Browsing: Column

No one is in any doubt that terrorism poses one of the gravest threats to humanity in today’s world. Here in Nigeria, within a decade and a little, unconscionable acts of violence by persons pursuing heinous ideological, religious, and political objectives have resulted in wanton destruction of lives and property, making Nigeria one of the most difficult places to be in the world,

Before her ministerial appointment, Farouq was Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and had served as a staff of the National Assembly Service Commission before leaving to join politics in 2010. An astute politician from Zamfara State and former National Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress, Farouq attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Actuarial Science) and Master’s degrees in International Affairs and Business Administration.

But Agnes Callimard is just doing what she is paid to do by her UN employer. The UN is obviously working at the next level after the adoption of Resolution 6/295 in September 2007 as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People

Nigerians are watching the unravelling of a fascinating story of political skulduggery in the ongoing saga of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What we may perceive as a passing fancy is becoming a bruising and humiliating experience for Nigeria’s Number two citizen. We may be tempted to say that Nigeria’s democracy is going through a new phase where sacred cows will soon be a relic of bygone era.

The President, who was accompanied by Governors of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; and Plateau State, Simon Lalong; seven cabinet ministers; head of the National Intelligence Agency; and that of the Diaspora Commission, was on a dual mission to undertake a State Visit and Co-Chair, with President Cyril Ramaphosa, the inaugural meeting of the elevated Bi-National Commission between Nigeria and South Africa.

Today marks the 59th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence from British colonial rule. On Saturday, October 1, 1960, Nigerians gathered at the Race Course (now Tafawa Balewa Square) in Lagos as Princess Alexandra, the representative of Her Majesty the Queen of England handed over the instruments and symbols of independence to Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. It was 12.01am as the Nigerian flag of green white green was hoisted. It was a high moment for Nigeria. It was a major turning point since the amalgamation of 1914. It marked Nigeria’s exit from colonial, imperial rule. It was the birth of a new, independent nation.

The warrior is noble and strong. His resolve is firm and his commitment is total. His is to kill, to shed blood and to be killed. His is to die for his King and for a worthy cause. His is to protect and lay down his life for his faith, his nation, his people and his loved ones.

Aaaarggh……….how time flies! Tomorrow October 1st, the global space will be colonised and the yearly ritual of Independence celebration will be in the air. Behind the meaningless red carpet; the billeted of dignitaries in Abuja posh hotels, the military salute, the hypocritical patriotism behind the green-white-green flag of this embattled nation, the over-inflated accounting of events organizers, the lies of paid acolytes, the leader’s empty promises, the simpering foolish ‘gloriana’ of the much ballyhooed image of Nigeria as a giant of Africa, there must be a probing pause of how bad we have fared as a nation.

It is instructive that the Abuja court held that since the charges of terrorism had already been filed against Sowore, he must deposit his international passport and other travel documents to the court to guarantee his availability for trial, an indication of the risks to national security and evasion of justice

Delivering the keynote address at the Nigeria High-Level Side-Event on “SDG Integration – Bridging the Policy Planning – Budgeting Gap for the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” which held on the margins of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA74), the President noted: “It is for this reason that in May this year, we committed ourselves to lifting approximately 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within a 10-year period. This is a national development priority and in line with the aspirations of the SDGs.