Super User

Sunday, 16 September 2018 03:57
 

Three months ago, Nigerians were stunned speechless when a woman, later identified as Mrs. Akinloye Oluwatoyin, allegedly jumped off the Third Mainland Bridge, into the Lagoon over an alleged discovery of her nude pictures and that of her lover on the internet. Rumour was rife that she leapt to her death because she couldn’t face her husband after her torrid affair was discovered via the pictures.

The alleged affair and subsequent ‘suicide’ sparked tense controversy on social media, creating two divides. One faction cursed the unknown lover, Otunba Femi Adesanya, who it was believed shared the pictures on the social media, the other faction railed against Oluwatoyin for violating her wedding vows. Incidentally, how the supposed death of Oluwatoyin spread was unknown back then, but her ‘corpse’ was never retrieved and nobody could state for a fact that she was seen leaping to her death.

The whole drama started on that fateful June 10, when Toyin was alleged to have jumped from the University of Lagos, Akoka, end of the bridge into the Lagoon. She was further claimed to have parked a Ford SUV before she committed suicide. It would be later discovered that the parked Ford SUV was not hers, neither was she ever at the bridge, let alone to have taken a fatal leap. Toyin, as she is fondly called by friends, was said to have been alerted by friends about the social media stunt, leading to her taking to her Facebook wall to tell friends and family in Nigeria and US, where she is a businesswoman, dealing in clothes, that she was hale and hearty. Before Toyin spoke, however, an unknown person, still fueling the furnace, ignited another rumour, insisting the businesswoman was swindled N10million by her supposed lover and she got him arrested.

The lover, piqued by her move after all the intimacies they had shared, allegedly flung her like raw fish to the sharks of social media to feast on by sharing her alleged nude pictures. Apparently determined to ruin her reputation, Adesanya shared semi nude pictures of himself, but complete nude pictures of Toyin. He was alleged to have shared it to prove to an unconcerned world that they were lovers and that the money was given in the spirit of love and romance.

Today, however, Toyin has finally decided to speak out, insisting that everything on social media was just one big pack of lies cooked and served to ensure she stopped seeking justice after a group of fraudsters, including a female friend, an Islamic cleric and Adesanya defrauded her N75million. She said: “I thought Adesanya was a genuine businessman, who was into selling of fuel at different filling stations. He was also the person who circulated the story that I jumped off the Third Mainland Bridge into the Lagoon over infidelity. Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tried to caution him, but he wouldn’t listen. He was desperate to blackmail and stop me from pursuing the case.”

Toyin, who is married to Tunde, has three children for him and they all reside in US. Part of the lies told against Toyin during the damaging rumour was that following her alleged affair, her husband conducted a DNA test on their children and discovered that he was not the biological father of the three children. What most Nigerians didn’t know is that Toyin, in spite of all the insults hitting her from all directions, refused to back down in her quest for justice.

She petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who detailed his Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, to investigate the case. According to a police source, investigations showed that Toyin was a victim of fraud, “who, fell prey to a notorious fraud syndicate, based in Ijebu-Ode Ogun State,with international connections.” The source further said: “The victim, known as Toyin Texas, lost a total of N75m between March 2017 and January 2018.

This was the period she fell prey to the syndicate’s antics. Members of the syndicate went to publish her supposed nude pictures with a member of the syndicate on internet. This was done in a bid to prevent her from instituting a case against them.” Our correspondent gathered that on July 2018, Toyin wrote a petition to Idris, asking him to ensure the arrest of members of the syndicate. She further claimed that members of the syndicate were trying to kill her after their blackmail plans failed. Two among the alleged members, Adesanya and Alhaji Ganiu Awojobi, who allegedly played active roles in defrauding the businesswoman as well as publishing her nude pictures, had been arrested by IRT operatives.

The police said that Awojobi, who acted as an Islamic cleric, lured Toyin from America to Nigeria in November under the pretext of praying for her. Adesanya on the other hand, pretended to be a businessman and later defrauded her using a phony oil deal. The police discovered that Adesanya, alleged to be the leader of the syndicate, had a penchant for defrauding and blackmailing married women, especially rich women in Nigeria and those based overseas. It was alleged that several pictures of nude women and videos, most of them believed to be married, were recovered from him. Police alleged that Adesanya uses Sherifat as “a catcher” to get unsuspecting women and defraud them. Adesanya and the prophet were also able to brainwash Toyin into parting with her phone after telling her that her friend, Sherifat took her name to a shrine and that if she received a call with the phone, she would die. She gladly relinquished her phone to Adesanya, which he later converted to his.

The police also alleged that they discovered during investigations that Adesanya was the person who published Toyin’s nude pictures on the internet. Toyin, while narrating her ordeal, said that Adesanya and members of his syndicate caught her through the aid of one of her friends known as Sherifat.

The victim explained that Sherifat, who also resides in US, sometime in November 2016, told her about a vision and message a prophet, living in Nigeria had for her. This message, incidentally, came a month after the death of Toyin’s younger sister. Sherifat told Toyin, that an Islamic cleric in Nigeria, who used to pray for her, saw a vision and had a message for Toyin.

The cleric prophesied that if Toyin didn’t want to die the way her late sister did, she should be fervent in prayers. Toyin recounted: “Sherifat lives in the USA and we were close friends. When this issue started, she was the person who linked me to the Alfa in Nigeria, but I wasn’t talking to the Alfa. She then traveled to London in March 2017 to meet Adesanya, who she had an affair with. She called and told me again that the Alfa told her that my death was looming unless I performed some prayers.” While Sherifat was speaking with Toyin, Adesanya allegedly collected the phone and spoke with Toyin, stressing that he knew the cleric. He described the cleric as “powerful and well known in Nigeria.”

Toyin recalled: “Adesanya also told me that he had several businesses in Nigeria, including petrol filling stations in Ijebu- Ode, Ogun State. Alfa Awojobi asked for N154, 000 for the prayers; I told Sherri and Otunba that I didn’t have such an amount of money and they offered to pay N100, 000 for me, while I pay the balance. I did what they asked and the Alfa started praying for me. In April, 2018, the Alfa insisted that I must come to Nigeria for the final prayers. I was really scared and I didn’t want to die the way my younger sister did.

“I traveled to Nigeria and went straight to Alfa at Ijebu-Ode. He asked me to take my bath before entering his house which I did. By midnight, he brought four men and they started praying for me. Alfa said he had seen more visions and had more prophesies concerning my husband children. I ended up spending N1.5m at the Alfa’s place before returning to America.” She explained that in the midst of all these that Adesanya told her that he wanted her to invest in his oil business.

“He took me round some filling stations in Ijebu- Ode and people greeted him as if he was the owner of the filling stations,” recalled Toyin. “He asked me to invest a huge amount of money and maintained that after a month, I would get back my capital and 50 p e rcent as profit. I trusted him.” It was based on that trust that Toyin ran from pillar to post, to borrow N30m.

She disclosed that the person that gave her the loan, paid direct into Adesanya’s account. A month after money was paid, Toyin called Adesanya to ask about the business. “Adesanya got angry and paid back the money into my account. I was shocked and this made me believe and trusted him more than ever. I saw him as a genuine businessman. I pleaded and asked him to continue with the business. He asked me to change the money into dollars, which I did and took to him,” said Toyin. Toyin said that two months after the altercation, the situation still remained the same; Adesanya was not forthcoming with what was going on with business, she decided to cut ties and run. When she asked for her money, Adesanya told her that things were not going as planned because the money was not enough. He said that he needed more money.

This made Toyin to go looking for more money until she ended up paying as much as N75m. The last batch of money, which was N31m, was paid into Alfa Awojobi’s bank account. She said: “On December 2017, one of Adesanya boys called and told me that I was been defrauded. I tried to arrest Adesanya with military police, but they couldn’t recover my money. I also got him arrested with policemen in Osun and Ondo states, but he was soon allowed to go. I reported to operatives of the EFCC and they recovered 21, 000 nude photos and videos of various Nigeria women from him. He claimed that he was very sick and the EFCC granted him bail. But after his release, he went on the internet and published photoshop nude photos of myself and him, claiming that he had sexual relationship with me, which was a lie! “The EFCC also discovered transactions between the cleric and Adesanya. They were not able to arrest him. Someone advised me to go the IRT through the IG.

Thus, I reported my case and operatives trailed and arrested the cleric and Adesanya.” Narrating his own story, Alfa Awojobi confessed to the crime, but admitted to have collected only N31m from Toyin. He added: “It was Otunba, my partner, who brought the businesswoman to me. I’m a fraudster. I joined the syndicate three years ago. I was once a victim before I joined.

I act as an Islamic cleric, locally known as Alfa. It was Otunba that brought Toyin as a job and we defrauded her. All the money that was paid into my account by the businesswoman was shared between Otunba and I.” Adesanya, rather than face the crime and admit to it as his partner did, preferred to dwell on the nude pictures and his alleged affair with Toyin. He insisted that he had sexual relationship with her and added that Toyin’s nude pictures were displayed on internet because she first made his arrest public. It was apparently a case of tit for tat

 

NewTelegraph 

Published in News
Sunday, 16 September 2018 03:51
SDP Will Restore Osun’s Lost Glory, free the People from Economic Bondage, Says Omisore

 

Senator Iyiola Omisore, a former deputy governor in Osun State, former Chairman Senate Committee on appropriation is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the September 22 governorship election in Osun State. He speaks with select journalists on his ‘Restoration Agenda’ for his state, why he is advocating freedom for the people and a shift of power from the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) government to SDP; the good chances of his party in the election. Excerpts:

 

Your party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) earlier before now, released your manifestos called the ‘SDP Agenda for Restoration in Osun State,’ with a focus on five thematic pillars, first of which is economic management and accountability. What do you think is wrong with Osun State’s economy?

The Osun State economy is, no doubt, the worst in this country acclaimed by everybody and I believe that transparency, accountability and people-oriented policies will drive safely the economy to yield results. At present, there are lots of wastages, a lot of leakages, a lot of money has been wasted through consultancies, a lot of high and inflated contracts, a lot of undone jobs already paid for. These are enough areas I’m going to block. I will block all leakages and ensure that the money in Osun is spent for Osun people. The idea is to further establish linkages with national processes in a way to achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals. Then, for the implementation of our programmes, we are going to maximally harness the Osun State’s human and capital resources to lay a solid foundation for an enduring turn-around of the state as an economically prosperous, socially harmonious and a model in democratic governance in Nigeria. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to inputs to thrive, and assets to protect human dignity.

 

You talked about the issue of inflated contracts, meaning that money had been taken out unjustifiably. Do you have any plan to retrieve the money back, or would there be any form of probe into government activities?

Well, contract jobs have been done, but there are a lot of avenues for wastes which we need to block. The leakages are there already, but its blockade will be done carefully so as not to slow down the government, and talking of probe, that is not an issue. We are going to look at all these positions professionally without minding whose ox is gored, and without being biased or without any sentiment, fear or favour. We will review all activities critically and ensure things are done correctly.

 

You also highlighted the issue of professionalism and performance, and if we look at the civil service generally already heavily criticized for slowing down the processes of governance, but with a peculiarity to Osun now, and the issue of salary payment, are these also bothering you?

To whom much is given, much is expected, and to whom less is given, less is expected. You can’t expect optimal performance, and what we call optimisation and leverables from workers who are not paid for over 36 months or are paid half salaries. So, basically, their morale will be low; their drive to work will be low; efficiency will be low, there is no doubt about that. So, you don’t expect much from them. This is why I think the driving force for any economy, any business, any office and any development is human capital development. Hence, we are going to reinforce human capital development to ensure that we increase performance and ensure we drive them and encourage them, motivate them, professionalise them and train them, so that they can deliver our goods, our manifestos and visions.

 

As you said, workers are being owed for 36 months, one of the reasons being Osun government saying there was no sufficient funds to run the state; how are you going to resolve this to ensure salaries and pensions are paid?

As rightly said, ‘Osun says there is no money,’ they are trying to let the public know there is no money.Where as they just collected about N17 billion Paris Club funds, and the wage bill is about N2 billion per month, and they said they are paying half salary, which means that over N16 billion can pay for 16 months. But, there is no courage; there is no will. There is no sincerity to defray the costs, rather, the government prefers to use it for bogus contracts, bogus expenses and mainly for election campaigns. Now, it is evident to everyone in the state that Osun state situation is comatose, and it is not in doubt that its current APC leadership has admitted its inability to cope, which is why the second term of Governor Rauf Aregbesola is being completed with a serious increase in hunger and poverty among people in the state and the private sector is nearing collapse, likewise the citizens are collapsing. Similarly, the confidence and motivation in the public sector is eroded and now at its all time lowest since Osun State was founded. Everyone is frustrated and the increasingly restive people of Osun State, including the aged, pensioners and our youths are calling for urgent action. Surely, the September 22 election has provided a democratic opportunity for action, an opportunity for people to vote Omisore of the SDP as the new governor of Osun State.

 

Similarly, the government had also added to the employ of the state, the O’YES cadets, said to be earning N10,000 per month, which at a time you spoke against. What will be the lot of this people under your administration?

The O’YES people recruited from Osun and who are Osun indigenes will be given gainful and pensionable jobs. We are not going to sack anybody, but we are going to make employment across board. Teachers will be recruited, likewise other categories of staff. There are so much vacancies but the government is not interested in empowering the people, employing our youths or getting them engaged is a major one for us.

 

The concern of your party is also in the area of equity in access to services, such as education, health, gender equity, agriculture and others, in what form will this take?

This is in the area of distribution of wealth across board. The distribution of infrastructure will be across board, health will be across board, and on the overall, it will ginger equality. There is no single clinic in Osun State that has drugs, but we are going to ensure that our hospitals are reawakened and well stocked. Our schools are brutalised and teachers are being thrown out of schools. This will be corrected; we are going to distribute the amenities across board. There is no water in Osun State. These are issues we want to address, because the public infrastructure has collapsed. Presently, there are challenges already identified which are long standing obstacle to economic growth and investment in the state, especially in agricultural area, a very critical sector which engages more than 75 per cent of the population of the state, and its neglect is impacting negatively on the economic yield of major cash crops and produce. But we will engage in partnership drive implementation to build sustainable investment linkages with the private sector and strengthen the engagement of other providers, including the civil society and community based organisations, because, at present, Osun State is under an intensive care unit (ICU). But given my courage, my experience and my pedigree, by God’s grace, we will ensure we bring back sanity to Osun State.

 

As an engineer and a builder, it is already said that there are lots of ground to cover in infrastructural development. Talking of local contenting and innovation, as part of your campaign programmes, how do you want to go about this, especially in boosting Osun State IGR?

The issue is we are going to encourage local contending to ensure that jobs, contracts, sub-jobs, that can be done by Osun indigenes are not given to outsiders. Of course, there can be major jobs given to major contractors, but we will ensure that our people here, the carpenters, the plumbers, the goldsmiths, the iron benders of this world, are all engaged to ensure that the money goes back to the state. All we need to boost the GDP is half of the money being wasted on contracts. Before the advent of oil, we all depended on agriculture in the whole of the old Western Region, and when we talk of this, the major focus was on the cash crops, and the majority of these cash crops were from Osun State. So, we go back to our cocoa farming, we go back to our oil palm and cassava farming, and ensure we encourage the farmers. We do all the roads network, we give access to rural and community projects; we will encourage them and offer them high yielding seedlings that won’t take time to grow. We will do that to shore up our IGR and also encourage people to go back to farm.

 

You have also raised concerns on the issue of security, in what form will this take?

Security may not necessarily be physical, but the physical security is good. However, we also have job security, food security, health security, and so on. But, it is security in all paraphernalia we are talking about. In this regard, we are also focusing on neighbourhood to neighbourhood watch. We have people with  goodwill with us, but a good government also should focus on security, and with this, there won’t be hunger. There won’t be greed; there won’t be lack. People will be happy, and the people are safe generally. So, security is very important; it is a matter of concept and things of the mind. A good government will create rooms for innovations aiding success and sustainability. This is a very important area, since the encouragement of local content earlier mentioned is fuelled by innovations in specific areas, which will in turn make an impact on every other pillar of the agenda for restoration. Basically, our challenges in Osun State require quick thinking and innovations in implementation, which has already been taken care of in our robust manifestos.

 

Thisday

Published in News
Sunday, 16 September 2018 03:49
Buhari and restructuring gambit - Biyi Adegoroye
 

The recent tirade between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over restructuring of the country may underscore the disposition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the issue.

 

If there is any matter that has elicited exchange of verbal barbs between President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and many notable Nigerians in the build-up to the 2019 elections, it is the vexed issue of restructuring. And in line with the belief expressed by its proponents it is one issue the will have a bearing on the victory of any political party in months ahead.

 

It was not baffling, therefore, that the structure of this country and const of governance led to a diatribe between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in recent weeks.

 

Whereas the nation practised true federalism before and shortly after independence, the issue of geographical restructuring was one of the over 600 recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, and a major component of the manifesto of the APC, as was touted by the party during its campaigns before the 2015 elections.

 

Besides, more than anything else, leaders of various ethnic nationalities led by Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. John Nwodo and Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had on many occasion called for restructuring of the country, in tandem with the dreams of the nation’s forefathers that powers must be devolved to the regions, to promote active competition which hitherto engendered growth.

 

Atiku, who, has been an advocate of restructuing since the 1995 Abacha Constitutional Conference picked up the gauntlet two years ago, drawing more attention to the need to this same restructuring. For instance, at the late Gen.Usman Katsina Memorial Conference, held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Memorial Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna on July 30, 2016, with the theme:“The Challenges of National Integration and Survival of Democracy in Nigeria,” Atiku said the nation’s existence was dependent on its readiness to restructure.

 

He acknowledged that national integration and the survival of Nigeria’s democracy are related and are important and that they both face challenges in Nigeria today. He concluded that “I suggest we resolve today to support calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation in order to strengthen its unity and stabilize its democracy. I believe that restructuring will eventually happen whether we like or support it or not.

 

“The question is whether it will happen around a conference table, in a direction influenced by us and whether we will be an equal partner in the process. Or will it happen in a more unpredictable arena and in a manner over which we have little influence? It should be at a table and we need to be at that table. A nation is an organism; it grows, it evolves, it changes, it adapts. And like other organisms if it does not adapt, it dies.”

 

Spreading the imperatives of restructuring, Atiku has always alluded to the fact that in the pre-independence era, and sometimes thereafter, the regions developed at their paces, but the rising dominance of oil revenues led them to abandon cash crop production and neglect food agriculture.

 

“Before oil, agriculture was our main industry and we taxed it (and the products of other economic activities) to develop the north – to provide education, healthcare and infrastructure. But because of oil we now plead helplessness. The north has the largest known deposits of solid minerals in Nigeria including some of the rarest and most expensive. So why should we be afraid of the concept of resource control, that is the control of rents by the areas of derivation?”

 

Since his defection to the PDP, however, and consequent indication of interest to rule the nation next year, the former VP has upped the ante, promoting the restructuring factor to the dismay of the ruling party.

 

But upon Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s statement in the United States that the “problem with our country is not a matter of restructuring…and we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the argument that our problems stem from some geographic restructuring,” the issue again came to the fore.

 

While Atiku said he was surprised that the Vice President took such a position and, in particular, failed to appreciate the connection between Nigeria’s defective structure and its underperformance, the latter claimed he was misquoted and that sparked come controversies.

 

Osinbajo’s position that Atiku should at least have got the full text of his comments before his public rebuttal was of concern, more so when he expressed his concurrence on the issue, but that Nigerians must not allow themselves to be drawn into the argument that its problems stem from some geographic re-structuring-leaving the elephant (corruption) in the room.

 

To him, geographical restructuring is not a solution to the national problems, rather it either amount to taking Nigeria back to regional governments or increasing the number of states that make up the Nigerian federation.

“The 2014 National Conference actually recommended the creation of 18 more states. And I argued that, with several states struggling or unable to pay salaries, any further tinkering with our geographical structure would not benefit us.

“We should rather ask ourselves why the states are underperforming, revenue and development wise. I gave the example of the Western Region (comprising even more than what is now known as the South West Zone), where, without oil money, and using capitation tax and revenues from agriculture and mining, the government funded free education for over 800,000 pupils in 1955, built several roads, farm settlements, industrial estates, the first TV station in Africa, and the tallest building in Nigeria, while still giving up 50 per cent of its earnings from mining and minerals for allocation to the Federal Government and other regions.”

According to him, what the nation requires now is not geographical restructuring but good governance, honest management of public resources, deeper fiscal federalism, and a clear vision for development.

 

“In arguing for good governance, I made the point that our greatest problem was corruption. I pointed out that grand corruption, namely the unbelievable looting of the treasury by simply making huge cash withdrawals in local and foreign currency, was the first travesty that President Buhari stopped.

 

“I showed the OPEC figures from oil revenues since 1990. In four years from 2010 to 2014 the PDP government earned the highest oil revenues in Nigeria’s history, USD381.9billion. By contrast the Buhari Administration has earned USD121 billion from May 2015 to June 2018, less than 1/3 of what Jonathan Administration earned at the same period in that administration’s life. Despite earning so much less, we are still able to invest more in infrastructure than any government in Nigeria’s history. The difference is good governance, and fiscal prudence.

 

“In the final analysis, restructuring in whatever shape or form, will not mean much if our political leaders see public resources as an extension of their bank accounts. This, I believe, is the real issue.”

 

Osinbajo minced no words when he said: “Atiku’s concept of restructuring is understandably vague, because he seeks to cover every aspect of human existence in that definition.” The Vice President said restructuring also means a “cultural revolution,” and that Nigeria needed a structure that gives everyone an opportunity to work, a private sector driven economy, (which are) critical pillars of our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), including our Ease of Doing Business Programme.

 

But Osinbajo argued that if, however, this   is his concept of restructuring, “it is clear that he has mixed up all the issues of good governance and diversification of the economy with the argument on restructuring. Good governance involves, inter alia, transparency and prudence in public finance. It involves social justice, investing in the poor, and jobs for young people.”

 

“Surprisingly, Atiku leaves out the elephant in the room – corruption. And how grand corruption, fueled by a renter economic structure that benefits those who can use political positions or access to either loot the treasury or get favorable concessions to enrich themselves. This was a main part of my presentations the Minnesota Town Hall meeting,” he said.

 

Clarifying his position, Atiku referred to his 2017 lecture in Enugu, where he expounded his concept of restructuring to include “devolution of powers and resources to the states, matching grants from the federal government to the states to help them grow their internally generated revenue position, the privatisation of unviable Federal Government-owned assets, a truly free market economy driven by the laws of demand and supply, replacing state of origin with state of residence, and passing the PIGD so that our oil and gas sector will run as a business with minimal governmental interference.

There is no denying the fact that wanton fraud has brought Nigeria’s economy to its knees, especially if Federal Government’s recent disclosure of the recovery of over N769 billion looted fund and evaded tax since 2015 is anything to go by. Though the loot recovery efforts has been said to have been skewed against opposition parties, the nation has been saved billions.

 

Whereas Osinbajo had said the thrust of the lecture was not restructuring, evidence seem to abound that the APC has been prevaricating and failed to display readiness to restructure the country in the past years. They alluded to rejuvenation of the Nasir El-Rufai Committee on the issue, less than five months before the elections as one of the reason.

 

Chief Ayo Adebanjo said this government is not sincere about restructuring. “They are not sincere about it because if they are, you know restructuring the country into true federalism is in their manifesto. If they are sincere, why are they setting up a committee to put forward their position on restructuring? That shows you that they are not sincere. What did they think of restructuring when they put it in their manifesto if they are honest?

 

“And right now, even if some of them want it, but because of the body language of President Buhari who does not want it, they will not talk. They are now begging the issue by setting up a committee headed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai who will do this and take a decision which will be sent to the party for implementation. Who are you deceiving? The party controls the government; the government is there to implement the position and decisions of the party. They are not talking to babies. Do they want to teach their grandfather how to suck eggs?”

 

The elder statesman recalls: “President Muhammadu Buhari has been promising restructuring since 2007. If you will recollect, Afenifere supported Buhari in 2007 on the promise that he was going to restructure the country. May be he has forgotten. That was when he, Abubakar Atiku and Umaru Yar’Adua contested in the presidential election. We regarded him as the cleanest person then and we supported him because he promised to restructure the country. Throughout the election he never mentioned it. He now contested with Tunde Bakare, when Yinka Odumakin was his Publicity Secretary. Restructuring was also on the card. Now he came with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and made the same promise but the moment he got the presidency, he has changed. I am too old now to be lured into an election under the premise that you will do a restructuring. If you believe in it, do it now.”

 

But Jide Owoeye, a Professor of International Relations at the Lead City University, Ibadan, said despite the seeming dialectical differences at this point, Osinbajo believes in restructuring.

 

“As advocates of restructuring I believe Prof Yemi Osinbajo is on our side. He talks about fiscal restructuring. For instance he says Value Added Tax should be a work and eat formula and so should belong to states where they are incurred rather than the federal. Is that not restructuring?

 

 

 

“He further advocated for removal of Federal Government’s overbearing involvement in inland waterways, land matters etc which Lagos fought for via the law courts.

 

“He wants state police as policing according to him is a community issue if it must be effective and using his own words you cannot police the entire expanse of this country effectively from Abuja. What he seem to be against is tinkering with the existing geopolitics of what constitutes the federating units. I would agree with him because what he advocates is seems to be the path to true federalism should not be confused with bogging ourselves down with cumbersome geopolitical re- arrangements which some are using to agitate for creation of more states etc or regional units that would further increase expenditures on governance.

 

“As Attorney-General of Lagos State, he fought for restructuring without using the term which of course has acquired different interpretations among the advocates and antagonists of true federalism. Above all he is a Yoruba man with the sentiments we want to uphold in this side of the country. Let’s encourage rather than disparage him.

 

“Of course a new federal constitution or a return to the one of 1963 would profoundly serve our desires for decentralisation. But what happens in the mid- term is what renders Osinbajo s position thinkable considering the fact that constitutional structure is one thing while it’s operation is another.”

 

Owoeye said UK and South Africa are good examples of unitary systems where provinces have acquired considerable autonomy just because operators of the system make it so.

 

 

“Perhaps we should prevail on our state governors together with their Attorneys-General to take a cue from Lagos because more often than not, their style of governance inadvertently moves us further away from federalism judging by their actions and inactions.”

 

But it is one thing for Osinbajo to believe in it and another for his party and indeed President Buhari to share such views and be ready to execute it.

 

At a forum not too long ago, the ethnic nationalities in the country had spoken about restructuring, itemising its benefits to the economy and governance. Dr. Nwodo, who spoke on their behalf talked passionately about diversification of the economy, stating: “America has developed shell oil technology, which makes their continual dependence on our oil practically impossible. Other countries are going to do so. What ate the alternatives? Agriculture. Take a country like the Netherlands. It is the 14th largest economy in the world. Netherlands exports just vegetables and dairy of $100billion annually. In the history of this country, our oil export has never attained such amount.

 

“When we had regional police, this state of insecurity did not exist. Every state enjoyed security. What we want is restructuring. If we have it, we will manage our domestic affairs. Productivity will increase, mutual respect will increase and friendliness will be encouraged. We want a restructured Nigeria. The alternative will be worse than the situation we have today.

 

“If it is possible for us to have a situation where people carry AK 47 to run about freely in Nigeria and murder people every day, yesterday it was 21, the other day it was 19. This is happening as if nobody cares…Any serious security agent in any country would have predicted it and organised preventive measure.

 

“If the essence of choosing 17 heads of security arms in this country is to ensure that they all come from the same region as the President to guarantee loyalty to him, what have they done to guarantee our security? If they must all come from the northern Nigeria, please bring those who can do the job,” the elders said.

 

However, while regional governments might hasten growth and probably reduce cost of governance, its timing at this moment has been suspect. Besides, the process is cumbersome, capable of creating controversies and chaos among various states and regions. Most importantly, it requires approval of the National Assembly, interestingly, the lawmakers, aware of the implications on their offices, would hardly vote in its favour.

Published in Viewpoint
Sunday, 16 September 2018 03:38
Davido’s management breaks silence on singer being member of Black Axe cult
 

Davido’s manager, Asa Asika, has reacted to a controversial report stating that the singer is member of the Black Axe confraternity.

 

DAILY POST recalls that one Tobi Adegoke, a 25-year-old suspected member of the Black Axe cult said he was lured into becoming a member of the group with promises that joining the group would grant him the rare opportunity of meeting Davido. 

He had told the police, “I am an Aiye member (Black Axe). I have been in the cult for about two years. I was told that Davido was a member and if I joined, I will be able to meet him.

 

“It was the guy who initiated me that said so. He said he worked for Davido and that it will be easy access for me. But since I joined, I have not met Davido. They told me I’ll become a very popular musician but see where I am now.”

However, in a chat with Vanguard, Asika denied knowledge of Davido being a member of any secret cult group.

“I have no idea of what you’re talking about my brother”, he said.

 

Another member of Davido’s DMW crew and also Perruzi’s manager, Abiola Ridwan Sanni, a.k.a ‘Kolotainment’, also dismissed the suspect’s allegation, describing it as ‘funny’.

“The allegation is funny, so no further comments”, he added.

Meanwhile, Davido is yet to react to the report.

 

DP

Published in Entertainment -News
Sunday, 16 September 2018 03:36
PDP wants Kemi Adeosun arrested, accuses FG of planning to help her escape from Nigeria.
 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the resignation of Kemi Adeosun from office as Minister of Finance.

 

However, the party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Adeosun for forging her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Exemption Certificate in addition to alleged impropriety and abuse of office as minister.

The party also raised the alarm of plots by the Federal Government to secretly move Adeosun out of the country following her resignation.

 

The statement reads in part, “The party invites Nigerians to note that President Muhammadu Buhari, whose administration has become notorious for shielding its many fraudulent and corrupt officials, could not summon the rectitude to sack Mrs. Adeosun, adding that she would have still been in office, if not for the sustained uproar by Nigerians and international creditors.

“Our investigations reveal that the Federal Government, which earlier made efforts to defend Mrs. Adeosun, has already perfected a plot to help her to evade prosecution following fears that she could open up on the humongous corruption going on in the financial sector under the Buhari administration.

“The PDP is also aware of plots by the Federal Government to secretly move her out of the country, and for that, we urge the international community to be at alert and ensure she is repatriated to face justice in Nigeria should the Federal Government succeeds in its devious plan.

 

“Furthermore, we are also aware that President Buhari was not by any measure prepared to drop her from his cabinet but for the demand by those responsible for her appointment, who protested her continued stay in office, although for their own selfish gains. A case of corruption fighting back!

“The PDP therefore demands an immediate open inquest into the records of the Finance Ministry under Mrs. Adeosun, to unravel all improprieties by the Buhari Presidency cabal, including alleged diversion of oil proceeds, fraudulent oil subsidy deals, leading to high fuel price; depletion of our foreign reserves, embezzling of funds returned by Switzerland and other huge sleazes in the ministry.

“The party also insists that President Buhari must be held responsible for all infractions in the finance ministry under Adeosun, as he appointed and retained her despite having information on the certificate forgery; a situation that confirms the decadence and lack of due diligence in the Buhari Presidency.

“Nigerians already know that the Buhari Presidency is a citadel of iniquity with inherent proficiency in stealing, forgery and manipulation of processes. This perhaps explains why President Buhari has not relieved his Special Assistant on Prosecution and Chairman of the Special Investigative Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla of his appointment in spite of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) confirmation that he forged his Secondary School Certificate.

“Is it not clear to all that the Buhari administration’s so-called anti-corruption war and purported integrity are mere orchestrations to hoodwink Nigerians and the international communityn, while Mr. President oversees the most corrupt administration in the history of our nation. 

 

DP

Published in News
Monday, 10 September 2018 19:14
Ex-IGP picks senatorial form, says Nigeria not ready for state police

A former Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, says Nigeria is not ripe for state police. 

Mr Abba who served as the 17th Inspector-General of Nigeria Police, was appointed on August 1, 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan and later confirmed as substantive IGP on November 4, 2014.

Mr Abba spoke while addressing journalists at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat on Monday after picking the nomination form to run for the ticket of the party for Jigawa Central Senatorial District.

State police was one of the issues raised by the APC restructuring committee following the discourse on restructuring. Although the concept has been opposed by President Muhammadu Buhari, it has been supported by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. 

Noting that policing is an expensive business, Mr Abba said he doubts the ability of states to finance their own police.

“From experience and from what we are seeing the state government going through with regards to payment of salaries, payments of pensioners, even paying or taking care of qualitative education for our children and considering the fact that policing is a very expensive business, you need to know the cost of ordinary helmet for a police man talk less of the protective jackets.

These are very expensive issues. Ordinary gadgets of SPNH, gadgets for monitoring, are very very expensive and if the states cannot pay salaries, another important aspect of the socio-economic development of their communities, then how and why are they looking forward to shouldering this very big burden?” 

The former IGP who stated clearly he was not against state police, said he doubts the true intention behind the current campaign for the issue of state police.

“And that’s why I have the feeling and I don’t hide it, perhaps some people are looking for another opportunity to compound the security problems of this country.

“While I was at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in 2009, I was assigned to conduct research on discipline in the Nigeria police. During the period and looking at the performances of the police from what the research presented to me, I realised that yes, there is the need perhaps to take another look at the structure of the police. 

“I have nothing against state police like I said, having recommended it in writing far back even when it wasn’t a serious issue in this country. But I think at this stage, it looks as if some people are trying to look for what they can use to compound the security situation of this country. Maybe we can continue talking about it. We can continue fine-tuning it but I am not sure this is the right time.”

Speaking on why he joined politics, he said two interests birthed his decision which is the interest of his people and his own interest to serve his country.

“The interest of my people to have a better representation at the National Assembly and my personal desire to serve my country Nigeria at the national level again, and this is bearing in mind that representing the seven local governments that make up Jigawa central constituency does not end at conveying their views and vice versa, it also involves joining my colleagues in taking decisions that will affect the nation whether politically, economically, socially and other activities of human life that will put Nigeria in its rightful place in the comity of nations.”

When asked what his opinion was on the siege to the National Assembly and the homes of Bukola Saraki, Ike Ekweremadu and recently, Edwin Clark, he said “these acts have been condemned by many, investigations and some actions have been taken towards them.”

“Personally I have not seen where anybody has praised any of those actions you mentioned. Let me also say that in all the cases you mentioned, investigation are being conducted and even before the end of this investigation, some form of punishment have been taken on those involved so I think it’s not a matter for me to comment further on.”

Asked what his take was on the refusal of the current IGP to appear before the Senate, he said he would advise him to do so.

“I will certainly advise the IGP to respond by going there. I don’t think in any situation there is a better person to defend you than yourself. Of course we have lawyers who present the interest of their client but in all situation, this is my personal belief, your personal defence is always better.

“I had always appeared before the Senate whenever they needed me. Even at a time when everybody thought differently, I appeared before a committee of a Senate to make a clear presentation of what the situation was and I think it went on fine.”

P/T

Published in News
Monday, 10 September 2018 18:50
MALAMI YABO DEFEATS WALI, SHAGARI, ALIYU IN ONLINE POLL

In a test of popularity, through an online poll that attracted 2,243 votes, Alhaji Faruk Malami Yabo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has again proved his mettle by defeating other aspirants within the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, eyeing the exalted position of the Sokoto State Governor.

Aspirants in the poll include former Deputy Governor and Water Resources Minister, Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, serving Senator Ibrahim Danbaba, Ambassador Abdallah Wali and Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu.

Others were Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, Dahiru Yusuf Yabo, Barrister Abubakar Sanyinna, Senator Abubakar Gada, Alhaji Ahmed Yushe’u Kebbe and Professor Lawal Bashar.

While the stage is gradually getting set by the breaking of each day, these aspirants seeking to occupy the Sokoto State Government House come 2019 are already indicating interest with their posters flooding most roundabouts within the state capital.

In answer to the question "who becomes the next Sokoto State Governor", if the gubernatorial election were to hold today and one of the aspiring candidates listed is to be chosen? 4% of the respondents with 86 votes said they would vote for Professor Lawal Bashar while 118 votes went to Alhaji Ahmed Yushe’u Kebbe.

Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu had 110 votes, Ambassador Abdallah Wali and Senator Abubakar Gada with 123 votes each, Dahiru Yusuf Yabo polled 126 votes, Barrister Abubakar Sanyinna has 131 votes, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman polled 132 votes with serving Senator Ibrahim Danbaba having 136 votes.

Former Deputy Governor and water resources Minister, Mukhtar Shehu Shagari came second with a total votes of 145, while Alhaji Faruk Malami Yabo topped the poll with 1013 votes marking 45% of the total votes.

Sokoto, the seat of the Caliphate, like most states of the federation will certainly be an interesting political battlefield come 2019.

This is simply because nearly all the heavyweights in the game of politics might be in the ring fighting skin fiercely to achieve the golden belt.

As the game hots up the incumbent Governor, Aminu Tambuwal is said to have entered into a secret agreement with a serving Senator from his senatorial district, Senator Ibrahim Danbaba, who recently defected to the PDP in order to become his anointed candidate and eventual trusted successor.

The poll is significant, because naturally, Nigerians would ordinarily have expected that, the Seat of the Caliphate will be greatly affected by the decamping of the Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, but instead, the soaring popularity of Alhaji Faruk Mallami Yabo seems to be making the State one of the strongest hub of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recently, 12 members of Sokoto State House of Assembly, who refused to move with Governor Aminu Tambuwal to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), bought governorship forms for Faruk Malami Yabo and while presenting the forms, Sani Alhaji Yakubu, who spoke on behalf of others, told journalists that they contributed the funds in order to support a Governorship Aspirant who could unseat Tambuwal, saying "the APC needed to reclaim its mandate in 2019 to save the State from its present “bad, difficult and critical” condition."

Malami Yabo who is described by many as a seasoned and experienced technocrat, served as commissioner for Finance under former Governor Aliyu Wammako and he is regarded as one of the biggest political heavyweight in Sokoto. A professional accountant of repute, who was credited with the improvement of the state’s internally generated revenue, bringing Sokoto State second, only to Lagos State, which is the richest state in Nigeria.
Yabo studied Public Administration at the Bayero University Kano and also holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy Administration (MPPA) from the same University. He attended the Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government where he studied Public Financial Management; and University of Manchester, Manchester Business School where he studied International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

Published in News
Monday, 09 April 2018 07:29
Vladimer Putin and Xi Jinping:The Rise of The New Presidents for Life An article By Tony Ogunlowo

Just as Africa is busy clearing its stables of despotic Presidents-for-life, China and Russia are busy installing their own.

President Vladimer Putin has a won a new term in office in an election that was marred by vote rigging and intimidation of opponents. In China the constitution has been changed to allow incumbent President Xi Jinping to serve more than two consecutive terms in office.

From a Western, and the rest of the world’s , point of view it means both leaders will remain in power for as long as they wish leading to abuse of power, corruption and abolition of democratic rule.

On the international scene it’ll mean dealing with two difficult men who are set in their ways: their policies regarding trade, dispute-settling, arms build-up (- most importantly nuclear) will not change. Already Russia has started a throwback to its Cold war tactics: poisoning its dissidents abroad, rebuilding and advancing its nuclear arsenal and antagonising the West at every opportunity.

Both leaders have seats on the United Nations Security Council and their GDP far exceeds that of the West and their policies can make or break the world especially when Donald Trump, leader of the free world, is indecisive and unpredictable.

On the international scene, a Third World country dictator poses no threat except to his own country and people. But when these dictators happen to be the leaders of Russia and China the whole world is potentially in line for a lot of trouble.

The idea of holding elections periodically is to enable a new leader to emerge with new ideas and policies: when the same person stays in the job for too long he’ll be practicing the same old stale policies over and over again.

We are all aware of what Presidents-for-life get up to once they’re in office for a long time: they become complacent, suppress free will and public opinion, resort to dictatorial tactics to rule and will indulge in cronyism and nepotism. Both Presidents have, over the years, have embarked upon crackdowns on dissidents: thousands who have opposed their rule have been locked up or murdered and have surrounded themselves with ‘yes’ men.

They ‘win’ elections to make themselves look democratic and respectable but the reality is they will exploit their status and the system to become dictators. Even though in their constitutions there are checks and balances that can mean they can be impeached and removed from office but when they control the judiciary they become effective above the law.

But the biggest problem here is trade and armed forces : China and Russia have sizeable armies equipped with the latest technology which they can unleash at a minutes notice: since Putin became President the probability of another World War has greatly increased as he continues to get involved in conflicts in Syria, the Crimea and elsewhere. He alone can start a war without the backing of the Russian parliament which makes him a very dangerous person.

 The current US-China trade war also shows how vulnerable the rest of the world is : without trade with China, which manufactures 47% of our goods from buttons to cellphones, cars, computers… (you name it, it’s made in China!) we’ll be in trouble. With Trump sparking conflict putting up tariffs the Chinese can follow suit with all of us paying the price when things start costing more than they should. And China ‘owns’ America if you consider the fact China holds more than $1.2 trillion in US treasury bonds.( - I don’t thing Trump knows this!)

And right now these two men who have set themselves up as Presidents-for-Life ,have the military and economic clout to change the course of the world. Two men who will not abide by the rules and will do as they seem fit.

Follow me on Twitter: @Archangel641 or visithttp://www.archangel641.blogspot.co.uk

Published in Viewpoint
Monday, 09 April 2018 07:24
Drug Abuse: Ndigbo and the Real Authors of Moral Decadence among Northern Youths By Jude Ndukwe

University Don, Malam Bala Mohammed, of the Faculty of Communications, Bayero University, Kano, has accused the Igbo of being responsible for the drug abuse prevalent among youths in the north. He was reported to have made this wild claim  of“unscrupulous Igbo drug dealers as brain behind the scourge” while presenting a paper titled “Nexus between youth, drugs, crime and insecurity” at the Kano Youth Summit on Peace Advocacy and Development, organised by Hamisu Magaji Foundation, at Mambayya House, on Tuesday, 3rd of April, 2018.


 Such assertions as this are irresponsible, callous, wicked anddeliberately woven to exculpate northern elites and shield them from taking full responsibility for the high, well documented and almost irreversible moral decadence of northern youths under their watch.

One wonders why a university don would condescend so low asto attributing the horrendous failures of northern leaders and elders in instilling discipline in their youths to another ethnic stock when it is obvious that those who go about hawking fake, expired, unapproved and hard drugs in the open markets everywhere including in Igboland are young men of the Hausa/Fulani stock.

What do the northern elites expect when their region is notorious for the highest number of children running into millions in the country without a home? It is not the fault of the Igbo that the north boasts of the highest number of illiterates not only in Nigeria but also in the whole wide world! Does Malam Bala Mohammed not know that such level of illiteracy comes with a price? Does he and his co-travellers on this infamous road of constantly blaming others for their own self-inflicted woes expect that their youths would be engaged in decent acts even when they are deliberately denied education and proper parental upbringing by their elites?

As at 2011, the then UN Under Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the United Nations, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, had during the Northern Nigeria and Economic Summit in 2011, in Abuja, lamented this situation when he said, “On Health and Education, the level of immunization of Children against dangerous childhood diseases, in the South-East is 44.6% immunization coverage, but the North-West has 3.7% and the North-East 3.6%. If you take the education of the girl-child as indicator, you see similar pattern of inequality with the South-East having an enrolment rate of 85%, South-West having an enrolment rate of 85%, South-South 75%, while the North-East 20% and North West 25%".

The continued dismal performance of the north on immunization as in other areas of life is not surprising. When children are left to roam the streets homless and hopeless as we see in the north everyday, who takes them for immunization?

In a data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, in 2017, it indicates that Yobe State, for example, has the lowest literacy level of 7.23% in the whole country followed by Zamfara (19.16%); Katsina (10.36%); Sokoto (15.01%); Bauchi (19.26%); Kebbi (20.51%); and Niger (22.88%) respectively. Compared to Ebonyi (77.76%), Imo State (96.43%), Abia (94.24%), Anambra (92.11%) and Enugu (89.46%), one understands why northern elites feel threatened by the Igbo and would always want to give the good people of the southeast a bad name in order to have them hanged!

When one further considers the fact that Yobe State with nearly two times less (2.8 million people) the population of Imo State (4.7 million), according to the 2014 population estimates, received N30.59bn from federal allocation in the whole of 2016 compared to Imo State that received N29.85bn in the same period even though Imo has more population to cater for than Yobe State, one is bewildered at how northern elites are deliberately impoverishing their citizens by denying them education, keeping them in perpetual poverty and disease, making them easily vulnerable to social vices that are natural consequences of such neglect only for them to turn around to find easy targets in people of the southeast to blame for their own calamities.

Rather than lament about their precarious situation which is driving the north against itself while their southern counterparts have continued to make the best of the meagre resources that the skewed sharing formula has forced on it, the north would do well to look at themselves in the mirror and do an honest soul searching on why it has remained the most backward, illiterate, diseased and poverty-stricken of all the regions in Nigeria despite the monumental resources it has cornered for itself over the years at the expense of the other regions.

For example, according to data sourced from Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, “In (about) 10 years, 2007 – 2016, successive northern governors have received over N12 trillion in federal allocation on behalf of the 19 states and its 413 local government areas excluding FCT.

The breakdown of the allocation from 2007 to 2016 reveals that states in the Northwest, North East and North Central have received a total of 3trillion, N2.5 trillion and N2.2 trillion respectively. And out of the over N10 trillion allocated to the 774 local government, northern states have received more than 50 per cent of the funding.”

Furthermore, between 2005 and 2016, the federal government has disbursed N153bn to the 19 states in the north and N115bn to the 17 states in the south, yet, the north burdens the whole nation with its nauseating level of illiteracy and its unavoidable consequences. It is children from Igbo states in particular and those of the south in general who make unimaginable and heroic sacrifices by being continually denied admission into federal government colleges despite scoring very high marks at entrance examinations, after their parents and government invest heavily on them, just to give room for some of their street-roaming, drug addicted, homeless and directionless northern counterparts who score as low as just 2 in some cases.

When Bill Gates insisted that our federal government under a northern president, Muhammadu Buhari, has not done enough to invest in human capital despite the humongous amount made available to it for such noble venture, it was another northern governor in Nasir El Rufai who rose up stoutly to defend the obvious dismal performance of northern leaders in that critical area. What a shame!

Ndigbo are known to be everywhere, in Lagos, Edo, Oyo and such other places, carrying out their legitimate businesses. Why are there no similar complaints about them from these hosts? In fact, from their legitimate businesses, Ndigbo contribute greatly to the IGR of states they reside and do business in. Rather than lament and whine continuously, the north should find ways of making the best opportunities huge presence of the Igbo in their localities present to them.

Northern leadrs, elders and elites should put their house in order and stop blaming the Igbo for every of their avoidable self-imposed misfortune. It is not our fault that despite them having unfettered access to the political and financial capital of the nation for nearly sixty years, they remain the most illiterate, diseased, backward and poverty-stricken region in the whole of Nigeria!

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Twitter: Stjudendukwe

Published in Viewpoint
Monday, 09 April 2018 07:17
Fake and adulterated drugs an albatross to healthy living - Ajibike babtunde
A medical doctor who is a consultant surgeon performed surgical operation and immediately recommended an anti-biotic tablet that will safeguard the patient from opportunistic infections and fast rack his healing, but incidentally the doctor observed that the condition of the man is deteriorating instead of improving on daily basis. The doctor became apprehensive about the failing health of his patient, he was suspicious of the authenticity of the drug, and decided to open the capsule, only to detect that it was filled with ashes. No doubt, the gentleman was a victim of fake and adulterated drug.
The prevalence of fake adulterated and sub-standard constitutes of one of the greatest evil of our time and the highest form of terrorism against public health as well as an act of economic sabotage. 
It is disheartening to observe that the business of fake drugs is a lucrative crime that is increasing worldwide on daily basis. It poses public health hazard to the masses and it can lead to poisoning of human cells and untimely death.
What is the essence of expending on drugs that is hazardous to the human health? The therapeutic failure and drug resistance is a major challenge for the health care providers in Nigeria. There is urgent need for government to intensify efforts on enlightenment campaign to sensitize the citizenry about the harmful effect of taking fake and adulterated drugs.
The proliferation of unapproved patent medicine stores and quacks operating in these outlets calls for the intervention of regulatory agencies. One of the veritable means of checkmating the spread of adulterated and fake drugs is to clamp down on the illegal shops and introduce punitive measures on regular basis, NAFDAC and Nigeria Custom have impounded and destroyed fakes drugs in recent time but there is need to intensify efforts to ensure total eradication of this menace.  
A study conducted by Former Deputy Director of World Health Organization (WHO), Professor Adeoye Lambo in Nigeria for Pharmaceutical firm in Lagos in 1990 showed that 54% of drugs in every major pharmacy shop were fake. The study also indicated that the figure had risen to 80% in the subsequent years.
 
There were reported incidents of fake drugs that led to the death of innocent Nigerians. In 1989, poorly compounded chloroquine syrup killed children in UNTH Enugu, Enugu State. Also in 1990, the paracetamol syrup disaster occurred when 109 children died in Ibadan and just after the intake which was produced with toxic ethylene gycol solvent instead of propylene gycol.
And in 2004, three Nigeria hospitals reported cases of adverse reaction from the use of contaminated infusion produced by four Nigerian companies. Consequently, the sampled infusions and water for infection from all over the country result showed that 147 of the 149 brands of water for injection screened were also not sterile. It is disheartening to see men and women hawking drugs along the major streets of our towns and cities in Nigeria. This unwholesome practice is very rampant among the illiterates and semi illiterates selling drugs in bags and trays, making wrong prescriptions that may be injurious to the health of the innocent members of the public.                
 
What then are the steps that should be taken to minimize the spread of fake and adulterated drugs in our pharmaceutical shops? There is need for more proactive approach on part of the World Health Organization and the entire international community in addressing the issue of counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals. This is achievable through seminars, public lectures and international convention against counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals just as we have for narcotics and psychotropic substances. At this, convention or conference sprinted efforts must be made to harmonize regulation of pharmaceutical products.
 
It behoves on the Federal Government to enact laws on drug counterfeiting and severe penalties on the peddlers of the substandard, fake and adulterated drugs.
This eradication of counterfeit drugs should be treated as an International Health Emergency Programme considering the fact that this challenge cut across all nations of the world. If this crime is holistically tackled by many nations of the world, it will go a long way to nip it in the bud.
Be it as it may, the healthcare providers are also advised to procure their drugs from reputable and credible sources. Not only this, our financial institutions and banks also need to collaborate with drugs regulators to ensure that fake drug dealers do not process their financial import documents from banks.
To eradicate drug counterfeiting in Nigeria, it is the responsibility of all the stakeholders which includes pharmaceutical industries, pharmacist, pharmacologist, approved patent medicine sellers, distributors, and regulatory agencies e.t.c.      
Published in Viewpoint
Page 112 of 184