If I perish, I perish: Mailafia's own 'obituary' which he personally wrote few days before he 'died'

Obadiah Mailafia was a Nigerian development economist, international polymath, central banker, statesman and the 2019 Nigeria Presidential election Candidate of African Democratic Congress.

Dr Obadiah Mailafia, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), shook the airwaves recently when he told a radio station that a northern governor is the commander of Boko Haram. 

He also said the terrorists were flying freely during the coronavirus lockdown. “We have met with some of their high commanders, they have sat down with us not once, not twice,” he said in the interview that was also on video. “They told us that one of the northern governors is the commander of Boko Haram in Nigeria. Boko Haram and the bandits are one and the same. During this lockdown, their planes were moving up and down as if there was no lockdown.”

*Kindly and carefully read through Mailafia's own 'obituary' which he personally wrote few days before he 'died'.*

After reading this, kindly comment your candid view or opinion on wether he died a natural death or he was "taken out"  - in President Obama's words - by the state.

"I am Afraid Of Abiola’s Styled Death”. 

You never know the value of freedom until you’ve lost it. The hard-won freedoms that our fathers bravely fought for are being systematically eroded in our country today.  Evil swaggers across the land like the proud harlot of Babylon. I have borrowed the title for my piece this morning from the novel by the 19th century Russian novelist Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. 

His 1864 novel recounts the story of a retired civil servant in St. Petersburg who goes underground to meditate on the existential absurdities of life in his country. My gentle readers will forgive me if my article bears some resemblance with the incoherent ramblings of Dostoevsky’s anti-hero.

Today, Monday, September 14, I am to appear for the third time before The Men in Black at their Jos Command Headquarters at 11.00 am.

The first time I received the summons, which was about a fortnight ago, I was alarmed - in fact, terrified. I have never slept in a cell ever in my life. Never had a case involving the police. I have visited nearly a hundred countries in the course of my international career and have lived in Europe, North America, West Africa and the Maghrib. I handled sensitive jobs involving billions of dollars. I have no criminal record anywhere.

Let me be transparently honest, the Department of Security Services people have treated me with firmness but with professionalism and decorum. But I went into the Lions’ Den with great trepidation. Images of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola collapsing and dying after taking a cup of tea came to my imagination. Countless, nameless compatriots have disappeared in those dungeons. Others have come out maimed and damaged for life. I have been told that somewhere in Kirikiri Prison in Lagos, there is an underground dungeon with a fence separating the prisoner from killer crocodiles. Once in a while the fence is removed and the fate of the prisoner is sealed forever in the belly of those monstrous reptiles.

I have received serious warnings that my revelations have angered some members of the political class to the extent that they want me physically eliminated. I have been warned to beware of polonium poisoning and sharp objects concealed in chairs. I know that killer squads have been paid undisclosed sums to hunt me down and to have me despatched to Elysium. I have been told that some dark forces want me in their net so that I would be poisoned by gas administered through an air conditioner. When I am getting weak and delirious, a fake doctor would be brought in to administer an injection. That injection would be my death sentence. The other day, shadowy creatures turned up at midnight at my hide-out. I had to scale the back fence and disappear.

I am a writer, intellectual and international consultant. Every minute of my working day is committed to doing serious work. Hours spent running up and down with the security agencies constitute a painful waste of my precious time. I am obsessive about cleanliness and personal hygiene. Hell, for me, is a room full of dirt, muck, bedbugs, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats and wall geckos; without a reading lantern and without my precious collection of books and Mozart playing in the background.

I am not normally given to fear. My wife accuses me of being her greatest security nightmare with my total indifference to the threat of death.

I love life and I cherish my family and friends dearly. But I fear no man – not even those who can take my physical life. God helping me, I shall live to be more than 100 like my forebears before me. My grandfather and my father lived beyond 100. It’s in our DNA. My grandfather Baba Gambo Galadima lived to be 115. He only went to join our venerable ancestors in 1992. Until his death, he had the sharpest intellect I know. He was a very handsome man in his youth, with the unmistakable gait of the warrior that he was. He maintained a regal and dignified royal bearing all his life. The British imperialists were wise enough to co-opt him as an officer of the Colonial Constabulary. By the time of his death, all of Grandpa’s 32 teeth were firmly in their place. He had no wrinkle on his brow. And his intellect remained as sharp as a razor-blade. The only downside was that his eyes were failing and his movement was slow.

I once asked him the secret of longevity. He had only four recipes: fear God; never bear false witness against anyone; watch what you eat; and never look at another man’s wife. His words of wisdom have been my guide and moral compass.

What perplexes me in my current travails is that I did not say anything that has not been said before. A prominent Sheikh recently said worse things; even pronouncing a curse on the political elites and daring them to come and arrest him. I am wondering if my persecution is not because I am a Christian or because I am from the Middle Belt. Only two former governors are currently in prison for corruption. Both are Christians from the Middle Belt. What they stole combined is less than N2bn, as contrasted with the N18bn one governor from the North was alleged to have stolen. The man is going about freely enjoying his loot. I will not stand behind anyone who has defrauded the state. But it seems clear to me that the administration of justice in Nigeria is sectional, religious and ethnic in its bias. It is contemptible.

Like Martin Luther King Jr, I am a believer in nonviolence. But I also believe that conscience is an open wound. The martyred German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer believed that whenever a madman is driving a truck heading towards little children, it should be our duty to stop him. In our Nigeria of today, thousands of defenceless children, women, the elderly and youths are being killed by genocidal insurgents, murderous bandits and marauding herdsmen militias. And yet, the whole world is silent. We have all been cowed into silence. Today, the spirit of fear reigns over our country like a nuclear mushroom cloud. Bonhoeffer once declared: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

For standing up for the oppressed, the bloodhounds are out for me.  Out of The Daily Trust stable where I once served as an Editorial Board member, venomous editorials and articles have been written against me. My enemies have cast aspersions on my person, qualifications and character. I was surprised, if not dismayed. They seemed more concerned about giving a dog a bad name and hanging it rather than considering the message of the dog. They have clearly exposed themselves for what they are. They obviously do not care about the thousands that have been killed. Their only worry is that we have exposed the evil plans of the Global Jihadists who want to kill millions of defenceless Nigerians. The blood of the holy martyrs will judge them!

Throughout my ordeals, I have received a groundswell of support from Muslim and Christian youths across the country. They believe that my voice is their voice. Muslim clerics have been praying for me. Clergy and laity across the churches, the Nigerian Diaspora and throughout the world have held vigils for me. Widows and orphans have fasted and prayed for me. 

If I stand before the Pharaoh today with courage and strength, it is thanks to them. Without meaning to, I have become the voice of the holy martyrs of our God. If I perish, I perish!

Ilesa Water Supply: Genesis, Challenges, Pitfalls and the Red Flag - Wale Bolorunduro

It is always good to keep the historical record of a lifetime challenge because, Nigerians forget easily and therefore, I will devote the following to the history of the Ilesa water supply, the challenges and the pitfalls.

The old Ilesa Water Supply Scheme, commissioned in 1952 in the old Western Region, supplying 2,700m3/day went into a state of disrepair in the mid – eighties as the Efon – Alaye Intake Structure (now in Ekiti State) was frequently filled with silts; efforts to de-silt became unproductive and raw water abstraction impossible. The 22km Efon – Alaye/Ilesa raw water Asbestos Cement Transmission mains became deplorable and unserviceable because of frequent damage due to old age. Also, the road expansion works on Efon - Alaye roads created, a worst scenario when several kilometres of the Transmission Mains was damaged during construction. These and others led to abandonment and complete shutdown of the treatment facilities and hence led to Ilesa inability to access public water supply and total dependence on water from doubtful sources.

 

The new Ilesa Water Supply Scheme was conceived during the administration of Uncle Bola Ige, the Executive Governor of old Oyo State when it became clear that old Ilesa water Scheme would not be able to serve Ilesa with potable water because the town was increasing in population yearly. The contract for the new scheme was awarded to Messrs. Johnson Brothers International (Nig.) Ltd at a contract price of $65M. The Eximbank (USA) loan of US70m had been secured for Oyo State Government for the procurement of essential Mechanical and Electrical equipment and services to be rendered by the Technical Partners, Johnson Brothers International (Nig.) Ltd, i.e. Johnson Brothers Corporation of Minnesota, USA. The loan agreement which was signed in 1983 by old Oyo State Government was guaranteed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Out of the external loan, some equipment and materials such as pump-sets, generators, electrical items and large diameter pipes were purchased and stored at Asejire Waterworks, Oyo State.

 

Messrs. Johnson Brother International mobilized to site in 1983 but not much work could be done when the military took over power in Nigeria on 31st December, 1983.

 

Prior to the sudden change of Government (around July/August, 1983) a sum of N7.2m and $11.6M was paid to JBI Ltd.; these payments were made in accordance to the contract agreement signed by the then Oyo State Government. The manner in which the said amount was managed by the contractors and their overseas partners, Messrs. Johnson Brothers Int’l Ltd created a lot of problem, so the project could not make much progress and became stalled and all project activities stopped. The USA Technical Partners of JBI Ltd moved out of the sites. The Eximbank Foreign loan for the project was lost. The contract with JBI (Nig.) Ltd was terminated by the old Oyo State in July 1985.

 

In 1985, Oyo State Military Government commenced negotiations with Nigerian Water Resources and Development Ltd & Messrs. Taylor Woodrow, United Kingdom (UK), the negotiations did not succeed.

 

In 1987, General Staff Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, Lagos via Letter No. GHQ/CGS/322 of February, 1987 directed Oyo State Government to allow Messrs. Johnson Brothers International Ltd. to continue with the jobs in view of the huge sum of money already committed into the project.

 

Consequent upon the above, the contract of New Ilesa Water Supply Scheme was re-awarded in conjunction with that of Ejigbo on 29th April, 1987, however, the efforts of the contractor to resuscitate Eximbank loan to execute the project failed because the Federal Government could not guarantee the loan and the Technical Partners JBC of USA withdrew in 1992.

 

The project was transferred to Osun State on its creation in August, 1991. Osun State Government decided to re-award the project to Messrs. Johnson Brothers International Ltd in 1992 but no new Contract Agreement was signed. JBI (Nig.) Ltd relied on the 1987 Contract Agreement signed with the then Oyo State Government which could not hold water.

 

All these were the efforts of the previous administrations on the New Ilesa Water Scheme since 1983; and from all the efforts narrated above, the State Government inherited two (2) large generators, some electrical equipment and about 18km of ductile iron pipes, out of which the government of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola laid over 9km from Osu to College of Education, Ilesa in an attempt to get water to Ilesa, but a drop of water has not flowed through these pipes since then. Attempts were made by Aregbesola’s Administration to utilize, the generators inherited, but all efforts failed as the manufacturer informed that the model is outdated. The remaining Ductile Iron Pipes are kept at the Centre for Black Art Culture’s compound, Abere with majority of them stacked at a school premises in Igila, on the way to Ilesa.

 

In the year 2006, the Federal Government of Nigeria awarded a contract for the construction of a dam at Kajola to Messrs. RCC, for the purpose of raw water source for Ilesa Water Supply Scheme. By 2009, the project was abandoned because of the variation needs on the contract. Due to economic devastation that was envisaged and a lot of compensations that would be paid to land owners should their land be submerged by the dam; the scope of works was reduced to the construction of a weir on Osun River and an intake structure at Kajola. An asset though, but without transmission and the distribution that take water to the doorsteps of Ijesa people, it could actually be a liability creating such pond of water without utilizing it.

Ijesaland was fortunate that his own son, Aregbesola Rauf was sworn in as the Executive Governor of Osun and at the inception of his administration in 2010, he wrote to the Federal Government on the need to complete the project as his priority. This is yielding to the yawning of his people and the clarion call of the paramount ruler of Ijesaland, His Imperial Majesty, Owa Obokun Adimula, Olokun Ola, Oba, Dr Adekunle Aromolaran, who used the 2011 and 2012 Iwude Ijesa to reinforce the demand for water supply. Through the initial powerful effort of Governor Aregbesola, the contract for the construction of weir, for water pond and intake at Kajola was re-awarded in 2012 and was completed in 2014. The upstream structure (a weir to create water pond and intake pumps) was handed over to the Water Corporation on 11th March, 2016.

The next challenges were the funding requirements for the construction of water treatment plants, transmission structures and the distribution networks that will take water to the communities, neighborhoods and doorsteps of the ijesas. The peak funding requirement would be over One hundred million dollars, about 25 billion Naira. How would Aregbeaola raise this huge fund and from which sources. How would he devote such huge fund to ijesaland alone without trading off other competing needs of the whole state. How would he handle the moral burden associated with funding and allocation of such huge funding to his people. How Ogbeni Aregbesola showed courage and demonstrated the love for his people to resolve these funding challenges (once and for all), will be documented and presented in another write up.

The pitfalls are the construction risks and the operational risks, which are already rearing their ugly heads. With destructive mining activities in Kajola and the adjoining communities, which are already altering the courses of the upstream rivers and depositing heavy metals (lead, Mercury, etc) into the rivers, the huge risk in addition to the pollution is that sufficient water may not get to the kajola pond for intake and water supply according to the ilesa water scheme, after the completion. The Government of Osun and the Ijesa community leaders must rise up to the challenges posed by these artisanal miners, with candor and with sincerity of purpose to stop them!!.

Wale Bolorunduro, PhD

Former Commissioner of Finance, Osun

2011 to 2014

NIGERIA: RESOLUTIONS OF THE NORTHERN STATES GOVERNORS’ FORUM MEETING WITH NORTHERN STATES EMIRS AND CHIEFS

 RESOLUTIONS OF THE NORTHERN STATES GOVERNORS’ FORUM MEETING WITH NORTHERN STATES EMIRS AND 

CHIEFS HELD ON MONDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER, 2021

The Northern States Governors’ Forum, in its continuous efforts to address the challenges bedeviling the Northern States convened an Emergency Meeting today Monday 27th September, 2021 at the Council Chamber Sir, Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.  The meeting was also attended by Chairmen of Northern States Traditional Council led by His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto.

2. The Forum discussed issues of Peace, Progress, Development and well-being of the Northern States.  The Forum took stock of progress made in handling challenges of Banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and insurgency.

After extensive deliberations, the following resolutions were arrived at:-

1. The Forum reviewed security updates from the Region and observed the need for a sustained synergy and coordinated efforts between the Federal and Northern States Governments while noting success of recent measures.  The meeting also noted with concern the constraint of the security services and urged the Armed Forces to embark on simultaneous operations and resolved to share the plans of the Frontline States come up with common with other Region; and assured of its readiness to work in synergy with the Federal Government of Nigeria in finding lasting solution to the current security challenges. 

- 2 -

2. The Forum appreciated the ongoing onslaught against banditry, kidnapping and Boko Haram especially in the North East and parts of North West and North Central States and encouraged the Armed forces and other security agencies to sustain the tempo to enable the security challenges be permanently addressed in the shortest time.

3. The Forum received updates on the Renewable / Solar Energy Project and NOTED that request for land for the project had been submitted and are being processed by the Northern States.  The Committee had commenced negotiations in a public private arrangement and sovereign guarantees to ensure bankability of the project by multilateral financial organizations.  The Forum called on States yet to process the request for allocation of land for the project to expedite action. 

4. The meeting received updates on activities of some Committees constituted by the Northern States Governors’ Forum and NOTED that recommendations contained therein are being considered with a view to coming up with implementation strategies.

5. The Forum observed that some Northern States Governors had earlier expressed views for a power-shift to three Geo-Political Zone in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the Nation.  Notwithstanding their comments, the Forum unanimously condemn the statement by the Southern Governors Forum that the Presidency must go to the South. The statement is quite contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended that the elected President shall:-

- 3 -

score the majority votes;

score at least 25% of the votes cast in 2/3 States of the Federation.

In the case of run-up simple majority win the election.

6. The Northern State Governors Forum considered the on-going National debate on the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT). As responsible leaders while we are constraint by the fact that the matter is sub judice we however for the purposes of educating the public make the following observations: 

(a) the judgement of the Federal high Court calls to question the constitutionality of VAT, withholding tax, education tax, Niger Delta Development Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, 13% derivation, National Economic Development Council and many other currently levied and collected by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Inlands Revenue Service.  

(b) Rivers and Lagos State Government had enacted their own VAT laws and the Southern Governors Forum have expressed support for this course of action;

(c) VAT is being confused by these State Government as a sales tax. If every State enacted its own VAT Law, multiple taxation will result in increases of prices of goods and services and collapsed in interstate trade. VAT is not a production tax like excise, but terminal tax which is paid by the ultimate consumer;

- 4 -

(d) Another confusion is ignoring observation above and its “overall effect”.  The reason Lagos account for our 50% Vat collection is because most of the telecommunication companies, Banks, manufacturing and other trading activities have their headquarters in Lagos with the resultant and wrongful attribution of VAT

(e) Until and unless the Supreme Court pronounces judgement on the substantive matter between Rivers State and Federal Government, the matter is sub judice and Northern States Governors Forum would respect this. 

7. The Traditional Rulers Councils appreciated the efforts made so far by the NSGF in addressing the key areas of challenges facing the Northern States, they expressed their willingness, solidarity and collaboration with the Governors’ in addressing these challenges particularly the issue of security.  It was equally resolved that perpetrators of crimes should be dealt with irrespective of their status in the society. 

8. The Forum decried the high level of conspiracies being perpetrated by some Judicial Officers in releasing / granting bail to arrested criminals.  This attitude sabotages the fight against criminality, therefore, there the need to develop good and robust intelligence mechanism amongst States was identified as a panacea. 

- 5 -

9. The Forum calls on Agencies to leave up to their responsibility, Traditional rulers are to equally mobilize their various communities in checkmating the ugly trend of criminality in their domains.

10. The Forum NOTED the ugly trend in the spread of drugs and consumption amongst the teeming youth and therefore, calls on all levels of Governments and communities to raise to the occasion by stemming the tide.

11. The Forum also call the Federal Government to expedite action on the well establish National Livestock Transformation Programme as a spring board in transiting from the open grazing system as widely practice in the North

His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Bako Lalong KSGG,

Chairman, Northern States Governors' Forum.

EFCC Plans Workshop to Eradicate Pension Fraud in Nigeria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in collaboration with stakeholders in the Pension Industry, is organizing a two day Sensitization Workshop with the theme: Eradication of Pension Fraud in Nigeria.

According to the Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, the workshop scheduled for October 5 and 6, 2021, at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, is expected to serve as a platform for sensitization and practical exchange of information on how best to eradicate Pension Fraud in Nigeria.

Bawa further said the workshop would help highlight the areas of corrupt practices in Pension Administration and collectively develop strategies to curb the menace threatening the country’s pension schemes.

The workshop is expected to be graced by Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); Anti-corruption agencies; Members of the Legislature and National Pension Commission (PenCom). Other participants expected at the workshop include officials from the Military Pension Board; Police Pension Board; Pension and Records, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation; Federal Ministry of Finance; Budget Office; National Union of Pensioners (NUP); Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, (PTAD); Retirement Benefit Advisors; Pension Fund Administrators and Civil Society Organisations.

By EFCC

NIGERIA'S PRESIDENT, MAJOR GEN. MUHAMMADU BUHARI APPROVES CABINET RESHUFFLE

Major Gen Buhari

The Nigerian President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari has approved a reshuffle in the cabinet formed on August 21, 2019.

According to a statement made available by a senior special adviser to Major General Buhari on (Media & Publicity Femi Adesina, the Nigeria president had in a statement to cabinet members during the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday 1st September,  announced that Mohammed Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Engr. Sale Mamman, Minister of Power were leaving the cabinet.

"In the same vein, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, was redeployed to assume office as the Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, while Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing will now be the Minister of Power."

Major Gen Buhari said the changes were sequel to the “tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review” through sector reporting during Cabinet meetings and at retreats.

He added that “these significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.”


The full text of the statement is reproduced below:

On Wednesday 21st August, 2019 the current Federal Executive Council was sworn-in after a rigorous retreat to bring returning and new members up to speed on the accomplishments, challenges and lessons drawn from my first term in Office and to emphasise the 9 priority areas of government for the second term.



2. Two years and some months into the second term, the tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review has taken firm roots through sector Reporting during Cabinet meetings and at Retreats.



3. These significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.



4. I must commend this cabinet for demonstrating unparalleled resilience that helped the government to navigate the disruption to global systems and governance occasioned by the emergence of COVID-19 shortly after inauguration. The weekly Federal Executive Council meetings was not spared because the traditional mode was altered.



5. As we are all aware, change is the only factor that is constant in every human endeavour and as this administration approaches its critical phase in the second term, I have found it essential to reinvigorate this cabinet in a manner that will deepen its capacity to consolidate legacy achievements.



6. Accordingly, a few cabinet changes, marking the beginning of a continuous process, have been approved. They are as follows:



Ministers Leaving the Cabinet:



I. Mohammed Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and

II. Engr. Sale Mamman, Minister of Power.



Redeployment:



I. Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, to assume office as the Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development;

II. Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing assume office as the Minister of Power.



7. In due course, substantive nominations will be made to fill the consequential vacancies in accordance with the requirements of the constitution.



8. I have personally met with the departing members to thank them for their contributions to discussions in cabinet and the invaluable services rendered to the nation. Today, effectively marks their last participation in the Federal Executive Council deliberations and I wish them the best in all future endeavours.



9. Finally, I wish to reiterate once more, that this process shall be continuous.



10. I thank you all and May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

VIDEO: Fela's Nigeria and Now: What says thou?

 

Share your opinion, is the country going worst or better, are the same people incharged then not the same in charge now?