Stop peddling false hopes, unrealistic promises, HURIWA tells Ministers

Ministers in the country have been asked to stop ‘dishing out’ unrealistic, unattainable promises that are out of touch with the reality of the Nigerian situation.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) made the call following recent statements credited to some ministers.

A statement signed by HURIWA national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko on Sunday, said : “We urge these ministers to stop making dubious promises and focus on doing the work for which their principal appointed them or were they appointed to keep dishing out outlandish and nonsensical talks about things they never intended to achieve?

” Governing a grossly underdeveloped society made so by thieving politicians of their party, is beyond reeling out students’ like utopian manifestos. It requires seriousness of purpose, accountability, transparency and effective implementation of policies and programmes that will address the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian people.

“We are not impressed by the claims of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who says the proposed Abuja-Lagos Supersonic highway will be completed in four years. Umahi who stated this in a press conference in Lagos on Saturday, noted that driving from Lagos to Abuja will take 4 hours when the project is completed.

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“This is a blatant lie and an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians who have suffered for decades from the poor state of roads and infrastructure in the country. How can a project that has not even started be completed in four years when previous administrations have failed to deliver on similar promises? How can a supersonic highway be built in a country that lacks basic amenities such as electricity, water and security? How can Nigerians trust a minister who has been accused of corruption and mismanagement of funds meant for road projects?

“We are also not convinced by the statement of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who has said that under his watch, no Nigerian would be an illiterate.

” In 2022, the former Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah said 31 per cent of the nation’s population could not read or write. This shows that out of 223,804,632 Nigerians population, 68,379,436 cannot read or write in the country. However, Mamman in Abuja on Friday during the commemoration of the 2023 International Literacy Day said the President has directed that every Nigerian must be educated.

“This is a mere rhetoric and a mockery of the educational sector that has been neglected and underfunded by successive governments. How can a minister whose ministry has serially failed to address the issues of teachers’ welfare, curriculum reform, quality assurance, access and equity, infrastructure and learning materials claim to eradicate illiteracy in Nigeria? How can Nigerians trust a minister who has yer to publish a plan of action on what he intends to implement and their timeline to enhance literacy?

“We are also not moved by the declaration of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, who has restated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment towards creating 10 million jobs through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

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” This is a false and empty promise that has no basis in reality. How can a minister who has failed to provide humanitarian assistance and relief to millions of Nigerians affected by conflicts, disasters and poverty claim to create 10 million jobs? How can Nigerians trust a minister whose ministry unser the immediate past dispensation was accused of diverting funds meant for social intervention programmes such as N-Power, TraderMoni and School Feeding Programme? This same minister for Humanitarian Affairs was allegedly caught on camera sharing dollars to her staff when she was the National women’s leader of APC and soon after sue was appointed? In what way does she plan to createvthe employment opportunities and what is the timeframe?”

The civil rights group called on the ministers to stop deceiving Nigerians with their unrealistic and unattainable promises and focus on doing their jobs with honesty, integrity and competence.

” We also call on President Bola Tinubu to hold these ministers accountable for their actions and inactions and ensure that they deliver on their mandates or face sanctions. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation should coordinate efficient monitoring of these ministers and the federal government should set up a performance assessment mechanisms whereby the ministers are marked quarterly and if any failed to reach certain acceptable standard of performance based on empirical data, then the said minister should be sacked forthwith, ” it said.

The group also reminded the ministers that governing Nigeria is not a joke or a game, adding that it is a serious responsibility that requires vision, passion and dedication.

” We urge these ministers to allow their success to speak for them rather than making noise with their words. We warn these ministers that Nigerians are watching them closely and will not hesitate to demand for their resignation or removal if they fail to perform, ” the statement added

Stop peddling false hopes, unrealistic promises, HURIWA tells Ministers

Aggrieved kingmakers plotting against emergence of new Alaafin – Basorun

The Prime Minister and Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade, has spoken about the controversies surrounding the selection of the new Alaafin and the disagreements between his faction of kingmakers and another group led by the Agbaakin of Oyo, High Chief Asimiyu Atanda.

In an interview with The Punch, Akinade said, “They are the ones who can say whether there’s any disagreement. We are not fighting and I don’t have any disagreement with any one of them because I’m their leader and not their follower. Whatever I’ve done to wrong them, let them come out and tell the public what it is that Basorun has done that is wrong.

“When we commenced the selection process for the new Alaafin, we were all there together. We started the process together and ended the process together. There was no disdain or issues over what we did till we were done. After all our sittings, we all agreed on who was competent to be the new Alaafin and that we would all follow him. We agreed to that in unison and signed to that effect.
“Without any compromise or disdain, without adding or removing from it, the local government chairmen and I went to deliver the name of the selected candidate in a document that was duly signed by all kingmakers to the right person in government – the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Segun Olayiwola. Aside from that, I know nothing about anything hidden or a secret meeting that I can explain. They (the other faction) are the ones with the issues; they are the ones who know who they met and what they did that led to issues about who they want to follow. Wherever I’m headed, I love to always carry everyone along so that they would know my direction and I don’t go back on it.”

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The Prime Minister and Basorun of Oyo also asked the Agbaakin of Oyo’s factions asked the Governor Seyi Makinde for explanation on why he rejected the candidate that was forwarded to his office last year.

He said, “They should ask the governor to explain to them. How can I know the governor’s mind when nothing was communicated to my office? If they said that a letter was written and it is truthful, I did not set my eyes on anything of such and all correspondence on this issue is meant to be directed to me. When we delivered the document of proclamation to the governor on October 4, 2022, a week later, on October 11, 2022, one of the aspirants filed a suit in court against us stating that the procedure we used in selecting the candidate we chose was not right. At that time, a letter was brought to me and I told them that I did not need any paper since we were being sued and every one of us who was involved was concerned. We got a lawyer to represent us in court.

“However, it is very fortunate that the judgement in court was in favour of the Oyomesi; it favoured Governor Seyi Makinde and also favoured the Attorney General and others whom the suit was filed against. The court stated that the process we followed that produced the candidate we selected and submitted to the governor was right and excellent and it is left for the state governor to make the pronouncement of the person that we have presented to him. Since then, there has been no word, no fights or disagreement up until recently. Since October 4, 2022, when we submitted the name to the state government, it is more than a year or just a few days to a year if I’m not wrong. If they have now come out to say that we are fighting, you should ask them where we had the disagreement or meeting that led to us having different opinions. That is all I know and I’ve not gone to take bribes or take money from anyone behind them. I don’t do that! What they want, they cannot tell the world and I cannot say that. I do not have any disagreement with them and that’s all.”

Aggrieved kingmakers plotting against emergence of new Alaafin – Basorun

The Federal Government has promised that the proposed Abuja-Lagos motorway will be finished in four years.

At a conference on Saturday, Minister of Works David Umahi provided the guarantee.

On the new route, he said that the trip from Lagos to Abuja will take four hours.

He claimed that since concrete is less expensive than asphalt, the entire road would be made with it.