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Traditional leaders who can’t advise politicians fearlessly, honestly should resign – says ex-Waziri, Prof Lugga
The former Wazirin Katsina, Professor Abubakar Sani Lugga has called on traditional and religious leaders who cannot give fearless and honest advice to political leaders in Nigeria to tender their resignation or be removed.
Lugga made the call while playing host to a team of journalists at his Katsina residence on Friday.
The erstwhile Waziri explained that the perpetual prayers of the citizenry have not been answered because the country is under what he termed ‘divine curse’, blaming bad leadership for the country’s woes.
In the same vein, he advised political leaders who cannot perform their functions effectively to resign.
Lugga said, “In Nigeria, we have the following group of leaders:
“The first set is made up of Political Leaders: These are the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary. They are the only group of persons who can ensure and enforce the performance of good actions, enjoin people to do what is right, and forbid people from engaging in what is evil. They have the Power and the Authority to uphold the Religious Commandments of peace, harmony, justice, and fairness. They can ensure that Muslims adhere to the Tenets of Islam and Christians adhere to the Tenets of Christianity; since all the Christian and Islamic Do’s and Don’ts in Worldly Affairs are the same; with slight differences only in the modes of worships!
“Political Leaders have the powers, the authority, and the responsibility to ensure a peaceful, secure and prosperous society, community, or nation. They can enforce justice and fairness and they can punish injustice and all other evil acts and actions
“The second set is made up of traditional and religious leaders; who only have advisory roles. They have no powers and they have no authority to enforce anything. They are respected by the people for what they are; but not for what they can do or undo. No traditional or religious leader can enforce justice or punish crime. They are only advisers to political leaders.
“It is therefore glaringly clear that the responsibility of peace, security, harmony, development and all other peoples’ welfare rest with the political leaders. In addition, Section 14 (2) (b) of the Nigerian Constitution clearly states that, “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
“For decades, Nigeria has led the World as the Centre for Prayer Warriors. Many Christian and Muslim clerics claim to be so close to Allah/God that He communes with them.
“They say that Allah/God tells them when this or that shall happen. They even tell who shall die and who shall live; as and when and where! But the same Allah/God has never told them that the evil acts of political leaders and those of some of the religious leaders themselves have led Nigerians into similar evil acts.
“Have the Nigerian political, religious, and traditional leaders ever asked themselves if a Nation like Nigeria can expect peace, security, stability, and development under the following circumstances?
“Where poverty, unemployment, corruption, pen robbery, injustice, etc, have upset the socio-economic order?
“Where a few political, business, religious, and traditional leaders boast of billions of Naira, while the vast majority of the citizens labour or beg just to get one meal a day?
“Where Political Leaders build mansions and buy private jets with bribery and corruption? Where religious leaders build mansions and buy private jets with un-religious tithes of the improvised masses? Where traditional leaders have thrown away customs and traditions as “turbans” and “crowns” are now for sale in naira and dollars and not under traditional inheritance and competence?
“Where a few Leaders’ children are in private schools at home and abroad, while the Citizens’ children are in the streets begging or in non-functioning public schools?
“Where a few leaders fly to overseas for medical care and the citizens have no basic healthcare?
“Where justice is for the rich and the powerful, while injustice is for the poor?
“Where saying the truth to those in authority is a crime and praise-singing them is a virtue?
“Where a plethora of other evils are increasingly being committed?
“These evils by the Nigerian leadership have led to the citizens taking arms to seize what they foresee as their own share of the national cake.
“Any Nigerian Political Leader who cannot perform his/her functions effectively; and any Nigerian traditional ruler and religious leader who cannot give fearless, honest and sincere advice to the political leaders, should resign or be removed so as to allow those who can effectively perform to take over. Allah/God does not place a burden on any person beyond his/her ability.
“The Glorious Qur’an states that Allah does not place a burden on any soul greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every evil that it earns. (Qur’an 2:286)
“The Holy Bible states that, But God is Merciful; He will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13)
“Leaders, in particular, should take note of these Qur’an and Bible provisions, as they shall account to posterity in this World and to Allah/God in the Hereafter for every brutal citizen’s death, every injury, every kidnapping, every armed robbery, every rape, every child abuse, every hunger, every property destruction or theft, every economic sabotage, etc!
“No Leader (or any other person for that matter) shall have an excuse to posterity or to Allah/God for failing to credibly perform his/her duties and still cling to power. Even in Worship for example, Allah/God has removed the burden of fasting on those who are sick and cannot fast. Therefore, any person who cannot perform anything, should leave that to those who can perform. This is the fundamental command of Allah/God.
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FG Targets 15m Households for Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Nentawe Yilwatda, has announced the Federal Government’s plan to reach 15 million households, representing 75 million people, through its conditional cash transfer scheme.
Speaking on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Yilwatda explained that the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to mitigating the economic hardships faced by vulnerable Nigerians.
“The president was so specific,” Yilwatda noted.
“There are policies that he brought in to see if that can ease those challenges for people at the lower end of the pyramid. One of those policies is to reach out to 15 million beneficiaries under the conditional cash transfer, targeting households rather than individuals. Each household will receive ₦25,000 monthly, paid three times a year.”
Yilwatda further clarified that the 15 million households being targeted translate to 75 million Nigerians, assuming an average of five persons per household.
So far, the Federal Government has reached five million individuals but is facing challenges in fully sanitizing the social register, particularly with the implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) policy mandating digital identities for transparency and traceability of payments.
“Currently, only 1.4 million people on the social register have digital identities. Many of those we are targeting are outside the formal banking system,” the minister disclosed.
Yilwatda emphasized that women are specifically targeted as household leaders under the program to ensure the funds are used effectively for the benefit of children and other vulnerable members of society.
The conditional cash transfer programme, which is administered under the National Social Investment Programme, had earlier been suspended by President Tinubu in January due to allegations of corruption. However, the scheme was reinstated in February, with plans to extend the initiative to an additional 12 million households.
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Fuel Price Relief: PETROAN Promises Pump Price Drop This Week
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has assured Nigerians of a reduction in the pump price of petrol within the week, following adjustments to the ex-depot price by key players in the industry.
Last week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Dangote Refinery announced a reduction in the ex-depot price of petrol to ₦899 per litre in Lagos. Despite this, the pump price at many filling stations across the country has remained unchanged.
However, PETROAN President, Billy Gilly-Harry, during a Monday appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, expressed optimism that the price change would soon reflect in retail outlets.
“But I believe from today when members start loading from both NNPC and Dangote at this new price reduction, it will reflect in the market,” he said.
Gilly-Harry lauded some members of PETROAN, particularly in Abuja, for proactively reducing their pump prices to below ₦1,000 even before the official announcement. He emphasized that while members strive to serve Nigerians by providing affordable fuel, they must maintain marginal profitability to sustain operations.
“We don’t encourage our members to try to sell products at a loss because our focus is to serve Nigerians. And the only way we can serve Nigerians is when we have the resources to do so. The resources can only be there if we’re making marginal profit enough to pay for the cost of money and ensure continuity in business,” he noted.
Addressing concerns over the delay in implementing the price reduction, Gilly-Harry explained that some retailers are still selling old stock purchased at higher prices.
“This reduction, if you apply it immediately, don’t forget that some of them bought at ₦970, paid transportation costs and logistics that have taken it quite high,” he said. “By the time it gets to their retail outlets, it’s quite much more than that. And so they must also sell at a profit – minimal marginal profit as provisioned by the PIA. So, that’s the reason.”
The PETROAN boss commended both the NNPCL and Dangote Refinery for their efforts in reducing the ex-depot price, which he described as a significant step toward easing the burden on Nigerians.
Nigerians are now hopeful that the price adjustment will translate into tangible relief at filling stations in the coming days.
News
FG Declares Festive Public Holidays
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, December 25, and Thursday, December 26, 2024, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day, respectively. Additionally, Wednesday, January 1, 2025, has been declared a public holiday to celebrate the New Year.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani. The minister extended warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to embrace the festive period as an opportunity to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season represents.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized the significance of the season in fostering harmony and strengthening family and community bonds.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” he stated.
He further encouraged citizens to remain committed to peace, unity, and progress for the development of the nation, stressing the Federal Government’s dedication to ensuring security and prosperity across the country.
While wishing Nigerians a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, the minister expressed confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He assured citizens that the coming year would usher in a stronger and more prosperous economy that would set Nigeria on a global pedestal.
The minister concluded by calling on Nigerians to celebrate responsibly, maintaining peace and unity throughout the festive season.
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