KWSG Approves N2.9b three Phase Diamond Split Underpass

Kwara State Executive Council has approved the construction of a three phase Diamond Split Underpass at the Gerin Alimi roundabout in Ilorin, the State Capital as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion in the area.

 

Briefing journalists after the State Executive Council Meeting, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Aro Yahaya said the project is expected to be completed in 18 months.

 

Alhaji Aro said the first phase of the project will cost N2.9billion, adding that the funding of the Under-Pass Project would be financed from the N10bn the state government is sourcing from the Bond Market.

 

The Commissioner noted that the project when completed would not only ease traffic on the road but add to the aesthetic of the area as it is expected to be an engineering masterpiece and architecture.

 

He said the council also approved the dualisation of other federal roads in the state such as Kulende-Oyun-Kwara State Polytechnic-Oke-Ose-UITH road and the Ita Alamu-Michael Imoudu-Ganmo-Afon junction road.

 

He explained that although the roads are federal government roads, “but in line with our policy to develop road infrastructure in the state in order to reduce the pains and stress of our people the state government resolved to embark on developing the roads, awaiting federal government reimbursement”.

 

Also speaking at the briefing, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Alhaji Mahmoud Ajeigbe said council has approved the Contributory Pension Scheme for Civil Servants who joined the Civil Service from 1987 to date while those employed before the date would remain under the current scheme.

 

Alhaji Mahmud explained that the approval was sequel to the realization that the revenue base of the state could no longer sustain the old pension scheme.

 

The Senior Special Assistant, Media and Communications, Dr Muideen Akorede said the council considered the Draft White Paper and Administrative Panel of Enquiry with the reports on Share/Tsaragi communal clashes last year.

 

According to Dr Akorede, the state government has resolved to render assistance to victims of the crises from both communities with a view to dousing tension between the two neighbouring communities and prevent a reoccurrence of hostilities in the area.

 

EFCC Witnesses Tell Court How FIRS Director Collected N5m Bribe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 opened trial with two witnesses -  Umar Dalhatu and Abdulkadir Saidu- in a case of alleged bribery involving Abumere Joseph Osagie, a former deputy director, Federal Inland Revenue, FIRS, and oneJamila Ojora before Justice O. O. Goodluck of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja. 

Dalhatu and Saidu while being led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Joseph Uzor, as PW1 and PW2 respectively gave detailed account of how the accused persons conspired to obtain a sum of N5million as gratification from the Pro-chancellor, Base University, Senator Datti Ahmed.

The accused persons claim the money was meant to appreciate their services for “arranging tax assessment” for the university.

The act contravenes Section 17(1)(a) and punishable under Section 17(1)(c) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In his evidence, Dalhatu, a bursar at Baze University, told the court that, some of his core duties were to keep records of financial transactions of the University, pay salaries, liase with regulating bodies like FIRS, NUC among others.

Narrating how Osagie and his accomplice, Ojora, collected the money Dalhatu said,”I joined the University on November 9, 2015. That time, I was made to understand that the tax assessment and audit exercise had been concluded. The registrar told me to go to FIRS and see Jamila and Mr. Osagie. I contacted them, went to their office and arrange for the Pro-chancellor (Senator Datti Waba Ahmed) to meet with them.

“On December 20, 2015, I received a text mesage from the Pro-Chancellor informing me that, Mr. Osagie was in the University on a familiarization tour. I conducted him round the University. During the familiarisation tour, Osagie told me that, ‘you people’ have to appreciate us with the sum of N5million. I called the Pro-Chancellor and gave the phone to Osagie to speak with him.

“Two days after, the University recieved a letter of intent from the FIRS to pay the sum of N20, 029, 496.00 (twenty million, twenty –nine thousand, four hundred and ninety-six naira). The money was paid in installments to a UBA account”, Dalhatu stated.

The PW1 further stated that, “the universityrequested for the tax clearance, but we were not given.”

Asked why they were not given, Dalhatu said, “the accused persons insisted that, we had to pay ‘appreciation fee’ before it can be issued.

“I reported to the Pro-chancellor (Senator Ahmed) who called Mr. Osagie on January 27, 2016. At about 4:30 pm that day, the Pro-Chancellor instructed me to go to our accountant, Mrs. Juliet Oture, to collect the sum of N5million naira. I collected the money and joined him (Senator Ahmed) in his car. While driving with him, he informed me that, he was taking the matter to the EFCC and we drove straight to the EFCC Head Office at Wuse II”, Dalhatu narrated.

Also testifying, PW2, Saidu, who introduced himself as the personal assistant to the Pro-chancellor, told the court how he was involved in handing over the sum of N5million to Ojora at Sheraton Hotel car park, Wuse Zone 4.

According to Saidu, “I was called by the Pro-chancellor around 6.00pm on January 27, 2015 to come and meet him at the EFCC Head Office in order to run errand for him. When I got there, he gave me a multi-coloured medium size ‘Ghana-must-go’bag containing the sum of N5million. He called Ojora on phone to inform her that I was coming. I met Ojora at the left wing of the Sheraton car park standing by her white Peugeot 408 car. She instructed me to drop the money at the back seat of her car, which I did. She promised to call my boss to confirm that she had recieved the money. Then, I left.”

The case has been adjourned to June 13and July 12, 2016 for further hearing.

JORDAN TO COLLABORATE WITH NIGERIA ON ENDING TERRORISM

A high power delegation from His Royal Majesty King Abdullah II of the Republic of Jordan has paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Abuja, to explore areas of collaboration on ending the threat posed by the Boko Haram Terrorists.

The Jordanian delegation which was led by the Special Adviser to the King of Jordan on Political Affairs, Mr Manas Dabbas, congratulated the CDS and the Nigerian Armed Forces for their doggedness at decimating the Boko Haram Terrorist and sought for closer collaboration in the area of intelligence gathering, regional cooperation and capacity building to enhance total eradication of extremist groups in Africa. He noted that the world is experiencing serious security threats from assorted radical groups like Boko Haram,     Al-Qaeda, Al Shabbab, etc and called for concerted efforts by affected countries to emplace mechanisms to under study conflicts and crisis occasioned by terrorist organizations with the aim of defeating such terrorist groups.

Mr Dabbas lauded the efforts of the CDS in piloting the affairs of the Nigerian Armed Forces and pledged his country’s commitment to assist Nigeria in combating the threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist organizations in the country.

In his remark, General Olonisakin thanked the Jordanian envoy for the visit and briefed the delegation on the operations of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the synergy between regional troops to degrade the Boko Haram terrorists. The CDS solicited for cooperation in the area of training and provisions of counter Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs) and emphasized on the need to interface with regional forces and security agencies to eliminate the threat from radical terrorist organizations.

The CDS was accompanied by some Principal Staff Officers from Defence Headquarters to received the Jordanian delegation. Highlights include the presentation of souvenir to the visitors and a group photograph.

                                                                                    

LAGOS HANDLES 4, 035 RAPE, CHILD ABUSE CASES IN ONE YEAR

…Vows To Prosecute Perpetrators Of Domestic Violence

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said in the last one year it handled a total of 4, 035 cases ranging from rape, child abuse, sexual assault, sexual abuse, defilement, divorce, matrimonial issues and child’s custody and maintenance, just as it vowed not to shy away from prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence crime no matter how highly placed in the society.

The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa on the activities of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in the last one year, said government, through the agency, equally handled a total of 192 cases.

Out of the 192 cases, Kazeem said the government handled 89 domestic violence cases, 62 defilement cases, 18 rape cases, 6 attempted rape, 10 child neglect and 7 child abuse cases, while 92 cases are presently being heard in court.

Kazeem said that the State Government under the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has a zero tolerance for issues relating to domestic violence and child abuse and would not relent until the scourge is reduced to the barest minimum.

He said agencies of government, including DSVRT, Office of Public Defender (OPD) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), among others, have been mandated to ensure that while perpetrators of the act are brought to justice, victims of domestic violence are given succor towards their rehabilitation.

“As regards provision of shelter for victims, the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Youth and Social Development as well as strategic partners NGOs have played key roles in ensuring that victims were evacuated to a safer environment of shelter homes.

“All the victims of sexual assault received medical attention from Mirabel Centre and State Hospitals, and so far, 50 of such cases were charged to court,” he said.

He said the essence of the press briefing today aside giving account of efforts of the State Government in the one year, it was also a means to send a strong message across that the government would not relent until the scourge is completely stamped out.

“As we all know the issues of gender violence, violence against children and all forms of inhuman treatment against the less privileged has been a very critical issue for Governor Ambode. Right from when he was sworn in, he had said that this issue was going to be something he would pursue with passion and diligence. He has since then given support to the DSVRT, OPD and all other related agencies including the Police Force to fight this scourge in other that it should be eliminated.

 “Let me sound a note of warning here that no matter how highly placed you are in the society, if you commit any domestic violence crime, Lagos State will go after you and prosecute you in court,” the Attorney General said.

He assured that the State Government would continue to build on its recent efforts and step up its campaign efforts to put the issue of domestic violence on the front burner.

To this end, he said the DSVRT would on Friday, June 3, hold a free clinic for victims of domestic violence, rape at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, while they can seek counselling with trained professionals via their hotline on 08137960048.  

Nigeria Has No Future Under Buhari's Government -Ogun State PDP

One year after President Muhammadu Buhari took over power under the All Progressives Congress (APC), his tenure has been described as unfavourable, tortuous, rudderless and directionless.

Assessing the speech of the President, which was read on Sunday May 29, 2016, the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said in a statement that it was as colourless as they come, and that Buhari could not point to any meaningful achievement in the last one year.

In the statement, which was signed by the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Ogun State, Mr. Malik Olamilekan Ibitoye, and released to the press, the party stated that it was regrettable that Buhari wasted 365 whole days, adding that he could not even point to a single achievement other than the assumed rescue of one of the missing Chibok Girls.

"We are surprised that the APC, according to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that it spent one full year to plan. What would they do in the second year. What the government is saying is that they did not make a single plan before they got to power in the first place.

"Everything has degenerated since APC assumed power at the central in 2015. Fuel price has gone up astronomically, we now have hyper-inflation in Nigeria. People can no longer feed their families, there is no job, no electricity, food is expensive and the whole system has completely broken down," the statement read.

Malik said further in the statement that President Buhari was busy gallivanting all over the world, and that the much pronounced fight against corruption has been one sided.

He faulted Buhari, who he said reneged on his promise to name the looters of the nation's treasury and the amount they allegedly stole, while emphasising that it is now clear that the APC was not ready for governance.

The statement reads further: "The APC got to power with propaganda and they have not stopped issuing statements and press releases as if they were still campaigning. Nigerians thought they voted for a pragmatic leader and that better days were here, but now they have since discovered that they were deceived by the APC.

"What we see everyday is a government without focus, a government with poor economic plan as all economic indices point to zero and we have discovered that this government does not know what to do with power.

"We in the Ogun State PDP are not deceived at all. Buhari has not dropped his military toga going by some of his statements, body language and actions lately. We were expecting that he would come up with reasonable actions and policies that would move the country forward. But with what is contained in that speech, Buhari years have nothing good to offer the teeming population of Nigerians."

The reality on ground now, Malik said, is that people now live in palpable fear and that where we feel there is peace in Nigeria, what is actually manifesting is peace of the graveyard, adding that 'APC is daily digging its political grave as 2019 is approaching with its anti-people policies and actions of the Federal Government.'

INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE ORDERS DISARMAMENT OF IPOB ACTIVISTS

·        Condemns the killing of Policemen by IPOB

Following the manifestation of the disposition of the armed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) activists to undertake premeditated attacks on Police officers engage in operations aimed at restoring public order in States in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zone of the country, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase, fdc, NPM has directed the Assistant Inspectors General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in the affected area to disarm members of the group operating firearms immediately.

The IGP noted that the targeted attacks on Police personnel, who have been performing their statutory functions in the most professional and civil manner since the latest resurgence disorder, portrays the IPOB activists who are orchestrating the insurrection as having crossed the threshold in their misguided attempt to test the common will of the nation. 

IGP Arase, while condemning the killing by members of IPOB, also directed the arrest of any member of the group found in possession of firearm and bring him/her to deserved justice, while all IPOB activists arrested in connection with the killing of the Policemen should be charged to court for murder.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force will continue to diligently work towards eliminating any threat to internal security and assures Nigerians of its commitment to their safety and security.

Our N10b Infrastructure Bond on Course - Governor Ahmed

The Kwara State Government has denied a newspaper report that it has abandoned plans to secure a N10b bond for its forthcoming infrastructure projects in the state.

 

The State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, maintained that the government's plans to secure a bond remains on course as captured in the 2016 budget.

 

Governor Ahmed clarified that the state government has only reduced the proposed bond from N20b to N10b in view of the drop in Federally allocated funds to the state by about 50 per cent.

 

He said based on current FAAC and IGR levels, the state government can only afford repayment on a N10b facility, stressing that the government will access the second tranche of N10b as soon as its finances improve.

 

Governor Ahmed, who stated that the government will continuously seek avenues for cheap funding for its development programs, said all future borrowing will be based on capacity to repay without constraining its ability to meet other obligations such as salary payment and funds for ongoing projects.

 

The state Governor identified the proposed projects under the N10b bond to include an underpass at Geri Alimi, Ilorin, Dualisation of Zango to UITH, Ilorin, Dualisation of Michael Imoudu to Ganmo,  new campuses for Kwara State University(KWASU) at Ilesha Baruba and Osi as well as remodeling of the Indoor Sports Hall of Ilorin Stadium, counterpart funding for Industrial Textile Park, amongst  others.

 

Governor Ahmed expressed delight at the inclusion of some key federal roads  in the state in the 2016 Federal Budget, and emphasised that ongoing projects in the state will be funded under a separate funding window.

 

 

WURA 1 of Fuji t’o Bam, Okiki, storms venue of Season 4 audition

 

…encourages contestants

 

The reigning WURA 1 of Fuji t’o Bam, Akeem Okiki stormed the venue of the 2016 Goldberg Fuji talent hunt selection party held in Ilesa, Osun State with some words of advice for the participating artistes to be focused and disciplined on stage to win the crown.

 

Okiki, an Osun State-based fuji artiste, who won the grand prize for the Season 3 of the annual contest at the Trans Amusement Park, Ibadan, where the grand finale of the competition held in 2015, disclosed that he learnt a lot of lessons through participating in the competition.

 

According to him, anybody who would triumph in the contest must be ready to satisfy the judges; whom he said are veterans in Fuji music. “The judges have their standards that any successful contestant must meet; otherwise such artistes would be shown the exit door out of the competition”.  

 

Okiki thereafter performed to the delight of guests and fans who thronged the Waterside Centre, Ayeso Area in Ilesa, venue of the selection party.

 

Meanwhile, each of the participating artistes took turns to thrill their fans and other Fuji enthusiasts, while the judges led by Muyideen Iyanda, Governor, Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FUMAN), Osun State assessed their performances. Two other judges present at the occasion were ace broadcaster, Adebayo Faleke and Wasiu Alagbe Olaiya.

 

The judges finally selected Fatai Adeniyi, Ayoola Olowookere, Yemi Oluwasegun, Ololade Isiaka and Ilesanmi Sogo as they were exceptionally outstanding for stage crafts and renditions. They would join successful contenders from other locations for the quarter final, which would later hold in Oyo town, Oyo State. 

 

Iyanda, an old-timer in the Fuji industry admonished the contestants to continue to be good ambassadors of Goldberg lager beer and Fuji music as the two have created a niche that will remain strong in the history of entertainment, particularly, Fuji music in Nigeria.

EYE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA FOR FREE EYE SURGERY AND CHECK UP

The Eye Foundation group has recently partnered with AbikeDabiri-Erewa to provide free eye screening to as many who are interested and free eye surgery for up to 1,000 people within the Ikorodu axis and its environs. The program which kicked off on the 30th of May would run for one month. The first day had over 230 people from different Local Governments Areas within Lagos state screened while 20 have been scheduled for eye surgery.  Special thanks must be given to HRM Anyangburen of Ikorodu Oba Kabiru Shotunbi who has been tremendously supportive of the program and was indeed present for his eye screening to kick off the initiative yesterday. See pictures from the inaugural eye screening session yesterday; 

Pic 1: HRM, Oba of Ikorodu conducting his eye screening

Pic 2: Participants at the eye screening event 

 

Pic 3: Mubarak had eye problems and had no hope of getting his eyes fixed, now he will. Mubarak pictured with his mother above

 

Pic 4: R-L HRM Anyangburen of Ikorodu Oba Kabiru Shotunbi, Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Olori Shotunbi at the eye screening event 

The screening is open to all and venue for the eye screening is as detailed below: 

Oba Anyangburen palace (30th May to 2nd June) 

Mowo kekere Health Centre (6th to 11th June) 

Oba Ranodu Palace, Imota (12th to 15th June) 

Igbalu Health Centre (16th to 20th June) 

Mowo Kekere Health Centre (20th to 29th June) 

 

Otunba Gani Adams Speaks On Farmers/herdsmen’s clashes: What implications for Nigeria?

Lectured Delivered by Otunba (Dr) Gani Adams at the NUJ Ondo State Chapter, Alagbaka, Akure Ondo State Today 30th of Monday 2016.

Farmers/herdsmen’s clashes: What implications for Nigeria?

It is indeed a great pleasure to address this distinguished gathering on this occasion to mark our nation's Democracy Day. 

Suffice it to say therefore, that Democracy is, after all, the reason we are all here. 

I would like to salute the organizers of this event for counting me worthy to deliver this lecture on an issue that threatens the very basis of our unity as we speak.

The political side of the issue
There are many sides to the farmers/herdsmen’s crisis but let us just consider two, namely the political and the economic. 

Now, Nigeria, for many of its ethnic over 250 ethnic groups, is obviously not a nation in the sense that we regard France, United Kingdom or South Africa as a nation. 

That is why, as recently pointed out by Mr Dan Nwayanwu, former chairman of the Labour Party (LP) during a programme organised by the Ondo State government in Akure: given an option, many of the ethnic groups in Nigeria would prefer to be opt out of Nigeria. 

Already, groups such as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Niger Delta Avengers, among others, have more or less shattered whatever illusions we may retain regarding the Nigeria that we are living in. 

While Nigeria would obviously be better off remaining a nation, it is also true that a surgical operation is required to take out the cancer of disintegration currently ravaging the country on every side.

And this is quite simply because Nigeria, as it is presently operated, is not sustainable. 

Nigeria is supposed to be a federal republic but it operates a unitary constitution where the states, like children, simply go to Abuja at the end of every month to collect food. 

They cannot even feed themselves. Is it not an utter shame that the descendants of the Oyo empire, Kanem-Bornu empire, 

Benin empire, and so on, have to go cap in hand to Abuja, collecting allocation that cannot even pay workers’ salaries when the traditional system which guaranteed full employment and a decent standard of living can be recreated through proper federalism like we had in the First Republic?

In the USA, it was the states that came together to form the central/federal government currently headed by Barrack Obama. 

In Nigeria, it was the Centre or Federal Government that created the states for political reasons and to achieve what the eminent Igbo scholar, Chinweizu, refers to as Caliphate Colonialism a system whereby some people are born to rule. 

This is quite simply an aberration, and our consideration of farmers/herdsmen’s clashes must thus begin from this context. 

If we have a federal republic that is nothing but a sham, a big fraud, why then are we surprised that a group of Boko Haram members masquerading as herdsmen have been terrorising innocent farmers across the country? 

If, for instance, there is state police, would the herdsmen have found it easy to attack farmers, rape women and slaughter them afterwards, burn down entire villages, and even carry out major robberies on major highways while the security agencies look the other way? 

For how long shall we have Chief Security Officers (governors) of states who do not even have the police under their control? 

By the way, what manner of security officer does not even have a gun in his possession? Can a person who cannot organise his own security protect others?

Before you think that I am exaggerating, consider this: between 2010 and 2013, according to a report, Fulani herdsmen killed about 80 people. 

However, by 2014, they had slaughtered 1,229 people. When you consider the Global Terrorism Index, you discover that Fulani herdsmen are now Number Four on the list of the deadliest terror groups in the world. 

Boko Haram, of course, takes the first position. As noted by a recent report, over 2,000 people were killed in conflicts between the herdsmen and different host communities in 2015 alone. 

In comparison, the regular Boko Haram kills 2,500 people annually. 

In a situation where a group of supposed herdsmen carry sophisticated weapons and wipe out entire communities, the unity of the Nigerian nation is indeed threatened.

The argument has been advanced that the herdsmen have become so bold in recent times because the current president happens to be Fulani. 

There may be some truth in that, because the history of bloodshed during elections in Nigeria proves clearly that Nigeria is a very divided country, with people being prepared to shed blood in order for their kinsman to win. 

A lot of people celebrate former President Goodluck Jonathan for his exemplary conduct during the 2015 general election. 

However, we need to ask: for how long can we continue to live in a country where some people must either have their way, or blood will flow? 

I ask this question because the farmers/herdsmen’s clashes in Nigeria have its roots in the sharp divisions among the ethnic groups in the country. 

If we were all united and put Nigeria first, we would have risen as one man and condemned the genocide in Agatu land in Benue State. 

Did we? Did the nation rise as one man or woman to condemn the atrocities of the Fulani herdsmen who always undermine the kindness of their hosts and unleash violence on them? 

In Brazil, South Africa, USA, etc, cattle are not allowed to roam freely in town; neither do herdsmen carry out genocide because there is a truly federal system with city governance, state governance and federal governance and their related security systems in place. 

It is time, therefore, to drop the nomadic way of life. It is simply unsustainable.

The economic side
Dr Bukola Saraki, while serving as governor of Kwara State, introduced the Shongai farms where foreign investors carried out modern animal husbandry. 

The cattle were, and still are, being produced in a ranch, and they are far better than the ones raised through the nomadic system. 

I have been informed that while cattle reared through the nomadic system may not be more than 250 kg in weight, cattle raised in Shongai and other ranches often weigh as much as 750kg, Cattle ranching therefore brings more profit. 

It is even cheaper in the long run than the nomadic system which is operated through the blood and sweat of farmers across the country.

Ranches provide cattle with a decent environment in which to thrive, with water, doctors, etc, all available. 

On the other hand, the nomadic system simply puts the cattle through stress, and is a form of animal abuse, or disregard for animal life and welfare. On another level, how do we attain food security and sufficiency when farmers are under threat?

How can we attain the Sustainable Development Goals when food production is under threat? Nomadic cattle rearing create ethnic divisions and tensions, and is a criminal system which allows terrorists to commit murder and genocide as their lordship pleases.

Conclusion
Those of us who attended the 2014 National Conference know that Nigeria cannot make any progress without implementing the report of that conference. 

For instance, the report deals extensively with how to eradicate the herdsmen/farmers’ clashes. 

Other recommendations of the Confab that require urgent implementation include the introduction of State Police, control of Solid Mineral by states where they are domicile, control of the Supreme Court by States, adoption of the French Presidential system of government, voluntary merger of states that so desire, Creation of Zonal Constitution, creation of more local government by states, federating units to participate in resource extraction and reduction of items on exclusive list. 

More fundamentally, it points the way forward for Nigeria. And that way forward is federalism.

Let us go back to what we had in the First Republic, a system whereby the component units of this country would control their own resources and determine how to live their lives and what form of government to operate. 

If we do this, we will have a decisive framework for dealing with issues such as the one addressed in this brief lecture.

Until the report is implemented, we will just be going round in circles and life in Nigeria will continue to be nasty, short and brutish. 

The time to change our path is NOW.

Thanks for listening.

Otunba (Dr) Gani Adams
National Coordinator Oodua People’s Congress
Chief Promoter Olokun Festival Foundation
Chairman Gani Adams Foundation
Convener Oodua Progressive Union.