Extra Reporters

I COMRADE MAHMUD MUHAMMAD NAMED MY ARTICLE AS MUST OF BORNO STATE YOUTHS ARE DESTRUCTIVE IN THEIR CRITICISM AND NOT CONSTRUCTIVE  First and foremost, let me start by recalling the readers' mind the Award His Excellency Hon. Kashim Shettima receives from Mr.  Bill Gates Foundation and the World Health Organisation for his outstanding commitment that is evident in the sector of health care delivery in Borno State. As the Secretary of Borno Social Media Frontiers (BSF), I must give tribute to His Excellency, the Most Sympathetic Governor of Nigeria, Hon. Kashim Shettima for his outstanding performance and commitment in the health care delivery of Borno State.  My attention was drawn that, some unscrupulous elements who are Abuja base politicians are busy DESTRUCTIVELY condemning the effort of our outstanding Governor and the state at-large. They are busy fabricating, a mere  propaganda about our dear state Borno.  One Abba Sec M...

By Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu  Believe it or not, I am still in doubt if there is a functioning government in Anambra state. Since the emergence of Chief Willie Obiano as the governor of the state in 2014, the state is yet to witness any sense of direction from the government. Since the exit of Chinwoke Mbadinuju’s administration in 2003, Anambra has been an example to other states in the southeast geopolitical zone. However, the state seems to be going back to dark days of Mbadinuju’s era when only white elephant projects like renovation and decoration of the government house were witnessed. So far, the only difference between Willie Obiano’s government and that of Chinwoke Mbadinuju is that while Obiano deceives the public with the propaganda of prompt salary payment, Dr. Mbadinuju abandoned the civil servants which led to an industrial action that consumed an academic session of secondary schools in the state. However, both administrations share more similarities. While...

By  Ajongbolo Ajos Oluwagbenga OmoKele Back in the days in high school under the tutelage of Mrs Alabi, our Geography teacher, we were thoroughly made to understand and possibly "cram" many land and rock formations. Inselbergs, Barchans, Yardangs, Rock Pedestals etc were the "songs on our lips" then. Wake us from our deep sleep, we could mention the features of a Plain, draw a Yardang and describe, without mincing words, a Rock Pedestal. But none of these interests me as the Plateau. Mrs Alabi, with Mr Popoola sometimes, carefully and painstakingly described and explained a Plateau. In her words, Plateau is formed by lava extrusion, volcanic eruption of the molten magma and sometimes erosion by water and maybe glaciers. The plateau is always higher than the normal ground and often has steepy edges and sides. It has its unique weather compared to that of London. There and then, I resolved I was going to visit the Nigerian plateau soon. I could become a...

By Comr. Yusuf Umar Dutsin-Ma  With regard Sir Prof., I will open my  memoranda with a Sierra Leone extract  that “A Clear Thinking Leader is a Sign of  Stability and an Agent for Change in  Society”. But looking into your style of leadership,  one will believe me that you’re such a  leader who intends to leave behind a bad  reputation rather than its vice.  Mr. James, you of all people should know  that ‘Rats don’t Dance in the Cat’s  doorway’, although that’s what you have  been doing since your appointment as the  Vice Chancellor of Federal University  Dutsin-ma. Sir Ayatse, I humbly write this to notify  you that the people of Katsina State in  general and those of Dutsin-ma Local  Government could not be taken for  GRANTED!! Your deliberate commissions and  omissions that amount to gross  misconduct and breach of the oath of  office led to rigorous complai...

By   Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu    I think it is time to scrap this association of political thugs and non-academic students known as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). I know that undergraduates of Nigerian universities are entitled to unionism but the situation whereby such is hijacked by non-academic students and touts should be condemned. I am yet to see an impact of this shameless association on the academic lives and well being of Nigerian undergraduates. It is even unfortunate that so me touts that are not undergraduates impersonate the students to seek for material gains from greedy politicians. It is also shocking to notice that persons that have already graduated from higher institutions still parade themselves as senators or representatives of undergraduates, what a criminality! I can bet the fact that majority of undergraduates don’t even know what NANS stands for. The federal government should deal with any group that i...

BY AHMED NABIL   You are part of the pluto jokers if Biafra, as far as you are concerned, is Nigeria and not nowhere. If it is a county close to Britain, Ireland or USA with its own local government, or a republic, or a continents not part of the seven continents, I believe something common like anthem, leaders and competition as a nation is important and necessary conditions must be attached. But still, no king or queen, president or governor, prime min ister or ministers mentioned as a global figure, can the biafrans identify. It is somehow a complete fiction that no reasonable skull will accept.  Biafrans, ofcourse, are not just traitors, but a strong quake and tragedy that is againsts justice that should be handled without mercy, as treason is a monstrous crime all reasonable Leaders and citizens must fight against. A general campaign to create awareness on the devastating effect of it againsts humanity, strict and unequivocal official pronouncement on the desir...

By Dr Nura Alkali   Senator Bukola Saraki  President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria Sir, Do you remember how several well-meaning Nigerians, including my humble self, had cautioned you to retrace your steps during your hook-or-crook fight to be Nigeria's No. 3 citizen last June? You ignored us and connived with Senators Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje, Sani Yerima, Dino Melaye and (mother of all wonders) PDP leaders to stage a fraud and emerge Senate President. To justify the fraud, you and your supporters shifted the blame wholly onto Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose only fault was to foresee the problems that you now face. And many a problem they are. Any moment from now, the CCB will arrest and try you for false asset declaration. Already, your business manager is wanted by the EFCC for fraud at Societe General Bank. Your wife will soon face an EFCC corruption trial. And soon, the police will charge you to court for forgery. If I were you, I'd re...

By Ajongbolo Ajos  Recently, I decided I would put an end to my various political write ups directed at the Ondo state governor and his government. Since the former President Goodluck Jonathan is gone, and gone for good or otherwise, shouldn't I rest a bit? "Y yu wan ki yursev ontop PMB mata sev". Some friends called me to thread softly. My family told me to "take a chill pill". Few colleagues wondered why dissipating such energy on people that do NOT care if I exist! Lo and behold, I took their advice. I listened to them. Afterall, they are the only people I have on planet earth! But two events under 24hours made me have a rethink. One is for "Iroko". Dr. Rahman Olusegun Mimiko is now a "Fellow, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria" for his outstanding performance in the Ondo Health Sector! I remember my accountant friends called themselves "Fellow" back then in school. They were so passionate about it. Then I...

By Ajongbolo Ajos Oluwagbenga   We look(ed) up to you. We adore(d) you. Some of us stylishly envied/envy you. I'm still jealous of you till date. Why didn't I school in that great citadel of learning!! Start a topic on unionism and where activists are bred, the expansive and serene environment of the Obafemi Awolowo University comes up. If I tried mentioning names and bigwigs in activism and decision-making in our polity today, I would have to create many articles to contain the m. My former boss told me "University of Ife" was a home to every conscious student. You know your left to right, your wants and needs, when to ask and most importantly, when to turn back after being pushed to the wall. Even the recent "OAU" comrades fought oppression to a standstill, some losing their precious lives and school years to the cause. What then has OAU unionism and unionists turned to? 1.8million naira for phone calls by the union leaders? What happened to Clos...

I WROTE THE BELOW POLITICAL PREDICTION IN 2013,  WHAT A PRECISE AND ACCURATE POLITICAL ANALYSIS AND VERY-VERY INTERESTING TO READ. ENJOY READING BY  ABBATI BAKO (psc)  Experts assert that politics is between "vision and practicality". Although it is difficult (sometime) to imagine or predict what will happen (tomorrow) in politics (due to human nature) but if certain factors would be looked into; one can get some ideas of what might happen in political game. What happened last week in Abuja at PDP special convention may lead to a set back in our democratic practice. At this globalization era of 21st century it looks and sounds as counterproductive for any political party to allow analog leadership and be claiming that it wants to transform Nigeria into one of the strongest economies in the world by 20-20-20. Politics being a game of protecting someone's values and depending interest and building ambition; it will be hard for PDP to rule Nigeria for 60 years....

By Ajongbolo Ajos Oluwagbenga OmoKele - Akure The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) has just found her lost voice. The body is now resurrected and awaken from her slumber. The last time I heard, read or watched NLC protest was years back when the articulate Oshiomole held sway and took the political elite by the "jugular". I'm happy with this new development. But the question is, who co-ordinated the protest? The "accepted" Wabba or the "controversial" Ajaero? Kaigama of the TUC? What was the bone of contention? Corruption in Abuja? In the Presidency? National Assembly? Federal Civil Service?  How are we sure these labour "leaders" are not playing a well-written script that the so-called National Peace Committee failed to carry out? If the NLC is crying foul of "corruption", shouldn't they start from "home"? I remember Abdulwaheed Omar and Peter Esele donning the orange vests and campaigning vigorou...

By Ibrahim Wala Garba REMEMBER HOW NAMADI SAMBO RUBBISHED YOU ON THE MAMBILA HYDRO POWER PROJECT, YET NO SINGLE DOCUMENT WAS SIGNED BUT, DIVERTED OVER N67 BILLION INTO PRIVATE ACCOUNTS.  Concerning the Mambila Hydro Power Project being undertaking by the Federal Government, you may wish to recall that in your campaign promises, you informed Nigerians that your Administration will revive the project. It was on that note that the then Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo, castigated you publicly. Here I quote:   “I want to seize this opportunity to make a (comment); I will start by not taking the advantage of the ignorance of the presidential candidate of APC, yesterday, when he said that he is going to revive the Mambilla.  “That is not true. Karya ne (it’s a lie). Already, Mr President has approved the contract for the construction of the 3,050megawatts Mambilla power plant. “And not only approval, he has provided the sum of $1.5 billion to begin the project....

BY ABBATI BAKO,psc,bsis,Kent,UK SIR, NO! TO ELEVATION OF 4 COLLEGES OF EDUCATION TO UNIVERSITY STATUS---FCE Kano, FCE ZARIA AND 2 OTHERS IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA With due respect, I am delighted, confident and hopeful the way His Excellency is steering the Nigerian nation today. Nigeria is (now) on the right path to the promised land of development, progress, integration, unity, peace and economic prosperity free from corruption. Your Excellency Sir, as I have said in my letter to H/E some weeks ago that education is priority-A not B or C. Education is the leading light in development of social and economic prosperity in any human society. Therefore, emphasis must be given in the educational sector to ensure qualitative and a world class education for Nigerians; especially the current generation and the generation unborn. Sir, UNESCO is one of the 28 United Nations agencies and among the initiators or formulators of (some) policies that contributes to what we called the ...

By Ibrahim Garba Wala (IG Wala): Presidential Order or Directive, must translate into action. When President Muhammadu Buhari came out to announce the bail out package for states, we (the country) applauds such development. But, the news coming from BBC Hausa today reveals that no state has seen a single One Naira in the name of bailout. The Bauchi State Governor explained that there was/is no such money coming into the account of any state but, the FG directed CB N to take action. It is on this note that the CBN also contacted the states and demanded that the states should submit the names of their banks which can be directed to issue them soft loans. MY QUESTION HERE: is this the Presidential instruction given to CBN or this is what CBN resolved to do in her own capacity? On a related development, a Soldier in the war front also lamented over the poor arms and non payment of allowances, even though the Military spokesperson clearly had doubt that the complainer may not be a soldier ...

   By Jaafar Jaafar Ponder over this Hausa proverb: “sawun keke ba’a gane gabanka”, which roughly translates to “a bicycle’s contact patch does not tell where it comes from or where it heads to”, and see how it aptly describes Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari. Bearing in mind the current realities in our polity, how would you, in your wildest dream, think the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will come from the North? The very North that has a President, a Senate President, a Speaker, a Head of Service, a Chief of Staff, a Chief Justice, and what not? While Mr. President is likened to the proverbial “sawun keke”, the pigmentation of his appointments may be likened to “birgimar hankaka”, literally meaning the wallow of a pied crow. When a pied crow wallows, the Hausa say, you will see both the white patch on its gullet and the black plumage that covers most of the bird’s body. In the appointment of the GMD of NNPC, President Buhari showed Nigeria...

The growing mentality of Nigerians that government can do everything for us is becoming worrisome. It has reach a level where people will just relax and wait for the government to do everything for them. Some of us cannot even keep our houses clean, not to talk of the community, yet we are at the forefront of criticizing govt and those in position of authority. Its important to note that govt has the responsibility of providing basic necessity of life to the people, but even in the advance countries their govt have not solve all their problems, that's why you see them engage in community service.  It is unfortunate that some of us that do criticise govt have the drainage systems in front of our houses blocked, in fact some us dump refuse inside the water way or the drainage, yet shamelessly we are on the social media making noise about others. Some of us have never impacted anything in our communities, even to advice the younger generation on how to live a better life we don't ...

Once upon another life, I was attending a literature conference at the University of Calabar when a friend of mine took interest in one of the students.  He thought his best chance was through the front door: ask her out. But a friend of hers thought differently, and she asked me share this wisdom with my friend: “If you want to eat Okro soup,” she counseled, “you don’t go diving into the middle!” I advised my friend accordingly.  He thought about it for a while.  “They have Okro soup politics here?” he asked me.  “So exactly how do they eat Okro soup?” I told him what I was told: “First, you eat around the plate!” He didn’t take too kindly to the advice, as he mumbled some indistinct philosophy about desiring to meet Okro with hunger, or something like that. It did not occur to me at the time to question my interlocutor as to whether the approach to eating Ogbono, Nigeria’s pre-eminent soup that is similar to Okro, was different under that same wor...