By

Ben C. Abraham.

THE COUNCIL OF STATES ENDORSEMENT;

Nigeria’s Council of States convened for the first time under President Tinubu on Monday 12^th August in Abuja. The Council has a broad membership that includes former presidents, serving Governors and other past and present Federal Government officials. Section 153, part 1 Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as altered provides for the council. Coming closely on the heels of the #endbadgovernanceinnigeria protests, the council reviewed the protests and concluded that it was not merely a protest but an attempt at regime change. They asked persons who were dissatisfied with the Government to wait till 2027 and express their displeasure through the ballot box. At the end, the Council passed a vote of confidence on President Tinubu’s Government. They gave a thumbs up to his economic and other policies. The Governors also followed suit in the endorsement game. Few Nigerians would in reality expect anything different from the Council. Beneficiaries of power are not wont to work against their interests. And that it why the recent visit by the eminent group, The Patriots, to President Tinubu should be commended and the suggestions therein urged on this Government. The protests, in the main, were not an attempt to overthrow Tinubu. Deprived Nigerians expressed their displeasure with the state of things. This Government should be advised to get to work and tame the raging bull in a china shop. Nigerians should join hands with the Patriots to call for the foundation for lasting change and progress in Nigeria; a reworked constitution. Otherwise, the patchwork and palliative that all so often follow dissent will quickly fizzle out and more protests will follow, this time maybe spontaneous and beyond control.

2024 PARIS OLYMPICS;

The closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics held on Sunday 11^th August after 2 weeks of intense competing in 329 events across 48 sports disciplines featuring about 10,500 athletes of the world’s very best. Nigeria registered 88 athletes in 12 sports being the largest contingent it has ever presented at the games, accompanied by as many officials. It is no longer news that no medal was won by any Nigerian athlete at the games. Typically Nigerian, accounts of funds sunk into the preparation of the games range from N9bn to N12bn; and the controversy about the AFN not registering one of our medal hopefuls Favour Ofili for the 100m event. The Minister for sports development John Eno described the outing as a disaster and apologized to Nigerians for the show of shame. What happened to the several school sports events held across the country in the past? What about our NUGA games and specific sports events like the Asoju oba table tennis championship and Coscharis table tennis championship among other? Did Nigeria happen to them? In the midst of all these, Sports Federations’ officials smile to the bank with their heist uncaring about the trickle-down effect their actions precipitate. I have often said that there is no area of sports that Nigerians cannot compete in with acclaim. The difference between foreign athletes and Nigeria’s is the place of leadership, equipment and the right atmosphere. Sadly, even after labelling the outing a disaster, another disaster could happen in four years-time if the right things are not done; that is in Los Angeles 2028

……AND TWO OTHER THINGS:

BELLO MATAWALLE AND DICON EXPORTS:

Nigeria’s State-owned corporation tasked with arms production, Defence Industries Corporation (DICON) celebrated its 60^th year anniversary. In extolling the Organization’s strides in the period, Nigeria’s junior Minister in charge of Defence, Bello Matawalle revealed that Nigeria had begun to export various cadres of DICON-manufactured ammunition to other African countries thus increasing Nigeria’s foreign earnings capacity. Fair enough. What, however, remains paradoxical is that Nigeria whose elite arms-production Establishment exports arms, is embroiled in diverse kinds of internecine battles against insecurity, terror and banditry with fatalities on daily basis and the prospect of winning is gradually dimming. Even more paradoxical is that Matawalle, a one-time Governor of Zamfara State has been severally fingered by a terror kingpin Bello Turji as being behind the unending orgy of terror bedeviling the region. Meanwhile Matawalle holds a top position in Security; Minister of Defence.

SHUT DOWN OF OVER 50 FIRMS;

The Chemical and Non-metallic Products Employers Federation, an umbrella body that brings together production firms in the non-metallic manufacturing group has cried out that in the last one year over 50 of their members have shut down production due to high operating costs. The companies which include multinationals, medium and small firms could not continue in the harsh Nigerian economic space. The Federation also lamented the thousands of employees who have been thrown into the labour market as a result. More ominous is the report that over 80% of the surviving companies are producing below capacity utilization with many on the throes of death. It is ditto for manufacturers in other areas of the economy. No area is spared. This report is enough to declare a state of emergency in the manufacturing sector, the real sector. Unfortunately, the policies that triggered this dysfunction affect the entire economy. President Tinubu and his Government should go beyond politics to assemble a team that will tell him what will work not what he wants to hear.

General Christopher Musa, the Nigerian Chief of Defence staff seems to have received additional accreditation by the Federal Government as its chief launderer. Not a few people were taken aback by the CDS’ statement on Friday 2^nd August when the anti-hunger protests just entered day 2. Musa tutored Nigerians on why the protests should not continue. He threatened that they the military will not sit back and watch things deteriorate. He even gave the Government a pass mark stating that efforts were underway by the Tinubu regime to deliver dividends of democracy and therefore called for patience.  Falling short of giving a military command, the CDS ventured to instruct the media to black out the protests because it was not an election. He said that he noted how the local and international media were riveted on the protests thus giving the protesters the oxygen to continue. Whao! This is beyond belief. Nigeria never disappoints when it comes to extremities of its officials. Can someone be bold enough to lecture the CDS on when the military should speak and what it should speak when it does? As the numero uno in the military (short of being the C-in-C), Musa should know better. The entire show cast the military in such bad light and gave room for questions about loyalty – to the country, the constitution or to Tinubu? Meanwhile, a video went viral last week showing a soldier stationed somewhere in Geidam LGA of Yobe state, in one of the forward positons in the war against Boko Haram. The soldier displayed the measly semovita and soup he was served for lunch despite being told of huge sums of money voted for their feeding. He lamented the entire thing and queried how Boko haram would be defeated in such discouraging circumstances. He ended by calling for the video to go viral adding that the complaint would be termed indiscipline. The military spoke on the video stating that they had taken note and that it would be investigated. Who investigates the military in situations like this? Bloody civilians are asked to keep off and keep out of military affairs. Let the CDS face his remit please and leave the job of Government PR to the appointees. This kain loyalty, na wao.