Clay Richie

Barely one month after Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was tagged “Baba Go Slow”. Ask me why? Because he decided to address the cumbersome nature of Nigeria`s challenges in a different way. He promised change and has changed his tactics from the usual way that has brought us down and failed us. Since what has been tagged the “norm” has failed us in the last 16 years of democracy, it was important for him to do things differently. He has delayed in appointing members of his cabinet as contrary to the way it`s being done before now that has ended up in failure. He`s taking his time to dissect each Ministry, Department and Agency in the view on taking the right decision on them.

FOR asking President Muhammadu Buhari to  be sincere enough and publish the reports the former administration handed over to him, the Presidency has taken a swipe at the former Ministers under the immediate past President Goodluck  Jonathan, saying they should reflect on the kind of government they handed over to the present.

Sad day in Kogi is a redundant statement anyway. It’s always the era of the Egyptian plagues anyway. But I warmly accept the condolence message that my friend, Professor Moses Ochonu, has sent me on the latest tragedy visited on my state by APC – the choice of Abubakar Audu as the party’s flag bearer in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.

On July 17, 2012, a recently re-elected Governor Adams Oshiomhole visited Aso Rock Presidential Villa and on his way out he had a chat with State House Correspondents and said as follows “what the Edo election has confirmed is that when the President and Commander-in-Chief puts the country first and conducts himself as a statesman, not just as a party leader, credible elections are possible, because people were apprehensive that the Nigerian Army could be misused. But of course, I told them I didn’t think they were right, but the President’s clear directive was that the votes must count."

More details are beginning to emerge on how former governor of Kogi State, Prince Audu Abubakar emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the party’s primaries held yesterday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. The Paradigm had initially published an exclusive story revealing Prince Audu had stepped down for frontline gubernatorial aspirant from Kogi West, Barrister Tunde Irukera, but fresh information made available later in the day showed that negotiations broke down between the two major contenders.

A great writer, Prof. Akpoedete recently wrote an analysis of the President asking whether Muhammadu Buhari is a snail or sniper. On close reading, he questioned the narrative of a snail at Aso Rock. Many colleagues disagreed with him then. Now few weeks after and close to 100 days in office, I have been receiving calls. A new narrative is emerging. Overwhelmingly, a Buhari is now adjudged a political sniper in a heavily landmine political field. I cannot disagree as such due to many reasons.

“And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men it will come to nothing. But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest you even be found to fight against God.” – Acts of The Apostles 5: 38-39

The assumption that capacity, antecedents and credibility are the sole parameter guiding the appointments made so far by President Muhammadu Buhari is logically and morally untenable. We cannot be swimming endlessly in the ocean of hypocrisy pretending that there is nothing wrong in President Buhari exuding ethnic bias and bigotry in making key appointments. What competence? Is it the competence of Northerners or is the president so stereotyped that he can only see competent people from a particular section of the country?.

The enormously popular talk show, ‘Berekete’ on Wazobia FM, Abuja, told the incredible-yet-true story of a hard-working and respected school teacher somewhere in Plateau State who hanged himself. He hadn’t been paid salary for seven straight months. He came home to find that no-one had eaten and two of the children had medical prescriptions for which there was no money. He sneaked out without talking to anyone. After a long while, news came home that he had strangely been caught with a stolen goat.

The so-called “uproar” over the perceived “lopsided” appointments made so far by President Buhari is nothing but an orchestrated frustration of a few jobless politicians who depend only on government appointments as their means of livelihood and, of course, the noise of the latest opposition party in town. The majority of Nigerians want to see good governance, pure and simple, and care less about the ethnic origin of those appointed into positions.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, on Friday assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari’s political appointments will balance out very soon. Adesina spoke while featuring on a radio programme, Political Platform, on RayPower 100.5FM, monitored by our correspondent.

Northern-based group, Arewa Youth Parliament (AYP) has warned Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, against unguarded utterances against the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The group, which described as unacceptable the manner Governor Oshiomhole has abandoned the respect for the office of state governor and become an emergency critic of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call the governor to order immediately .

Troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade of the Nigerian Army have uncovered a major bomb-making factory and arrested a terrorist leader and two others, the spokesperson for the army, Sani Usman, has said. Mr. Usman, a colonel, described the finding as “an unprecedented feat” in the fight against the extremist Boko Haram sect in its area of operations.

Weimar Germany emerged from the crushing defeat of World War I as a broken society in search of purpose and in need of redemption. The demands at Versailles were deeply humiliating, but the proud German leadership still had to sign them and accept the occupation of the Rhineland by French troops.

The 8th National Assembly resumed plenary on Tuesday 28th July after weeks of recess – an adjournment that was prompted by the leadership crisis of the June 9th, 2015 inauguration of the legislature. So far, the Senate, having sat at plenary for a total of 14 days, has achieved a lot in a little time.

Strong indications emerged wednesday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced a detailed investigation into some financial transactions during the tenure of the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi.

The ongoing construction of The Second Niger Bridge may be suspended until the integrity of the bridge is sorted out, the federal government said on Wednesday. According to the Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Aminu Diko, the reasons range from the actual cost of the bridge, non-issuance of the Certificate of Compliance, non-compensation of the host community and non-adherence to due process in the award of contract were also responsible for the stoppage.

The order to crush Boko Haram by the end of the year is well intended and most appropriate, however it opens up reasons for concern based on history and as has been elucidated in recent reports.

Lo, Nigeria’s political titan was born two years ago It has been two years since the mergers that resulted in the formation of the All Progressives Congress. The APC was formed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), parts of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). A crucial chunk of the Peoples Democratic Party, then called “the new PDP” later joined the union to mount the biggest opposition yet against the then-incumbent ruling party, the PDP.

Much of the routine criticisms of Nigerian politics has to do with the seeming of absence of ideas and ideology in organising political competition and contestation for public office from where service can be rendered a population desperate for leadership so as to realise the promise of a great African modern nation state. It is useful therefore to situate the current campaign against corruption and buildup of consequence management in public life in Nigeria, in that context.

Contrary to the promises he made during the electioneering campaign not to demolish buildings in Kaduna and its metropolis but rather to build more infrastructures and work towards the betterment of lives of the citizens in the spirit of change, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, has implemented the demolition of hundreds of exotic buildings and commercial centres within three months of his government.

The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr. Elias Mbam, on Tuesday said a new remuneration package for public office holders including members of the National Assembly would be ready in September.

The attention of the media office of the President of the Senate, Sen. Abubakar  Bukola Saraki has been drawn to a publication alleging that the Senate President hired one Uboh to smear the integrity of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC.

Ex-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has labelled Adams Oshiomhole, an ingrate. Orubebe described Oshiomhole, the Governor of Edo State, as a turncoat, owing to his recent criticisms of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In the interest of sustaining our democracy, it is important that institutions in Nigeria and the Nigerian people as a whole begin to see the laws that are meant to guide us as roadmaps that will help in establishing lasting precedents. This has become necessary in this eventful political climate where numerous political interests are currently at play.

One of the burdens of being a longtime commentator on issues Nigeriana is that people frequently search me out, via email, text messages, and phone calls to ask questions about Nigeria. These questions come from Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike. For me, what’s fascinating is not that so many people feel tempted to put questions to me; it is that, as a rule, they expect me ALWAYS to offer a coherent response, if not the answer.

In 3 months, the euphoria that accompanied the victory of President Buhari has largely dulled to complaints of his government’s tepidness. Why the rapid reversal? The same reason Buhari went from being called 'Sai Baba' to 'Baba Go slow’ is the same reason goalkeepers hardly ever just stay in the middle when a penalty kick is taken. You might ask, 'why should they stay in the middle? The player usually kicks it to the right or to the left’.

Anyone who has the privilege of engaging former President Olusegun Obasanjo in a casual political conversation involving the future of Nigeria will always be struck by one of his favorite comments. The former President never relents in stressing his optimism about the future of Nigeria. “Never mind the current distractions. Nigeria survived Abacha. She will survive anything. Nigeria will be a great country” the President would always say.

One of the profound critics of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government and Lagos activist, Femi Falana have joined other Team of Jonathan critics to confess that he actually fought corruption in more civilized ways. The Lagos while speaking on Channels TV this morning said that “contrary to the general belief that former President closed his eyes to corruption, President Goodluck Jonathan did so much in the fight against corruption including the sack of three of his ministers for alleged graft.

A former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, has advised the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to go and make peace with his former boss, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Fashola, who has been in the news for spending N78.3m of taxpayers’ money on a personal website, www.tundefashola.com, and for spending N139m on the drilling of two boreholes at the Lagos House, Ikeja, is believed to be at loggerheads with Tinubu.

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Security Adviser to convene an investigative committee on the procurement of  hardware and munitions in the Armed Forces from 2007 till now. The investigative committee's mandate is to identify irregularities  and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the Armed Forces.

Over 2,500 soldiers withdrawn from service by the Nigerian Army over alleged offences committed under the counter- insurgency operations code named Operation Zaman Lafiya, have been reinstated by the review panel set up by the Army.

Former Spokesperson to former President Jonathan, Reuben Abati, says contrary to what many believe, Jonathan is not a drunkard. He said for all the years he worked as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the former president, he only saw him drink wine during government functions.

By Thisday Following the nomination of Mr. Babatunde Fowler by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the stage has been set for a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to contend with the leadership of the Senate with whom he has been at loggerheads since its emergence last June.

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions will on Wednesday begin a probe of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, over an allegation that he fraudulently diverted over N1tn proceeds of corruption recovered by the anti-graft agency.

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has faulted the insinuations that he was trying to protect former President Goodluck Jonathan against probe by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Bishop said though he advised President Muhammadu Buhari not be carried away by probes, he had never in any way gone against probing Jonathan.

The Secretary General of the Igbo apex body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, has urged President Mu­hammadu Buhari to start his cor­ruption war with people around him because he is in the midst of them. Dr. Nwaorgu stated this in a chat with newsmwn, saying “There are corrupt people around President Buhari. In public perception, people who are corrupt, are very much around him.

Elder statesman and former political adviser to ex-President Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has berated President Mu­hammadu Buhari for running a one-man government. He was one of the delegates to the last National Conference convoked by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Chapter one of the integrity story is easy to remember. We had become a society of zero consequences for actions injurious to the body politic. Nothing happened if Nigerians died on your watch; nothing happened to Abba Moro. Absolutely nothing happened if you stole. In fact, the man who was supposed to set the course of national ethics and morality instituted a national debate on the finer distinctions between stealing and corruption and unleashed his supporters all over social media to split hairs between the two. That was just before he blamed yams for not doing enough to avoid the mouth of goats.

In the lead­-up to the November 21, 2015 gubernatorial election in Kogi State, it is a matter of not a little irony that the greatest opponent of the incumbent Governor of the state, Captain Idris Wada is himself! Type the Governor’s name in a Google search bar and the suggested results are invariably ”Gov Idris  Wada’s health”, Gov Idris state of health”, ”Wada’s mental health” and so on. It does not take any political observer much to surmise that Governor Idris Wada’s health is a political sword of Damocles dangling over his re-election bid. Wittingly or unwittingly, Governor Wada by his continued silence over the true state of his health has succeeded in supplying the much needed ammunition to his political opponents and traducers.

The Nigerian tax system has faced several challenges in recent times. Under current Nigerian law, taxation is enforced by the 3 tiers of government, i.e. federal, state, and local governments, with each having its sphere clearly spelt out in the Taxes and Levies (approved list for Collection) Decree, 1998.

As part of the continued offensive operations against the Boko Haram terrorists, troops of 7 Brigade Friday entered and cleared Gudumbali town in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, has said. “During the operation, quite a number of the terrorists were killed their weapons and equipment were destroyed,” Mr. Usman, a colonel, said.

Fellow Nigerians, I had cause to visit Yakooyo, a very small town in the State of Osun days ago. I had not been here I’m sure in over two decades. As tiny as Yakooyo is, this rural settlement boasts of one of the most famous military icons in Nigeria, Lt. General Alani Ipoola Akinrinade. For those who may be too young to remember this great veteran of many exploits, let me make a brief introduction. Born on October 3, 1939, General, as we all fondly call him, started his early life in his home town but travelled out for his secondary education at Offa Grammar School before joining the Army as a cadet in 1960. He later attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom from August 1960 and was duly commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps on December 20, 1962.

Labaran Maku, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the March 28 governorship election in Nassarawa State, said in Abuja on Thursday that he won the contest and that the Independent National Electoral Commission wrongly gave his mandate to Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

The non-appointment of ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari has given a course for concern to citizens who deem it unconstitutional and incredible for a civilian president to rule for over two months without a cabinet. Speaking on the issue, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and renowned law scholar, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 condemned the president’s actions and observed that it was a reflection of his dictatorial military personality.

The Federal Government has suspended from office the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr David Parradang, with immediate effect. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the suspension was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Interior, Mr Yusuf Isiaka Alhaji, on behalf of the permanent secretary of the ministry.

The immediate past Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has slammed Edo State Governor, Adams Oshimhole, for describing the Agricultural Programme of former president Goodluck Jonathan as a scam. Adesina, who assumes office as the President of the African Development Bank next month, said it was unbecoming of Oshiomhole to tag Jonathan’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA, as a dismal failure.

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja reaffirmed his conviction that the end of the Boko Haram insurgency is in sight, given the added vigour with which the war against the terrorist sect is now being prosecuted by Nigeria and her allies. Speaking at an audience with Mr Mousa Faki Mahamat, Chadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of President Idris Deby of Chad, President Buhari said that with higher morale among troops in the frontline against Boko Haram and their improved logistics, equipment and training, a rapid end to the insurgency could be expected.

It was the emergency nature of the call that made me curious because the Olori Ebi (head of the family that is) would not summon a family meeting without cogent reasons. Nevertheless, I still found it rather disturbing that the meeting would be scheduled for the residence of a member who got married to two wives just some two months ago. When I arrived, I was given a chair near the Olori Ebi while the husband and the two wives were seated in the middle. Without any preamble, the Olori Ebi asked the man of the house to speak.

President Muhammadu Buhari warned Thursday in Abuja that he will not tolerate any irregularities or extortion of money from unemployed Nigerians in the coming recruitment into the police. At a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Service Commission in the Presidential Villa, President Buhari  sad that applicants having to pay bribes before being accepted into the police in the past was totally unacceptable.