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Obasanjo, Okonjo-Iweala, Agbakoba Suggest Solutions To Nigeria’s Challenges

Published

3 years ago

September 24, 2022

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Director General, World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and former President, Nigeria Bar Association, Olisa Agbakogba were on Saturday among Nigerians who suggested solutions to the challenges bedeviling the country at the 113th Anniversary of Kings College.

The anniversary titled, ‘Building the Nigeria of our dreams,’ was organised by the Kings College Old Boys’ Association.

Obasanjo who led the Kingsweek 2022 colloquium which was held at the Kings College, Lagos, said Nigeria as a country was poor, insecure, and had other challenges because of its choice of leaders.

The former Nigerian leader said, ‘‘We are politically divided, economically disunited we are nowhere, we are down the drain. Diplomatically, Nigeria is not at the table. Before, we had sent troops to Sudan, Seirra Leone but today, we can’t send troops to the Republic of Benin. There are three races in the world, white, yellow, and black. For now, America is leading the whites, the Chinese are leading the yellow race, and Nigeria with 225m people is created by God to lead the black race. When we stop disappointing ourselves we can take care of the continent and the black race. Nigeria has no business with poverty, insecurity, or political division.

‘‘It is the advertently or inadvertently choice of our leaders. It is not God’s choice for us. If God hasn’t chosen that for us we can do better. For Nigeria, we have done a few things right but we have not continued to do it right. We need a government that understands Nigeria and Africa which will be fair and sincere with Nigerians, together with the right government, this nation can become the right leading country to develop Africa.’’

In her speech, Okonjo-Iweala said her dream was for a Nigeria in which 95 per cent of the people had access to potable water, quality education, and more women participation in the political and economic life of the country.

‘‘Nigeria can fight poverty, and improve people’s lives if it is properly managed. Our revenue sources are not diversified we depend only on one revenue. Nigeria lacks a sacrosanct social compact in the country, there should be a guideline that dictates certain things that should be sacrosanct. We should have guiding principles to decide our we manage, save, spend and take vigorous actions on our revenues. As a country, we need to have certain indicators of how our economy should be governed. If we do this, we have so much to gain.

‘‘We have had episodes showing we can sustain strong growth, all we need is to work on all key indicators and move in the right direction.

‘‘If we build a strong governance we need to choose our leaders wisely, we need to ensure we build a strong foundation, we need to get our leaders to accept social compact that will take us into the future.’’

Agbakoba said, ‘‘We have been to a lot of conferences and it is time for us to face the real question. We will never come out of this if we don’t sit and ask ourselves if we are really one until the infractions are tackled. Do we wish to be one because this marriage was imposed on us? What marriage do we really want? Why have we excluded all the nationals at the national conferences we have had?’’

Another guest speaker, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, enjoined Nigerians to get involved in the political and electoral processes, saying lack of appropriate and quality leadership, selection process, and criteria while choosing leaders were a major challenge in the country.

‘‘Since 1999 till date, there has been a remarkable decline in the quality of leaders. Lack of appropriate selection and criteria in Nigeria’s leadership and electoral process. The country’s challenges cannot be addressed by bad leaders who have come into power through the faulty recruitment process.’’

Former president of KCOBA, Dr Sony Kuku, added, ‘‘If we have the right people who love Nigeria if we can get people into governance without godfatherism, ‘Ghana must go’ the better for us. The older you are the more you want Nigeria to be together.’’

Related Topics:#Obasanjo Agbakoba Okonjo-Iweala

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CAC Warns Nigerians Against Fake Companies, Lists Unregistered Firms

Published

7 minutes ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

The Corporate Affairs Commission has warned Nigerians against dealing with individuals or organisations operating under certain company names and registration numbers that are not found in its official records.

CAC announced this in a statement signed on Tuesday by its management and posted across its social media handles.

“Public is hereby warned to disregard these entities and exercise the highest level of caution when dealing with individuals or organisations using the names with corresponding purported RC numbers below,” the statement read.

According to the commission, the unregistered companies include Famas Services Nigeria Limited (RC 216312), Promo Dutch Investment Limited (RC 396654), Dialack Concept Nig. Ltd (RC 297772), and Purpleheart Construction and Real Estate Mgt. Co. Ltd (RC 1210548).

CAC also warns public against M/S Loktu Enterprises (BN 373466), Loktu Enterprises (BN 400390), Badatoyak Ltd (RC 521322), Johson Nats Limited (RC 198492), Peoples Club Nigeria International (CAC/IT/41191), and Jiba Enterprise (BN 577523).

Others include Civil Engineering Solutions Nigeria Limited (RC 33001), Gabdoff Hotel Ltd (RC 112409), Amoka Group (BN 545221), BEEC Nigeria Limited (RC 30143), and S. S. Adetunji (BN 657466).

“This publication is in line with our statutory mandate to maintain an accurate, reliable companies register and to protect investors, businesses and the general public from fraudulent activities,” the CAC stated.

The commission advised members of the public to always verify the status of any company or business name directly on the CAC portal before engaging in transactions.

“The CAC remains committed to protecting the integrity of the Companies Register, upholding the law, and ensuring a safe and transparent business environment in Nigeria,” the notice added.

CAC was established in 1990 by the Companies and Allied Matters Act to register all types of companies and business names, maintain company registries in all states, and ensure businesses comply with CAMA regulations.

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Edo Assembly Summons 2Baba’s Wife Before Ethics Committee

Published

16 minutes ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday summoned the member representing Egor Consistency, Natasha Irobosa, to appear before the Ethics and Privileged committee within one week.

The Assembly said that she has been summoned to defend herself in respect of a case of misconduct leveled against her.

Irobosa been been trending for the wrong reasons recently after a video where she was having an altercation with her husband, Innocent Idibia surfaced online.

Speaking during plenary, the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, said she is expected to explain why she has been “dragging the name of the Assembly in the mud with her conduct.”

He said, “Hon. Natasha Irobosa has been summoned to appear before the Ethics and Privilege Committee of the Assembly due to her recent conduct which has been trending online.

“This conduct drags the name of the House into the mud and it is the responsibility of the members of the Assembly to conduct themselves well.

“This House has cerebral minds, educated people who had been dragged in the mud for too long by our colleague, Hon. Natasha. She has been trending on social media and television for the wrong reason.

“The House has members who know what they are doing and the attitude of our member has brought this House to disrepute and we will not tolerate it.”

The Speaker noted that the committee would submit its finding to the House in two weeks time.

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IYC Expresses Displeasure Over Okpebholo’s Neglect Of Edo Ijaw

Published

2 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, have expressed displeasure over what they described as the “persistent marginalisation of the Ijaw political class, traditional institutions and the ongoing abandonment of Ijaw communities,” by the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led Edo State government.

The IYC, in a statement jointly signed by Comrade Nicholas Igrama, Barr. Ebi Olowolayemo and Comrade Tare Magbei, Western Zone Chairman, Secretary and Information Officer respectively, lamented that despite the “massive support Ijaw people gave to Okpebholo across the five Ijaw clans in the state,” not a single appointment has been given to the Ijaw speaking people in the state.

The statement which was made available to newsmen in Benin on Tuesday, said that the “conspicuously absent of Ijaw man or woman in the State Executive Council,” gives credence to their claim.

The IYC, while stating that “we state this not out of bitterness or entitlement, but as a call for fairness, equity, and justice,” emphasized that “despite our enormous contributions to the state’s treasury through natural and human resources, Edo Ijaws remain conspicuously absent in the State Executive Council.”

The statement reads: “It is important to remind the Governor that the Ijaw nation mobilised massive support across the five Ijaw clans in Edo State to ensure his victory at the polls.

“Our voice was loud, our mobilisation was firm, and our votes counted significantly toward the success of this administration.

“Regrettably, one year after, this government has not deemed it necessary to appoint a single individual from the Ijaw extraction, nor has it addressed the glaring infrastructure deficit in our communities and also left our traditional issues unattented to.”

The statement noted that “the Ijaw areas are the bedrock of the state’s oil wealth, the same wealth that qualifies Edo State as an oil-producing state and entitles it to the 13% derivation fund. Yet, there is no visible reflection of this revenue in our communities.”

“We state this not out of bitterness or entitlement, but as a call for fairness, equity, and justice.”

The IYC, therefore, urged the governor to “have a rethink so it doesn’t take to another form of agitation in the state where we contribute.”