TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING BY ENGINEER DR. KAILANI MUHAMMAD, AN ACTIVIST AND CHAIRMAN A KASA A TSARE ON THE STATE OF NATION, HELD ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST, 24, 2023 HELD IN ABUJA.
LET THE GOVERNORS SHUT UP, THE ERA OF FREE MONEY IS OVER
It is my pleasure to welcome you to this important press briefing as Nigeria inches towards 2023, when the country will witness once again another election.
So far, there are so many interests, both national and parochial which are gradually manifesting in the body politics. But Nigerians are now wise enough to separate the wheat from the chaff, hence in the next dispensation, the citizens would certainly look at the prospects of electing patriotic leaders who are courageous and committed to the wellbeing of the people, leaders who will guarantee equity and justice in the division of authority and resources among the country’s federating units.
From the way things are going in the country, the citizens undoubtedly want leaders who will continue with the good works already started by the APC administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, a leader who will carry everyone along and certainly not a sectional, parochial or unpatriotic person, but a leader with broad mind, who is versatile with international exposure to attract foreign investment.
Since the coming of the All Progressive Congress APC government under President Muhammadu Buhari, a lot was done to stabilize the economy and improve the security situation. It has been equity, justice and fair play in addressing political, infrastructural and economic challenges across the country.
Although, the country is still facing some problems and security challenges of banditry and kidnappings, and to some extent economic downturn, yet the APC administration is not resting on its oars from tackling the menace, thereby given every citizen great hope and confidence to the people as what is happening in the country isn’t exclusive to Nigeria but rather a global phenomenon.
Let’s take a cursory look at the Problem of insecurity and the economy. The Federal Government has successfully whittled down the challenges, and is still addressing the problems head on, making the issues quite pleasant to the citizenry.
CBN POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENT
In this regard, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emiefele must rise to the challenges and provide the needed impetus to make the nation’s economy more robust and prosperous. Apparently, most of the CBN’s policy measures under his watch are further retarding the country’s progress rather than addressing its economic challenges.
Regrettably, the policies focus more on import driven economy rather than promoting industrialisation.
For this reason, the CBN Governor must shape up by introducing measures that will revamp the economy or in the alternative the government should consider showing him the way out. Enough is enough for his ineptitude, inefficiency and ineffective handling of the apex bank.
STATE GOVERNORS AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
On this note, while the Federal Government is up and doing, some State Governors are taking the country aback, riding on their personal interests to halt the wheel of progress. Instead of looking inward to make their a beehive of activities and models for development, they choose to chase the shadow, forgetting how the Federal Government bailed their states out when most of them were unable to pay workers salaries and provide infrastructural development.
Rather than these State Governors appreciate the Federal Government’s gestures, they are now casting aspersions on the Attorney General of the Federation for making bold step to ensure refund of Paris Club funds they received.
At the time they collected the funds, the governors were so glad and smiling but are now now frowning their faces at the time of refund
Although these State Governors are expected to promote national interest above any other primordial interests, yet they have been caught wanting as their actions are working against public interests.
Take a look at when most of the State Governors lost hope and were finding it difficult to even face their people for being unable to pay workers salaries and provide developmental services in their respective states, yet they have suddenly forgotten how the Federal Government rescued them and are now showing ingratitude trying to accuse the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami of effecting the Paris Club Refunds against their States.
Now that a consultant that facilitated the London and Paris Club refunds has open up and exposed their antics rather than bury their faces in shame, they have now turned to accuse the Attorney General.
The consultant has accused the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) of demanding and receiving the sum of $100 million to prosecute elections in some states of the Federation, an allegation that’s so weighty to brush aside.
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Nigerians are demanding explanation from the governors on how they stoop so low to solicit for monies from the consultant in the guise of prosecuting of elections.
In the face of this brazen unpatriotic act and alleged corrupt practice, what the Governor’s should have done is to honourably bury their heads in shame and shut up. The governors should know that the era of receiving free money is over.
The head of the Consultancy firm, Senator Ned Nwoko, has made it explicitly clear as he alleged that when he submitted a bill of $350 million as his consultancy fee, the state governors clearly asked to be given 50 percent of it before it could be honored.
For this reason, the intervention by the Ministry of Justice was done at the right time. It’s equally justifiable, hence what the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami did was in order and could not be accused of any wrongdoing, as the minister was only trying to ensure that the right thing was done and the law of the land complied with.
On the issue of registration of NNPC as a private venture, where the state governors were asking for its ownership, it is clear that the governors are only trying to load over their interests against public interests.
No one is in doubt as how the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari has been driving the organization with efficiency, passion and determination to turn it around as one of the best Petroleum Company in the world.
Kyari has the capacity to propel NNPC out of its current difficulties while equally addressing tough issues.
But while the NNPC is now robust and is warming up to operate and take the lead as one of the best corporate and efficient organization in Africa, which can compete favourably at global level, yet some retrogressive elements are fanning the embers of division in order to cause havoc and set it a back.
Think about it. Kyari is a visionary leader who has a midas touch. Under his watch, NNPC has reported a profit for the first time in its 45 years of existence. He has ensured its transformation to a functional and profit making venture and has equally repositioned its activities towards greater success through good governance and effective management.
The management team is taking the bull by the horns through far reaching measures to ensure the functionality of the organization and reduction of prevalent cases of oil theft, which will soon make the energy sector very attractive, productive and rewarding to the country in terms of revenue generation.
As a former staff of the NNPC, I’m confident and optimistic that the best is yet to come under the current GMD.
Consequently, the subterfuge and subjugation by some unscrupulous elements and the sworn enemies of the country must stop forthwith.
All the dark forces working behind the scene and equally sponsoring some disgruntled youths from northern part of the country in order to wreak havoc and destabilise the nations energy sector, must stay clear.
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Organising senseless protests, threatening to cause confusion against the backdrop of engaging Tompolo the ex militant to survey and monitor products pipeline in the Niger Delta will never carry the evil-doers anywhere.
It is disgusting, disheartening and unfortunate to see some unscrupulous elements working to retard the nation’s progress because of selfish interest.
What is explicitly clear is that our security agencies have grossly failed to protect and provide the necessary security to the NNPC facilities, pipelines and other assets as a result of the incessant vandalism and oil theft.
It was on the basis of this development which causes the country to lose huge revenues thereby crippling the economy as a result of losing over 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily that led to the award of the contract to Tompolo.
This is a disaster and catastrophic too great to imagine, hence the decision by the NNPC is a welcome development that will address the menace. The organization has done the right thing and should therefore be supported by every well meaning citizen of this country. In-fact if Tompolo can handle the situation effectively why not giving out the contract to his firm.
Undoubtedly, the 40b allocated for surveillance and monitoring is a better and wise decision to take, considering the colossal amount of Naira running into trillions that the country loses monthly.
It therefore behoves every well meaning citizen to rally round the NNPC’s decision, while also supporting and commending the Niger Delta Civil Society Organizations and youths groups and associations that supported the action.
THE ASUU STRIKE
As the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) continue with the strike into the six months now, it is imperative to call upon the university lectures to sheath their swords and shelve the strike action to avoid total collapse of the nation’s ertiary education.
Although ASUU seems to be engaged in the strike as a weapon to tackle the federal government with, it is indeed unfortunate that the esteemed Academia’s action is further destroying tertiary education in Nigeria.
Unfortunately, students and their parents are at the receiving end of it all.
Now that the federal government has decided to enforce the policy of no work, no pay, doing so without going through the industrial court would further degenerate the fragile situation.
CONCLUSION
While the governors are expected to complement the federal government efforts in addressing the nation’s multitude challenges, their posture of promoting self interest must be checked. The governors should therefore shut up and face the tasks of their offices squarely.
Equally, as the state of the nation is gradually becoming so grim, the immediate challenge before the federal government is to task the CBN Governor to meet up with the expectations of his office, as we advise that government should show him the way out for failing to rise up to the challenges.
Thank You.
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