Integrity and the war on corruption by Mohammed Adamu

 

Friday Column with Mohammed Adamu

(08035892325 sms only) | dankande2@gmail.com

Note: a rehashed version of ‘Random Musings on Anti-corruption’; published Jan/19/2016.

Yes, ‘integrity’ is critical to the fight against corruption. But concerning political leadership ‘integrity’ is merely a ‘moral necessity’. It is not a requirement of the law. It may be useful in winning election; but it is the prerogative of the electorate to notice or to ignore. Which is not to suggest that a ‘political leader’ fighting corruption should have only the ‘legal authority’ to do so. To be more effective it is desirable that he should also have some ‘moral authority’ to boot. Which again is not to

Buhari, Babachir, Magu and the Senate by Zayyad I. Muhammad

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-nomination of Ibrahim Magu for Senate confirmation as chairman Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) and his letter asking the Senate to reconsider its stance on Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. David Babachir Lawal is a good opportunity for the Senate and the executive arms to turn a new leaf in their relationship. Equally, it has presented to Bukola Saraki President of the Senate a unique opportunity to further cement his relationship with the President. Furthermore, it is also an opportunity for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and new senate leader Ahmed Lawan to initiate a new bi-partisan approach for

Buhari death rumour: Who has bewitched Nigerians? by Mr. Israel Ebije

  THE extent to which Nigerians have fragmented along ethno-religious components can only be measured in the direction of wish list drafted along unfortunate cleavage based perspectives. The nation is balkanised, serially polarised and dangerously fired up with hate agenda hot enough to make the sun shy of how cold it before the hate heat. The recent death rumour of President Muhammadu Buhari across social media platforms is only a reflection of how some segment of Nigerians would want to bury the President just for mischief value occasioned by

This democracy by Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

The opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth – Niels Bohr
In the space of a week, the expression of the people’s will to be governed by people they elect showed three different faces. Vastly different nations, political contexts and democratic systems in Nigeria, The Gambia and United States of America presented major variants of a system of governance that sends back many of its students to drawing boards. In Nigeria, a routine constitutional requirement that presidents proceeding on leave notify the legislature and submit the leadership of the nation to deputies was met by President Muhammadu Buhari as he left the country for 10-day leave and

ON THAT OBNOXIOUS TRAVEL BAN by Lawal Sale

  ON THAT OBNOXIOUS TRAVEL BAN: Back in the 80's and 90's Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran, Sudan and even Yemen were all peaceful countries with no threat to anyone until when the Western powers led by the U S launched a campaign of leadership change of countries that are not too friendly with the imperial west. In those days, terrorism was never heard of; only some pockets of internal fundamentalists
with few sects having some traditional rivalries (Shi'ite and Sunni) across the Gulf & Mid East. One cannot be wrong however, to

‘The problem of Nigeria…’ by Oyinkan Medubi

 Instead of working together to build the country, everyone is busy looking for who to worship or who to worship them

During the week, I received the following message. It attempts to explain the Nigerian situation from the viewpoint of the average man. As usual, I have tinkered a bit with the grammar but I promise you the sense is intact. Please read:

… Two million of the likes of Buhari

Towards a true ‘party of change’ for Nigeria by Gbogun Gboro

  Recently, I wrote that Nigeria does not want another mega-party, but a true party of change. I added that our politicians who had recently tried to create a party of change, though they had put enormous good intensions, energy and resources into the effort, had made crucial mistakes, including the mistake of not negotiating thoroughly with groups inside the group. Since then, I have given some more thoughts to this matter.
First and foremost, a true party of change must be a party of ideas and programmes. Its agenda must state clearly how the Nigerian federation will be restructured, and

When Brands ‘Trash-Talk’ by Bernard Okhakume

YES, Brands can and do engage in purposeless communication. If we permit street-level vocabulary here, such engagement can be classified as either trash-talk(ing) or arrant nonsense. For purpose of professionalism, though, we shall run through the systematic indictors that guides our classification of brand communication, against established benchmark, that will lay bare where certain types of brand talk self-indicate their character and position in the scheme of renditions.
Before we continue, please permit us to formally announce the introduction of our CARTOON SPEAK column in this page, for a more robust market influence, with consumer satisfaction in mind. Our readers shall from now, get 2-in-1 from every of our weekly publication. We await readers’ reaction or contributions, as we continue to engage in market monitoring, analysis and professional comments in CARTOON format.
Brand messages should be products derived from a process of careful distillation of a brand’s essence and promise, guided by (identified) consumer expectation. Essentially. Brands are constantly faced with points of achievement and disconnect. So brands’ successes are rated by the extent to which they resonate with the target market (at their critical value touch-points). Interestingly, it is very easy to

Never Again To The Bomb That Missed Our Backyard by Azubuike Ishiekwene

In a week when Africa riveted on former President Yahya Jammeh’s tantrums, an event that could have shaken the continent to its core slipped below the radar.

Or maybe we didn’t think it was sufficiently important. It emerged early in the week that the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, had knowingly concealed information about a failed missile test when she appeared in Parliament to ask for 40billion pounds to replace the Trident, the UK’s flagship missile defence system.
The UK Guardian, which published the story, mentioned “West Africa,” the test target, by accident in its more than 800-word copy.

Opposition parliamentarians were not necessarily mad that the prime minister had taken them for a ride, although that was part of the problem. They couldn’t understand how this secret had been concealed from them since June and why they

INNOVATIONS OF MARRIAGE IN ISLAM by IMAM YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI

THE 104^th KHUTBAH DELIVERED AT AREA 10 JUMA’AT MASJID ABUJA, BY IMAM YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI, 

ON 27TH JAN 2017/ 28th,R/THANI 1438AH

TOPIC: INNOVATIONS OF MARRIAGE IN ISLAM

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the most Merciful

 My dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam, our last week’s Khutbah centered on significance of marriage and Today’s sermon will discuss the topic: Innovations of marriagein Islam.

Islam is very clear on the issue of (Halal andHaram) lawfuland forbidden things or activities and the concept of (bidi’ah). Innovation in Islam is the creation or addition of any religious matter which was not originally found in Islam or from the teachings of the prophet and his companions.  And He said: "Truly, what is lawful is

SIGNIFICANCE OF MARRIAGE IN ISLAM by YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI

THE 103^RD KHUTBAH DELIVERED AT AREA 10 JUMA’AT MASJID ABUJA, BY YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI, ON 20TH JAN 2017/ 21ST, R/THANI 1438AH

TOPIC: SIGNIFICANCE OF MARRIAGE IN ISLAM

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the most Merciful

 My dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam, our last week’s Khutbah centered on Benefits of remembering Death and Today’s sermon will discuss the topic: significance of marriage in Islam.

Allah ( SWT) has created men and women as company and protection for one another, and so that they can procreate and live in peace, harmony and tranquility according to the commandments of Allah and the directions of His Messenger (SAW). The Quran says: "And among His signs is that He created for you mates from

A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE GAMBIAN DEBACLE THE GAMBIA DEBACLE – A SEASON OF HORROR UNFOLDS by Joe Bankole

The situation in The Gambia is one that calls for sober reflection on the sanity of leaders that our beautiful Africa sometimes produces. After 22 of seizing power in an era when military coups were in vogue, Sgt or whatever rank he claimed to have Yahya Jameh refused to hand over peacefully to the man, Adama Barrow, who won the presidential election.
Below is a compilation of comments and reports on the situation in the West African country.
Gambia's President Jammeh refuses to leave office as deadline passes http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38672840
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh is refusing to step down despite the threat of military intervention by neighbouring states.
Adama Barrow, who beat him in elections last month, is due to be inaugurated as the

The gods of War by Oyinkan Medubi

   With Idi Amin, there was no way of knowing if he was appreciating the value of one’s verbal contribution or the succulence of one’s flesh, until you woke up one morning to find you did not wake up and you were the breakfast.

Dear reader, I’m sure you’re familiar with the book/film The Dogs of War by Frederic Forsyth, I think. Well, I’m not. I have rather heard of that other one, the gods of war. No, you haven’t? Surprising, considering the story is lived out daily in Africa, what with all these despotic rulers who sprout like mushrooms everyday everywhere on the continent. The gods of war are the despots who people the landscape of Africa as rulers or presidents and brutalise their own people and declare war on them just to remain in power.

       Let me remind you of a few. I remember… Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo who

Sound and silence by Femi Macaulay

There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. When former President Olusegun Obasanjo spoke about what was said about him in a 2010 book, it was clear that he considered silence inappropriate.
It is intriguing that his reaction to the contents of the book came after six years, but this in no way weakened the significance of his strongly worded response. It is thought-provoking that the hot aspects of the autobiography were not publicised until now. This may be a reflection of Philistinism, particularly among the country’s media workers who are supposed to be knowledge workers.
Obasanjo said in his statement: “Kabiyesi, I believe that I should set the record straight for posterity and to caution you from engaging in unedifying rumour-mongering and untruth.” His reaction to

Yahya Jammeh: Senegambia by Lawal Sale

For those who don't know...this is the map of the Gambia (in yellow). It is right inside Senegal (swallowed); and it was once part of what was called "Senegambia". It is so tiny that Jammeh who is always high on mood changing substances thought it is his personal property. The self acclaimed professor, herbalist, sheikh, Dr etc thought a time will never come when he'll relinquish power through popular votes. As an archaic, primitive and evil nigga he; he crookedly keep giving excuses on why he must not hand over power to

Army’s Frustration, Premium Times’ Sabotage by Bukar Raheem

Two angry letters later, the relationship between the Nigerian Army and online newspaper, Premium Times has taken on some clarity. They have both threatened to take legal actions against each other but the Army’s letter, which came first is the one that gives one concern.  Some Nigerians would by now be ruing their earlier recriminations and taking sides without the benefit of information.
The first layer of concern is about what the military’s letter accused the newspaper of. The second level of concern derived from the inability of the letter written in response by Premium Times to sufficiently discharge it from the weighty accusations levelled against it  by the army.
On a different facet is the dimension that the army has not made similar accusations against any other

Why I Want To Lead Africa – Amina Mohamed by Maureen Chigbo

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Kenya, Ambassador Amina Mohamed, is passionate about Africa.  The passion is what is driving her to vie for the position of the chairperson of the African Union Commission, (AUC) this January.  She is, however, leaving no stone unturned to ensure she succeeds. She has been travelling from one African country to another in search of support, and she is succeeding.  Realnews has reliably gathered that some countries including Nigeria are already supporting her candidature.
Mohamed is vying for the post because of her conviction that

BENEFIT OF REMEMBERING DEATH IN ISLAM by YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI

   

THE 102^ND KHUTBAH DELIVERED AT AREA 10 JUMA’AT MASJID ABUJA, BY YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI, ON 13^RD JAN 2017/14,R/THANI 1438AH

TOPIC: BENEFIT OF REMEMBERING DEATH IN ISLAM

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the most Merciful

 My dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam, our last week’s Khutbah centered on value of time and Today’s sermon will divert a little to the topic: Benefitsof remembering Death in Islam.

Death is a reality in which all human beings accept and believe in; however, it is also a reality which most of us like to keep out of our minds. In Islam, death is not an end to our existence; it is a passage, which takes us from this world to the next stage of

Life After Jim Obaze by Azubuike Ishiekwene

Last week could have been named the Jim Obaze week. It was, really. How a relatively obscure public servant was thrust on the headlines with shards of his alleged misdemeanour strewn across the pages and powerful forces calling for his head is not the kind of drama seen often.

Well, they finally hanged him by the ropes of his own alleged sins, ranging from allegations of insubordination to vindictiveness and arrogance. I can’t seem to get my head around how Obaze, a relatively unknown public servant and executive secretary of the Financial Reporting Council, became such a dreadful monster. I’m curious and partly intrigued by how his actions could have threatened established ecclesiastical order and unleashed pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to pull the trigger.
Buhari is not famous for the sort of quick action we have seen in the Obazee case. So, what happened? Is Obaze the clear and

The Contemporary Nigerian Politician by Abba Mahmood

One of the major requirements of the contemporary Nigerian politician is to have money. After all, Saddam Hussein once said that if one cannot be corrupted with money, one can be corrupted with too much money. In other words, everyone is assumed to have a price, and if the price is right he or she can be bought. While there are many who acquire money through legitimate means, some acquire money through petty stealing or armed robbery. Others get money through practicing fetish things. Yet others get it via stealing from public/government sources. By hook or crook the aspiring politician has to get money and if he does not have any of his own then he has to surrender to godfathers who have the money to

Southern Kaduna by Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

   Events in Southern Kaduna are once again the focus of national attention and concern. Home to roughly one-fourth of a State that captures and reflects the basic essence of northern Nigeria, many of the residents in this area spent the Christmas in partial lockdown following days of protests and clashes. The tipping point were the attacks on the Governor, his Deputy and members of the State Security Council who had decided to hold a meeting in the largest town in the area, Kafanchan, to find a way out of the killings and reprisals that had become almost endemic in and around many villages in many parts of the region in the last few years. These killings had created problems which had become more pronounced with the persistent mention of Fulani as attackers and the prominence of partisan politics as a factor in responses and mobilization of passions. Villagers will now confront a new reality: hundreds of soldiers, policemen and

Kidnapping, Plc. by Oyinkan Medubi

    My freedom can and should therefore not be taken away from me by anyone just because he is unemployed, greedy for great gain, aggrieved, poor, or just plain wants to marry me

This morning, I received this message on my phone and I am taking the liberty to reproduce it for you here. As usual, I have tinkered with the spellings and all to make it readable.

Please pay attention; something is happening in Abuja and Lagos now. People dressed like policemen stop cars and ask for particulars. Please on no condition should you let them in your car, they are kidnappers. Once they enter, they tell the driver that they are going to the police station. They end up taking the person elsewhere and ask the person to call someone to come and bail them with a ransom. It just happened to two people this morning. Also be cautious when taking cabs at night…

Just a few weeks ago, we wrote on this subject of kidnapping on this column and since then this dastardly trade has expanded. Obviously, very little has been done about it; this is why it is now operating like a fully established and registered company would – in the open. I am not giving up; I will continue to

SIGNIFICANCE OF TIME IN ISLAM by YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI

THE 101 KHUTBAH DELIVERD AT  AREA 10 JUMA’A MASJID BY YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI ON 6TH  JAN 2017 /  8th R/THANI 1438    AFTER HIJRA

                                         TOPIC:  SIGNIFICANCE OF TIME IN ISLAM

In the name of Allah the most gracious the most merciful

My dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam; we must sincerely thank Allah SWT for the gift of life and time given to us free of charge. Let’s make good use of our time; as success and failure largely depend on the use of time, the way we are constantly running out of time year in year out in this life, consciously or unconsciously we are becoming closer to our graves every day, every hour and every minute past.

O Muslims! Time is more important than any material thing in this life. Time is more precious than money, gold and silver or any valuable thing you can think of in this world. Time is your life and nothing can replace your life to you. Time is the period destined  for you by Allah [SWT] to spend in this world; to effectively use it and

State Of The Nation by Pastor Tunde Bakare

   Introduction                                                      Fellow citizens of our great country, we are gathered here again at the turn of the year, as has become customary, to take a timely look at our nation – to examine its social, economic and political landscapes, to test the solidity of its value pillars, to interrogate its spiritual foundations, and to envision its future. We do this, first of all, in keeping with the obligations of that high office, the Office of the Citizen1 , then as patriots and nation builders, and ultimately as watchmen who understand the times and know what the nations ought to do, having been commissioned by God to bring direction to Nigeria, our primary place of assignment.

This address, which I have titled “Looking into the Future 2 with the Eyes of Faith”, will begin with a brief overview of the year 2016 vis-à-vis the word we received, then I will discuss the centrality of vision to development, the inherent flaws in Nigeria’s structure, and sustainable solutions to our social, economic and political challenges.

A Review of the Year 2016

At the beginning of the year 2016, God gave us spiritual leverage to see into the year and understand the nature of the year. We had insights into the events that were to unfold in the nations. During our Watchnight Service and subsequently during a State of the Nation address on Sunday, April 3, 2016, I stood on this platform to unveil the year in the following words: The year 2016 is a year of global upheavals characterized by extreme uncertainties, intense political suspense, accelerated global terror, and

Why Ekweremadu is wrong on the Gambian Crisis by Jideofor Adibe

             EMAIL: @JideoforAdibe The recent warning by the Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu, that any use of military might to force Jammeh out office in The Gambia could have dire consequences for the country and the West African sub-region was a well- intentioned intervention. However it is a classic case of where the unintended consequences of a good intention could be far more damaging than what the good intention was meant to avert. Yahya Jammeh has vowed not to step down after initially conceding defeat in the 2016 presidential election in The Gambia. 

In a statement issued through his media adviser Uche Anichukwu, Ike Ekweremadu was quoted as saying: “We must all acknowledge the fact that Gambia is

Obasanjo Vs Awujale: A Delayed Showdown by Azubuike Ishiekwene

   The book is nearly seven years in print but I didn’t get a hold of it until sometime last year. Someone very close, whom I had told I wanted to interview Kabiyesi Oba Sikiru Adetona, had sent a copy over to me in Abuja. He advised me to read the book before the interview.

I have since read the autobiography – Awujale – twice and was not disappointed. We have Saharareporters to thank for an excerpt that removed the pin from the grenade. Anyone who has read Awujale might agree that it was a bomb waiting to explode.

The surprise is why it took so long.

In 17 chapters of lucid, clear-as-crystal writing in 275 pages, Adetona shares insights of his odyssey from the time he left Nigeria to study accounting abroad to his totally unexpected ascension to the throne at age 26; and from deeply personal family feuds to his adventure as Oba and businessman, and then from his deposition and return to his involvement in some

Mr Kogi state Speaker by Bintu Lakwaja

Speaker, Hon. Umar Imam

  The tragic demise of Suleiman Faty, an indigene of lokoja and a graduate of BUK inspired this post. May her soul continue to rest in peace.
Mr Kogi state Speaker, as you've noticed, its tough love from me to you now. This is because you have gradually slipped into that 'dark hole' that consumes almost all our politicians in lokoja. Seeing that you are not representing yourself and the people did not vote you into power to enrich yourself, your aides/friends and your family members or to acquire more Toyota Highlanders, Prado's and Camry's, its not too late to start doing the needful.
I hear you are preparing for some events. If its for the benefit of the people, I wish you success, if its still politically motivated and for the social media, then, you've not learnt anything.
As Kassim Mahmud said in one of his recent Facebook posts: "to whom brain is given, sense is expected".
Now...
Look into the girl child. See what you

Like Mullaitivu, like Sambisa by Mahmud Jega

 The historic Nigerian military operation that culminated in last Thursday’s capture of Boko Haram’s main military camp in Sambisa Forest, called Camp Zero, historically replicates the end of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers terrorist group in May 2009. Extremely significant though the total recapture of Sambisa Forest is, it is perhaps too early to say that Boko Haram has been completely defeated. The missing Chibok girls were not found. Though soldiers killed hundreds of insurgents since the final push began last month, the body of Boko Haram’s mercurial leader Abubakar Shekau was not found among them. Then also, the Boko Haram faction led by Mamman Nur is believed to have camps on Lake Chad’s shores and

New Year speech delivered by President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians on January 1, 2017

My dear Compatriots,

President Muhammadu Buhari

I am happy to welcome you* to the beginning of a New Year in our beloved country Nigeria.
I felicitate with you today at a time when our nation is witnessing a new and impressive turnaround in our security and socio-economic situation.
I know you will join me to, once again, congratulate the heroic and gallant efforts of our military and other security agencies on their remarkable successes to rid the nation of terrorism.
Following the successful capture of Sambisa Forest! spearheaded by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, we have entered a new phase in our battle against our common enemy, Boko Haram.
When we see our beloved 21 Chibok girls reuniting with

2016 Leaders Of Hope And Honour by by Austin Asadu

As we step into the New Year, it is pertinent to reflect on the key institutions and auspicious personalities that have come to define our democratic ideals and national aspirations as well as charting a road map that would signpost a more beneficial and progressive future for the millions of hopeful, anxious and toiling Nigerians that are impatient of reaping the much trumpeted dividends of democracy.
The National Assembly is one pivotal institution that is crucial to the delivery of democratic dividends and therefore deserving of special attention in order to unravel those individuals of destiny that have assisted tremendously in enabling the exercise of it’s constitutional duties of legislation, representation and over sighting of the nation’s sprawling ministries, departments and extra-ministerial agencies otherwise acronymed MDAs.
Earlier on, the Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, the former Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Salisu Maikasuwa and the

May we find our road in this Year of the Rice… by Oyinkan Medubi

    I appreciate the ingenuity of the Lagos State governor as a sign of what Nigeria’s leadership can do. That seems to me to be the road that Nigerian leadership should now tread. I wish us a good road in this New Year of the Rice

I will start today’s entry by greeting all the readers of this column who have kept faith with us ‘Happy New Year!’ These are the ones who tell us they either read the column first to fill their bellies with enough laughter to last through the bad news given out by the rest of the paper, or they read the column last in order to get the bad news first before the laugh lines. You know that famous opener, ‘first the bad news, then the good news…’? Well, choose your order. They

COMMANDING GOOD AND FORBIDDING EVIL IS A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY by YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI

THE 99^th  KHUTBAH DELIVERED AT AREA 10 JUMA’AT MASJID ABUJA, BY IMAM YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI, ON 23^RD DEC 2016/ 24^th R/AWWAL 1438 AFTER HIJRA

COMMANDING GOOD AND FORBIDDING EVIL IS A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY

                                                  

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the most Merciful 

My dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam, Today’s sermon will discuss the topic: Commanding good and forbidding evil is a responsibility for all…

The act of commanding what is right and forbidding what is wrong is one of the most important Islamic teachings, stressed again and again in the Qur'an and Hadith. In fact, this can be seen as the most significant Islamic principle; for, if this principle is duly practiced in the community, then, as a result, all other teachings of Islam will also be practiced, while if this one principle is ignored then the rest of Islam will also gradually come to

PROPHET ISA A.S (JESUS P.B.U.H) IN THE LIGHT OF QUR’AN by YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI

THE 100  KHUTBAH DELIVERED AT AREA 10 JUMA’AT MASJID ABUJA, BY YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI, ON 30TH  DEC, 2016/ 1^ST  R/THANI 1438

AFTER HIJRA

 PROPHET ISA A.S (JESUS P.B.U.H) IN THE LIGHT OF QUR’AN

 

 We give thanks to Allah (SWT), we ask Him the most high to continue to shower His mercy upon the leader of humanity, Prophet Muhammad (SAW). His house hold, His companions and those who follow his guidance until the day of accountability.

To proceed;

Islam, besides Christianity, is the only major world religion that believes in Jesus (AS).  Islam respects and regards Jesus (peace be upon Him) in such a way that consider him one of the greatest Allah’s messengers to mankind. The Qur’an confirms his virgin birth, and

This Time Next Year by Sonala Olumhense

How have the times changed in my time?
When I was a boy, Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ which is celebrated the world over on this date, was the happiest day on the calendar.  It brought family members - every family, everywhere as far as my young heart could grasp - home.  
For Christmas, it seemed the sun was always out.  Everyone visited everyone else.  Everyone was generous and affable.  We wore new clothes.  The meals were the most sumptuous, and there was music and dancing and a lot of happiness.  
The magic lasted into the New Year.  And then, a certain melancholy set in as people began to return to