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Food for Living: A New Nigeria is Still Possible
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By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
I will like to begin this article with a plea to my dear friends who are not Nigerians: please bear with me.
To those who don’t know my origin; I’m originally Nigerian before I became a United States Citizen.
To those of you who don’t know about October 1, 2021; Nigeria celebrated her 61st independence anniversary on that day.
It is pertinent to note that Nigeria was colonized by the British until she was ready to govern herself. But the question we need to ask ourselves is, is Nigeria truly independent?
Independence means different things to different people. Depending on the rubric that is used. To some, it means freedom to decide what one wants. It can also mean financial independence. One can even appreciate independence from a master-mentee point of view where the later by begins his/her entrepreneurial journey.
Nigeria became a British protectorate in 1901 and since then, we have had four republics. The first republic started from 1960 -1979, the second republic started from 1979-1983, the third republic started from 1992-1993, while the fourth republic started from 1999- date (2021). It’s my personal hope and desire that Nigerians will not experience a fifth republic by getting a good leader who will see Nigeria as one regardless of where one comes from. We truly need a leader who can unite the country and not one who will disintegrate it because that’s the feelings of most Nigerians in the Southern part of the country, who are clamoring for self-determination because of how they are being treated. Sentiments apart, if we cannot live in peace, it’s imperative we separate in peace. It’s not compulsory to live together, especially when the system is not working.
When we take a statistical test about how Nigeria has fared in the last 61 years, we can reasonably conclude that we have not developed and progressed as expected when compared to our counterparts. Let’s not look too far, Ghana got her independence in 1957 from Britain. Nigeria was due to gain her independence around that time, but due to technicality, it didn’t come through. When you look at the development and growth that has occurred in Nigeria, you will just wonder if we are cursed as a country. Our leaders have really failed us, they have used poverty, ethnicity, religion, and tribalism to divide the hapless citizens who don’t realize the power they have.
It is rightly stated that every country, nation, or community gets the kind of leader they deserve. This is because if the citizens know what they want, they will put in the works to get results. It is because of lack of accountability that our leaders misbehave as they know they won’t be held accountable by the citizens, and to some extent, the courts when they embezzle public funds.
The question on the lips of every Nigerian is when will Nigeria get it right? Will Nigeria and Nigerians ever get it right? To some, Nigeria will never get it right.
Well, optimists believe we’ll get it right one day. According to Fela Durotoye, a leadership expert, for a country to develop there must be peace, progress, and property. Without peace, there can never be stability, when there’s instability, there can never be prosperity.
As it stands today in Nigeria, many families find it hard to afford three square meal and the basic needs of life. There’s insecurity, the economy is in shambles which has led to the downfall of the naira, the country is heavily divided on religious and ethnic lines, and there are no jobs for the teeming population.
The government is not helping the situation; they are only paying lip service to the sufferings of the citizens. The only time our leaders remember the citizens is during elections. The litany of problems facing Nigeria can destroy the country. For lack of better words, many Nigerians are merely existing instead of living. Nigeria is merely sitting on a time bomb and if not properly managed, it will explode anytime.
Therefore, the average Nigerian seems to have lost hope and have resorted to unethical means of surviving. The men have resorted to armed robbery, scamming, rituals amongst other crimes against humanity. Some of the ladies on their parts, have resorted to prostitution and stealing just to survive. It is sad and terrible to be a Nigerian at this time.
It should be noted success in life is not about income, but impact. According to Fela Durutoye, success is about income, but greatness is about impact. To really know a great man, look at the impact he has made in the lives of people as opposed to the luxuries he showcases. This is because success is not what you make happen for yourself, but true greatness is what you make happen for others. So, I will leave you with this question, what impacts and legacy are you leaving for others to thread upon?
You can know a great country by merely looking at how she treats her citizens. In the USA for instance, the leaders debate on an endless basis on how they can serve the masses, but in third world countries, most of the leaders are only concerned about themselves. Civilized climes look at the per capita income, they ensure that the minimum wage is capable of sustaining an ordinary citizen, but can that be said of Nigeria? No. Per Fela Durutoye: successful people chase prosperity, but prosperity honors the great. Again, I will ask you, how do you want to be remembered?
In order to make Nigerian great again, the government must make policies and laws that favour the citizens, most especially the youths. They should focus on education, health, sports, technology, and entrepreneurship. The youths composed of 60% of the population. They must make favorable policies that will enable the private sectors to thrive.
Why am I saying this? The future of Nigeria is on her youths. You must build the nation by building the people. If the world wants to determine how developed a country is faring, they look at the citizens. The government must make favorable policies that will benefit the teeming population. Just like your future is inside of you, when you invest in yourself, you are bound to succeed.
Again, Fela Durutoye teaches that the future is not just tomorrow, it is what you can obtain but haven’t’. It is not what you can do, but you haven’t.
Therefore, the future of Nigeria is not a timeline or a race to finish, the future of Nigeria is inside of all of us. It is If you take yourself as an example, you might have great potentials, but due to the fact you haven’t taken time to utilize it, you are bound to remain on status quo, that’s the sad state of Nigeria, which hasn’t taken the bold to utilize her numerous natural and human resources.
In conclusion, while we waiting for who will take us to the promised land, we have to do our part by being good citizens regardless of who is doing the wrong thing. Just as we started with Fela Durutoye, I will leave you with his personal creed:
1. I will make a personal impact on everyone I meet and everywhere I go
2. I will be a solution provider and not part of the problem to be solved
3. I will be a role model worthy of emulation
4. I will be my best in all I do particularly the things I am naturally good at
5. I will do the right at all times regardless of who is doing the wrong things
6. I will value time and make the best use of it
7. I will care and show respect to all through my words and actions
8. I will consciously build a great legacy starting now today and every day
9. I will live a life o integrity and honor
10. I will make my family and nation proud
SO HELP ME GOD.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He’s a Human Capacity & mindset coach. He’s also a public speaker. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success and President of gloemi.com. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
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It’s a Scam: Beware of Tinubu’s Electricity Supply, ADC Warns Nigerians
The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has warned Nigerians against waiting for President Bola Tinubu to fulfil his campaign promise of providing reliable electricity.
The Council challenged the President to explain why millions of Nigerians continue to experience poor power supply despite his pledge that voters should not re-elect him if he fails to deliver electricity.
In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC-PCC accused Tinubu of making fresh promises during his recent campaign outings in Kaduna, Rivers and Jigawa states instead of presenting a clear account of his administration’s achievements.
Recalling the President’s campaign promise, the Council quoted him as saying: “If I don’t give you electricity, don’t vote for me for a second term.”
“Tinubu is only repeating his old electricity promise in Jigawa, while Nigerians are still waiting for answers on why reliable power supply remains out of reach,” the Council said.
The Council also questioned the whereabouts and impact of 2,000 tractors reportedly imported from Brazil under the administration’s mechanised farming programme.
It further accused Tinubu of taking credit for projects started by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, while failing to show enough achievements of his own.
News
Tinubu’ll Lose Despite Thuggery, Judicial Manipulation, Says ADC-PCC
The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has declared that President Bola Tinubu will lose the 2027 election, insisting that intimidation, violence and manipulation of democratic institutions cannot prevent his exit from office.
In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the Council accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the judiciary and deploying security agencies against opposition parties.
Ologbondiyan warned that growing attacks on opposition members across the country pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
He cited the killing of several members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Delta State, allegedly following an attack on the party’s campaign venue by suspected APC thugs.
He said the incident is part of a disturbing pattern of violence against opposition parties, particularly members of the ADC, NDC and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), in Kaduna, Kogi, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto states.
“This is not politics. This is state-sponsored terror against democracy,” he said.
The Council also raised concerns over the preparedness and neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that its voter register database had been compromised and that APC sympathisers had been deployed to sensitive positions.
It further alleged that security agencies were being used to harass, arrest and intimidate opposition members.
Ologbondiyan expressed concern over the alleged involvement of a serving director of a security agency in the APC Presidential Campaign Council as co-Director of National Security and Intelligence, describing it as a violation of the law establishing the agency.
“One thing is now very clear to all Nigerians: Tinubu is not preparing for an election. He is preparing for a coronation,” he said.
The ADC-PCC maintained that alleged manipulation of judicial processes and electoral institutions would not guarantee President Tinubu’s re-election, warning that Nigerians would resist any attempt to impose a president through compromised judicial decisions or electoral fraud.
It called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and defend their votes and democratic rights ahead of 2027.
The Council also urged the international community, civil society organisations, religious and traditional institutions to pay closer attention to what it described as the deteriorating political and security environment, warning that silence could embolden those undermining democracy.
It appealed to security agencies to remain politically neutral, stressing that their allegiance should be to the Constitution and the Nigerian people.
“Those who allow themselves to be used as tools of oppression today will answer for their actions tomorrow,” Ologbondiyan warned.
News
Lagos Guber Candidates Unveil Plans to Address Education, Housing, Transport Challenges
Governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State have outlined contrasting plans to address housing, transportation, education, healthcare and the rising cost of living ahead of the 2027 elections.
At a governorship debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, the candidates, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat of the APC, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the ADC, Funsho Doherty of the NDC and Adedeji Doherty of the PDP, presented their policy blueprints and defended their credentials for seeking to govern the State.
While Hamzat, the incumbent deputy governor, pledged to sustain ongoing projects and expand infrastructure, the opposition candidates criticised the State’s development priorities, arguing that its substantial internally generated revenue had not translated into improved living conditions for ordinary residents.
Rhodes-Vivour accused successive administrations of pursuing policies that favoured the wealthy at the expense of vulnerable residents, particularly in housing and urban development.
He said Lagos needs a government that prioritises the interests of ordinary people, adding that his administration would adopt an integrated approach to urban planning, housing, transportation, education, healthcare and waste management.
The ADC candidate promised to deliver 100,000 housing units within his first four years through a combination of social housing, a proposed luxury tax and development of the state’s eastern foreshore.
He also pledged to connect Lagos’ rail lines within two and a half years through a transparent, private-sector-driven arrangement.
Rhodes-Vivour said the proposed housing programme would include a structured system allowing residents to move from smaller accommodation to larger homes as their families and financial capacities grew.
He said: “We want a cleaner Lagos. We want a safer Lagos. We want a more affordable Lagos. I want a Lagos that works for everybody, not just the privileged few.”
On urban safety, he promised to create employment opportunities for young people, particularly at the ward level, to reduce insecurity and address the activities of political thugs.
He also pledged to tackle flooding through wetland protection, improved urban design and the adoption of technologies that would allow water to flow naturally without threatening communities.
Responding to a question on Lagos’ high revenue and its impact on household welfare, Rhodes-Vivour said the government had failed to make its wealth sufficiently beneficial to ordinary residents.
He cited the demolition of structures in Makoko and the development of housing projects beyond the reach of many residents as examples of what he described as exclusionary policies.
According to him, government should concentrate on providing support for people who cannot meet their basic needs, rather than prioritising those who can afford private solutions.
He said his administration would ensure transparent allocation of housing units and prevent individuals from monopolising multiple units at the expense of other applicants.
The candidate also proposed a housing progression scheme under which young people could initially occupy affordable self-contained apartments and move into larger accommodation as their circumstances improved.
The APC candidate said his experience in government has given him an understanding of the State’s administrative systems, residents’ needs and infrastructure challenges.
He said his proposed Lagos Promise agenda is built around seven pillars, with commitments that would be measurable and open to public scrutiny.
Hamzat added that his administration would prioritise transparency, respect for residents and accountability in the implementation of policies.
He said: “I take tonight as a job interview. The job is the government of Lagos State. And you, Lagosians, will be the interviewers and the people that we actually hire.”
On transportation, Hamzat promised to complete the Blue Line to Okokomaiko and extend the Red Line towards the Trade Fair area, while integrating rail, road and water transportation.
He also pledged to provide 4,000 new compressed natural gas buses to improve mass transit and reduce the pressure on commuters.
The APC candidate said the State’s limited land area and growing population make efficient public transportation essential to its development.
On housing, Hamzat said the government has delivered 24,000 housing units over the past eight years, including 18,000 units for residents, while several projects remain ongoing.
He promised to expand access to mortgages, proposing a system requiring a 10 per cent deposit and repayment over 25 years.
According to him, the arrangement would enable residents to acquire homes without having to pay the full cost upfront.
Hamzat said the government would continue existing housing projects, including developments in Ibeju-Lekki, Badagry and other locations.
He argued that mortgage financing is necessary to make homeownership more attainable, noting that many people struggled to build houses because of the high cost of construction.
Funsho Doherty of the NDC said Lagos is operating below its potential despite its substantial revenue base and economic importance.
He argued that residents continue to face rising taxes and levies without corresponding improvements in public services.
Doherty cited the State’s budget, internally generated revenue and long period of APC administration as reasons the government should be held accountable for its performance.
He said Lagos’ challenges include inadequate healthcare, poor educational outcomes, housing affordability, water supply and electricity.
The candidate said his vision is to move the State in a new direction through policies focused on health, education, opportunity, affordable housing, jobs, small businesses and the environment.
Doherty, who said he has spent 30 years in the private sector, argued that government policies should enable residents to develop their skills, earn incomes and build sustainable livelihoods.
He promised to make public education truly free, including removing examination fees and other charges that prevent children from completing their education.
He also pledged to provide pupils in public schools with an affordable daily meal.
On housing, the NDC candidate proposed 150,000 units, supported by an ecosystem of financing, government guarantees and other measures to improve affordability.
He said the objective was to empower residents economically, adding that the prosperity of individuals would translate into the prosperity of the State.
Adedeji Doherty of the PDP said his background as a technocrat, businessman, entrepreneur and industrialist had prepared him to address Lagos’ economic and infrastructure challenges.
He said his experience in the party, which he joined in 1998, has also informed his decision to contest the governorship.
The PDP candidate identified electricity, housing and education as priority areas, arguing that inadequate power supply is limiting industrial development and economic growth.
He promised to establish a research team to develop cheaper building materials and reduce the cost of constructing homes.
Doherty also said he would focus on underserved communities, particularly the islands, which he said lack adequate primary healthcare and other essential services.
He identified the State’s debt burden, bloated ministries, departments and agencies, and inadequate support for local governments as major challenges affecting service delivery.
The candidate said his administration would reduce the number of MDAs and review government expenditure to free up resources for residents.
He argued that local governments should be adequately empowered to address community needs, while savings from reduced administrative costs could be redirected towards improving living conditions.
Doherty also promised to review electricity costs and introduce measures to put money back into residents’ pockets.







