Referendum, new constitution must come before 2023 polls — NINAS

....Warns political parties not to submit candidates for poll

THE Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination, NINAS, has said that all lawful means would be explored to ensure that the 2023 general elections does not hold, unless the Federal Government conducts a referendum for aggrieved indigenous nationalities, saying “there must be a referendum first to decide if we want Nigeria, then we can talk about a new Constitution before 2023 general elections.”

NINAS is the umbrella body of self-determination groups in the South West, South South, South East and Middle Belt, with Ilana Omo Oodua, under the leadership of a renowned Historian, Professor Banji Akintoye, Mr. Tony Nnadi and Prof. Yusufu Turaki.

Speaking during a press conference, Chairman of NINAS, Prof. Banji Akintoye, said: “As we come to the close of the 120 days of consultations which commenced on the 17th Day of April 2021 in the Measured Implementation of the Constitutional Force Majeure, we are here to update our people and the global community on the tremendous progress that has been made in giving effect to the will of the peoples of Nigeria which had for so long been suppressed by the forces of oppression and retrogression. 

“For ease of reference, let us recall that the five points of demand on December 16, 2020, Proclamation are: Formal Announcement by the Federal Government acknowledging the constitutional grievances and sovereignty dispute now declared by the peoples of South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria. 

“A formal commitment by FG to the wholesale, decommissioning and jettisoning of the 1999 constitution as the basis of the federation of Nigeria, as was done by the Government of Apartheid-Era South Africa in 1990, to commence the process by which the Apartheid Constitution of the then South Africa was eased out. 

“A formal announcement by the Federal Government suspending further general elections under the disputed 1999 constitution since winners of such elections will swear to and govern by that constitution.

“A formal invitation to the peoples of the South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria which shall work out and emplace a transitional authority, and which shall specify the modalities for the transitioning process including the composition and mandate of the transitional authority as well as the time-frame for the transitioning and other ancillary matters. 

“A formal initiation of a time-bound transitioning process to midwife the emergence of fresh constitutional protocols by a two-stage process in which the constituent regional blocs will at the first stage, distil and ratify their various Constitutions by Referendums and Plebiscites and in the second stage, negotiate the terms of federating afresh as may be dictated by the outcomes of referendum and plebiscites.”

Youth unemployment in Africa worrisome — Obasanjo 

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo, has raised alarm that youth unemployment rate in Africa is one of the highest in the world, adding that African countries must urgently commit to lowering this rate through a combination of efforts, including functional education, entrepreneurial training, provision of job opportunities. 

Obasanjo, who is the Chairman, Africa Progress Group, said this while delivering his speech at the public presentation of the 2020 APG Report.

He said that African countries should show more responsiveness to making their populations more of an asset than a burden.

His words: “For the avoidance of doubt, APG is not queuing behind the proposition for policies such as one child or two per family as we have in some regions of the world. Our position is rested on the belief that the population, large or small, can be harnessed as an asset rather than a burden. Besides, the variability in socio-cultural positions on family planning by different African communities should be respected but properly managed. Africa’s growing population if well managed will yield huge dividends for national and regional development.

“In the report, we have provided over 150 strategic options for African countries in all sectors in managing their populations ranging from providing quality education for all, through investment in food and nutrition security, health security, environmental security, sustainable housing for all, to entrepreneurship and employment security.

“Youth unemployment rate in Africa is one of the highest in the world. African countries must urgently commit to lowering this rate through a combination of efforts including functional education, entrepreneurial training, and provision of job opportunities and the enabling environment for investment and growth of small and medium-scale enterprises.”

....backs 1st World Yoruba Carnival of Arts and Culture 

FORMER president Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, threw his weight behind the 1st World Yoruba Carnival of Arts and Culture, holding next year February, in Ile- Ife, Osun State, and becoming its Ambassador Extraordinaire.

The carnival is a celebration of the rich and ancient history of the arts, craft, and culture of the Yoruba people, with the week-long carnival projected to welcome Yoruba descendants and visitors from all over the world. 

Chairman, Central Planning Committee of the fiesta, Dr. Tunde Adegbola, announced this when he led his team on a visit to the former president in his Ota home, in Ogun State, to discuss the modalities of the first edition of the carnival.

Adegbola, in a statement by the Carnival Director, Prof. Ademola Araoye, stressed the unique diversity of the Yoruba arts and culture and how individuals from the ethnic groups had excelled greatly beyond the shores of Nigeria in every continent across the globe, but noted with great regret the inability to cultivate such rich cultural heritage in the country “to the point where it would foster our growth in the area of economics or innovative development as seen in some nations.”

Adegbola said: “The Carnival would include Colloquiums and other interactive sessions to dissect the Yoruba heritage in a bid to harvest its benefits for the future of the Yoruba and Nigeria as a whole.”

In his remarks, Obasanjo, while endorsing the Carnival, reiterated the uniqueness of the Yoruba language, by way of names individuals bear and their meanings, the oriki, among others, saying such could be used to define the origin of the individuals.

Members of the Central Planning Committee who were with Dr. Adegbola on the visit include Otunba Femmy Carrena, Prince Tunde Odunlade, Prince Lekan Tejuosho, Mr. Dele Lucas, Mr. Seni Jawando, Prince Akin Onalaja, Aare Jide Taiwo, Mrs. Bose Ijabiyi, Mr. Oluwaseun Olayiwola and Mr. Seyi Johnson.

Insecurity can be tackled through traditional methods —Gani Adams

THE Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, yesterday, said Nigeria and the South-West can easily address the problems of insecurity by using traditional methods. 

Adams, who spoke at the 2021 edition of Ifa Festival, held in Alagbole, Ogun State, said unless Nigerians and Yoruba go back to the fundamental principles of 'our being', we cannot make any meaningful progress as a race.

He, however, urged the present crop of leaders to consult the Ifa divination, expressing worry that Yoruba people have ignored the essence of their living.

He said: “Interestingly, Ifa divination system is applied whenever an important individual or collective decision has to be made. Yoruba are a blessed race. We have enough to make us the leading race in the world.

“But it is sad that we are not making the desired progress because we have ignored the essence of our living.

But the question is: How did we get here?

“We are where we are today because we didn’t consult Ifa properly as it was done in the good old days.

“We are where we are today because we have lost touch with Ifa deity, who happens to be the true source of spiritual divination.

“We are where we are today because we have failed to identify with our culture, traditions and heritages.

“And it is unfortunate that the results of our ignorance are staring us in the face. Unless we go back to the fundamental principles of our very being, we cannot make any meaningful progress as a race.

“In Nigeria today, especially, in the southwest, we can easily solve the problems of insecurity in the region by using the traditional method.

“This is the way to go. Let us seek spiritual divination so that we can solve the problem once and for all.

“Yoruba are a blessed race. That is why we need to go back to our roots. We need to explore our traditional ways of doing things to get the best result.”

Culled from Vanguard