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Insecurity: Obasanjo or Jonathan, who should Nigerians believe?

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I grew up in Ibadan, one of Africa’s most densely populated town, then, just few years ago, the sound and sight of bomb explosions were alien to us, except the ones we heard were happening in war-torn countries and the ones we probably watched in movies.

Today, terrorism and insecurity are right in our midst and those of our children.

Terrorism is incontrovertibly very deadly but the growing parlous insecurity situation is not limited to this alone; armed robbers are on the prowl, raping/gang-raping, maiming, cult violence and killing of innocent people on the roads, in their houses and even inside places of worship.

Killing for ritual purposes, political violence during which many Nigerians have been gunned down by the bullets of assassins to settle political scores. Kidnapping has become a lucrative business, maritime and airspace insecurity had claimed very many precious lives.

No place is safe, none is exempted; unborn babies, kids with promising future, helpless women, people of high and low status are affected daily by the insecurity malaise, in the only country they claim as their own.

Exactly when and how we got into this labyrinth is opaque but the effects stare us all in the face. Socio- economic implications of insecurity include loss of lives and properties, damaged psyche of the citizenry, rural-urban migration, dearth of skilled manpower and reliable data, more unemployment, low rating of the country, lack of foreign direct investment, negative effects’ on National Budget, distorted National Planning and myriads of other detrimental impacts.

As insecurity hit the nation, several solutions had been offered. These had included identifying, demystifying criminal groups, better policing with the use of intelligence reports, proper funding of security architecture, transparency and accountability in governance, food security, re-focused press coverage, dialogue and amnesty.

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As there exists strong nexus between unemployment and insecurity, unarguably, jobs must be created to engage the hordes of youths roaming the streets.
In a Cable News Network (CNN) interview recently, while responding on how to tame the Boko Haram insurgence, former President Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) opined, “to deal with a group like that, you need carrot and stick.

The carrot is finding out how to reach out to them. When you try to reach out to them and they are not amenable to being reached out to, you have to use the stick”.

Ex- President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) had continued to give assurances to Nigerians that his administration would soon be on top of the situation. That culprit would soon be apprehended. Bla, bla, bla…

Is OBJ Right or can we trust GEJ?
The state of insecurity has worsened since President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan won the presidential election in April 2011. Many believe that the growing terrorists activities and sectarian violence in the land were caused by some of those who contested against Jonathan.

President Goodluck Jonathan is not oblivious of the insecurity challenges in the land. The much touted national transformation agenda of the Jonathan administration came to nought when there was no solution to the menace of insecurity ravaging the country. In fact, policy analysts had posited that the ability of the past administration to nip in the bud the problem of insecurity and improve electricity supply would be major indices to evaluate the Jonathan administration at the end of his tenure.

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GEJ had his good points; his rise to political ascendancy had not been, with any remarkable achievement in the area of good governance.

OBJ’s critics are quick to point out that in the first place, he foisted GEJ on Nigeria as President of Africa’s most populous country. That retrospectively, many of the factors responsible for insecurity now started during OBJ’s tenure and that some reached their peak when OBJ was President. Issues like corruption, super-ministers, assassinations and other malaise thrived under Obasanjo with reckless ignominy.

Nevertheless, OBJ as a statesman was right as he sure knows that security is central to development. His summation on Boko haram confirms this, “Boko Haram undermines security and anything that undermines security, undermines development, undermines education, undermines health, undermines agriculture and food, nutrition and security”.

From the vintage viewpoint of a country he had been opportune to govern over many years, for OBJ to posit that Nigeria has been caught in the web of high network insecurity and that obviously efforts to disengaged the nation from these social maladies had been futile are positions worth giving keen considerations.

The level of insecurity in the country is worrisome. Urgent steps need to be taken to address the problem. Nigerians had almost lost count of the number of terrorists’ attacks that had hit the country, in the last few years. Presidential condolences are not assuaging the pains; only a final stoppage can bring gain to the citizenry .

The Nigeria Police Force appears to have a little or no control over the situation; a situation that has made the ordinary law-abiding, tax-paying citizen to lose confidence in the ability and capacity of the State to protect lives and property of the citizens. It is on this weight that some people had advocated the creation of state police to tackle the security problem in the land.

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There is a strong sceptism that if the level of insecurity in our country is not scaled down, Nigeria’s vision to be among the best countries of the world may be a mirage. The generation of leaders to which OBJ, GEJ and Buhari belonged, would be in history of the country, a failed generation. This is a fact that OBJ, GEJ know; this is the reality Buhari must face decisively.

By Dr. Ajibola Esuola.

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National Issues

16 Governors Back State Police Amid Security Concerns

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In response to the escalating security challenges plaguing Nigeria, no fewer than 16 state governors have thrown their weight behind the establishment of state police forces.

This development was disclosed by the National Economic Council (NEC) during its 140th meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, which took place virtually on Thursday.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, who briefed State House Correspondents after the meeting, revealed that out of the 36 states, 20 governors and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were yet to submit their positions on the matter, though he did not specify which states were among them.

The governors advocating for state police also pushed for a comprehensive review of the Nigerian Constitution to accommodate this crucial reform. Their move underscores the urgency and gravity of the security situation across the nation.

Similarly, the NEC received an abridged report from the ad-hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control. This committee, headed by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, highlighted the areas of oil leakages within the industry and identified instances of infractions.

Governor Uzodinma’s committee stressed the imperative of political will to drive the necessary changes and reforms needed to combat crude oil theft effectively.

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National Issues

Weak Institutions Impede Nigeria’s Sustainable Development – Says US Don

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Renowned academician, Professor Augustine Okereke, from the Medgar Evers College/City University of New York, has emphasised the detrimental impact of a lack of strong social institutions on Nigeria’s sustainable development.

Presenting a lead paper at the First Annual Ibadan Social Science Conference hosted by the University of Ibadan, Professor Okereke urged President Bola Tinubu to foster robust institutions capable of combatting corruption and addressing social ills.

“All our institutions are on the decline,” warned Professor Okereke, underscoring the urgent need for effective structures to facilitate sustainable development. He highlighted the challenges faced by African countries, emphasising the risk of continued poverty, underemployment, and injustice without these foundational structures.

The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ibadan, Professor Ezebunwa Nwokocha, asserted the university’s commitment to providing intellectual, context-specific solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

He called on state and federal governments to patronise researchers in the country, emphasising the faculty’s reputation for producing intellectual leaders.

Professor Nwokocha stated, “Our faculty is reputed for offering deeply intellectual, workable, and context-specific solutions to the challenges faced by Nigeria over the ages.” He emphasised the significance of the conference’s theme in aiding Nigeria’s navigation through its complex existential reality marked by despair, rising inflation, insecurity, corruption, and unemployment.

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During the conference’s opening, Vice Chancellor Professor Kayode Adebowale noted the relevance of the theme, “Social Science, Contemporary Social Issues, and the Actualization of Sustainable Development,” urging participants to generate transformative ideas for Nigeria.

Acknowledging the nation’s progress over 63 years, he expressed concern over setbacks in the economy and social indices, hoping the conference would proffer solutions.

In his keynote address, Professor Lai Erinosho stressed the rapid worldwide social change in the digital age, citing both benefits and unanticipated consequences for human survival. He cautioned against embracing same-sex relationships, citing dangerous implications for humanity.

The First Annual Ibadan Social Science Conference convened a diverse array of participants to explore solutions and intellectual leadership in addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

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National Issues

Nigerians’ Wallets Under Strain As Inflation Soars to 28.92%

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As the country grapples with economic challenges, the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed a surge in the inflation rate to 28.92%, according to the December 2023 Consumer Price Index (CPI) released on a Monday afternoon.

The CPI, tracking the fluctuation in prices of goods and services, illustrates a notable increase from the previous month’s 28.20%, underscoring the pressing concerns surrounding the nation’s economic stability.

In a recent report, the Statistics Office revealed a notable uptick in the headline inflation rate for December 2023, marking a 0.72 percentage point increase from the previous month’s figure in November 2023.

On a year-on-year basis, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlighted a significant surge, with the December 2023 rate standing at 7.58 percentage points higher compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

December 2022 witnessed an inflation rate of 21.34 percent, underscoring the economic dynamics at play.

“This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in December 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., December 2022),” NBS said.

In a further revelation, the bureau disclosed that the month-on-month headline inflation rate for December 2023 experienced a 2.29 percent surge, surpassing November 2023 by 0.20 percent. This indicates a swifter rise in the average price level compared to the preceding month.

The report highlighted a concerning acceleration in food inflation, reaching 33.93 percent on a year-on-year basis for December 2023. This marked a substantial 10.18 percent points increase from December 2022’s rate of 23.75 percent. The data underscores the persistent upward trend in food prices, a trend exacerbated by various government policies, including the removal of subsidies on petrol.

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Notably, in July 2023, President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency on food insecurity to address the escalating food prices. Taking decisive action, the President mandated that issues related to food and water availability and affordability fall under the jurisdiction of the National Security Council, recognising these as essential livelihood items in need of urgent attention.

In Monday’s inflation report, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) detailed the key contributors to the year-on-year increase in the headline index. The leading factors include food & non-alcoholic beverages at 14.98 percent, housing water, electricity, gas & other fuel at 4.84 percent, clothing & footwear at 2.21 percent, and transport at 1.88 percent.

Additional contributors encompass furnishings & household equipment & maintenance (1.45 percent), education (1.14 percent), health (0.87 percent), miscellaneous goods & services (0.48 percent), restaurant & hotels (0.35 percent), alcoholic beverages, tobacco & kola (0.31 percent), recreation & culture (0.20 percent), and communication (0.20 percent).

The report highlighted a substantial 24.66 percent change in the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the twelve months ending December 2023 over the previous twelve-month period. This represents a significant 5.81 percent increase compared to the 18.85 percent recorded in December 2022, indicating ongoing inflationary pressures in the economy.

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Food Inflation

In a concerning trend, the food inflation rate for December 2023 surged to 33.93 percent on a year-on-year basis, marking a substantial 10.18 percent points increase from the same period in 2022, when the rate stood at 23.75 percent.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) attributed this rise in food inflation to notable increases in the prices of various essential items. Key contributors include bread and cereals, oil and fat, potatoes, yam, and other tubers, fish, meat, fruit, milk, cheese, and eggs.

These price hikes collectively contributed to the intensified strain on consumers, highlighting the complex dynamics driving the upward trajectory of food prices.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in December 2023 was 2.72 percent, this was 0.30 percent higher compared to the rate recorded in November 2023 (2.42 percent),” it said.

Clarifying the dynamics behind the recent uptick, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) explained that the month-on-month increase in food inflation for December 2023 was spurred by a heightened rate of escalation in the average prices of oil and fat, meat, bread, and cereals, potatoes, yam, and other tubers, as well as fish and dairy products like milk, cheese, and eggs.

“The average annual rate of food inflation for the twelve months ending December 2023 over the previous twelve-month average was 27.96 percent, which was a 7.02 percent points increase from the average annual rate of change recorded in December 2022 (20.94 percent),” the report added.

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