Tomorrow, Monday, January 11, 2021, is the second Monday of the year, and it is our date with The Guru on air, from 0930 – 1100 hours, live, at Lagos Talks 91.3 FM, when scintillating review of topical issues shall take over the Nigerian Airwaves. Like l said last week, while saying goodbye to the terrible Year of 2020, it will be wiser for all Nigerians to stand up as watchdogs over our governments and leaders if the Year 2021 would be anything near meaningful to all of us.
I equally advised that the benefits that would come our ways in this year [2021] can only be beneficially maximized if only we would be willing to tell ourselves nothing but the truth – the whole truth. This is on one hand. While in the other hand, the willingness of leaders – Nigerian Leaders, to accept the truth that followers shall be telling them will make the great difference between a perfidious journey and a successful one.
For this reason, The Guru has chosen to continue in doing what he knows how to do best, in critical but most objectively, evaluation of things with clean heart, strictly presenting facts before the public domain, at all times. I pray that those in governments, at all strata, will reciprocate this good gesture, by admitting that every human being is fallible at one time or the other, and as such, human mistakes; which sometimes can be very grievous, occurs inevitably.
The major problem in the Nigerian systems of governance is the wickedness of leadership. First, and this is most unfortunate, we have dealers parading themselves as leaders. And we are the selling commodities in their hands. What’s more? They are always willing to sell us outside economic market value, because they will never think of recycling the money back to rehabilitate us. Here lies the epitome of their wickedness.
Two, they – the leaders, see themselves as rulers, as they are “buried” under the empty impression of being “Kings with divine authority, and with wisdom from above”. Yet, they are just bereft of any wisdom, knowledge and understanding, except “in absolute knowledge in matters around corruption”. Is not that the reason where an individual will be stealing billions of Naira, and will still be “working harder” to steal more?
Thirdly, and Bishop Mathew Kukah had laid this properly in the appropriate place of world public domain, stealing and killing Nigeria with the wicked instrumentality of corruption, there is no difference between Christians, Moslems and even the Animalists – not even the Pagans make any difference. They spread – talking of the thieves – proportionately across all the political parties, tribes and what have you. They are all predators of the most dangerous species and they are all visible across the country.
They start by callously robbing Nigeria dry, and then after, head towards two major religious headquarters of the World – Saudi Arabia and Israel, for what Bishop Mathew Kukah calls repentance [which l don’t believe]. They couldn’t have gone to Jerusalem and Mecca for repentance, or restitution, because in the first place, they don’t know God nor did they have Him [God] from inception. It means that they are fugitive pretenders at all times, at any time they speak about God. Look at their ends properly, and you will know that God is a righteous Judge through the judgement He passes on them.
Let me draw the curtain on this observation about Nigeria and its leaders, by bringing into the public domain what one of Nigerians most blessed comedian; Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, said about 24 hours ago, on COVID-19 and the Nigerian tragedy in leadership. It is a lengthy one but l have chosen to run only the preamble here while uploading the totality to my website: www.godwintheguru.com, later this night, for your downloading and reading.
ALI BABA SENDS STRONG MESSAGE TO PASTOR ADEBOYE OVER COVID-19 INFECTIONS IN NIGERIA …says wickedness of leaders is why citizens cannot breathe in Nigeria
Foremost Nigerian stand-up comedian, Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba on Sunday sent a strong message to Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) over Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in Nigeria.
Ali Baba also addressed the message to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Samson Ayokunle, pleading with the clerics, who have been tackling billionaire philanthropist, Bill Gates on how COVID-19 has fared in Africa, to stand down.
The popular comedian in a four part message shared on his Instagram page, said while he understood the imperatives of the self-defensiveness of these pastors, he wished they would just sit this one out, further stressing that the COVID-19 is real.
He stated that what Bill Gates is pondering is what scientists are supposed to do and that as a Continent; Africa too should be looking for answers, not reducing things to “God.”
Ali Baba also lamented the unavailability and the hoarding of oxygen at COVID-19 treatment centres only to produce them when the lives of powerful people or the lives of their friends are at stake.
He called out the Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, saying it is for the wickedness of Nigerian leaders that citizens cannot breathe in the country.
Read Ali Baba’s message titled SHORT OF OXYGEN AND GOD’S MERCY below:
Part 1
Last week, the death of Nigeria’s first professor of criminology, Femi Odekunle, was announced. Odekunle was also a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption. At first, his demise was slung on complications from the COVID-19 disease until a more detailed report narrated that he actually died from a lack of oxygen in the hospital facility – University Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada – where he was admitted.
Just a few weeks before he passed on, consultant neurosurgeon, Prof. Matthias Nnadi of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, also died of what was described as an acute exacerbation of asthma. One of the few experts in his field that Nigeria could boast of, Nnadi tested positive for COVID-19, although his unfortunate death was a consequence of a lack of oxygen.
These are highly unfortunate deaths. Outrageous. Enraging. How do men like these die like that? No country should lose two brains within the same month and in such a manner.
I am by no means suggesting that their lives are worth more because of their expertise, but there is no denying that the body of knowledge they represent has a value that should not be cheaply lost.
I was shocked anew when I read detailed reports of the circumstances of their deaths in the news. The disease that killed these people is Nigeria itself. Both men found themselves in a crisis where they could not breathe, and the oxygen supply they vitally needed could not get to them on time.
Some months ago, most of us saw a video of George Floyd, a black man in the USA, who was killed when a white police officer put his knee on his neck. Floyd’s last words were, “I can’t breathe,” as life ebbed away from him.
Those words would become the rallying cry for protests against police brutality and racism. The protests began in Minneapolis, where the incident happened, spread around cities in the USA, and would eventually be taken up in other countries worldwide.
Now, when you consider the fate of Floyd along with the circumstances of the deaths of Odekunle and Nnadi, you realise that our Nigerian life can also be summarised with these words: I can’t breathe.
Part 2
To be a Nigerian is to struggle to breathe; it is to spend all your life waiting for oxygen while life slowly drains away. To be born a Nigerian is to spend your entire life trying to respire as you struggle against your leaders’ knees pressed against your neck. “I can’t breathe” is the quintessential Nigerian story.
There is not enough oxygen for us to breathe. We live out our lives wheezing and gasping for some air to invigorate our lungs. Beyond even the metaphor of the seized breath is the literalness of the difficulty of breathing. Virtually every Nigerian is condemned to inhale generator fumes along with the putrid smells of filthy drainage where trash, human wastes, and wasted humans simultaneously decay.
In the case of Odekunle, we were told that his friends in high places -governors, ministers, and other big men-tore through bureaucracies to get oxygen cylinders to him.
The efforts of these friends, according to a report by Premium Times, eventually yielded about 170 oxygen cylinders, but the items arrived too late. Some of these friends even arranged a “special helicopter” to ship the oxygen cylinders to Abuja. You read all of their efforts to save the professor, and you are twice ashamed to be a Nigerian.
The Nigerian ruling class is a disaster through and through, a monumental disgrace. They will not commit to organising a society where processes work autonomously and efficiently, only to run around to procure life-saving equipment for their dying friend.
Part 3
In Nigeria, we run a nefarious system where powerful people hoard life-giving supplies only to produce them when their lives or the lives of their friends are at stake. These self-centered Nigerian leaders steal and hoard, only to dispense those same resources among their clique. Who knows how many poor Nigerians have died within the same period because they did not have powerful friends to tear through red tapes and get special helicopters to fly oxygen cylinders while they struggled to breathe!
For these friends to successfully mobilise so many oxygen cylinders, the issue could not have been a shortage as much as it was about inefficiency. How did it happen that a whole teaching hospital in the nation’s capital would run out of oxygen, yet, they could somehow gather that many supplies for one person?
It says a lot about the kind of country we run when a teaching hospital situated in a place like the FCT would run out of something as basic as oxygen. It means all the powerful people that live in the nation’s capital had no plan to patronise the place, and they could care less what that facility lacked. If they fall sick, it is easier for them to travel abroad than to go to Gwagwalada.
With all the events of the past year, one would have imagined our leaders would be putting some thoughts into organising a functioning society. The value of our lives should not be calibrated on these unsustainable man-know-man arrangements where public facilities are allowed to decay, and you have to rely on your social networks to find oxygen to breathe. Unfortunately, Nigerian leaders are too callous to bother.
Last June, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State lost his aide to a sickness. In his lamentation of his aide’s fate, Oyetola rued the COVID-19 travel restrictions that hindered them from flying the aide out of the country for treatment.
That unreflexive attitude is typical behaviour of Nigerian leaders. They have no intention of building functional public facilities; theirs is just to corner resources for no higher purpose than preserving their own lives at the expense of others’. Their wickedness is why we cannot breathe.
Part 4
On a final note, I also want to plead Nigerian clerics who have been tackling billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on how COVID-19 has fared in Africa to stand down.
After Bill Gates noted that the prediction about Africa on COVID-19 has not come, some men of God jumped at him as if he is the one responsible for our problems in Africa.
The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Samson Ayokunle, replied that even though Africans are technologically poor, we are beneficiaries of God’s mercy. Pastor Enoch Adeboye too stated that, “we have no money; we have no resources, but we have God.”
While I understand the imperatives of the self-defensiveness of these pastors, I wish they would just sit this one out. Each time these pastors use God to block off legitimate questions, their Nigerian followers take up the refrain, thinking they are sticking it up to Bill Gates, a man who can afford not to notice their existence.
What Bill Gates is pondering is what scientists are supposed to do. As a continent, we too should be looking for answers, not reducing things to “God.” A race of people who cannot be bothered to find answers to such germane questions will forever be dependent on other races for survival.
Bringing up God as if he is a tool that is uniquely available to Africans is not even helpful. What they ultimately achieve is to provide a moral cover for sadistic and thieving politicians who hide oxygen and watch Nigerians struggle to breathe.
Let us look at few other topics for tomorrow’s review therefore.
We need to look and evaluate 21 quotes from Professor Wole Soyinka on President Buhari, since 2015 till date, as this will help us to know who has changed between Professor Wole Soyinka and President Muhammadu Buhari over these past 6 years.
And listen to this: “Elite loot Nigeria, seek forgiveness in Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem; yuletide in Dubai— Bishop Kukah”. This man is not just becoming the conscience of the Nigerian Nation, as the Buhari Presidency; and maybe the Caliphate, might want to portray him. Since he signed into the celibacy, he has chosen to remain the voice of righteousness for Nigerians, and he is doing his God’s assigned responsibility in the most responsible manner. Or have you forgotten his 2020 Christmas message that unsettled the Northern Oligachy and rattled the Buhari Presidency? Let us jointly digest and interpret this tomorrow.
Of course there are more for your consumption tomorrow, in addition to our memorable Historical Perspective and unforgettable Knowledge Dropbox. Where else will you be if not Lagos Talks 91.3 FM – your Golden Radio Station?
Godwin Etakibuebu [The Guru].
And the ship sank might have as well came as a bad dream. It could also be real that the Ship actually sank. Or, in another flowing of thought, the ship might be going towards the direction of wreck. Whichever way it happens, I will wished it as a bad dream that vanished away immediately l opened my eyes from that troubled sleep.
Let all Nigerians pray fervently and committedly that the Nigerian-State-Ship never sinks. But isn’t that the way it is sailing? The ship is going full ablast [navigational language] with a Captain on board, except that the Captain is deep asleep at the Captain’s Deck. Danger looms so high within the navigational route of this vessel. I pray that this Ship is not the Nigerian Nation.
Tomorrow, Monday, December 7, 2020, might be opening a window of opportunity for us to interpret this dream of a sank ship, at Lagos Talks 91.3 FM, when The Guru comes on air, as from 0930 – 1100 hours, live, in the usual intellectually driven review of topical issues. You shall be doing better for yourselves by getting hooked to the dial of Lagos Talks 91.3 FM, as no other Radio Station does it closer; not to talk of better, than us. Trust me on this ‘holy and righteous’ verdict. Let us preview a few teasers.
“HOW WE WERE SHOT AT LEKKI TOLLGATE – #ENDSARS PROTEST VICTIMS”, was how the Punch Newspaper reported the mysterious appearance of some people at the venue of the Panel in Lagos, on Friday, December 4, 2020. It must have been one terrible blow to the Panel members particularly and Lagos State Authority generally, because the unwanted guests came least expected. And to the Nigerian Army, except for the deaden thick skin of these gentlemen of the bullets’ kingdom, it ought to be one nasty shock of what the Mafia calls “thunderbolt”
Asked how he was sure that his brother died from gunshot by soldiers, Solomon said, “Because some boys that he was with told us that he had been shot, so we rushed there and picked up his corpse. “I didn’t know when my brother left home for the tollgate. He never told me he was going there. He was living with me here in Lekki, at Marwa. “Some boys called me. By then, my phone battery was flat, the phone had gone off. They called one of our brothers and told him that Abouta had been killed. So, we went there, found him on the grass, picked up his corpse and we went to St Paul’s Mortuary at Oyingbo. “His corpse was at the Lekki tollgate. There were protesters around at the time. He was laid on the grass that was growing on the road divider in the middle of the road. “That night when we took my brother’s corpse, we saw other people who had been shot, about four of them, on the ground. They were all dead.” Solomon said the remains of his brother had since been taken to Adamawa and buried.
Nathaniel Solomon was one of those 15 persons [he was without injury] with injuries that stormed the Lagos Court of Arbitration in Lekki, the hearing venue of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, probing the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers on the night of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at the Lekki tollgate. Some of the injured persons, who were brought to the LCA in a white bus, had plaster of Paris cast on their legs and arms and bandages wrapped on their heads and chests. They claimed they were victims of the alleged tollgate shootings by soldiers at the tollgate. Nathaniel Solomon was not one of those injured, because he was not at the scene, but he was there early, at the aftermath of the shooting, to pick the body of his dead brother before the remaining bodies, allegedly vanished into oblivion.
You may want to listen to his story, compare it to what you probably heard from the “professionals” before coming to a saner conclusion. I want you to hear me well, loud and clear please. I am not saying what this man – Nathaniel Solomon, is saying is near the truth of the matter, if what l heard from the Chief of Army Staff today is correct. Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai had said it very clear today that “nobody died at Lekki, those who saw corpses have eye problem”. I wouldn’t want the Three-Star-General to take me away for eye test as such I am listening to him. Let us meet tomorrow, by the grace of God.
What about this?
“Nowhere is safe under Buhari, Sultan-led JNI laments”, many Newspapers reported this while Thisday Newspaper exclusively reported that “Again, Northern Elders Tell Buhari to Resign”. It is becoming clearer now that the most hash judgment against Muhammadu Buhari and his clueless government is now from the HOME FRONT, but does this tell our President, who looks like sleeping on duty, anything? I can see the larger Nigerians as sitting down and looking, in the words of late Bola Ige.
Then this one, please: LASTMA boss returns N52, 000 extorted from motorist – reported by the The Nation Newspaper. Have any one of us heard this good news about LASTMA before? It is for this reason that l am begging the General Manager of the Authority – Mr Olajide Oduyoye, to come back to the studio with me tomorrow, to tell Lagosian more about this born-again LASTMA, and he obliged me to do so. We shall therefore – Ladies and Gentlemen, be making some pleasant noise as we welcome the GM of LASTMA tomorrow!
There are more things we shall be discussing tomorrow without dropping your Historical Perspective and the gold-valued Knowledge Dropbox. Tomorrow is another Collector’s Copy.
Last word however is for all to visit my website: www.godwintheguru.com as it is always loaded for our delight. For example, l told you last week about the horrible situations of 21 States because of what their past Governors and Deputies did unto them. These unfortunate 21 States’ story is being uploaded this night unto my website. So, why can’t you go there to read or download – all for free, to your satisfaction?
Godwin Etakibuebu [The Guru].
My Sunday broadcast for January 4, 2021.
The Guru welcomes all of us to the very first Monday of the Year 2021, which is tomorrow, January 4th, to the Studio of Lagos Talks 91.3 FM, for his stylish topical review of issues, live on air, starting from 0930 hours. Let us thank God who made it possible for us to crossover from the dreadful Year of 2020; a year that came with all types of disasters – crowned by Coronavirus, into 2021. We owe Him lots of gratitude.
We are starting tomorrow off by paying more attention to review of last year’s events than reviewing last week only, for two reasons. One, last week belongs to last year [2020] and as such, events of the week might not be major enough to account for the year 2020. It is better we embark on review of the year therefore, then segmentally picking just a week and leaving behind 51 weeks.
The second reason, and this is major also, is that every events of last week centered on the festivities and anxious anticipation of how to “rush a dreadful year out” of our way. Let us therefore embark on reviewing event of last year – albeit briefly. It will also help us in laying foundation of what to be expected this year and beyond. We shall however be as brief as we can be.
NIGERIAN SECURITY SYSTEM
There is no doubt about the fact that the Nigerian security system; a System which have been breaking down gradually over the years finally gave way last year – the Year 2020. The climax came when President Muhammadu Buhari decided on having a week’s vacation in his home town of Daura in Katsina State, on Friday, December 11, 2020, which was not a bad thing to do at all. Except the “heroic reception” accorded him – the President, wasn’t a befitting one. Neither can it be regarded as respectfully honourable.
While the President arrived home that afternoon, abductors or kidnappers came to a neighboring town of Kankara; a few kilometers from Daura, to abduct over 300 school children and took them away into captivity. An embarrassed President’s personal spokesman told the whole world that “only 10 students were kidnapped”, whereas the State Governor; who is directly responsible to the State’s affairs, said that 333 boys were kidnapped. The President and his government did not even know the number of students kidnapped from the President’s State. What a shame! What an embarrassment!
A few weeks before that episode, Boko Haram insurgents massacred about 70 rice farmers in Zabarmari Village, at Jere Local Government area of Borno State stylishly. President Buhari, through his spokesman was to tell the whole world that those rice farmers were slaughtered because they did not get “clearance from the Military to go to their farms”. Another indelible embarrassment!
The two instances given above; which are just icing of the cake, are proofs of how security has vanished from the Nigerian Territory and has taken flight into oblivion. Can President Buhari reverse the situation or has he lost total control?
We shall also be reviewing the Nigerian Universities System tomorrow, bearing in mind that ASUU strike closed down all Nigerian [except Private Universities] Universities for almost 9 months last year, until an agreement for resumption was reached between the Government and ASUU towards the end of the year.
Will the Federal Government oblige its side of the agreement or shall there be return to the battle trenches? I shall be calling on one of ASUU’s NEC officials tomorrow, Dr Dele Ashiru, of the University of Lagos, to discuss the quantum of light still left in this seemingly dark tunnel of our educational system.
There is no way we can run away from reviewing this National Identity Number [NIN] of a thing, mostly with its linkage to our SIM [Subscriber Identification Module], because most Nigerians – I am included of course, don’t have the actual understanding between the two [NIN and SIM] and the factor of National Identification. I might just be the only novice in this game anyway. But, all the same, l want to learn from further interrogation of the matter.
For example, every foreigners in Nigeria, and we have more of illegal and undocumented foreigners than those documented, have telephone, with SIM. In the other hand, too many foreigners are also registered in Nigeria as voters – mostly those from Nigeria’s Northern borders [like Niger, Chad, Cameroon Republics and others], and all of them have the Permanent Voter Card [PVC].
By the synergy of the NIN and the SIM being vigorously pursued by the federal government, shall that not be opening an opportunity for “ALL WEST AFRICA CITIZENS” to becoming Nigerians?
I am only just worried, mostly in the face of the terrifying difficulty President Muhammadu Buhari is facing, in the management of the Nigeria and Niger Republic’s land border. Or wasn’t that the challenge that forced President Buhari in calling on God last week to take over that land-border control? Just another weird thought of The Guru – maybe!
We shall review the difficult conditions most frontline medical professionals faced last year while battling the Coronavirus – some of them paid the supreme sacrifice. We need to remember these group of people specifically and specially too. It is for this reason that l might be calling on the new President of the Nigerian Medical Association; Professor I.A.O Ujah, tomorrow to discuss the matter with us. Just The Guru’s neat way of doing his thing.
Lastly, and for the records only, please. A Thunderbolt type and skin-drying sort of competition on who becomes the next Inspector General of Police is going on in the Nigeria Police Force currently, as the incumbent IGP – Mohammed Adamu, is due for retirement. The name of the game, as at now, is not only feverish but demonically entrenched in that arena of Bermuda Triangle. You can trust on my judgement when it involves the Nigeria Police Force.
Recent promotion of top police officers, mostly those from the rank of Assistant Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General is for the purpose of underscoring the “anointed candidate”. Must the new IGP come from across the Niger to the North? It will be most unfortunate if all the present Deputy Inspector General of Police should be forced to leave with Mohammed Adamu for the sole purpose of bringing the son of the soil, as it were.
Two things are most painful to those initiated on this matter. One, if the other Service Chiefs of the Military, who are obviously not performing good enough, are left by the Commander-in Chief to continue, why can’t Mohammed Adamu, who is performing creditable not be left alone to continue as IGP, even as his tenure expires? Two, the way and manner of bringing a successor into the office, even on this particular one, shall further destroy the fabrics of professionalism in the Force. And Nigeria shall be worse for it, unless the right candidate is picked. But will Buhari appoint the right person [we all know who it ought to be] as the next Inspector General of Police?
The Historical Perspective and Knowledge Dropbox are now more enhanced than ever before, for our connective benefits. Lagos Talks 91.3 FM; your golden Radio of choice, remains your best Well of Knowledge still.
Visit my website: www.godwintheguru.com for more vital information please.
Godwin Etakibuebu [The Guru].
Tomorrow, Monday, December 21, 2020, when The Guru shall be taking command of the Nigerian Airwaves at Lagos Talks 91.3 FM, from 0930 to 1100 hours, live, in scientifical review of topical issues, it shall be the second to the last Monday in this terrific year of 2020.
The year shall remain a much traumatized year in human memory for a very long time to come. How can the year 2020 be forgotten in hurry? A year that a pandemic; with the name Coronavirus, enslaved the whole world – so to say, bringing into captivity all worldly Principalities and Powers, and bringing into the enclave of nonentity strongholds of knowledge – a year that the whole world was knockdown totally.
So, what The Guru shall be bringing to the Studio tomorrow shall not be the usual but slightly off the run of the mill’s presentation. My original plan was to embark on periscopic venture on Nigeria’s political future, which should have be starting from tomorrow, Monday, December 21. I planned it as an exercise in forecasting where the permutations and manipulations of Nigerian politicians will take Nigeria to in that anticipated glamorous year of 2023.
A very tedious task it is most likely to be. But it is a very necessary assignment that should be undertaken – albeit by those who are gifted enough in the game of “decoding coded things”, because it is through this type of rigorous exercise that Nigeria can be salvaged from the political Predators against our common hegemony.
Tomorrow, however, we are stepping aside the periscopic assignment – deferring it to a futuristic date; and it shall not be such a lengthy postponement, as Monday, January 4, 2021, by the grace of God, would be appropriate to kick-start that project.
We need to evaluate and interpret the tabulations of the Nigerian political personae dramatis as the race to the Year 2021 is gathering momentum. The race itself is terrific. It is moving like hurricane. And some of the movements being taken by most of the politicians are, for sure deadly. It is for this reason that we need an understanding interpreter to do the job of exposition. Like l said earlier, we shall commence on that journey by January, 2021, all things being equal – and only by His grace.
Let us shift our connective attention to what is happening tomorrow at the studio of Lagos Talks 91.3 FM. Yes, there is much for harvesting tomorrow. But there is one of them that shall be standing out, tall over and above all others. It is the one that we shall be calling OUR CLASSICAL story. And that will be the politics of kidnap and release of the “Kankara Boys”, in Katsina State.
Let us pick other topical matters for teasers before coming back to the Script and Film show of Kankara Boys.
The latest story making the headline now is about relocation – albeit temporarily, of Aisha Buhari, reportedly abandoning Aso Rock Villa for Dubai, for security reasons. We need not blaming Madam at all, because at the end of the day, she is just ordinary human being like any of us. And in life, there is what is called instinct of Nature; it is that instinct that drives one to the point of survival. It comes first among equals in all the human instincts.
What will you do if you were to be in Madam’s shoe? Earlier into the first tenure of her and her husband in the Villa, she complained loudly for those who cared to know, that “two or three men have hijacked the government from her husband”. She challenged Nigerian men at that encounter to arise and take Nigeria back from those “two or three” predators. I am not too sure that the Nigerian men she called upon to help, at that time manifested; and if they did, the result was not published.
Madam returned to the public domain, complaining seriously and pathologically too, about the person of Garba Shehu; her husband’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, alleging conduct of disloyalty to the First Family against the man. Nothing seemed to have come out of her complaints, so it looked like to those of us – the uninitiated, because Garba Shehu stands tall in the Villa, as of this hour, and dangling the sword of Damocles dangerously.
Then came another black market maneuvering, in the same Aso Rock Villa, against Madam again. And that was when another relation and Personal Assistant of President Buhari; Sabiu ‘Tunde’ Yusuf refused to go on quarantine over COVID-19 scares, after returning from a journey. He; Sabiu, was said to have refused going on quarantine, citing that Buhari’s daughter that came back from a far journey did not go on quarantine. That particular episode led to shooting in the Villa that very ugly night until the “over-assured” Sabiu ran into another of Buhari relation; Mamman Daura, house for “salvation”.
If you were to be in the woman’s stead, you will look for alternative security elsewhere. But the big question Madam must answer is this: What happens to the “Services of the other room” while she is away in a foreign land? Oga Buhari might be in need of that essential Service, because he is; like Madam, just another human being, with all human weaknesses.
Then this: “Insecurity: Service Chiefs no longer effective, should be sacked” – Shettima tells Buhari. This is coming very strongly from a man who is hundred percent a Buhari in all things. Somebody even said the other day that whenever you cut Shettima vein, it is Buhari’s blood that will be flowing out. That is just how to describe the bond between Buhari and the former Governor of Borno State and now a Senator of the Federal Republic. Yet, President Muhammadu Buhari may not see the wisdom in what this loyalist of his is saying. May God help President Buhari in this matter of over-coked Service Chiefs.
There are many more topical issues for tomorrow but because of time, let us go back to the CLASSICAL STORY of the day – the Kankara Drama Troupe’s outing. It looked like a very badly written script and, accordingly awkwardly acted too. In the film industry, a writer of such script and the Director that directed it will not have a place of honour in Oscar reckoning.
The coincidence of the President’s arrival to Daura on Friday morning and the kidnapping of the students from Kankara [because the distance from Daura to Kankara is just 241 kilometers or thereabout, depending the road you chose to pass] the same Friday evening can only be imagined, more as an embarrassment to the President. And that is what he said.
Then the argument about the numbers of students the Bandits, or Boko Haram, took away, became a devastative blow. Aminu Masari; the Governor of Katsina State, mentioned 333 students, while the Presidency [not the federal government], that has nothing doing with running of secondary schools in Nigeria, came out boldly, saying only 10 students were abducted. This was the confusion until Boko Haram came to help our understanding by saying they kidnapped about 525. At the end of the evil exercise, 344 students were returned. Look at the shame the presidency brought upon itself and the country by this singular blunder.
Was there really a kidnap? Was the whole show one big scam? Are there hidden facts somewhere along the line of operation? We shall review all the available facts tomorrow, by the grace of God. Where else will you be than staying tuned to Lagos Talks 91.3 FM without touching the dial? Your favourable Historical Perspective and Knowledge Dropbox await you perfectly.
When last did you visit my website – www.godwintheguru.com, for downloading of all the knowledgeable materials uploaded to the site?
Good News
If you want to have details of how the Nigeria Police Force originated in 1861 – beginning with the name Consular Constabulary before changing to Hausa Constabulary, and also crime development in Nigeria, including the unbeatable record of Lawrence Nomayanukpo Anini – alias The Law; who was one of the greatest legendary Armed Robbers that ever risen in Nigeria, the place to go is picking a copy of my book – Anini: The saga of an armed robber.
And the way to go about it, if you want a copy, is to send your names and the full address [including the State] you want the book to be delivered, to 0906-887-0014 [sms], you will thereafter receive a message on the cost, of both the book and delivery it. Delivery is within 48 hours after payment within the Lagos Area and a week to other parts of the country.
Godwin Etakibuebu [The Guru].
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives summoned President Muhamadu Buhari following the recent massacre of 43 rice farmers in Borno State. The motion to summon the President generated lots of drama on the floor of the House, as the Speaker, Femi Gbajabimaila, made frantic efforts to shield the President. Despite the killing of 43 persons by Boko Haram terrorists, Gbajabiamila and others tried to shield Buhari from House summons.
What happened the last time?
On the 24th of April, 2018, the House, following a consideration of a motion moved by Mark Gbillah, resolved to summon the President. The motion was on the farmer/herders crisis in Benue State.
The motion was on attack by army personnel on innocent residents of Naka in Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State and the inability of the army and other security agencies to put an end to the incessant murder of indigenes of Benue State by armed herdsmen. However, the debate on the motion spread to general insecurity.
The motion led to a total of 11 resolutions with 7 sub-resolutions. One of the resolutions read “Summon the President and Commander-in-Chief to answer questions with regards to security matters in the country.”
Also, the President was given a 7-day ultimatum to provide the House details of those responsible for the attack on Naka town and the action taken against them.
Unfortunately, none of the demands were heeded to by the President. He did not appear before the House nor any consequence suffered by the President.
The House also resolved to shut down the House Plenary for 3 legislative days as a mark of solidarity with Nigerian and also a strong signal that the government must take action. This like others did not happen. The House did not shut down, not even for a day.
The House also passed a vote of no confidence on all the security chiefs and urged Mr. President to remove them from office.
The only response the House got was a statement by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on media, Femi Adeshinam saying, “But when they communicate that decision to him, he will respond accordingly,” the Presidency reacted.
The Following day, the Senate also concurred with the House by summoning the President to address a joint session of the House in line with the issues raised by the House 24 hours earlier.
What has changed?
A lot has changed since the last time Buhari was summoned, Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara were not on good terms with the President, and however, both Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila seem to have shown willingness to defend the President no matter what.
However, the President on Wednesday, agreed to appear before the House on a yet to be announced date according to Gbajabiamila, who informed journalists at the state House after a meeting with the President.
Did the President fulfill his promise? No, he did not, as the Attorney General of the Federation [AGF] and Minister of Justice – Abubakar Malami [SAN], concluded that the National Assembly lacked the power; constitutionally speaking, according to Malami, to invite the President. The story became sine die since then – evidence of a National Assembly that fears the President and therefore becoming a liability [the National Assembly] on the people that elected them.
When tomorrow, Monday, December 14, comes, the remaining days for the year 2020, to vanish into abyss of history would be just only 17 days. The morning of the 18th day, which shall be recorded as January 1st, shall be handing us over to another year that shall be called 2021.
This means that from tomorrow, Lagos Talks 91.3 FM; your Golden Radio Station of this Century starts a countdown, of 408 Hours, 24,480 Minutes, or 1,468,800 Seconds, to the end of this horrible year of COVID-19, to leave us alone. I think the whole world is waiting very eagerly for the year to vanish, except the very few individuals that COVID-19 elevated differently from the rank of the rich to super-rich – consider Pfizer; the pharmaceutical Giant [with the invention and creation of the COVID-19 Vaccine] as one of them.
In Nigeria, the year 2020 proved to be one hellish time and season that left more battered, and shall, ipso facto, be celebrated as it is about exiting, and this is for many reasons. One of the reasons is the way COVID-19 unleashed its terror, the way it did; and still doing, in nearly every country around the globe, on Nigerians. It came with its “ugly beauty”, and met us in our typified manner of unpreparedness.
It caught us “beautifully” unprepared. That way itself, is nothing strange to us as Nigerians, because our failure in unpreparedness remains our celebrated hallmark in all things except in corruptive pursuant. Wasn’t that the state of affairs in Nigeria when Coronavirus arrived on February 29, 2020, through the unnamed Italian man, who “dropped by” at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos?
And since March 26, 2020, when the Coalition Against Coronavirus [CACOVID]; an initiative spearheaded by Access Bank Plc took off, an additional revelation of our lifestyle became manifested. And this was the revelation that the food-materials bought with billions of Naira from donors – meant to be palliatives for the people, were hoarded and locked away in different warehouses, by greedy Nigerian politicians; including governors, elected into offices by the same Nigerian People. The late musical Icon, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti; called it “double wahala for dead body and owner of dead body”.
While the Nigerian People were starving for lack of palliatives, the Nigerian politicians were celebrating “their wealth” – their ill-gotten wealth, at the expense of millions, courtesy of another beautiful uprising of the Nigerian Youth, when they said #EndSARS.
The Year 2020 equally exposed Nigeria’s inability to fight corruption, in spite of President Muhammadu Buhari’s lips service attempts. What most members of his cabinet succeeded in accomplishing this year [2020], within the zone of corruption left no hope of any lightening in this very dark tunnel of corruption. What the massive actions of “Oga’s followers” showed is the fact that Nigeria had been killed by corruption, and what Nigerians are looking for is a befitting burial ground and a worthy Undertaker to prosecute an appropriately respectful funeral rites for it.
It will be most appropriate to start our preview of what The Guru brings on air tomorrow, staring from 0930 to 1100 hours, live, when his scintillating review of topical issues begins, by commencing from the sadden news of how corruption succeeded in killing Nigeria, in the NDDC way.
We might be kicking off by evaluating President Buhari’s latest onslaught against a household residential tower of corruption in the Niger Delta.
President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved the Prof Kemebradikumo Daniel Ponde-led Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of their duties. The President’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday night. Adeshina revealed that Effiong Awa, the Acting Executive Director of finance and administration of the commission will now head the agency as approved by the President. Adesina said Awa would be in charge of the agency until the completion of the forensic audit ordered by the president.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of an interim administrator to oversee the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). “He is Mr Effiong Okon Akwa; the Ag. Executive Director – Finance and Administration of the Commission who is to assume headship till completion of the forensic audit. “The development became necessary as a result of a plethora of litigation and a restraining order issued recently against the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC by a Federal High Court in Abuja”, the statement said.
Reading the caption of the story, which was presented by the Daily Post thus: “Pondei’s NDDC Interim Management Committee sacked”, some jubilated, thinking that President Buhari had sacked the Minister, Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, but alas, it was a different approach of strengthening corruption and confirming its authority that the President put in place to reinvigorate the monster. Why and how?
“The development became necessary as a result of a plethora of litigation and a restraining order issued recently against the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC by a Federal High Court in Abuja”, Femi Adeshina said. is Effiong Okon Awa not a member of the Interim Management Committee that the so-called Court ordered against? Let us take this discussion to the next level tomorrow, by the grace of God.
Then this: Kankara abduction: IGP reacts, deploys tactical team to search, rescue students.
The challenge here is not the order of the Inspector General of Police in deploying his officers because it is his responsibility to do so. The embarrassment is that Kankara; where those students were abducted [or kidnapped] from, is a town in Katsina State – Mr President’s home State, and it happened when the President was visiting home for a befitting holiday. How daring are these kidnappers that are manifesting a likewise maestro type of bravadoes displayed in Chibok by Boko Haram abductors many years ago, when Goodluck Jonathan was occupying the presidency throne?
And did I hear somebody saying that President Buhari is yet to visit the community where this abduction took place till date? I wouldn’t blame him because President Goodluck Jonathan did not get to Chibok on time, at that time – it only confirms two of a type.
Or what will you say of Abdulrasheed Maina, who allegedly stole billions of pension funds, collapsing in court? The guy had the strength of riding a Motor Bike [Okada] from Sokoto to Niger Republic, when he was jumping bail with enough energy that never accommodated collapsing. He was repatriated from the Niger Republic without fainting in the plane, neither did he missed his steps while disembarking from the plane. Then, suddenly as he appeared in the Courtroom of Justice Okon Abang, the spirit of going into coma; the predecessor to spirit of death, overtook this man, who is “most professionally excellent in the game of Pension Management in Nigeria.” Wonders shall never end in this Country!
2020 is running away fast, leaving us behind, till 2021 takes over. It is difficult to say how much more ground we shall still be holding against corruption by the time we crossed over into the incoming year. I will advise that we should try to hold our ground, and that is if any ground is left for holding, against corruption.
I am talking to those l refer to as #PositivNigerians because the politicians are presently preoccupied with politics of 2023; which has earnestly commenced, and with the stealing technics for the money, with which 2023 is to prosecuted. That is the Mission of all of them – speaking of those in the swimming pool of poli-tricking and poli-thieving.
Tomorrow, we shall be having the privilege of listening to Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa; the Lagos Zonal Head of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, while discussing with The Guru – live, from the Studio. This officer, bright, brilliant and erudite scholar’s operator of the Financial Crime Commission will be telling us more of the modern modus operandi of operating the Commission, and the better news is that he has agreed to wait in taking questions from callers.
Your favourable Historical Perspective and Knowledge Dropbox come loaded as usual. Have you visited my website: www.godwintheguru.com, recently? It is one blog you cannot ignore because it is always deliberately loaded with knowledge for your delight. Join me tomorrow at Lagos Talks 91.3 FM as we move the discussion to another higher level please.
Godwin Etakibuebu [The Guru].
Throwback is the story of how some retired Governors and their Deputies, in the most reckless crude manner, left their States in abysmal squalor through the instrumentality of Pension payment. Followed is the analysis of about 21 States in Nigeria with blown-out pension allowances for their former governors. You will see from the presentation, sourced from the Vanguard Newspaper, that each State produced its own model. However, all the States hereunder analysed, unified their different models by bringing all the Governors into one classroom – a classroom of kleptomaniac – a people with pathological tendencies to steal. It is unfortunate.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Nigerian Federation, with standing but debased ovation of opprobrium, I present your “SAVIOURS” to you!
Former governors are bearing an exerting pressure on national development with pension payments and other entitlements draining billions of naira every year from development funds for the states. Over N37.367 billion was according to Vanguard findings expended on servicing 47 former governors from 21 of the nation’s states in pension payments and provision of houses, staff and motor vehicles replaceable between three and four years.
Payment of pension to former governors over a four year cycle are highest in Bauchi, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos States with former governors drawing N23.18 billion N2.795 billion, N2.043 billion and N1.606 billion respectively over four years.
The payments are in many cases besides provisions for medical expenses for the former chief executives which run into hundreds of millions per former chief executive in many cases. Some ex governors Pension payment and other entitlements
The pension payments and other entitlements drawn by the governors are irrespective of the prescription of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC providing 300 percent severance for the governors as stated in the Certain Political Office Holders and Judicial Officers Remuneration Act. Under that act, former governors are like lawmakers entitled to 300% of their basic salary of N2, 223,705 amounting to N6,671,115 as severance pay.
Most of the provisions stipulate the provision of vehicles renewable every three to four years, accommodation at the state capital and sometimes in Abuja, 30 days paid for holiday outside the country and free medical treatment for the former governors and their immediate family members.
However, a few other states including Akwa Ibom, Yobe, Gombe Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Kwara and Sokoto States have forked up outlandish cash transfers to the former governors. The humongous payouts are sometimes styled as medical allowance and have been the butt of many controversies.
SOKOTO
The Sokoto State pension law provides for N200 million every four years for former governors, and with three former governors, the state would have to cough out N600 million every four years to transfer to the former governors. Another N180 million is set out for payment to former deputy governors.
GOMBE
Gombe was the first to pay out a benefit in the hundreds of millions when it paid N900 million to its two living former governors (Abubakar Hashidu and Senator Danjuma Goje) under the state pension law for former governors, which provides N300 million per term for each of the two governors.
YOBE
The version of the Yobe State pension law, signed into law in early 2007 by former governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim gives former governors pension for life. The former governor/deputy receive 200 million and 150 million respectively, two vehicles replaceable every four years, two drivers, free medical for the former governors/deputies and their immediate families in Nigeria or abroad. Senator Abba Ibrahim who served three different times as governor of the state is the only one enjoying the entitlement being the only former governor alive. The only other person to have shared the governor’s office with him was the late Senator Mamman Ali who died in office and the incumbent.
Besides the homogenous cash payments, some states including Cross River, Kwara, Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Ebonyi, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto states have also recommended the payment of the basic salaries of the incumbent governors as yearly pension payments to their former governors.
KWARA
The version of the governors’ pension law in Kwara State which came into effect in 2010 states the former governor shall be entitled to two cars and a security car, replaceable every three years, a well-furnished 5-bedroom duplex, furniture allowance of 300 per cent of his salary; five personal staff, three SSS, free medical care for the governor and the deputy, 30 percent of salary for car maintenance, 20 per cent for utility, 10 percent for entertainment and 10 per cent for house maintenance.
WHAT EMEKA WOGU AND RMAF SAID:
Chief Emeka Wogu, a former minister who also represented Abia State in the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC and was chairman of the RMAFC Committee which prescribed the severance payments told Vanguard that the pension laws prescribed by the states if inconsistent with the law as prescribed by the commission would be deemed illegal. Wogu, also a lawyer and public policy expert, however, drew back from declaring the payments to the former governors as illegal. “Anything outside the law that was recommended by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, which is Certain political office holders and judicial officers remuneration act is not in consonance of the law and where it is already prescribed by state Houses of Assembly that means that such laws is in conflict with the federal law.”
Ahead of the 2015 presidential election, General Muhammadu Buhari as candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC had promised to use moral suasion to compel the governors to amend the provisions of the pension law on the ground that they were unsustainable. His efforts since he came to power have, however, yet to come to public knowledge.
AKWA IBOM
Akwa Ibom under the Pension Act, 2014 spends an average of 174.16 on former governors a year and N93.62 million on each former deputy governor per year. That is besides the estimated N25 million spent every four years in changing the official and utility cars of each former governor and deputy governor. Besides, it is believed that not less than N300 million provided for the building of a mansion in the state or Abuja for former governors. Official and utility cars Akwa Ibom with two former governors, and two former deputy governors who qualify for the pension scheme, the state is expected to spend N2.043 billion over a four year round.
RIVERS
Rivers State will spend an estimated N2.795 billion maintaining its four former governors under provisions of the Rivers State Pensions for Governor and Deputy Governor Law, 2012. The state will spend an average of N38.8 million in pension payments to the four former governors of the state annually at the rate of N9.7 million each. Over four years, it would amount to N155.2 million. However, the government is expected to spend a minimum of N240 million replacing the three vehicles provided for each of the former governors every three years. Even more, the state government is expected to provide free medical services and provide two choice houses in Rivers State and Abuja for each of the former governors under the pension law passed during the tenure of Former Governor Chibuke Amaechi. With property cost averaging N300 million in Port-Harcourt and Abuja, the government would have forked out at least N2.4 billion providing the houses for the former governors. The former governors of Rivers State are Rotimi Amaechi, Celestine Omehia, Peter Odili and Rufus Ada George. The pension law for former governors which came into effect under the administration of Governor Amaechi provides among others that the former governors would enjoy 100 per cent of their basic salaries, two choice houses in any area of their choice in Rivers State and Abuja, three cars, replaceable every three years and 300 per cent of annual basic salary as funding for any furniture of their choice. The law also provides that 20 per cent, 10 per cent and 10 per cent of the annual salary of the incumbent governor should be earmarked for utility, accommodation maintenance and entertainment respectively.
LAGOS
The Lagos State Governor and Deputy Governor Pensions Law of 2007 provides that former governors and deputy governors who are not impeached should receive 100% of the salary of the incumbent governor as pension and former governors who serve out two terms will be entitled to two houses; one in Abuja and another in Lagos. Those who served one term will be entitled to one house in Lagos while former deputy governors would also be entitled to one house in Lagos. Officially, a sum of N7.595 million under the law is due to each of the three former governors of the state, Tinubu, Tunde Fashola and Lateef Jakande based on calculations drawn from the annual salary of N2.22 million due the current governor. Over a four year period, the money comes to N91.14 million. The entitlements include furniture allowance of 300% every two years, House maintenance (10%) P. A. (0.25%), Car maintenance (30%) entertainment (10%) and Utility (20%). Besides, the state government is expected to provide six and five new vehicles for the former governor and deputy governor and provide unlimited medical coverage for the former governor and members of his immediate family. With a standard vehicle of the status of the former governors going for nothing less than N20 million each and a utility vehicle going for N5 million, that could come to N105 million for the six vehicles for each former governor. For all three former governors the amount comes to N315 million within which period the cars are to be replaced. For the two deputy governors covered by the law who are each entitled to four cars and a pilot vehicle each, it comes to N170 million. Besides, the former governor and former deputy are to enjoy domestic staff including drivers and security at the expense of the state government. With at least seven domestic staff for the former governor and five for the former deputy governor, Former governors of Lagos State who served out two terms are also entitled to a building in Abuja and one in Lagos. At a conservative figure of N300 million each, building the houses for the two former governors of Lagos State would further cost N1.2 billion bringing the total expenditure on former governors of Lagos to an estimated N1.606 billion besides the expenses on domestic staff, security personnel among others.
ABIA
Two former governors of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Senator Theodore Orji are beneficiaries of the Abia State Governors’/Deputy Governors’ Pension Law. The former governors are entitled to 100% of the salary of the incumbent which for the two men would mean sharing N4.44 million every year and N17.76 million over four years. The official vehicle earmarked at N20 million each could bring the expenditure on the two former governors of the state over four years to N57.76 million Former deputy governors of the state are also entitled to 100 per cent of the salary of the incumbent deputy governor. Besides the pension , the Pension Law for former governors and deputy governors of the state also provides that former governors are entitled to “the sum of money as may from time to time be granted by the State Government by way of Pensions, allowances and privileges in accordance with this Law”. Privileges for the former governor The privileges for the former governor include an official car, a police orderly, two operatives of Department of State Service, two police men for the security of his house. He is also entitled to allowances for cooks, stewards, driver and gardener. On a conservative monthly payment of N30,000 for each, that could bring the total payment on domestic staff to the two former governors over four years to N11.52 million bringing the total expenditure on the two former governors of the state to N69.28 million over four years The Law also made provision for medical attention for the former governors and their deputies. Some privileges are also extended to former deputy governors but lower than what the former governor enjoy. The former deputy governors of Abia State entitled to the allowance are Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chief Eric Acho Nwakanma, who served under Orji Uzor Kalu and Chief Emeka Ananaba, who served with former Governor Orji. Senator Abaribe, however, told Vanguard that he was not collecting any pension from the Abia State government.
OSUN
In Osun State, the law guiding the payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies is cited as the Pension (Governor and Deputy Governor) Law 2001. The law stipulates that former governors and former deputy governors shall be entitled to pension at the rate equivalent to the incumbent office holder. That would entail N2.22 million to the three former governors of the state; namely, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Bisi Akande and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinola. Over four years, the three would have collected N26.64 million.
EDO
Benefits accruable to former governors of Edo State under the Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law 2007 presently amount to 100 per cent of the salary of the incumbent governor for life, an officer not above Salary grade level 12 as Special Assistant, a personal secretary not below grade level 10 who shall be selected by the former governor from the public service of Edo State. Edo State arguably has the highest number of living former civilian governors with Dr. S. O. Ogbemudia, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor and lately, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The amount accruable to them presently stands at N11 million per year and N44 million over four years. The SA and personal secretary earning on the average of N300,000 and N100,000 monthly respectively, makes it that the state would expend N24 million on the aides of the five former governors amounting to N96 million over four years. That would bring the total expenditure on the former governors to N140 million over four years. However, should Governor Godwin Obaseki sign the new pension bill for former governors of Edo State, passed by the House of Assembly last November it would significantly raise the amount being expended on former governors of the state who outnumber former governors elsewhere. That could mean the state providing N200 million each for building a house for each of the former five governors bringing the total expenditure to be expended over four years to N1.14 billion for the former governors alone.
GOMBE
The pension for former governors of Gombe State is guided by the Establishment of Executive Pension Law and other Matters Connected therewith, 2008. The law stipulates that a former governor shall be provided with a Personal Assistant not less than GL 10, two vehicles, to be replaced every four years, two drivers, free medical treatment for the former governor and his immediate family within Nigeria or abroad, 30 days annual vacation outside Nigeria with 30 days estacode with travel expense allowance for himself and wife, a furnished befitting accommodation in any part of the state, one direct telephone line internet facilities. The former governor also goes with N200 million as severance allowance while deputy governors go with N100 milion. With a 30 day vacation for the governor and a wife not costing less than an estimated N10 million, two vehicles at N20 million each, a personal assistant earning N300,000 monthly, two drivers earning N30,000 each Gombe State could spend N54.3 million over four years. With building costing an estimated N200 million and severance of N200 million, a former governor of Gombe could cost the state as much as N454.3 million over four years. With two former governors in the persons of Senator Danjuma Goje and Abubakar Hashidu, Gombe could have coughed out as much as N908.6 million
ZAMFARA
The Grant of Pension to Governor or Deputy Governor (Amendment Law) 2006 is the law guiding the provision of pension and other benefits to former governors of Zamfara State. It provides a pension for life equivalent to the salary of the incumbent, two personal staff, two vehicles replaceable every four years, two drivers, free medical for the former governors and deputies and their immediate families in Nigeria or abroad. The pension for the governor and his personal and domestic staff amount to N10.12 million and over four years could amount to N40.48 million. With the periodic roll over of two vehicles costing N20 million each, expenditure on a former governor of Zamfara State would amount every four years to N80.96 million. State with two former governors in the persons of Senator Sani Yerima who conceived the law while in office in 2006 and his successor, former Governor Mahmud Shinkafi, the state would over four years expend N161.92 million maintaining them besides the open cheque for medical treatment in Nigeria or abroad for the former governor and members of his family.
IMO
There is a subsisting pension law in Imo State, for former governors and their deputies. Currently, the only beneficiaries of this law are the two former civilian governors, Chief Achike Udenwa and Chief Ikedi Ohakim, as well as their deputies, Engr. Ebere Udeagu and Mrs. Ada Okwuonu respectively. Vanguard gathered that none of the four benefitting personalities is currently occupying any public office in the country. The immediate past governor of the state, Chief Ohakim is, however, not a beneficiary, his media aide, Mr. Henry Ekpe told Vanguard. “The present administration has not paid Chief Ohakim a dime as pension, since he left office in 2011. He has not equally been paid his severance allowance up till today,” Mr. Ekpe said.
DELTA
Provision of Pension Rights of the Executive Governor and Deputy of Delta State, 2005 is the law guiding the provision of pension for former governors and deputy governors of Delta State. Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, his deputy, Simon Ebonka, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and his deputy, Chief Benjamin Elue were the initial beneficiaries. As at today, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan and his deputy, Prof Amos Agbe Utuama, SAN have joined the beneficiaries’ lists, following their disengagement from office in 2015 making them the sixth persons on the list until the demise of Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru. The former Governors and their deputies are entitled to one duplex in any city of their choice within Nigeria, One jeep and a backup car replaceable every two years, an office with four staff, two security personnel and a monthly salary among others. With an average monthly salary of N100,000 for each of the four staff, the former governor’s N2.2 million annual salary, and two vehicles at N20 million each and replaceable every two years could bring expenditure on each former governor to N108 million every four years. With two former governors, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, that would bring the official expenditure to N216 million besides the estimated N300 million each provision for building houses for each of the two governors bringing total expenditure to N816 million.
KANO
The law guiding pension rights for former governors of Kano State provides that the former governor and deputy governor should get 100% of the incumbent, a well-equipped office, a six bedroom house and free medical treatment for the former governor and members of his family.
YOBE
The Yobe State version of the law, signed into law in early 2007 by the State House of Assembly under former Governor Ibrahim is entitled Severance Gratuity for Former Governors/Deputy Governors in Yobe, 2007. The law gives former governors pension for life at the salary level of the incumbent governor. The former governor receives N200 million two vehicles replaceable every four years, two drivers, free medicals for himself and his immediate family and a house in the state capital and in Abuja. With salaries of two drivers earmarked at N360,000 per annum each and the former governor’s pension at N2.2 million and vehicles of N20 million each replaceable every four years, the former governor is also entitled to a building in Abuja and the state capital costing an estimated N300 million in Damaturu and N500 million in Abuja. The payments over four years could reach N51.68 million besides the N800 million provided for the building of two houses under the law.
JIGAWA
The pension law in Jigawa State entitled Former Public officers Pension and other Benefits Law No 15 of 2015 stipulates that a governor who successfully completed his term without impeachment should be entitled to a monthly pension equivalent to the current salary of the current governor, two brand new vehicles to be provided by the state government and to be replaced after every four year, six bedroom house fully furnished, two personal assistants not below grade level 10, two drivers selected by the governor and be paid by the state, a fully furnished office in any location of choice of the governor and fully paid medical treatment within Nigeria and abroad. With an annual pension of N2.22 million, salaries of two drivers and two aides at N720,000 and N2.4 million respectively, it would come to N5.34 million and over four years would amount to N21.36 million with the provision of two brand new vehicles would amount to N61.36 million and with the estimated N200 million meant for residential and office accommodation each of the former three governors of Jigawa State would draw an estimated N261.36 million besides the open ended provision for medical coverage amounting to N784.8 million. The Deputy Governor is also to get a monthly pension equivalent to the incumbent’s salary, one assistant not below level eight, one brand new vehicle, four bedrooms flat, an office in a location of his choice. On the same assumption but with provision of a N100 million for office and accommodation and provision of a vehicle every four years, the estimate for a former deputy governor could amount to N136.48 million.
OYO
The Oyo State Pension Law 2004, provides that a former Governor and his Deputy are to collect pension as long as they live. The law stipulates that the pension for life will be paid at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of the incumbent Governor or Deputy Governor of the state. The breakdown of the pension and allowances includes furniture Allowance which is put at 300 per cent of the annual basic salary, leave allowance is 10 per cent of annual basic salary, severance allowance will be 300 per cent of the annual basic salary The law further states that “any pension granted under this law shall be a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.” Consolidated revenue fund The three former governors alive Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo would according to the provisions of the law draw a combined benefit of N27.06 and over four years drawN108.24 million. The only former deputy governor alive, Iyiola Oladokun, by the law would also draw the same benefit amounting to N8.65 per year and over a period of four years would draw N34.6 million bringing total expenditure over a four year period to N116.89 million.
NIGER
The pension scheme in Niger State was introduced during the Abdulkadir Kure regime. It provides for the payment of pension to former governors and deputy governors and the provision of two drivers on GL 07, two personal assistants on Grade Level 08, security aides and an SUV renewable every year. The monetary cost of these to the state apart from security aides would amount to N26.5 million per year. That is besides the estimated N200 million it could take to provide a mansion for the former governor. Over a four year period, the cost on the state on each former governor would be N106.16 million and with the building it would amount to N300.16 million. The third civilian governor of the state, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure has just died. With two living former governors, Alhaji Awal Ibrahim, the emir of Suleja and with the immediate past governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu and two living former deputy governors, the cost on the state would amount to N1.2 billion.
BAUCHI
The provision of pensions for former governors and their deputies in Bauchi State is governed by the “Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Law, 2004.” The law prescribes that a former governor or former deputy governor will enjoy pension for life at a rate equivalent to his last salary when he was in office as Governor or Deputy Governor subject to review by the House of Assembly of Bauchi State. Other provisions of the law for the Governor, states that the Governor is entitled to two official cars with police drivers, two state security service agents, two armed policemen for security of his house and provision of adequate security comprising of at least two policemen for his person during his lifetime at the expense of the state governments. For the Deputy Governor, the law states that he is entitled to an official car with driver, one State Security Service Agent, one armed policeman for the security of his house and provision of adequate security comprising of at least one policemen for his person during his lifetime at the expense of the state governments. Others include allowances for cook, steward, driver and Gardner commensurate to staff on appropriate grade, provision of medical attention for his person during his life time. As at the last count, there are three civilian governors and their deputies in Bauchi State who are beneficiaries of the pension law . They include Ahmed Mu’azu, (1999-2007), Isa Yuguda, (2007-2015) and the incumbent Governor Mohammed Abubakar (2015- till date) while the Deputy Governors include Abdulmalik Mamud ( 1999-2007) and Babayo Gamawa (2009-2011), First Tenure) and Aminu Saleh(2011-2015, Second tenure) and Engr.Nuhu Giddao, incumbent Deputy Governor(2015-till date). However only one Deputy Governor Garba Gadi(2007-2009) during Isa Yuguda is not a beneficiary of the law because he was impeached during his first tenure in office. Findings from Bauchi State Ministry of Justice revealed that former Civilian Governors are paid the sum of N1.201,634.28 billion while former Deputy governors are paid the sum of N1,131,345.96 billion per annum. With two former governors and three former deputy governors, the yearly expenditure on the former governors and deputy governors would amount to N5.795 billion and over four years would amount to N23.18 billion.
BAYELSA
The pension benefits for former governors and deputy governors of Bayelsa State entitled Bayelsa State Pensions for Governors and Deputy Governors Law, 2003 came vide a private member’s bill sponsored by Chief Robert Enogha in 2003. It stipulates among others that “any indigene of Bayelsa State who has office as a Governor or Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State or Rivers State shall be entitled to pension for life on the basis of the annual salary of the incumbent Governor or Deputy of Bayelsa State. The pension, which means annual salary attached to the office held by the Governor or Deputy Governor consists of annual terminal basic salary, annual transport allowance, annual utility allowance, annual entertainment allowance as well as annual salary of entitled domestic staff of not more than four officers on consolidated salaries occupying pensionable posts. With four domestic staff earning a minimum of N30,000 each monthly and the governor’s pension of N2.22 million each former governor of Bayelsa State would draw a minimum of N3.66 million besides other entitlements of vehicles, personal aides, medicals and other not explicitly stated in the law. A former deputy governor would also draw N3.55 million besides the unstated entitlements. Former Governors Goodluck Jonathan and Timipre Sylva would under the provisions draw N7.32 million and in four years draw N29.28 million.
KATSINA
The provision of pension for former governors and deputy governors of Katsina State is presently guided by the Pension Law, 2011 as amended. The law provides pension for all former governors of the state including those from Katsina State who served in the Old Kaduna State. The Pension Law, 2011 now covers all living former governors from the state namely: Alhaji Sa’idu Barda, Alhaji Lawal Kaita and Alhaji Abba Musa Rimi and Alhaji Ibrahim Shema who are to enjoy free houses and medical services under the new pension law 2011. With four living former governors each receiving pension benefit of N2.22 million besides other entitlements including vehicles, aides and vehicles, a verified cost of N8.88 million per year on the former governors and a cost of N35.52 million over four years would be charged to the state. The charge on the state account for the three living former deputy governors would also amount to N25.32 bringing the total for both set of former officers to N60.84 million.
ONDO
The guideline for pensions for former governors and deputy governors of Ondo State is found in the law, Grant of Pensions to the Governor, Deputy Governor or Ondo State and for other Ancillary Matters, 2004. Only one former governor of the state, Chief Bamidele Olumilua is alive while two former deputy governors are alive. The pension provision for them states thus: “Any person who has held the office of governor or deputy of the state shall be entitled to the payment of pension for life “Any person who has held office as the governor or deputy governor shall be entitled to pension for life at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of an incumbent governor or deputy governor. Olumilua, the only former governor is from the Ekiti side of the old Ondo State while one of the former deputy governors was impeached making him ineligible. The only beneficiary of the pension scheme is Chief Omolade Oluwateru who served as deputy governor in the Segun Agagu administration between 2003 and 2009. He confirmed to Vanguard that he receives the pension which is estimated as the salary of the incumbent which is N2.11 million per annum and nothing else. In four years, he would receive N8.44 million.
BORNO
The Borno State Severance Allowance Law, 2011 guides the provision of pension for former governors of the state. The law provides that governors should be entitled to a bulk payment of N400 million, two vehicles, two stewards, a befitting house in any location of his choice and two holidays outside the country. With the house estimated at N300 million, an annual vacation of N10 million every six months, the entitlement of a former governor within the first four years could amount to N764.94 Anambra Former governors and their deputies from Anambra State are enjoying pensions as provided in the State Governors Pensions Law, 2009. The law provides for life pension for a person who held office as Governor in accordance with the law, at a rate equivalent to his last salary in office subject to review from time to time by the incumbent Governor on the advice of the state Accountant General. It also provides for an official car, two personal aides and provision of adequate security for his person during his lifetime at the expense of the state government. Other provisions include allowances for cook, steward, driver and gardener to be determined from time to time by the incumbent Governor on the advice of the Head of Service and medical attention for his person, subject to the approval of the incumbent Governor. For a former governor the financial commitments besides medicals and security would run up to N48.96 million while for a deputy governor, it would be N48.52 million. With three former governors eligible and two former deputies, the provision over four years would amount to N243.92 million.
EBONYI
Provision of pensions to former governors of Ebonyi State are governed by the Ebonyi State Political Office Holders Amendment Law 2011 under which two former governors, Dr. Sam Egwu and Chief Martin Elechi respectively get N467, 000 and N593, 205. 95 respectively per month. The financial provisions are besides vehicles and personal aides that are provided for them. A former governor from the state, Dr. Ogbonnonya Onu is presently excluded because of the amendment of the law in 2011 which specified that provision was meant only for former civilian governors of Ebonyi State. Onu served as governor of the old Abia State of which a section of Ebonyi was part of.
Godwin Etakibuebu; a veteran Journalist, wrote from Lagos.
Godwin Etakibuebu; a veteran Journalist, wrote from Lagos.
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You can also listen to this author [Godwin Etakibuebu] every Monday; 9:30 – 11am on Lagos Talk 91.3 FM live, in a weekly review of topical issues, presented by The News Guru [TNG].
And the ship sank might have as well came as a bad dream. It could also be real that the Ship actually sank. Or, in another flowing of thought, the ship might be going towards the direction of wreck. Whichever way it happens, I will wished it as a bad dream that vanished away immediately l opened my eyes from that troubled sleep.
Let all Nigerians pray fervently and committedly that the Nigerian-State-Ship never sinks. But isn’t that the way it is sailing? The ship is going full ablast [navigational language] with a Captain on board, except that the Captain is deep asleep at the Captain’s Deck. Danger looms so high within the navigational route of this vessel. I pray that this Ship is not the Nigerian Nation.
Tomorrow, Monday, December 7, 2020, might be opening a window of opportunity for us to interpret this dream of a sank ship, at Lagos Talks 91.3 FM, when The Guru comes on air, as from 0930 – 1100 hours, live, in the usual intellectually driven review of topical issues. You shall be doing better for yourselves by getting hooked to the dial of Lagos Talks 91.3 FM, as no other Radio Station does it closer; not to talk of better, than us. Trust me on this ‘holy and righteous’ verdict. Let us preview a few teasers.
“HOW WE WERE SHOT AT LEKKI TOLLGATE – #ENDSARS PROTEST VICTIMS”, was how the Punch Newspaper reported the mysterious appearance of some people at the venue of the Panel in Lagos, on Friday, December 4, 2020. It must have been one terrible blow to the Panel members particularly and Lagos State Authority generally, because the unwanted guests came least expected. And to the Nigerian Army, except for the deaden thick skin of these gentlemen of the bullets’ kingdom, it ought to be one nasty shock of what the Mafia calls “thunderbolt”
Asked how he was sure that his brother died from gunshot by soldiers, Solomon said, “Because some boys that he was with told us that he had been shot, so we rushed there and picked up his corpse. “I didn’t know when my brother left home for the tollgate. He never told me he was going there. He was living with me here in Lekki, at Marwa. “Some boys called me. By then, my phone battery was flat, the phone had gone off. They called one of our brothers and told him that Abouta had been killed. So, we went there, found him on the grass, picked up his corpse and we went to St Paul’s Mortuary at Oyingbo. “His corpse was at the Lekki tollgate. There were protesters around at the time. He was laid on the grass that was growing on the road divider in the middle of the road. “That night when we took my brother’s corpse, we saw other people who had been shot, about four of them, on the ground. They were all dead.” Solomon said the remains of his brother had since been taken to Adamawa and buried.
Nathaniel Solomon was one of those 15 persons [he was without injury] with injuries that stormed the Lagos Court of Arbitration in Lekki, the hearing venue of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, probing the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers on the night of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at the Lekki tollgate. Some of the injured persons, who were brought to the LCA in a white bus, had plaster of Paris cast on their legs and arms and bandages wrapped on their heads and chests. They claimed they were victims of the alleged tollgate shootings by soldiers at the tollgate. Nathaniel Solomon was not one of those injured, because he was not at the scene, but he was there early, at the aftermath of the shooting, to pick the body of his dead brother before the remaining bodies, allegedly vanished into oblivion.
You may want to listen to his story, compare it to what you probably heard from the “professionals” before coming to a saner conclusion. I want you to hear me well, loud and clear please. I am not saying what this man – Nathaniel Solomon, is saying is near the truth of the matter, if what l heard from the Chief of Army Staff today is correct. Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai had said it very clear today that “nobody died at Lekki, those who saw corpses have eye problem”. I wouldn’t want the Three-Star-General to take me away for eye test as such I am listening to him. Let us meet tomorrow, by the grace of God.
What about this?
“Nowhere is safe under Buhari, Sultan-led JNI laments”, many Newspapers reported this while Thisday Newspaper exclusively reported that “Again, Northern Elders Tell Buhari to Resign”. It is becoming clearer now that the most hash judgment against Muhammadu Buhari and his clueless government is now from the HOME FRONT, but does this tell our President, who looks like sleeping on duty, anything? I can see the larger Nigerians as sitting down and looking, in the words of late Bola Ige.
Then this one, please: LASTMA boss returns N52, 000 extorted from motorist – reported by the The Nation Newspaper. Have any one of us heard this good news about LASTMA before? It is for this reason that l am begging the General Manager of the Authority – Mr Olajide Oduyoye, to come back to the studio with me tomorrow, to tell Lagosian more about this born-again LASTMA, and he obliged me to do so. We shall therefore – Ladies and Gentlemen, be making some pleasant noise as we welcome the GM of LASTMA tomorrow!
There are more things we shall be discussing tomorrow without dropping your Historical Perspective and the gold-valued Knowledge Dropbox. Tomorrow is another Collector’s Copy.
Last word however is for all to visit my website: www.godwintheguru.com as it is always loaded for our delight. For example, l told you last week about the horrible situations of 21 States because of what their past Governors and Deputies did unto them. These unfortunate 21 States’ story is being uploaded this night unto my website. So, why can’t you go there to read or download – all for free, to your satisfaction?
Godwin Etakibuebu [The Guru].
As tomorrow, Monday, November 23, 2020 comes, albeit at the studio of Lagos Talks 91.3 FM, from 0930 – 1100 hours, when Sadiq & The Guru come on air, for review of topical issues, I must confess that I have too many overloaded burdens in my heart. And you know what? Over Eighty percent of these burdens are about our Country [or shall l call it a Country?] Nigeria.
What are the burdens all about? It is about a country that began a gradual but steady journey into the abyss of extermination but has finally taken a final terrific descent into the fearful abyss of no return. Worse still is the fact that the descent is made; more helped, encouraged and sustained, by leadership’s conspiracy in wickedness.
Suddenly, and for the perfidious path chosen by those we elected to accomplished, a new role-game of democracy was invented, at least to take Nigeria out – into a doomsday. We have been told all the time that what we practiced was democracy. Or are we still practicing it? And if that name is to be redefined along the interpretation of those who started it in Ancient Greece, we shall be coming to the same venue of accepting what it stands for – or should be standing for. “Democracy”, as defined from origin, and still being accepted, “is government of the People by the People and for the People”.
Of recent, Nigerian “democratic” leaders changed the name, ditto interpretation, of the system without telling us the replacement. However, through dynamics of some happening, we started feeling a new system, which now gives us the audacity of venturing interpretation of where we are.
One, integrity suddenly vanished away from the political geographical terrain of Nigeria. Ditto the lives of those saddled with political leadership. We are now being led by people without character, principle and integrity.
Two, in places of the three words mentioned above is now the metamorphoses of total deceit and absolute lying, which have taken over the character of every man, ditto woman, operating in all the three tiers of the Nigerian governments – Federal, States and Local Governments. Leaders at these three levels will never, and shall never, tell you a single truth – even it it looks like any “accidental discharge”. It looks as if all of them took oath of secrecy to say nothing but lies in one hidden room of darkness before they come to the Chambers of Swearing-in-Ceremonies.
In the past, we knew those who went to swear oath of allegiance to some godfathers at Okija shrine in Anambra State before venturing into Government Houses for what looked like the “proper” swearing-in ceremonies.
Or have we forgotten in hurry those that would go before some shrines in Ogun State, wearing some typically “juju dresses” of white materials, with their upper bodies not covered by any dress, standing obediently before a smiling governor – the Oracle, who administered oath of allegiance on those to be appointed into offices?
That Nigeria has not changed. Instead, the Nigeria of the current has taken the game of mystification of governance’s operation and moved it to the level of demonically administering oath of allegiance on people that must “drive the vehicles of governance in Nigeria”.
Permit me to tell us one story before going on previewing what is happening tomorrow in the The Guru’s world, at the studio of Lagos Talks 91.3 FM. And this happened a few years back in Ibadan. I was not at the scene when this interrogation took place in Ibadan but a very dependable and reliable politician friend of mine told me the details because he was the one conducting the interview.
A very senior godfather politician from Lagos took one of his stooges to this senior Garrison Commander of the South-West political Zone [as things were then], for support as the young man being introduced believe he could be a governor of one of the States “around here” because the young man was “overloaded” with money. Listen to the three questions the older politician asked the young incoming politicians.
One: Do you have very deep source of money for this journey you want to embark upon? Of course, you should guess what his answer ought to have been, and that was the answer he gave to the “learned senior colleague”
Two: Do you have the capacities to tell formidable lies and stand by them until the end of this age? The younger man blundered a little in answering that question, but his blunder was not too much to take the expected throne away from him.
And the third question came like a thunderbolt – the younger politician never prepared for it and this unpreparedness caused him something. Listen to the question please.
Third: Can you kill and will you be willing to kill someone that never offended you and keep your innocence to the end of this age?
This encounter between the one l called old politician and the younger politician has become the order of the day for most Nigerians politicians of the today. And it is for this reason that they told lies pathologically. Lying has become part of them, and worse still, is that they have brought it as a décor of governance. They are terrible liars – all over!
If you are in doubt go back to the books – written already, commencing from Tuesday, October 8, 2020, when #EndSARS protest started, and follow the books till that Magnificent Black Tuesday, October 20, 2020, when Nigerians Youths were murdered at the Lekki Tollgate Plaza. What have the stories been; from governments’ narration, if not lies? And until the tenure of the present government shall burn out like a burning candle, it shall be a continuation of lying without any truth.
That’s just the Nigeria’s reinvented way of governance. The way its cookie crumbles!
Let us preview a few of the events that are coming our ways tomorrow and by the grace of God; we shall be meeting lots of lies because this is the new legacy of governance.
Why not starting with this very one? “INVESTIGATION: Authority Stealing: How Fashola’s ministry illegally paid ₦4.6BN into officials’ personal accounts”, so reported the Premium Times. One question you cannot run away from asking, by the time you read through this beautiful piece of investigative journalism, would be – has corruption not killed Nigeria, even under President Buhari?
“End SARS: 100 civilians, policemen, soldiers died – Nigeria finally gives official figure.” Thank God that at the very end, the Nigerian Government admitted that some people, which might be including Youths, died.
Again, the same Nigerian Army that opened its defense of the Lekki Tollgate shooting, by saying that they [Nigerian Army] were never “there at the Tollgate, and later admitted of “being there but only with blank bullets” have now admitted, just this last Saturday, November 22, 2020, that they went there with “both live and blank bullets”. The lies are being downgraded in the very format of Lai Mohammed’s way, but never come to the conclusion that they will ever tell the world the whole truth about their hands-soaked-blood of our Youths.
There are more to be heard tomorrow before l will bring in my Guest who shall be telling us about what the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, and the Nigerian Mineral Resources Act say about Gold and other Mineral Resources. He is a very Resourceful Lawyer of repute, and his name is Barrister Otega Kafohro Esq – in fact, he did his Master Degree in Law, partly on this Mineral Resources dicussion.
Join us tomorrow as we shall be looking at what makes the Mineral Resources in Zamfara State different from the Mineral Resources in Akwa Ibom State. Your Historical Perspective; which shall be reminding Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State a story, and the inestimable Knowledge Dropbox are well accommodated.
Let me tell all listeners to Sadiq & The Guru why it is necessary and beneficial visiting my website: www.godwintheguru.com regularly [everything there is FREE]. One of the benefits is that this big fraudulent story on payment to individual officials in Raji Fashola Ministry is being uploaded into the website this night and that makes it easier for you to be involved in the discussion tomorrow.
Godwin Etakibuebu [The Guru].