N74bn not enough for amnesty programme – Dokubo-Asari
Former
President of the Ijaw Youth Council and Leader of the Niger Delta
Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, on Monday insisted
that the Federal Government’s N74bn vote for the rehabilitation and
retraining of the Niger Delta ex-militants in the 2012 budget was not
enough.
In a statement, Dokubo-Asari demanded
that a 10-day oil production proceeds should be allocated to the
programme, since the country’s oil production had risen to 2.6 million
barrels per day against 680, 000 before the amnesty programme was
instituted by ex-President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
According to him, the increase is part of the gains of the amnesty programme.
He said, “With all these gains, one
expects that the operators of the amnesty project should have been
encouraged and applauded. Instead, what we see is rebuke, recrimination
and an attempt to scuttle the project by those who contribute next to
nothing in the upkeep and maintenance of the Nigerian state but are now
calling for a probe into the amnesty project.
“There is nothing wrong with probing a government institution if it is not done out of malice.
“It is important to state that going by
the 2012 budget passed by the National Assembly, the amnesty project
budget is about N74bn annually. Which means that amnesty project budget
for a year is far less than two days oil production.
“I believe that the resources allocated
to the amnesty project is inadequate and cannot dig deep to satisfy the
aspirations and yearnings of the people of the oil-bearing communities. I
hereby suggest that for a new start, 10 days oil production proceeds,
after removing cost of product and percentage proceeds due to joint
ventures partners, should be allocated to the training and education of
the people of the oil-bearing communities through the amnesty project.”
The ex-militant alleged that the
company of one of the allies of the late Gen. Sani Abacha offered oil
operating licence on July 8, 1996 produces 400, 000 barrels of oil per
day, meaning that the company makes N2.3bn annually, despite the death
of the owner.
“If a dead individual is raking N2.3bn
in 365 days, why should N74bn be allocated to the amnesty project from
resources gotten from underneath their soil?,” he said.
“This is how the Nigerian state is been
run and managed at the expense of the vast majority of her people. While
some people pretend to be blind to these painful realities, some of us
will not join the bandwagon of the blind men, these inequity, injustice
and blatant insensitivity must be checked now if we are to have a stable
polity.”
The NDPVF leader added, “Most people
will be wondering why I have chosen to speak in favour of the amnesty
project, even though I hate the tag amnesty, I know that the managers
of the project have managed it so well to the benefit of the recipients.
“Today, thousands of young men and women
are being trained as doctors, engineers and oil work men and I believe
that if this project is expanded and the amnesty tag is dropped, the
belief by most of us that we are been criminalized for standing up for
our right will be removed and more people will benefit from the project.
“at present, most people who hitherto,
would have been committing crimes in the creeks are now meaningfully
engaged, learning and acquiring skills in various universities,
polytechnics and technical institutions all over the world.
“As it is said, an idle mind is a
devil’s workshop; the people managing the amnesty project have used the
project to rehabilitate and readmit the ex-militants who lived the life
of criminality into civil society.”
PUNCH-March 20, 2012 by Friday Olokor, Abuja.
FG dismisses militants’ demand for
amnesty
Niger Delta militants.
Special
Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has
said the government will not accede to the demand of some aggrieved
ex-militants for their inclusion in the Amnesty Programme. .
Kuku, who is also the Chairman of the
Presidential Amnesty Programme, maintained the position of the
government that the Amnesty window had closed.
According to him, the government is
working on the reintegrating of the 26,358 ex-militants from the first
and second phase of the programme, saying those involved are undergoing
skill acquisition training and formal education within and outside the
country.
He said the government should not be
expected to yield to the demand from people who had resorted to killing
to get government attention.
He called on the Joint Task Force in
Niger Delta to be alive to its responsibility of security and peace
maintenance in the oil-rich area.
Kuku urged all development agencies in
the Niger Delta such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, the
Ministry of Niger Delta, state and local governments to provide
alternative means of empowerment for the unemployed youths in the
region.
He said, “How can Federal Government
accommodate somebody because he killed people; because he killed
patriotic citizens, a Lt. Col and Naval personnel. No. That cannot be
the reason for admitting people to the Amnesty Programme.
“There is no third phase in the Amnesty Programme and there is no window that will include anybody in the programme.”
Kuku alleged some of the youth agitating for their inclusion in the programme had been threatening him.
The Presidential aide claimed anonymous
text messages were being sent to him, warning him of an impending move
to destroy his country home at Arogbo in Ese Odo Local Government Area
of Ondo State.
PUNCH- March 8, 2012 by Fidelis Soriwei, Abuja.
NIGERIANS ARE ASKING, WHAT IS NEXT? WHICH
OTHER TERRORIST GROUP WOULD THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT PAY NEXT? AT WHO’S EXPENSE?
THE REALITY IN NIGERIA IS THAT INNOCENT
LIVES ARE BEING LOST DAILY WHILE THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO FOCUS
MAINLY ON THEIR OWN SELFISH INTEREST. DECADES OF NEGLECT CAUSED BY NIGERIAN
CORRUPT LEADERS IS A THREAT TO NIGERIANS AT HOME, ABROAD AND TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
WE NIGERIAN GLOBALLY ARE SEEKING HELP
AND SUPPORT FROM ALL NIGERIANS AROUND THE GLOBE, FROM FRIENDS OF NIGERIANS AND
WORLD LEADERS TO HELP US PUT A STOP TO DECADES OF ENDEMIC CORRUPTION BY
NIGERIAN CORRUPT LEADERS.
PLEASE SUPPORT AND JOIN US IN OUR
GLOBAL PROTEST
AGAINST CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA ON THE 23RD OF JUNE
2012. FOR ADRESSES AND LOCATION OF PROTEST, SEE LINK “COUNTRIES AND ADDRESSES OF PROTEST 23RD MARCH 2012”.
Nigerian
passport fraudster jailed for nine months. Ayoola was
arrested by Border Agency officers. A 32-year-old Nigerian man who had been
living in Northern Ireland after entering the UK on a false passport has been
jailed for nine months.
Collins Kola
Ayoola pleaded guilty to fraud at Downpatrick Crown Court on Wednesday.
He was
living in Belfast when UK Border Agency officers arrested him in 2009.
Ayoola was
held for using a false passport to obtain an electoral card, open a number of
bank accounts and register a business.
He was
sentenced to nine months for three counts of possession of false identity
cards, namely a false Nigerian passport, possession of false documents and
seeking leave to remain in the UK by deception.
Earl Aiken,
senior investigator for the UK Border Agency in Northern Ireland, said:
"The UK Border Agency is intensifying enforcement activity to tackle
immigration crime and bring individuals to justice”.
"We are
determined to create a hostile environment which makes it harder than ever for
illegal immigrants to come to the UK and put down roots.
"We
hope this sentence will send the message that we will find and prosecute anyone
who attempts to commit this type of fraud." 14 September 2011 by BBC
Northern Ireland News.
Migration of
our youths from Nigeria, seeking another life in the West can be categorised
into the following:
1. Some are
been forced out by our government due to the fact that they cannot see future
in living in Nigeria. (Economic – labour, wages); (illegal migration –
violation of the migrating laws and soverenity of another nation).
2. Self -
desire either to study, to just migrate, work, new found life, family, etc.
(change of residence).
3. Some that
were been deceived/conned by friends/family and colleagues painting a very rosy
and comfortable environment.
The first
categories are the ones forced out due to the condition on the ground in
Nigeria. A lot of our citizens have terrible experiences,- crossing the
deserts, some crossing to live in other countries, some even cross three or
more countries before reaching their final destination, some cross oceans to
make it to the West. Some put themselves through lots of life threatening
conditions to finally reach their final destinations.
This is so
sad indeed. The fault can not only be attributed to them but a system not
working in our beloved country Nigeria. The reason been that our country amidst
millions/billions of dollars, mineral resources fails to provide and plan for
our future generations living them to the mercy of God. Most of them have been
given the bible to read from morning till evening. Thereby making them some of
the unproductive work-force in our country Nigeria.
Some of our
youths are intellectuals, graduates turned refugees in a foreign soil. Some are
with masters degree turned cleaners in a foreign land. Some of them have to go
into large debts or sell their family properties to make it to the foreign
land.
Our rulers
care less about its citizens. I still find it difficult to imagine the politics
of inhuman face which they play back in my country. They have let us down and
the country down. They have also let down our fellow Africans that are so eager
to emulate Nigeria, so also the worldwide black community that is looking at
Nigeria to change for the better, so that they can be so proud of us. SAD!
The second
categories are people that have a gainful employment abroad which they call the
highly skilled workers scheme. They are enticed with good salaries to abandon
their country for foreign land. Who can blame them, when in their country of
origin they are not been valued? Some for educational purposes. Most of them do
not come back to Nigeria because after finishing their studies, they are easily
enticed with good salaries. Better than what they could earn in Nigeria with
comfortable life conditions – uninterrupted electricity, good medical
condition, good infrastructures and good roads and a host of others.
The third
categories are the ones that are conned believing the Western world is a
paradise. Yes, a true statement because you cannot compare what we have on the
ground for the masses in Nigeria with what the masses enjoy in the Western
world.
In London:
I was in a
double Decker bus one day, sitting in the upper deck of the bus. I sat down at
the back of a fellow Nigerian young chap, who I think did not know I am also a
Nigerian and also from his tribe – YORUBA. The telephone rang, it was from
Nigeria. After the exchange of greetings from both of them, they engaged in
some talk. This young chap sitting in front of me told his colleague:
Sorry, I
cannot continue talking because the police are at my back and watching. Am not
supposed to be talking on the mobile while driving. “This is correct”. My new
car is the sort of one the police put much attention. So when I get home I will
call you. I guessed we are soon approaching a bus stop and the driver will
announce the name of the bus stop, so he was very wise to think forward so that
the chap did not realise he is in a bus. Actually he left the bus at the next
stop. I could not help myself as I busted into laughter. He gave me a dirty
look as he understood I am a Nigerian and I understood all what he was saying.
Can you
imagine what this young chap did? Deceiving his friend to believing everything
is so rosy in London. I will advise our fellow youths that engage in this kind
of attitude to put a stop to this. This is about somebody’s life to be put in
jeopardy. Why on earth will somebody want to portray what does not exist, is it
ego? Ignorance or wickedness?
Let me use
this medium to advice our young ones that the whole of Europe, America has
changed drastically. When you visit these countries, come here legally. Before
you are employed now, most of the employers now want to be sure that you are
legally qualified to work before employing you hence they themselves will face
stiff penalties - they will ask from you all the necessary documents and if you
come as a student, you cannot work more than like 20 hours a week which is
nothing compared to how much to pay for your housing, transport, feeding,
mobile phones etc.
Apart from
that, the constant police fears can send one crazy and sick. If you work more
than the required hours, your stay might not be extended as most schools work
hand in hand with the immigration services.
With the
introduction of the finger prints things have now been so difficult. What about
if you have a life threatening medical attention. They might give you a first
aid treatment, but immediately they know you don’t have your papers in the right
way. The treatment will be stopped unless you can prove that you will be able
to support your bill financially.
For example
I was in the same ward one day, with a fellow Nigerian who has a life
threatening disease. He was initially treated but when they knew/realised, he
had none of his papers right. He was discharged though on humanitarian ground
he was given like two weeks medical supply. I felt so sad for this my
compatriot as his sickness was life threatening.
I believe
that our politicians have to do the right thing for our youths so that they are
not subjected to wondering all over the world aimlessly; they should be
accountable to the people that voted them in; plan for our future generations
to come;’
Our people
should without fear and determination demand an end to corruption and all other
social ills that is bringing Nigeria backward.
They should
demand good governance from their elected officers.
Nigeria
should invest more in a good qualitative education, educational infrastructures
to train our youths for the programme of rebuilding our great country Nigeria.
We are
hoping for the best and pray that all will be well, so that Nigerians do not
continue to suffer in the midst of plenty.
JOIN US AT
THE NIGERIAN GLOBAL AWAKENING PROTEST GROUP PAGE ON FACEBOOK FOR THE GLOBAL
PROTEST ON THE 23RD OF JUNE, 2012.
WE WANT AN
END TO CORRUPTION AND ALL THE SOCIAL ILLS THAT IS NOT ALLOWING US TO
DEVELOP/PROGRESS OUR POTENTIALS AS A THRIVING NATION.
BE PART OF
US; PLEASE ADD/INVITE YOUR COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS AND FAMILILIES TO THIS NOBLE
CAUSE.
LET US JOIN
HANDS TOGETHER AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR COUNTRY - NIGERIA. IT IS ABOUT US
COLLECTIVELY AS A NATION REJECTING WHAT IS HAMPERING OUR DEVELOPMENT AS A
FUNCTIONING COUNTRY.
WE NIGERIAN MASSES CRY OUT TO THE WORLD-WHEN IS THIS ABUSES GOING TO END?
Fees of
Church-owned universities in Nigeria per semester: Bowen University – N650,000,
Covenant University – N640,000, Benson Idahosa – N500, 000, Babcock University
– N450, 000, Redeemers University – N375, 000, Ajayi Crowther University –
N350, 000, Fountain University, Oshogbo – N320,000.
Samuel
Alayande had worked more than half of his life for his church. Not because he
had the calling, but he chose to be dedicated in any church activity.
He and his
wife whom she married in the church were never found wanting in any church
activity. Just as they made donations to keep the church activity afloat, they
gave their energies for any labour required in the church.
They
considered whatever service as necessary not only for spiritual gain but also
for the expansion of the church. The church then decided to own a university,
members contributed hugely with every remaining kobo in their pockets.
Alayande, like other poor members gave N9 out of every N10 he had.
Apart from
giving his meagre earnings in offerings, tithes and donations to the church in
order to bring the project to fruition, he and members of his family worked
tirelessly for the project. They cleared the bushes, they toil the ground
during the foundation process, carried blocks, and carried bags of cements just
to ensure the project came to lime light.
Few years
after, Alayande’s sons and daughters who grew in the church could not study in
the church-owned university because their parents could not afford the huge
fees charged by the institution they helped to build. Alayande’s case typifies
one of the several cases of how the poor is massively working for the rich.
Library of
one the universities
It is no
news that several church-owned universities were built on the donations,
offerings and tithes from the poor members of the church. Even when they had no
more money to put into the construction, they gave their sweat and toil; doing
all kinds of manual labour to actualise the completion of what they often refer
to as their own universities.
Yet, these
people, after the completion of the project, can’t afford the fees; they can’t
have their children trained in the universities they helped to build.
Ironically,
the manipulation of the poor continues even as their regular offerings and
tithes are used to service the day to day running of these institutions that
have become the exclusive preserve of the rich.
In spite of
the phenomenal rise in the number of private universities in the country, not
less than N1million is paid yearly by parents who have their children in these
private universities. How many of the poor members of religious bodies can
afford this huge amount to have their children trained in these institutions
for at least four years?
Bolaji, a
young brilliant chap with excellent JAMB and Post-UME results which qualified
him to study medicine had his hope of studying in the university owned by his
church dashed merely because his parents who are members of the church could
not afford the fees.
Another
young man also lamented why he had to leave a particular church as a result of
what he described as injustice – taking from the poor to give to the rich.
“So can you
explain to me why I shouldn’t I leave the church? Why should I continue in that
deceit? How has it changed and affected my world? Why are these church-owned
universities unaffordable to the common man? I pay my tithe, my church builds a
school, but I can’t afford to send my child to that school. They made it only
for the rich when the poor contributed more to the school. It is ridiculous,”
he said.
Just as
others grumble in silence on the trend of funding a church-owned university but
can’t benefit from it, others believe that tithes and offerings are
commandments from God and should be obeyed.
They believe
the reward is in heaven as they continued to donate generously from their meagre
resources whether they can afford to send their children to the school or not.
Among the
prominent Christian Mission universities whose fees are between N400- N500,000
per semester are Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State; Covenant
University, Canaan Land, Ota; Redeemers University, Landmark University, Omu-Aran,
Kwara State; Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State; Veritas University,
Novena University, Ogume, Delta State; Wesley University of Science and
Technology, Ondo, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Fountain University, Oshogbo,
to name a few.
Saturday
Vanguard gathered that from the beginning, church members were mobilized to the
sites to help in construction work, carrying blocks, clearing bushes and doing
all kinds of manual labour. Most of the foundation projects were completed on
internally generated human and material resources.
Like Babcock
University, which has its roots in the Adventist College of West Africa (ACWA),
now fully owned and operated by the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church.
As disclosed
by Prof. J.A. Kayode Kakinde, President/VC, “it was to invest a great deal of
spiritual energy resources (faith) into the attraction of investors for the
realisation of its physical plan and instructional facilities.”
Investigation
showed that in the first move, UBA Plc (when it was called Standard Trust
bank), responded to provide short terms funds needed for the immediate take off
in 1999, while St. Augustine Investments Ltd., (SAIL), funded the Phase II of
the expansive Faculty of Science and Technology complex on a low rate 20-year
repayment plan.
Instructional
facilities in the Faculty of Science and Technology include the right and left
wing as well as the centre core classrooms and offices, the lecture theatres
each with a 286-sitting capacity, and the 700-seater Wilfred F. Riley Science
and Technology Auditorium.
The Hostels
were contractor-financed projects occupied by students after the 2003 handing
over by Berger Paints Plc.
The N42
million mini waterworks donated by parents through the Parents Consultative
Forum took care of water generation, treatment, storage and distribution.
Most of the
housing facilities for male and female students were completed also through
internally generated human and material resources.
Pastor Enoch
Adeboye, G.O RCCG
For Crawford
University, Igbesa, owned by the Apostolic Faith Church established in Nigeria
in 1944, the first set of students admitted in 2005, graduated in 2009.
The
institution prides itself as a “center of excellence, to produce graduates with
a balanced education with outstanding intelligence, good morals and the fear of
God,” according to Gabriel Kayode Ajayi, Chairman of Board of Trustees.
The
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samson Ayanlaja, in spite of acknowledging the
enormous works and sacrifices made by church members in building the
university, still said there were challenges such as building more hostels,
cafeteria and office complexes to accommodate students, and to provide office
spaces and laboratories.
Amorit
International is constructing male and female hostels, a degree foundation
building to be financed through internally generated revenue, while the Parent
Forum is to build the staff centre/shopping mall.
With more
financial obligations ahead of its members, other areas highlighted were the
building of College of Arts complex and connecting the campus to the national
grid. Those members who still cannot afford to send their children to the
school have more to contribute.
The Living
Faith Church Worldwide also known as Winners Chapel International whose
President and Founder is Bishop (Dr) David Oyedepo, owned Covenant University,
Ota, is not different.
The church
which has over 4,000 branches in Nigeria spreading across all major cities and
towns including the country side, has as its World Headquarter, Faith
Tabernacle Canaan Land, Ota, with 50,000-seat capacity auditorium which runs
four services on Sunday morning with the first three services filled to its
capacity.
Bishop
Oyedepo who is also the Chancellor of Covenant University, said the church has
two universities running: Covenant University in Canaanland and Landmark
University in Kwara State, adding, “in Ghana, and in Congo Kinshasha, we have
acquired large parcels of land where we hope to build universities in the
future.”
Bishop
Oyedepo of Winners Chapel
According to
him, “the small mustard seed that was planted some 28 years ago has grown to
become a mighty tree with wide-spread branches spanning across the length and
breadth of Nigeria and over 50 nations of the world. Services at Faith
Tabernacle are like major evangelistic crusade with as many as 1,000 – 3,000
people surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ every Sunday,” Oyedepo testified.
He revealed
at the 30th anniversary of the church, the Education Mandate of the Ministry,
saying that after obtaining the certificate of occupancy for Canaan land in
1998, he sought the face of the Lord on the use and design for the facilities.
“On 29th
August 1988, during the ground-breaking event, I openly declared what I
received of the Lord especially that a portion (Moriah) has been carved out to
build a secondary school and another (Hebron) carved out to build a
university.”
Since
inception till date, the physical and infrastructural development of Covenant
University are unique, outstanding and cannot be compared to any other higher
institution in the country.
Oyedepo had
always attributed the source of funding to God, insisting that the university
never obtained loan from any bank. This meant that the bulk of the funding came
from members of the church. Both the lowly, and the highly placed in industries
and government officials are members of Winners church.
A member
(name withheld) said that in the beginning, he worked at the site of Covenant
University in Canaan land, Ota, carrying blocks on the head with several others
while building the institution.
“At the end,
children of such members cannot study in the school because they can’t afford
to pay the fees,” he bemoaned. He noted that only children of affluent, wealthy
members, outsiders and even Muslims are admitted.
The total
average unit cost of undergraduate education in these private universities is
in the neighbourhood of N500,000 per session and may be higher for
Science/Technology based disciplines, Medicine, Engineering and Law.
With such
fees, students truly deserving of university education whose poor parents are
members of the church are denied admission for lack of funds.
“We have
inequality even in the church as there are poor and rich members. Inability
even in the church as there are poor and rich members. Inability of most people
to send their children to quality schools that they worked hard to build cannot
be justified because the main route to success and achievement in life is
education,” a church member told Saturday Vanguard.
“But there
are ways and means put in place by management of the university to recognize
scholarship, talent and academic ingenuity of indigent students,” he added.
Poverty has
been identified as a major barrier to human development including education.
Nigeria is estimated to have a population of over 160 million. About 75% of
this population live below poverty line, meaning they earn less than $2 daily.
Education,
vital for the growth and development of a nation is still not adequately
accessible in Nigeria causing high incidence of poverty in the country.
An Apostolic
Faith Church member who spoke with Saturday Vanguard said members’ children are
not denied admission to Crawford University because of fees. “Students are
admitted on merit and fees are moderate, affordable to all members and
non-members alike,” adding, “we don’t discriminate against the poor.”
A source at
Canaan land, Ota, explained that those saying Covenant University fees are
exorbitant should check some secondary schools that charged about N1 million
yearly. However, good universities do not come cheap. “We don’t even depend on
school fees for our developmental projects. God provides the fund.”
It was
gathered that several members of the church can’t afford to pay the fees, but
there are arrangements to offer scholarships to the brilliant students of
members.
A parent,
who is also Vice-Deacon, Patrick Eniawhosa, at the last matriculation, affirmed
that Covenant University is the best in Nigeria. “Fees are moderate, lower than
what students in some secondary schools pay. Our prayer is to finish up well as
Kings and Queens and our children will become source of honour.”
Professor
Joshua from University of Calabar said he brought his child to Covenant
University all the way from Calabar which speaks volume on the uniqueness of
the school. “I’m a university professor, but brought my daughter here, three in
other universities. She is the last child we are investing on. I believe God
will testify to what Covenant University is doing for Nigeria, Africa and
humanity,” he said.
Mrs. Rita
Akinrinade, whose husband is the Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University,
expressed delight that her son is in the school.
Further
investigation showed that in some of those private universities owned by
churches, members who cannot afford the high fees are usually advised or
encouraged to patronise other universities in which the fees are affordable.
This is based on the fact that there are several public-owned universities,
especially federal government ones that charged relatively low fees.
But how
would the church members who have contributed spiritually, financially (no
matter how little), and sometimes through labour (physically) and cannot afford
the high fees charged by their church-owned universities be compensated?
How would
the church entrench the much needed sense of belonging for the universities
built with the sweat and toil of poor members even if they try to justify that
university education cannot come cheap. Something obviously needs to be done to
correct the anomaly.
