THE FULANI HERDSMEN: THE LITMUS TEST FOR PRESIDENT BUHARI BY TUNDE ADENUGA

It is becoming a consistent trend that every democratically elected leader in Nigeria must confront a security monster and it is the handling of the monster that determines his fate afterwards. Obasanjo started with various tribal groups. Anyone who witnessed the menace between OPC and the Hausas at Idi-Araba and Iyana Ipaja over a decade ago would agree with me reasons these faction leaders, Chief Fasheun and Chief Gani Adams) had to lodge in Kuje prison for over four years.


Along that line, he had to also contend with the Biafra agitators led by Chief Uwazurike. The Biafra Chief had to make about 6 years rent available in a room apartment at the same
Kuje Prison. Then, the real war began by various factions in the Niger Delta led by Chief Asari Dokubo, Tompolo and Boyloaf. But the Chief that seemed to be more vocal among them had to be taken to an underground apartment in the same Kuje prison. Kuje finally became the house of Chiefs. The militant war of Niger Delta was the one that spelt doom for the entire tenure of two terms of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo . It got to a point, Nigeria's oil exportation was almost brought down to zero barrel per day. It was that tough.To Kidnap became the real business for the boys in the creeks.



All the albinos in Warri had to relocate to other parts of the country if you truly understand my point. To have peace in the country, the emergence of Dr GoodLuck Jonathan as vice president in Aso Rock became the Child of necessity to rescue the nation from collapsing. Even the power mongers in the North had to allow him. Obasanjo truly put OPC and Biafra agitators under control but the Niger Delta boys seemed to have had a legitimate war and regional bias and sympathy. So Dr Good luck Jonathan was the deal. Some votes didn't come from the North just because he had no shoes but the peace overshadowed all other interest. So, negotiation for the survival of our marriage of convenience of 1914 didn't just start today. I over heard some youth boasting of how President Buhari would handle Chief Tompolo that is refusing court order and I saw youths who should be recommended a book on sociology written by Max Weber. Not all wars you win with bullets As a custom, Jonathan had to face another war like situation. He finally secured the relative peace in the Niger Delta but the war against Bokoharam was the mountain that seemed to have swallowed him. His Anoldic and Rambolic skills for the last 6 weeks before the election could not convince most of the Northern voters. His so called effort of economic transformation didn't make sense either.

He just had to return to Otuoke. This is why the current President must be careful. He must be ready to face his own monster squarely. His monster is not the inherited Bokoharam but those guys I refer to as Trojans popularly called the Fulani Herdsmen. His own battle is like the case of a judge that needs to pronounce a capital judgement on his only son because he is also a herdsman. These Trojans seem to be killing at will. They go about with riffles. They seem to have a legal backing to end lives. They operate like gifted killers. They value the life of a cow than their fellow human being. Cows mean everything to them. They killed 100s in Benue under 48 hours, they sent many to their early graves in Taraba, they moved freely on farm land in Anambra, they were alleged to have kidnapped elder statesman in Ekiti, They injured many in Ibadan and crowned it with the last assault in Enugu in which over 20 families were forced into an unexpected funeral arrangements. At the moment, this group has been rated the 4th most dangerous group in the world in terms of number of people killed. How long can we continue with this?

 I overheard the minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed when he said the FG was handling the Herdsmen issue in secret. Why not treat them as bokoharam? Why not treat them as enemies of our survival. It seems many of them don't even know that killing is a crime. Some are even championing a Grazing Reserve Bill for them instead of advising them on private ranches. Isn't that another subtle negotiation with these killers? The earlier the president rises to the occasion, the faster he contains it in his tenure. At the moment, the President seems to be going about the issue in kid gloves.

 His relative silence or lack of response is worrisome. Or is it until the people begin to go about in weapons as a self defence? What the President will do in the next couple of weeks will determine that and a lot .

 God bless Nigeria

To Avoid Another Second Year Tsunami, The President Should Look at The Following :

1. Relieve Fashola of the current work burden. I believe he wants it urgently. Only that he can't talk. Take Power off his portfolio. Leave him with works and housing. Look for dynamic and proven electrical engineer if you can't go for Prof Berth to pick it up. He needs to be more effective. 
 

2. Restructure the ministry of Finance. Bring back the likes of Okonjo or go for a sound economist that will thoroughly work with the CBN. Let Adeosun focus on public Finance. That is her strength. 

3. Relieve Audu Ogbe or you redeploy him. Bring Femi Adesina back. If you can't do that. Then ask for someone that directly worked under him if not his deputy. His tempo must be sustained at all cost if our diversification agenda is a serious thing. If there is no way out to control pest on tomatoes, if this ebola hits Rice or Garri, then it is finished for the common man. If these old hands could not do it then when they were younger, it is a backward move engaging them now. 

4. Caution Mr Femi Adesina on public relations. He is likely to cause more damage to this government in this second year. He needs to realise that he is no longer the editor of " A man killed himself and ran away". He must learn to address the people. 

5. Appeal to NDA. Try as much as possible to understand the fundamentals that brought about this development. You still need the oil now for you to have a successful regime. The use of gun is not always the way out. Iya Mulikat won't accept that excuse from you for another failure. It makes you look incompetent. 

6. Balance the tribal and political sentiment of all regions especially in terms of appointment. It shows clearly with this first year result, that you need the support of every region to succeed. Those who clamoured that "they don't mind if all their ministers come from Daura caused you this first year damage and the second year will be alarming if you ignore this advice. The hatred and Sabotage is high now. You need to win the bias of every region to succeed as a government. Having your people's support makes you do better and faster than skills. 

7. You seem to have done well on Bokoharam. But the herdsmen seem to be controlling events now. Pls cut their wings before they go off radar. I know it is tough to control colleagues in business. But you can if you really want to. 

8. Be mindful of sycophants and the unbalanced optimists. They have done the first year damage.Tell them that the acknowledgement of malaria in my system doesn't mean I lack faith. It just helps me in telling the story of "I was once sick, but now, I am whole.

I wish you all the best in the second year.

God bless Nigeria

THE MADE IN NIGERIA GOOD CAMPAIGN AND MY COMMON SENSE FOR THE GOVERNMENT - TUNDE ADENUGA

The on going campaign for made in Nigeria goods especially from the political class seems like a good development especially in saving the Naira but unfortunately something seems to be missing in the campaign especially on how to go about it. Firstly, the earlier we realise that Nigeria is a country of not less than 170M people , the better it will prevent us in handling her like Ghana and cotonue of less than 50M put together. Local production capacity operates on a system frame work that is monitored over a particular period of time if the government truly wants the current people to still be alive to benefit in the new idea. It is natural that a generation should make life better for coming ones. But it is not a crime if they also demand for some taste in the juice. Everyone seems to be clamouring for made in Nigeria goods but only few are asking for the national current capacity, government policy structures, production time frame and resources, the issue of standard and specifications etc.

Pls get this! There is a modern away Nigerian government can champion this campaign and yet the currently existing people won't suffer. The question is how?

CURRENT DIRECTIVE AND IMPLICATIONS : The first question is on capacity . For instance on Aba shoes. If we must all wear shoes made in Aba, the question is what is Aba production capacity that will meet the demand of the entire country?

THE PAINS OF BUHARI'S LONDON GAFFE

By ‘Remi Oyeyemi

President Muhammadu Buhari: There is a cabal of corruption at work ‘under his nose’, says IPMAN

During my days at the Great University of Ife (Great Ife), the Obafemi Awolowo Hall (popularly called Awo Hall) was always an interesting place to be. It was the melting pot of campus politics. It was an effervescent environment for lively idealism. It was a pedestal where intelligence, smartness and brilliance were in perpetual contest. It was a potpourri where fragrant idealism constantly wrestled with inconvenient and stubborn reality. Self confidence was nurtured and sustained in that environment in those days. Awo Hall provided a context to test the theory of whether the University is going through you or you are just merely passing through the University.

Awo Hall was the shelter for the most radical campus newspapers. The career of many student union politicians was often made or marred in Awo Hall. The debate about campus politics was always as hot as that of the national politics or international politics. The debate about religion, its relevance or irrelevance to the advancement of man could not have been more contentious. When it came to sports, even the Sports Hall of the Great University could not compete with the vibrancy and fervor that were characteristic of, unique

PATRIOTISM: UNTIL BUHARI FIXES THE FUNDAMENTALS, THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES BY TUNDE ADENUGA

Patriotism of the people makes a leader a superman  than the measure of his strength and technical know how. 

I have come to realize in the cause of time that what builds a nation is neither primarily the technical know-how of those at the helm of affairs nor the beautiful idea and policies put in place but PATRIOTISM which emanates from having an adequate   sense of belonging, equity and fairness in the government. Until the current administration gets that fixed, this current struggle has no end in sight. 

There is no other time the present government needs the loyalty of her people than now. It is easier to say that the current crude oil price is the problem or the ongoing war against corruption. As at today, the dollar is exchanged at N320, inflation is trending towards double digits, the stock market goes red daily, unemployment rate goes North, the standard of living goes south and many more. You can say the future is promising but it will be unfair for anyone to deny the current situation of the country as well. 

In one of my published articles in the

2016 BUDGET : A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE IN AN OLD GARMENT BY TUNDE ADENUGA

No nation can grow faster than the ideology of her people. Show me a nation where the emotion of the citizens is more attached to those in charge of the nation more than the nation itself and I will point to you a nation that will be far from development. Because the equation is not always balance.

 I have personally thought through the whole corruption thing and I have come out with a conclusion that Nigerians seem to be the problem. To me, this corruption thing will thrive for a long time. In short, from all clear angles, it seems to me that our so called leaders are helpless including the ones that seem to have some elements of integrity around their necks or we are just building excuses for them? I am also beginning to have another mind of reasoning that even the former President Jonathan was not as weak as I thought only that he could not just help it at some certain stages. Because it is becoming obvious that PMB would be helpless in the end on this matter because he can't run this war race alone with this template. There is a template of

Reuben Abati: Inside Dambazau’s shoes

 “See what your friends are writing”

“Who?”

“Your fellow columnists. See how they are attacking the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazau, just because an orderly helped to shine his shoes in public.”

“I really don’t see what the hoopla is all about”

“Me too”

“I think many of our people just like to talk about shoes. For five years, Nigerians kept talking about how former President Goodluck Jonathan had no shoes as a child.”

“But he was the one that started it. Last week or so, the former President was again talking about  shoes. In America.”  

“I think people love shoes. That is why they won’t also allow Dambazau to rest over his shoes.”

“Read what your friend has written here. He says the orderly was subjecting himself to indignity by bending down to shine his oga’s shoes at a public ceremony.”

“He doesn’t understand. Many of the commentators are probably thinking of their own type of shoes. When you see some shoes, you’d certainly not want a speck of dust anywhere close by. There are shoes and there are shoes. All these people

IMF ADVICE : MY PEOPLE LET US REASON TOGETHER BEFORE WE MOVE.

I know some of us don't like politics especially my dear and beautiful  ladies. Pls politics aside. This is pure ECONOMICS. Ignore it at your peril. When your boy friend begins to withdraw you from those eatery visits, Coldstone , Lagoon restaurants etc. This could be one of the causes. So, bear with him and pls follow me.

  

Policies are beautiful and can be dangerous if not thoroughly looked into especially the ones that dictate economy. I will rather have a quake doctor than a quake economist. Because he is likely to kill everybody on the word "go". Those who witnessed SAP in 1986 can say more on it. 

This is  to advise the FG to look well before leaping even though it is a leap year.

Information as my disposal says IMF is currently advising us to do the following in order to have our macro economy back to shape:

1. Flexibility of the FOREX Market

2. Increase our VAT (rate I guess)

3. Removal of fuel subsidy. 

Let us think through pls.

Flexibility of the forex market may

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not be a serious issue with us especially in the medium and long term also because we are not practicing a communist system.

GOOD THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT THINGS : MY URGENT ADVICE FOR MR PRESIDENT

I have listened to various commentaries on why the ongoing war against corruption and treason should follow the rule of law and why the rule of law should be ignored at this point in time. One even asked me to go and echo “rule of law” to the “internally displaced persons” in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

Various lawyers and some members of the civil society have condemned the attitude and recent statement of the President on the rule of law during the Presidential Media Chat in respect to the court bail declaration on the former security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki and the Biafra agitator, Mr Nnamdi Kanu. 

The truth is, any judgment or decision that

THE NEED FOR THE REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY AND THE POLITICS OF INTEREST

The ongoing subtle campaign for the removal of fuel subsidy seems to be gaining more momentum in the recent days. It shows clearly from all indications that the. subsidy regime is not sustainable if we must continue to have the fuel in abundance at our filling stations, good roads hospitals etc.

Please, don't get me wrong. There is no country in the world where subsidy doesn't come to play even in the United States. It is a welfare package necessary to make life more bearable for the low income earners and those who earn none. But where subsidy is channelled may be the real cause of debate.
I am of the opinion that there is no President in Nigeria that doesn't want the best for the country including the former President, Goodluck Jonathan. But how come we do not still have power,hospital, good roads etc. It is easy to say it is due to lack of political will. Yes! Having a political will is great but there is something stronger

PRESIDENT BUHARI EITHER SWALLOWS HIS EGO OR SINK THE NATION IN HIS PRIDE

3 things he must begin to do now.

The first step to any national deliverance and relevance is first telling ourselves the TRUTH. Or else we will continue to live in the bubble as some are doing at the moment.

Pastor Tunde Bakare made it clear on Sunday that the FG was currently helpless and not knowing what to do. He quoted the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Elrufai who said "Nigeria's situation is beyond repairs".
I put it to you with all sense of responsibility that most of the things you read in the media these days especially on corruption allegations here and there are good to cleanse the system. But the charge against Dasuki is not the reason you don't have fuel in your car at the moment. The arrest of Dokpesi has nothing to do with the headline of Business Day of yesterday.They are just mere issues to keep us busy.

The engine of this country has

Reuben Abati: Wole Soyinka, A Sojourner Among Liars

Professor Wole Soyinka was quoted saying his latest book is the “nastiest” that he has written so far. InterInventions: Between Defective Memory and the Public Lie- A Personal Odyssey in The Republic of Liars (Ibadan: Bookcraft, 2015, 136pp) is quite close to being just that. But who knows if an even nastier book may follow as Soyinka embarks on the task of exposing lies in our Republic as he has promised that InterInventions, a follow up to Interventions series (I-IV) will be dedicated solely to the dismantling of lies in the public space: malicious and non-malicious lies, lies told, lies magnified, lies fraudulent, murderous lies, accidental lies, uttered from depraved minds whose sole intention is to create burdens for their victims, malign, impugn and lower the other so they can be raised or their stomachs can be nourished at other’s expense.

This is nevertheless, a publication in which Professor Soyinka settles strictly personal scores, but this is no pamphleteering that he modestly alludes to, but a fine, extended essay in the distinguished tradition of that form. He is polemical, punchy and critical – without mercy or measure! There is no deceit, no pulling of punches, not much of deliberate concealment; it is Soyinka wielding a Bazooka in one hand, and a gilt-edged knife in the