Economy
Gani Adams, Falana Call For True Federalism, Change Of Nigerian Constitution: Democracy Day
Gani Adams, Falana Call For True Federalism, Change Of Nigerian Constitution: Democracy Day
Gani Adams, Falana call for true federalism, change of Nigerian constitution: Democracy Day. Mr Adams said that without true federalism and proper restructuring, it would be difficult for the country to take its rightful place in the comity of nations.
Gani Adams, the national coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), a pan-Yoruba group, on Thursday called for true federalism in Nigeria to achieve accelerated development of the country.
Mr Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, made the call while speaking at the 25th OPC June 12 Lecture in Lagos.
The lecture was titled “June 12 as a Catalyst for National Development: True Federalism and Nigeria’s Integration.”
The June 12, 1993, presidential election was won by the late MKO Abiola but was annulled on June 2 of the same year by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
Mr Adams said that without true federalism and proper restructuring, it would be difficult for the country to take its rightful place in the comity of nations.
While describing the annulled election as a watershed in Nigeria’s political history, Mr Adams noted that 32 years later, the country had not made the desired progress due to the absence of true federalism.
“Nigeria is going through various crises today because some leaders are stubbornly against restructuring.
“In honour of Abiola and other martyrs, I want to say pointedly that whether anybody likes it or not, this country will be restructured.
“If this country is restructured in a way that every locality controls the instrumentality of security, backed by intelligence, the wanton killings of Nigerians will stop automatically,” said Mr Adams.
According to him, June 12 should be a catalyst for national development, hence the need for political, economic, electoral, and judicial reforms, without delay, in honour of Mr Abiola.
“Nigeria is destined to be great, but if the attitude of leaders to restructuring and development is negative, Nigeria is going nowhere,” Adams added.
In his keynote address, Femi Falana (SAN), a human rights lawyer, emphasised the significance of June 12 and said the 1999 constitution remained a major setback for the country.
“It means the ability of Nigerians to organise beyond their ethnic division, the triumph of good over evil. It means if a system is bad, Nigerians can defeat that system. June 12 means life and death,” Mr Falana said.
He said the 1999 constitution, drafted by the military, could not actualise the aspirations of the Nigerian people in a democracy.
“This is a major setback for Nigeria, and there is no way we can talk about stability, progress and development,” he said.
On poverty and insecurity bedevilling Nigeria, Mr Falana said there was a need for Nigeria to answer the national question.
Speaking, Joe Okei-Odumakin, the president of Women Arise, said June 12 symbolised ballot integrity and free choice.
Ms Okei-Odumakin, who highlighted electoral malpractice as one of the problems facing Nigeria, said many leaders lacked legitimacy and could not inspire desired progress.
The activist, while applauding leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, said, “If Abiola had been allowed to become the president, we would have had fiscal federalism, restructuring and other policies to end the groanings of ordinary Nigerians.”
Femi Falana
On integration, Ms Okei-Odumakin called on President Bola Tinubu to make a posthumous declaration of Mr Abiola as a past president of Nigeria.
Debo Adeniran, the national president of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), said June 12 should be renamed MKO Abiola Day rather than Democracy Day.
Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki
Okpebholo threatening me with violence, I’ll fight back says Obaseki. Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past governor of Edo, has accused Monday Okpebholo, his successor, of threatening him with violence. Obaseki spoke during the weekend at an event in London, the United Kingdom.
BACKGROUND
Since assuming office in November 2024, Okpebholo has initiated a series of actions aimed at scrutinising Obaseki’s tenure.
He first constituted a 14-member committee to investigate the assets, liabilities, contracts, and financial decisions made under Obaseki.
Okpebholo then expanded the scrutiny to the state civil service, ordering a probe into all recruitments conducted between May and November 2024, alleging a violation of due process.
Last week, Okpebholo asked the federal government to repatriate Obaseki to answer questions over public funds linked to the controversial Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project.
‘OKPEBHOLO THREATENING ME’
Obaseki said the governor is threatening him with violence and allegedly sent thugs to attack him in the UK.
“Those who live by the sword will die by the sword,” Obaseki said. “And to tell the governor, Okpebholo, I don’t know him; I have never met him. When you start with violence, you will reap violence.
“For one year since I left office, I didn’t say one word. I decided to respect myself and allow them to try [in governance] as well. Go and find out, you won’t see one thing I said about his government.”
He accused Okpebholo’s government of being behind the attack on diplomats during the exhibition in MOWAA.
“As if that was not enough, the government paid people to come to Manchester to attack me,” he said.
“Who has started this violence? Is it me? Last week, this governor held a disgraceful press conference in which he threatened me not to come to Benin.
Obaseki
“They have been threatening violence. So if I respond, nobody should hold me responsible. “I can’t leave myself empty to be hurt and attacked by deranged people.
“So I am going to fight back. I will fight back. I didn’t start the fight. They are afraid. They know they did not win the election.”
Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training
Jigawa: 9,600 teachers register for special training. No fewer than 9,600 teachers under the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) registered for a competency test to determine the specific training required to improve their skills and enhance teaching outcomes in the state.
The Executive Chairman of the Board, Professor Haruna Musa, revealed this while briefing journalists on the purpose of the examination, adding that 12,000 teachers were expected to register for the exam.
He explained that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Malam Umar Namadi, was committed to repositioning the state education sector as a key foundation for sustainable development, in line with its “12-Point Agenda.”
Prof. Haruna noted that while the government has been spending significant resources to improve educational infrastructure, meaningful learning improvements cannot be achieved without also enhancing the capabilities of teachers.
“Based on that, the State Executive Council approved for the board to organise a competency test for all teachers. This will enable us to understand the kind of training each teacher requires to improve his or her skills”.
“Out of the 9,600 teachers registered for the exam, over 70% have never attended any capacity-building training since they were employed, including some with over 15 years of service,” the Chairman added.
Teachers Register For Special Training
He stated that after the exam, the teachers will be categorised into three groups: Group A, those with both knowledge and teaching skills; Group B, those with knowledge but lacking teaching skills; and Group C, those lacking both knowledge and teaching skills.
“Each group will be offered specialised training. Those in Group C will undergo intensive training and subsequent examinations for a period to ensure they are equipped with the required knowledge and skills”.
“For those with slower learning uptake, we will attach them to competent teachers within their schools for ongoing guidance and mentorship,” Prof Haruna said.
He further stated that the project is not about retrenchment, but his primary goal is to enhance teachers’ capacity for better learning outcomes within the state’s basic education sector.
PFA: Leadway Pensure Leverages Innovations For Quality Service Delivery
PFA: Leadway pensure leverages innovations for quality service delivery. A Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), Leadway Pensure said, it is leveraging innovation to escalate quality
service delivery to its retirement savings account (RSA) holders. This milestone marks 20 years of trust, exceptional service delivery, and value creation as it celebrates its anniversary. It highlights two decades of dedication to protecting the financial wellness of Nigerian workers.
Over the last 20 years, the PFA has served thousands of customers across Nigeria and beyond, standing as a clear testament to its commitment to providing financial stability at various stages of workers’ career journeys.
Speaking on this remarkable achievement, MD/CEO, Leadway Pensure PFA, Olusakin Labeodan, stated that: “As we celebrate 20 years of Leadway Pensure PFA, this milestone is more than a celebration of longevity, it is a tribute to trust, service and innovation.
From the very beginning, our mission has been very clear, to deliver a pension system without barriersOver two decades, we have transformed this vision into reality by simplifying pension access, embracing cutting-edge technology, and ensuring our services are always within reach. With a nationwide presence, a robust mobile platform, and the AI-powered assistant LISA, we have made pension services accessible to eligible Nigerians.
“We have supported countless customers in achieving life goals, from retirement to home ownership, by ensuring access, clarity and care at every step. This is a testament to the strong relationships and legacy we have built with every customer. Trust is at the heart of our service, propelling us to uphold world-class standards and earning us global certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security, a mark of our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our customers’ funds. ”
Leadway Pensure
Looking ahead, the company said, it is committed to promoting youth-focused financial literacy, growing personal pension plans and strengthening customer engagement across every stage of the pension journey.
“The next years and beyond will be shaped by the same dedication that brought us this far, a future-forward mindset, a culture of excellence, and an unyielding promise to stand by our customers every step of the way,” Olusakin concluded.
As it commemorates 20 years of service, Leadway Pensure reaffirms its commitment to simplifying retirement planning, delivering consistent value, and driving financial inclusion across Nigeria.
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