We are the Fulani, You Insult Us And Call Us Names. You Say We Only Herd Cattle And Are Illiterates.

You say we are foolish and wicked but we own Nigeria. They know we own Nigeria, the Tiv knows, the Nupe knows, the Igbo knows, the Ijaws and the Yoruba will not say they don't know, the Hausa are living witnesses to our superiority over them. The Fulani has no particular home. We take and possess wherever we want. Before 1804 we weren't in Nigeria. A certain Hausa King, Yumfa welcomed our most revered Uthman Dan Fodio and from a preacher, he rose to Kingship. He killed Mohammad Yumfa, took his Kingdom, and since then Hausa has become our obedient slaves. For many years we have opened the Nigeria door for the influx of the Fulani into Nigeria. Those that came in some little years back are today governors and in charge of Nigeria. We the Fulani are in charge of Nigeria. And we will continue ruling them. We have opened the borders and in a few years millions of us will come in to possess our possession. We the Fulani are Lords. We can steal and still jail those from other tribes that stole. We can kill and still arrest other tribes that didn't kill. Our youth are killing people, sacking villages and occupying them. We go about with AK47s without being molested. Yet we have arrested Yoruba and even Igbo youth and imprisoned them for shouting Biafra. We are the Fulani, we do whatever we want. We snapped pictures with our killer brothers, recruited them into the military and police, but for gathering in Emene, Enugu State for a Meeting, we gunned down 21 Igbo youths and made sure non of their leaders coughed. We laugh at the clowns that say they have Amotekun. We named their race - Yariba and with their name they can never progress because even your Holy Book says that. We shall never allow them take control over their destiny. We must keep making sure the rogues among them rule them. Criminals who don’t care about their people or have regard for them. People we can control, those that will rule for us and enjoy accelerated looting of their people's resources. That's the type of leaders we the Fulani will gift them. Look at the South West and ask yourself why we have permitted a convicted drug lord and fraudster whose real name isn’t the one he is answering to control the entire SW with all their so-called educated elite and intellectuals?? Why do you think the Governors in SE rejected Regional Security and embraced our packaged Community Policing? They are all our proud slaves. We keep them apart and make sure that despite all their so-called education and intellectualism, we dominate them and make them hate each other. That way we control the fools. With CAMA we are taking over the resources of your Churches. That's after we must have taken over your waterways and its surrounding lands. We are Fulani and we will not back down. We are bold and you are cowards. We say what we want to do and do it. What can you do? We do not beg for crumbs like your weak elites. We also own the senate. Didn't you see what happened in Lagos? We allowed that drug sniffer to block people from voting so we take over. We have done it all over SW and also in SE. Didn't you see what happened in Imo state? Those Igbo people voted for Emeka Ihedioha and we gave them Hope Uzodimma, our shameless stooge. A known thief who has case with our dogs the EFCC. We have been doing this since after the genocide we committed against them, and we will keep doing it. Yes, we own the EFCC, the army, the police and even the Air force and all security agencies. We know that all you can do is make noise in papers while we act. What can you do? We throw crumbs at your elites and they shut up. Is that not why all the agencies are headed by we the Fulani, with our intellectual slaves from the East and West defending us. They say on our behalf that it doesn't matter if the Fulani takes charges of every organization in Nigeria. That what matters is their performance. That we should all rise above tribe and stop seeing a Fulani, but rather see a Nigerian. They are slaves and we pay them with their own resources. Hahaha! We are the Fulani, we take whatever we want. We are sacking villages, killing Christians, occupying and renaming their villages and there is nothing anyone of you can do. Rise up and we will bring you to your knee using your own brothers. That's how powerful a Fulani is. They say they are sophisticated, intelligent and rich,yet they are fools and we the Fulani control them. Is that not why we own their oil wells and give them pipe line guarding contracts? And they are happy and doing it well. Pathetic slaves. Yet all of you say you are intelligent. Where is your intelligence? We are the Fulani and we will become indigenes of every state in Nigeria. We have become indigenes in Benue and will soon become indigenes in Ebonyi and Enugu. After which the Koran will be dipped into the ocean. And your brothers will make all of these possible. We succeed because we are bold, courageous and far more intelligent than all of you. Our spokespersons have told you several times and nothing will change our plan. All hail the Fulani! Written by: Dr. Adamu Musa

Another Bombardment to d Nigeria state by fearless Catholic Clergy Bishop Matthew Kukah. . Pls hear him--

From Bishop Matthew Kukah Anyone who thinks the Biafra agitation is a nuisance and irritating should know that it is not the collective aspiration of all Igbos but especially that no one has the monopoly of nuisance. Nuisance begets nuisance. When you stay with potash loaders you too will share in their dusty hair. It is in this country that the same standards are not held against all. Some can get away with anything but others cannot get away with something. I shudder at those who blame the agitators for agitating. Everyone knows what is good for them. If you don't know what is good for you then shut up and don't obstruct those who know what is good for them. If I have my way I will cease to be a Nigerian because there is no sense of nationhood. Those who have leverage over others use it to oppress them. Otherwise how can you explain the audacious impunity of a certain section of this country. They can intimidate everybody even a sitting president and get away with it. When GEJ was president he was literally harassed by this same people until they sent him packing and we thought they will be appeased. But a las we were mistaken! Now how do I love a country where a murderous terrorist group like the herdsmen acclaimed even internationally as deadly is being openly defended by a govt. that wants my loyalty. Do you know as I make this comment, a first class Chief of Bokkos LGA in Plateau state was murdered by a certain group of Fulanis almost a year now and no one has been arrested not to talk of prosecution; there are many villagers in my parish who cannot go to farm again except to farm their backyard because their farms have been forcefully annexed by their Fulani murderers; that in Bokkos a wife and a daughter can be taken away right before her husband or father and be repeatedly raped then released at the convenience of the barbaric Fulani tribesmen and no one dares talk; police will advise you to go and settle the matter through dialogue? I want independence from a country where terrorists are embraced and agitators are terrorized. At the slightest excitement Hausa or Fulani man can kill you and get away with it; it has happened and continues to happen but when you gear up to defend yourself because security will not, then you are caught by the same security who will lecture you on how to be peaceful and law abiding. This country will end unless there is justice for all. Rubbish! I hate the lie that Nigeria is. Let's say the truth and die but it is what will set us free. Nigeria is negotiable to me the oppressed even if it's not to the oppressor and that is normal. "The only right Nigerians concede to you is the right to agree with them" - Bishop Kukah. Read and share on.

Minutes of A JOINT meeting of THE JNI

Minutes of A JOINT meeting of THE JNI of FOUR STATES CONSISTING of PLATEAU, BAUCHI, KADUNA AND NIGER STATE HELD IN BAUCHI CENTRAL MOSQUE ON THE 13TH JULY 2010 chaired by MALLAM ALI IBRAHIM PANTAMI This meeting is born out the growing antagonism, hardship and how the Christians in Nigeria are attacking and despising the religion of Allah. The worrisome issue is that the south and the west of Nigeria is predominantly Christians whom Muslims are considered as animals. However, in the Northern part of Nigeria which is predominantly Muslims, the Christians want to still take over. The main aim of this meeting is to: a. Address the growth and the spread of Christianity in the North. b. Receive reports of the treatment meted against the religion of Allah in some parts of the North especially Plateau State. c. Re-strategize towards the full implementation of Jihad in Jos Plateau and as well as Kaduna state. d. The liberation of Kaduna state. As stated earlier, Christianity is fast growing in the Northern part of this country which is totally uncalled for. We are aware the Christianity has humiliated Islam in the south west thus Islam can no longer thrive there. We are treated with contempt and as non Nigerians in the part of the country. Furthermore, the Christians brought out a scheme so as to get rooted and get liberated in the North they brought was they called middle belt. This Middle belt curve all the Christian’s dominated areas and is been championed by the Plateau big wigs. The Christians have now extended not only in remote areas of the North but inside the cities as against the wishes of our Islamic leaders whom are no more. It should be noted that our leaders like the great Sardauna, Tafawa Balewa, Alahji Abubakar Gummi. Alahji Shehu Maigandu, Mallam Isaka Ramallan etc admonished Qur’an for a church standing close and in rivalry with a mosque. It is also their wish that part of the North be dominated and ruled by Muslims, it will afford the North the opportunity to practice shari’a law while other parts of the country use the common law. To checkmate and caution the growing of Christianity in the Northern country, all Islamic clergies will pay a visit to all governors of the North and traditional rulers who are Muslims and presenting them the following demands. i. They must device policies to see that all churches built in their respective states capitals are demolished to allow mosques in the city capital. Providing the Christians specific place to build their churches and be called Church Street . ii. Christians preaching in the streets in the respective states through the media and other means be regulated. iii. As it was the case in Katsina state during Governor Umaru Musa Yar’adua, a ban should be place in all the Northern states governed by a Muslim on teaching of Christian Religion in schools. iv. Place a ban on Christians using the public address system during the services. These demands must be adhered to and adopted by the Muslims governor for the interest of peace. They should note that we have more control of the masses and the youths. Any attempt by the Christians to disobey or revolt against the decision shall mean fighting against the religion of Allah which the followers of Allah shall not watch but we shall violently wipe away the Christians in these states. REPORT FROM JNI PLATEAU Sheik Sani Yahaya of JIBWIS on behalf of the JNI chairman presented the challenges and the maltreatment against the religion of Allah by the Governor of Plateau, his government, the Berom nation and as well as the entire Christians. He has also stated the efforts they have made and their stands. He stated by saying that Muslims in Plateau state are in great danger Muslims in Plateau are dehumanized, humiliated, maltreated and scorned by the Christians according to him. The machinery of government is used by the Berom Christians. Points to be noted include: 1. Over 7000 Muslims are massacre by the Christian in Plateau state since governor Jang assumed office. 2. Governor Jang came to destroy Islam in Plateau State and to drive away any non Berom Christian in Plateau state. 3. Un-estimated houses with Billions of Naira, were destroyed by the Berom Christians since Governor Jang assume office. 4. There is an existing plan and policy by Governor Jang and his government to wipe out any Muslim Jos through the Jos Master Plan; placing a ban on motorcycle operation, disallowing our traders to trade freely and unnecessary arrest of our youths. 5. No Muslim is given employment with the Plateau state government. 6. The government of Plateau state has ordered the Plateau State water Board to stop pumping water in places that are predominantly Muslims. 7. All the crises in Jos are taking place in Berom land. 8. Governor Jang admonish his Berom Christians to keep on killing the Muslims, that he has bribed all the Muslims traditional rulers with money and seats to hajj. The Muslims Ummah in Jos has solemnly resolved to fight the governor, his government and the entire- Christians in any way possible. They shall never support this government and they will destroy any development that shall come to Plateau even the existing ones. Again, they are ready for Jihad in the state as we have presently secured the needed arms. Over 3000 foreign arms have now entered Jos and we will not vote during the governorship election. But we shall ensure that we have the position of the Federal House of Representative Jos North/Bassa chairman Jos North, Senator Representing Plateau North, Plateau State member Jos North-North. They shall shed the last drop of our blood to ensure that the Jos master plan and the ban on Okada is realized. The Ummah in Jos shall frustrate the peace and development of the entire state. All traders and Okada riders have been enjoined not to go out for their business without any preparation on a daily basis they are soliciting the support of the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria to support Islam in Plateau in cash and in kind as there is an endowment fund raising to procure more arms and especially explosives. They have also declared both open and silent killings in Muslims areas on any Christian and security (No go area). We have pledge to deal with any Muslim especially those who are dining together with the governor for their selfish needs without diving a consideration to the Ummah. They shall kill them and their families and generations wipe away, we are watching. RE-STRATEGIZE TOWARDS THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION of JIHAD IN JOS PLATEAU STATE. Haven’t seen the need for Islam to take its rightful position in Jos there is need for all Muslim in Nigeria to come to terms and re-strategize Muslims all over should bear in mind Jos is now labeled as a deadly zone to all non-Christians. There is need for all Muslims to extend their support to the Muslims in jos Plateau and ensure that Jos is capture and declared a Muslim territory. With the way the governor and the government of Plateau is dehumanizing scorning the religion of Allah, the only solution for our liberation is Jihad The Muslim Ummah shall use Jihad and ensure that governor Jang did not return to office. Muslims in the state shall ensure that few months before the general elections jihad will be declare in the state which cannot be controlled even by the security agency with great slaughter and massacre which the Federal government will have no option than to declare a state of emergency in plateau. The shall also use some of his political rivals to fight him and ensure that he did no return to office by plight of Muslims will be reduced. While they guard their areas, they must go out and attack the Christian dominated area and also destroy any government property at their disposal in the state. THE LIBERATION of KADUNA STATE Kaduna state is one of the historic and ancient cities in the history of Northern Nigeria . It is a state which has bred so many Islamic and National leaders, it is also a place where so many meetings and plans were carried out. Kaduna is the headquarters of Northern Nigeria . For a number of years Kaduna has witnessed its own share of religious crisis and for quit sometimes Christianity has been silenced thus the Muslims dominating every sector. It explains why the present Southern Kaduna is agitating for the creation of a new state to give them breathing space. The Muslim Ummah in the entire Northern Nigeria are greatly shocked, surprised and sad with the presently development given a Christian the opportunity to rule for the history of this country a non Muslim has never rule Kaduna state because of our numerical strength, political power and prowess and as its significance to Islam. The present development given Patrick Yakowa to rule Kaduna state is totally uncalled for and a slap to Islam in Nigeria , it is considered as equal a Christian ruling in Mecca , Iran or Irag. No Muslim can be given the opportunity of such magnitude of evens a deputy governor in Plateau state. The most worrisome situation is where Governor Yakowa is making moves to contest for the seat of the governor in 2011 and hoping to use government machines at his disposal. He also backed the support of the president his fellow Christian. To face the challenge in Kaduna state all Muslims must rise to their responsibilities and resolve to fight for Allah. The Muslim Ummah shall ensure that Governor Patrick Yakowa or any Christian does not assume that seat forever. We must device all political and Jihadic means to ensure that we realize our plan. 1. 90 days from now, Muslims must ensure that peace has escaped Kaduna state. 2. Muslims must hunt all Christians especially those in the cities. 3. We must either use the security or other means to eliminate the governor, his family and all those they perceive are supporting him. 4. Must face and frustrate all Christians in Kaduna who are civil servants and traders. 5. Attacks must continue to be launched Christians predominated areas as signals before jihad. 6. Shall use our men who are in the military to help us bring arms and ammunitions into Kaduna . 7. Use all resources possible to have control of the security before and during these attacks. This meeting is highly confidential but can be related all Muslims who wishes to support this movement. UZTAZ SANUSI MOHAMMED M. Lawal Ishaq Esq. Source: http://www.nigerian elites forum.com/ng/e-dey-pain-me/3678-malicious-fabrications-to-further-divide-the-divided-nigeria-pls-ignore.html#post8617

Nothing wrong with labour, blame society’s docility, says Ambali

Hakeem Ambali is the new National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). In this interview with GLORIA NWAFOR, he speaks on challenges confronting the labour movement, pathways to reviving stagnated career service of local government workers and why autonomy is germane to the development of the country. How would you describe the state of organised labour in Nigeria today? The state of labour in Nigeria today is a reflection of Nigerian Society. Unfortunately, labour has done a lot, even performed beyond the expectation of an average labour activist. The law establishing the labour movement is aimed at defending the interest of workers and agitates for better remuneration. Labour takes additional responsibilities due to the passiveness of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and members of the public from whom labour is supposed to draw additional strength. That is why it appears to some that organised labour is not doing enough. Another factor that is not working in favour of organised labour is the continuous pauperisation of Nigerian people. As everybody is aware, the provision of basic needs of the majority of Nigerians today is at the lowest ebb; that is why people put all the burden of demanding a better standard of living from the government on labour. It is only labour and the media that are agitating for the rights of the Nigerian people. In other climes, it is not like that. We have NGOs, CSOs and even religious bodies championing the cause of the ordinary people. In some advanced countries, revolution or change starts from the church and the mosque, but in Nigeria, unfortunately, our religious leaders are no longer doing that, as they are also becoming part of the problem. In the view of many, labour today is in disarray. It has become voiceless or its voice cannot be heard again; it has been compromised. This was not the labour of Adams Oshiomhole’s days. Now that we are now in democracy, agitation is about lobbying before resorting to the last option, which is a strike. But even at that, what happened during Oshiomhole’s time was that Nigerians were very courageous, even ready to pay the supreme sacrifice but what is happening now? We have allowed politicians to divide Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines. So if you look at that and you want to measure the performance of labour, you will not be fair to labour. For example, during the fuel increment, labour called for a mass protest in Nigeria, but Nigerians were busy sitting at home watching television, unlike during Oshiomhole’s days, when Nigerians came out in large number to participate in a strike. I think Nigerians are becoming confused concerning their civil rights. There is no problem with labour, the problem is with our society, a case of societal decadence and corruption occasioned by mass poverty. Labour took this government to court and there was a judgment delivered against the increment in electricity tariff and when the government refused to obey the judgment of their court, labour went on the street. I led the protest in Ogun state. Nothing is wrong with labour, anytime the masses are ready, labour will lead. It is worrisome that Nigerians are becoming passive and docile when it comes to confronting democratic challenges. Nigeria is presently faced with problems of insecurity, banditry and kidnapping. As a labour leader, what do you see as the way out? The singular solution is complete local government autonomy. Once the foundation is faulty, what can the righteous do? Let me tell you that over 70 per cent of Nigerians reside in rural areas. When you talk about banditry, it is most prominent in the rural areas. For example, Lagos and the cities are well policed, all forms of security apparatus are deployed to secure these cities, and security is concentrated on the cities at the expense of rural communities. That is why banditry and kidnap are more prevalent in rural areas. What we need is a solid and strong local government system that will put every council in a viable position to organise, train, monitor and pay local vigilantes, who are supposed to be converted to local government police. With this, we would have indigenes of a particular area that understand the terrain and culture, who know individuals one-by-one, they are best suitable to handle problems of banditry and kidnap. Unlike when you take a Hausa man from Kano to Ijebu in Ogun state to come and police the area. Before he gets accustomed to the area, a lot of crimes would have been perpetuated. What are your plans for NULGE during your term as President? We thank God that we have been elected to serve our people. Our administration is a transitional and transformational one. We have previously served at various capacities in the union, which put us in a position to know the challenges ahead of us. Our first and immediate priority is to commence genuine reconciliation of all aggrieved members to build confidence in our members. We will give a sense of belonging and support to all the state branches and local branches of the union. We need to also deepen their exposure to modern-day unionism through regular seminars and education. We will also pursue quickly, the approval and implementation of a scheme of service for our union workers because local government career has been stagnated over a long period. People who are supposed to move from one cadre unto others thereby creating vacancies for young ones in terms of career mobility could not move. We are going to reform the career service of the officers of the union to make them be at par with their colleagues and contemporaries. We will also complete the new national NULGE secretariat in Abuja. We are also embarking on registering a new investment company called NULGE Investment Company that will warehouse our business investments. We are going into the transportation business to be called NULGE Mass Transit. We will also go into the hospitality business. We expect that within the next year, we would establish the first NULGE Guest House, a three-star hotel in Abuja. We would be establishing NULGE National Museum in South Western Nigeria. We will also ensure that we have NULGE Mortgage Saving Scheme and we are bringing in a cooperative society to our members as well as NULGE employees across Nigeria so that we can enhance their economic capacities. By October this year, we will be celebrating the first National annual NULGE week, to be kick-started by state chapters’ NULGE Week celebration. What will your administration do to stop state governors from appointing caretakers for councils? First, let me make it very clear that we are in total agreement with President Buhari on the issue that any local government that does not have democratically elected leaders must not be funded. Article 73 of the Nigerian Constitution says a system of a democratically elected political leader is hereby guaranteed for local government. So the appointment of political cronies to head councils is an aberration under the constitution. We shall lobby the National Assembly to ensure that any council that is not run by elected leaders is denied funds. On our part, we will start by mobilising the Nigerian populace, using media advocacy and contacts, advocacy to paramount rulers and market men and women, including leaders in the society, we shall bring them together to help us trumpet why local government autonomy is the way to go. And why the killer bill being sponsored at the House of Representatives, which aims at emasculating council autonomy, must no longer be allowed to see the light of the day any more. Failure to do that will have grave consequences for the functioning of councils all over the country. It will mean that councils will no longer be able to build markets, rural roads and maternity centres for the people and also take care of the primary school education.

OF WEALTH AND PERDITION. . ..

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36 ‘Those who crave riches seek them only to drive the fear of poverty out of their spirits; others seek for glory to free themselves from the fear of being scorned; some seek sensual delights to escape the pain of privations; some seek knowledge to cast out the uncertainty of ignorance; others delight in hearing news and conversation because they seek by these means to dispel the sorrow of solitude and isolation.’ Salah al-Din Allah in Sura Takathur, Quran Chapter 102, aptly translated as Rivalry for Wealth says: The mutual rivalry for piling up (the good things of this world) diverts you (from the more serious things) Until ye visit the graves . . . . . .Then, shall ye be questioned that Day about joy (ye indulged in!) Quran 102:1-8 There is no doubt that the lust for worldly possessions leads to greed, avariciousness, and an inordinate propensity to acquire more and more worldly wealth, material benefits, pleasure, position, and power, which are seen as a sure avenue to increase their wealth. In the process we forget death and the day of Judgement when we shall all meet our maker to answer for all our actions. This one pursuit has so occupied man that he is left with no time or opportunity for pursuing the higher things in life. They mortgage their soul on the altar of acquisitiveness. The Quran goes further to say that these blessings which they are amassing and enjoying thoughtlessly, are not mere blessings but are also a means of man’s trial. For each one of these blessings and comforts one will surely be called to account in the Hereafter. Sayyid Qutb, the ‘Martyr’ elucidates this Sura in a much stronger manner when he said: You drunken and confused lot! You who take delight and indulge in rivalry for wealth, children, and the pleasures of this life, from which you are sure to depart! You who are absorbed with what you have, unaware of what comes afterwards! You who will leave the object of this rivalry, and what you seek pride in, and go to a narrow hole where there is no rivalry or pride! The passion for piling up more and more has made the people heedless of God, of the Hereafter, of the moral bounds and moral responsibilities, of the rights of others and of their own obligations to render those rights. They desire to have more and more means of comfort and physical enjoyment and, overwhelmed by this greed, they have become wholly insensitive to the ultimate end of this way of living. In July 1990, the Lagos State government, under Raji Rasaki, evicted the residents of Maroko and environ and demolished the community. About 300,000 people lost their houses. It was one of the largest forced evictions in Nigerian history. The beneficiaries of that land grab are known, and it is a story for another day. However, immediately after the demolition my father decided we should go to Olukotun, a settlement by the Atlantic Ocean to exhume his mother’s corps for reburial at Atan in Yaba. So off we went in a derelict Land Rover, accompanied by a health officer from the local government. After digging for a while, we were only able to extract some black specks as the body and bones have been eaten by the sea salt. All the cows she inherited had been stolen by the Fulani caretaker. It is instructive to know that only the black specs were the remains of the daughter of Agbo Malu Court, Cow Lane which used to be a ranch for cows with a rail line that passed the back of the compound going towards Oke Suna via Lewis Street, passing the ‘Salu oni Rakunmi’ compound where her grandfather used to carry out his trade in camels. More than a hundred years after, Oni Rakunmi court is still there but only remembered by the memorial mosque in his name. No one in the compound remembers Hajara Gborigi, my grandmother who died at Olukotun in 1930. How man forgets so soon to learn from observing his environment. We do not learn from what became of those who amassed wealth yesterday. Where are they today? What became of that wealth? Their Queens Drive Lodges, their Castles of Mercy, their Casa de Ibitayo in Ondo, Owodunni Mansion in Ilisan, that of Okunowo in Ijebu Ode and Adebisi’s 90-room edifice at Idikan? What will become of their 50-bedroom Hilltop mansions, and their Presidential Libraries, all glaring epitomes of corruption? What enduring legacies did they leave? The answer to these questions calls for sober reflections and contemplation. We know of men who had lost their lives because they were heedless of the plight of their servants. Sometimes they are unkind and wicked to their servants and yet they want God to be merciful on them. They forget that mercy begets mercy and forgiveness begets forgiveness. They read their Lord’s Prayer upside down! Yet, we know of men of wealth who have not changed their furniture in 25 years, nor their bed; build houses for their domestic servants and drivers and sponsor their children to school up to university and ensure they never go hungry and empathize with them in their moments of grieve. They are not only large employers of labor but are compassionate and kind and engage in philanthropy. These are men who never forget their roots and go back to do wonderous things for the communities they hail from including their alma Mata. They donate libraries, lecture halls and hostels to universities and offer scholarships to needy students. They are the ones who make huge donations to the building of churches and masjids in their communities. And establish foundations for uplifting others from poverty. Unlike some, they do not carry their money about in bullion vans nor bury them under their bed like Silas Marner. The Jerusalem Bible tells us: ‘every man that walks, only a shadow, and the wealth he amasses is only a puff of wind – he does not know who will take it next.’ Psalm 39:6 The Messenger of Allah said: “Three things will follow the deceased person to the grave, two of them will return while only one remains behind with him: The things which follow him are: his family, his wealth and his actions; his family and his wealth will return while his actions remain.” Yes, ‘‘Talk is cheap. No matter how much you claim to be a good person, the only public measuring stick is your actions. O Allah we thank thee for all You have blessed us with. We recognize that it is not by our power but by Your Grace. May the wealth You have bestowed on us not be the source of our perdition; especially that wealth which we stole. Lest we forget: “A well-dressed soul in this world, may be naked in the hereafter.” Barka Juma’at and Ramadan Kareem. Babatunde Jose Milestone: Our daughter Asia Atinuke Jose celebrates another milestone tomorrow May 8, 2021. She will be 42. We thank Allah for preserving her. May her years be long. TJ as she is fondly called; happy birthday and many happy returns. Wish you long life and good health. Babatunde Jose +2348033110822

PALESTINE IN EBULLITION

The violence convulsing the Middle East has produced heart-rending and soul pinching images and statistics. People are dying, bullets and missiles are flying, and most of the dead are Palestinians, including dozens of children. Israeli military carry out bombing raids in densely populated Gaza; a disproportionate response to armed Palestinian groups hurling ineffectual rockets at Israeli cities. There are wanton destruction of infrastructure and people in an already destroyed enclave. Meanwhile, inter-communal violence continues across Israel between Jews and Arab Israelis. Palestinian missiles are crude, homemade devices without any guidance system and have limited reach and destructive capabilities against the well-armed Israeli armour that is well financed and supplied by the American government which spends an estimated $3 Billion on military aid to Israel annually including exchange of military intelligence, access to stockpile of US arms kept in Israeli bases for use in eventuality of war and supply of sophisticated guided missile systems that enable Israel to engage in precision bombing of Palestinian targets. It is a one-sided war; that is if it could be called a war; but genocide. Gaza, like its twin, West Bank is one huge prison; has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967 and a 15-year-old suffocating siege and naval blockade. Palestinians cannot even fish nor carryout any maritime activity. Hence, 80% of the people rely on humanitarian aid to eat. And worse of all, the people cannot leave the enclave. Yet, Western governments, led by US President Joe Biden, have been quick to unequivocally condemn Palestinian groups for the rocket barrages, but have been much more circumspect about condemning Israel’s attack on Palestinian civilians in what could be described as the fallacy of self-defence. What has happened in Palestine in the last 100 years has been a result of the duplicity and political hooliganism of European powers; chiefly Britain and France, who carved out the old Ottoman Empire among themselves with the blessing of the defunct League of Nations. The League of Nations granted the French, Mandate over Syria, and the Lebanon and the British, Mandate over Mesopotamia (later Iraq) and Palestine, later divided into Mandatory Palestine and Emirate of Transjordan (1921-1946). The Balfour Declaration which encouraged the international Zionist movement to push for a Jewish homeland in the Palestine region, started the whole trouble and since then the region had not known peace: It cannot know peace because the whole arrangement is strewn with injustice, unfairness, inequitableness, duplicity, inequality, and political deceit. Speaking in the British Parliament this week, George Galloway told fellow members; ‘We are the author of this tragedy’. That is very true! Abridging the historical narration, the 1948 forced exodus of Arab Palestinians from their homes, marked a watershed in the tragic history of Palestine. Also known as the Nakba, literally "catastrophe", or "cataclysm", more than 700,000 Arabs – about half of pre-war Palestine's Arab population – were expelled from their homes, on the eve of the creation of Israel. About 600 Palestinian villages were destroyed; and urban Palestine was almost entirely obliterated. A series of laws passed by the first Israeli government prohibited Arabs who had left from returning to their homes or claiming their property. They and many of their descendants remain refugees to this day. The expulsion of the Palestinians has since been described by some historians as ethnic cleansing. Seventy-two years after, the Palestinians are not only stateless, but refugees in their ancestral land marking three quarters of a century of wrong! Today, there are more than 7 million Palestinian refugees, and their descendants. A core Palestinian demand in peace negotiations is justice for these refugees, most commonly in the form of the “right of return” to the homes their families abandoned in 1948 ( On the other hand, Jews returned to Palestine after being in diaspora for 1,900 years.). Unfortunately, Israel has demolished these homes and Jewish settlements have sprang up to replace them. Moreover, Israel has refused to agree to this as it would make Jews a minority — On 31 December 2020, Israel's population was estimated at 9,291,000 residents. 6,870,000 Jews (73. 9%), 1,956,000 Arabs (21.1%) and 456,000 Others (5.0%). In our view, the most important condition for this ongoing conflict to end and for real peace to be established is for both sides to give peace a chance and search for realistic and meaningful solutions. No matter the might of the Israeli conquistadors, if there is no justice in the land, Israel will never sleep with its two eyes closed. Contrary to sentiments being expressed by fundamentalist Christians, the problem in Palestine is not about God or worship, neither is it about mosque, church, or synagogue, but more of a political issue. It is about righting a wrong. It is about justice and human right. It is about the right to a place in the sun, a lebensraum, and a place for a people to call home. It is about a homeland, secure from incessant bullying and threat of extermination, from being evicted from their homes and being denied the right to work, the right to electricity, water, and food because of being refugees and prisoners in the biggest prison man had ever known. One of the core problems in negotiations, then, is how to find a way to get justice for the refugees that both the Israeli and Palestinian people can accept. The ‘Two-States’ option has been proposed but the two sides have never agreed on the details of how these would work: Especially the contentious issue of the status of Jerusalem. In the United States, one of the most powerful lobbies is AIPAC, the American Israel Political Affairs Committee. In the last several decades, this organization has funnelled tens of millions of dollars to U.S. politicians who are willing to protect Israel's apartheid regime at all costs. According to the US Congressional Research Service Report, November 2020, Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II. Successive Administrations, working with Congress, have provided significant assistance for Israel and its security; shared strategic goals in the Middle East; a mutual commitment to geo-political values; and historical ties dating from U.S. support for the creation of Israel in 1948. To date, the United States has provided Israel $146 billion (current, or non-inflation-adjusted, dollars) in bilateral assistance and missile defence funding. At present, almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance. Israel is the first international operator of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Department of Defence’s fifth-generation stealth aircraft, considered to be the most technologically advanced fighter jet ever made. The US has military bases in Israel with well stocked weaponry which it places at the disposal of Israel during emergencies such as its war with its Arab neighbours. The United States is therefore not a ‘honest broker’. Rather it is part of the problem. It is a sad fact that the Arabs states are in disarray, disunited and under the affliction of one crisis or the other: Syria is under the gun, Iraq is under the ashes of American imperialism; Jordan is under the American spell and Egypt is a shadow of its old self; The House of Saud is now an appendage of America and fighting its own war in Yemen; Libya is a smouldering rubble after the despoliation of that country by US and its allies; And worst of all, the United Nations is a disunited organization. Who fights or speak for the Palestinians? None in the horizon. For Jews, the possession of the Holy City of Jerusalem continues to have healing power; they see Jewish Jerusalem as a balm to sooth the pains of the holocaust. The Christian fundamentalists have long believed that the final battle of Armageddon will be fought outside the city of Jerusalem, and that Jews must be present in the Holy Land to fulfil the ancient prophecies. But there is more that keeps Palestine in ebullition. It is the birthplace of the world’s three great monotheistic religions —Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Too often it has not been just their birthplace, but their battlefield. Archibald Wavell, an officer who served with the British Army in Palestine prophetically declared, “After ‘the war to end war’ they seem to have been pretty successful in making a ‘Peace to end Peace’. After 1,900 years, the restoration of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East was seen as a necessary condition to fulfil ancient Bible prophecies. This region has become the centre of the final global crisis that will usher in cataclysmic events leading humanity to the brink of extinction if care is not taken. Welcome Armageddon! Barka Juma’at and a happy weekend Babatunde Jose Babatunde Jose +2348033110822

LETTER TO MY CHILDREN

Whosoever is in the heavens and on earth begs of Him. Every day He has a matter to bring forth [such as giving honour to some, disgrace to some, life to some, death to some, (Quran 55: 29) When there is a violent storm and the seas are turbulent, the occupants of the boat call out, to God. On such a full and turbulent sea are we now afloat. These are perilous times, and they demand our perseverance as our faith is being tested and our resolve to hold on to all the tenets and values of believers is being shaken to its foundation. The country is in trouble; from the buccaneers who masquerade as political leaders to area fathers and charlatans who pretend to be men of God and friends who are really enemies to be avoided like the plaque; these are indeed dangerous times to be alive in Nigeria. We no longer sleep with our eyes closed, afraid that our citadel of comfort will be invaded by predators who will cart away our belongings and if care is not taken our persons too. Kabiyesis have been abducted from their palaces which traditionally are repository of highly potent charms and ‘ekurube’, the precincts where ordinary mortals should fear to tread. Men of valour who were presumably well fortified and invincible have been kidnapped and their places of abode invaded; even the armored places of law enforcement agencies have become game for the evil men who have now taken over the land. Added to these tales of woe is the parlous state of the economy. Lucky you, you probably would not have been able to finish college if the exchange rate had been what it is today. Today, many are withdrawing their children and wards from schools abroad. All is not well with our clime and despite hard work and fortitude, ends are not being met; we therefore must call on the Lord to come to our aid. It is said that; when the camel-driver and the caravan are lost in the desert, they call out to God. When all plans end in failure, all hope is lost, and the path becomes constricted, it is to God that we call. To Allah ascend all good words, the sincere supplication, the tears of the innocent, and the invocations of the afflicted. Hands and eyes are extended to Him in times of hardship and misfortune. The tongue chants, cries out, and mentions His name. The heart finds peace, the soul finds rest, the nerves are relaxed, and the intellect is awakened — these are all achieved when we remember God. 'How perfect He is, the Exalted.' Allah is very Gracious and Kind to His slaves. (Quran 42: 19) We ask God to guide our confused and clueless leaders to His light and guide those who have gone astray. Here we are with leaders all from the same party singing discordant tunes about the way forward. What hope do we have when our leaders are leading with different compasses and navigation aids? Their political GPS are not synchronised. Remove from us misery, affliction, and anxiety. Remember the favours of Allah upon you and how they surround you from above and below — indeed, from every direction. And if you would count the graces of Allah, never could you be able to count them. (Qur'an 14: 34) Health, safety, nourishment, clothing, air, and water — these all point to the world being yours, yet you do not realize it. You possess all that life has to offer yet remain ignorant. Can you picture yourself walking without feet? Should you take it lightly that you slumber soundly while misery hinders the sleep of many? Should you forget that you fill yourself with both delicious dishes and cool water while the pleasure of good food and drink is impossible for some, due to sickness and disease? Consider the faculties of hearing and seeing with which you have been endowed. Look at your healthy skin and be grateful that you have been saved from diseases that attack it. Reflect on your powers of reasoning and remember those that suffer from mental ailments. We have cause to be thankful to God. Would you sell your ability to hear and see for the weight of Mount Everest in gold, or your ability to speak for huge estates? No doubt, we have been given abundant favours and yet, we feign ignorance. Notwithstanding warm bread, cool water, easy sleep, and good health, we remain despondent and depressed. We think about what we do not have and are ungrateful for what we have been given. We are troubled by a loss in wealth, yet we have the key to happiness and many blessings. Contemplate and be thankful. Yesterday was ‘Children’s Day’ but honestly, what were we celebrating? Were we commemorating the nearly 20 million out of school children who are roaming our streets with begging bowls? Or delighted about our out of work graduate children who are faced with a bleak and uncertain future? Our tragedy is that we are incapable of dealing with the present: neglecting our beautiful castles, we wail over dilapidated buildings. Always thinking about yesterday and its glorious past. Everything on earth marches forward, preparing for a new season — and so should you. ‘We are becoming a failed state. We punch miserably below our weight in the comity of nations. None of our universities come near the top 500 in the World Universities League Table. An estimated 50% of our people live in extreme poverty. Youth unemployment hovers around 45 percent (70% for the far North). The poverty is heart-breaking. Our per capita GDP is less than $3,000 as compared to Singapore’s $55,252. We have the worst road carnage record in the world, with more than 20,000 lost to road accidents annually, yet high concentration of SUVs. As I write, my area has been in darkness for four days and still counting. Yet, we wasted over $18 billion on the power sector and our people still live-in darkness. Billions of dollars in stolen wealth are starched in foreign climes to the detriment of our economy. The state governments are virtually bankrupt because of a lopsided federal arrangement and revenue allocation formula: Begging bowl political order. You must work towards creating a new social and political order. That is a struggle you must fight. May God bless you and may your days be long. Barka Juma’at, happy Children’s Day and happy weekend Babatunde Jose Babatunde Jose +2348033110822

Self Care as Habit of Millionaires

By Bayo Ogunmupe Investment is about increasing the value of your assets. It is about maximizing what you have. Take investing in property as an example. You could buy a house and wait ten years until its market value becomes much higher than the purchase price, and perhaps you could invest a little money in improving it, repainting, redecorating maybe adding a swimming pool. By doing those things, you accelerate a hike in the market value of the house. That is what flipping property is all about. For human beings the same goes as self care, investing in oneself or self improvement. If you get a job and stay there for 20 years, you will be earning more when you leave than when you started. This is simply due to cost of living increases. They may never promote you, or take on any new functions. But by the time you leave, you will be making more money. However, if you invest in yourself, learning, acquiring new skills and constantly seeking new challenges, chances are you will be noticed, which can translate into promotions, salary raises and maybe even moving to newer, greener pastures. This simply boils than to: what you put in is what you will get out. Your positioning determines where you will end up. There is a saying in real estate- location, location, location. All that counts is location, since you are the designer, architect and builder of your lifestyle, how you position yourself will determine where you end up. If you sit in a corner, quietly waiting for life to happen to you, chances are you will live your life unnoticed, regardless of your skills, talents and value. But if you make yourself visible, and that you not only accept credit for your achievements, but demand it, you will find that you will be noticed and be far more likely to climb the ladder to the peak of your dreams. Think of positioning yourself as a great salesman. You've worked hard to acquire skills and knowledge of marketing. You'd make sure you looked the part, had slick sales materials and your pitch was polished to a fine sheen. You'd prepare yourself and your product, to be irresistible to your clients. That's exactly how you need to handle your life. Positioning yourself in such a way that your clients - the world-just can't say no. Give them an offer they can't refuse. Look, speak and act, like you know what your worth is, and no one will doubt for a second that it's true. What comes after your name determines it's worth. Have you ever looked at the business card of a professional? Chances are there are a series of letters in front of the name, indicating their success in studies. From MD to PhD, MBA, SAN and more; those little letters mean a lot regarding how the world perceives you. Consider seeing one of those cards, even when you have not seen the person, you already have a picture of what he must be like. Learned, successful, happy and wealthy. Although studies cannot give us everything, taking the time and effort to invest in ourselves to broaden our knowledge shows the world that we value ourselves. And that in turn, increases the value the world places on us. A famous psychologist once said, "You teach people how to treat you." Which is why such letters behind your name mean the difference in how people perceive and treat you. Yet another way; you may read something about Richard Branson. Branson never finished school, but the words "billionaire entrepreneur" or "founder of the Virgin Empire" nearly always succeed his name. Those words were out there, not by a university or a piece of paper, but by his efforts. Your Network reflects your net worth. Remember when your mom told you to stay away from someone from being a"bad influence?" That doesn't stop when you grow up. You are a reflection of those you hang out with. however, the more people you know, the more opportunities you will be exposed to. Thus, you need to look after your network by keeping in touch with the key people that are adding value to your life. True success, whether financial or otherwise, is dependent on the right connections, building your network makes a lot of sense. People in your network must be people you value. The power network is about giving and taking with the understanding that the more you give the more you receive. But you need varying networks: the spiritual network, the fun network that you enjoy hanging out with. Your worth isn't only measured in naira. That's why your network must be balanced for success to follow. The growth of your network determines the growth of your net worth. Nevertheless, there's huge value in acquiring diplomas and certificates, not only for their "bragging rights" but also creating value in who you are and what you have to offer the world. To excel in the 21st century, you have to invest in Being Future Smart. To succeed you have to learn to become intuitive. What the market wants today isn't necessarily what it will want tomorrow or the next day. If you aren't perceptive on time, you may find yourself obsolete. But indeed, all the world's most successful people have been pioneers. They have developed new unheard of ways to deliver their products, services or message to the world. Without that pioneering spirit, we'd all still be sitting in a cave, waiting for lightning to strike so we could have a hot meal. Being attentive to what the world is going to want, in as much as what it wants now will be the hallmark of the modern entrepreneur. So, don't be caught by surprise, become future-smart.

Success Secrets of Self Made Millionaires

By Bayo Ogunmupe Here is the road to achieving financial independence faster and easier than you ever dreamt. I gleaned it from a 77 page booklet by the American millionaire motivational consultant and trainer, Brian Tracy. The pamphlet is a testimonial of his life experience as a self made millionaire. It is the culmination of 15 years of research, teaching and personal experience on the subject of self made millionaires. The ideas and strategies presented are tested and proven. They are written in an easy to use format so that you can learn and apply them immediately. What I learned from the book was that in order to achieve success in life, you must become a special kind of person. In order to rise above the majority, you must develop qualities, skills and disciplines that the average person lacks. The most important factor in achieving greatness isn't the focus on money. it is the kind of person you have to become to earn that money and then hold on to it. These principles are so powerful that you can apply them to accomplish any goal you really want. Many of these methods and techniques are very familiar because they have been discovered hundreds of years ago but the snag is in the application. Many of you might have read about the techniques, it is only that you lacked the discipline and perseverance to apply them. But as you are reading this column, I know you are on your way to achieving your great goals in life, in order to realize your full human potential. These success principles, if painstakingly applied, will move you ahead more rapidly towards the wonderful life of abundance that awaits you in the future. Secret number one is that there is an iron law of human destiny: the Law of Cause and Effect. This powerful law says that there is a specific effect for every cause. For every action, there is a reaction. This law says success is not an accident. Financial or political success is the result of doing certain, specific things over and over again until you achieve the success you desire. The universe is neutral, the marketplace or our society does not care who you are or what you stand for. The Law of Cause and Effect says if you imitate how and what other successful people do, you will get the same results as them. One of the reasons for selling yourself short, for underachievement and your lack of success, is the conviction that successful people are genetically better than you. This is simply not the case. The fact is that millionaires have found out what other successful people do and they have followed them until they get the same results. When you think the same thoughts and do the same things millionaires do, you get the same results and benefits like them. Also, you should practice "back from the future thinking." This is a powerful technique practised continually by millionaires. Here is how it works. Project yourself forward five years. Imagine the five years have passed and that your life is now perfect as imagined in every respect. Create a long term vision for yourself. The clear your vision of health, happiness and prosperity, the faster you move towards achieving it and the faster it moves towards you. When you create a clear mental picture of where you are going in life, you become more positive, more motivated and more determined to make it a reality. This triggers your innate creativity which comes up with idea after idea to help make your vision come true. Human beings tend to move toward the direction of their dominant dreams, images and visions. Your dreams raise your self respect, and happiness. There is something exciting about dreams and visions that raises your self esteem, stimulating you to do great things. Think of one great goal you would dare to dream if you knew you could not fail. Write that goal down and begin imagining that you have achieved this goal already. Dreaming big dreams is the starting point of great achievement.

Subsidy Removal as Panacea for Economic Prosperity

By Bayo Ogunmupe The most important lesson Covid19 pandemic has brought to the fore is the evil effects of subsidies on the Nigerian economy. After decades of corruptive spending, called petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria, it finally bade good bye to the ignoble policy, albeit unwillingly. The decision to jettison the policy, was due to the crisis precipitated by the slump in Nigeria's crude oil earnings. Though a most sagacious decision, petroleum and electricity subsidies were removed at a most inopportune time. The timing was wrong because it is in a period of corona virus pandemic when half of the adult population is unemployed. More so, the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress is contesting the governorships of Edo and Ondo states. The federal government has just given the opposition party the ammunition with which to win the election. But Nigeria, being a pre-literate society may not vote for the opposition which this unwise political decision portends. Subsidy removal ought to have been decided and executed last January, given the oil glut nigeria is experiencing then. In the circumstance, the subsidy removal ought to have been postponed till January 2021 in deference to the election. This government has left the economy primeval for too long, leaving the economy comatose since 2018. Though subsidy removal was inevitable, we commend President Mohammed Buhari for taking the courageous decision which every President had been loath to take for decades.Sadly subsidies have bred corruption and held us back from industrialization and economic prosperity. Such policies as petroleum and electricity subsidy, the creation of the National Youth Service Corps and a proliferation of ministries, departments and agencies have retarded Nigeria's growth. Such evil policies have rendered Nigeria unstable and insecure. For example, we know that political stability is a precondition to economic prosperity, according to their book 'Why Nations Fail', Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson, argue that politics and economics interact in causing poverty or creating prosperity. However, the authors put politics first because while economics creates prosperity, it is politics that determines which economic policy to adopt. Thus, we must avoid making mistakes through formulating bad policies. Nigeria's preference for loans as against private capital investments is holding us back in generating economic growth and prosperity. Using loans to generate development builds expensive infrastructure, excluding mechanisms to recover costs. lacking understanding of how to generate growth in a market economy, it strangulates thriving industries to death. Using loans to fund growth, militates against inclusive trade. It forces government to shut borders, imposing import substitution in an economy where it is cheaper to move a container from Indonesia to Lagos than it is to move goods from Apapa to Abeokuta. Earlier this year the federal government secured a facility from the World Bank. The $750 million loan was for the ailing power sector. The condition for the loan is that government must stop subsidizing power and ensure tariffs guarantee commercial returns. But government has spent over N380 billion on electricity subsidies in 2020 so far; after bailing out operators with the princely sum of N1.7 trillion since May 2015. Since 2015, government has been burning over N1 trillion yearly to subsidize petrol while defunding healthcare and education. It maintains a dizzying number of workers to manage the business of the importation of refined petrol. Yet it spends a fortune paying the bureaucracy managing the three petroleum refineries that are even unable to produce enough petrol to power their own generators. From February 2020, Covid19 forced the closure of factories and airlines, causing the demand for oil and gas to crash. Prices fell providing the opportunity to remove oil subsidy completely. Instead of walking away, government dithered to fix oil pump price, announcing the end of subsidies. Though subsidy is untenable today as it was in 2011; then, $9.3 billion was spent in subsidizing imported petrol. This represented about 30 percent of our expenditure; 40 percent of GDP and 118 percent of the capital budget. In comparison, education got $2.2 billion; health-$1.32 billion and works : infrastructure $680 million. Sadly the Buhari that was swept to power on the wave of popular discontent over corruption still kept corruption laden subsidies. So the decision, though poorly timed to abolish subsidies augurs well for economic justice and prosperity for Nigeria. However, in order that our shameless leaders may not slip back through the back door, the removal of subsidies must be backed by law. Also the policies of keeping the refineries should be abandoned. The refineries should be sold out. However, government should retain 30 percent ownership in the refineries in order to ensure they're not used against the nation. Buhari has just borrowed a leaf from President John Atta Mills of Ghana who bowed to the inevitable by removing subsidy, arguing with all humility tat "subsidizing fuel is not sustainable and removing it is the right thing to do, so we can sustain our fiscal consolidation." Hopefully, organized labour wont go on strike the way they seduced President Umaru Yar Adua to revoke the sale of 51 percent equity stakes in the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to the Bluestar Consortium for the sum of $721 million. Thanks to the dastardly broken Nigerian economy that cannot continue the subsidy regime, the government has done the only rational thing left: doing away with the subsidy. However, there is one more subsidy that needs to go. This is the foreign exchange subsidy. It has now supplanted fuel subsidy. It is worse than fuel subsidy in that it only subsidizes the rich passport holders who enjoy the pleasures of medical tourism abroad. Now, it is the largest source of corruption and the pilfering of Nigeria's commonwealth.

Lending crucial to post Covid19 prosperity

By Bayo Ogunmupe Contrary to the fears of many, Nigeria has only been mildly hit by the corona virus epidemic. However, normal, preventive measures to curb the virus shut the people out of the sources of their livelihood. Palliative measures to soften the devastating effects of the pandemic have not been far-reaching enough in many states of the federation. And to that many are complaining that they are yet to receive anything from the federal or state governments. Sadly, those who got something suffered the toil of long queues and the humiliation of being seen as poor. Palliative procurement and distribution have also been associated with corruption and nepotism. When the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs vows to have spent millions of naira in the procurement of these welfare packages we in the South see it as bare faced sloganeering. Even this septuagenarian journalist who has spent three decades serving in Lagos has seen no one been so honorable as to receive a palliative from any government be it federal or state. What we overhear in the newsroom are complaints that "when I asked I called a long time colleague now a press secretary to a governor, all he did was to send me half a bag of rice as if the rice will cook itself." But truly, people have become very poor with half wages and retrenchment from time to time. And without pension if even you have reached a pensionable age or not; no respite or relief packages from any federal or state agency. You can only beg or rely on primordial relatives. For job losses after weeks in isolation, companies cannot be blamed, for they could not do business because lockdowns have kept customers off the streets. many are not even able to cash their money from banks because bank officials only allow their cronies to withdraw money from their bank accounts; when the Automated Teller Machines are empty. The months of March, April, May and June 2020 were a period of immolation without respite in Nigeria. The people in government houses were unaware of the pains which was why they didn't spread palliatives for succor. For the post-Covid19 economic recovery and prosperity in Nigeria, our banks have crucial roles to play. Collateral and interest free lending will be crucial to a post pandemic recovery in this country. The Central Bank of Nigeria, the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the banks are well advised to prepare for this if Muhammadu Buhari hopes to lift Nigeria out of the woods. Cash backed welfare initiatives are necessarily being channeled through banks around the world. Though some recipients are choosing to put these loans in their savings accounts instead of investing, still there is a consensus that banks would not be able to make as many loans as they did in unregulated times of the past. Like elsewhere around the world, the Central Bank of Kenya had already restructured $1 billion of loans by the middle of May 2020. Some other banks are even being surprisingly emphatic on loan restructuring. The Central Bank of South Africa even allows some of its customers to give leeways on loan repayments. In Germany, the government pays banks and private commercial enterprises to hold off on layoff plans, opting to cut salaries and work hours. Around the globe, banks have also ramped up loan guarantee schemes, adding incentives like cap on losses for banks to induce participation in these cushioning measures. Despite the challenges non interest loans pose on profits, government must impose as a matter of policy, new regulations aiding the post-Covid19 economic recovery and prosperity plan. Businesses depend on it to prosper and retain its workforce. Government should target labour intensive sectors such as agriculture, agro-allied industries and manufacturing as the Zenith Bank of Nigeria announced it would. Amidst all these challenges, banks are still the channel through any recovery from Covid19 would come about in the Nigerian economy. For the recovery plan to succeed, they have to give more loans. Thus, lending by banks is very crucial to post-Covid19 prosperity. Which is why they have to lend at zero interest rate like Islamic banks. Loan defaults, thinner margins and bigger lending would certainly be the lot of Nigerian banks in the next one year. They should not only participate in the loan guarantee schemes to be set up by the federal and state governments, but actively promote them to their customers. Difficult as it is, with meagre returns for their troubles, Nigerian banks must make deliberate efforts to help small and medium size businesses from now on. Consisting of at least 250 ethnic groups and about 500 dialects, Nigeria is a potpourri of tribal identities that has the outlook of a marriage of strange bedfellows. However, despite our diverse and contradictory legal systems, we've coexisted as a nation state for 60 years. Nigeria runs three legal systems: the Criminal Code, the Penal Code and the Sharia. These contradictions are pulling Nigeria in different directions. The lack of common identity has served to dampen efforts to forge a nationhood. Nigeria beginning with amalgamation of a weakened Fulani caliphate in the north; with Oyo empire and different forest kingdoms in the South west and Niger Delta and an acephalous Igbo ethnic group in the South east may have its perks, but the colonialist who created the marriage, did it for its own economic reasons. But Lord Lugard who created the contraption didn't think the union would survive this long. But observers avow that if Nigeria survived a civil war 50 years ago, it could survive anything. However, with each passing turmoil, this contrived union is being tested and stretched thin. With the latest uproar a fortnight ago, following the sentencing to death of a 22 year old singer in Kano by an Islamic Sharia court. The alleged blasphemy is yet another flashpoint in the life of the untoward marriage. The sentence has not been executed because the prisoner has the right of appeal to the Court of Appeal which is under Common Law which does not recognise blasphemy as a crime. While many Northerners applaud the sentence, majority of Southerners roundly condemned it, showing mistrust between the North and the South. When foreign businessmen ask for security in Nigeria, the ask questions about gangs of people going to burn down a man's house because of his opinion. For such arson was committed to the house of the father of the singer convicted of blasphemy. Which is why Nigeria sits at the top of countries worst to do business. Nigeria is among worst place in terms of security, because of these circumstances. So, we need to understand how these circumstances determine security and economic outcomes. Bandits operate with impunity in North Central states while Islamic insurgency ravages the North East; yet government punishes people who protest but grants amnesty to people who take arms against the state. Videos have gone viral showing ethnic cleansing against Christians in Southern Kaduna. These examples have portrayed Nigeria as a dangerous place to do business. Government should hasten the implementation of community policing to make Nigeria an investment destination. Thus, bringing Nigeria to the path of prosperity hinges on bank lending coupled with restoring security to the roads, the cities and every nook and cranny of the federation. Without being tough on security, government will continue to seen as hypocritical, insincere and incompetent.

Ogunmupe Constitution Review memo 2021

By Chief Bayo Ogunmupe 1) Create six regional governments from the six geopolitical zones; holding the same number of legislators each region has in the current House of Representatives. Each region shall have full control of all the resources such as oil, solid minerals in its territory, like Nigerian Constitution 1963. Abolish the House of Representatives by making the National Assembly a unicameral chamber of senators with each region having 21 senators. Make every legislative house: the senate, the regional house of assembly, the state assembly, and councillors of Local Government Councils operate on part time. Only the principal officers of legislative houses shall be on full time pay. Constituency projects and allowances are to be abolished. Legislators shall factor their projects into the federal, regional, state and council budgets. Local governments shall be in the purview and control of regional governors. Regional governors shall have power to constitute local governments by appointment or cause councils to be elected by election commissions. 3) Revenue allocation shall be on the basis of derivation. In accordance with the Nigerian Constitution 1963, the regional government pays 50 percent of her derived revenue to the federation account. 4) The regions shall maintain their own police forces; current states are too poor to maintain their police forces. 5) There shall be a 15 member Supreme Court of Nigeria composed of at least two member justices from each region at any given time. 6) The INEC as presently constituted shall conduct only presidential and National Assembly elections. House of Representatives is abolished to make way for a unicameral National Assembly comprising 21 senators from each region and one senator from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). And each tier of government namely: federal, regional and state will create its own electoral body conduct its own elections like in the USA. 10) The immunity clause shielding president, vice president, governor and deputy governor from instant prosecution shall be abolished. 12) As part of the cost cutting programme, the National Assembly becomes unicameral, and in obedience to federalism principle of equality of regions, each region shall have 21 senators with one senator for the FCT. I am opposed to the creation of more states because state creation is an instrument of domination of one tribe over another. And only principal officers of legislatures shall be on full pay. 13) There shall be six regions with governors as their chief executives. The regional assembly shall comprise same number of members as they now have in the House of Representatives. 14) The current presidential term of eight years should be replaced by one term of six years. And the candidate of the party with the largest number of senators shall be declared winner of the presidential election. In the event of a disputed senatorial election, court can only make the challenger and the presumed winner go for a rerun election. Only the ballot box shall determine elections. Faithfully yours, Chief Bayo Ogunmupe. Economics columnist, The Guardian, Lagos.

Growing rich like 21st century millionaires

By Bayo Ogunmupe Why is it that few people have been fully successful in living the life of their dreams? Why is it that most of us attribute luck to be the deciding factor of our destinies? What makes other people help winners in following their dreams while at the same time kill their personal dreams? We are living in a fast-paced time in human history that is changing more than ever. In this 21st century you cannot solve the day's problems with the past solutions. While some wealth creation advice are timeless, it makes little sense to refer to old answers from decades or centuries ago to succeed today. Certainly, people are pretty sloppy when it comes to why people succeed or fail in life. They will give you an answer which is just a piece of the puzzle- that high achievers are born predisposed to certain productive talents and lacking in those that cause failure. In fact, successful people are the ones who live their lives the way they want to live. They reach their personal and professional goals not because of who they are but because of what their qualities or characteristics are, which in turn develop their habits or the things they do every time. Nowadays there are greater problems: our currency is facing hyperinflation; families can no longer afford good homes and the middle class has been wiped out; teachers in tertiary institutions and pensioners of any hue including judges and magistrates are not being paid their entitlements for years. To get what you want in life, the first thing you would require is an unprecedented surge of motivation. In a research of the top and common qualities of the super successful people in the world, from the 20th century to this 21st century, it has been found that success is a habit, not an end result. Learning how to create wealth is best achieved by following the footsteps of modern millionaires. So making a habit of getting ready to face the day as soon as your alarm clock goes off means you are well on your way to achieving your success. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but starting the day early and having a good morning routine are habits that 90 percent of wealthy and successful people have. Millionaires know by instinct that waking up early gives them enough time to start working. Successful people live by higher levels of intuition, with 15 minutes of extra sleep, schedules get thrown off and missing important meetings. In their haste to leave home, people without early morning routine, might forget vital documents at home. Worse still, they might end up getting into accidents because they're driving faster than usual. Successful people always have the discipline of keeping to routine. By setting personal goals like meditating or jogging in the morning, you are prioritizing yourself above anything else, great people control what happens in their lives. This is part of paying yourself first. Knowing that they alone determine their success or failure, winners keep working on their personal assets such as their mind, body, heart and soul. Having a healthy body gives you more energy to tackle the toughest tasks of your day. And having a clear picture of what you want could make it easier for you to reach it. Meditation and prayer supported by relaxation when you feel loved inspires you to succeed. Case Study: The chairman of Microsoft software and the richest American, Bill Gates, had visualized computers running on every desk and Microsoft software on every computer long before it ever happened. Bill Gates described his imagination and foresight as one of the greatest assets to his achieving business success. He developed and designed new technology due to creative problem solving aspect of engineering. Whatever the industry, dreaming up the future is the first step towards achieving innovation. Bill Gates states that his biggest personal regret is not learning about global poverty and indecencies that plaque many countries sooner in life. From 2020, he took to social media to give millennial graduates advice on where to go from here including, focusing on the sciences, energy and artificial intelligence. Gates' philanthropic aspirations show us that, though business is important, people still have a responsibility towards the world around us. And that managing your time effectively is essential to success in life.

Life and times of Thomas Adebayo

By Bayo Ogunmupe Otunba Thomas Bamidele Adebayo a well to do quantity surveyor was born on 2nd March, 1937 to Pa Michael Adebayo Onafowokan and Madam Sarah Adebayo both of blessed memory in Igan, Itun Ile Nla in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State. His parents were Anglican by faith, he was confirmed a Christian during his Secondary Education in Lagos. He died on 17 December, 2020 at the age of 83 years. Tombee as he was commonly called by his associates started his education at St. John Primary School, Igan, proceeding to Emmanuel Primary School, Isonyin to complete his primary education. In 1949, brilliant and vibrant Tombee gained admission to King's College, Lagos, finishing in 1954. Thereafter, he proceeded to England where he studied Quantity Surveying at the College of Estate management, Kensignton, London. Later he entered the University of Reading, U.K between 1957 and 1960, graduating with honours. In his quest to expand the scope of his profession and practice, he set up his own private company practising quantity surveying, He named it T. Adebayo, Oyebadejo & Egbon; he was its Managing Partner. As a surveyor, he supervised many federal government projects, some of which are still standing today. Among those still standing are: Nigeria Airforce Base, Kaduna, Hamdala Hotel, the University of Benin, the University of Ilorin, the College of Medicine of the University of Port harcourt, Auchi Polytechnic, NIDB Building, Lagos,Tejuoso Market, National Theatre, Iganmu, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. As a practising surveyor, he was at a time chairman, Examination Board for NIQS, a past President of NIQS and in 1975 fellow of NIQS. For his activities in the Vineyard of God, Otunba Adebayo joined the Holy Trinity Church, Igan Ipabi from birth and served as member, Parish Council for over 30 years. He was member, Board of Ijebu North Archdeaconry, now Isonyin Archdeaconry. Member, Board of Ijebu Anglican Diocese, as bishop's nominee. he was member of Ijebu Anglican Synod till 2014, member, Cathedral Church Italowojodu since 1995, member, new Cathedral Church Building Committee. At the same time, he was also a member, All Saints Anglican Church, Yaba, Lagos. He was a pillar of Holy Trinity Church, Igan, his home town, both morally and financially. Among many donations, he single handedly painted the church from 1980 to 2006. For his social services, Otunba Adebayo was State Commissioner for Agriculture, Commissioner for Commerce and Industries and Commissioner for Works and Housing during the administration of Chief Bisi Onabanjo. As a philanthropist, the Otunba is a very kind person. From 1976, he started the award of scholarships to Ijebu indigenes for secondary and tertiary institutions. He built the Maternity Centre for his home town, Igan. For awards and fellowships, Otunba Adebayo received more than 50 awards, traditional awards and chieftaincy titles. He torched many lives as a result, he earned two honorary traditional titles of Otunba. he was Otunba Muwagun of Ijebu Ife and Otunba Aseto Olu of Ijebu Imunsin. Adebayo is a family man, a loving husband, father, brother, and uncle. He until his death, was married to Chief Mrs Adebayo, and the marriage was blessed with many outstanding children and grand children. He will be interred at his country home, Igan after the final burial ceremony on 6th March, 2021.

Failure as igniter of success

By Bayo Ogunmupe The most difficult part of trying is failure. For instance, in accordance with the principles of the Law of Attraction, in taking every known steps to succeed, you may still end up with nothing but a broken hope of becoming rich. Such failure can be the sole reason for you to give up with the promising power of your mind. Some people can be shattered by a single failure that a second trial may be too scary to consider. But you need to be reminded that the greatest achievements on record were completed successfully after several trials and failures. Thus, failing is a necessary ingredient for a person to grow. Most people are afraid of failure, primarily because it makes them look foolish, useless and incompetent. Nonetheless, failure can always happen to anyone at any time or place. What you must learn is how to handle the situation accordingly. Cultivating a positive mindset alone can eliminate the fear of failure. Knowing failure to be part and parcel of success enables you to handle it effectively. Failure is an opportunity for you to improve yourself and aim for the better. Instead of fearing failure, you should consider it as a challenge. That way failure will serve as a motivation for your success. Indeed, there are many ways to deal with failure. One of which includes not taking failure personally. Failure is an experience describing your interaction with the world. It isn't about you, which is why you must learn to be objective about your experience. If you don't want failure, then stop inviting it through thinking about it. By fearing failure so much, you are unwittingly making it your goal. Focusing too much on failure results in its manifestation. Develop perseverance, quitting after a failure leads you nowhere. On the contrary, facing failure straight in the face enables you achieve great success. Successful people insist that the road to success is never easy. It requires sacrifice,sweat, blood, and tears. On the road to success, you will encounter mistakes, failures and rejections along the way. What makes you straddling the way to success is persistence. This means you never give up on your dreams in spite of all terror. Take Jack Ma as your model. He founded a multi million dollar online buy and sell company. He was rejected by Harvard10 times before succeeding in gaining admission. Other famous success stories include Thomas Edison who was described by his teachers as one:"too stupid to learn anything." and the creator of Disneyland in Orlando, Florida, Walt Disney who was once fired from a job at a newspaper company for supposedly lacking imagination. Today, Edison has more than 1,000 patents to his name as a world famous inventor. Walt Disney's company is now worth billions of dollars and is the one place where imagination thrives. Those setbacks obviously did not deter them from pursuing their dreams at which they succeeded. These billionaires became successful because they believed in their talents. They know the opinion of one person isn't the opinion of the entire planet. They believe that somewhere in the world there is a person who shares their ideas and could help them succeed. People who persevere succeed in life because they don't see mistakes and failures as roadblocks to their success. They see them as temporary setbacks where lessons can be learned. Mistakes are opportunities to fine tune strategies, not quit altogether. Being persistent is considered a quality found among people with strong character and gumption. The persistent person will endure the vagaries of earthly existence and take on the toughest of tasks to gain great rewards. Making persistence a habit will make you a winner no matter the outcome of your enterprise. Only people who persist reach their dreams. To make a habit of persistence, you must cultivate self discipline by strengthening your willpower. If your venture fails, don't be discouraged. Handle challenges as temporary setbacks where lessons are to be learned and the right formula for success can be gained with your persistence. A Case Study: Colonel Harland Sanders is one icon worth knowing. More than just recognizing him as the person who started Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), generations should know his contributions to the food industry. The KFC is an acclaimed iconic restaurant brand of hot crispy chicken started in Louisville Kentucky, USA. The Kentucky Fried Chicken is the world's second largest restaurant chain after McDonalds'. Colonel Sanders went through great challenges before finally winning. He also started late in life. The life of Colonel Sanders teaches us to never give up. Like Sanders, if we endeavor continuously for our dreams we can succeed like him.

Time to enforce federalism in Nigeria

By Bayo Ogunmupe Through the 1963 Republican Constitution, the British, our colonial master bequeathed to Nigeria true federalism. It worked so well, but those itching to dominate overthrew the government of Prime minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in a military coup in 1966. That coup and attempts to befuddle the Nigerian people brought us to the banditry, Boko Haram and kidnapping of today. It is therefore pertinent to know how and where Nigeria derailed from the sincere and true federalism bequeathed to us by the British. At the time of the first military coup hatched with the intention of domination by a group in 1966, Nigeria had four viable regions. The intention to dominate was revealed by the pattern of the execution of the coup, that is to say the pattern of killing of military officers of particular ethnic groups as against the others. The viable regions were the North, Western region, Eastern region and Midwestern Nigeria. Sadly by the time Nigeria returned to civilian rule, ethnic groups had been balkanized into unviable 36 states, albeit with the intention of one ethnic to dominate the others. The weak 36 federating states are the cause of the current insecurity in the country. Since we are aping the United States system of federation, my examples will chiefly come from there. Thus, a Nigeria state should have its own security apparatus: its police force, intelligence, bank and election commission. As in the US, each region controlled her own resources in Nigeria's Republican Constitution of 1963. Therefore, our first set of mistakes or malfeasance are weak, economically unviable federating states, the takeover of the resources belonging to the regions by the federal government. The states have no resources to provide security for themselves. The states don't need the large array of civil servants they have created that stultify their own progress and development. Now treating where we derailed from true federalism which the next set of amendments to the Constitution can rectify: for the legislature. The unicameral system from the local and state should be extended to the regional assembly and federal Parliament. It means that since the states are unviable we should create regions by turning the six geo-political zones to regions which are viable entities. The present house of representatives becomes, the legislative arm of the region when we adopt unicameral system at the federal level. The senate becomes the unicameral Parliament of the federation. But as the anchor of federal authority each region should be represented by 21 senators each. This must be so because the North western zone is at present represented by 21 senators at the National Assembly. It is the largest number of senators representing any Zone while South east is the least represented with 15 senators. Then to reduce cost of governance, each legislative house from local government, through Area council, state assembly, regional assembly and the senate will be on part-time like in Great Britain. Only the seven principal officers of each house shall be on full time payment. That will reduce cost of governance considerably. Because there will be no legislative aides, constituency projects and constituency allowance, issues smuggled into our democracy through ignorance, profligacy and President Olusegun Obasanjo's third term agenda. For the executive at the regional level, appointment of commissioners should be two per state, making 14 in the North western, 10 in South East and 12 in other regions. At the federal level, it should be three ministers per region reducing the current 40 ministers to 18. The region as the federating unit, shall have her own petroleum corporation when it has petroleum and solid minerals company when it has solid minerals. It was the desire to steal oil money that made federal government to create the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. It isn't their duty so to do in a federal republic. Nigerians have allowed this to continue for so long due to avarice, ignorance and timidity. Like in other federations such as Germany, India, Australia and Canada, revenue sharing is 50 percent for the regional and 50 percent for the central government. And it is the region, the federating unit that collects revenue, not the federal government. On our federal judicial system, the only snag is that each region should have equal number of justices at the Supreme Court, three per region and with equal regional representative at each committee of Court. Specifically, I want every justice to sit in judgment at every court ruling like each of the nine justices sit in judgment at every court sitting of the Supreme Court of the United States. On elections: each tier of government should conduct its own election. It should be like in the USA where the states elect their own governors and state legislators. In a true Nigerian federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission can conduct only Presidential and senatorial elections. The regions and states will conduct their own governorship and legislative elections. The state electoral commission will conduct governorship, state house of assembly and local government elections. In a federation, states and regions have their own police, they conduct their own elections. Federal government has no power to conduct governorship elections, she is doing it now because of ignorance of the meaning of federalism. For the president to win an election in a federation, he must win the largest number of seats in the National Assembly, not the largest number of votes. France isn't a federation so her system of government isn't applicable to Nigeria. We could only look to the United States and some Latin American nations. Winning a presidential election in a federation isn't winning a majority of votes, it is winning the majority of ethnic groups. Altering our constitution to achieve these goals isn't difficult at all. The present National Assembly and state legislatures can do it before 2023. All these suggestions have been submitted to the Constitution amendment committee of the National Assembly. Those agitating for restructuring are grandstanding for personal gain. We need neither Constitutional conference nor a referendum. The present legislative houses in Nigeria can achieve true federalism if we pursued it with sincerity. Ignorance, insincerity and unconscionable greed for financial gain are the causes of insecurity in Nigeria.

Deficiencies of Nigerian national security measures

By Bayo Ogunmupe Before Nigeria's independence, our security problems were focused on internal security. The main thrust was to suppress the Nigerian people. This focus of national security has continued to characterize the Nigerian security architecture even long after independence. This approach to security is premised not on the causes but on the effects hence security has always been viewed from the criminality of the people and not what turns them into criminals. Instead of building confidence in our people, our successive leaders see nigerians negatively. hence they schemed them out of a culture of decency and respect for the fatherland. Since security is viewed as an exclusive domain of the military and police, the answer is to equip the police and the military to deal squarely with the crisis, in the process the security becomes militarized. We often employ these wrong tools to threats to our security. A cursory look at security thinking in the United States reveals that its focus is their economy. In this vein, any factor that threatens American Economic prosperity will become the legitimate concern of its policy makers. As a result, there is a tight linkage between economic prosperity and national security, the task of seeking economic development is an essential part of US policy. As former US defence secretary Robert McNamara put it: "In a modernizing society, security means development, security is not military force though it may involve it. Security is not traditional military activity, though it may encompass it, security is not military hardware, though it may include it. Security is development and without development there can be no security." Thus, the deficiencies of our national security lie in Nigeria's inability to use appropriate tools in analyzing our security problems from the colonial period till today. Our security problems hinge on Nigeria's economic underdevelopment. We're so tame about this now that the Buhari administration lacked both a ministry of economic development and a Presidential Adviser of economic affairs. That the vice President has an economic adviser isn't enough. In the US, both the president and his deputy have economic advisers coupled with the Council of Economic Advisers staffed by more than 10 professional economists among them can be found two to three Nobel prize winning economists. These lapses have led to acute food shortages in Nigeria, population explosion, low level of productivity and mass unemployment. In appreciating the enormity of these challenges, it is instructive to ponder over what McNamara said in this respect: "Any country that seeks to achieve adequate military security against the background of acute food shortages, population explosion, low level of productivity, fragile infrastructural base for technological development, inadequate and inefficient public utilities and chronic unemployment has a false sense of security." From the perspectives of Robert McNamara, we will be able to locate the deficiencies of our national security. A definition of security is the establishment and maintenance of protective measures intended to ensure a state of inviolability from hostile acts or influences. Though this is just one of many definitions of security, let me point out that national security goes beyond the provision of mere physical protection of a state and her people. National security covers both civil and military challenges for which various government agencies have been established. Threats to national security can be classified into internal and external threats. Since independence, Nigeria has experienced more internal threats to its existence than external. Thus, more emphasis will be placed on internal threats as a means of developing control measures. Of the myriad of factors contributing to insecurity in Nigeria, ethnicity, militia groups, religious and boundary disputes constitute most threats to peace. Others are socio-economic induced factors such as poverty, armed robbery and violent crimes; drug trafficking, money laundering, corruption, weak judicial system, inefficient security agencies and the widening educational and economic gap between the north and the south. Resentment arising from ethnic domination of one group over the other caused uprisings as Western Region crisis between 1963 and 1965, the Tiv riots of 1964, and the military coup of 1966. The declaration of the state of Biafra in 1967 and the subsequent civil war between 1967 and 1970 did a lot of harm to national security. Those events polarised Nigerians along regional, ethnic and tribal lines. After the civil war, insecurity became the order of the day as rumours of coups including successful and attempted coups in 1975, 1976, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 1997. Thus, despite more than 40 years of independence, Nigeria is still politically an infant. Our weak political institutions remained a threat to our national security. Which is why it is necessary to strengthen our democratic institutions to avert conflict and enhance national security. Instability in government is destabilising the economy of the nation, creating new power blocks for influence peddling. Such state of affairs have created capital flight due to the fear instilled in foreign investors and local entrepreneurs. More worrying is the fact that the acquisition of political power has become a veritable means of self enrichment, making the competition for political power a matter of life and death. Moreover, government developmental efforts also suffered lopsided distribution, lopsided political appointments based on parochial interests. These are detrimental to national unity, and thus to national security. Such behavior impairs the development of a political class that isn't only patriotic but selfless and detribalised. Since government came to symbolize regional ethnic interests, like the Buhari administration championing the interest of herders, Nigerians are forced to identify more closely with ethnic linkages. The key driver of ethnic tension is poverty caused by mass unemployment, economic recession and smuggling. Unemployed youths are often restive, becoming a ready pool that can easily be mobilized to riot, demonstrate like the EndSARS saga. In the oil boom era, most people were gainfully engaged such that they were too busy to engage in conflicts. Religious intolerance is another factor causing insecurity. The current killings in Kaduna state and the Boko Haram war in the North East are due to religious intolerance or the use of religion to gain political power. For the kind of insecurity Nigeria faces the best antidote is an efficient police force. This is achievable through the establishment of regional police forces. The Nigerian states are too poor to run police forces. Let the six geopolitical zone create their own police outfits for their own peace. Nigeria is a federation, let the various governments imbibe the spirit of federalism. This is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Let the states and zones which are recognizable enough, implement true federalism. Only the implementation of true federalism as practised up to 1966 will resolve Nigeria's security conundrum.