I stand before you honoured to assume the sacred mandate you have given me. My love for this nation is abiding. My confidence in its people, unwavering. And my faith in God Almighty, absolute. I know that His hand shall provide the needed moral strength and clarity of purpose in those instances when we seem to have reached the limits of our human capacity.
Author: Editor
In an interview with a team of newspapers, print and online, a high ranking Senator of the South East extractions, Senator Osita Izunaso, speaks on issues of who becomes the President of the 10th Senate. Excerpts:
I address you today, in my last assignment as a democratically elected President of our great and well-endowed nation, with a deep sense of gratitude to God, a great deal of appreciation to the Nigerian people and a modest sense of fulfilment.
Today marks the end of the two-term tenure of a man who came with tremendous goodwill, the kind never before witnessed in Nigeria’s chequered political history. One can still remember some young Nigerians trekking from one end of Nigeria to another in high hopes of the new president. However, unlike Caesar, it is doubtful if he can thump his chest and declare “Veni, vidi, vici”—I came; I saw; I conquered.
We all face criticisms at various points of our lives. As individuals, organizations or government, criticisms are inevitable. Indeed, while criticisms negatively distract some to failure, it spurs others to achieve success. Being constructively criticized is healthy. However, when persons or entities become excessively and captiously critical, they become blinded by their sentiments and mischief such that any good deed is either not seen or is condemned as incompetent and unworthy.
Gombi Local Government Area is one of the 21 Local Government Areas in Adamawa state. It is situated in the central zone of the state.
There has been a frenzy of governance activities over the past three weeks as the Buhari Administration abandons his “Baba go slow” mode of operation and gets into the “let’s work as if there is no tomorrow” mode. Many new contracts are being signed daily. Ministries are being restructured one week before the end of the Administration’s mandate. Requests for approvals are flooding the National Assembly, new loans are being taken and above all, publications are being launched on the great achievements of the Buhari Government. The on-going hysteria is best symbolized by the announcement from the Minister of Aviation who is demolishing buildings, restructuring the ministry, sacking and appointing management staff that today, 26th May 2023, Air Nigeria will come into service as it flies into the country. Don’t ask me why it should start service on the last working day of the administration, it’s all part of the governance frenzy. I am one of those who remember that Minister Sirika told us in 2015 that the President has directed him to start a national carrier and it will be done immediately.
Let me begin with a phrase mostly agreed by scholars that, security is a ‘contested concept’ and there is a consensus that it implies freedom from threats to core values (for both individual and groups). However, there is a major disagreement about whether the main focus of internal security should be on individual, national or international. Some security experts argued that the concept of security has always been associated with the safety and survival of the State and its citizens from harm or destruction or from dangerous threats. Therefore, it is right to say that in totality the concept is that the State is the only institution that is saddled with the primary responsibility and power for the safety of its territory and its people. Therefore, the concept of security in this discussion is operationalized within the context of a nation hence the concept of internal security.
This article attracted mammoth reactions from my readers. It is a sign of goodwill for the Katsina State governor-elect, Dr. Umar Dikko Radda, a round peg in a round hole, an agricultural extensionist in an agrarian state dearly craving salvage. What a timely happening. In the next few days, he will be inaugurated as the first PhD holder, democratically elected to occupy the seat of Katsina state governor. Can he make a positive difference in the lives of Katsina people? Can he outshine others who came before him? He has a catalog of overwhelming challenges but he is also well groomed, educationally, administratively, and experience-wise. May the Almighty Allah see him through. Now, here are selected readers’ comments on the Article, “Irrigation Glorious Future for Katsina State”. Happy reading.
The 2023 elections ended with many surprises and successes for both losers and winners. In Adamawa state is no doubt that winners have emerged in a keen contest from State houses of Assembly and Governorship elections of Match 15th.