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Prayers For Mr President …The Lies, The Truth, The Intrigues
In the political process leading to the 2007 presidential elections, the then governor of Kastina State, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was not one of those largely counted to succeed former President Olusegun Obasanjo. If any governor was looked upon, it was that of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili.
Beyond them however, many Nigerians saw the presidency as a fight among men like, then Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, Vice President under the Shehu Shagari second republican presidency, Sir Alex Ekwueme, one-time Head of State, Gen Mohammadu Buhari and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Ambassador Jerry Gana.
Strangely, however, in days leading to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, a fresh face from Kastina State emerged and eventually became the successor to Obasanjo. Again, Nigerians were to record another reluctant President like Shehu Shagari, who harboured a modest ambition of becoming a senator, Yar’Adua we later learnt merely wanted to live out his tenure as governor of Kastina. No more. He might have had very good reasons, which the party leadership ignored.
For instance, in the nationwide campaign leading to the general elections ominous signs that the president-to-be had some health concerns played out when, he had to journey off the shores of the land to seek medical attention in far away Germany. That generated comments and put to question the fitness level of Obasanjo’s sorry, the PDP’s chosen successor.
Infact, candidates of other competing parties outrightly told Nigerians that Yar’Adua was not medically fit to run through the campaigns, let alone run a complex country like Nigeria as President and Commander-In Chief. Worse still, mischief makers even suggested that the PDP candidate might have died in the process of seeking medical attention abroad.
So disturbing were the speculations that an agitated president Obasanjo had to arrange a hurried telephone chat on National television where Nigerians were made to listen to both of them talk heartily, as proof that Yar’Adua was alive.
In the end however, Yar’Adua pulled through after a long torturous campaign to win the elections. Soon after, the new president presented himself to Nigerians as one with a good heart, the nation’s socio-economic limitations, his own health concerns and mountainous national problems, notwithstanding. In fact, within the little-over-two and a half years that he piloted the Nigerian ship of state as president and Commander-in –Chief, he demonstrated measured tact, good nature, humility, focus, dedication, selflessness, patriotism and indeed promoted national unity to the Nigerian project, political integration, multi-ethnic understanding, ethno-religious tolerance, and above all else, respect for human life.
That perhaps accounted for the amnesty he granted warring militants of the Niger Delta and also announced a post-amnesty package intended to address, in a lasting manner, the near recurrent cases of violence, senseless bloodletting and under-development of the oil-rich area, famed for being the mainstay of the Nigerian state but, neglected by successive federal administrations.
Yar’Adua’s presidency also established the Niger Delta Ministry, voted funds for the upkeep of the repentant militants and indeed set up an implementation body that would take a holistic view at the wider Niger Delta development project.
It was in the middle of all these that his health started failing him in November last year and for which he left for Saudi Arabia for a heart surgery which kept him away from his presidential seat for over 90 days. Since his return, (how he did is not of essence here) all well- meaning Nigerians have continued to pray for his early recovery, but more importantly, that Allah be as gracious as always to spare a goodman’s life.
It is however, important to understand that Nigeria is a democracy, operating the presidential system, an arrangement which can hardly move on hitch-free without a president. This reality no doubt, threw Nigerians into confusion over whether to wait endlessly for a good president’s recovery or to move on and still continue their fervent prayers.
Happily, the same presidential system provides for succession procedures at challenging moments like those 93 days of absence Nigerians found themselves and which led to the elevation of his second in command, then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to fill the obvious vacuum, as Acting President and still provide a soft-landing for the ailing president – a goodman.
In all these days, Jonathan was self-restraining, unambitious and prayerful. In fact, he demonstrated rare loyalty that created the picture that he was incapable of holding the fort in his boss absence
But for sometime now, some political adventurers who claim to love President Yar’Adua more and obviously Nigeria less, have continued to create confusion intended to heat-up the system, cause bad blood among the Yar’Adua loving many and above all paint an ethno-religious picture of an otherwise constitutional process.
After their successful attempts to forestall any attempt to declare Yar’Adua permanently incapacitated and accordingly unfit to remain as president, they warned Acting President Jonathan never to try tampering with Yar’Adua’s cabinet or risk losing Northern support.
Information and Communications Minister, Prof Dora Akunyili called them a cabal. And for that, during her ministerial screening on the floor of the senate, the former NAFDAC arrow head was virtually ambushed by Sen Tanki Bello, representing Kastina State for being bold enough to unmask them. Dora was obviously ‘saved by the bell’ as they say, when a motion to make the Senate work beyond 6PM failed to sail through that day, and was not re-invited thereafter.
Not done, the cabal sold another dummy penultimate Thursday, that ailing President Yar’Adua was hale and hearty and so strong, would be at the Abuja Central Mosque for the Jumait prayer, the following day. He never did.
But later that day, some Moslem clerics, who were said to have visited the Yar’Adua told Nigerians that they shook hands with him and that he even begged them to pray for him. That, to many Nigerians, should be a cheering piece of goodnews.
But it instead raised very vital questions. Yar’Adua may be a Moslem but he was elected by both Christians and Moslems alike, so why invite Moslem clerics alone? Secondly, if Yar’Adua could , as much as, talk and urge his guests to pray for him, why not address Nigerians or at least reach the National Assembly or, best still, the Vice President he left behind?
These queries might have prompted the hurried invitation of some Christians Cleric to also see the ailing president. It was after then Nigerians came to realise that not all that the Moslem clerics had said about the president’s magical recovery should have been taken as truth. That, Yar’Adua in fact said not a word, no gesture, not a smile and was in fact motionless all through the prayers. And that, in such a state, could not have asked for their prayers. They prayed anyhow.
Curiously, the timing of the Moslem clerics, date with Mr President, just a working-day difference to the planned inauguration of the new ministers last week Tuesday (after the Easter break) struck me as yet another failed attempt to create more doubts over the propriety of the Acting Presidency. That was not necessary, if it was truly so intended for Nigeria has moved past the stage.
My Agony is that the managers of the president’s health and indeed his immediate family appear bent on manufacturing bad blood between Yar’Adua and Jonathan, where, all well-meaning Nigerians should know, there ought be none.
With the cabinet ministers now inaugurated and the cabal’s major targets, Akunyili, and Deziani Allison-Madueke and others now on their jobs, none can tell what their next antic would be. But can someone tell the cabal that Nigeria has better uses for them. To get lost.
Intrinsically, Yar’Adua who accepted the presidency reluctantly in the first place, would not put up the kind of desperation which the so called cabal have thus far shown, for love of self, nay the ailing president’s good.
We pray that they may let a good man recover quickly and at God’s time. And not to make a political issue out of very important human affliction.
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.