Politics

The decision of the National Assembly to jettison the probe on loans obtained by the Federal Government and the approval for the collection of more loans confirms the suspicion that the Executive and Legislature have a grand plan to sell off Nigeria.
This assertion was made by an Ex-Officio of the Oyo State Council of the  Trade Union Congress(TUC), who is also a former chairman of the union in the state, Comrade Andrew Eemlieze.
''The decision of the lawmakers not to go on with the probe of the loans collected by the Federal Government from China and the approval of more loans by both chambers of the National Assembly has confirmed the suspicion of Nigerians that the Executive and the legislature have started implementing their desperate plans to sell off Nigeria. This is very unfortunate and ridiculous. Nigerians should prevail on the government not to collect additional loans and to ensure that the loans collected so far are repaid before the tenure of the present administration lapses,'' Comrade Emelieze stated.

1963/64, 1983, 1993, and 2003 are significant years in Nigeria's history.

A number of political office holders may have learnt a lot of lessons from history, even though others have become perpetual learners and have continually repeated avoidable mistakes of the past.

In a number of days to come, Nigerians will elect a brand new President and the statutorily stipulated lawmakers.

Sadly, February 25th, a date that ought to attract happiness and hopes for Nigerians, has become a source of great worry.

This date will serve as the long awaited JUDGMENT day for Nigerians to either reward good governance or effect a change in the present status quo, where and if necessary, in the center and the 36 states on March 11.

Indeed, the gloomy faces of Nigerians constitute a major indication that the democratic experience has been that of despondency, anguish, sorrow and bitterness.

Without doubt, the journey has been a political mis-adventure directed by the political class, who have, overtime, displayed a stubborn resolve not to learn any lessons from history.

The Truth in Agonies and Hardships

A school thought has it that the agonies, hardships and difficulties, Nigerians are presently experiencing were deliberately designed to make the electorate vulnerable to evil influences on election days. Perhaps this is true.

NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County man who previously served as a staff member in the New Jersey Senate today admitted his role in a conspiracy to falsely inflate the invoices that a political consultant submitted to various campaigns, political action committees, and IRS 501(c)(4) organizations, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.  

Antonio Teixeira, 43, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of tax evasion. 

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From 2014 to 2018, Teixeira conspired with Sean Caddle, and Caddle’s political consulting firms, to defraud various campaigns, political action committees, and 501(c)(4) organizations of $107,800. Teixeira then failed to report this illicit income on tax forms that he filed with the IRS during those same years. 

Caddle was hired by a former New Jersey state senator to create the PACs and 501(c)(4)s so that they could raise and spend money to advocate on a variety of issues, including supporting particular candidates in local races around New Jersey. Teixeira served as the senator’s chief of staff and wielded influence over the consultants that the campaigns and organizations hired and the budgets that each of these organizations would receive. 

Teixeira and Caddle conspired to falsely inflate the invoices that Caddle’s consulting firms submitted to the campaigns, PACs and 501(c)(4)s with phony campaign-related expenditures. Caddle and Teixeira were fraudulently padding the invoices because they agreed to split the difference between Caddle’s actual campaign expenditures and the overage charged to the organizations. Caddle paid a portion of Teixeira’s share to him in cash and funneled the remainder to Teixeira via checks made to out to Teixeira’s relatives in order to conceal that campaign money was being kicked back to Teixeira. In total, Teixeira received more than $100,000. Although Teixeira pocketed these fraudulent proceeds and used the money for personal expenses, he never reported the money on the tax forms that he filed with the IRS during the course of the scheme.

The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a statutory maximum prison sentence of 20 years, while the tax evasion charge carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison. Both charges are also punishable by a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for March 27, 2023.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy L. Tomlins, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Farrell, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit, and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee M. Cortes Jr.

Source-FBI

The action and inaction of State Governors in Nigeria have for long being trailed by a plethora of promises.

Even though a number of them are not foundation members of the parties in question, they were given the opportunity to ascend the exalted position.

Sadly, they have destroyed these political parties.

The results of the ward, Local Government and State Primaries were manipulated to satisfy the self-centered interests of these State Governors. Interestingly, consensus has replaced election, to the chagrin of the people.

This abnormality revolves around greed.

Indeed, in the present time, the party leadership is now vested in the affected State Governors while the party Chairmen have since become ceremonial heads.

These State Governors are now in full control of the structures in the national, State, Local Government and ward levels. Most of the political parties have been decapitated, while delegates who elected candidates for various political offices were strictly the choice of the powerful.

Note-

Nigerians have continued to fall victims of criminals, who dispossess them of their landed properties in connivance with certain corrupt officials in the Executive and the Judiciary

The prevalence of opportunists in Zambia who take advantage of belonging to the political party in power to promote selfish interests rather than serving the country has been condemned.
This condemnation was given  by the Member of Parliament representing Chiengi province, Hon. Given Katuta on her Facebook page.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt                                                               -Legalizing Crime and Criminality
''You don’t have to necessarily belong to a ruling political party to serve this nation better! Stop fooling us! You are doing so, for selfish reasons…..shameless harlots! Who isn’t aware you are in a hurry to join the ruling party so you may be forgiven of your past crimes or simply because you are looking for survival since you are lazy suckers who can’t survive on your own unless through government resources.''

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality
''This country seems to have ‘kissed goodbye’ to political ideology once UNIP got ejected from power in the early 1990s. Immediately the flame was extinguished to be replaced by the clock, we woke up to smartly dressed individuals in business suits, their chests adorned with an array of degrees, who wasted no time pontificating about the manner liberal economic policies would extricate us from the quagmire in their impressive fake American accents! Did they even believe in their own mantra in the first place?''

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach
''Enough is enough! We must start addressing such individuals by their correct titles – unpatriotic and selfish citizens hell-bent on plundering our resources. These are lazy chaps who can’t survive outside the framework of politics. They are used to being associated with a party in power so they can continue enjoying the spoils through government jobs or contracts, Katuta posted.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Political parties and civil society groups in Nigeria have been called upon to form a coalition that shall have the capacity of winning elections at lower levels of government.

This call was made recently by Barrister Femi Aborishade at the General Executive Council meeting of the Socialist Workers and Youth League(SWL) in Ibadan, Nigeria.

‘’Political parties and civil society groups should form a coalition to win elections at some levels of governance. There is a need for a minimum program for the interest of the ordinary people. I cannot be involved in any political party that we cannot argue out our ideas’’, Barr. Aborishade declared.

Speakers at the meeting which include the League’s Chairperson, Comrades Kemi Afolayan, Dew Povey, Helen, Andrew Emelieze, Peter, Abiodun Oladosu and Lai Browne among others were unanimous on the need for stakeholders to be focused and unrelenting in their quest to facilitate the emergence of a responsible and people oriented leadership in Nigeria.

Both chambers of the 9th National Assembly shall be inaugurated next week and Nigerians are hopeful that the elected representatives of the people shall make laws that shall impact positively on impoverished Nigerians who have not seized to contend with insecurity.

Nigerians are also hopeful that the lawmakers shall not in any way or circumstance become rubber stamps for decisions from the Executive that are anti-people and dictatorial in content.

In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke says that the expectations of Nigerians revolve on a people driven Legislature that would not massage the back of the Executive, but enact enabling laws that will not only regulate and control the excesses of the Executive, but emancipate the masses from the vicious cycle of poverty and insecurity. Excerpts :

What do you think the lawmakers of the 9th National Assembly should embark upon, considering the performance of the lawmakers of the 8th National Assembly ?

The 8th National Assembly’s performance was hostile and antagonistic considering its relationship with the Executive, this later affected the people negatively and harshly.

When bills are passed into law, there must be corresponding enabling empowerment programmes and projects on it, for the law to have impact on the society.

To an average Nigerian, the last four years of the National Assembly, has been more of orchestrated ceremony of wealth, rather than that of enabling the people that gave them the mandate to serve.

It had been more of celebrating trivialities, that have ever failed to articulate development.

It is unfortunate that Nigeria is yet to address several issues. For example, we failed to learn from the experience of secession by placing emphasis on the problem of the fall in the international price of oil as it affected the budget, rather than looking inward on the country’s style of management and the structure of the payment of salaries and allowances which tilts favorably more to the side of the political class, while the civil and public servants continue to groan and grumble with the given token because of the corresponding low purchasing power of the Naira.

A suggestion to review the wages of the political class downward, to cushion the effect of the recession, was met the deaf ears of government.

Despite the heavy weight of the salaries and allowances of the political class, corruption and institutional indiscipline continued unabated, rendering the efforts of the Federal Government in this direction ineffective, specifically for Nigerians to turn a new leaf.

The aspect of plea bargaining for the big wigs and no deterrence record for the offenders had made the exercise to become a laughing stock, to the favor of the opposition that eventually rose from their ‘’dead’’ state to compete and win in a number of states and to pose a major threat to the’ almighty’ Federal Government during elections.

If all these issues are not addressed, Nigerians would not yet be happy, in celebrating the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly.

Characteristically, on record of history there had always been downward profile of performances on goodness and rising profile of moral decadence from one session to the other as the players exchange batons from one dispensation to the other.

From the look of things, although the mistake of the past whereby the All Progressives Congress(APC) government was not cohesive enough for the leadership of the National Assembly, to favor the Executive is still lingering.

Now that they are struggling to have their way, the fear must be on the effectiveness in serving the people, rather than rubbing the back of the Executive.

The expectations of the people generally, at home and abroad is that objectivity should be the axis of operation, based on global best practices that is incorruptible Judiciary, people driven legislature on the issue of their welfare through enacting enabling laws that will not only regulate and control the excesses of the Executive, but directed purposely to emancipate the cause of the masses on the issues of their welfare and well being.

The Executive, on their harnessing power for resources, is expected to serve the people sincerely through transparency and accountability to promote inclusive governance through the principle of equity.

If the APC government is to be sincere then, no member is expected to run foul of these goals because change of government is expected to address areas of heresies, weaknesses and failures of the outgoing dispensation, which visibly was responsible for the failure to effectively and completely achieve anything reasonable on the subject matter of zero tolerance to corruption and institutional discipline.

Irrespective of still controlling power, the arms and tiers of government which the ruling members of the ruling party are the occupants, now need to unite to achieve these fundamental aspects of heresies which happen to be the bane of our democratic disposition for worthwhile development.

Prices of foodstuff in various markets in Nigeria is on the increase, despite the Federal Government’s insistence that it has done a lot to ensure that the agriculture sector is able to provide the food needs of the people and revenue for government.

Interestingly, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh has declared that 90 per cent of rice in the markets are locally produced, Nigerians, however, dismiss the Minister’s claim, arguing that most of the markets sell imported rice. In this interview, the Founder, Grand Imam and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke says that successive governments did not explore the various opportunities in the agriculture sector. Excerpts :

The prices of foodstuff in the markets are on the increase, what do you think is the cause ?

Nigeria is overdue for meaningful diversification of the economy.

Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s regime established the refineries with the hope of satisfying domestic demand for petroleum products. Port harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries were established and these refineries functionally produced to the satisfaction of the people of Nigeria.

The government then, equally had on its agenda, the expansion prospects, this was not to be due to the absence of continuity in governance.

The export of crude oil gained prominence, while the refining of crude oil abroad for home consumption took center stage.

Initially, Nigeria enjoyed the domestic production of crude oil, same was the case of imported refined petroleum products.

The long years of military rule in Nigeria affected policies of government and resulted in the neglect of the refineries. This now made the country to depend heavily on imported petroleum products.

Also, crude oil as the mainstay of the economy suffered from activities in the international market, such as fluctuations in prices.

This to a large extent negatively affected the annual budget, since budget performance was hinged on the unstable price of crude oil.

The cheapest area of diversification of the economy, is agriculture. 

Animal husbandry , poultry farming and several other aspects of farming make the sector a very attractive potential revenue earner.

In fact the physiological needs of shelter, clothing and feeding, are the major reasons why the country must focus on agriculture.

Unfortunately, successive governments have not been able to explore the limitless opportunities in the sector.

Suffice it now to say that Nigeria needs to embark on phased restructuring process to correct the anomalies in governance.

For example the Ministers are expected to give bi-annual reports of their performances, rather than be requested to do so at the expiration period of the four year term of government.

Nigerians deserve the best in terms of governance, but this is not the case.

Strategic administration and effective management styles that could call for merit is the subject matter to build corporate governance for virile and strong institutions where policies would be made to work effectively.

Diversification of the economy is long overdue and the agriculture sector based om modern day practice all over the world must be sought in Nigeria.

Institutions of higher learning starting from technical colleges must be overhauled, to train people with relevant skills, who can manage agriculture beyond subsistence level.

Government must desist from wasting money through paper theory agriculture experts.

But must train the trainers to identify with the real farmers for the sake of rural integration need for the policy, at the implementation level, can only be realized through using the SWOT analysis on why and how similar projects failed such as DFFRI, OFN, Better Life for Rural Women and Agriculture revolution.

A critical study of the current one needs to be done, to be able to overhaul where necessary and adapt to compliment the news ideas.

Above all, democracy is about the people that must be managed to meet up with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs-physiological, sociological, security, self esteem and actualization realm, while government must manage self to be able to achieve with Olagoke hierarchy of attitudinal needs using Maslow’s apex of actualization realm as its foundation-mentor ship for governance and policy continuity, altruism philosophy for culture of philanthropy and total personality target for true spirit of elder statesmen with high sense of forgiveness and service to humanity.

Imbibing the two as a culture of living would not only put the people to be served into the readiness of supporting government on the culture of patriotism and trust in the face of government’s transparency and accountability.

When there are successes in agricultural projects, same would manifest in the welfare of the people.

Don’t let us play rhetoric with the issue of economy and agriculture, but rather let us be decisive and pragmatic in the areas of availability, accessibility, affordability and cost effectiveness to give this government a deserving credit.

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has fixed March 23, 2019 for supplementary elections in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Rivers state, where according to the commission elections were declared inconclusive.

But with the Osun state governsotrship elections still fresh in the minds of Nigerians, the electorate now interprete inconclusive elections to mean the installing of political office holders through other methods except the ballot.

The electorate lament the state of anarchy atmosphere, elections took place, while insisting that those who emerge from elections characterized by desperation, violence, killings, cover ups and rigging would never be able to ensure good governance since they would always be haunted by the process that facilitated their emergence.

Surprisingly, the powers that be still believe that Nigerians are gullible, which, if unfolding events are anything to go by, is no longer the case.

From the Presidential and National Assembly elections to the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, all has not been well, the coming days and weeks shall give flesh this assertion.

Leaders Ought to Develop the Right Mindset for Good Governance. Read more-https://bit.ly/2UzjsVi

Despite Flawed General Elections Nigeria is Still One by the Grace of God-Grand Imam Shafauden-in-Islam Worldwide. Read more-https://bit.ly/2HivKi2

Nigerians will on Saturday go to their various polling units to vote for candidates of their choice in the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Although the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and the security agencies have assured Nigerians that the elections would be free, fair, credible, devoid of violence and killings, as was the case in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the electorate are taking this assurance with a pinch of salt, just as they rest their hopes on God.

In this interview with Federationews2day, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof, Sabitu Olagoke appeals to INEC and the security agencies not to subvert the electoral process, while asserting that voters should be given the free will to vote for candidates of their choice without regard to any overbearing influence. Excerpts :

What are your words to the electorate as they prepare to vote for candidates of their choice in the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections  on Saturday ?

Firstly, let's talk about the lessons that have been learnt from the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, which serves as a warning to the politicians in general and those elected into various offices to serve, that performance matters most, most especially in the area of service to humanity, which places emphasis on the electorate and the environment.

The failure to recognize this fact and meditate on it, was majorly responsible for the fall of some erstwhile political giants and their political parties at the polls. For example, after eight years in office, some state Governors fell by the way side, in their bid to get to the Senate. Those who did not fall, have been seen to be unpopular among the people.

This answers the questions that disturbs the mind, on their questionable success.

For the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, two episodes will play out, some will be voted for, by virtue of their credentials of credibility, even when the party is not liked and some will be voted for through party leanings, even when the substance of credibility is lacking in the candidates. Whatever way it occurs, Nigerians must be very careful not to lose their heads out of unnecessary passion.

So, we must not turn the situation into that of violence, because according to Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar(rtd) Nigerians must embrace peace.

It should be noted that none of the politicians, the electorate will vote for, including their children would be affected, if the unexpected happens; rather the masses who constitute the majority of the electorate, would kill themselves, without any hope for compensation.

Nigeria must not play the fool of the tower of Babel, which was built with rigour and vigour, but got destroyed without the completion of the project, due to skirmishes, a fall out of disorganized information system and communication lag.

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) must not be bought over for posterity sake, while the commission must retain its role as a credible umpire.

The issue of logistics and functionality of the Smart Card Readers(SCR)ought to have been resolved before the day of election, which is March 9, 2019.

The Ad Hoc staff hired by INEC must not be late in reporting to the various polling units and they must not be compromised.

In the case of the Observers, local and international, on ground for the election, Nigerians should take care not to wash their dirty linens in the open glare of the international community.

For the security agents who will protect the electorate, INEC staff and Ad Hoc staff, they must display a high level of maturity and professionalism.

They must be able to disarm trouble makers without the use of firearms. They must be able to provide adequate security at the various polling units, while also ensuring the safety of electoral materials and the offices of INEC.

Politicians have continually embarrassed their followers and supporters through the buying and selling of votes.

The implication of this ugly practice, is that our children may now imbibe pilfering as a culture, while also embracing examination malpractice as a way of life. 

We must not forget that the mirror image of the society, which we are bastardizing through ungodly acts is a fall out of our attitudinal challenges, which is already having a direct effect on the psyche of the youth !

Is it not paradoxically funny that the political scientists continue to remain as fathers of politics in the Ivory Towers, even though they have failed to produce exceptional politicians for the society.

This is a direct challenge to the functionality of our educational status.

Above all, voters must not be harassed, intimidate, threatened or misled into voting against their conscience.

What should be of paramount importance to Nigerians today, is credible leadership and good governance, which can only emerge through voting according to the dictates of the voters' conscience and the fact that the votes must count.

My appeal therefore to Nigerians, is to give peace a chance, so that we can turn our various communities into environments of peace, where justice, equity peace and development shall be paramount in the minds of the emerging leaders for the states, whose activities in government shall be people oriented.

Before the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Military and the Police to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers, who were caught in the act.

The National Bureau of Statistics has disclosed that 20.9 million Nigerians are unemployed. Indeed, unemployment is the major discussion among Nigerians.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari has opined that the figure reeled out by the NBS, is a reflection that his administration is making progress in governance.

Nigerians are shell shocked by the President's remarks and the fact that rice farmers have contributed about N1.7 Billion for the President's re-election, even though rice as a foodstuff has gone beyond the reach of the common man.

In this interview with People, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke says that the misinformation of the Federal Government's paid agents gives it the impressions that it has  fulfilled its promises. Excerpts :

The National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) has stated that 20.9 million Nigerians are jobless, what is your reaction to this figure ?

The Federal Government is only focusing on the 30 areas it has made progress without taking into consideration the impact level on the people. And because most of our leaders  depend solely on the information of their paid agents, such as the Ministers, Commissioners, Governors and retinue of Personal Assistants, they are rather misled into believing that the yearnings of Nigerians have been met.

The best way for self assessment on governance is to have direct pulse of the nation by physically going to some of the market places to see the reality of things.

When the Queen of England visited, during ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo's tenure, she refused to be locked  in the nation's luxuries, but told the President to take her round some of the market places. After going round the Queen told the President, that he should take the issue of poverty alleviation serious, as she stated that she observed  suffering on the faces of the people.

This is a nation where  the unemployment rate has jumped from 14.2 per cent in 2016 to 23.4 per cent in 2018 and 20. 9 million Nigerians has been declared  as the figure of unemployed Nigerians in 2018, while the record of those who are underemployed has made the figure to rise to 40 per cent of the total population.

Let us remember that the spate of killings have made nonsense of more than 1040 schools, with between 400,000 and 500,000 students affected.

What about the increasing number of  Nigerian Children, who are out of school, in 2010 it was 10.5 million and presently it is 13.9 million.

The President must believe less in the paid agents and ensure he uses SWOT analysis to restrategise in order that his desire for good governance, that would be beneficial to all , most especially those who gave him the mandate to rule, are met.

The SWOT analysis on the Nigerian situation reveal our areas of strength and opportunities in the abundance of endowed resources, natural and human to be in abundance.

Our areas of weaknesses duel more on competence for the desired astute management and classical administration to operationalize  functional Democracy based on justice and equity for peace and development to reign.

Our areas of threats are on security issues that bothers on conflict management, as well as the fifth column role in government and the state apparatus making  progress too difficult to come by.

Mr. President, therefore, needs to realize that his immediate challenge is on his ability to identify the true elements in his cabinet and government, that is, he must motivate  the prime movers not to lose them into another party.

He must build the capacity of the lackadaisical, to be able to contribute meaningfully to government's business of building the nation while the catalytic elements, that is the rebellious ones must be managed with maturity and transformed into useful elements for the party and government.

No government with in-house problems and inconsiderate opposition can stand the test of time.

To avoid driving people to an hopeless state of despair, there is need for Mr. President to restrategize into visionary leadership that would be proactive in taking decisions to fix things, purposeful leadership that would be directional in operation and sacrificial to make things work.

My candid advice to the others in the All Progressives Congress(APC) is for them to imbibe the essence of togetherness in sharing visions  for government to be able to deliver beneficial services to the people, who are now more well informed in the spirit of globalization.

Above all, the fear of the potential of the opposition to damage and remove must be the beginning of wisdom, to mend fences within and creditably deliver the expectations of the People of Nigeria.

A former Governor of Oyo state, who is also the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party(ADP) Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala has described the present administration in the state as one  with policies and programmes which have brought pain and despondency on the people.

Otunba Adebayo made this assertion recently, at the official presentation Otunba Alao-Akala and Prof. Abideen Olaiya as the ADP  candidates for the 2019 Gubernatorial Elections in Ibadan, Nigeria.

''My  heart aches because 90 per cent of the outgoing government's policies, programmes and projects are best described as anti-people which leave our people in pain and despondency''.

''Instead of criticizing , I made myself available to guide the incumbent government on how best to run proactive and pro-people governance, but the driver lacks  the required goodwill.

Today the major sectors of  our economy, which are education, health, agriculture and environment have been  either neglected or bastardized Oyo state is in a serious mess''.

''We do not need a learner or  experimental Governor. Leadership is example. Service to humanity especially holding a public office is not a function of age  but mental capacity, experience, maturity, good vision and mission, sensitive, responsiveness, credibility and popular acceptability of a person. I am offering myself again to serve the good people of Oyo state because I am healthily  and mentally fit for rigorous tasks of governance, '' Otunba Alao-Akala.

For over three and a half years now, Nigerians have contended with  hunger, poverty, unemployment and insecurity. Sadly, government at all levels have done little  to address these hydra like challenges which have not only demoralized the citizenry, but  also prompted them to continually and relentlessly rein curses on the country's political office holders. A cross section of civil society groups  allege that the three tiers of government have deliberately impoverished the populace, as a way of compelling them to sell their votes in the 2019 general elections.

Interestingly,a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar(rtd) has advised Nigerians to stop complaining about their pitiable condition, but vote out leaders who have not met their expectations .  In this interview with Federationews2day, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke  says Nigerians should seek God's guidance in the choice of candidates they will vote for. Excerpts :

The insinuation is that the Federal and State Governments have deliberately impoverished Nigerians   for the purpose of ensuring that vote buying is the trend in the 2019 elections. What are your views ?

The history of poverty in Nigeria started in 1960, when our poverty index was 15 per  cent, followed by the second republic in 1979 to 1983 at 28 per cent. The military interventions worsened the situation as it rose from 42 per cent to 65 per cent.

Then, in 1999, it rose to 70 per cent almost till this moment.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo campaigned against impoverishing the poor masses, because according to him, Nigerians irrespective of their tribes and social class must have access to free education which would eventual liberate  the children of the poor from the clutches of poverty. From his time to that of Bola Ige education took a large chunk to support structure, facilities and books, while having a good plan of allowing children to trek to and from school. One could  imagine the then government was  for all Nigerians, most especially the impoverished masses, whom the government intended to emancipate. Unfortunately, the dedication and commitment of our founding fathers, on the issue of the growth and development of the nation and general welfare of the people suffered a great set back during the civil war as well as the attendant agitations for true reconstruction, reconciliation and rehabilitation which was poorly managed to warrant the present insurgency, militancy, kidnapping and damages to the ecology of the oil producing areas, which were agitating for resource control and the South East's secession call.

 It is unfortunate that this government inherited an already failed and recessed economy, which they were unable to manage at par  with their campaign magic of the change mantra.

The bastardized environment, bad economy and disorganized society now continue to groan under poverty, which had been artificially introduced due to the  era of endemic corruption and institutionalized indiscipline. 

Under this condition, the political class,  derailed from the focus of the goal of Democracy as a need to enthrone credible leadership for the purpose of institutionalizing justice and equity concepts in order that there would be peace and sustainable development.

The attendant consequence of gross mismanagement of the economy, the people and the environment, thereafter has resulted in the worrisome situation of insecurity and unbearable poverty tending to the abject level for many.

The 2019 general elections ought to focus on how best we would be able to vote in patriotic  Nigerians with outstanding leadership qualities that would be able to arrest the menace of the present social upheaval, starting from  working on the psyche of all Nigerians for better attitude in an environment  of strict institutional discipline that would only be achieved through leadership by sacrifice, integrity and service.

Nigerians therefore, need to be mindful of God, without emphasis on religion in order that credible candidates, who will have passion for the restoration of our core values and see human rights issues as the ability to provide equal opportunities and equal access to the people of Nigeria, the downtrodden ones inclusive.

Residents of Oyo state have been called upon to shun acts of violence as the 2019 general elections draw closer.

This call was made by the running mate to the Governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP)in Oyo state, Prof. Abideen Olaiya in a chat with Federationews2day.

Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala is the governorship candidate of the ADP in the state.

''Residents of Oyo state should be patient, nobody should engage in violence as the 2019 elections approaches. Since Democracy has given us the leeway, the opportunity is coming, residents should keep their Permanent Voters Cards(PVC) and use it judiciously in the 2019 elections'',  Prof. Olaiya stated.

He noted that the Education and Agriculture sectors in the state  were in urgent need of overhauling saying ''if we are elected within a year we would change the face of education,  presently education in the state is at its lowest ebb. Agriculture has taken a leap only in propaganda. The people serving government are not happy.''

Residents in the state have continuously complained about the culture of impunity which has become the order of the day in most communities, just as the number of out of school children keeps on increasing by the day.

Prof. Abideen Olaiya is an Associate Professor of  Crop Ecology at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has called on workers in Nigeria to reject the outcome of the tripartite committee on the new minimum wage and the decision of the Federal Government if it does not meet their expectations.

The AWC made this call through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, in a chat with Federationews2day.

''It is important that whatsoever is reached by the tripartite committee and the Federal Government, if it does not meet the expectations of Nigerians workers should be vehemently resisted and rejected by the Nigerian workers''.

''In fact it is a big a shame and a slap on government that workers will have to go on strike for a pay rise. We call on government to stop persecuting Nigerian workers and approve the N66,500 new minimum wage forthwith'', Comrade Emelieze concluded.

Nigerian workers are demanding for a new national minimum wage of N66,500, but the Federal Government  is tinkering with the idea of approving between N25,000 and N30,000.

Former Oyo state Governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja  has declared that himself and other politicians with wealth of experience in politics formed an alliance for peace to reign in the state.

Senator Ladoja made this  declaration on Tuesday, in a chat with  Journalists,at his Ondo street, Bodija,Ibadan,Nigeria residence.

''When you are in the opposition the minimum you can do is to ensure that there is peace in your ranks. If there is no peace among you in the opposition, then government will  take advantage 

of it. Chief Michael Koleosho is not contesting, I am not contesting, Alhaji Busari Adebisi is not contesting, that is why we formed an alliance of like minds.

The former Governor noted that the reluctance to accept the truth was the basis of the country's problems.

''The first thing is to ask people to tell the truth,then we are on the way to solving the country's problems. The major problem we have is that we don't accept the truth. We  have class  competition,  this is  not helping us.The government did not accept that we have Boko Haram problem, the government did not accept that we have Fulani herdsmen problem, that is the problem, we  don't accept the  truth'',Senator Ladoja asserted.

Nigerians have for several years embarked on the journey to promote a just and equitable society without encouraging results.

This is regardless of the countless number of prominent citizens, who belong to the private and public sectors, including the civil society community at home and in diaspora.

Sadly, most of the innovative ideas and policy options of governance have failed woefully to serve as springboard for the country's social, political and economic emancipation from the vicious circle  of underdevelopment.

Of note, is the fact that Nigeria is yet to attain the status of a free, dynamic and knowledge based economy, this is just as there are no genuine signs of commitment  to fairness, equity and justice.

The foregoing stems from bad and improper  governance at all levels of government. 

Decisions and policies of government are guided by self-centered ideals and obsessive greed.

 Most political office holders lack ideology and principles to recommend a soothing cure for the country's ailments, this is convincingly reflected in the very weak economic and political reforms which are without doubt not the compass for a new world order.

The myriad of problems confronting the country amplifies the need for transparent and incorruptible institutions to decisively address pressing issues which have taken a political turn.

Those institutions that were in place from time immemorial, might not have achieved the purpose for which they were established, even though enormous financial resources heralded their establishment.

The major questions on the lips of most Nigerians, include, Who is saddled with the responsibilities for policy formulation and governance under  the present dispensation?

Is it the state or does it rest on the exploitative hands of a few private individuals ?

These questions remain unanswered, definitely not one of the high points of Democracy.

Nigerians insist that religious leaders and institutions have not done enough for those who eventually emerged to contest of political offices for several years, this has become a source of worry for the electorate, who believe that their votes have never counted in most elections. In this interview with Federationews2day, the Spiritual head and Founder of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke advises religious leaders to refrain from distributing loot of the affected political office holders among their congregation, in a bid to seek divine favour. Excerpts :

How do you think religious leaders and institutions can ensure the emergence of credible candidates in the 2019 Presidential elections?

First and foremost, Nigeria has a fundamental problem, with respect to the issue of religion. They fail to realize that all religions are working towards the same aims and objectives, one, to educate and enlighten into self realization for the necessary reform into the state of piety and integrity, two, to ensure that adherents have tranquility of mind, three, to promote peaceful co-existence, in order that the community or society enjoys  high level of security.

Religion therefore, is to work on every individual, irrespective  of ethnic or religious differences, to be credible enough to hold in trust, positions of responsibility and power, in order to serve God, through beneficial service to humanity.

However, in Nigeria, religious institutions celebrate profanity, in place of sacredness and hence, fail to produce credible candidates for the purpose of transformation of the society.

With this poor background of Nigeria's religious people, there is no way that they can perform the role of an umpire, whereby, religious leaders, would be able to see themselves as true Fathers of political leaders and true advisers for  correct political practices, that would be Scripture compliant and enjoy the favour of God, through the benefit of uninterrupted divine intervention into human affairs-social, economic, political- for the purpose of achieving, in the areas of the clarion call by the United Nations, of the essence of establishing and promoting sustainable development.

To worsen the case, the Federal Government till date, have been superintending a dysfunctional educational system, which has promoted half baked graduates, which is very glaring for all to see. Observe political office holders and Technocrats, in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, institutional indiscipline and corruption that  are the order of the day.

For the purpose of the fast approaching 2019 general elections,religious leaders must refrain from sharing the loot, stolen by politicians, to derisively , seek the favour of God.

We must all realize the golden advice of Nelson Mandela, that religious leaders need to face the reality of the situation, that no politician is either  a good Muslim or Christian in Nigeria. They believe in sourcing for power from gods and goddesses, but always deceive the innocent masses through religion by propaganda, in order to rule over them.

If  truly Nigeria's religious leaders are working for God, they must join the bandwagon of advocates for promotion of functional education and necessary empowerment processes for our youth, who are  future leaders and  expected to be able to turn around the system of poor governance into that of people oriented and positive political governance, that would  have the very necessary positive impact on the lives of the people. Take not of the fact, that the same people who attend religious houses are the same people, we have in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, in Government, in the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and the society at large.

Mosques and Churches must refrain from religious propaganda of prosperity, that has led many Nigerians into the world of magic for quick money making ventures, ritual killings, kidnapping and several others, but instead, we must all be role models, as religious leaders, running functional Churches and Mosques, to reform adherents, into scripture compliance, for the purpose of having credible leaders with integrity, who will be able to administer a corruption free society.

For the 2019 general elections, the roles of the Churches, Mosques and other faith based organizations, is to stand by the  truth and the Scripture, to be able to be credible enough, to give  advice which will have the desired impact, as well as to have  their prayer requests for a free and fair  elections to hold.

This is the message of God from Koran 13 : 14 and the Bible James 5 : 16

 The Rwanda National Electoral Commission  has said that  more  women  have shown interest in becoming members of Parliament.

There are 326  women among the 537 candidates that have shown interest to contest in the election.