The Presidential Diary: Pointing the way to Impartial Delivery of Justice

FOCUS

House of Representatives

ABUBAKAR MALAMI

Pointing the way to impartial delivery of Justice The

Presidential Diary 02

FOCUS

Pointing the way to impartial delivery of Justice

By Chidi Okereke

I

t is a universally acknowledged fact

that generally agreed that justice

delayed is justice denied.

One of the biggest drawbacks to national

development in the opinion of many Nigerians including jurists and even officials of government is the slow dispensation of justice. Oftentimes, the course of justice is subverted by either connivance or lassitude of officials in the temple of justice or

Services (DSS), last year.

Buhari's former political party, has worked

outmoded laws, which impede effective and

hard to help actualize the change agenda of

Responding to protests over the incident,

speedy delivery of justice.

the Buhari administration particularly as it

Malami noted: “Once crimes and criminality

In the past officials of government made half-

relates to the fight against corruption and

are concerned, nobody is an exception. I think the undertone should be exclusively the

hearted attempts at tackling this onerous

ancillary offences, and impartial

challenge, it wasn't until the arrival of

dispensation of justice.

consideration of the existence of a prima

Abubakar Malami, Nigeria's current Attorney

It is for this reason that he has championed

facie case; existence of reasonable grounds

General and Minister of Justice that the

the overhaul of the nation's justice system,

for suspicion of commission of a crime.”

challenge started received the full attention

which has seen the government he

He added that the action against the judges

of government.

represents, move against corrupt judges and

will also be extended to members of the

Malami, a lawyer and politician, has at every

lawyers believed to pose a danger to

executive and legislature if there exist

opportunity spoken about the need to align

Nigeria's social and economic well-being

sufficient evidence to do so.

Nigerian laws to the needs of contemporary

through shady practices.

times.

For Malami, before the law, there should be

“The bottom line is that we have a

As a member of President Muhammadu

no sacred cows, a reason he stoutly

responsibility to fight corruption. Corruption

Buhari's cabinet, Malami, who was once the

defended the raiding of homes of senior

is a crime and nobody, regardless of how

National Legal Adviser to the Congress for

judges and their subsequent arrest by

highly placed,” he said.

Progressives Change (CPC), President

operatives of the Department of State

“So, I think the framework and the circumstances within which we are operating are clearly whether there exists the right to investigate or not, and whether the action borders on criminality,” he said.

Another critical reform being championed by Malami is the prison reforms and decongestion.

Malami, who in September mooted the idea while addressing officials of his ministry said a prison intervention programme will enunciate strategies to address the problem of increasing number of awaiting trial persons in the prisons nationwide, adding that it will further consider the general state of the Nigerian prisons and the condition of the inmates.

Malami receives a plaque from EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu The

Presidential Diary 02

PERSONALITY

Sir Mike Okiro Chairman, Police Service Commission

The

Presidential Diary 116

FOCUS

The record speaks volume 1976 Bachelor of Arts Degree in English

Medal and numerous chieftaincy titles from

By Onche Odeh

graduate from the University of Ibadan, Oyo

various Communities and traditional rulers

Mr. Mike Mbama Okiro's deft initiatives have

State went through a perfect academic path

across the Geo Political divide of the Country

put Police Service Commission on high. The name, Dr. Mike Mbama Okiro is one that

way that may have prepared him for his

and globally.

current job as Chairman, Police Service

Okiro is a man with vast literary acumen as

Commission.

he has authored five books of different genre

Nigerians would remember for a long time.

From University of Ibadan, he proceeded to

in spite of the herculean task associated with

For criminals and their allies, the mere

the University of Lagos where he obtained a

his chosen career. These include Peace and

mention of his name reverberates, causing

Master's Degree in Public Administration. He

the Nation, Surviving the cities, the Legal

also holds a Bachelor of Law and Master of

implications of the mismanagement of Public

them to always adjust their comportment.

Law Degrees from the University of Jos,

Fund in Nigeria, Policing Nigeria in a

As Commissioner of Police Lagos and IGP,

Plateau State. He also holds Honorary

D e m o c r a c y, O v e r c o m i n g S e c u r i t y

having served as the 13th indigenous

Doctorate Degrees from the Federal

Challenges and Nigeria restructuring

inspector General of Police (IGP) of the

University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State

Controversy. He uses his professional

Federal Republic of Nigeria, Okiro is fondly

and Novena University, Delta State.

experience and national ideals to foster

remembered for his deft and deeply tactical

The Alumus of the Prestigious National

security and propagate patriotism in Nigeria

approach to crime fighting. Soon after his

Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies

as could be seen in his books.

assumption of office as the Inspector

(NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State has so many

It is on record that Okiro is the first Christian

General of Police, Okiro hit the ground

salient achievements to his credit as the

of Catholic Denomination to be appointed

running. In tandem with the Ministry of Police

Inspector General of Police. He is the

the Inspector General of Police, of the

Affairs and the Police Service Commission,

proponent of the registration of all sim cards

Federal Republic of Nigeria, the first NYSC

Okiro worked tirelessly to reposition the

in the country in order to have a record of

graduate to be appointed as IGP and the first

Nigeria Police to entrench Quality Training,

e v e r y u s e r, i n i t i a t i v e t h e a m n e s t y

retired Inspector General of Police to be

Behavioral and Attitudinal Change,

programme for the then restive Niger Delta

appointed Chairman, Police Service

Community Policing and Service Delivery as

Militants, introduced the Anti-Terrorist

Commission.

the norm.

Squad, introduced the Police housing

He retired on the 24th July, 2009 from the

He was known to have worked to

scheme and approved the increment of the

Nigeria Police Force meritoriously, having

significantly improve the welfare and morale

Police Mobile Force (PMF) from 45 to 58

attained the mandatory retirement age of 60

of officers and men, by enhancing their

Squadrons. The Police marathon race and

years.

salary package and improve logistics. One of

the IGP football competition were some of

such initiative is the establishment of owner-

his creations in sport in the Police IGP.

occupier houses. His belief for transparency

These and many other achievements have

and feedback led him to approve the creation

earned his many honors with numerous

of the Dawn' Newspaper as a channel of

awards and titles. Some of these are the

communication and tool of bridging the

conferment of the Commander of the Order

Police-Public divide.

of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR) on

Born on 24th July 1949 in Oguta, Imo State,

him by the late President Umar Musa

t h e

Yar'Adua in addition to a commendation

o f

E g b e m a

i n

Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government

letter.

Area of Rivers State and the Agunecheba 1

He is a knight of the Order of St. John of

of Egbema is a man of astute pedigree. The

Jerusalem and recipient of the Nigeria Police

Presidential Diary 117

The

n a t i v e

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Magbojuri poised to take NAFDAC to new heights

By Uche Okereke The Na onal Agency for Food and Drugs Administra on and Control (NAFDAC), is an ins tu on cri cal to the well-being of Nigerians and in realisa on of this fact, successive governments at the federal level, have been

The

Presidential Diary 118

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The

Presidential Diary 119

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The UBE Commission The UBE Commission (UBEC) is Federal Governments Agency saddled with the responsibility for coordinating all aspects of UBE programme implementation.

Vision of the UBE Commission To be a world-class education intervention and regulatory agency for the promotion of uniform, qualitative and functional basic education in Nigeria.

Mission of the UBE Commission To operate as an intervention, coordinating and monitoring Agency to progressively improve the capacity of States, Local Government Agencies and Communities in the provision of unfettered access to high quality basic education in Nigeria.

Core Values of the UBE Commission · Honesty and Accountability · Integrity and Transparency · Team Work and Commitment UBE programmes are implemented through close collaborative partnerships between UBEC and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) and Basic Education stakeholders at all levels. UBEC is delighted to be at the forefront of this significant national intervention and welcomes the full involvement of all individuals, corporate entities, civil societies and community groups in the drive to achieve Education for All (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

UBE programme activities have led to:

T

r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e development. This has beenhas a quantum of funds being educational terrain as it achieved through judicious use ofpumped in by Federal and State affects basic education in FGN-UBE intervention funds.Governments. the area of school infrastructural For the first time Basic Education· Improved infrastructural The

Presidential Diary 120

FOCUS developments led to increased access to basic education. · Teacher Professional Development being accorded priority attention as a percentage of the intervention fund goes directly to inservice training of teachers in all States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). · Education of the girl-child and other disadvantaged groups being given greater attention than ever before. · Effective monitoring of UBE implementation to ensure quality The Commission tracks utilization of UBE Intervention and States Counterpart Funds based on the level of utilization. During the period 2005 - 2009 the following have been provided through

the utilization of the UBE Intervention and Counterpart Funds in 36 States and FCT. 1. Infrastructural Development (a). Construction of new classrooms - 41,009 b. Renovations (classrooms) 59,444 c. Provision of furniture (Pupils and Teachers) - 1,139,196 sets d. Construction of toilets 14,769 e. Sinking of boreholes - 996 2. Provision of Instructional/Play Materials 77,570,540 3. Teacher professional development - 1,493,352 teachers trained 4. Provision of Primaries 4 & 5 Textbooks in Mathematics, English Language and ActivityBased Science - 16,356,812 5. Assorted Library Resource Materials for JSS - 1,710,091

6. Deliverables from Special Education (Physically Challenged Children Fund) a. Number of Schools/Centres that have benefitted - 368 b. Enrolment - 20,639 c. Classrooms - 710 d. Resource Rooms - 344 e. Boreholes/hand pumps 36 f. Toilets/bathrooms - 263 g. Furniture (pupils) - 3,616 sets h. Furniture (teachers) - 1,259 sets i. Beddings - 2,266 j. Instructional Materials 75,255 k. Equipment (Computers, Wheelchairs, Braille machines, TV sets, radio sets, etc) - 14,641 l. Teachers trained - 6,247

OTHER KEY INTERVENTIONS OF THE UBE PROGRAMME not only of the government but that of the communities through Parents Teachers Association (PTAs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs). The Self-Help strategy has proved to be very rewarding in providing requisite infrastructure and services within the school environment as well as galvanizing popular community support and involvement in UBE delivery.

Importantly, the strategy has

instituted transparency and accountability in resource management, paved way for community ownership of UBE programme and increased the opportunities for increasing access, quality and equity in UBE delivery.

Additionally, the strategy has several deliverables in key infrastructural components and other facilities that are essential to quality UBE delivery.

Presidential Diary 121

The

U

BE Community Initiated Self Help P r o j e c t s The Self-Help Project of the UBE Programme is designed as a strategy to involve the community and private sector participation in basic education delivery through the initiation, execution, administration and ownership of designated school p r o j e c t s .

Basic education funding, administration and implementation is gradually becoming the responsibility

FOCUS

S/NO

2005 Project Type

2006

2007

TOTAL

2008

(4,407 (7,532 (6,434 (4,225 22,598 schools) schools) schools) schools) schools)

1

Construction of 3,111 new classrooms

8,673

3,618

3,380

18,782

2

Renovation of classrooms

6,840

34,784 4,572

50,189

3

Teachers’/Pupils 60,098 126,150 127,200 94,800 408,248 Furniture (sets)

4

Boreholes

79

120

87

55

341

5

Electricity

164

578

40

13

795

6

VIP Toilets

714

543

179

1,436

* With effect from 2008, the Self-Help Support Fund was increased from N 0 . 6 m t o N 1 . 0 m p e r School/Community.

Federal Teachers' Scheme (FTS) The Federal Government of Nigeria introduced the Federal Teachers' Scheme (FTS) in 2006 with the aim of addressing shortage of qualified teachers in the basic education subsector. The scheme which is being financed through the Debt Relief Gains (DRG) is a two-year programme designed to cater for unemployed NCE graduates.

Under the scheme, NCE graduates are employed by the Federal Government and posted to States for a two-year period before formal

absorption by states and LGEAs. The first batch of 40,000 participants completed the service in October 2008. UBEC enlisted 34,000 fresh participants in January 2009 while States have absorbed 27,000 products of the first batch into their work force.

c

o

u

n

t

r

y

;

Development, production and distribution of training manuals to provide the knowledge and skills required to plan, design, organize and evaluate training programmes for all those that are concerned with the implementation of the 9-year basic education curriculum;

Inter-Agency Cooperation In recognition of the multi-sectoral and cross-cutting nature of UBE programme implementation, UBEC pursues and implements critical subsector related programmes in collaboration with other agencies with distinct responsibilities within the Federal Ministry of Education. In this regard, the following are some of the achievements recorded:

Collaborations with International Development Partners The Universal Basic Education Commission is mandated by Section II 9 (i&j) of the UBE Act 2004 to facilitate and ensure smooth collaboration with International Development Partners (IDPs) and Non-Governmental Organizations to boost basic education delivery in Nigeria. In keeping with this mandate, UBEC has attracted financial and technical supports from IDPs prominent among which are:

Production and distribution of the new 9-year Basic Education Curriculum to all public primary and junior secondary schools across the

Presidential Diary 122

The

* A total of 3,752 projects from 2009 Support Funds are currently being executed in the 36 States and FCT.

3,993

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Strengthening of Mathematics and Science (SMASE) in Niger, Plateau and Kaduna States (2006 - date) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Project for the Construction of Additional Classrooms Phase II in Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Adamawa, Gombe, Ebonyi and Borno where Kano is now on board as a pilot State.

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) which supports basic education in the area of classrooms construction in Kogi, Katsina, Gombe and Adamawa States. The projects in Katsina and Kogi were completed and handedover on July 30th 2010 while those in Gombe and Adamawa States are b e i n g i m p l e m e n t e d .

China Assisted Four Rural Primary Schools in Nigeria whose intervention is in Kaduna, Katsina & O g u n S t a t e s a n d F C T. The World Bank, UNICEF and USAID are supporting States to Fast-track the achievement of EFA goals through support funds under t h e E F A - F T I f u n d s .

Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) is supporting Institutional capacity building of UBEC and SUBEB ofďŹ cials in educational planning s t r a t e g y .

British Council is currently working

UBEC has undertaken programmes and activities aimed at tackling challenges associated with the girlchild and the almajarai phenomenon. Recently, the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) set up a Ministerial Committee on Madrasah Education to advise government on steps to be taken towards addressing the Almajirai challenge.

The Committee has since submitted its report which is currently being studied by the FME. It is expected that UBEC, together with sister agencies will partner with the FME to implement recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on Madrasah E d u c a t i o n .

Curriculum Improvement The following have been achieved in the area of curriculum improvement: 1 Setting up National Early Child Care minimum standards for ECCE C e n t e r s

The UBE Commission has been and will continue to remain at the forefront of the renewed drive for building a new Nigeria through the provision of quality basic education programmes. Challenges such as low level of budgetary allocation to basic education at State and Local Government levels not withstanding, the UBE Commission has evolved as a credible partner with all other sectors of the Nigerian economy in line with our mantra that "Education for All is the Responsibility of All". On this great occasion of the celebration of Nigeria's golden jubilee, UBEC is proud to identify with the unique Nigerian spirit and hereby reafďŹ rms its determination to remain consistent in equipping Nigeria's posterity with functional literacy and n u m e r a c y .

2 Approval of the Integrated Early Childhood Curriculum for 3-5 Years by the National Council on Education (NCE) for pre-school child growth and early stimulation 3 Production and distribution of the nine-year Basic Education Curriculum materials to all Public Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in the 36 States and FCT 4 Introduction of the 9-year basic education curricula into schools for step-wise implementation beginning from 2008/2009 academic year in Primary 1 and JSS 1 5 Training 40 Master-Trainers in each of the 36 States and FCT on the philosophy and content of the basic education curricula in August 2008.

The State level training by MasterTrainers has also been conducted.

UBEC believes that through these and other efforts, Nigeria is on the steady path towards achieving its Vision 20-2020 aspirations.

Programmes aimed at addressing the problem of Out-of-school Children In line with Governments desire and global agitation for the provision of enhanced opportunities for the education of out-of-school children,

Presidential Diary 123

The

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Project for the Construction of Additional Classrooms Phase I in Niger, Plateau and Kaduna States (2004 2 0 0 8 ) .

on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UBEC and the States to provide technical capacity for English Language teachers in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, FCT Abuja, Rivers, Oyo, Sokoto, Adamawa and Yobe States. Under this programme, 1,000 primary school teachers of English Language will be trained by March 2011 and another 1,800 by October 2011.

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE The Editorial Board of The Presidential Diary magazine felicitates with our beloved Editorial Adviser/Initiator of Presidential Diary Magazine, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh for adding another year to your glorious age.

Dr. Abubakar Jimoh Director, Special Duties NAFDAC We congratulate you on your numerous achievements as a consummate Public Relations Practitioner, Seasoned Journalist and Administrator.

Through this platform you have created, Sir, we are contributing our quota to the sustainability of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration while hoping that you will continue to lead us with more worthy visions that will propel us to inestimable heights.

We wish you good health, long life and prosperity in your seless service to the nation.

Alhaji Mohammed Tukur Chairman, Editorial Board On behalf of Board and Members The Presidential Diary magazine The

Presidential Diary 124

PERSPECTIVE in some instances, expansive projects one

Ambode: A Quiet But Virtuoso

after another, it was as if the state had been waiting for him all along with bated breath.

Both Ambode and Lagos were made for each other, after all. He has not yet forsworn his self-effacement, and is unlikely to, given

Performance I

his quiet and self-confident disposition, yet his achievements have both been recognised and lauded, often very loudly, as if to compensate for his quietude.

n his 27 years as a civil servant in Lagos

for the Lagos State government, through

State, Akinwunmi Ambode was a quiet,

which he rose to be a consummate civil

solid achiever of immense gifts and

servant and adept financial manager,

quiet detachment; but in the case of

remarkable ethos. With a bachelor's and

Ambode had become governor in

Ambode, his achievements have illustrated

master's in Accounting, he was focused

extraordinary circumstances. He was

his sometimes impalpable charisma. And as

early enough to start his working career from

indisputably sound as an auditor and

every analyst knows, it is indeed possible to

the modest position of Assistant Treasurer,

accountant, even a chartered accountant,

possess charisma without a corresponding

Badagry Local Government in 1988.

but not many, including perhaps some who

or even ethical demonstration of progress.

voted for him in 2015 on trust, were

Ambode defies stereotypes and confounds

Nearly three decades later, and after a number of courses within and outside the

Charisma is not usually associated with

absolutely convinced that the seemingly

propositions by his relentless and ironically

quiet and unpretentious financial expert and

charismatic accomplishments.

country, the brilliant and hard working civil

latter-day politician could muster the elan

servant had risen to the positions of a

and charisma to lead the boisterous coastal

permanent secretary and accountant-

state soon to mark its fifty years of founding.

Ambode's monumental projects is the

Far beyond the number and quality of

general, even holding both positions at a

Ambode had come highly recommended by

scientism of his methods, the integrated

time. His accomplishments were staggering;

a past governor, the pacesetting iconoclast,

network of projects and programmes that

but what was even more astonishing was the

Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And having excelled in

blend with one another and create a

quiet manner he rose through the ranks and

school, he had acquired the character of

seamless, impactful whole. Whether road

left a lasting impact.

showing grit, determination and uncommon

projects or school and health facilities, or

It was, therefore, not surprising that less

brilliance. But he did not seem a natural

whether security or human development

than three years after he voluntarily retired

politician, not to talk of being a lawyer and

programmes, Ambode's strides in two years

from the civil service, and with the same

career rabble-rouser — these were the sort

possess at once a certain abstractness and

quiet dignity and self-effacement that have

of people believed capable of succeeding as

concreteness. Abstractness because many

become his hallmarks, Ambode, 53, was

administrators and politicians. Ambode was

of the projects seem enviably and

back in government, this time at the highest

different, confidently and quietly so.

reassuringly futuristic; and concreteness because they are of practical and immediate

level in Lagos State as its third Fourth Republic elected governor. It is not certain,

But he was not the usual politician

use as tools for revving up development and

despite his hard work and accomplishments,

Lagosians had grown accustomed to over

raising living standards.

whether he thought that amazing political

the decades. Indeed, shortly after he was

trajectory possible. It is not even clear,

sworn into office, the most populous state in

It would be flattering to suggest that Lagos

though he has great mentors, whether a

Nigeria seemed to experience some stasis,

has a perfect cabinet. It probably doesn't.

year before he assumed office as governor,

unable to respond to the new governor's

However, given the achievements recorded

anyone thought to make a political gladiator

novel methods.

in the past two years, and the peace and cooperation abiding in the cabinet, they are

of the self-effacing financial and

Thirty years after he first signed up to work

But less than two remarkable and

a reflection of the cerebral quality of the

astounding years later, after Ambode had

governor and his leadership skills as well as an indication that he has a critical mass of

executed dozens and dozens of quality and,

commissioners and heads of agencies to

Presidential Diary 125

The

administrative manager.

PERSPECTIVE

“A Quiet But Virtuoso Performance”

Under Ambode, Lagos is permanently in the

help him transform theory into practice.

saddle as the state marks 50, having been

works, aggressively and thoughtfully.

Importantly too, as is the nature of politics

created in May 1967. He is fortunate to have

Sometimes, all it takes is a lay-by of not

generally, the remarkable progress Lagos

predecessors like AsiwajuTinubu who laid

more than half a football field in

has made under Ambode reflects

the foundation, and Babatunde Raji Fashola

Oworonshoki or Ketu. But it does wonders

excellently on his interpersonal relations

who built on that foundation. Ambode has

for traffic flow. Sometimes, all it needs is

and financial management skills.

placed himself appropriately to build on the

erasure of roundabouts, and traffic grid lock

works of his predecessors, and to take the

is eliminated. The beauty of the Ambode

No matter how brilliant a cabinet, if the

megacity project to a dizzying height. As a

revolution coursing through the state's sinews is that brain works, after all, and

leader is not equally or better endowed,

former civil servant, he knows how to drive

there would be no one to set the pace and

the civil service and get the best out of it. As

reflectiveness can go a long way in

direction. If Lagos is presenting itself as an

a career financial manager, he has

ameliorating the problems of a community.

example for other states and attracting

reorganised the state's finances and put it

Today, there is no contention about

attention from within and outside the African

on an even keel to make it work for the state.

Ambode's capacity to govern exceptionally

continent, it is an indication that a vision is in

As a thinker and scholar, he has designed

well. If the sometimes querulous leader of

place and is being remoulded and refined,

practical and engaging ways to get things

the opposition Peoples Democratic Party

and a leader possessing character and

done and make the state and himself

(POP) in Lagos, Bode George, could give

confidence is also running the show.

respond adequately like a scientist to the

Ambode not only a pass mark, but an

challenges of statehood. And like a deep

excellent mark, all that the governor needs

What is most remarkable about the solid

thinker, he has primed himself, standing on

is to sustain his performance and probably better it in order to pass safely into the

and frenzied pace of development in Lagos

the shoulders of his predecessors, to

today is its spread, both spatially and

envision an incredibly expansive,

legend of Lagos where only a few past

intrinsically. Spatially, projects are sited in

surefooted and glorious future for Lagos.

governors reside. Imagine the poetry

That Ambode is able to achieve these great

quiet but unmistakable revolution. It is called virtuoso.

concentric circles in all the senatorial districts of the state, state constituencies,

implicit in a quiet governor undertaking a

and wards. And in one way or the other there

strides without the accompanying and

is an engaging interconnectedness in nearly

distractive noisemaking politicians are so

all the projects so that they can integrate

often and clearly besotted to is a testimony

The clincher for many Lagosians and south-

forward and backward and hum

to his idiosyncratic resolve to leave a mark

westerners is that far beyond working wonders in Lagos State is that Governor

synergetically to make life liveable in the

and legacy in Lagos. He is just half way into

Lagos megacity. Intrinsically, ongoing

his first term. By the end of the first term, and

Ambode is also deeply thoughtful,

projects include roads, bridges, hospitals,

at the rate he is going, not to say the fluidity

philosophical and deologically expansive.

security apparatuses, and many legacy

of his rhythm, he is expected to accomplish

His pursuit of regionalisation, where his

monuments. The Epe axis is being opened

so much more, even as many of the legacy

predecessor had been fairly isolationist,

up grandly.

projects begun months back start to

speaks to his mindset as a true and well-

manifest in all their splendour. Lekki

bred son of the soil. He did not wait to be

Alimosho axis is being transformed into a

Expressway has been transformed,

persuaded; and did not ask to be wooed. His

behemoth, Oshodi is on the way to

including a flyover at Ajah. Epe-Itoikin

instincts told him regionalism was right and

experiencing one of the most modern

Expressway is nearing completion, so also

did not detract from the state's

renewals ever, Lekki is enjoying a very

the Abule Egba flyover. A number of other

independence nor violated the constitution, nor yet flouted the unity and integrity of the

thoughtful design makeover, and a new

flyovers are in the works. More than 600km

security architecture called neighbourhood

of roads have been rehabilitated or

nation. More importantly, he selflessly

security watch is already assembled. All

reconstructed. So too, have bridges been

prepared his mind to put the vibrant

these renewals and re-engineering have

built. What is even more impressive is that it

economy of Lagos at the service of the

been made possible because they were

takes a very self-confident politician who will

region, knowing full well that the strength of

predicated on a masterful re-engineering of

be facing re-election in less than two years

his people and their security depend on the

the state's financial infrastructure.

to eschew the self-promotion and

collective prosperity of the region. No

narcissism many politicians and governors

sooner he was sworn in than he asked to be

are obsessed with.

integrated into the Development Agenda for

Presidential Diary 126

The

It is perhaps fitting that Ambode is in the

PERSPECTIVE Western Nigeria (DAWN).

change the landscape of Lagos.

vibrant cultures that enliven refreshing and

There is no telling what six more years of

The tender and tough amiability of Governor

State, assuredly, tender to the hugely

Ambode will do for Lagos and the

Ambode is powerful. The extraordinary

cerebral Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

perpetual hope. The peoples of Lagos

Southwest. He has started well, worked

elements intrinsic to his glorious élan

Immeasurable gratitude for his steady,

well, thought well, and from all indications,

infused the future of Lagos State

magnetic and winning leadership skills, and

will finish well. The energies he brings to the

Government with great promise, and her

his delightful brilliance that has invigorated

job, and the organised and orchestrated

present with the illumination of commanding

us all with joy and magnified the global

ideas that undergird his stewardship, not to

graces. But it is his splendid gravitas that

stature of our precious homeland.

say the soundness of his visions, will ensure

sparked simple things as street lights to

that the projects he has committed himself

sparkle, brighten and pulsate, inviting

to, whether Atlantic City, Fifth Mainland

tourist and tempting global investors.

Dr. Adewale Adeeyo is an Officer of the

of Ikeja Business District and the rapid

Every dimension of life in Lagos State is

Governing Council, Adeleke University,

metamorphosis of the Lekki Axis, among

now joyous and anchored to the ardour and

Ede, Osun State.

other great developments, will permanently

glamour of internationalist cordiality of

Bridge, Dubainisation of Alimosho, renewal

Order of Niger, Publisher, and member,

Minister of Works, Power and Housing Mr. Babetunde Fashola and Governor Ambode The

Presidential Diary 127

FEATURES

Restructuring:

The buzzword that won't fade away

By Chidi Okereke Nigeria as constituted needed tweaking to make it truly reective of the needs and aspirations of the diverse groups and peoples constituting it.

A new sing-song During the Olusegun Obasanjo era as Nigeria's civilian helmsman and dovetailing into the regime of late President Umar Yar'Adua, the ubiquitous and omnipresent word was resource control. That word given currency and push by agitators in the Southwest and South South regions of the country, would ultimately lead to militant activity in the Niger Delta region where guntoting and explosives detonating youths threw Nigeria particularly its delta region into paroxysms of violence. It took the deliberate and well articulated amnesty programme of the Yar'Adua administration to bring matters under control.

Later when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan took over as president there was once again stirring and agitation by individuals who believed

With this agitation, came a new sing-song restructuring. For proponents of restructuring, the myriad of challenges facing Nigeria stemmed from faulty political, social and economic structures, which needed to be addressed if the nation were reach its full potential.

Leading agitators for restructuring piled intense pressure on the Jonathan administration and called for a sovereign national conference through which the begging issues would be addressed. In the end, President Jonathan caved in and constituted a national conference, which lasted for six months from early to mid 2014.

The conference, which was nearly bogged down by differences between delegates from the north and south, managed in the end to

take some far reaching decisions, which the Jonathan administration failed to act on until it was defeated in the 2015 presidential election by the current ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) The APC, which was formed in 2013 through a merger of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and elements from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) also jumped on the restructuring bandwagon.

In the preamble to its manifesto stating its plans and programmes, the party noted: “To achieve this laudable program APC government shall restructure the country, devolve power to the units, with the best practices of federalism and eliminate unintended paralysis of the centre."

Continuing in section 25 of the manifesto relating to politics and governance, the party stated:

Presidential Diary 129

The

E

very now and then, there appears in Nigeria's political lexicon, a catch phrase or word that completely captures the imagination of the people and resonates loudly across the land.

FEATURES

A babel of voices In the two years that the APC has superintended over the affairs of Nigeria, the clamour for restructuring has intensified fuelled in part by the fact that as champions of restructuring when it was the opposition party, Nigerians expected them to hit the ground running on the issue.

Aside the former Vice President, other eminent Nigerians have also been calling for restructuring of the country including for military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) (rtd).

In an interview recently, IBB noted that there is no better time to restructure Nigeria than now.

One of the key proponents of restructuring in recent times has been for Vice President of the country, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku. Atiku, who has signified his intention to once again contest for the presidency of Nigeria, says he is in full support of restructuring of the country because Nigerians the military short-changed Nigerians because the 1999 constitution, which Nigeria presently operates was foisted on Nigerian people as it was not based on the report of the 1995/1996 Constitution Drafting Committee, which was constituted for that purpose.

“Since the various amalgamations that created the entity that we now call Nigeria, different segments of Nigeria's population have, at different times and sometimes at the same time, expressed feelings of marginalisation, of being short-changed, dominated, oppressed, threatened, or even targeted for elimination,” the former Vice President said.

He stated that as a people Nigerians have struggled to live up to the ideal of national unity noting that enough had not been done to achieve national integration.

Speaking recently at the memorial conference for Late Gen.Usman Katsina in Kaduna, Atiku noted that given the increasing agitation in the country by individuals and groups in the country, restructuring the country was the only way out.

“The cost to us has been enormous. We even fought a civil war to forcibly keep the country together,” Atiku said.

powers would solve all Nigeria's challenges, said agitations for restructuring indicated that Nigerians “are agreed on our unity in diversity”.

fact that there is agitation from all zones in the country. Elders in the South-West must be commended for ensuring that there is calm among its youth. Don't forget that the S o u t h - We s t i s h o m e t o m i l l i o n s o f unemployed youths who are educated and reasonable,” the YCE said through its Secretary General, Dr. Kunle Olajide. He added:

In the southwest, which has traditional been the bedrock of agitation for restructuring the country, the call has assumed greater urgency from individuals and socio-cultural groups.

“Restructuring has become a national appeal whose time has come. I will strongly advocate for devolution of powers that more responsibilities be given to the states, while the Federal Government is to oversee our foreign policy, defence and economy,” IBB said.

Recently, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), urged President Buhari to address the agitation for restructuring and other related issues in order to calm frayed nerves in the country.

Noting that restructuring and devolution of

“The president must not shy away from the

“We want to observe that general grievances cannot be addressed by threats, stiff legislation and force of arms. Buhari must constitute a forum where every group will table its grievances and agitation for Nigeria to remain united.

“If truly he has been monitoring situation at

Presidential Diary 130

The

“The APC believes that our politics is broken.

Our nation urgently needs fundamental political reform and improvement in governance to make it more transparent and accountable. APC will: initiate action to amend our Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties, and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench Federalism and the Federal Spirit..."

FEATURES

Also in the southwest, Afenifere, a leading socio-cultural group in the region is insisting it is the only way forward for Nigeria. Its leader, Ayo Adebanjo at a recent colloquium stressed that the idea of restructuring is not new noting that it dates back to 1954. He said: “Nigeria is running a unitary system of government; you cannot run Nigeria as a military system of government considering the ethnic groups. We have passed that stage. Don't let anybody tell you lies, the word restructuring is not a strange or new word. All we are fighting for today dated back to 1954.” He added:

“Restructuring: Challenges, implications and the Way forward,” noted:

few weeks ago, the Ohaneze, through its President General, John Nnia Nwodo, warned that Nigeria would slide into crisis if calls for restructuring were not heeded.

“Virtually my audience today are highly respected citizens of our country, and have probably said or written some things about the reason the Nigerian federation, as it is today, needs to be restructured urgently.

“Unless we restructure this country, we will slide into an uncontrollable crisis. Nigeria is a world power, but if it continues to be wrongly administered, it will continue to be a laughing stock,” Nwodo stated.

“Our country is not one nation. It is a country of very many nations, some of which rank among the largest in the world. The accumulated wisdom of the human race has established that a country that is made up in this way, the best structure is a federation and not the unitary system that it has tacitly operated.

The Ohaneze leader noted that Nigeria as presently constituted was a killer of dreams and initiative adding also that it's many contradictions stifles endeavour and discourages productivity.

Advising government on the way to go about restructuring the country, Nwodo said the 2014 National Conference had to be revisited as it had done extensive work on repositioning Nigeria.

“Another reason we need to restructure the Nigerian federation is what we may call the need for productivity. Productivity demands that in a healthy federation, each federating unit shall control its God-given resources for the good of the people.”

“Nigeria is running a unitary system of government; you cannot run Nigeria as a unitary system of government considering the ethnic groups. We have passed that stage. Let us restructure now, without it, there would be no Nigeria. It must be now, not in 2019.”

From the East, the latest hotbed of agitation where the group, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), led by Nnamdi Kanu, has been heating up the polity, calls for restructuring have also rent the air.

Also at that colloquium organised by the Island Club in Lagos, Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, who was presented a paper, titled,

Leading the agitation is the Ohaneze, the leading socio-cultural group of the Igbos in the country and notable Igbo intellectuals. A

From the Niger Delta, a group of young former office holders, rising from a meeting Portharcourt Rivers State convened recently by Moses Siasia, a former governorship candidate in Bayelsa State and Founder, Nigeria Young Professionals Forum, added their voice to calls for restructuring.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting stated in part:

Presidential Diary 131

The

home while in London, he must have seen the hostile reaction to the National Assembly's rejection of devolution of powers.”

FEATURES

“The young leaders unanimously demand for 100 per cent resource ownership, control and management and the restructuring of the current faulty political and economic architecture of Nigeria which is a source of provocation. This must be done before the 2019 general elections or there will be no elections across the region and no exploration of oil blocks.

“We must go back to the round table and discuss the principles of equity and justice and this must take effect from the highest seat of power to the communities which will birth true federalism in a new peoples' constitution. As a people united for our future, we must act now. We also condemn all forms of hate speech emanating from any part of the country”.

The call by the Niger Delta youths came on the heels of calls by prominent Niger Delta leaders and activists for government to pay serious attention to demands for restructuring of the country. Ankkio Briggs, a leading activist from the region had noted:

Although calls for restructuring have reverberated across the land, there appears to be no consensus on exactly what it represents. It appears that it's meaning changes as it moves from one region of the country to the other.

term actually represents, has served in no small way to determine the response of Nigerians depending on their political, ethnic or religious orientation.

For Professor Ben Nwabueze, one of Nigeria's leading constitutional lawyers, the notion of restructuring many Nigerians have is defective:

One of the country's leading newspapers, The Guardian pointed out this situation in a recent editorial.

In that editorial critical of what it felt were attempts to deliberately create confusion around the idea of restructuring, the paper noted:

“The object of re-structuring for which there is a widespread clamour among Nigerians, is not to break up the country or to enable agitators to secede from its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Far from that, the object is, by reforming the governmental structures and attuning them to the needs and wishes of the people, to ensure that the immense diversity of ethnic nationalities comprised in the state will continue to coexist together in peace, prosperity and progress as citizens of one country united by common interests, common aspirations and a common destiny. The clamour for Restructuring must therefore be seen as a clamour for the setting up of appropriate platforms or fora to renegotiate suitable governmental structures for the pursuit and realization of our common needs for development, good governance and national transformation”.

“Incredibly, restructuring and federalism have become the most misrepresented words even by those who should understand and work for their actualisation in the interest of peace and progress of Nigeria.

“To some political commentators, it is an idea whose time has come. To some others, it is a secret weapon by a section to break up the country so that others would not have access to the oil and gas resources, invariably the mainstay of the economy, available only in one part of the country. This is so very sad.

For Atiku, restructuring must be involve a critical look at the states of the federation as they are presently constituted as they are critical to national development.

“It must be stated unequivocally, however, that the honest pursuit and enthronement of federalism in its true meaning will be hugely beneficial to all Nigerians from all the geopolitical zones.

“We are still going on that train handed over to us by the British and we will soon crash. In order not to crash, we need to restructure.

All regions must come together and agree on restructuring and everybody must say what restructuring means to them, and we must agree on restructuring before 2019 election.”

The newspaper held that the real trouble with Nigeria “is not just poverty nurtured by corruption and illiteracy but lack of understanding of the impact of the overthrow of the principles of federalism, a system that once triggered rapid growth of Nigeria.

One concept, many meanings

Indeed, the confusion surrounding what the

“There is no doubt that many of our states are not viable, and were not viable from the start once you take away the federation allocations from Abuja. We have to find creative ways to make them viable in a changed federal system. We can constitute a body of non-partisan experts to suggest other ideas. But in all, we must devolve more powers and resources from the federal government and de-emphasise federal allocations as the source of

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The

“Over 60 Niger Delta young leaders, including members of state assemblies, former commissioners, government appointees and some private sector players across states of the Niger Delta Region, met in Port Harcourt on restructuring of Nigeria.

Niger Delta people have unanimously agreed that restructuring embodies 100 per cent control of their resources.

FEATURES

Frank Kokori, former General Secretary, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union, (NUPENG) notes that when people talk about restructuring, they say they need true federalism.

“I don't know what true federalism is because federalism is federalism. A nation that practices it as a system of government must abide by its tenets. That is what the constitution says. Because of the military incursion into politics in 1966, Nigeria became a unitary government. So they were not following the tenets of the constitution that allows for devolution of powers to the federating units. It is on that basis that the minorities are demanding to restructure. If we had real federalism, there will not be agitations. Real federalism was what we had before 1966 when the regions had their own institutions,” Kokori stated. Continuing, he said: “The reason agitations are going on this country is because certain people feel they are marginalized but I know that the whole country is marginalized because of bad governance and corruption. I am for real federalism, the federal government should be left with some residual powers on defence, currency Foreign Affairs, and others while the states should be given powers over other affairs. To douse the present agitation in the country, the federal government needs to be serious.

party.

7. Independent candidacy.

“The National Chairman of our party will restate that commitment and we are discussing it and as I said President Buhari and Osinbajo's government has taken very concrete steps rather than rhetoric to actually move in that direction and we are going to move in that direction but we do not believe that the basis for it is rhetoric and opportunism, we do not believe that the 2014 CONFAB report is a sensible basis to even begin.

8. Land tenure system.

9. Local government autonomy.

10. Power sharing and rotation 11. Resource control; and 12. Type of legislature.

Senator Adetunmi, the committee's secretary who unfolded the agenda at a press briefing in Abuja, stated the committee would entertain correspondence from members of the public cutting across party, religious and economic lines adding that public hearing would hold in Enugu, Benin and Ibadan with a climax in Abuja in October:

El-Rufai's comments struck a raw nerve with both the former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a section of the citizenry who accused the APC of using restructuring as platform to win votes and then subsequently abandoning the idea.

“We must recognise that the work of nation building is an ongoing process in which every stakeholder has a role to play, by making his own contribution. In this case, the APC as a national political party is an institution and a stakeholder that has a role to play in making its own contribution.

Stung by the criticism, the APC immediately moved to set up a restructuring committee.

In an ironic twist, the party named El-Rufai, who had ruffled feathers with his comments as chairman of the committee, which has Rauf Aregbesola, governor of Osun; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, governor of Kano; Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau, Ibikunle Amosun, governor of Ogun and Oserheimen Osunbor, former governor of Edo as members.

“This exercise is its own way of making that contribution. The APC felt that it is not necessary to think alone among ourselves, but to also ask members of the public what they think. That is why everything this Committee is doing is not about its own opinion, but harvesting the opinion of the ordinary people in order to form an opinion.

After all, no political party exists just by itself, but by the mandate of people,” Adetunmi noted.

Other members of the committee include, Osita Izunaso, national organising secretary; Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary, Hajiya Fatima Balla and Olubunmi Adetunmbi who was named secretary of the committee.

In empanelling the committee, the APC noted that with the rise in the clamour for restructuring, has come different interpretations of what the term stood for.

“If you ask me what I really want for this country, I will want us to revert to the 12 states that Gowon created. We should have that structure instead of having many states to the next that every village wants to be a state. If we do that, Nigeria will move forward. Let's return to regionalism with six zones as federating units”.

“It is in our interest as a nation to continue to dialogue for the unity and peace of the country. Equity, fairness and justice can only be achieved under a peaceful atmosphere.

We must not do those things that will turn us against each other.”

Waking from slumber

Involving the people

The APC stunned by the enormity of the economic challenges it inherited from the former ruling party, had paid scant regard to the trident calls for restructuring. Indeed one of the party's leading members, and Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir ElRufai, dismissed agitators for restructuring as irresponsible and opportunists. In an interview with a leading television station, the Kaduna governor said:

The committee mindful of the expectation of Nigerians immediately set to work outlining a 12-point agenda that would drive the restructuring process. They include:

“A lot of the talk about political restructuring is political opportunism and irresponsibility in my opinion. It is popular and people that have presidential aspirations think there is a platform upon which they will exploit this. As I said, if you look at the APC manifesto, all the elements to divulge power to the state to change the balance in the federation are there and we are committed to that as a

6. Form of government (parliamentary or presidential)

With the APC finally moving to act on the clamour for restructuring, President Buhari himself has come out to acknowledge that restructuring in itself was not a bad idea but was in actual fact necessary noting that the trouble was that a few undesirable element were hiding under the cover of restructuring to attempt to violate the country's unity.

In his independence day broadcast on October 1, President Buhari said of such attempts at fomenting trouble:

1. Creation/merger of states and the framework and guidelines for achieving that “We cannot and we will not allow such

2. Derivation principle bordering on what percentage of federal collectible revenue should be given back

advocacy. At all events, proper dialogue and any desired constitutional changes should

3. Devolution of powers on what item on the exclusive legislative list should be transferred to the recurrent list and federating units, especially state and community police, prisons

take place in a rational manner, at the National and State Assemblies. These are the proper and legal fora for National debate,

4. Federation Units: Should Nigeria be based on regions or zones or 36-state structure

not some lop-sided, un-democratic body

5. Fiscal federalism and revenue allocation.

with pre-determined set of objectives”.

Presidential Diary 133

The

sustenance of states. We need to start producing again and collecting taxes to run our governments in a more sustainable way with greater transparency and accountability,” the former Vice President stated.

FOCUS

Wife of Benue State

Governor

Mrs. Eunice Ortom

The

Presidential Diary 134

FOCUS

I

t is not often you find the wife of a state governor combining the qualities of a seasoned public administrator and a tested private sector practitioner.

In Eunice Erdoo Ortom, wife of Samuel Ortom, Governor of Benue State, these qualities find blending.

Mrs. Ortom, before becoming the First Lady of Benue served as an administrator in various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in Benue State, as well as the private sector.

She has since been deploying this combined experience and her training as a student of International Studies at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to bear in decision making process that has ennobled organizations where she worked to realize their set objectives.

Her passion for knowledge also saw her bagging Master's Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Benue State University in 2004.

This qualitative educational training and her rich experience in the public and private sectors have been of immense benefit to the people of Benue State as she has worked hard to complement the efforts of her husband in delivering qualitative social amenities to the people long neglected by previous administrations in the state.

One key are Mrs Ortom has shown concern for Benue people is in the area of education. She is a firm believer in the right of every child to qualitative education no ma er the circumstances of his or her birth.

In this regard, she has, through her nongovernmental organisation (NGO), Eunice Spring of Life Foundation

(ESLF), spearheaded sounded reading culture among students in the state.

Recently, the ESLF embarked on a “Read Aloud” tour of primary schools in Makurdi, capital of Benue State.

At each school, Mrs Ortom, who commended the active participation of the pupils in each of the schools visited, encouraged them to make reading a habit in their lives.

She told them that reading is the only way that they can prepare themselves to contribute to the development of the country and the world at large.

She added that reading is also beneficial to building a wealth of moral values, she charged teachers not to relent in

moulding the character of the pupils.

Also, as part of her intervention in the education of youngsters in the state, she recently purchased and present registration pins (forms) of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to female students of Benue extraction.

She said the move underscored her commitment to ensure that the widening literacy gap in state is bridged as well as her quest to uplift women, particularly the girl-child, who she said needs more a ention to secure the future of the world.

Presidential Diary 135

The

By Uche Okereke

First Lady with passion for the people

Sp rt Eagles soar over Lions, Foxes and Bullets to land in Russia

By Uche Okereke It was a most unlikely feat but the determined young men who few had reckoned with, had pulled it off with panache. With one match to spare, the Eagles landed in Russia with their feet planted firmly on the ground.

One year ago when the draws for the 2018 FIFA World Cup was made, few Nigerians gave the Super Eagles any chance to land in Russia. Their fear was predicated on the quality opposition in their Group B category.

Comprising three former African

i n s p i r a t i o n a l g o a l k e e p e r,

Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Elderson

them their sixth qualification for

Vincent Enyeama, who had a

Echejile, Odion Ighalo, Victor

the World Cup since 1994 when

falling out with former coach,

Moses and a few others, Rohr

they made their first

Oliseh. Oliseh's dropping of

placed trust in a few bright

appearance, was remarkable

Enyeama as captain of the

young talents like defenders

for the ease with which they

squad and his subsequent

Leon Balogun and William

killed off opposition in the group

replacement with Ahmed Musa

Troost Ekong whose

of death. With 13 point from five

then starring for Russian club,

partnership in the heart of the

games, the Eagles dropped only

CSKA Moscow, had spilt the

Eagles defence calls to mind the

two points, which came in their

team as had Oliseh's

partnership between Uche

1-1 draw against Zambia in

subsequent departure from the

Okechukwu and late Taribo

Lusaka in their penultimate

squad as coach.

West.

qualifier.

The coming of Gernot Rohr as

The Eagles 1-0 victory over

The Eagles qualification for the

coach in 2016 appeared to be

Zambia's Chipolopolo (Copper

2018 Mundial has sent

the tonic the squad needed to

Bullets) in Uyo on Saturday,

Nigerians including

crawl out of its shell. Relying on

October 7, 2017, which earned

Muhammadu Buhari, the

older players like captain Mikel

champions (Cameroun, Zambia and Algeria) who between them had won the AFCON seven times, the Eagles group had been aptly titled, the Group of Death. The Eagles, a team in transition following the rapid turnover of coaches ( the late Stephen Keshi, Sunday Oliseh and current coach Gernot Rohr) had handled the team in the last three years, a development that had left the team in a flux.

Matters were not helped by the exit of former captain and

The

Presidential Diary 136

Sp rt

nation's number one citizen, into frenzy.

He also called on the team and Nigerian

organisations and well-meaning Nigerians

The triumph has come as a soothing balm to

Football Federation (NFF) officials to

to continue to assist the Super Eagles as the

nerves frayed by tension over rising

remain steadfast and focused when they

team heads for a sixth appearance at the

agitation in the country.

begin preparations for the global football

summit of football competition.

Within moments of their qualification,

fiesta in order to make Nigeria proud.

President Buhari wired the victorious

The President also enjoined public, private

Eagles a message of congratulation. The elated president who described the hardearned victory as “very sweet, soothing and a 57th Independence Anniversary gift to the nation,” applauded the nation's senior men's football team for the feat of making Nigeria the first African country to qualify for Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament, with a match to spare.

President Buhari called on all Nigerians to apply “the values of perseverance, resilience, discipline, hard work and teamspirit which propelled the footballers to excel since the beginning of the qualifying matches, to all sectors of national life”.

He promised that the Federal Government will continue to support the team within available resources so that the nation will maximise the unifying potentials of sports in general and football in particular.

The

Presidential Diary 137