Author: oduduwanews

Pastor Tunde Bakare of Citadel Global Community Church (also known as Latter Rain Assembly), has said that it is of no importance what region the next president comes from, as long as said individual is able to govern properly.

“Listen to me, if where the president comes from will make the place he has come from to be better, the northern part of Nigeria should be the richest and should be the most progressive and the most developed because out of 61 years, the north has produced either the president or heads of state for 40 to 41 years, and yet see the retrogression in the North,” Mr Bakare told State House correspondents on Friday afternoon. “Not where they come from, it’s what they carry and what they have to offer. May the best of the best of Nigerians rise, whether they’re from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the south.

Mr Bakare’s comments came shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

His position could widen the raging debate about whether or not the presidency should be ceded to Southern Nigeria by way of consensus in 2023 when Mr Buhari’s tenure will expire. Mr Buhari is from Northern Nigeria and power rotation has been practiced amongst political parties in informal arrangements because the Constitution did not prescribe power rotation between the multiple ethnic and religious groups within the country.

While several politicians in the South have threatened serious political consequences if the power is not shifted to the region in 2023, northern politicians are insisting that no citizen should be disenfranchised because they are from a region that produced the last president.

Mr Bakare, in his exchange with the State House reporters, acknowledged the validity of internal party zoning arrangements, but said such affairs cannot supersede extant constitutional provisions.

“If there are agreements between politicians among themselves on rotation, a bargain is a bargain, that’s between them,” he said. “But as far as this country is concerned, what we need at this stage is a man who can drive us to the Eldorado.”

Mr Bakare also hinted at the 2023 presidential election, saying if Nigerians and God wanted him to run for the position. he would.

“Every Nigerian, who is of age and who is not disqualified by any means, is free. I’m a nation builder, if God wants me to do that, and the people of Nigeria will appreciate that, why not? I’m as free as anybody to do anything with my time. I’ve pastored a church for 33 years, now we raise new leaders. I want to focus on nation-building.

This meeting comes after Mr Bakare, who was Mr Buhari’s running mate in the duo’s unsuccessful presidential run in 2011, had publicly declared in July that he would no longer visit Mr Buhari as the president failed to improve the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians.

Last year, Mr Bakare had asked that he be exempted from national conversations.

Governor of the state of Osun, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, his Ondo State counterpart, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and other stakeholders on Thursday, advocated that constitutional roles should be assigned to traditional rulers to give legal backings to their responsibilities especially in the security of their domains.

The governors were among notable stakeholders who partook in the fourth edition of the Ooni Ogunwusi annual international leadership symposium 2021, in commemoration of the birthday anniversary of the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.

The event which has the theme: “Addressing Security Challenges As They Affect Grassroots Development In Nigeria: Need for Constitutional Empowerment of Traditional Institution”, held at the prominent Oba Okunade Sijuwade Memorial Hall, Enuwa, Ile-Ife.

Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Folorunso Oladoyin, Governor Oyetola, who expressed huge concern about the current challenges confronting the country, revealed that much could be achieved by empowering the traditional rulers.

“As the closest to the people at the grassroots, traditional rulers are critical components of government. They also have the responsibility for ensuring security, governance and economic development in their abodes.

“This is important because as all politics is local, all security is also local. The criminals come from families, homes, villages and towns. To effectively secure our nation, therefore, requires that government should work with our traditional rulers as critical stakeholders in promoting active communal peace building, intelligence gathering, good neighborliness and responsible followership.” Governor Oyetola admonished.

On the other hand, Ondo state Governor Akeredolu SAN who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ayinde, prescribed that outcome of the symposium should be compiled and transfered to the National Assembly for inclusion in the country’s constitution in line with the ongoing constitutional reform.

Arakunrin Akeredolu however asked salient questions that will determine the type of constitutional inclusiveness that should be given to traditional rulers.

He asked, “Will this entitle them to a share of the security vote?
“Will the present 5% allocated to traditional rulers be enough with the constitutional roles being assigned to them?
“Will they not be perceived as now being part of the government of the day?
“Will it not erode part of their institutional legitimacy and traditional authority?”

In the same vein, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode, described traditional rulers as a great partner in progress to the Nigeria Police, calling for a constitutional backing of their indispensable roles.

“In the 1999 constitution, there is no definite constitutional role for the traditional rulers. This is one of the defaults of the 1999 constitution. How do they operate without a constitutional resolution has seriously been undermined both in terms of authority and power. Their inability to intervene at the earlier stage of crisis has led to the escalation of such crisis leading to a serious instability, chaos and huge damage to lives, property and economic activities of the nation.” The commissioner stated.

Among other items of the event was the presentation of scholarship to indigent Higher Institution students by the Ooni of Ife as powered by Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI), under the leadership of Princess Temitope Adesegun.

The scholarship initiative was supported with five hundred thousand naira, by the representative of the Governor, Honourable Folorunso Oladoyin who is the Osun State Commissioner for Education.

Speaking on the involvement of the nongovernmental organization (HAI) in humanitarian support particularly in the education sector, Dr. Ese Oghene while presenting the scholarship on behalf of Princess Temitope, said, “HAI understands the importance of education in the life of children and so HAI is currently working on operation ‘Send Every Child To School’, as a way of rewarding academic excellence, HAI offers scholarship to A-rated students one of which we just witnessed.”

The Ooni however thanked the organizers including Sooko Kemade Elugbaju, Olamide Awosunle, Comrade Moses Olafare and Hopes Alive Initiative, for putting up the wonderful event despite the challenges during preparations.

“All I want to say is a very big thank you especially to all of you here present, you really made my day and I hold you all in a very high esteem. I really laud the speeches of Governor Oyetola, Governor Akeredolu and Osun State Commissioner of Police as they all addressed the security challenges being faced by all of us in this country. This is the time for all of us to come together and defeat this menace of insecurity so that we can progress as a country.
Ooni Ogunwusi said.

The Oyo State House of Assembly has expressed concern over the possible rise in herders/farmers clashes in most agrarian communities across the State as the dry season approaches, and has therefore called on the Executive arm of Government to put measures in place for the implementation of Anti-Open Grazing Prohibition Law.

This was the resolution of the lawmakers while contributing to a motion on the need to put measures in place to forestall herdsmen/farmers clashes in Oyo State as the dry season approaches jointly brought by Hon Francis Adetunji (Oluyole) and Hon Saminu Gbadamosi (Atisbo/Saki East).

The motion states in part ” As the dry season approaches, herders and their cattle from the fast drying North will be moving down to the West to get greener pastures for their animals. The concern is that the herders would not restrict grazing of their cattle to uncultivated farmlands alone. Experiences in the past would remind us of the bitter tales our farmers have had to tell. Many of our farmers have left their farms for either the fear of being killed by notorious herders or because of great losses they have recorded overtimes due to the wanton destruction of their farms by these set of people and their animals.”

The lawmakers stated that it was time for implementation of the anti-open grazing law passed by the Assembly on the 24th of October, 2019 and already assented to by Governor Seyi Makinde to checkmate the destruction of farmlands by the herders and also compel them to adopt the modern ways of rearing their animals.

In their remarks, Hon Asimiyu Alarape (Minority Leader), Hon Simeon Oyeleke (Ogo-Oluwa/Ajaawa) urged the Executive arm of Government to take proactive measures in addressing the activities of the Fulani herders who carry weapons and guns around.

The duo of Hon Akeem Adedibu (Chief Whip) and Hon Jacob Bamigboye who were almost moved to tears narrated how their farmlands were recently destroyed by the herds of cattle of these erring Fulanis.

They said farmers in Oyo State will experience worse situation from Fulani herders in the coming dry season if the recalcitrant Fulani herders are not made to face the full wrath of the provisions of the law, and appealed to the Governor to be courageous enough in implementing the Open Grazing Prohibition Law.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin maintained that continuous destruction of farmlands by Fulani herders and their cattle was unacceptable.

He stressed that this has continued to take it toll on the food production and has resulted in scarcity of foodstuff and increase in their prices.

” Our Security Agents, Amotekun Corps and other Vigilance Groups must work together to address this menace and arrest these agents of destruction. We cannot afford to have increase in the activities of Fulani herders on our farms. ” Oyo Speaker said.

The House also called on all stakeholders to organize farmers, herders meeting in order to emphasize compliance to the Open Grazing Prohibition Law and re-emphasize the need for everyone to live together in peace and harmony.

It was equally resolved that there should be adequate sensitization on the media in different languages to ensure everyone becomes aware of penalities and provisions of the law to prevent further violations.

The socio-cultural organization, Afenifere has called on Federal Government to take a decisive action to prevent the country going into smithereens.

This was contained in a statement signed and made available to ODUDUWA NEWS today by the National Publicity Secretary of the organization, Comrade Jare Ajayi as read in part:

“With the ever growing reports of how much terrorists are gaining grounds in Nigeria, urgent, decisive, enduring and sincere actions need to be taken to prevent the country from going into smithereens.

“Sounding this note of warning was the pan Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere in press release signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi.
According to the release, the reports of how gunmen overran the police divisional headquarters in Umulokpa, Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu state on Friday, October 9, 2021, in broad day light and abducted a police officer and the abduction of seven inmates of St Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy, a Catholic seminary in Fayit, Kaduna State on Monday, October 11, 2021 are the latest of instances epitomizing the level of how the government is failing in the most basic of its responsibilities – protection of the citizens. They added to the list of reports of terrorists overrunning military formations and police stations particularly in the northern part of the country.

“Only last week, unrefuted reports had it that bandits suspected to be remnants of Boko Haram terrorists were setting up camps in villages in Kuje Area Council of Abuja Municipality. Penultimate week, the chairman of Shiroro local government area of Niger State, Hon Suleiman Chukuba, disclosed that insurgents had taken over about 500 communities in his local government area.

“According to him, the insurgents were forcing the residents of the communities into becoming Boko Haram members and equipping them to fight against the government.
The Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello ealier in August had announced that Boko Haram terrorists had captured some areas in the state and had even hoisted their flags in those communities. Before then, Nassarawa State Governor Abdullah Sule had made a similar declaration. He even went further to remind the federal government and security agencies that Nassarawa is very close to Aso Rock, the country’s seat of power. As such, allowing the terrorists to establish in the state can be dangerous not only to his state but also to the country. Not long after he sounded the warning, the Taliban took over power in Afghanistan – to the chagrin of virtually the whole world.

“Niger and Nassarawa are not the only states that terrorists have set up camps in. Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna, Benue, Yobe have cache of lands where bandits have established themselves from which they unleash terror on the people and government interests.

“In the South West, Ibadan to Ijebu-Ode highway, parts of Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun and Osun States posted cases of armed attacks and abductions almost on a daily basis. The same way it is happening in Edo State among others.
In the South East, besides frequent killings by gunmen, the effectiveness of the ‘stay-at-home’ order being given by a non-state actor, IPOB, is an indication of how much governments seem to have been consigned to feebleness by insurgents that kept getting emboldened by the day.
The foregoing were exclusive of many areas in the North East and North West of the country where the indigenous people have been displaced. Indeed, reports have it that some residents in parts of Sokoto State have been forced to flee into Mali. The situation was that bad.

“President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier said that those wreaking havoc in Nigeria were from outside the country. He hinted again at this in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last Tuesday during his meeting with President Salva Kiir of Southern Sudan when he attributed the proliferation of arms in this part of the world to the instability in Libya.

From all indications, President Buhari is very much aware of the security challenges facing the country as well as the way out. For, as far back as 2011, during his campaign for presidency under the banner of CPC, he promised that the policing system in the country would be decentralized such that the state, local governments and the communities would have their own police. Of course he did not win in 2011. But he has been president since 2015 and the said promise has not been fulfilled despite the fact that his current party, the APC, has not openly expressed aversion to the idea of ensuring security at all levels of government and in every part of the country. Indeed, going by a number of statements that had come from the President, he is very much aware of the challenges. What is lacking is the will and determination to confront the challenges headlong. We would not be uncharitable to raise the issue of capability as the government is in possession – or should be – of all that is needed to tackle such challenges. Where it does not readily have it, it is within its power to seek the needed capacity and capability from both within and without.

“During the electioneering campaigns, the president went round various parts of the country. But having consolidated after the electoral victory, the president has not found it necessary to tour the country. Indeed, there are some areas that governors are not so enthusiastic to visit within their own states because of insecurity occasioned by insurgents in those areas. The situation was so bad.
So bad that the two chambers of the National Assembly has called on the President to declare bandits who are committing the horrendous atrocities as terrorists so that the security agencies could deal with them more decisively. Why the presidency has been reluctant to do this is confounding.

“The failure of government to act decisively on security challenges confronting Nigerians has imperiled the social and economic activities in various parts of the country. This is not only deepening the poverty and despondence in the land, it is heightening the loss of trust and confidence in government by the people.

Unfortunately, there is no more time. Failure to snuff life out of insurgency now is putting the fate of the country on the tenterhook. It is still possible to reverse the trend. Some of the ways to do this include the following:

• Do away with primordial cleavages
• Equipping security agencies, particularly the army and the police, and boost their morale with good pay and good welfare packages.
• Let perpetrators of banditry face the full wrath of the law without let or hindrance. Impunity must stop now.
• Allowing state governors to truly become the chief security officers of their respective states by letting them have their own policing system with all the powers they need to operate with.
• Convey meetings of all, or virtually, all ethnic nationalities across the country. The meetings should include various interest groups and stakeholders.
  These must be done urgently as the country is bleeding too seriously from various arteries”.