HelenIdo
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COVID-19: 24,000 children haven’t returned to school, says Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says over 24,000 children are yet to resume in the state after the first lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The governor said this while briefing newsmen at the State House, Ikeja on the COVID-19 update on Tuesday.
He explained that one of the reasons for reopening schools was to protect students from social vices.
He said, “After the first lockdown, we are still looking for about 24,000 children that have not come back to school. So, there is a challenge if you keep them out for that long.
“Their parents or guardians now turn them to other things instead of allowing them to come back and learn.
“We just don’t want to throw them (out) because they will just be roaming about the streets and become more endangered. You see incidents of child abuse and unprintable things that are being done to these children.
“We believe that schools, sometimes, happen to be the safe haven for them and we have done a roaster.
“We are monitoring. We are not saying that our position is sacrosanct and (it) can be reviewed down the line. If we monitor and realise that people are not taking responsibility, we make a recall and that is why decisions will be reviewed from time to time.”
By Sodiq Oyeleke
Source:https://punchng.com/covid-19-24000-children-havent-returned-to-school-says-sanwo-olu/
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[ICYMI] Poll: Nigerians call for extension of NIN deadline
Nigerians have urged the Federal Government to extend the deadline for the registration for the National Identification Number.
In a poll conducted on PUNCH‘s social media pages, 85.9 per cent of respondents across our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages voted in support of the extension.
On Twitter, 89 per cent of the 8324 votes were in favour of an extension. The same was the case on our Instagram Stories, which was seen by 3296 users.
However, the percentage of respondents who voted in support of an extension was lower on Facebook at 79.8 per cent. Number of respondents was 1000.
The Federal government had on December 15, 2020 declared that all SIMs that were not registered with valid NIN on the network of telecommunications companies would be blocked after December 30, 2020.
However, following public outcry against the short notice, it later extended the deadline, giving 3 weeks’ extension for subscribers with NIN from December 30, 2020, to January 19, 2021, and a 6-week extension for subscribers without NIN from December 30, 2020, to February 9, 2021.
The timing of the NIN registration amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has left many Nigerians and other stakeholders faulting the Federal Government’s decision to embark on the exercise now.
Crowds at the registration centres of the National Identity Management Commission have also left many fearing a surge in the cases of COVID-19 in the country.
One of the respondents, Erhiyoma Maxwell said, “If they are really concerned about the spread of Covid19, then the date should be shifted to avoid rush and over crowding.”
Another respondent, Akeem Emmanuel tweeted, “It should be extended indefinitely.”
A Twitter user, Clinton Chidiebere agreed with Emmanuel, as he tweeted, “There shouldn’t be deadline in the first place.”
Meanwhile, following the large crowds that besiege its state offices in Lagos and Abuja, NIMC has released a list of over 50 NIN enrolment centres in the two cities.
According to NIMC Spokesman, Kayode Adegoke, the decentralisation will help decongest the large gatherings at the state offices in the two cities as well as make the NIN registration process faster and easier for applicants.
By Punch News
Source:https://punchng.com/poll-nigerians-call-for-extension-of-nin-deadline/
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Ekiti Court Sentences Assistant Commissioner Of Police To Life Imprisonment For ‘Working With Kidnappers’
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, has sentenced an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Okubo Aboye, to life imprisonment for buying stolen vehicle from kidnappers in the state.
Aboye was sentenced to life imprisonment alongside his mechanic, Niyi Ibrahim Afolabi, on Monday.
The court also sentenced seven others: Solomon Ayodele Obamoyegun (39), Femi Omiawe (40), Damilola Obamoyegun (20), Bose Sade Ajayi (30), George Lucky (35), Chukwuma Nnamani (22) and Sunday Ogunleye (45) to five years imprisonment each without an option of fine for kidnapping.
In their testimony, the investigating police officers said the stolen car was tracked to the compound of ACP Okubo, whom on interrogation confessed that he bought the vehicle from his mechanic who received it from the kidnappers.
The prosecutor, Felix Awoniyi, revealed that “the offence runs contrary to sections 346(2), 1(2)a, and Section 5 of the Criminal Code Cap C16 laws of Ekiti State, 2012 and Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The charge indicated that the offence was committed between 9th and 19th of May, 2005 at GRA, Ado-Ekiti, when the 1st to 7th accused, armed with guns to kidnap one Moses Ajogri, 40, robbed him of his Toyota Hilux van with registration number — APP 509 BK.
In his judgement, Justice John Adeyeye found the Assistant Commissioner of Police guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment accordingly.
“I found you guilty of receiving stolen vehicle. All evidence pointed to the fact that you were aware that the car was stolen. You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence.
“Kidnapping people for ransom is very rampant in not only the state but in Nigeria as a whole. The court will be failing in its duty to protect the members of the society if adequate punishment is not given to the accused persons," he said.
BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK
SOURCE:http://saharareporters.com/2021/01/18/ekiti-court-sentences-assistant-commissioner-police-life-imprisonment-%E2%80%98working-kidnappers
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BREAKING: One feared dead, scores of cars burnt as tanker explodes in Ogun
One person was feared dead while scores of vehicles got burnt in a tanker explosion that occurred in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The incident occurred around 8:15 am on Tuesday on the Presidential Boulevard Road around Guarantee Trust Bank opposite Lawson Group School, Kuto, Abeokuta.
The explosion, which reportedly involved a 33,000-fuel laden tanker, happened due to a break failure.
Our correspondent, who was at the motor park close to the scene observed that the tanker which was coming from Sagamu-Siun-Oke-Mosan Road climbed the overhead bridge but suddenly lost control while descending from the bridge .
The tanker hit a motorcycle which was in motion and rammed into some commercial vehicles waiting for passengers at the end of the bridge.
Shortly after it rammed into the scores of the vehicles, it exploded.
The fire which spread to a few offices around the place caused panic as many motorists started making reverse to avoid being caught up in the explosion.
There was anxiety over the fate of some pupils who were in the vehicles around the place and in the school premises opposite the scene of explosion.
As of the time of filing this report, some officials of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps were seen at the scene controlling the traffic.
Officials of the fire services were still being expected at the scene.
Details later…
By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta
Source: https://punchng.com/breaking-one-feared-dead-scores-of-cars-burnt-as-tanker-explodes-in-ogun/
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Go tough on killers of security operatives, PDP charges Buhari
…Insists on new service chiefs
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the recent abduction and killing of security operatives by terrorists, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to go the whole distance to put an end to all forms of killings across the country.
The PDP gave the charge, Monday in a statement issued by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan.
The main opposition party lamented that the escalated acts of terrorism in the country, “now worsened by the incessant attack on security operatives, the latest being the abduction of no fewer than 18 police operatives by bandits in Kaduna state, further highlights the failures of Mr President to coordinate an effective fight against terrorism in our country.”
The statement further read: “Our party, as the voice of the people, tasks President Buhari to show concern to the plight of Nigerians who are being ravaged by terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and vandals whose activities have been emboldened by the indolent and languid attitude of his administration, including its recent dismissive statement to Nigerians to “wait on God” for a solution.
“President Buhari should listen to Nigerians and rejig his command structure, which has become so weak that officials now rationalize acts of terrorism to the extent of blaming victims, as was the case in the 43 farmers recently beheaded by terrorists in Borno state.
“The situation has become so bad that it took Chadian President, Idris Derby to personally lead his troops into our territories to root out insurgents and free Nigerian communities and our soldiers held captive by terrorists.
“It is indeed unfortunate that despite the manifest security lapses, Mr President has refused to respect the consensus by Nigerians across the board, as validated by the two chambers of the National Assembly to rejig his security architecture, by replacing his service chiefs with more competent hands.
‘The PDP calls on President Buhari to demonstrate a sense of responsibility to the duties of his office in the interests of vulnerable Nigerians who are daily falling victim to bandits, terrorists and kidnappers prowling the land.
“Mr. President must know that Nigerians have become despondent due to his failure to provide leadership to our troubled nation.
“Our party, however, identifies with the police and other security agencies at this trying time and urge them not to be deterred.
“The PDP also call on Nigerians to continue to be at alert and not to relent in providing useful information to our security agencies in the fight against terrorism in the country.”
By Dirisu Yakubu, Abuja
Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/01/go-tough-on-killers-of-security-operatives-pdp-charges-buhari/
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Ondo pupils, teachers resume, shun COVID-19 protocols
Following the resumption of schools in Ondo State for a new academic session on Monday, the adherence to the COVID-19 protocols was conspicuously ignored at the schools.
It was observed that most of the pupils who returned to schools after the holidays have flouted the COVID-19 guidelines as some of them did not use their face masks while those who were with them hung them below their jaws.
In most of the schools visited by our correspondent in Akure, the state capital, on Monday morning parents as well as teachers also ignored the proper way of face masks’ usage as they were putting it on for the sake of formality.
At Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, it was observed that the school provided buckets of water, soap, and sanitizers at the school gate, but those coming into the school, particularly the newly admitted pupils and their parents who were eager to register for the new academic session did not make use of the provisions by the school.
The returning pupils were observed to have removed their masks after gaining entrance into the school premises.
They also moved in groups ignoring the social distancing guideline.
At Eji-Oba High, Oba-Ile in Akure North, Local Government Area of the state, there was zero compliance. There was no provision of water, soap, and sanitizers at the school gate. Both the teachers and students walked in without the use of face masks.
The situation was, however, a bit different in St. Louis Grammar School, Akure, and Fiwasaye Girls’ Grammar School, as they complied partially with the protocols.
Speaking on the issue, the Principal of the Oyemekun Grammar School, Mr Ogunleye Okeowo, said the pupils who flouted the guidelines would be sent back home.
He said, “We have to abide by the rules of COVID-19 protocols. It’s real and we must not joke about it. Maybe because of ignorance, some people don’t even believe in it. It’s real, and that is why you saw buckets of water as well as soap and sanitizers across the premises of the schools.
“As for pupils who removed their face masks while in the school premises, we are going to deal with them. These boys, after coming in, remove it and keep it in their pockets. We’ve been telling them since last term that they have to come with their face masks. If we see any of them without a face mask, we’ll have to send him back home.”
Expressing concern over the development, the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Education, Mr Akin Asaniyan, emphasized that parents should be blamed for most of the non-compliance attitude of the pupils.
He said, “This disease is real and it is killing. But from what we’ve seen, the parents, especially are not taking it seriously. Most of them allow their children to resume without a face mask and some basic things. Why take such a risk? For the teachers who are parents too, they should do what is expected of them as parents.
“Where we don’t meet the required standard, we won’t allow such schools to operate, until the situation is rectified. Today is the first day of resumption, we will still brainstorm on what to do on the issue of clustering among the students. There will be a way out, that I can assure you. We are not going to take any risks.”
By Peter Dada, Akure
Source;https://punchng.com/ondo-pupils-teachers-resume-shun-covid-19-protocols/
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Buhari shuns Senate, approves acting DG for NDE
The Presidency on Monday announced that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has approved the appointment of Abubakar Fikpo as the acting Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment pending the appointment of a substantive DG.
The presidential approval was contrary to the position of the Senate which on December 10, 2020, urged Buhari to rescind the presidential directive sacking Dr. Nasiru Argungu, as the NDE DG.
In sacking Argungu last year in the wake of the controversy that trailed the Federal Government’s planned 774,000 jobs, Buhari had directed the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, who supervises the agency to nominate an acting DG for the agency.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Monday said Buhari had approved the nomination made by Keyamo.
The statement was titled “President Buhari approves nomination of Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo as the acting DG of the National Directorate of Employment.”
It read, “President Muhammadu Buhari has formally conveyed to the Hon. Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, his approval of the nomination of Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo as the Acting Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment pending the appointment of a substantive Director-General for the Agency.
“Last month, the President relieved the former DG of the agency of his appointment, and directed the Minister to nominate an Acting DG to superintend over the Agency pending the appointment of a substantive DG.”
The resolution of the Senate asking Buhari to reinstate Argungu followed a point of order raised on the floor by the Senator representing Jigawa East Senatorial District, Ibrahim Hadejia.
The Senate also urged Buhari to probe the frosty relationship between Argungu and Keyamo.
The red chamber argued that the removal of Argungu could delay the take-off of the Federal Government programme aimed at providing jobs for 774, 000 Nigerians.
The upper chamber also urged Buhari to order an investigation into the cause of the frosty relationship between Argungu and Keyamo.
By Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja
Source:https://punchng.com/buhari-shuns-senate-approves-acting-dg-for-nde/
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Army conniving with herdsmen on attacks – Ogun monarchs
TRADITIONAL Rulers in Ketu communities of Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have petitioned the Nigerian Army over alleged connivance of its officers with herdsmen to harass villagers in the state.
The traditional rulers are the Oniggua of Iggualand, Oba Micheal Dosumu; the Eselu of Iseluland, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi; and the Alademeso of Igan Alade, Oba Gabriel Olalowo.
The monarchs in a petition addressed to the Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Alamala, Abeokuta, complained that herdsmen invaded their territories with soldiers and harassed their people.
The traditional rulers in the petition titled, ‘matter of urgency,’ dated January 7, 2020, said the incident occurred around 2pm on December 19, 2020.
The petition read in part, “The Baale was asked to gather his subjects and people from nearby villages which he did. The suspected soldiers told the people that the purpose of their visit was to inform them that the Fulani herders would be coming into their communities to graze cows.
“After their address, they asked if anyone had question or comment to make in reaction to the information. Expectedly, one Mr Seye Mulero responded by calling the attention of the soldiers to the inherent challenges of allowing the herders in their communities based on the sad previous experiences in the community.
“That the said Seye Mulero further cited past killings, maiming and destruction of farms to buttress his point. Sadly, at this point, the soldiers seized him and mercilessly beat him up.
“In the same manner, the Fulani herders in company of the suspected soldiers left Ibeku for Asa, the adjoining village to address the Baale of Asa and his subjects as they had earlier done at Ibeku, the people refused to respond, having heard what transpired at Ibeku.
“However, one of the Fulani herders sighted some of people in the audience and picked on them as those that purportedly shouted on them at Ibeku while brutalising their victim (Seye Mulero). The herders asked the soldiers to also deal with them.
The monarch further said the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, had on January 3 brokered a meeting over the matter at the Police Divisional Headquarters, Eggua.
According to them, during the meeting, some of the herders confirmed that they brought the soldiers that escorted them while grazing their herds on the people’s lands, a development that the CP himself strongly condemned.
The monarchs asked the military authority to identify, investigate and prosecute the suspected soldiers for the alleged connivance and involvement in the attacks on the villagers by the Fulani herdsmen.
Attempts to get reaction from the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, failed as the new Army Public Relations Officer did not answer calls to his mpbile phone, while he had yet to respond to a message sent to his phone.
A source in the army, however, told our correspondent that the Army in Abeokuta was aware of the issues in the areas, disclosing that no fewer than four Fulani herdsmen were allegedly killed by the villagers and their remains could not be found
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed that there were lingering problems between the herders and the people into the area.
By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta
Source;https://punchng.com/army-conniving-with-herdsmen-on-attacks-ogun-monarchs/
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NIN: FG insists on Wednesday deadline, diplomats’ registration
The Federal Government on Sunday insisted that the deadlines given for the registration of all Subscriber Identification Modules with valid National Identity Numbers were still in force.
It also declared that the NIN was mandatory for diplomats who reside in Nigeria, as well as for all other lawful residents across the country.
Asked whether the Federal Government had eventually advised the Nigerian Communications Commission as regards the deadlines for SIM registration with NIN, the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Ikechukwu Adinde, told our correspondent that nothing had changed.
On Thursday, The PUNCH exclusively reported that the NCC was awaiting the advice of the Federal Government as regards the stipulated deadlines.
“The deadlines are still in force; there is no update for now and just like I told you last week, if there is any change you will be communicated,” Adinde stated on Sunday.
Calls for deadline extension are mainly due to the large crowds that gather daily at the various offices of the National Identity Management Commission, as many telephone subscribers had yet to get their NINs.
On December 15, 2020, the Federal Government declared that after December 30, 2020, all SIMs that were not registered with valid NINs on the network of telecommunications companies would be blocked.
It later extended the December 30, 2020 deadline following widespread opposition against the earlier announcement and gave three-week extension for subscribers with NIN from December 30, 2020 to January 19, 2021.
It also gave six-week extension for subscribers without NIN from December 30, 2020 to February 9, 2021, but many organisations had called for further deadline extension or outright suspension of the NIN integration process.
This came as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, declared on Sunday that all diplomats living in Nigeria must have NINs.
The minister approved the setting up of a NIN enrolment centre at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs for diplomats. The desk would be set up on January 19, 2021.
A statement issued in Abuja by Pantami’s aide, Femi Adeluyi, stated that the centre would provide support for members of the diplomatic corps and would be managed by the communications ministry through NIMC.
The ministry stated that the centre was being set up based on the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in order to simplify the process for diplomats.
It said, “The NIN is mandatory for diplomats who will reside in Nigeria for a continuous period of two years or more.
“It is also mandatory for all other lawful residents in the country as stated in Section 16 of the NIMC Act 2007.”
It stated that the law had made it mandatory for Nigerians and legal residents to obtain a NIN since 2007.
It, however, noted that compliance had been low, until recently.
It said the communications ministry was committed to creating an environment that was conducive for all Nigerians and legal residents to obtain their NINs.
By Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja
Source; https://punchng.com/nin-fg-insists-on-wednesday-deadline-diplomats-registration/
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January 17, 2021
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Let me state from the outset that the specific objective of this article is to engage the power elite in Western Nigeria, the most developed region in Nigeria, on why they do not need a federal Development Commission at this time to develop their region. It is also not to berate the southwest federal legislators who have sponsored the South West Development Commission Bill (2019) now being debated in Abuja. I just would like us to ‘calm down’ and reason together without raising dust over needless debate and bombast on why the Bill should be withdrawn. I would also like to appeal to those who have been promised some limitless opportunities that will come with setting up of a federal Commission – to develop the South West – to hold their breadth for now. Let’s debate the feasibility and risk assessment ‘reports’ on the legislative project. I just want us to engage one another on why that legislative project is though promising and prominent, it is not significant at this time. I would like to reiterate here that the bill (SWDC) will complicate development agenda for South West when we all need to persuade the ruling powers in Abuja to fulfil their promises on organic federalism. That is the clincher that will work in the long run for the South West.
So, let’s migrate from the debate on how their strong institutions have helped them to defend democracy and development agenda in America, their America. It’s a time to borrow some brilliance from Tip O’Neill, the proponent of all ‘politics is local’ saying and face our local politics this week. It is a time to speak again some truths to our local powers, notably to revive and sustain development agenda in Western Nigeria, the pacesetter region, which set the tone for physical, infrastructural development for Nigeria long before independence. For the young ones who didn’t know, the Western Region, Nigeria set up the first television station in Africa – Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) on 31st October 1959. That is what is today known as Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), which was seized by the military in 1977 when it was merged with Benue Plateau Television Corporation and Radio Kaduna Television and others. The same Western Nigeria built and opened the first stadium (in Africa) in Ibadan since 1960. It was originally named Liberty Stadium with a capacity for 25, 000 seats. It is also worth remembering that Western Nigeria had in (1956) opened its ‘foreign mission’ in the United Kingdom before Nigeria’s independence in 1960. The first Western Region’s envoy called “Agent-General” to the U.K was a lawyer of Itsekiri extraction, Chief M.E.R. Okorodudu. The residence the Western Region procured for its first ambassador is still the official residence of Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. There are other firsts. But this is just to build a case against the South West Development Commission Bill that the region doesn’t need. And here is the epilogue against it: the Western Nigeria, which set the pace recalled above – even before independence should not be competing with war and terror zones that have had interventionist outfits to rebuild their broken walls – Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and North East Development Commission (NEDC). What is more, the NDDC has been fingered as a cesspool of corruption. Even there are snippets already from the NEDC that Nigeria’s public enemy, number one, corruption has found its way into the new northeast development agency, NEDC.
Amosun and 17 other senators on the SWDC Bill
When Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on behalf of 17 other senators, opened the debate on the Bill in March, 2020 on the floor of the Senate he noted the following:
‘…Mr. President, Distinguished colleagues, it is a great honour and privilege to, on behalf of all the l7 other Senators from the South West geopolitical zone of the country, lead the debate for an Act to establish the South West Development Commission… Mr President, Distinguished colleagues, this Bill was first read on the floor of the Senate in November, 2019. In leading this debate, I would like to crave your indulgence to stress that the issues that necessitated the enactment of this are prevalent in all the other geopolitical zones in the country. What this literarily means is that all the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria have more or less similar issues.
Mr President, Distinguished colleagues, in the pre-independence period up into the early post-independence era, Nigeria was made up of three regions: Northern, Eastern and Western Regions. Midwestern Region was later carved out of the Western Region. In the Western Region, the founding fathers had a development ideology, which focused on the empowerment of the people. A policy mix in such core areas as health, education, agriculture, employment, infrastructural development and a functional and efficient public service agenda for the region was in place. The free primary education scheme and the universal health programme were two elements of their governance agenda, which were meant to produce a vibrant human capital as a basis for sustainable growth of the region.
The result of that policy mix was the transformation of the Southwest into an infrastructural paradise as experienced up to the most remote of locations across the region. Years after, especially since the return of Nigeria to democracy, which has now gone unbroken for 20 years plus, nothing bears similitude in virtually all the six states of the Southwest to the progressive development and assured march to the old Western Region. There is a gloomy picture of the region that is alarmingly in dire lack on almost all fronts.
Today, with an ever-increasing population due to rural-urban migration, facilities in the Southwest region especially social amenities are increasingly stretched, just as living standards continue to plummet. Majority of roads are calling for urgent attention. Many state-owned hospitals have inadequate medical personnel and equipment that can properly manage the health needs of patients. Educational institutions are not what they used to be, Industrial estates have become desolate, while a few which are still functional are struggling to remain in business.
The massive growth and activity of the agricultural sector evidenced with endless rubber and cocoa plantations have since given way while growth of local industries has been stalled. Also, no effective bureaucracy exists, and with the least premium placed on capacity development, human resources development has ceased being a culture. Added to these, are policy inconsistencies and profligacy in governance and leadership styles. Everything seems at the lowest ebb.
Mr President. Distinguished colleagues, the Southwest region has immense prospects and potentials, which are capable of making it rival any of the flourishing Arabian enclaves making waves globally today. Aside hosting Nigeria’s busiest airport, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the busiest highway, the Lagos lbadan Expressway, 60 per cent of Nigeria’s industrial capacity, banking assets and even insurance assets are situated in the region. These are in addition to holding two of Nigeria’s most important deep seaports the Apapa Port Complex and Tin Can Island, thus having access to both land and sea borders.
Consequently, Mr President, Distinguished colleagues the push for the establishment of the South West Development Commission is an attempt to address the dwindling fortunes of the South West region by implementing a regional development plan, taking into consideration the region‘s unique endowments, natural advantages and capabilities. This is one of the major reasons we are proposing the establishment of this commission…
The Bill for this Commission, if passed into law will enhance regional integration, which is capable of delivering the benefits of large economies of scale. It is my firm belief that this Bill will act as catalyst to develop the geo-political zone by providing legislative backing to address some of these challenges in the South West, just as it has been done for other geo political zones in this hallowed chambers…’
On the surface, the argument of the former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Amosun appears seminal. But I think all the brains behind this project should note that all the bill should be seen for what it is: a diminution to the stature of the South West region, which should continue to be a reference point in the country. As I once noted here what happened to the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) launched since 2012? What have the South West Governors made of the development plan and the Commission set up to implement the DAWN agenda headed by a Director General? What happened to the spirit that led to the formation of the regional security outfits despite the powerful opposition forces in Abuja?
As I specifically wrote here on October 28, 2018 in an article titled, ‘Yoruba: Time to Speak Truth To Power’ https://guardian.ng/opinion/yoruba-time-to-speak-truth-to-power/, let’s begin to ask some vital and ‘glocalised’ questions again about Western Nigeria, once a pacesetter region. But our representatives and leaders should note and answer these questions:
Where are the measurable and significant dividends of democracy that southwest leaders have attracted to the Western Nigeria since 1999? Where are the gains of head start and robust investment in education in Western region? What happened to the spirit of the legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo on education quality as a weapon of country competitiveness? What happened to the Africa’s premier stadium in Ibadan? What happened to the once great state universities governors Adekunle Ajasin, Lateef Jakande and Olabisi Onabanjo set up in 1983 before the fall of second republic? Where is the replacement for the Great University of Ife (set up in 1962) the soldiers of fortune seized since 1975? What happened to the original Oyo State University of Technology (1990) now Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology (LAUTEC) set up by Governor Sasaenia Adedeji Oresanya in 1990? Where are the replacements of the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) Chief Awolowo set up in 1959 and was seized by the military which is now NTA?
Whatever happened to University College Hospital, (UCH) the late Dr. Samuel Manuwa, Nigeria’s first Medical Doctor assisted in establishing when S.L Akintola was Nigeria’s Health Minister? What happened to the roads to the two Apapa Ports in Lagos Chief Bode George once presided over? Whatever happened to the Daily Sketch S.L Akintola, former Premier of Western Region set up? What happened to the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) great document launched in Lagos with funfair in March 2012? What happened to the Lagos-Ibadan Express Road since 1999 when Amosun’s generation of political leaders emerged? What happened to the assets of the Oduduwa Group of Companies? Answers to these questions about the state of the Yoruba nation should not blow in the wind. There are no easy answers but the questions as I was saying have just shown that instead of flying over our decrepit road infrastructure, to Abuja to present a bill for a federal Development Commission for Western Nigeria, there are questions of local significance the Amosuns in and outside Abuja need to answer at home. What have the governors and political leaders in the region contributed to making the DAWN Commission in Ibadan a huge success since 2012?
# We will continue this debate next week
By Martins Oloja
Source:https://guardian.ng/opinion/does-southwest-need-federal-development-commission/