Appointment
2023: Abdulsalam Abubakar cautions against gerontocracy, asks youths to take over
**Adebayo extols Abubakar’s virtues describes him as Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria
Former military head of state, General (rtd) Abdusalami Abubakar has declared that Nigeria of 2023 and beyond does not need leaders with walking stick but the younger generation to give the leadership a new lease of life
Abdulsami spoke at his hilltop country home in Minna when President of Kaftan TV, Prince Adewale Adebayo, a presidential aspirant visited to consult with him on his ambition come 2023.
“Thank you Adebayo for finding me fit to come and tell me of your ambition. Indeed Nigeria needs the younger generation to take over from us the older generation.
He expressed happiness that younger people are now showing interest to take over the leadership of the country
“Like you rightly said the world is going digital and I believe the younger generation are more exposed internationally in ICT more than the older generation.
“I am happy that you are thinking of moving the country forward and I believe with your ideologies and your youthful and vibrant ambition I think Nigeria is on the right part and wish Nigeria will be great.
“Nigeria with a population of over 200million certainly is a great country and such leadership will go a long way to make it a greater place.
“Thank you for finding me fit to come and visit me to tell me of your ambition. You can count on our support always trying to do the right thing.
He thanked the former minister for sports Barrister Solomon Dalung for bringing his friend to visit him.
The presidential aspirant who is a product of the National Consultative Front (NCfront) and the shadow Government, Adewale Adebayo while addressing the man who midwived the Nigerian democracy in 1999 expressed gratitude to him for relinquishing power to democratically elected leaders.
“We are greatful to you for many reasons, that we saw you on May 1999 handing over power and collecting your service plaque, you have always been there.
“You are one of our greatest leaders, you are to us what Abraham Lincoln is to the Americans. Because Lincoln founded America it wasn’t George Washington, he reformed the character of the country after the civil war and you after many years of military wilderness showed on to us that you are an officer and gentleman and you kept your words which was not easy to do and you did it.
“But it wasn’t that day that you became who you are, you have always been a good citizen. You paid grievous sacrifices in the past when there were opportunities that you could be anything in the country to go abroad, or you stay here and become a medical Doctor, lawyer, you chose a profession where you had to give your life to the country.
“At that time you never knew you could be head of State. You thought you could be eliminated in the war front but you have given your life to the country.
“If every youth lives their lives as you had lived that time some will be head of State, some will not be but everyone would be a patriot and the country is built by patriots not by people in government and the calamity that we suffer in the country is not the misbehavior of people in Government, it is the effect of the disbelieve that it has created on the minds of the people and the generational inheritance of that doubt of the feeling that things can be that good but things can be good.
“The reason why when we have problems we come back to you it is not because we want to overwork you. It is because in mathematics you start with the basic formula when you are confused and you are the basic primary formulae for our democracy. “We say if you want to show that tomorrow would be good you refer to a past that was good and looking back you give us that frame of reference.
“The reason why I have come out is essentially because the country itself needs to be saved now and people like you risked your life for it literally, shed blood, and you lost many of your compatriots.
“Even the country hasn’t reach its full potential. You have given us a country as a base to work with. Even that little foundation is now under threats from all kinds of threats of which you are very familiar with the causes and the solutions.
“So 2023 is not to us in this generation an ordinary year just like you did for us in 1998, it is a year in which there are two parts, the part that leads to the continuation of this road that we know eminently does not augur well for the country or a new part that the people who are going to inherit the future start building the future now and the responsibility that you carried when you were at our age we need to carry them now.
The leader of the delegation barrister Solomon Dalung said,
“We have come because you an elder who have served this country, and still serving, who has invested and is still investing in the unity and stability of this great country
“As one of your children I can volunteer for free how you think and feel Nigeria should be. I also know as a fact that consistently you have always been very prayerful for the growth and the development of this country.
“We always refer to you as the father of this democracy because you made history at a time when so many people disbelieved your sincerity of purpose, you handed over.
“We are here this morning with my friend and a delegation first to thank you for the wonderful things you are doing for this country. Very soon we shall be inviting you when we have quarrel with our wives
“I sometimes wonder how you make it, anywhere there is trouble the next person you will is Abdusalami. You have gone almost everywhere donating peace to this country. We pray God that your efforts would not be in vain.”
“We are also here to inform you that we have a young man who has seen the visionary dream of governing this country and from the community I came from,Taro, any young man who has a dream will first discuss with the elders.
“As one of the elders of this country we deemed it necessary to visit you and share this his dream with you so he can seek for advice for guidance and if we have your mind we will have the blessings too.”
We need to show five things to assure you that you legacy lives on. We need to have a template for you to show that Nigerians does before any other decision and that the unity and continuity of the federal republic of Nigeria is more paramount to us than any other consideration. Two, that we know that, it is not a country where we want to be great individually but we want the country to be great. I will rather be an ordinary man from a great country than a great man from a useless country. It is that importance, there is nothing else that we as young people can achieve than we have produced everything that can be produced but we need to give the glory to the country which means, that the labours of our heroes past should not just be a sund, that labour should be a continum because the journey of the heroes of the past started it is not yet finished and if we just talk about heroism without talking about who is going to be the new hero because we need to build a new country.
The fourth point is that the world has become more global and you did a wonderful thing in 1999 when you have us civil rule, you made us to join the comity of nations because we as a country was seen as a criminal country as a bandit country because we were under military rule that is how you brought to the comity of nations, everything that followed was because you put us on an international plane, where the global community said well these people are
The Chairman Senate Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Distinguished Senator Osita Izunaso on Saturday, 25th May, 2024, received the Senator of the Year Award
Organisers of the event celebrated Senator Osita Izunaso for his sterling qualities, intergrity, his outstanding contributions and motions of national interest at the 10th Senate of the National Assembly.
Responding, Distinguished Senator Izunaso, thanked the organisers of the event for spotting out his humble and modest contributions at the Senate, saying that the Special Recognition will further spur him to do more.
He expressed delight in the Award and dedicated it to God, the Masses of Nigeria and the good people of Imo West, for their unflinching support so far in his return to the Red Chambers.
The epoc making occasion which witnessed in attendance, the high and the mighty in the society, was put together by the Champion Newspapers Nigeria, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island Lagos. END
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Jacob Edi, Former Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to former Governor Idris Wada, has been appointed as Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Information and Communication among 183 persons including 43 Special Advisers, 131 Senior Special Assistants so appointed
Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade, Ph.D, Secretary to the Government of Kogi State (SSG), made tge disclosure in a press statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Lokoja.
The SSG said that approval was also given for the appointment of 10 others including a Director General (DG), a Principal Private Secretary (PPS), Chairman and Members of Kogi State Hotels and Tourism Board.
Among the Special Advisers are former Governor Yahaya Bello’s Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Isah Mohammed who has been appointed as Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Relations.
Also on the list of Special Advisers is former member of Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Idris Ndako who has been appointed as Special Adviser to the Executive Governor on Local Government Matters.
Hon. Nda Aaron was also appointed as Special Adviser on Multimedia and Conception, a position he held throughout former Governor Yahaya Bello’s regime.
Also among the new appointees is the immediate past Chairman of Ibaji Local Government Area, Hon. Thomas Offor is to serve as Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties II.
Among many others are Abdulhamid Lawal, Special Adviser to the Governor on Grassroots Mobilization and Isah Omeiza Albert, Special Adviser on Community Relations.
Also on the list are Basir Audu Abubakar, Special Adviser on Hotel & Tourism (East); Achimugu Eunice Special Adviser on Youth and Women Affairs; Otitoju David Durojaiye, Special Adviser on Internal and Corporate Affairs
and Otaru Abdulkabir Onoruooyiza, Special Adviser on Agriculture.
Notable among the new Senior Special Assistants to the Governor are Onoja Simon Shaibu, Information and Political Strategy; Hon. Laz Akubo, Public Relations (East); Obademi Samson Oladende, Public Relations (West) and
Joseph Olutimi , Finance.
Some others are Joseph A. Omeiza, Commerce; Ikeyi Sunday, Sanitation; Richard Otitoleke , Drug Rehabilitation and Akubo Victoria Unekwu, Youth and Women Mobilization (Dekina Bassa).
Halimat Mohammed Onotu , Youth and Women Mobilzation (Adavi/Okehi)
and Abubakar Idris Yakubu Echipate, Local Matters.
The SSG said that the Governor also approved the redeployment of Ahmed Kashim, from being Personal Assistant to the Governor to Special Adviser to the Governor on Domestic Affairs.
Dr Ayoade in the statement said that the Governor while congratulating all the appointees demanded absolute commitment to the development of the State adding that the appointments take immediate effect. (Ends)
The Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has commended the outgoing World Bank Country Director, Dr. Shubham Chaudhari for his Significant Contributions to Nigeria’s Economic Growth
Dinner event hosted by the Honourable Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun OFR in honour of the outgoing World Bank Country Director, Dr Shubham Chaudhuri held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria
At an event held in Abuja, hosted by the Minister to honour the out-going World Bank Country Director, Mr Edun acknowledged the Organization’s crucial role in promoting socio-economic sustainability and enhancing Nigeria’s economic competitiveness.
A statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations Mohammed Manga quoted the minister to have expressed appreciation for the remarkable achievements recorded during Dr. Chaudhari’s tenure.
He reaffirmed the country’s commitment to building on these accomplishments so as to further drive economic progress in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration.
“We appreciate your tireless efforts towards the promotion of economic growth and development in Nigeria. Your leadership and expertise have made a significant impact on our country’s progress.
“Your dedication to supporting Nigeria’s development agenda is truly commendable. We are grateful for these contributions and look forward to continued collaboration. Your commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable growth in Nigeria is inspiring.
“We appreciate your partnership and guidance in shaping our country’s future*, Edun said.
According to him, the hallmark of the present administration’s policy thrust that brought fiscal reforms was aimed at boosting the nation’s economic development with a view to attracting foreign investments so as to ensure job creation, poverty reduction and improved standard of living for the citizenry.
The Minister assured that Nigeria offers a wealth of opportunities for foreign investors, with a large and growing market, rich natural resources, and a skilled workforce.
“We invite you to explore the possibilities and partner with us for mutual growth. Join us in harnessing the potential of Nigeria’s emerging economy. Our country offers a favourable business environment, investment incentives, and a dynamic market waiting to be tapped.”
Mr Edun used the opportunity to invite the international community to discover the opportunities and advantages of investing in Nigeria.
“Our government is committed to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and succeed. We are inviting the international development partners to come to Nigeria and invest their resources. Nigeria is a country with diverse business opportunities and market potentials for profit maximisation*, he stressed.
The Minister stated further that Nigeria would continue to be a development partner with the World Bank, and that the present administration was committed to championing a good cause as well as implement policies that would boost the country’s economy in order to make it more vibrant and resilient.
Edun further appreciated Dr Chaudhari’s tenure, which he said, underscores the importance of supporting and recognizing Nigeria, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pragmatic leadership in providing good governance.
He added that the reforms initiated by the administration would serve as a window to the global investment community, stressing that Nigeria is open for business with stable and profitable benefits thereby calling on Philanthropists, both within and outside the country, to invest their resources in Nigeria, a country which he said, has the largest population in Africa.
Edun explained that *the disputable access to renewal energy recently launched was an indication to build trust, attract foreign investment, and foster international partnerships aimed at reinvigorating the Nigerian economy.*
Speaking during the event, Dr. Shaubham Chaudhari, the out-going World Bank Country Director, described the event as symbolic and strategic, saying that it would help build bonds in relationship trust. He commended Nigeria for its proactive measures and robust efforts in bracing up monetory policies and in fostering sustainable economic development despite the daunting challenges.
The out-going Director assured that his Organisation’s doors were widely open for more collaborations and partnerships for the country’s growth.
Earlier in her remarks at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya assured that the Ministry will continue to provide an enabling environment for the full implementation of the policies, programmes and projects of the Federal Government in line with its mandate.
She appealed to the international community to support the efforts of the present administration in its determination to boost the country’s economy and further stressed the need for international partners to take advantage of the country’s diversity and invest their resources for maximum benefits.
*Nigeria offers a vast and untapped market, rich in natural resources and human capital. We invite you to explore the numerous investment opportunities and be a part of our growth story. Join us in shaping Nigeria’s future and tapping into the immense potentials of our economy. Together, let’s create a prosperous and sustainable tomorrow.*
*Nigeria is open for business. We welcome foreign investors to partner with us in unlocking our economic potentials and driving growth in key sectors.* Jafiya said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary Special Duties, Mr Okokon Ekanem Udo, assured that the present administration was committed to putting and implementing projects that will impact on the lives of Nigerians in line with contemporary global realities.
He commended the outgoing World Bank Country Director, Dr. Shaubham Chaudhari for his commitment and dedication. *Thank you for your dedication and commitment. We are grateful for your unwavering support and guidance, which has helped us navigate complex development challenges and create a brighter future for Nigerians.* Udo said.
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