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100,000 minimum wage, 200,000 teacher recruitment… Sowore’s plans for new Nigeria

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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100,000 minimum wage, 200,000 teacher recruitment… Sowore’s plans for new Nigeria

OMOYELE Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) says he will raise the national minimum wage to N100,000 and recruit over 250,000 teachers in his first term if he wins the 2019 presidential election.

Sowore, together with his running mate,  Rabiu Ahmed Rufai, made these promises while appearing on ‘The Candidates’, a presidential town hall event organised by Daria Media in collaboration with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and supported by the MacArthur Foundation.

On how he intends to raise enough funds to quadruple the minimum wage, Sowore said that there is enough wealth to go round in Nigeria “but when we continue to feed the greedy, the needy will suffer”.

ON PERSONAL WEALTH

Sowore said he does not have a dime to his name at the moment except the donations he receives from people of goodwill who are supporting his presidential ambition. He clarified, however, that what people usually, erroneously, attribute to him is actually the worth of Sahara Reporters, the media house that he founded. He pointed out that the Sahara Reporters is a separate entity from Omoyele Sowore as an individual

ON EDUCATION

An AAC presidency will ensure that the over 13 million out-of-school children in Nigeria are taken off the streets and back into classrooms, says Rufai. 200,000 teachers will be recruited across the country and teachers will be better paid.

The sum of N1.3 trillion will be dedicated to getting Nigerian kids out of the streets and back into classrooms, according to Sowore. The money will be sourced from already established education funds which are currently being effectively utilised. The police and other relevant law enforcement agencies will enforce the Universal Basic Education Act and ensure that no Nigerian child is denied the rught to education.

ON THE ECONOMY

Sowore’s running mate, Rufai, said their administration will make use of advanced technology to boost the economy. Coding, development of computer applications and software will be the top priority, and these will be deployed in all facets of the economy, including health and education.

He gave an instance with the State of California in the United States of America which he said is among the richest in the world “because of the tech companies that are there: Google, eBay, Amazon, and so on”.

If voted into power, Sowore said his administration will need about $500 billion to actualise its plans within its first four-year-term. This sum will be raised by increasing revenue generation through a more robust and transparent tax regime, as well as by plugging leakages from where government funds get frittered away.

Sowore also promised to legalise marijuana and cannabis and make them one of Nigeria’s main export commodity in order to boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

ON MINIMUM WAGE

The minimum wage will be increased to N100,000 which Sowore and Rufai christened “living wage”. The funds will be sourced from the money saved from purging the over 500,000 ghost workers that are currently on the government payroll. Also, the huge revenues being lost to corruption will be stopped and channelled into workers’ welfare.

ON JOB CREATION

Sowore said his administration will create 5 million new jobs for Nigerian youths in his first term in office, two million of these new job opportunities will be created in the power sector alone.

He added that he was looking at creating between 200,000 and 300,000 jobs in the security sector, while many other job opportunities will be created in the education and agricultural sectors.

ON ELECTRICITY

Sowore said his administration will invest about $10 billion in the power sector and will raise power generation from the present 7000 megawatts to 24,000 megawatts, adding an extra 17,000 megawatts to what is obtainable at the moment.

He said the $10 billion will come from investors who will be certain that they will be getting commensurate returns on their investment. He gave an instance with telecommunications giant, MTN, which he said made up to $13 billion in profit.

Investments in solar energy will be prioritised and solar farms will be constructed across the country that will generate 4,500 megawatts. A 90-kilowatt solar plant will be constructed in every government-owned university.

ON SECURITY

Great care will be taken in choosing the people that will man Nigeria’s security agencies to ensure that only the best hands, both in terms of operations and morals, are placed in leadership positions.

Sowore pointed out that the Boko Haram crisis has lasted this long because “it has become a business” through which the leadership of the Nigeria Army pocket billions of naira illegally, either by not procuring adequate arms or by helping themselves to the funds meant for soldiers welfare.

He promised that on assumption of office, he would send all the corrupt army generals packing.

Also, the method of agriculture will be reviewed in order to curb the incessant herders/ farmers clashes. Commercial ranching will be preferred to open grazing.

IF YOU LOSE?

Asked whether he will accept the result of the election should he lose, Sowore’s response was, “If the election is free and fair, there’s no way we can lose”.

Perhaps, because of time constraint, Sowore was not asked what his plan for the health sector was.

The next edition of ‘The Candidates’ will hold on Wednesday, January 31, 2019, and it will feature the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

New law accords five per cent job space for persons with disability

Jennifer UGWA
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New law accords five per cent job space for persons with disability

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has given assent to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which among other things, will ensure that corporate entities, as well as public institutions, reserve at least five per cent employment opportunities for persons living with disabilities.

The law would see to it that corporate bodies and individuals face sanctions if found guilty of discriminating against persons with disabilities.

Ita Enang, Buhari’s National Assembly liaison, who announced the assent on Wednesday night said that the Act prohibits all forms of discrimination on the ground of disability and imposes fine of N1, 000,000  for corporate entities and N100,000 for individuals or a six months imprisonment for violation concurrently.

“It guarantees right to maintain a civil action for damage by the person injured against any defaulters,” Enang said.

“It provides for a five-year transitional period within which public buildings, structures or automobile are to be modified to be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, including those on wheelchairs.

‘’Before erecting any public structure, its plan shall be scrutinised by the relevant authorities to ensure that the plan conforms with the building code.

“A government agency, body or individual responsible for the approval of building plans shall not approve the plan of a public building if the plan does not make provision for accessibility facilities in line with the building code.

“An officer who approves or directs the approval of a building plan that contravenes the building code commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of at least N1, 000, 000 or a term of imprisonment of two years or both.’’

“Discrimination is prohibited in public transportation facilities and service providers are to make provision for the physically, visually and hearing impaired and all persons howsoever challenged. This applies to Seaports, Railways and Airport facilities.

“The rights and privileges include education, healthcare, priority in accommodation and emergencies.
Furthermore, all public organisations are to reserve at least 5% of employment opportunities for these persons.

“The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is also established in Section 31 with Executive Secretary as the head.”

The assent comes just a few days after the president blamed lawmakers for not passing the bill.

The lawmakers, however, refuted the claim, saying that the bill was actually being held up by the office of the president at the time.

 

In Search of selfless leaders for Nigeria

Editorial
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In Search of selfless leaders for Nigeria

By Yinka Adeosun

THE entrepreneurs of falsehood are back in business. And, this is very understandable as it is that time of the year. Lies, deceits and contrived data are now the order of the day courtesy the merchants of death and the enemies of truth. It is a season when politicians are quick to make promises, which they do not intend to fulfil. These little values that they take for granted have become the standards with which they are accessed when they come into the office.

Clergypreneurs are not left out of this game of deceit. It is typical that in election years, there are bound to be prophecies of who will win and lose. The beginning of this year has witnessed such camaraderie and patronage with the gullible by all manner of clerics (as enumerated by Segun Adeniyi in his column of 3/01/2019). In Nigeria, faith is often an object of manipulation that leaves its victim hapless and more hopeless than it met him. Sadly, the poor are the most naive, not leaving out the rich who are also susceptible to such religious gimmicks.

Every four years we get in the web of this vicious cycle. Sadly, we don’t reflect on the last cycle, we hardly learn lessons and we don’t plan. The patterns of our electioneering remain the same. The issues are left to the media to discuss. The candidates do not have a grasp of the issues at stake upon assuming power; neither do they know how to address them. Altercations and name-calling are commonplace in our polity. A close look at the personalities reveals that they are self-seeking than service-oriented. There is a dearth of commitment to the people and knowledge of the cardinal issues that plague the nation.

The incumbent has been stretched to his wit end. He seems to be bereft of ideas from the outset of his inauguration. His late appointment of ministers, uninspiring performance and his nepotistic approach to offices are rather unfortunate of a leader who contested the same office for many years. Sadly, the idolisation of President Muhammadu Buhari has blinded some of his die-hard followers from seeing the truth of his incompetence and gerontocratic display and connection to deliver the Nigeria of our dreams. What can an analogue mind profit a digital generation?

Plagued by character flaws and unhealthy antecedents, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is not offering anything promising. With baggage of sleaze and impropriety at home and abroad, his public life reeks of stench that is unbecoming of a decent presidency. His arrogance, largely derived from his largely ill-gotten wealth is not a model of the kind that Nigeria needs. If charity begins at home, Atiku Abubakar is not the kind of president that can take Nigeria to the promise land.

The performance of these popular candidates while in government was anything but remarkable. As vice president and head of the economic team, Atiku’s privatisation process was smeared by impropriety that has continued to trail him since he left office. The question we should be asking Alhaji Atiku is what he forgot in office after eight years in government that he wants to come back and acquire again? The incumbent president has been taciturn on his plans for another four years. His fragile health and the usurpation of his office by cabals are indications for him to take a deserved rest from Aso Rock. Giving either of them another chance is a mockery of our commonwealth, an elevation of failure and a caricature of our collective destiny as a nation. For those who destroyed our past cannot be trusted with the future.

Is it not a misnomer that those who seem to have a grasp of the issues are not showing any serious capacity to impress let alone win in this coming election? Apart from their statements in the media and their eloquence at the presidential debates, their campaign is not visible. Their parties and memberships are vague and not visible. They are known only by their families and cronies who may end up being the only ones to cast votes for them. They lack the political wherewithal to make any serious impact. An alliance by these persons to dislodge the status quo seems the logical thing to do; but to them, this is foreclosed.

I am particularly piqued at the youths. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has become a tool by politicians to achieve their selfish ends. Gone are the days when this arm of a young set of bright minds was a terror to bad policies of the government. What has happened to the fiery activism of Ali-Must-Go days or the heady resistance that stood resolute against the International Monetary Fund/World Bank induced Structural Adjustment Programme in 1990 logjam? Today’s army of young people have either been brainwashed or are just brain-dead. We look at what the politicians say instead of what they do and their implications on our collective future. What future has a septuagenarian other than the grave? It’s so sad how we have thrown rationality to the dogs.

The average Nigerian has become so used to money politics that values have been thrown to the dustbin. Our social values have been eroded. The same set of people who are mobilised for PDP’s campaign are the same who will attend APC’s rally, all at a price. If that was bad, it has now become so terrible that people now cast their vote only when they are paid by the highest bidder. If only the Nigerian electorates can think that they are the eventual losers of the N5000 they get before casting their vote for that candidate! This random ineptitude is fast becoming a national blunder that will continue to haunt generations yet unborn.

Selfishness and greed are the only binding denominator among Nigerian political elite while the youths only think of what they can scoop from this malaise. They seem to lack the capacity to think ahead. Since 1960 our development plans have been a flash in the pan. Their results have turned out as reckless and fruitless as ever – a sad tale on successive administrations. With 2020 just a year away, there’s nothing in the offing about Vision 2020 as none of the presidential hopefuls has anything to offer on any serious plan for our dear country.

In the words of George Carlin, an American author and social critic, “Governments don’t want an intelligent population because people who can think critically can’t be ruled. They want a public just smart enough to pay taxes and dumb enough to keep voting and electing corrupt politicians.” With less than a month to the elections, hope and optimism appear to be far away for Nigeria in the next four years. It is however expected that Nigerians will vote for the candidate of their choice who will emerge in a free, fair and credible ballot system. And the cycle continues …

 

Adeosun writes from Akure, Ondo state

Ezekwesili pulls out of presidential race

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Ezekwesili pulls out of presidential race

FORMER Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has pulled out of the 2019 presidential race.

Ezekwesili, who was running on the platform of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACNP), made the announcement on Thursday morning via her Twitter handle.

She said she will now devote her time “to help build a coalition to defeat the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party in the February 16, 2019 election”.

“This coalition for a viable alternative has now more than ever before become an urgent mission for and on behalf of the citizenry,” Ezekwesili stated.

“This decision followed extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days. I deem it necessary for me to focus on helping to build a veritable coalition to ensure a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the forthcoming elections.

“Over the past three months, I have been in private extended talks with other candidates to make a coalition possible that would allow Nigerians to exercise choice without feeling helplessly saddled with the #APCPDP.

“We have no right to allow citizens give in to despair. We will #Fight4Naija together, and prove to all that the mess that has now become the political class will not be allowed to destroy our spirits and the nation.

“From last year, I have made it clear to the nation that Nigeria has always had a 20-year cycle of change – 1959, 1979, and 1999.

“2019 begins another 20-year cycle, and together with all Nigerians of good will, I stand ready to play my part to ensure that we do not miss this opportunity to sing a new song. We have no more time to waste. Let’s get to work!”

Before formally declaring to run for the presidency, Ezekwesili had founded a movement she termed ‘The Red Card Movement’ which, according to her, will work to ensure that neither the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nor the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wins the 2019 general election.

Ezekwesili also served as an independent observer when some of the young presidential candidates tried to form a coalition. The candidates at the time included Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), among others.

The coalition failed after the candidates refused to accept Durotoye who had won the internal election held among the candidates.

It is not clear who Ezekwesili will be supporting now that she has pulled out of the race.

Atiku US travel: Saraki knocks critics

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Atiku US travel: Saraki knocks critics

SENATE President Bukola Saraki has described the reports that former Vice President Abubakar Atiku traveled to the United States of America as part of his (Saraki’s) entourage as ridiculous.

Speaking on Kakaaki, a breakfast programme of the Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Wednesday, Saraki said such claims show the desperation of the opposition party to tarnish Atiku’s image.

Atiku, who was Olusegun Obasanjo’s deputy for eight years (1999 to 2007), is currently the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He had not been able to travel to the US since he left office.

Reports have it that Atiku’s inability to travel to the US was due to a law in the country which prohibits perceived corrupt foreign leaders from being issued visas.

But following Atiku’s recent trip to the US, alongside Saraki and other PDP members, many claimed that he (Atiku) was only able to do so because he was in the Senate President’s entourage.

“These are desperate claims. When you are campaigning and you see that you have suffered a setback, just move on and don’t make a fool of yourself. To say the candidate travelled on my merit is not true,” Saraki said on Wednesday.

“He applied for his visa, was given the visa and he was invited to attend functions. How do you do that? How do you travel as an aide? That is ridiculous! They know it. It is very difficult for them to respond because they have sold a lot of propaganda and lies to Nigerians.

“…it was important for us to address the problem and put it behind us and because the other party (APC) was using it as propaganda, we decided to go to America and instead of them to keep quiet and move on, they say he went as my aide.”

Atiku has since returned to the country to resume his campaigns ahead of the February 16 presidential election.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Atiku may have lobbied his way into getting a US visa regardless of the Presidential Proclamation 7750 which bars corrupt foreign officials from entering the country.

A US journalist, Judd Legum, reported that Atiku, through the PDP, had hired a lobbyist, Brian Ballard, who has “deep connections to the Trump administration” and had “chaired the Trump Victory organization”, to do the job for him.

The contract was agreed in September 2018 and Ballard, according to the report, billed Atiku (and the PDP) a total of $1.1 million, to be paid in tranches. The first tranche of $270,000 was paid upfront, while another $270,000 was due to be paid in late December 2018.

According to Legum, it was thanks to Ballard’s influence that Atiku was able not only to get a US visa but also “score a meeting with Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and spoke at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce”.

Corruption charges: Orji Uzor-Kalu has no case to answer until further notice – Court

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Corruption charges: Orji Uzor-Kalu has no case to answer until further notice – Court

JUSTICE Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has suspended the corruption trial involving former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor-Kalu, until further notice.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on October 31, 2016,  brought a 34-count charge against Uzor-Kalu, accusing him of defrauding Abia State to the tune of N7.2 billion, while serving as the governor of the state between 1999 and 2007. The charges were later increased to 39 counts.

Uzor-Kalu was said to have committed the crime in connivance with one Ude Udeogo, who was his commissioner for finance at the time. Both men pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

However, in June 2018, Idris was promoted to an Appeal Court Justice alongside 11 others, but a special waiver was granted him to continue presiding over Kanu’s case.

At the last adjourned date in November 2018, Uzor-Kalu was absent from court and his counsel informed the court that he travelled to Germany for medical purposes. But the court was displeased that the accused person left the country without first seeking and obtaining permission from the court.

Consequently, Justice Idris revoked Uzor-Kalu’s bail, and ordered him to present himself to the EFCC on his return to the country.

But Uzor-Kalu has since returned to the country and is taking active part in the re-election campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari. In fact, his name featured on the list of influential persons on the Buhari campaign council.

Recall that Uzor-Kalu had in 2016 defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on whose platform he won the governorship election two times, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

At the resumption of hearing on Wednesday, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, informed the court that Uzor-Kalu has refused to report himself to the EFCC as the court had directed. He urged the court to proceed with the business of the day and call the defence counsel to open its defence regardless of the accused person’s absence.

But Justice Idris said he could not continue with the case as the authorisation he had to preside over the trial had expired.

He explained that he received fresh fiats with respect to some other cases before him but that the Uzor-Kalu case was not one of them.

“I should not proceed further, otherwise, I will be acting without authority. So, in the circumstance, I am of the view that further proceedings shouldn’t go on until I receive further instructions,” Idris said.

It is not clear whether Idris would be authorised to keep presiding over the case or whether the case would be assigned to a different judge, which means that the trial will start all over.

Uzor-Kalu’s issue is one of the cases that critics of the Buhari administration always cite as a proof of the President’s one-sided approach to anti-corruption.

One would expect that Uzor-Kalu would have been taken into EFCC custody on his return from Germany since the federal high court had revoked the bail granted him.

Many have said that the fact that Uzor-Kalu was even able to travel out of the country when the court had ordered him to deposit his travel documents with the court registrar as part of his bail conditions, is another proof that there had been some sort of compromise either on the part of the EFCC or the court officials, or both.

Uzor-Kalu, himself a senatorial candidate on the platform of the APC, is one of the moneybags financing Buhari’s re-election.

My government has fought insecurity, corruption, unemployment, says Buhari in Sokoto

Rebecca Akinremi
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My government has fought insecurity, corruption, unemployment, says Buhari in Sokoto

President Muhammadu Buhari today in Sokoto reiterated that his administration has successfully tackled corruption, insecurity, and generated employment contrary to the widespread perception that he has failed to fulfill his 2015 campaign promises.

The president made this declaration during the All Progressives Congress Presidential rally for his re-election on February 16.

According to NAN, Buhari said that his administration is successfully implementing the fight against corruption, providing security and implementing policies to diversify the economy.

“We have succeeded in fighting Boko Haram; our farming system tremendously improved; and corruption has generously been addressed,” Buhari said.

In Sokoto, Buhari pledged to continue his duty of protecting the integrity of Nigerians as well as pursue his three cardinal programs.

“I want to assure you that we will continue in this direction in order to ensure that we successfully protect the integrity of Nigerians and our country,” he said.

Buhari also made a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, at his palace where he said that his administration has reduced the local government areas controlled by Boko Haram group to none, which previously were 17.

He said his administration had tackled maladministration. “Leadership is a trust; with our knowledge, we will not allow anybody to cheat people or collaborate on any dishonest dealings.”

While Buhari has continued to harp on the success of his administration on tackling insecurity and corruption, Nigeria has sustained for the fourth consecutive year the third position in the global terrorism index. This made Nigeria to become the third among the countries worst hit by terrorism, globally, as a result of Boko Haram and herdsmen insurgencies.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in recent weeks, accused Buhari’s administration of corruption. He had cited that Buhari’s tenure was based on nepotism, which according to him, was a form of corruption. The elder statesman said the President was using anti-corruption agencies such as Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hunt down his opponents.

N27,000 minimum wage not acceptable, say TUC, NUT

Rebecca Akinremi
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N27,000 minimum wage not acceptable, say TUC, NUT

THE fuss about minimum wage continues to linger as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) say they will not accept the N27, 000 national minimum wage approved by the National Council of State on Tuesday.

The National Council of State, which comprises past Nigerian presidents and military heads of state, however, retained the minimum wage for federal workers at N30, 000.

Bobboi Kaigama, President of the TUC, said, in an interview on Wednesday, that the organised labour will now engage members of the National Assembly and possibly have them endorse the N30, 000 minimum wage that had been recommended for workers at both the federal and state levels, by the tripartite committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kaigama said, “If President Muhammadu Buhari takes the N27, 000 agreed by the National Council of State to the lawmakers, organized labour will provide necessary documents and agreements reached by the tripartite committee to lobby for N30, 000.’’

Similarly, Mike Ene, the NUT Secretary-General, expressed disappointment with the idea of N27,000 for state workers saying “it is unfair and needed to be addressed immediately because a worker is a worker everywhere in the country, either with the federal or state government”.

Ene further explained that the N30,000 only translates to a thousand Naira daily, insisting that the N30, 000 should go for all the workers across the country.

In January 9 this year, while inaugurating the tripartite committee on minimum wage, President Buhari noted that there was no doubt that the nation needed a new minimum wage to enhance the welfare of the Nigerian workers.

However, after the recommendation of a new minimum wage of N30,000, Abdulrazaqe Bello-Barkindo, spokesman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum criticised the development, saying that that state governors will not be bullied into accepting the N30,000 new national minimum wage. 

Global movement against water privatisation to converge in Abuja

Editorial
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Global movement against water privatisation to converge in Abuja

ON 29th and 30th January, global activists, thought leaders, labour unionists and human rights advocates will meet in Abuja for a national summit aimed at achieving the human right to water in Nigeria and around the world.

The summit, which has as theme: “Nigeria’s Water Emergency: From Resistance to Real Solutions Against Corporate Control”, is organised by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Corporate Accountability, Public Services International and other groups on the platform of the Our Water ‘Our Right Coalition’ to set the agenda for rejecting water privatization and securing universal water access in Nigeria and across the globe.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Philip Jakpor, spokesman of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, noted that participants for the summit will come from communities across Nigeria, the United States, India and other cities that have faced harms caused by the private water industry.

Impacted people from Flint, Michigan, Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania in the US and Nagpur in India will testify to the harms and human rights abuses they have experienced from water privatizing giant Veolia which is running for a contract to manage water in Lagos – Nigeria’s most populous city.

Members of the US Congress will also participate remotely alongside the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation, Leo Heller and the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty, Philip Alston.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, as well as members of the National Assembly, are also expected to be part of the summit.

Among other objectives, the summit will strengthen the solidarity between civil society groups, labour unions, activists, policymakers and the media to resist privatisation in the water sector and advance real solutions to lack of access to water within the realm of public-public partnerships.

Chairman of the Board of the ERA/FoEN, Nnimmo Bassey, said that: “water is a human right which should not be subject to the whims of privatisers.  This is the key message of the Our Water Our Right Coalition and this is the message that participants in the Abuja summit will reinforce”.

“Water needs to be in the hands of people, not corporations,” said Shayda Naficy, campaign director with Corporate Accountability. “Movements around the world are demanding an end to the corporate control of this vital resource; it’s time for governments and the World Bank to heed our calls and end the promotion of water for profit.”

Advocates are in unanimity that water privatization, often backed by institutions like the World Bank, have time and again failed communities and often resulted in raised rates, labor abuses and public health crises instead of increased water access.

After the conclusion of the Abuja summit, the Nigerian parliament is set to discuss a precedent-setting water bill that could also reject water privatization.

The summit will end with a communiqué that will chart a path forward for the future of access to water for the African continent and millions around the globe.

Amidst controversial deal with Ballard Partners, Atiku, wife pledge to liberate Nigeria if elected

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Amidst controversial deal with Ballard Partners, Atiku, wife pledge to liberate Nigeria if elected

DESPITE the controversy surrounding deal with the United States firm, Ballard Partners, Inc., presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday pledged to liberate the nation if elected in the forthcoming general elections.

In his personal post on verified Twitter accounts, the politician promised to create more opportunities, jobs and promote the nation’s economy both at home and abroad.

“I solemnly declare to Nigerians, that if I am elected President on February 16, 2019, I will be Nigeria’s chief marketing officer, and will never speak ill of our economy, our polity and our youths. My utterances, both at home and abroad, will be used to lift Nigeria’s economy because Atiku means jobs.

“I believe in jobs – Jobs, opportunity, Being United and Security and it is time to get Nigeria working again. I, therefore, make this promise to all Nigerians, elect me, and I assure you the good people of Nigeria, that we will regain our status as Africa’s top recipient of FDI,” said the PDP candidate.

The former Vice President has been in the storm lately for allegedly hiring lobbyists in order to obtain the visa that enabled him enter America after many years of the ban.

Atiku’s Post on his official handle

In the purported deal, signed on his behalf by the former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka and Brian D. Ballard on 21st September 2018, Atiku is to make a quarterly payment of $270, 000 dollars ($90, 000 per month) for the contracted services.

The duty of the firm as contained in the contract agreement reads; “It shall be the firm’s duty to consult with the client and advocate on its behalf those issues the client deems necessary and appropriate before the US Federal Government.

“Issues and objectives may include, but not limited to, enactment of US-Nigerian relations, strengthening and advancing democratic values and the rule of law in Nigeria, with a special focus in the coming months on maintaining political and security conditions free of intimidation and interference in order to ensure the success and fairness of Nigeria’s national election for president in 2019.

“It shall further be the firm’s duty to inform the client of developments in legislation and policy relevant to the client’s issues and objectives.”

The leak of this document has ever since caused a public outcry and raised discussions among politicians and other members of the public.

Why I visited the United States

However, Atiku claimed his visit to the US was to woo foreign investors and for the nation to reclaim its lost position as Africa’s top destination for FDI.

In the post, he frowned at Nigeria’s declining fortune on foreign direct investment stressing that Ghana had overtaken the nation as West Africa’s largest recipient of foreign investments.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I received the news that the Republic of Ghana has overtaken our dear nation as West Africa’s largest recipient of foreign direct investment.

“For all the years that the Peoples Democratic Party governed Nigeria, including the 8 years of which I was Vice President, Nigeria always set the pace for Africa in terms of foreign direct investment and became the number one recipient of FDI in Africa in 2013 under a PDP administration. In that year, we also became Africa’s largest economy, thanks to the PDP’s leadership.”

Atiku’s Post on his verified Facebook account

Atiku further blamed the current administration for overlooking the current economic development despite Nigeria’s previous status as an investment destination in Africa.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in its 2018 World Investment Report titled, ‘Investment and New Industrial Policies, Key Messages and Overview’, attributed the 11 per cent decline ($11.3 bn) in regional FDI to West Africa to Nigeria’s ‘depressed’ economy.

The nation’s FDI, according to the report also fell by 21 per cent which amounts to 43.5 billion.

He attributed the slow socio-economic development as to why Nigeria was declared poverty headquarter of the world.

“I foresaw this happening, which is why I was in the United States last week to get foreign investors who have been divesting from Nigeria, to return their investments. Prior to my US trip, I had undertaken similar missions in Europe and the Orient.”

“As a businessman and employer of labour, I am disappointed that a nation with 15 percent of our population has outperformed us in this area. This is an economic emergency that must be addressed.

“Sadly, this unfortunate economic indicator has escaped the attention of the current administration, who are more interested in hounding real and imagined opponents, like the Chief Justice of Nigeria and many legislators, than in addressing the rapid economic decline Nigeria is witnessing under their watch,” he added.

Atiku became PDP’s candidate on October 7, 2018, but the agreement was signed by Chidoka on 9th September, 2018 about 16 days prior to his emergence as the flag bearer.

During his visit, he met with the congressman Michael McCaul, Chairman of US Homeland Security, Congressman Smith and some Nigerians in the US.

Titi Abubakar canvasses support for husband  

Meanwhile, wife of the former Vice President, Titi Abubakar has intensified the campaigning for the candidacy of her husband.

She said if her husband is elected in the presidential election Nigeria would be relieved of bondage it found itself.

Speaking at a Town Hall meeting today in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, she emphasised on Atiku’s capacity to develop the country, restructure and ensure inclusive governance.

“You have no other President than Atiku. He was there before as Vice President. He has done it before and he will do it again. He was the one who led President Obasanjo’s economic team. The eight years was meaningful to Nigeria. The APC government which is barely four years in power and everything has gone worse.

“We’re in bondage. Vote Atiku to liberate us. It’s an inclusive government that we are going to have because it would be the government by the people and for the people. We want to be the servant of our people because we are the chosen one.”

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