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Showing posts from May, 2023

Review of President Tinubu’s inaugural speech

  For many years, Nigeria’s critics have trafficked the rumour that our nation will break apart, even perish. Yet here we are. We have stumbled at times, but our resilience and diversity have kept us going. Our burdens may make us bend at times, but they shall never break us. Instead, we stand forth as Africa’s most populous nation and as the best hope and strongest champion of the Black Race. As citizens, we declare as one unified people devoted to one unified national cause, that as long as this world exists, Nigeria shall exist.– 16th President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, during his inaugural address. After the rigours of party nomination, campaign and a fierce electoral contest on February 25, 2023, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu, was inaugurated as the 16th president of Nigeria with pomp and circumstance on May 29, 2023, in Abuja. He was sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola at the Eagle Square at a colourful ceremony which had in attendanc

Is Dangote refinery silver bullet for energy crisis?

  I urge and encourage our other great entrepreneurs to emulate this iconic Nigerian industrialist and join the government in accelerating our growth to realise our country’s globally-recognised economic potential. We must create necessary conditions for our private sector to grow and partner with the public sector to accelerate economic growth across the continent. We must not allow outside powers to use some of our leaders to destabilise our economic and political trajectory – the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) at the inauguration of the Dangote Refinery on Monday in Lagos. After several shifts in the completion date of the 650,000 barrels per day capacity Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, the dream became a reality last Monday when six presidents across Africa and the crème-de-la-crème of Nigeria’s society gathered in Lagos for the inauguration of the largest single-train refinery in the world. This is coming 16 years after the initial setback caused b

NYSC at 50: Is the scheme still relevant?

Hearty congratulations to the National Youth Service Corps, on its golden jubilee anniversary. According to the information gleaned from the website of the corps, “the NYSC scheme was created in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. The unfortunate antecedents in our national history gave impetus to the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps by decree No.24 of 22nd May 1973 which stated that the NYSC is being established “for the development of common ties among the youth of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity.” The National Youth Service Corps year comprises four main segments in which every corps members must satisfactorily participate before he/she is qualified to be issued a certificate of national service. The service year therefore comprises: Orientation Courses, Primary Assignment, Community Development Service and Winding – Up/Passing –out. Unlike when it was initially established when graduates of universitie

Why the rising opposition to Tinubu’s inauguration?

  Disputed election is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is a global phenomenon. We saw what recently happened in US after the November 2020 election won by President Joe Biden. I am referring to January 6, 2021 invasion of the US Congress by supporters of former president Donald Trump. When leftist Lula da Silva defeated his bitter rival, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, to secure his return as Brazil’s leader in October 2022, his supporters invaded some of the country’s democratic institutions wanting to prevent the inauguration of Lula da Silva. On Sunday, January 8, 2023, Bolsonaro supporters who refused to accept his election defeat stormed Brazil’s Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential palace. Some of them called for a military intervention to either restore the far-right Bolsonaro to power, or oust Lula da Silva from the presidency. After the August 2022 presidential election in Kenya, supporters of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who was defeated by William Ruto took t

Tackling the agonies of Nigerian workers

  “In Nigeria, I shall have the honour and privilege to lead from May 29, workers will have more than a minimum wage. You will have a living wage, to have a decent life and provide for your families – President elect, Bola Tinubu, on May Day Labour creates wealth is a popular maxim. Economists categorise factors of production into four, namely: land, labour, capital, and entrepreneurship. Among all these, labour is the primus-inter-pares as it harnesses others to create wealth for business owners or investors. 2023 ‘International Workers Day’ otherwise known as ‘May Day’ was celebrated across the world last Monday, May 1. In Nigeria, it was observed as a public holiday. It is the last of such to be superintended by the President, Major General   Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and other governors whose tenure will be ending on May 29, 2023. At the Eagles Square in Abuja and all the state capitals, there were public gatherings, march pasts and speeches. Among other things, the Nigeria Labou