News
Nigeria created to lead black race, says Obasanjo
… warns politicians against divisive tendencies
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has cautioned political leaders against actions that will further divide the people along ethnic or religious lines.
He lamented that Nigeria had never been as disunited as currently being witnessed, even as he asserted that the country had been created to lead the black race.
Obasanjo said this at a colloquium organised to mark the 113th anniversary of Kings College, Lagos.
He stressed that the task of keeping Nigeria as one must be achieved.
The former President said, “Today, we are politically disunited; economically, we are nowhere; diplomatically, what they say to me wherever I go is that Nigeria is not at the table. We need to have a government that understands what it means to govern and the responsibility to govern; not arrogance of ignorance, not crying nepotism.
“There are three races in the world, the white, the yellow and the black. For now, the Americans are leading the white race. The Chinese have taken the lead of the yellow race. I believe Nigeria with a population of 225million people is created by God to lead the black race. So whatever we do, we disappoint ourselves, we disappoint Africa and disappoint the black race. We must stop disappointing ourselves and when we stop disappointing ourselves, we will take care of the continent and the black race.”
According to Obasanjo, national identity is the foundation of social position, adding that weak social position causes distrust as people are reluctant to engage with one another.
He said, “We do not trust ourselves while confidence is totally destroyed and where there is no confidence, there is no togetherness. If we have no dream, then, what can be the inspiration for the aspiration of our youths? What can they look up to or aspire to? We must take being a Nigerian as first and being anything else as second.”
Speaking on the theme of the colloquium ‘Building Nigeria of our dream’, the former President said economic emancipation and citizens’ well-being are central to the national dream.
He said, “If you want to build the Nigeria of your dream, you must have a dream or dreams; we only have a Nigerian dream and if we have a Nigerian dream, what is it so that we can all key into it? But if we do not have a Nigerian dream, do we need to have a Nigerian dream? And if we need to have a Nigerian dream, what must it be?
“The Americans can say they have the American dream, the British can say they have the British dream but in our case, do we really have what we can call the Nigerian dream? For me, the Nigerian dream will start from the national identity, which we can all hold on to. National identity is the foundation of social position. Even when you look into our constitution, there is something we call national ethics.
“Chapter 2 (23) of the constitution says, ‘National ethics shall be discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, social justice, religious tolerance, self-reliance and patriotism’ Even if you take the two stanzas of the national anthem and pledge and bring it to our ethics, we have enough to give us a Nigerian dream. If we have a Nigerian dream, there will be vision for our youth. If we cannot agree on our dream for Nigeria, maybe we can agree on Nigeria we want and we work towards the Nigeria we want.”
The Director General of World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who presented the keynote address virtually, said her dream for Nigeria is modest.
She said Nigerians are the most enterprising and industrious people on the planet.
She said, “It gives me great pride. You just give Nigerians the basics and access to these fundamentals of education, health, finance and infrastructure, and Nigerians will do the best.
Looking back to the start of the century, the record shows that Nigeria can sustain the strong growth we need to improve people’s lives when we do the necessary reforms, and manage the macroeconomic fundamentals.”
News
DHQ declares prof, 7 others wanted over killing of soldiers in Delta
DHQ declares prof, 7 others wanted over killing of soldiers in Delta
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has declared eight persons wanted including a professor over the brutal killing of 17 soldiers and officers in Okuama community of Delta State.
Those declared wanted are Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur; a woman, Mrs Igoli Ebi; Reuben Baru; Akata Malawa David and four other persons
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, announced this on Thursday at a briefing in Abuja.
Buba urged traditional rulers and other stakeholders particularly in the Niger Delta to help in fishing out the wanted suspects.
News
Commotion as hackers infiltrate server, disrupt Osun teachers’ recruitment exercise
Commotion as hackers infiltrate server, disrupt Osun teachers’ recruitment exercise
The ongoing teacher recruitment exercise in Osun State was disrupted on Wednesday when hackers apparently compromised the server hosting the Computer-Based Test (CBT).
The event trapped thousands of applicants at the state’s 13 scheduled examination centres.
The cyber-attack happened in the early hours of Wednesday and affected the server operated by Osun State University (Uniosun), which organised the recruiting test.
The breach led to system glitches and technical failures, frustrating applicants who had gathered at the centres to take the crucial examination.
One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the gravity of the situation to our correspondent.
READ ALSO:
- Drama as INEC disowns Anambra Labour Party convention
- Google blocks 5.5bn adverts, suspends 12.7m accounts
- How Mali army killed 13 civilians in drone strikes – Amnesty
“All the systems were down after hackers breached our server overnight. It was a terrible experience at all the centres. But we later resolved some centres, while the examination has been rescheduled for others,” said the official.
Ademola Adesoji, the Public Relations Officer of the university, attributed the incident to unknown criminals.
“The damage inflicted on the server required time to resolve, resulting in an undue delay in the start of exams and necessitating the rescheduling of tests at two out of thirteen centers.
“Over the last eight or so hours, it has been a tough battle in our efforts to ensure the success of Osun State government. Examinations have concluded at 11 out of the 13 locations today. However, the two problematic centres, Osogbo and Ikire, will be rescheduled based on the Ministry’s decision,” said Adesoji.
Commotion as hackers infiltrate server, disrupt Osun teachers’ recruitment exercise
News
Drama as INEC disowns Anambra Labour Party convention
Drama as INEC disowns Anambra Labour Party convention
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected Wednesday’s Labour Party National Convention in Anambra State.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, stated this in Abuja on Thursday.
Oyekanmi said INEC did not oversee the convention’s conduct.
The LP on Tuesday shifted the convention from Umuahia in Abia State to Nnewi, Anambra State.
But speaking on the change in venue, the LP National Legal Adviser, Kehinde Edun, told journalists that the party had duly informed INEC about the change in venue and date.
READ ALSO:
- Google blocks 5.5bn adverts, suspends 12.7m accounts
- How Mali army killed 13 civilians in drone strikes – Amnesty
- Lagos court sends 25-year-old man to prison for stealing employer’s N54.1m
“In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin City was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi.
“So, we are at liberty to pick any venue of our choice. We only need to inform INEC about the change in venue and the time,” Edun said.
Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 states that political parties shall give INEC at least 21 days notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting.
This includes the convention or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates.
Drama as INEC disowns Anambra Labour Party convention
(NAN)
-
metro5 days ago
DHQ declares Simon Ekpa, 96 other suspected terrorists wanted
-
Auto6 days ago
Toyota Nigeria presents nine schoolchildren for global dream car art contest + photos
-
News6 days ago
New minimum wage implementation begins April – NLC
-
metro6 days ago
3 students die in stampede as Nasarawa students loot state govt rice
-
News5 days ago
Supreme Council for Shari’ah expresses concern over threat to Nigeria’s participation in 2024 Hajj
-
News6 days ago
Thousands may miss Ramadan Umrah as S/Arabia fails to issue visas
-
Health6 days ago
Fresh diphtheria outbreak kills four in Kano
-
Business6 days ago
CBN’s ‘action’ yields result as Naira appreciates to N1,382 per dollar