National Issues
Buhari’s anti-graft war has failed, says Odumakin
The publicity secretary of pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin on Tuesday pronounced that President Muhammadu Buhari’s much talked-about anti-graft war has collapsed and failed.
Odumakin made this pronouncement while featuring Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio, in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
According to him, the five-year anti-corruption war of Buhari ‘wombled and fumbled’ until recently when everything came to the open on how corrupt the system has been.
He said, “those inside know that there is no anti-corruption war. Those in the circle, on the corridors of power know that there is no war against graft. All sorts of embarrassing moments are being witnessed today to confirm this assertion.”
Since he was at a time very close to President Buhari, Odumakin was asked what he would tell the President on this issue of corruption if he should meet with him.
His response: “I will only tell him to go and retool. The corruption war he has been fighting has collapsed. The people of Nigeria do not understand again.”
He also addressed the issue raised by some observers that the President is no more in control of things in Aso Rock, the seat of power.
“Yes, Presidency has responded to those observers by saying that it is not true and that those who made the observation do not know what they are talking about. No. Those observers have their facts. Things have collapsed in Aso Rock. I quite agree with them. President Buhari must retool immediately.”
He later revealed that while he worked as spokesperson for President Buhari’s former party, CPC, he was not being paid.
“I was not getting paid while I worked as the spokesperson for CPC. So, when he lost, he said he was not contesting again in 2011. That was how our working relationship frizzled out.”
On his relationship with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Odumakin submitted “I got to meet Dr Jonathan through a vibrant young man, late Oronto Douglas. Then, we were made to understand that he, (Jonathan) would hold a National Conference and implement the report and outcome. That was why we related with him at Afenifere.
“You see, at Afenifere, we are passionate about restructuring. Anybody that is ready to do this will be supported by us”.
He also took time to speak about the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“There was a time we had issues. People from his camp threw jabs at me and I responded appropriately. Many leaders from Yorubaland intervened and the matter was settled.”
On the issue of whether Afenifere will support the perceived presidential ambition of the APC leader, Odumakin responded “It is true our leader at Afenifere addressed the topic. He did not emphatically confirm that Afenifere would support Tinubu. He said, since the APC leader is a Yorubaman, Afenifere may support him. Especially if he will pursue restructuring.”
When speaking on the emergence of Professor Banji Akintoye as the leader of the Yorubas, Odumakin said “Professor Akintoye is not the leader of the Yorubas. He is the leader of Yoruba World Congress. Yorubas do not have any leader for now.”
The former journalist also addressed the issue of Amotekun saying, “it is a welcome development. Initially, Afenifere opposed the idea because we felt it would have been more reasonable to agitate for the establishment of state police.
“But when those people said we could not put Amotekun in place in Yorubaland, that was when we got up in support. It is our right. The north has its own version of Amotekun. My only desire, prayer is that the Amotekun project should be well organized and maintained.”
Odumakin equally used the opportunity to endorse the activities of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission).
“DAWN Commission is a worthy project being carried out by the governors of the Yoruba states. Afenifere is in full support and I believe the commission can do so much to hasten the development of Yorubaland.”
While speaking on the probability of running for an elective position. Dr Joe Odumakin’s husband said “I am not a politician. I am a political activist. But I will contest if and when our political terrain becomes transformed and politics of real progressivism is being practiced. I do not want to just join the bandwagon.”
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has called for a prompt investigation into the increasing occurrences of building collapses in major cities across Nigeria.
In a motion presented to the House on Wednesday, Oseni expressed deep concern over the alarming frequency of building collapses, emphasising the threat they pose to the lives and property of Nigerians.
The APC lawmaker, through a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, cited the recent collapse of a two-storey school building at Saint Academy in Busa Buji, Jos, Plateau State, on July 12, 2024. The tragic incident, which trapped 154 people and claimed 22 lives, is the latest in a series of similar disasters, raising serious concerns nationwide.
Oseni also referenced a report from The Punch newspaper, which revealed that Nigeria had recorded 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024.
“This figure is alarming and unacceptable,” he stated, stressing the urgency of preventing further occurrences.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Oseni reminded the House that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other relevant professional bodies are responsible for ensuring compliance with building standards and practices.
“Despite these regulatory frameworks, the recurring collapses suggest that enforcement is lacking. The loss of lives, properties, and resources is staggering, and this disturbing trend must be addressed immediately,” he remarked.
He proposed the formation of an Adhoc Committee to investigate the underlying causes of these collapses and recommend both immediate and long-term solutions.
Also, he urged the House Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure swift implementation of any recommendations.
The House agreed to deliberate on the motion and is expected to present its findings and proposed actions within eight weeks.
The Vice-chairman of the Oyo Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of religious leaders in material pursuits, accusing them of abandoning their spiritual duties in favour of wealth and influence.
Oba Alao, who is also the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, made this statement during a visit from the leadership of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement “Ayo Ni O,” led by Baba Aladura Prophet Emmanuel Abiodun Alogbo, at his palace in Surulere Local Government on Thursday.
The monarch accused some religious leaders of sharing part of the blame for the moral and political crises that have engulfed the nation. According to him, spiritual leaders, once seen as the moral compass of society, have become compromised by corruption, aligning themselves with the very forces they should condemn.
Oba Alao was unapologetic in his criticism, stating, “Ninety-five percent of Nigerian leaders, both political and religious, are spiritually compromised.”
He argued that this moral decay among clerics has made it impossible for them to hold political leaders accountable or speak the truth to those in power, as their integrity has been eroded by their pursuit of material wealth.
“Carnality has taken over spirituality. Our religious leaders can no longer speak the truth to those in authority because their minds have been corrupted. Most of the so-called General Overseers (G.O.) are corrupt and perverted,” Oba Alao added.
He stressed that this shift towards wealth accumulation at the expense of spiritual values has greatly contributed to the country’s stagnation in development and social justice.
Olugbon urged both religious leaders and traditional rulers to reflect on their actions, reminding them that they would be held accountable for their stewardship, both in this world and the next.
“The prayers of sinners are an abomination before God, hence the need for our leaders to rethink,” he warned.
The monarch concluded by reiterating the transient nature of power and the importance of staying true to sacred duties, regardless of the temptation to indulge in worldly gains. “I am a traditional ruler. I don’t belong, and will never belong, to any occultic groups,” he emphasised, drawing a clear line between his position and the corrupt practices of some leaders.
In response to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement’s request for collaboration on community development projects, Oba Alao assured them of his support.
“Your requests are aimed at the development of the Orile Igbon community. I am assuring you that necessary assistance will be provided in this regard.”
Earlier, Prophet Alogbo requested the monarch’s collaboration on a range of community development projects. These initiatives include the establishment of a women and youth empowerment center, clean drinking water initiatives, a bakery, animal production facilities, and farm produce processing.
Other proposals included a diagnostic and medical center, a full-size recreational sports facility, and a home care facility for the elderly.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased to 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2024. The latest figures were disclosed in a report released by the NBS on Tuesday, marking an uptick from the 5.0 per cent recorded in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023.
According to the NBS, the unemployment rate for males stood at 4.3 per cent, while females experienced a higher rate of 6.2 per cent during the same period. The report also highlighted disparities based on location, with urban areas recording a 6.0 per cent unemployment rate compared to 4.3 per cent in rural areas for Q1 2024.
“The unemployment rate for Q1 2024 was 5.3%, showing an increase from 5.0% recorded in Q3 2023,” the bureau stated in its report. The NBS defines the unemployment rate as the percentage of the labour force, including both employed and unemployed individuals, who are not working but are actively seeking employment.
Youth Unemployment Rate Declines
In a positive development, the report indicated a slight drop in youth unemployment, which fell to 8.4 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 8.6 per cent in Q3 2023. This figure represents the unemployment rate among Nigeria’s young people, a demographic that often faces unique employment challenges.
Educational Attainment and Unemployment
The report further provided insights into unemployment rates based on educational attainment. Individuals with postgraduate education recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 2.0 per cent, while those with post-secondary education faced a rate of 9.0 per cent. For people with secondary education, the rate stood at 6.9 per cent, and those with only primary education recorded a 4.0 per cent unemployment rate.
Employment-to-Population Ratio Falls to 73.2%
In addition to the unemployment data, the NBS also reported a decline in Nigeria’s employment-to-population ratio, a critical indicator of workforce participation. The ratio dropped to 73.2 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 75.6 per cent in Q3 2023. This ratio represents the percentage of the working-age population that is employed.
Breaking the data down by gender, the employment-to-population ratio for males was 74.2 per cent, while it was 72.3 per cent for females. By place of residence, urban areas had an employment-to-population ratio of 69.5 per cent, while rural areas recorded 78.9 per cent in Q1 2024, compared to 71.1 per cent and 80.7 per cent in Q3 2023, respectively.
-
News1 week agoOseni Donates N10m to Support Ibadan’s Mogaji Ile Eke Project
-
News1 week ago
Lead City Varsity Hosts Conference on Leadership, Personality Development
-
News4 days ago
Bad Roads: ‘Focus on Message, Not Messenger’ – Nigerians Tell Works Minister, Umahi
-
Politics6 days ago
Oseni Salutes Senator Folarin’s Decades of Service at 61
