Message from Mandela to Our Nigerian Leaders

YOU know I am not very happy with Nigeria. I have made that very clear on many occasions. Yes, Nigeria stood by us more than any nation, but you let yourselves down, and Africa and the black race very badly. Your leaders have no respect for their people. They believe that their personal interests are the interests of the people. They take people’s resources and turn it into personal wealth. There is a level of poverty in Nigeria that should be unacceptable. I cannot understand why Nigerians are not more angry than they are.
“What do young Nigerians think about your leaders and their country and Africa? Do you teach them history? Do you have lessons on how your past leaders stood by us and gave us large amounts of money? You know I hear from Angolans and Mozambicans and Zimbabweans how your people opened their hearts and their homes to them. I was in prison then, but we know how your leaders punished western companies who supported Apartheid.
“What about the corruption and the crimes? Your elections are like wars. Now we hear that you cannot be president in Nigeria unless you are Muslim or Christian. Some people tell me your country may break up. Please don’t let it happen.
“Let me tell you what I think you need to do. You should encourage leaders to emerge who will not confuse public office with sources of making personal wealth. Corrupt people do not make good leaders. Then you have to spend a lot of your resources for education.
Educate children of the poor, so that they can get out of poverty. Poverty does not breed confidence. Only confident people can bring changes. Poor, uneducated people can also bring change, but it will be hijacked by the educated and the wealthy…give young Nigerians good education. Teach them the value of hard work and sacrifice, and discourage them from crimes which are destroying your image as a good people.”

(Excerpts taken from a 2007 interview with Mandela conducted by Dr  Hakeem Baba-Ahmed).

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“ASUU should be Scrapped”- Elechi

Following the sabotage in the effort of government in the area of education and to call off the long lingering strike, Ebonyi State Gov Martin Elechi has since yesterday called for the disbanding of the Academic Staff Union of Universities. The Governor made the call during an interactive session between, the members and executives of the Nigerian Union od Journalist. He described ASUU’s actions towards the effort of the Federal Government as sabotage as some members are out for personal interest and gain. He also lamented that the major victims of the strike are not the government, but the students.
“ASUU is due for proscription; the way they are going is sabotage to the existence of the country. When I travelled I heard the lecturers had resumed in EBSU; my plan was that if any lecturer is to resume, he or she is to renounce their membership of the union” Governor Elechi stated. He also said that ” at a time, history must change if not we will keep drifting; in EBSU, it is still a case of no work no pay”.
When asked about the indigenes who were disengaged from Abia civil service, the governor noted that the state had no covenant with the affected workers and they would be re-absorbed into the Ebony State civil service. The indigenes, who were mostly from Ebonyi South and North senatorial districts of the state were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions, such as ‘a sojourner has a home’, ‘we have come home for sense of belonging’, ‘Ebonyi state, salt of the nation, we embrace you’, East or West, North or South, Home is better’, Governor T.A. Orji says no to two dual citizenship, His Excellency, Ebonyi state Governor, kindly receive your people’ moved around the vicinity, chatting songs to reflect their state of despondency.

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Federal Government provides proof of payment, asks Lecturers to go back to classrooms

Evidence has been provided by the Presidency, that it has paid the total sum of two billion nairia_ N200bn it promised to release for universities revitalization.

Dr. Doyin Okupe, The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, said this while briefing journalists on be payment of the N200bn by the Federal Government into “Revitalization of Universities Infrastructure” account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He gave further evidence to buttress the claim that the N200bn had been paid, Dr Okupe gave a copy of the letter written by the deputy Governor of CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo to the Accountant General of the Federation, to journalists.

The letter, with reference GVD/DGO/GEN/MPA/05/151 and dated December 10, 2013 reads in part , “Confirmation of the execution of your mandates for the credit of account No: 00200xx522, Revitalization revitalisation of Universities Infrastructure” Account.

“I write to confirm the execution of the following mandates by the Central Bank of Nigeria for funding of the above mentioned account as follows:

1. Mandate FDL/LP201340/1/30/DF: N129,300,000,000:00
2. Mandate FD/FA/124/Vol X11/120/1DF: N20,700,000,000:00
3. Mandate FD/LP2013/40/1/DF :N50,000,000,000:00

“I wish to further confirm  that the available balance in the aforementioned account is N200,000,000,000:00( two hundred billion naira only.

“Please accept the assurances of my best regards.”

With this, Okupe said there was no need for the continuation of the strike.

He said the President of ASUU’, Dr. Nasir Faggee had said last Thursday that if there was proof of payment that the strike would be called off immediately.

He said, ” I hereby show the proof of payment to all Nigerians, not only to ASUU and to let the people know that when we say that this administration has no credibility issue, we mean it.

“We have kept our cool, we have taken a lot of insults and all that and things that were disparaging but we are glad today to show this proof that this has been done as we said

“Therefor, I want to join other well meaning Nigerians to appeal to ASUU to cancel or stop the strike promptly. There is no further legitimacy behind the strike anymore.

“There is no further reason for this strike to continue beyond tonight and if ASUU is indeed a very serious organization, after this pronouncement and after this submission, they should also hold an emergency meeting latest within the next fe hours and call off the strike in the interest of the whole country.”

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