Coalition for A Better Nigeria felicitates with Nigeria @ 60, condemns attacks on Governor Zulum, commends FG dialogue with Labours, Inauguration of Vision 2050 Committee, CBN approval of Dry Season Farming Incentives for farmers, flagging off of construction of 377 Roads by Sanwo-Olu, FCT 2000 Buses Palliative, felicitates with Akran of Badagry @ 84, Alake @ 77, Ladoja @ 76, Sunny Ade @ 74, Gboyega Oyetola @ 66, Remi Tinubu @ 60, IG Adamu @ 59, Obafemi Hamzat @ 56, Adelabu @ 50, OFAB @ 50, rejoices with Oore of Otun – Ekiti, 1st female VC of UNICAL, commiserates with Aliyu Wamakko, mourns Emir of Zauzzau, Col Dahiru Bako, Jimoh Aliu, remembers Ayo Fasanmi @ 95, Bola Ige @ 90.
We must all be glad as a Nation to witness the giant heights attained by Nigeria at 60 and we do congratulate Mr President and the good Citizens of Nigeria on this occasion.
We thank President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government for being being proactive, sensitive, responsible and responsive to the popular expectation as it was stipulated in our past press statement, where we suggested only two ways of ameliorating the suffering that is associated with the latest hike in price of petroleum products and increase electricity tarrif.
First, is introduction of a long term development plan by the Federal Government while the Labour and Civil Society Groups engagement with the Federal Government came 2nd.
Within two weeks of issuance of the press release, concrete steps were taken towards achieving these 2 goals.
While the introduction of 2000 mass Transit Buses by the Federal Capital Administration to cushion the effects of transportation within the Abuja metropolis and to serve as palliative for the Abuja Rural Dwellers is highly commendable, we will also advise the State Governments to imitate this effort across the States of the Federation or double the effort where it is existing already.
This will ameliorate the transportation stress of the low income earners across the Country.
Though, the list of vision 2050 Committee members, especially with the inclusion of Technocrats, is highly commendable but we will still advise the Federal Government to consider the inclusion of names of Developmemt Experts in the list.
We need to learn from the past mistake, which bothers on something like this, for the smooth take – off and ffective implementation, both of which will encourage genuine continuity of the programme by the successful administrations.
Laying the income and expenditure of the Federal Government on the table of discussion with the Labours and Civil Society Groups will give the common man on the street of Nigeria sense of belonging and recognition by the Federal Government.
This is what the meeting of the Labour and employment Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, with the Organised Labour Unions will achieve at the end of the day. This is best described as inclusive governance or democracy in action.
Because President Muhammadu Buhari administration inherited almost empty treasury, this necessitated international borrowing for developmental projects and the aggressive economic policies to turn things around.
This development later met with breaking out of coronavirus disease early this year and it is still ravaging the economy of the World up till now.
While placing ban on both fertiliser and agricultural products to encourage local production and preserve our foreign exchange, Government should avoid imposing a blanket ban on some agricultural produces that are still in limited supply or non existent in Nigeria, till we have them in surplus.
CBN Approval of Dry Season Farming Incentives for farmers is a welcome development.
We applaud the flagging – off construction of 377 Roads across all wards in Lagos State by Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu, alias “Work – In – Progress”. The intervention, which was said to be the first of its kind in the State, will go along with 23 power projects across the State
The 2nd attack on the convoy of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State that claimed 40 lives, with about 12 others sustained injury is callous, insensitive and an outright attempt to assassinate the sitting Governor. The increasing rate of insecurity that we have been experiencing since since advent of this democracy now threatens Nigerian existence the more with this new development and something very urgent must be done to address the situation by the Federal and State Governments. Rejigging the Nigerian security architecture and the adequate intelligence gathering are very important, so as to nip the problem in the bud.
We congratulate Akran of Badagry, De Whenu Aholu Menu Toyi I @ 84; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III @ 77; former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja @ 76; King Sunny Ade @ 74; Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State @ 66; our fire brand Senator Oluremi Tinubu @ 60; The 20th Indigenious Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu @ 59; Deputy Governor of Lagos, Obafemi Hamzat @ 56; 2019 Oyo State APC Gubernatorial Aspirant, Chief Bayo Adelabu @ 50 and the ever progressive Publicity Secretary of the APC Southwest in the United Kingdom, Hon Olawuyi Folarin Alao (OFAB) @ 50.
We felicitate with our dear Brother, friend and the Leader of Mercury Group, Oba Adeayo Adeagbo, Okinbaloye II, the Oore of Otun Ekiti and Paramount Ruler of Mobaland in Moba Local Government of Ekiti State, on his ascendance to the throne of his forefather. We rejoice with our quitessential Prof, Florence Obi, as she breaks the jinx, by emerging first female Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar.
We commiserate with former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko over the death of his daughter.
We mourn the Emir of Zauzzau, Alhaji Sheu Idris, Col. Dahiru Bako killed by insurgent in Borno, the Late Yoruba Noonywood Legend, Chief Jimoh Aliu.
May their gentle souls rest in peace.
Today, is the day to remember the Late Afenifere Leader, Senator Ayo Fasanmi @ 95 posthumously as well as the First Executive Governor of Oyo State, the former Minister of Justice and the Late Attorney General of Federation, Chief Ajibola James Idowu Ige, SAN, would have turned 90 years in September 13, if he was not assassinated on the fateful Sunday’s night, 23rd December, 2001, by unknown Assassins, whose identity is yet to be unraveled, 19 years after the gruesome murder.
The irrepressible Cicero, lives on!
Comrade Awa Bamiji
National Coordinator
Coalition for A Better Nigeria
