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At a Colloquium where Nigerian Economic History was Reviewed

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President Bola Ahmad Tinubu

 

By Ibraheem A. Waziri

iawaziri@gmail.com

When I saw the flyers announcing the theme of this year’s colloquium (16th December 2023) – “Political/Economic Formulas for National Development” – I couldn’t help but get excited. Though I work at a university where expert colleagues analyse the state of the nation during daily breaks, I felt ready for fresh perspectives on the current political and economic implications of the recent ECOWAS sanctions on Niger and how they impact us, particularly Nigerian businesses in the North.

My excitement stemmed from two key factors. First, the colloquium was to be held in Sokoto, one of the Nigerian states bordering Niger, which bears the brunt of the sanctions most. Second, the convener, Mallam Zayyanu Yabo, is the current Chairman of the Sokoto Professionals Network, a body dedicated to showcasing the abundant economic opportunities within Sokoto and putting the state on the national map.

However, Dr. Chima Amadi, the keynote speaker and a scholar-businessman, not only impressed the audience with his expertise but also left us with thought-provoking questions at the end of his presentation. After refocusing the theme solely on economics and development (much to my surprise not giving room for the ECOWAS-Niger political angle), he delved into defining “positive development” as possibly anything that leads to poverty reduction.
He then provided an insightful review of Nigerian economic history, highlighting the struggles associated with various economic frameworks adopted over the past 63 years since independence.

These included ten different economic plans, Washington Consensus-inspired structural adjustment programs under Babangida, Obasanjo’s NEEDS (also Bretton Woods institutions influenced), and later approaches that haven’t strayed far from past strategies. Dr. Amadi pointed out that these national planning and economic strategies were often prescribed by agenda-driven foreign institutions, potentially lacking a comprehensive appreciation of Nigeria’s history, local realities, and perhaps even neglecting its best interests.

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The result, as statistics sadly demonstrate, he concluded, is a Nigeria far from achieving poverty reduction and ranking low on every reputable international survey on human development indices.

The solutions, he suggested, might include, among other things, looking into the journey of some contemporary nations with relative success in economy and development. The Asian Tigers abandoned Bretton Woods institutions’ prescriptions and are far better off than us. Perhaps we should focus more on local content, since development by its nature is organic and self-conscious, not externally prescribed and sourced!

This point resonated most with the audience and the panellists during the discussion session thereafter, as statistics reveal that about 65% of the country’s current GDP is not contributed from the formal structured economy that currently cannot be thoroughly analysed.

Among the lead panellists, one immediately pointed out how in some Asian Tiger countries, their indigenous cultural institutions before colonialism are still relevant constitutionally, providing needed social focus and keeping national planning consistent. An issue about the relationship between local businesses and research output from our institutions of higher learning was observed to be almost non-existent, with intellectual property laws seeming ineffective and indigenous ideas prone to theft within and across national borders.

Another erudite barrister, Kingston Chikwendu, building on an earlier submission about gender and youth inclusion, observed that the question of local content and inclusion stands front and centre even at the venue of the colloquium. He questioned why we gather in Sokoto, speaking in “exotic English” about economy and development in a language that the majority of the state’s economic demographic cannot understand. He suggested that in the future, provision should be made for at least a real-time translation of proceedings into Hausa, fulfilling the keynote address’s first prescription for local content and inclusion.

This last point reminded me of the often-repeated sentiment that if our local languages had been our medium of instruction at secondary school level, where substances like sulphur and potassium were taught in Chemistry classes as “Farin Kasa” and “Kanwa” respectively, we would have appreciated their value better and explored their economic relevance more. Between us and our grandmothers, we might have been able to come up with mixtures with the potential for inventions with significant personal and societal economic benefits.

The session for me was a high dose of concentrated intellectual elixir. Though the keynote address dropped the political angle of the theme, denying me the opportunity to see issues related to the ECOWAS sanctions on Niger and their attendant implications on Nigeria’s economy and security problems discussed, I can still say I got more than enough.

The Sokoto colloquium is putting the state in the news for all the right reasons. The session was attended by representatives of the Sultan of Sokoto and the state governor; and it received wide coverage by national news outlets. The deliberations are being heard by policymakers. Our prayers go to God to strengthen the will and wings of the convener as well as supporters across the nation. Nigeria is in dire need of robust policy review forums like what Sokoto colloquium offers.

Opinion

EXCLUSIVE: How FG Director Abandon Posting, Release Funds Against Civil Service Rules

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A Director of Accounts in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity has continued to stay in the Ministry despite approval of his Posting to the Ministry of Defence.

POLITICS DIGEST exclusively gathered that the said Treasury Officer who doubles as Director of  Accounts has continued to approve the release of funds despite his posting to another Ministry which is a breach of the civil service rules under the watch of the Permanent Secretary who is aware of what the civil service rules.

In a letter dated 12th November, the Accountant General of the Federation Oluwatosoyin Mudsin approved the Posting of the said Treasury officers with immediate effect but the officer in question Bala Saleh has continued to serve in the Ministry of Labour instead of Defence where he was posted to with immediate effect.

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A staff of the Ministry who pleaded for anonymity told this paper that he abandoned his new posting because of the support of a retired permanent secretary while both the Minister and that of State were not aware of the said letter which is totally against the civil service rules.

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However, some staff of the Ministry have confided to this paper their readiness to petition the Director in question to the ICPC.

When contacted over the matter, the spokesperson of the Ministry declined to comment and promised to call our reporter back after his findings on the matter.

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Opinion

Open Letter To His Excellency The Executive Governor Of Kano State:Need For A Balanced Composition Of Kano State Executive Council

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state

 

Open Letter To His Excellency The Executive Governor Of Kano State:Need For A Balanced Composition Of Kano State Executive Council

Ismail Abdu Garba

Your Excellency sir, I want to use this opportunity to call your kind attention regarding the trend followed by your predecessors to form a composition of the state executive council that is not an all-inclusive which fails to address the need for every local government to be well represented in line with the principle of federal character establishment. The negligence or oversight of this administrative arrangement has become a typical set back that led to marginalization of Warawa L.G.A since its establishment by law in 1991, undermining not only its human capacity development but also the general welfare of its indigenes as evident in the few development projects so far executed by the state.
Sir, none of your predecessors on record has ever given us fair representation or equal opportunity through appointment to serve as a member of the state executive council either as Commissioner or Special Adviser since the establishment of Warawa Local Government. Adopting a similar trend by your administration Your Excellency is a great set back to your performance indicators for good governance towards fulfilling your campaign promises.
Among all of the twenty-four (24) Commissioners and about thirty-two (32) Special Advisers whom you appointed, and were cleared before the State Assembly, none is an indigene of Warawa L.G.A. Not only that Your Excellency Sir, so far all of your political appointment for the various position of heads of respective Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) ranging from about (7) Director General DGs, ( 44) Managing Directors MDs and Deputies, Executive Directors EDs, (5) Executive Secretary ES, and even Project Coordinators none is an indigene of Warawa L.G.A.

Your Excellency Sir only if you imagine having a similar composition of Federal Executive Council members at the Federal level without Kano State having any ministerial position designated (not even minister of state) while another state gets two or more, then it appears how disheartening is this recurring marginalization to the extent that a ward from another L.G.A will end up having two or more appointees and even an additional appointment as head of some MDAs while Warawa as a constitutionally recognized L.G.A end up with none.

Ismail Madari

Ismail Madari

With the exception of state constituency allocation and the ongoing 5 km entrance road projects, no presence of road developmental projects sponsored by the state as obtainable in other L.G.A that are well represented in the Council and beyond. Warawa L.G.A is autonomous like every other Local Government Area. Both the constitution and electoral act made it mandatory no single election into the office of the executive governor of Kano state will be declared conclusive without the votes of this administratively neglected local government area.
For this reason and beyond, in the principle of justice, fairness and equity we call upon you to kindly address the issue by giving us fair and equal opportunity to develop this resourceful Local Government Area. Our interest is to be part of the history to be written in gold by this administration, as we are part of the struggle that brought it on board.
Thank You.

Yours Sincerely,

Engr. Ismail Abdu Garba
Lecturer / Research scholar
Member, Kwankwasiyya Scholars Assembly KSA
Chairman, Warawa Education Election Campaign Committee (2019&2023)
Email – madaarie@gmail.com

Phone Number:08032868665

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Opinion

Kano APC Youth Coalition, Nasir Ja’o’ji and Party Survival

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By Abba Anwar

At cursory look of the title of this piece, what readily comes to mind, is the existing relationship between Kano APC Youth Coalition and Nasir Bala Ja’o’ji, in APC realignment process or procedure. This really captures the picture clearly from the surface. But there is more to it.

Kano APC Youth Coalition came into being more as a one-man-show, probably self-styled and crafty moved. But subsequent engagements of the Coalition, proves otherwise. Some people thought, the Coalition came handy canvassing for primary support for some quasi – politicians, unproductive as they appear, who always hide behind the scene and make a cover under good image of the party leadership at all levels.

Many people, including me, thought this Coalition under Adamu Unguwar Gini, would operate in desperation, under the guise of recuperating party youth into one basket for misleading purpose. As some elders, would-be-elders and self – acclaimed elders operate from clandestine position.

For sure the Coalition, prepared before its debut. Party elders, leaders and other stakeholders were contacted for direction and guide. This, I was not told, but I observed. I understand this by looking at its growing process. I equally understood that, the leadership of the Coalition was one time tilted towards particular side of the prism. But experience and good intention, in my view, necessitated for spreading the leadership into all sections of the state.

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It is this strategy, among others, that gave individuals like Hon Nasir Bala Ja’o’ji, to see reason in aiding the movement. Though he is the Zonal Leader of the movement, from Kano Central. But his contribution towards having effective and efficient implementation of the core central objectives of the group, that is making the party stronger and domineering at all levels, gives him the courage to be one of the principal stakeholders.

The recently announced donation of Eighty Eight Million Naira (N88m) to the Coalition for the 44 local governments tour and empowerment of 100 people from each local government, says a lot in his enduring commitment to the expansion and making the party strong enough to compete comfortably come 2027, at both state and national elections.

The proposed local governments tour and empowerment programme scheduled for time to come, is an important pointer to the fact that, this Coalition has very strong and fearless individuals that are ready to sacrifice their time, energy and resources towards political alignment and realignment within the party structure.

People like Musaddique Wada Waziri, Malam Abdussalam Ishaq (Kumbotso), Umar Maiwayo Rimingado, my younger brother Inyass Habibu, Ibrahim Danyaro, Jijitar, Abubakar Indabawa, former Vice Chairman, Warawa, Dini Manchester Kankarofi, Abubakar Aminu, Hon Barwa, Sani Gilashi, Danfillo, Idris Zango, among many others, are playing very critical role in strengthening the grip of the party across the state and the nation at large.

One interesting thing about this combination is, here are important actors, who, for strategic reason, come from all “sides” of the party stalwarts. Party stalwarts because they are the shining stars of the party in the state.

Stars like Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, former Deputy Governor and Gubernatorial Candidate for 2023 election, HE Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, former Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs and Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate for 2023 election, HE Murtala Sule Garo, Hon Abubakar Kabir Bichi, among others.

But all the Stars above lineup behind our Flagship, the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON.

After critical review of the intention of the Coalition, Nasir Ja’o’ji comes to believe that, this Coalition means well for the party. And should therefore be facelifted, encouraged, guided and supported. After believing that, the Unguwar Gini led group, “… belongs to everybody and does not belong to anybody…”, Ja’o’ji made it compulsory to always give a helping hand to the group. More importantly, since the Coalition means genuine support for the party at all levels.

Let me still insist that, if Ja’o’ji a political appointee under President Tinubu, as a member Governing Council, of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, Yobe State, can do this, contributing N88m, I’m sure other political appointees under the same administration can also replicate.

Because supporting Coalition in the same pace and manner, equals to supporting the party, the National Chairman, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the same time. In my view therefore, Ja’o’ji apart from being a pacesetter among all political appointees from Kano, he is genuinely a firm believer of APC programmes and policies.

My appeal is for the National Chairman of the party, Baba Ganduje, and the Tinubu led administration, to kindly see reason for continued support for the Coalition and similar ones across all the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

As Unguwar Gini model shows in Kano, Coalition of this nature is not taking away any responsibility of party leadership. We can see how harmonious is the relationship between APC Youth Coalition and state leadership of the party, under Prince Abdullahi Abbas. Another pillar of great substance.

Neutrality of this Coalition, in my own understanding, is clearly manifested in how our shining stars give helping hands to the movement. They are eager to give resources and moral support. It is indeed the neutral posture that gives Ja’o’ji the strength to be of that magnitude.

Anwar, was Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and can be reached at fatimanbaba1@gmail.com

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