community has been a blessing in every part of Nigeria, including the north where there has been a form of massacre of the Igbo people and the Christians in general.  Yet in spite of that, it is hard to claim injustice and marginalization just against the Igbo people as a policy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Neither can the Igbo people claim that the other 515 tribes and nationalities of Nigeria have conspired to discriminate against them. That cannot just be true, otherwise they would not have their businesses virtually in every town and village in Nigeria. As small as my village is, with only about 40 or so houses, our commerce is being controlled by the Igbo people and we are happy about it.

Now, let’s learn a lesson of wisdom from an adage that says when we are loved, we often think that it is because we are good that is why we are loved. But in the real sense it is those who love us that are good. So also is the case when we are received and accepted by other people, we often think that we are accepted because we are so good. Sometimes we think it is because we are smarter than the other people, other times we think it is because we are the only gifted people around, that is why we are accepted, but maybe not all the credit belongs to us. Maybe we should just as well give some credit to the people who are tolerating us. Do you think that aspect should be considered as well?

I am afraid that my brethren that are agitating for Biafra might just have fallen into this trap of thinking that they are better than other Nigerians. In the real sense that could be so in some things, but they too must admit that other Nigerian tribes, nationalities, people groups, might just have areas where they too are better. We are all people; meaning in some things we are better than others, and in some things we are not as good as others. This is how God has created life and this is how He has created diversity. God has made us to be diverse so that we can learn from each other. Meanwhile, there is no way we will be able to learn or receive from each other until we admit that others too are better than we are in some areas.

I am not a prophet neither am I the son of a prophet, but as a servant of God I would like to give a word of warning to my brethren who are agitating for Biafra. I wish to sound an alarm in your ears that we should learn from history. I can almost guarantee you by the Spirit of God that if Biafra eventually gains independence and breaks away from Nigeria, a civil war might soon ensue within Biafra itself. Besides God’s Spirit, my assertion is backed by history.

It is no news to Nigerians that our Igbo nation is probably the most divisive nationality within itself. No wonder when Enugu state was carved out of the old Anambra state, the division within the Igbo people came out with sirens blaring. The desire to have all the national cake of the state “only for our own people within our state” prompted the leadership of the then Enugu state to evict the Igbo people of Anambra state from their civil service. Such was the blatant demonstration of division even within the Igbo people that the indigenes of Anambra were sent back to their state.

If this is only a matter of state, what will happen when it is real national cake within Biafra itself? I hear all the time how my friends from Imo state complain about Anambra people. People from Abia state who are Igbos also attack Anambra people. The same is also true of the people from Enugu and Ebonyi. Everybody fighting for their own piece of cake. Nowhere was this more evident than recently when the immediate past governor of Abia State, Theodore A. Orji, sacked workers from Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Enugu from the state’s work force.

It is difficult to see how the Igbo people would manage to find a place for all their teeming population to return from all over parts of Nigeria if the states are already fighting over jobs and employment only for their indigenes. What will happen when suddenly millions of people have to come back home without jobs, housing or occupation? It is scary to imagine what would begin to happen within the Biafra nation. Students of contemporary history will tell us that this is the exact scenario of what happened in South Sudan. The civil war that ensued as a result of their independence is still going on as I am writing within the South Sudan Republic itself. 

*Contributed by Pastor Sunday Adelaja, is the founding senior pastor of the Embassy of God based in Kiev, Ukraine.

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Buhari, are you dead?

Commentary@ITRealms:

Most columnists, writers and public commentators have shied away from doing so but today yours truly will treat a matter and pose a question that is in the hearts and minds of many both within and outside Nigeria.

The question is whether President Muhammadu Buhari (remember him?) is actually dead or still alive. And, assuming that he is still alive, is he lost to the world in a vegetative state and deep coma, is he suffering from an extreeme and crippling form of dementia or is he lucid, functional, rational and clear-thinking?

These are the relevant and poignant questions that many are seeking answers to yet this whole matter and everything that flows from it, for some strange and inexplicable reason, is shrouded in the utmost secrecy and subtefuge.

The Presidency has told us that Buhari has travelled out of the country yet no-one has seen pictures or footage of him going out of Nigeria or arriving in his preferred destination in a foreign land.

Assuming that he really did travel out one wonders which country he was ferried to, whether he went there on his feet or on his back and whether he is presently on admission in a hospital or resides in a private or official residence.

The Presidency claims that he is still alive and we sincerely hope that this is the case.

Yet many have their doubts simply because it has been proved over and over again that the Federal Government are nothing but a nest of vipers and a brood of pernicous and pathological liars.

They lie as if there is no tomorrow and consequently few believe anything that they say including the assertion that the President is still alive or that he is running the affairs of our nation from his sick bed in the United Kingdom.

The truth is that if the Presidency or the Federal Government told us that it was day outside most of us would be forced to assume that it was night.

That is how skeptical the more discerning amongst us are about what those in power tell us.

Between the rulers and the ruled in Nigeria today there is no trust.

Consequently we are under no obligation, given their compulsive and sociopathic affinity for mendacities and deceit, to believe anything that the Buhari admnistration or the Presidency tells us.

The bottom line is this: if the President is dead, stop playing games, tell us the truth, bury him with dignity and let his soul rest in peace.

If he is alive let us know exactly what has afflicted him, what his condition is, where he is, how he is doing and, most important of all, give us PROOF OF LIFE.

Anything short of treading one of these two paths is not only dishonorable but also utterly reprehensible and amounts to nothing less than a glaring and singular insult to the collective sensibilities of the Nigerian people. Simply put, we have a right to know the truth.

The usage of lies, deceit, secrecy, subterfuge and disinformation in the administration of governance coupled with the promotion of indiscipline, the encouragement of impunity, the disobedience of court orders, the undermining of the rule of law, the destruction of democratic institutions and the lack of fairness and justice are the worst forms of corruption.

Sadly this government, more than any other in the history of our country, is guilty of each and everyone of these grave charges. This is deeply troubling and it gives us cause not only for concern but also deep introspection.

Meanwhile we congratulate Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for finally signing the 2017 budget. Even though we are already half way through the year, as they say, it is better late than never.

This is a step in the right direction and it is worthy of applause and commendation. However what causes some consternation and beggars belief is the asinine and childish assertion by Mr. Shehu Garbage of the Presidency that President Buhari "gave his permission" for the Acting President to sign it.

Honestly when I heard this contribution I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. I was constrained to ask when the Presidency had transformed from being Nigeria's most powerful and exalted seat of power into a theater of comedy and a home for second rate comedians.

These people will do and say anything to hide or distort the truth and to humiliate and undermine the authority and standing of Acting President Osinbajo.

And the fact that Osinbajo allows them to get away with it is an eloquent testimony to his nauseating weakness and inability to take control and administer power in the way that he is expected to do.

After all we do not operate a monarchial system of government in Nigeria and Buhari is not a King. He does not have any "divine rights" and he is not a deity or a ruler with absolute powers.

He is simply a democratically-elected President who is bound by the rules and conventions of the constitution and who is meant to be nothing more than a servant of the people.

In this context the question that needs to be answered is simple and clear and that question is as follows.

Does an Acting President need the permission of a sick, AWOL and bed-ridden President, who has been compelled by his debilitating ill-health to formally hand over power to his second-in-command as the constitution dictates, to sign the budget? The answer is a resounding "no".

This is especially so when we have been intimated and informed by an excitable, well-known and rabidly pro-government and fanatically pro-APC online medium known as Saharareporters that the President is in a "vegetative state" and that he "cannot speak to those around him or recognise his environment".

If the Presidents friends and supporters can write and publish such things about his medical condition what are the rest of us supposed to think or believe?

We have been assured by that medium that his situation is so critical that even his wife was barred from seeing him when she travelled all the way to the United Kingdom to do so.

If this is true (and up until the time that I am writing this contribution it has not been publicly refuted or denied) it raises some very serious questions and the first one of those questions is why the Presidency and the Federal Government deem it appropiate to hide the truth from the Nigerian people?

Yet it does not stop there. Mr. Eric Joyce, the well-known British ex-military, ex-Member of Parliament and serving MI6 operative who has always had a special interest in Nigeria and who has always been an ardent supporter and friend of the President and his government has come out boldly to suggest that Buhari is dead and he has challenged the Nigerian people to ask the Presidency for proof of life. His words:

"For now, with no sight nor sound of the President and no proof even of life for some time, it seems that in a bid to manage the succession the Presidency may be lying to the public about the Presidents health or even life, and making Nigeria’s democratic status a mockery into the bargain".

If we choose to reject Joyce's suggestion that Buhari is dead and instead we accept the narrative that he is still alive but bed-ridden and critically ill, the assertion that he is in a position to "give permission" for the budget to be signed remains equally childish and absurd.

And the truth is that the Villa rats that made that astounding assertion are talking and behaving like second rate actors and low-level performers in an X-rated, sleazy and seedy Parisian porn film and Swedish blue movie.

All you hear from them are animal-like grunts and groans and loud, fake orgasms.

This is corpsocracy in its most glaring, repugnant, primitive and repulsive form. It is a squalid and sordid attempt to impose a godless and alien system of governance which can be best described as the "rulership of the living by the dead" on the Nigerian people.

Nigeria cannot be ruled from the grave. She cannot and must not be ruled by the dark and faceless agents and sinister emissaries of a shrouded and embalmed Egyptian-like entombed mummy or the surrogates of a corpse that is either stone-cold dead or is dead to to the world and barely alive.

We deserve far better than that and we have the right to be told the truth no matter how bitter that truth may be.

The fact of the matter is that anyone that believes anything that this evil government tells them is truly lost.

The truth is that it was not Buhari that gave Osinbajo permission to sign the budget but rather evil mafia and dark cabal that runs this country in his name.

If those that put that statement out were not utterly shameless how can they even say publicly that an Acting President who is more than capable of running the country has to wait for permission or for backing from a sick President that no-one has seen or heard from in weeks to sign a budget six months into the fiscal year.

Clearly these people are drunk on power and it has affected their ability to reason properly or think straight. Clearly Nigeria is in a precarious position right now.

Our government is a government of liars who are sustained by lies, who live by lies and who will die by lies.

Their spiritual foundation and the very essence of their being is built on nothing but perfidy and mendacity.

Their souls are dark, their spirits are corrupt and their consciences are seared beyond redemption.

The shedding of human blood is their delight, the sacrifice of the innocents is their pleasure and the administration of disaster, hardship and misery is their joy.

They are nothing but sadists whose declared intention is to keep us in bondage and rule for another "two hundred years".

And even as our people are dying of hunger and being slaughtered on a daily basis by Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram they offer no apology for their shameful and glaring incompetence and neither do they display any remorse for their inability to protect the people that they were elected to serve and defend.

Instead of doing that all they do is just tell us one lie after the other. For example when asked about Buhari's medical condition the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, had the effrontery and nerve to tell Channels Television that "President Buhari is alive and well and he talks to Acting President Osinbajo every day!"

If anyone believes that hogwash they will believe anything! And the minute Lai said it his already big, fat and oversized nose grew ten inches longer.

What a terrible plague and affliction has befallen our nation. That plague and affliction is known as Muhammadu Buhari and his clandestine cabal of sinister and byzantian tormentors.

May God deliver Nigeria from their evil claws and mendacious clutches? 

*Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, was former Ministers of Aviation & Culture and Tourism
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Partner Mobile consolidates first anniversary, unveils PS 3

ITRealms;

Emerging leader in the Nigeria’s fast-growing mobile phone, Partner Mobile has commemorated its first year anniversary with unveiling of its Partner PS 3 into the market, reports ITRealms.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Partner Mobile, Mr. Simon Klepper, told ITRealms that PS 3 is coming into the market to consolidate on the innovative ingenuity of the brand following the success of PS1, PS2 and PS Power.

He also explained that the Partner PS3 is an Android OS 7.1 mobile phone that comes with a whooping deca-core 2.6GHz processor. With a 5.5inch FHD IPS LCD, the phone comes with an innovative dual 13MP back camera and an 8MP front camera. It has a 3350Mah battery and comes with a RAM of 4GB and a ROM of 64GB.

He described the performance of Partner Mobile brand in the Nigerian market for the past 12 months, as successful despite the challenging Nigerian economy, the decreasing value of Naira and political climate.

Klepper attributed the success of the brand to true commitment and perseverance shown by the company. He added that Partner Mobile in the coming years will deeply penetrate the Nigerian market and also establish itself as a reputable company in the country.

“Partner Mobile’s first year in the Nigerian market has got to be viewed as a success. The last year has been a challenging one for the whole of Nigeria with the current dwindling economy, the decreasing value of the Naira and political change.

“For any company to launch itself under such conditions it has to show true commitment and perseverance, Partner Mobile has displayed these qualities,” Klepper said.

Also commenting the Marketing Manager, Partner Mobile, Mrs. Ifeoluwa Akerele-Molokwu, told ITRealms, the brand name has been marketed to a large extent, stressing, “Partner Mobile devices have been made to fit into every social and economic class.”

Pointing out that currently, the Partner Mobile is available in major stores across the country and the company is still working towards reaching more customers by partnering with other dealers.

“We have made available devices to fit into every social and economic class and also putting into consideration the current economic situation. Better said, we’ve got a Partner for everyone.”

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Pix: L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Awesome Communications, Joshua Ajayi; Technical Partner, Partner Mobile, Sola Akintola, Marketing Manager, Partner Mobile, Ife Akerele-Molokwu and Chief Operating Officer, Partner Mobile, Simon Klepper at the launch of PS 3  to celebrate Partner Mobile 1st anniversary in Lagos Friday.

DMO: Tapping Diaspora Resources for National Development

Commentary@ITRealms:

It is time again for Nigerians living abroad to think home. In the age of globalisation, Nigerians in the Diaspora do not have to return home to contribute to the development of their country. They can do so through several means and ways. And one of these is to subscribe to the Diaspora Bond issued by Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, DMO.

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) on June 13, 2017, through the DMO, commenced road shows in the United States, United Kingdom and Switzerland, for the country’s first Diaspora Bond of 300 million dollars.

The Director-General of the DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo is leading the FGN delegation comprising representatives from the Central bank of Nigeria, Ministry of Finance to the roadshow. The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun is currently engaged with working details of the newly signed 2017 budget – hence her inability to lead the roadshow.

The nation’s debt office, DMO has already filed a registration statement for the bonds with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Documents sighted on the Diaspora Bond indicate that application would be made for the bonds to be admitted to the official list of the UK Listing Authority and the London Stock Exchange to ensure that the bonds were admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s regulated market.

The document added that there would be a series of investors meetings in the UK, the U. S. and Switzerland from June 13. It further noted that pricing was expected to occur following the investor meetings and subject to market conditions. The bonds will be direct general obligations of Nigeria and will be denominated in U.S. dollars. The international Joint Lead Managers are Bank of America Merrill Lynch and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, while the Nigerian Joint Lead Managers are First Bank of Nigeria Limited and United Bank for Africa Plc.

So what are Diaspora Bonds? They are simply bonds issued by a country to its own citizens’ abroad (Diaspora) to tap in their wealth in the adopted developed countries. They are essentially a form of government debt that targets members of the national community abroad. Sale of the bond can be restricted solely to members of a particular nationality or opened to all buyers, with nationals receiving a preferential rate.

The bond represents an opportunity for cash-strapped developing countries to gain access to the financial resources of their citizens abroad, something that has been tried and tested by two countries with famously large and industrious diaspora populations- Israel and India. For governments that have large diaspora populations, the bonds provide an opportunity to tap into a capital market beyond international investors, foreign direct investment, or loans. It is an attractive source of funding for governments that have experienced difficulties raising money on the international market or attracting investment.

While Nigeria is not among countries unable to raise funds from the international markets or attract foreign investments, her citizens are among the largest, and perhaps the richest diaspora populations in the world. There are over 17 million Nigerians in The Diaspora who send money home annually for various reasons. The total remittances by such Nigerians ranks second to the proceeds from petroleum as foreign exchange earners.  United Kingdom and United States of America are said to have over two million Nigerians each.

According to the World Bank’s Migration and Remittances Fact book 2016, remittances from Nigerians living abroad hit $20.77 billion in 2015, making Nigeria the sixth largest recipient of remittances in the world.

The report says remittances to Nigeria rose every year over the last decade from $16.93 billion in 2006 to $20.83 billion in 2014. And in 2016, remittances by Nigerians abroad were over $35 billion. This was the highest in Africa and the third largest in the world.

The top two sources for Nigerian diaspora remittances in 2015 were the United States ($5.7 billion) and the United Kingdom ($3.7 billion).

Between 2011 and 2014, Nigerians in the Diaspora had remitted $63.17billion (N10.35trillion) into the country. Analysis of remittances showed that $11billion (N1.8trillion) was remitted in 2011, $21billion (N3.44trillion) in 2012, $20.77billion (N3.40trillion) in 2013 and $10.40billion (N1.7trillion) in the first half of 2014. The global top ten remittance recipients this year were India ($72.2bn), China ($63.9bn), the Philippines ($29.7bn), Mexico ($25.7bn), France ($24.6bn), Nigeria ($20.77bn), the Arab Republic of Egypt ($20.4bn), Pakistan ($20.1bn), Germany ($17.5bn), and Bangladesh ($15.8bn).

Nigeria tops the top ten remittance recipients in Africa with $20.77bn, followed by Ghana ($2.0bn), Senegal ($1.6bn), Kenya ($1.6bn), South Africa ($1.0bn), Uganda ($0.9bn), Mali ($0.9bn), Ethiopia ($0.6bn), Liberia ($0.5bn), and Sudan ($0.5bn).

This is a huge potential source of funding for Nigeria which has battled deficits in the national budgets in recent years. The DMO under the cerebral Dr. Abraham Nwankwo has hit another first-initiative with a potential to be a game changer. He is leading Nigeria to become the first African country to experiment with the Diaspora Bond.

It speaks to the synergy within the President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet that all are working together to realise the economic vision of the government. Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance, had hinted in February that the Diaspora Bond would be rolled out within the year. The National Assembly too was brought on board to support and approve it.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora has also urged all Nigerians to take advantage of the first ever Diaspora offer by buying into the bond.

A statement from her office explained that the Diaspora Bond will be used to raise funds from Nigerians in the Diaspora to finance capital projects and provide an opportunity for them to participate in the development of the country.

She said her office as well as Nigerians in the Diaspora was excited as the first ever Diaspora Bond is being rolled out to the benefits of Nigerians. She noted that the issuance of the bond was a unique way of lubricating the interest of Nigerians in the Diaspora to participate in the developmental projects being carried out by the Buhari administration.

As part of measures to fund capital expenditures, the Federal Government had in February announced an offer of $1 billion Euro Bond under its newly-established $1 billion Global Medium Term Note programme. The DMO has also successfully launched a Federal Government Savings Bond (FGNSB).

*Contributed by Mrs. By Abimbola Johnson, from Abuja.

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5m youths to benefit from job-ready digital skills by ITU, ILO

ITRealms:

The InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU) and International Labour Organization (ILO) partnering for a campaign to train five million young people globally in the next 13 years, reports ITRealms.

This was made to ITRealms at the ongoing World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2017 being held 12-16 June 2017, in Geneva.

The "Digital Skills for Decent Jobs Campaign" is part of the "Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth", the first-ever, comprehensive United Nations system-wide effort for the promotion of youth employment worldwide.

"ITU is proud to be one of the founding members of the 'Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth'," said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. "The 'Digital Skills for Decent Jobs for Youth Campaign' seeks to encourage the global community to provide youth worldwide with digital skills training in order to foster decent and inclusive employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. Acquiring digital skills is crucial for young job seekers worldwide as it can lead to higher salaries and better employment conditions."

Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) said, "Digital skills will connect young people with unprecedented job opportunities and contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. Estimates show there will be at least 10 million vacant jobs globally for people with advanced digital skills between now and 2030."

The campaign will engage with governments, the private sector and other stakeholders in the information and communication technology sector to realize commitments to train young men and women in basic and advanced digital skills. The campaign will also encourage widespread sharing of data on job openings for youth with digital skills, and help to identify training programmes and resource mobilization opportunities.

The "Digital Skills for Decent Jobs for Youth Campaign" is part of the ILO's "Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth" – a multi-stakeholder partnership for the promotion of youth employment worldwide, through which 22 United Nations entities are joining hands in support of the realization of the 2030 development agenda.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Only two tribes in Nigeria - Emir Sanusi

Commentary@ITRealms:

The former Central Bank Governor, and Emir of Kano His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi the second , surprised guests present at the Muson Centre for the launching of the book of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, recently in Lagos. Excerpts:

“Let me start by saying that I am Fulani (laughter). My grandfather was an Emir also fulani my uncle and guardian was also the immediate late Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir Ajayi has written a book. And like all Nigerians of his generation, he has written in the language of his generation.

“My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian. The problem with this country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven for the way he spoke, but I cannot forgive people of my generation speaking in that language.

“Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths that are being bandied around. Before colonialism, there was nothing like Northern Nigeria, Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto caliphate. The man from Kano regard himself as bakane. The man from Zaria was bazazzage. The man from Katsina was bakatsine. The kingdoms were at war with each other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were killing each other.

“The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did they become one? When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They now said it was a Muslim North.

“The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now called the Northern Nigeria. Do you know what happened? Our grand fathers were able to transform to being Northerners. We have not been able to transform to being Nigerians. The fault is ours.

Tell me, how many governors has South West produced after Awolowo that are role models of leadership? How many governors has the East produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe that can be role models of leadership? How Many governors in the Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me. There is no evidence statistically that any part of this country has produced good leaders.

You talk about Babangida and the problems of our economy. Who were the people in charge of the economy during Babangida era? Olu Falae, Kalu Idika Kalu. What state are they from in the North?

“We started the banking reform; the first thing I heard was that in Urobo land, there will be a curse of the ancestors. I said they (ancestors) would not answer. They said why? I said how many factories did Ibru build in Urobo land? So, why will the ancestors of the Urobo people support her?

“We talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is hypocrisy. You said elections were rigged in 1959, Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu rigged election in 2007. Was it a Southern thing? It was not. “The problem is: everywhere in this country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how much he can steal.

Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government, they sit down, they eat together. In fact, the constitution says there must be a minister from every state.

“So, anybody that is still preaching that the problem of Nigeria is Yoruba or Hausa or Fulani, he does not love Nigeria. The problem with Nigeria is that a group of people from each and every ethnic tribe is very selfish. The poverty that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any poverty that you find in any part of the South.

The British came for 60 years and Sir Ajayi talked about few numbers of graduates in the North (two as at independence). What he did not say was that there was a documented policy of the British when they came that the Northerner should not be educated. It was documented. It was British colonial policy. I have the document. I have published articles on it. That if you educate the Northerner you will produce progressive Muslim intellectuals of the type we have in Egypt and India. So, do not educate them. It was documented. And you say they love us (North) more than the south.

“I have spent the better part of my life to fight and Dr. (Reuben) Abati knows it. Yes, my grandfather was an Emir. Why was I in the pro-democracy movement fighting for June 12? Is (Moshood) Abiola from Kano? Why am I a founding director of the Kudirat Initiative for Nigerian Development (KIND)?

“There are good Yoruba people, good Igbo people, good Fulani people, good Nigerians and there are bad people everywhere. That is the truth. “Stop talking about dividing Nigeria because we are not the most populous country in the world. We have all the resources that make it easy to make one united great Nigeria. It is better if we are united than to divide it.

“Every time you talk about division, when you restructure, do you know what will happen? In Delta Area, the people in Warri will say Agbor, you don’t have oil. When was the Niger Delta constructed as a political entity? Ten years ago, the Itshekiris were fighting the Urobos. Isn’t that what was happening? Now they have become Niger Delta because they have found oil. After, it will be, if you do not have oil in your village then you cannot share our resources.

“There is no country in the world where resources are found in everybody’s hamlet. But people have leaders and they said if you have this geography and if we are one state, then we have a responsibility for making sure that the people who belong to this country have a good nature.

“So, why don’t you talk about; we don’t have infrastructure, we don’t have education, we don’t have health. We are still talking about Fulani. Is it the Fulani cattle rearer or is anybody saying there is no poverty among the Fulani?”

LESSONS FROM THIS MESSAGE

Tribalism is not our problem. Tribalism and religion are artificial problems created by selfish leaders for their own personal interest.

There are only two major tribes in Nigeria. The Elites and the Masses. Once you make lots of money, you belong to the elite tribe. When you are a commoner or suffering, you belong to the tribe of the masses. If you are an elite, and you need more power, or elective position, you sow seeds of tribalism and religion among the masses, so as to sway their emotion for your personal victory. This happens at both the national and state level. Unfortunately, after the election when they have won and joined their “sworn enemies” to drink and party, the gullible masses continue to fight each other.

Even smart people who belong to the masses, sometimes will sow seeds of tribalism and religion among the masses, and then the masses will carry them up until they belong to the elite class.  It is a classic strategy used over 3000 years ago in the art of war. A commoner who aspires to sit with the elites, could stir up powerful tribal or religious sentiments, such wave if properly utilized either by shedding blood or destabilizing the elites, carries the commoner to the elite class. But once there, he immediately mingles and makes peace with the elite tribe, and turn his back on the same masses that helped him get there.

Youths are the worst victim of this powerplay, they kill each other, call other tribes unprintable names, do terrible things and sometimes, even lose their life, thinking they are fighting for their right, not knowing that they are fighting for the personal welfare of someone, whose own children are probably safe in America or London.

So youths, don’t hope on the government. If you don’t have a job, create one. There is abject poverty in the south as well as the north, whether Ogoni or Maidugri. At the same time, there is massive wealth in Lagos, Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba, Kano, Abuja, irrespective of zone. 

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it well and never remain idle. No job is too low for an idle hand, or else the devil will find work for you. As you become independent, and grow your capacity, do not lose hope in Nigeria. We are the largest economy in Africa and soon the world will fear us. Western powers, don’t like big economies that threaten them, America will do anything to break China, but China is wise to resist that. China has 1.6 billion people, we have only 170 million, and we are talking of breaking.

China has 5 major religions which are Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity. Nigeria has only 2 major religions, Christianity and Islam. Yet we claim that religion is our problem.

America, the strongest economy is comprised of every tribe in the world, since they accept anybody from any part of the world. Yet they are united and extremely patriotic. Nigeria has only 3 major tribes, and we claim tribalism.

Think clearly and deeply, and you will realize that empowering yourself is the best course of action, not fighting each other. And once the youths are empowered, they can begin to take back their future from the hands of the old and corrupt generation that has been blinding Nigerians with hatred, while looting all her resources. Sani Abacha’s loot is still stashed away in Switzerland, did he use it to develop the north? Those that stole billions under GEJ stashed it away in foreign banks, bought expensive toys, jets and foreign homes, are they using it to develop the south? Now the ones stealing currently, including the “grasscutters”, are looking for Ikoyi apartments, abandoned houses, and pit toilets to hide it, are they using it for the youths in their tribe? NO!

Youths shine your eyes! Don’t always fall for this tribal, religious sentiments over and over again. Nigeria is bigger than these corrupt elites. They are the problem, not the poor masses.

Courtesy: Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II

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Nigeria Cultural Properties: FG reiterates fight on illicit trafficking

ITRealms:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has reiterated the Federal Government willingness continue to fight against the illicit trafficking in Cultural Property, reports ITRealms.

Declaring open an exhibition of repatriated Nigerian artefacts in Lagos on Thursday, the Minister challenged the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) to double its efforts in checking the illicit trade in cultural property.

''It is my wish that the NCMM will begin to look at means and opportunities to re-invigorate its export and clearance permits operations and even devise other methods of checking the illicit trafficking in cultural property.

''I was reliably told that there was the system of taking the pictures of all the objects leaving the country and the passport numbers of those exporting non-antiquities out of the country. I think the NCMM should go back into all of the systems that can be used to stop, check and stem the illicit trafficking in cultural property of Nigeria,'' he said.

Alhaji Mohammed also urged the NCMM, the Nigeria Customs Service and other law enforcement agencies to be more vigilant especially at the nation's sea ports, airports well as land borders, to check these abuses and illicit trade.

He thanked the Ambassadors and Cultural Attaches of the United States of America, France, Canada, Switzerland and South Africa, where the artifacts were intercepted, and appeal to them not to relent in their efforts in that regard.

''I must thank you the more for respecting the International Laws and in particular the respect of the Red-List Agreement of 1997 that has declared the export of these Nigerian cultural property illegal,'' the Minister said.

He gave the assurance that Nigeria will fully domesticate the provisions of the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Cultural Property, which was ratified by Nigeria on 24 Jan. 1972 and came into force three months later.

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Between deprivation and agitation: Tearing each other apart on cyberspace

Commentary@ITRealms:

To say that the quality of life of the average Nigerian is low is to state the obvious.  Whether one talks of education, medical service delivery, security or the economy, every aspect of our life in this country is in downward motion.  The extent of poverty experienced by our people is simply unacceptable.  This country has more than enough resources to make life livable.  If there is so much discomfort, we must interrogate those who manage the affairs of our country.  Why is it that government—federal, state and local—has failed Nigerians?

Every year, we witness the ritual of budget presentation to the National Assembly by the President.  The executive arm of government requires the consent of those who represent the people at the legislative arm of government before money can be spent.  The 2017 budget was presented to the National Assembly in the twilight of the year 2016.  It was passed by the National Assembly on May 14, 2017, more than five months into the year, close to six months after it was presented. For a country that should be in a hurry to exit Destitution Avenue, this is simply unacceptable.  It is another instance of failure of governance.  Failure of governance is when government fails to serve the people.

    

Nigerians should be worried about the way the budgetary process runs in this country.  In the period when the budget is yet to be passed, how is government carrying out its functions?  Who is accountable to whom when it comes to how money is spent?  Does this reflect a country that really wishes to put an end to corruption? But while there was delay in passing the budget, there is an early bird approach to the politics of 2019.  The budget was not passed.  But politicians were positioning themselves for the 2019 presidential elections.

Now deprivation has turned into agitation.  In the absence of a budget, the economic conditions in which we live continue to bite.  Nigerians are hungry and angry.  In their anger, they turn against each other in the social media, using unprintable language, threats and violence to sought out their differences.  Young Igbo insult the Yoruba, young Yoruba insult the Igbo, the north and the south have suddenly realized that they cannot live together.  In all this, instead of facing their common enemy, politicians who abuse their offices and steal the wealth of the land, thus depriving us of decent living, young Nigerians tear each other apart in a society where civil discourse has become an unwanted alien.

We have said it before that we live in clear and present danger.  We said it when herdsmen went on the rampage and arms were being brought into Nigeria by “ghost importers”.  Now we should ask ourselves: is there a correlation between illegal importation of arms into Nigeria and the drumbeats and dance steps of war we are currently witnessing?

We in Nigeria once made a mistake—a grave one for that matter—going to war when we could have resolved our differences peacefully.  The scar of the war remains.  To avoid another war is an obligation we all must assume.  To avoid going to war is not cowardice.  It is to have the courage to subdue our ego and negotiate.  To go to war when we could and ought to have avoided it is not courageous but reckless.  To assume the obligation of avoiding a war,  we must refrain from revisionist accounts of the 1967-70 war.

A sober reading of history, and a sober reflection too, show clearly that blame for that war goes to both sides of the war.  In fact, there is enough blame to share.  Blame for that war goes especially to the unprincipled politicians of the era who resorted to ethnic rivalry for selfish purposes instead of nation building.  It goes in equal measure to the young military officers on both Federal and Biafran sides who mistook their military training for omniscience in matters of state. It is a well-known fact that the class of military officers that survived that war imposed on this country the present constitution with its many landmines. They and the forces they represent see no need for constitutional amendment.

We have also said in the past that Nigerians not only hunger for food, they hunger for good leadership.  In fact, failure to satisfy the hunger for good leadership occasions and aggravates hunger for food.  If every square centimeter of a land is fertile and the inhabitants of the land are hungry then one should inquire as to the kind of leaders they have.  If indeed we had good leaders, veritable statesmen and not ethnic warlords, our children would not be tearing each other apart in cyberspace.

Some people do not want to hear of restructuring.  However, for how long shall we fail to see the urgent need for far-reaching constitutional reforms in this country?  The current arrangement is not serving Nigerians.  The relationship between the government and the citizen places the citizen at gross disadvantage and the politician at undue advantage. Our young people are the worst hit.  They are unemployed, hungry and angry.  They are venting the anger on one another while we their elders are silent.  Could it be that some of us their elders are stocking the embers of violent disintegration?

In 1966, hate speech and propaganda preceded the needless and senseless war in this country.  In 1994, hate speech preceded the Rwandan genocide.  Would it not be wise to learn from past mistakes, ours and others? This is the time to stand back from the brink.  Let those who sincerely love Nigeria read and act!

*Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Archbishop emeritus of Archdiocese of Lagos.

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ICANN creates Global Indigenous Ambassador Programme

ITRealms:

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has created a Global Indigenous Ambassador Programme (GIAP), reports ITRealms.

The programme, ITRealms gathered was established with two Indigenous Ambassadors, to be selected from underrepresented indigenous communities.

ICANN said that through the inclusion of a broader and more diverse base of knowledgeable constituents, it would be better equipped to support the next generation of the global Internet community.

"This is an exciting opportunity for two Indigenous Ambassadors to learn about ICANN and the At-Large community, representing the best interests of Internet end users," states Loris Taylor, President & CEO, Native Public Media.

ITRealms also reports that ICANN is now accepting applications for two Global Indigenous Ambassadors.

Applicants, ICANN said, must be members of unserved or underserved tribal or native communities and meet the ICANN Fellowship Program criteria[icann.org.

Selected participants will receive travel, hotel, and per diem for the ICANN60 Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to be held 28 October – 3 November 2017, while deadline for submitting applications is 6 July 2017.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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*PIx: ICANN CEO, Goran Marby, 

Nigerian parents protest sexuality education in curricula

ITRealms:

Over 815 parents have endorsed petition to the Federal Government against the introduction of ‘Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) allegedly smuggled into the school curricular in Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the petition was set up in an online petition at Citizengo by the Project for Human Development. As at the time of going to the press, the petition has received over 815 endorsements.

The petitioners alleged that the Comprehensive Sexuality Education smuggled into school curricula was an imposition on public schools without parental consent, lamenting it was aimed at luring hapless school children into sexual perversity, as students in open classroom are taught the various techniques of "safe-sex".

They alleged that children, nieces and nephews are taught how to wear the condoms, give oral sex, as well as masturbate in classrooms.

According to the petitioners, this is an abuse of the right of the Nigerian child and a betrayal of trust delegated to the Ministry of Education and its agencies.

They also urge other Nigerian parents to stand up to be counted in this protest by saying “NO to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in Nigerian schools today.”

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Acid bath on Ogochukwu Nwosu gets hearing @Igbosere today

ITRealms:

The case of a 26-year-old Ogochukwu Nwosu who was bathed with acid over marriage proposal comes up today, Thursday for hearing at the Magistrate Court, Igbosere, Lagos, reports ITRealms.

Ogochukwu, ITRealms recalls was bathed with acid following her purported acceptance to a marriage proposal at Ilasa bus stop along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos last October on her way home from work.

ITRealms also gathered that Ogochukwu whose workplace is at the Computer Village has been in a critical condition at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Surulere, Lagos State.

Also, ITRealms gathered that the victim, who now suffers burns on her face, neck, breasts, among other parts of her body had accused one Mrs. Chidi, the wife of the man who had proposed marriage to her, as her assailant.

According to her, Mrs. Chidi had been threatened her on the telephone and via phone calls, Short Message Service (SMS) and social media platform like Whatsapp soon after she learnt of her husband’s plans to marry her (Ogochukwu).

For her, “I suspect Mrs. Chidi because she had been threatening me before the incident. And while I was on admission at the hospital, she called and spoke with my brother (Peter), saying that was just the beginning,” Ogochukwu told Punch recently.

Her brother, Peter, also confirmed this, saying he recorded a part of the conversation with Mrs. Chidi on his mobile phone, even as he promptly reported to Itire Police Division.

ITRealms further gathered that Mrs. Chidi was subsequently arrested and detained for two days was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba and later granted the suspect bail.

Meanwhile lawyers to the victim, Louis Nwaugbala and Anthony Obi, had petitioned the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja, over the matter.

Uj. N. Dom/GEE

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