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WHY NIGERIAN YOUTHS MUST TAKE A STAND IN 2015

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WHY NIGERIAN YOUTHS MUST TAKE A STAND IN 2015

By Abdulrazaq O. Hamzat

 

 

It is very crucial at this stage of our existence as a nation to get many things right in government, and one of those crucial aspect of government that should be gotten right is the aspect of youth inclusion in government at all levels.

 

Youth inclusion in government became imperative, as it is inevitable for any nation to prosper without its youths taking key decisions and making significance contribution in its government.

 

The youths are said to be the backbone of every nation, but what happens when the said backbone of this nation are relegated, neglected, under nourished and denied of its rightful duties and roles in shaping the society for its needs?……..

 

So, it is crucial for the youths drum it into the ears of the present leaders of the country, that Government and politics is not about the gathering of orators or wishful thinkers that would impose their ideas on others, but a gathering of the affected people to fashion out a common means of solving the problems and for this reason, I refused to be swayed by those that continue to belittle the role of the youths in shaping the future of Nigeria.

 

The social media had become the centre for all sort of debate in recent times, especially since the emergence of the newly formed All Progressive Congress (APC) where I have cautioned youths on the need not to jump into the water before realizing it is too hurt.

 

Just like a very good friend, IG Wala noted, the Nigerian youths seemed to be flooded with euphoria on the impression that APC is here to check the only political party (PDP) that made Nigerians happy and later took away the happiness and replace it with anger, corruption and lawlessness.

 

IG Wala questioned, who do we blame if not the people, especially the youths that easily jump into conclusion and embrace anything coming to us in form of option to the old stuff we have and I add that, is making us unhappy even when the new option portray the tendencies of giving us worst misery?

 

Wala explained that,’’ I am not saying we have PDP, so we must embrace it. But we need to apply experience and wisdom before embracing even the new APC.’’ ‘’Let us look at what they have to offer Nigeria and in what ways, how serious and how realistic.’’ He said.

 

He further advised that, we must force ourselves to remember the good old days, when the PDP was making waves and every political youth were motivated and happy to join the PDP to effect the unrealized changes Nigerians are craving for, and today, it is the APC, but the truth is that, we have not done enough home work that will serve as a genuine contribution in building the APC or any other platform that will usher in a new Nigeria that we are all struggling to achieve. While we are busy singing APC on the street and social media, let’s use our youthfulness to serve as the engine room where beautiful thoughts are being bred. Let us also have it at the back of our mind that PDP got consumed into politics when they got the power and forgot their responsibilities on the citizens simply because, power intoxicates.

 

In my opinion so far, no indication from the new APC signifies any better things to come, it only indicate a creation of an alternative, not necessarily a positive alternative. Though, some people in the search for an alternative can accept and follow the devil, provided he wears a white garment.

 

Let me state here once again, the reason why Nigerian youths must take a stand in 2015.

 

It is a common knowledge that in the calculation and decision making of Nigeria, there is no consideration for the youths what so ever.  This explains the reason why the same leaders who had governed the country in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s are still the same governing the country today. But I wonder, if they couldn’t solve the problems of Nigeria then until now, can they do it now? I doubt it, though; we need their experience as guidance, but definitely not them taking sole decision for the country as the leaders. The youths must take its destiny in its own hands.

 

The All Progressive Congress recently declared its formation which involves some key oppositions in the country, this declaration was made after holding series of meetings and wide range consultations with various groups and individuals, but in all this meetings and consultations, none was involving the youths of Nigeria that represents over 60% of the voting population, yet the new party is expecting to get the support of these uninvolved youths. This is the peak of insult on the youths and insensitivity on the part of the present leaders of the country.

 

I must state it here clearly; I have no grudges against any political party, but I have great concern about the way our country is being governed by the recycled failed products called leaders, not just in the ruling PDP, but also in the supposed opposition. Or how else do we explain the fact that a failed product in PDP moves to another party and claim best seller? How does it happen? How can a known corrupt PDP member become the face of progressive in another party we all rallied around in search of better governance when the stolen wealth is still in their custody?

 

The PDP is an undoubtedly failed party, a party that has a youth leader of 65 years old and have ruled at the centre for over 14 years with nothing to show except corruption, sorrow, misery, anger, hunger, insecurity, high cost of living and bad examples, but are the oppositions any better? I doubt it. What have the oppositions achieved in their little controlled states and National Assembly? Of course, the Demolition of the poor out of the society in the name of beautifying the city, increasing tuition fee from N25000 to N250, 000 to force the children of the poor out of institutions to remain backward and uneducated, destruction of the means of livelihood of the poor to create misery and hunger and they hide under the guise of development and creating a mega city, but what is the essence of quality education when the children of the poor cannot attend it? What is the importance of beautifying the city when the people are ugly? How can the city be developed when the inhabitants are underdeveloped?

 

According to Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, ‘’the government must recognise the socio economic imperatives that made the people to build houses even without approval. Speaking on the dualization of roads in Ondo state capital, Mimiko said, WE DIDN’T ASK THE PEOPLE TO BRING PAPERS: we demolished 200 houses, but before we did, we paid adequate compensation to everybody. We didn’t ask for any paper to do so provided we displaced them from their living and business areas. ‘’Not until compensation was paid to all of them, no single house was demolished.’’ He said.

 

Mimiko added that, ‘’In response to this, there was a day the bulldozer was working and we were driving past in Arakale in akure, and those whose houses were being demolished were shouting Iroko Iroko! We noticed it and I said that was profound, because it was not only about the money: we had series of interface with them, we empathised with them, we had to proffer solutions to the challenge that would be their lot when we pulled down their buildings.’’, but how many opposition did that? All we hear is they were occupying illegal space.

 

In my opinion, the opposition, especially the ACN and ANPP are as corrupt as the PDP. So, if some Nigerian leaders and elite can open their stinking mouth to ask Nigerians to settle for some ACN, ANPP thieves under the new APC over other PDP thieves, then what is the hope of the many illiterates?

 

Tijani Gadani while expressing is worries about the APC said, ’’Let me agree, for the sake of argument, that General Muhammed Buhari is honest, corrupt free and even a saint. Then, why will he associate himself with Ahmed Sani Yerima, the man who introduce Political Sharia in Zamfara State as the Governor, but wouldn’t want to be tried under the same sharia for corruption?

 

Why will Buhari associate himself with Bola Tinubu whom we all know doesn’t share the same idea with him in term of integrity? Someone whom is said to be once tagged as the most corrupt governor in Africa?

 

The truth must be told, Nigeria cannot get it right under this recycling of old and failed leaders who brought the country to this rotten state, be it with the PDP or the opposition, the earlier we realize this, the better for Nigeria. While contributing to the discussion, Yemi Odunaike, a strong admirer of General Muhammad Buhari who express disappointment with Buhari and the APC wrote,’’ Buhari before collaboration with acn and others, I support with all passion.

 

In his words, ’the very simple question still lingering is, will a Buhari led Federal Government also investigate and prosecute all ACN, ANPP looters who the majority are now the generals allies?’’ or I ask that, can he prevent them from further stealing and drying the federal treasury as they did to the respective states they are controlling?

 

While still on the matter, I stumble upon an article titled ‘’ Reclaiming Nigeria in 2015: Can the youths go it alone? Written by Abubakar Usman and shared by Mallam Nasir Elrufai.

 

In the article, Usman played down the capacity of the youths to effect change, citing examples of some youth who had served in government like the former speaker of the house, Dimeji Bankole whom he describe as worse than the elders and few others. He also laid emphasis on the economic incapacity of the youths to the actualization of a youth led government etc.

 

My question to Elrufai who shared the article and added that the youths should listen to the writer and the writer himself who gave his honest opinion is, who are these youths that have served in government and how did they get there? Are they youths that walk their way to the position by competence or those who made it as a gift from their parents? Do they have what it takes to represent the youths or they gained it by being close and loyal to a godfather and he gave them as a favour to extend his interest? If these questions would be answered truthfully, it would be in the negative.

 

The truth is that, the competent, upright and intelligent youths were never given the chance, those given were people who do the dirty jobs for the godfathers or those who were given as a repayment of debt owed to their parents.

 

Yes, I mean the youths that find their way in this government are the yes sir boys that are clearly incapable and not worthy. The doors of leadership is usually shut on youths that are really worthy and ready, because the politicians see them as threat to their domination, they see them as people that may likely bring their reign to an end and to continue to justify the incapability of the youths, they use the incompetent youths, though they are aware of their incapacity, but still select them to blackmail the rest of the youths and instead of blaming themselves for intentionally choosing the wrong youths for their selfish interest, they resort to blackmailing the rest of the youths claiming they are not better.

 

It is worth stating that i am not a believer in questioning why youths are not given leadership opportunities, but I am a strong advocate who enjoy youths to take leadership responsibilities. This is because, only a lazy youth look up to someone to give him or her leadership opportunities, real youths with distinctive character and leadership zeal for ‘excellence don’t ask for any chance, they create it, they don’t ask for leadership, they walk their` way to it.

 

There is no doubt that it is the duty of the elders to prepare the youths for leadership responsibilities, but not in Nigeria, where the same leaders of the 70’s are still struggling for power in 2015. The leaders of yesterday remain the leaders of today and with the look of things if not checked, they would remain the leaders of tomorrow. The youths must look beyond this set of leaders for leadership opportunities; else, they would have to wait till eternity.

 

Another major trick employed by the elders to continue to deny the youths of their rightly duty and role in government as well as prevent any challenge to the status quo is when they say the youths of Nigeria are not ready or are incompetent.  I laugh at such comment because I know for sure that, the youths of any nation cannot be said to be incompetent or incapable, except that the elders and leaders of such nation are failed people. So, if our elders have failed already, even though the youths are said to be incapable, they are still better than the failed elders and there is no point in keeping failed elders in government.

 

A youth is a young person who has only existed for a short period of time. It could also be said to be a new creature, with virgin reasoning, fresh thinking and new ideas. These youthful qualities are what is needed to make a progressive society, but unfortunately, all these qualities are missing in our government and the absence of which is denying Nigeria the impact of the youthfulness which would have ensured that the right action is taken for the right reasons and at the right time.

 

So far, virtually all project outlined by the government for the growth of the nation is of counter productivity, it lacked the youthfulness that would ensure its proper formulation and realistic implementation. Also, the projects conceived specifically for the youths have also proven not effective due to it lacking the youthful passion required to actualize it.

 

While I was discussing with an elderly man on my way to Abuja about the state of the nation and the need for youth involvement, he said, I just didn’t think it is right for any youth to take the lead. He maintained that, of what benefit is someone who had just existed for a short period of time to the government, when we have people with vast experience handling the affairs of the state?

 

To answer this question as short as I can, I said to him, youths are capable of seeing the error that is holding the nation down in the old practices, those errors that have been preventing the nation from moving forward but the older people could not see it. The youth would note and attach value to what the older people will ignore knowingly or unknowingly, something that may turn out to be a key to solving the challenges facing the nation.

 

Youths and children also are the majority in the society, they understand their own needs and aspirations, and they understand the challenges of the modern day youths which are beyond the scope of the elderly people to be able to proffer any meaningful and impactful solution. I pointed out that, seeing the error in the old practice is not with the aim of discrediting the older generation or practices, but to strengthen the work of older generation and improve the system for the betterment of the society. As it seems today, the problems facing the Nigeria are not major problems as such, but some minor problems that were ignored for a long period and eventually became a bigger challenge.

 

So, giving the youth’s leadership opportunities will amount to providing solutions to the challenges facing the majority of the country, identifying the minor challenges on time and proffering the solution which can be better initiated and implemented by the youths to tackle both present and future development.

 

The youths have the capacity of seeing new things, new possibilities, new opportunities and new path to be explored. They would see the new hope, new dreams, new future as well as bring in a new believe to end all anomaly.

 

In business, youths have demonstrated across the world that they are capable of bringing a new touch, new dimension and new initiative products that could sell in millions. In science, youths have equally demonstrated their ability to improve on old knowledge and discover new things. It is also the same in every other aspect of life. Why can’t youths take the chance in government?

 

Since the older people usually concentrate on bigger challenges, like the stability of government and get consumed by it, the youths concentrate on minor but very crucial aspect of government, things that are crucial to the stability of the society. If both the youths and the elderly people should harmonize their respective thought and strong hold in government management, such combination is surely leading to a rapid progress and development for the country.

 

Written by Abdulrazaq O. Hamzat

[email protected]

 

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Why Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Recorded Increase Amidst COVID-19

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Analysts have attributed the recent increase in investment recorded on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange to a lot of reasons, especially on the portfolio investors’ cash trapped in the country.

The MD/CEO, Capital Square Limited and the Acting Chairman Financial Group, Lagos Chambers Of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Obinna Anyanwu, explained that at the beginning of the pandemic, most portfolio investors had sold off their shares only to re-invest the funds when they could not repatriate the remaining liquidated investments.

Anyanwu said, “Before the lockdown, while the world was getting into COVID-19 crisis, the country experienced scarcity foreign exchange, and exchange rate began to go up as the naira was taking a heat from all the other major currencies.

But as that happened, the CBN reacted by subtly devaluation, but they were not clear about it, and this made the Dollar to go up from N360 to N380, which created some level of uncertainty in the market, and a couple of these funds had to exit.

“However, these funds that have gotten out of trading, which were withdrawn by the portfolio investors made the exchange to move up at that point in time.

Secondly, the remaining of those funds that they were unable to move out of the country, as they were stocked in the country was reinvested by these portfolio investors since they could not get out of the country so that they can still remain players in the market.”

He pointed out that at this period, that no economy in the world can yield returns on investment like the Nigerian economy, explaining that the global economy is generally affected.

Commenting on local investors, the financial analyst noted that there is some speculation that a few more funds came into the country due to the quantitative easing that was happening globally, adding that those money were plunged into the stock market since there is high rate of returns in this economy.

“Again internally, some Nigerians that might have held their money in current accounts that are also looking for returns may have probably given mandate to their portfolio investors, assets managing companies they use out there, and also security trading companies to get some stocks for them, which has automatically boosted investment,” he stressed.

According to a recent NSE report, a total turnover of 1.495 billion shares worth N12.894 billion in 20,982 deals were traded on by investors on the floor of the exchange, in contrast to a total of 2.440 billion shares valued at N19.932 billion that exchanged hands in week of review in 18,918 deals.

“The Financial Services industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.238 billion shares valued at N8.424 billion traded in 12,835 deals; thus contributing 82.82 percent and 65.33 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.” The report stated.

The report also revealed that the healthcare industry followed with 72.953 million shares worth N386.138 million in 465 deals, while the third place was the consumer goods industry, with a turnover of 48.567 million shares worth N1.904 billion in 2,611 deals.

 

Sourced From: Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics

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Question From A Non-Shiite Nigerian

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By Ibrahim Sheme.

Anybody saying the Shiites could be made to become “hardened” through the ongoing strong-arm security response to their demonstration in Abuja does not appear to know them properly.

Theologically they do not harbour “hardening elements” in the mould of, say, the Boko Haram as some analysts think. For one, they fully believe in “Boko” (western education), that is why they are everywhere – in business, politics, government, media, schools, and even the security services, among others. And that is why they do everything in the open. The guys we see demonstrating in the streets are merely the “face of the Shiites”, but they are not the only ones.

From my reading of their history and activities, I do not believe they will engage in an insurgency like that of BH. I cannot think of a country where they did that, including those countries where they were/are severely persecuted – e.g. Iran under the Shah and today’s Saudi Arabia. But they believe in increasing their numbers to such a humungous level where it is possible for them to launch a revolution. Alternatively, they believe in acquiring or utilising power through participatory politics and all other legitimate human endeavours – very much unlike the BH whose core belief centres on armed resistance.

Someone in the security circle seems to know only the aspect of their non-violent, participatory bent, in my view, hence the gruesome campaign to depopulate them through the brazen killing of their unarmed members participating in civil protest. But killing them is a misplaced and misguided option. The fact that what they are doing tallies with their constitutional rights makes the killing illegal and untenable and disturbingly smacks of a Sunni plot.

Another thing those authorising the killing do not seem to know is that these gun-shootings don’t scare the Shiites into submission or dispersal because martyrdom is at the core of their theology. The only “hardening element” the killing tends to cause is that it strengthens the Shiites’ sense of martyrdom and galvanises them into more protest. In the end the government is the loser because it is attracting negative world and local attention to itself.

Already, there is a growing backlash. One, human rights organizations have been crying foul, with Amnesty International two days ago giving a damning report on the strong-arm response to the Shi’a protest. Two, more than a million votes (of the Shiites) have already been lost by the ruling APC in next year’s general elections. I daresay most Shi’a votes in the 2015 elections went to Buhari rather than to Jonathan, but this time around your guess is as good as mine! Three, some local legal luminaries and civil rights campaigners are talking about compiling evidence for filing a case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) sometime in the future. The question from me, a non-Shi’a Nigerian, is this: Pray, does Baba Buhari need all this awful negativity?

If I were an aide with the President’s listening ear, I would tell Baba this:

1. Stop the brutal killing of the young protesters.

2. Release Sheikh Elzakzaky, his wife and other Shi’a detainees immediately.

3. Rebuild and give back Elzakzaky’s Zaria house and learning centre.

4. Pay compensation to Elzakzaky for the killings and the demolitions.

5. Advise Governor El-Rufai and any other state governor to reach a rapprochement with the Shiites.

6. Prosecute in court any Shiite found breaking the law in due course.

Doing this, I believe, is in accordance with the oath of office the President took. Sadly, I am no such aide and it appears that those who have his listening ear either are afraid to tell him the truth or actually think the present like of action is the best. Or, maybe, they don’t give a hoot about any possible consequences.

Ibrahim Sheme is a bilingual Nigerian writer, journalist, filmmaker and publisher.

Sourced From: The Authority News

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Something’s Wrong !!!

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I’’ve seen youths that are so visionary, proclaiming the future leadership of Nigeria and fervently committed to making it a better place.

It is lamentable that leaders of contemporary Nigeria are now aversive to stealing millions of Naira. You surprisingly become a celebrity when you embezzle billions- could this be called a celebration of engrained kleptomania?

It’s often said that when the mother cat chews, the cat watches- is it when  the national cake is totally squandered and the condition of Nigeria deteriorates beyond redemption that the  mission-critical and incorruptible youths will wake up from their slumber or how will we be tomorrow leaders if today leaders are glued to all available political seats?

Pope expresses hope, Imams preach Iman (faith) even babalawos caution “alawos”, all for the sake of doing things right. Thessalonian 5:22 in the Bible says “flee all appearances of evil” while the Holy Quran says “audhu billah mina ‘sh-shaytani ‘r-rajeem (which loosely translate to seeking protection in Allah, from the accursed Satan)” yet, the advocacy of doing things the way they should be done is a phenomenon that is looked down upon in my dear country Nigeria where the law-makers are even involved in several infractions, violating the law themselves. Why this?  I’m yet to get an exposition. I wondered, are we Nigerians holy at all?

Only if these greedy political leaders know that anything that is natural belongs to everybody, there wouldn’t be a situation where the philosophy of the rich getting richer while the poor and vulnerable are becoming more dispossessed will become the practice of Nigerians.

I took reflective moments to ponder on issues bedeviling Nigerians’ standard of living and reasoning compared to other developing African countries. I found out that we have undermined our values and over-flogged secondary heritages.

Imagine the Nigerian National Flag of the combination: Green-White-Green of which green denotes agriculture and the white sandwiched in between which denotes peace has now been put to shame as agricultural sector today receives little or no attention compared to other sectors like the oil and gas, banking sectors and their like. Peace in Nigeria is shattered to pieces by different disasters like the recent outrageous flood, the heavy rainfall that affected virtually half of the country over the last year leaving a lot of Nigerians homeless and dispossessed, the insurgences of the Boko Haram sect, kidnappers, MEND, Niger/ Delta militants and a lot more that continue to perpetuate insecurity which have consequently turned off potential investors both home and abroad and automatically decreasing the rate of commercial inclination in the country considering the cosmopolitan nature of my dear country. Now, is our national flag not outrightly defeated?

Nigeria, the proclaimed Giant of Africa, before reaching any conclusive decision constitutes an x-men committee, where x ranges; it could be 4,5,6 to tens, in which their outcome is always not applaudable rather, condemnable. To buttress this, I remember the recent Boston marathon bomb-blast in the U.S (an incident which I followed closely) that claimed three innocent lives and injured many. The two perpetrators were apprehended within four days after the incidence. FBI killed one and the other subjected to the law quite immediately without constituting any committee or panel to look into the situation. Boko Haram has gone a long way in disreputing Islamic religion and discrediting Nigeria in the face of other nations by their incessant bomb-blast claiming people’s lives and properties in tens and hundreds, still, nothing spectacular has “successfully” been done to put a final halt to their menace and operations. Now, are we practically not the dwarf of Africa?

Isn’t it pitiable that 20 percent Nigerians feed on less than $1 daily? (POLL Vanguard 21 May,2013.). For how long will this high rate of poverty, wretchedness and low standard of living persist?

Amongst all odds, as a matter of fundamental urgency, the Federal government and ASUU leadership MUST as soon as possible reach a compromise that will  consequently put an end to this strike that has left millions of Nigerian students Idle and  frivolous. Remember, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. I cease to imagine how anarchical it would be if the aggrieved Nigerian students should decide to stage a protest .

Looking at the enormity of the problems that Nigeria is encountering in comparison to the epileptic approach taken by our hedonistic “rulers”  to proffer a far-reaching solutions to them, it then occurred to me that “Something’s Wrong (with Nigeria)”

Notwithstanding, I speak in oneness of young Nigerians, like you and I, claiming no other heritage or lineage, believing in Nigeria’s potential to become a developed nation, her futuristic plans of eradicating corruption, in whom the destiny of Nigeria lies to contribute our quota to making Nigeria a world class nation

Remember, today is that tomorrow we wished for yesterday. How good we make use of today will determine how better tomorrow will be. Contributing our quota to the  betterment of our dear country Nigeria is just like building a reputation of a legend for ourselves as whatever we do today will definitely make up our history tomorrow.

 

Written by Kazeem Bolarinwa.
Kazeem is a graduating student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Business Administration Department.
Twitter: @kazzylauren

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TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS (NANS)

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By Kazeem Bolarinwa

From the inception of this strike, it’s my consistent belief that if NANS happened not to have been “financially impressed” to remain dormant on this issue, I’m utterly sure that a substantial or rather commendable action would have been taken to suppress the threat of this ruthless industrial action. Knowing the power of students, it’s not rocket science.

It’s important to note that protest is an expression of objection which can take different forms, it could be by words or actions. Therefore, to all myopic thinkers that believe that protest means shouting and rubbishing ourselves on the street, I’m sorry that’s not it. This is 21st century, things should change for better if pessimistically not the best.

To the NANS president, remember that; A flock of sheep led by a lion will surprisingly be defeated by a group of lions led by a sheep. Here, it’s time for NANS’ leadership to realise that we students shouldn’t be played like a ball between the two aggrieved parties who are indecisive and uncompromising.

You keep asking what you should do, so laughable!  You wouldn’t have assumed the mantle of leadership since you know that you are not a good manager as far as running the affair and leadership of the over 25million tertiary institution student in Nigeria.

NANS! This is the time to demonstrate how reliably active you can be by letting all ASUU strike victims benefit from the exhibition of your competence.

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