‘Stop cursing leaders over hardship,’ Sanusi counsels Nigerians

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on Tuesday advised Nigerians to desist from raining curses on the country’s leaders over the current hardship in the country.

Sanusi, who addressed members of the Tijjaniyya Movement in Nigeria at an event in Sokoto, urged Nigerians to constantly pray for the country’s leaders.

He said: “What is expected of us now is patience, fervent prayers and we must stand up to get things better in our own way through legitimate ways.

“We must desist from abusing or cursing our leaders over hardship because the Holy Prophet discouraged that.

We shall not involve ourselves in corrupt practices and other atrocities because our religion preaches against it.

“We must change for the better and remain committed to peace and development of our societies.”

The deposed Emir of Kano also urged the group followers to be politically active as the 2023 election approaches.

“When you are approached during elections, you need to ask for recognition in terms of school construction, health facility, and other services,” he added.

Nigeria needs leaders that can unite the country – VP Osinbajo

Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said only proactive leaders can solve the challenges bedeviling the country.

A statement by the Vice President’s spokesman, Laolu Akande said Osinbajo made the comment on Monday, when he paid a courtesy visit to Abdulwasiu Lawal, Oniru of Iruland, in Lagos.

He said; “Our country needs all the leaders — the best leaders, the most proactive leaders, leaders prepared to bring the country together.

“Lagos is a microcosm of Nigeria. Everybody is here. If things work out well here, things will be okay in the country.

“I am sure your role here is that of someone who brings together communities — not just Yorubas, but everybody.

“And I can see that from your choice of chiefs, you have gone to other parts, and I think this is the attitude of great leaders.

“You should know that you are always in my prayers, because I believe that your role is crucial, not just for the development of this state, but for the whole country.

“Today, you cannot relegate traditional rulers because of the exposure and education of those who occupy that position.”

Buhari charges leaders to help Nigeria unlock potentials

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday charged leaders at all levels to show exemplary quality in order to help the country to overcome its current challenges.

President Buhari made the call in his address at the 2021 annual lecture of Arewa House held in Kaduna.

The President, who was represented at the forum by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, also urged Nigerians to put the nation first in all their dealings as was done by the country’s founding fathers such as Sir Ahmadu Bello.

He stressed that good leadership would provide a platform for Nigeria to overcome its challenges and unlock the country’s huge potentials.

President Buhari said: “Our ability to collectively address the challenges in our country today will go a long way in unlocking its huge potentialities and the starting point is leadership by example.”

He also called for inclusiveness and the provision of quality education, particularly for girls, to develop to their full capacity.

Buhari added that there was the need to improve coordination and collaboration among leaders for good governance at federal, state, and local levels in a bid to take the country to enviable heights.

“We must not assume that the problems of our country should and can be solved by President Buhari’s administration alone.

Yes, we lead by example, but every stakeholder has a responsibility to work collectively and put the interest of our country first and foremost.

“We have no choice if indeed we are committed to the welfare, prosperity, peace, and security of our people, but to be selfless in service and honor them by making peace and security as a cardinal point in all our actions,” the President added.

PDP tasks APC leaders to speak out against Buhari’s ‘U-turn’ over promise on restructuring

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to speak out on President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to go back on the party’s campaign promise of implementing an administrative restructuring of Nigeria.

The opposition party also tasked APC leaders to respond to their members in the Senate, who through their spokesperson, Senator Ajibola Basiru, claimed that restructuring as promised by APC was only a ‘slogan’, as well as the revelation that neither the APC nor its leaders had submitted any memorandum for the promised restructuring and devolution of power upon which they rode to power in 2015.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Saturday, the party called out APC leaders including its Caretaker Committee Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni, its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Governor Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed among others, to speak out on Mr. President’s recent declaration on restructuring as well as the position of the Senate.

“Our party holds that the inaction of the APC in the face of the dismissive declaration by the Buhari Presidency that Nigerians, who they had promised restructuring, should now channel their demands to the National Assembly, only goes to further validate the assertions among Nigerians that the APC is a deceptive power-grabbing platform, which is not interested in governance or fulfilling its promises to Nigerians.

“It is very disappointing that almost six years after riding to power on the promise of restructuring, the Buhari Presidency has made no concrete effort towards forwarding an executive bill to the National Assembly on the matter, only to now ask Nigerians to carry their burden to the legislative houses.

“Our party asserts that beside President Buhari, other bigger culprits of the failure on restructuring are the silent leaders of the APC who, despite promising restructuring, are clandestinely supportive of its huge betrayal.

“The APC must therefore take responsibility for on-going challenges to our national unity, having failed to fulfill the promises they made on restructuring such as devolution of power and true federalism,” the state read in part.

Sam Adeyemi feels that Nigeria is not ready for restructuring

Almost all ethnic nationalities and socio-cultural groups have cried of marginalization and made very strident calls for restructuring, and even produced agenda for restructuring. Even clerics have not been left behind in airing their views and worries about the need for restructuring the Nigerian Federation

However, Sam Adeyemi, the founder and Senior Pastor of the Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos, Nigeria feels that the country is not yet ready for restructuring. He further expressed his concerns and stated that the first restructuring that is needed is for power to shift from political leaders to citizens 

Sam Adeyemi wrote on his Twitter page that “I fear that the life of the common man may not improve if Nigeria restructures into regions or even If it breaks up now..”

According to him, he thinks restructuring requires responsibility on the part of the citizens.