Rountrip

Excellence can simply be defined as the quality of being outstanding or extremely good. It is not just about doing the right thing; it is about doing it exceptionally well. The truth is, the more people there are in any society who put uncommon efforts into the common everyday tasks, the more progress it makes. Undisputedly, this best described the North East Development Commission (NEDC). Following the inauguration of North East Development Commission (NEDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017 to coordinate all Humanitarian interventions by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies based on The Northeast stabilization and restrategizing masterplan, a lot can be said about its magnanimous achievements in the elimination and mitigation of various effects caused by terrorism in the Northeast, which has so far resulted to rapid economical growth in the affected areas. The North East Development Commission, as we all know, is an interventionist agency. However, the existential-effe...

The fall from grace of Brig Gen MK Fadah could come in a movie. It was a script that was not meant to last long. The indices were visible from the first day he assumed office as the director general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Some of us saw it coming considering that the erstwhile DG didn’t seem to have a grasp of the issues at hand and how to go about consolidating on the reforms introduced in the scheme by successive administrations. Brig Gen. MK Fadah didn’t disappoint in this regard, as every move he made as DG of the NYSC was controversial and not intended to bring about any meaningful contribution to the development of the NYSC. I recall that in some quarters, it was stated that he was a product of high-level connection and not necessarily competence, as his military records were irregular. Even then, he was not known to have excelled in former positions in the Nigerian Army. But he got the job for inexplicable reasons. We are where we are today because we have e...

The impact of flooding in communities in Yobe and Adamawa states in North East Nigeria cannot be over-emphasized. People were displaced, and farmland was submerged in what could be regarded as one of the worst floodings in North East Nigeria.  This is a trying time for communities that have experienced the effect of the Boko Haram insurgency for several years. Now that life is beginning to return to normal, the floods came in torrents, displacing many and with the potential to cause a humanitarian crisis, but for the swift intervention of the North East Development Commission (NEDC).  It is a statement of fact that since the establishment of the NEDC, among other things, to receive and manage funds from allocation of the Federal Account and international donors for the settlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency as well as tackling the menace of poverty, illiteracy level, ecological problems and any other relate...

The Anambra Concerned Citizens (ACC) has distanced itself from the presidential aspiration of former Governor, Peter Obi. The group said, fresh revelations made by incumbent Governor, Charles Soludo, confirmed that the Labour Party candidate defrauded the state to assuage his ego and greed. In a statement co-signed by its president, Mazi Chijioke Ude and secretary-general, Dr Andrew Young, the group further said Obi's supposed investments aren't just a scam but stolen funds used to shore up his family business. "Professor Soludo properly exposed how Mr. Obi impoverished Anambra people while parading himself as the best thing that has ever happened to the state. The incumbent Anambra State Governor’s explanation has now made us know that the so-called investment Mr. Obi purported to have made is worth next to nothing, which implies that the Labour Party presidential candidate defrauded the state to assuage his ego and greed," the statement said. "Being a renowned ...

 Who To Watch In 2023 The race for the 2023 Presidential Election is gathering momentum and is becoming interesting by the day. While some candidates are trying to outwit others in the race for Aso Rock Villa, Abuja in 2023, others appear not to be too keen on mounting the coveted seat. However, the choice of who becomes the next president of the country lies on Nigerians as the election would determine the future of the country. But indeed, the office is not for anybody, who can speak or captivate the masses, but it is for a candidate, who truly loves Nigerians and who has enough to show for his past performances. Such fellow should understand the political dynamics of the country, what should be done to make it better and how to carry Nigerians along in the scheme of things so that they can benefit the real dividends of democracy. One man that fits this picture is the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is being rooted for by pro...

The flooding experienced in some parts of the country had devastating effects. People were displaced, sources of livelihood were destroyed, and in some instances, lives were lost. Indeed it was a challenging period in the country as socio-economic activities were also disrupted. Flooding, like other natural disasters, are sometimes beyond our control; however, what is imperative is the preparedness to mitigate the effect of such disasters in affected communities, and the emphasis has always been on mitigating and minimizing the loss of lives and destruction of properties. This brings me to the recent operations of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). I have had some reservations about the preparedness of NEMA to address natural disasters in the country. This is on the heels of the not-so-pleasant news that has characterized its operations in times past, where the agency was bedevilled with numerous issues that undermined its operational effectiveness. The National Emergency...

While necessity remains the mother of invention, experience has proven to be the soul attribute of successful leadership. The steady disruption of peace in northern Nigeria by widespread insurgency was a clarion call that needed to be answered by the best and most-effective personality who understood the severity of the challenge. This was a call for one who had led war and is used to the frontlines; a person with a clear distinction between peace and war.   Enter General Yahaya Farouk. On May 27 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his usual thoughtful act of redirecting and refocusing this country along the lines of greatness appointed Gen Faruk as Chief of Army staff. The Sokoto-born General had to return from the Northeast where he was hitherto serving as the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, which is the Boko Haram counterinsurgency operation. General Yahaya Farouk has always imbibed the right attitude from his early days as a professional soldier. He never gave r...

The National Democratic Front (NDF) says the People's Democratic Party in Kogi State and insecurity are inseparable like siamese twins.  The group made this known today at a press conference in Abuja in reaction to the party's criticism of Governor Yahaya Bello.  In his address, NDF's national president, Dr Omale Ben, said the PDP lacks the moral justification to criticise Governor Bello owing to its close bond with Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists.   According to Ben, the opposition party is now working to re-grow its terrorist network, ostensibly to re-arm and deploy them for rigging next year's general elections.   "The National Democratic Front (NDF) has followed with bemusement the call by the Kogi State Chapter of the People Democratic Party (PDP) for the retired General Abubakar Abdulsalami-led National Peace Committee to document the state government as deploying violence," the statement said.  "For the sake of context, NDF urges Nigerians to note ...

The slogan; go and verify has been made popular by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party. And he uses it recklessly even when some of the information he is churning out are false. I am not surprised because he is a regular politician. He can go to any length to woo the electorate in return for votes during elections.  Peter Obi is good because he is a master of the mind game. He understands the people's psyche and how and when to make them gullible. This much has characterized his public outings since his romance with the Labour party began after the edge out from the PDP in the buildup to the presidential primaries.  The go-and-verify list is endless, and this piece is to put issues in proper perspectives for the unsuspecting members of the general public. Peter Obi is a businessman that would do everything to convince a potential buyer to buy his goods. These guys have the gift of the garb, which has worked magic in sustaining business and political empir...

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Benue State for Good Governance has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the Federal Government's numerous interventions in the state through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).  The group said that NEMA's response to flooding has been timely, thus, ameliorating the effects of the natural disaster.  The coalition made this known in a commendation letter to President Buhari and co-signed by its convener Comrade Gajir Paul and Secretary, Apeh Onuh.   In the letter made public on Monday, the Coalition hailed NEMA Director General, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, for undertaking an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Benue.  According to the group, in the case of the state, the DG empathized with the people over the flood and ensured the distribution of relief materials was timely amidst the efforts to ensure that life returned to normal in the affected communities.    "It is no surprise that Mr Presi...

The Civil Liberty Advocates of Nigeria (CLAN) has noted with alarm the continued killing of innocent Nigerians in the southeast of the country by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) linked terrorists of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) operating under the franchise of Unknown Gunmen as we have now concluded true Nigerian patriots must be bold in condemning the criminal acts. What we find more worrisome and more odious than the killings is the loud silence from the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, who has refused to categorically speak against the carnage that IPOB and ESN have unleashed in the southeast even when is arguably the most important person from the geo-political zone to weigh in on the matter on account of his current political enterprise. It is on account of this that the expectation among right thinking members of the society is that Mr. Obi would have by now roundly condemned the wanton waste of human lives by the terrorists under the pretext ...