Solomon's Column

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised not to complain about Nigeria's problems any more, but to address same in due course. President Buhari who  made this promise in far away, Poland , however did not give convincing reasons why he took this decision, coming just two months to the general elections. Nigerians insist that the present administration is yet to meet their expectations, one of their expectations is for President Buhari to assent  to the 2018 electoral act amendment bill, but surprisingly the President has  with held his assent. Expectedly, Nigerians have have expressed doubts over the possibilities of resolving the several challenges confronting the country is six months. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke says the Federal Government is yet to meet the expectationsof the electorate. Excerpts : Nigerians are still complaining of several shortcomings  of governance, what do you thin

For over three and a half years now, Nigerians have contended with  hunger, poverty, unemployment and insecurity. Sadly, government at all levels have done little  to address these hydra like challenges which have not only demoralized the citizenry, but  also prompted them to continually and relentlessly rein curses on the country's political office holders. A cross section of civil society groups  allege that the three tiers of government have deliberately impoverished the populace, as a way of compelling them to sell their votes in the 2019 general elections. Interestingly,a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar(rtd) has advised Nigerians to stop complaining about their pitiable condition, but vote out leaders who have not met their expectations .  In this interview with Federationews2day, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke  says Nigerians should seek God's guidance in the choice of candidates they wi

The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola(SAN) recently disclosed that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration has delivered on its promises it made on electricity and infrastructure, Nigerians insist that Mr. Fashola is being economical with the truth. The Minister's claim is coming just a few months to the general elections, even though recently President Buhari kicked off his re-election campaign rally with a promise to take Nigerians to the next level. But Nigerians lament that their present level is characterized by exploitation and extortion by the Electricity Distribution Companies, while they still contend with bad road networks across the country.  In this interview , the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke  says that the Federal Government has not done enough in the areas of stable electricity supply and good road network. Excerpts : The Minister for Works, Power and Housing has

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he was committed to a new minimum wage for workers in the country. Nigerian workers are  demanding for N30,00 as the new national minimum wage, but the Minister of Information has insisted that the President was yet to come out with a specific figure, just as he stressed that the Federal Executive Council, the National Economic Council and the National Assembly would determine the eventual figure that workers would receive as the new national minimum wage. However, state Governors have warned that they do not have the capacity to pay N30,000, while workers have blamed their union leaders for suspending the indefinite strike action, when the  Federal Government  is yet to accede to the workers' demand. In this interview with Federationews2day, the Founder, Spiritual head  and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke  says a new minimum wage would prevent politicians and the elite from using workers as

In July 2005, the then Inspector General of Police Mr. Sunday Ehindero put in place committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the alleged killing of five Igbo traders and their female friend by some policemen at the Apo  mechanic village, Abuja on June 7 of the same year. However, the committee was  headed by, Mike Okiro, then a Deputy Inspector General  of Police was dissolved by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The President hinged his decision on the fact that the Police could not be a Judge in its own case. In addition, the President's action was predicated on the testimonies of a  photographer, hired by the Police in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) to take photographs of the lifeless bodies of the six Nigerians sent to their untimely graves.  The photographer confessed that the police were responsible for the crime, as he stated that he saw the police bring guns and placed  by the side of the corpses of the six, to make them look like armed

In 1998, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization,Ohaneze Ndigbo restructured, 12 months after, the structure became a platform to campaign for Igbo presidency. Again,in 2004, the socio-cultural organization restructured,even though the general elections came up in 2007. Nigerians were of the opinion that  the presidency was for all Nigerians. Their arguments were hinged on the fact that no section of the country,was excluded from aspiring to the highest position in the land. Indeed,there has never been and there is  still no constitutional provision or clause that allows for the exclusion of any tribe to vie for the presidency. Interestingly, Ohaneze, is a South East Geo-Political zone based socio-cultural organization, which projects the interests of Ndigbo in particular, and the rest of Nigeria in general. Although, at a particular point in time the organization was accused of been elitist.  The objective, according to a cross section of those who are members of th

Nigerians have for several years embarked on the journey to promote a just and equitable society without encouraging results. This is regardless of the countless number of prominent citizens, who belong to the private and public sectors, including the civil society community at home and in diaspora. Sadly, most of the innovative ideas and policy options of governance have failed woefully to serve as springboard for the country's social, political and economic emancipation from the vicious circle  of underdevelopment. Of note, is the fact that Nigeria is yet to attain the status of a free, dynamic and knowledge based economy, this is just as there are no genuine signs of commitment  to fairness, equity and justice. The foregoing stems from bad and improper  governance at all levels of government.  Decisions and policies of government are guided by self-centered ideals and obsessive greed.  Most political office holders lack ideology and principles to recommend a soo

The Presidential  candidate of the National Action Council, Dr. Olapade Agoro has declared that the list of prominent Nigerians placed on travel ban by the present administration was the was the same as that  the United States of America gave  Chief(Dr.)Olusegun Obasanjo during his first term as President. Dr. Agoro made this declaration in a chat with Federationews2day. He also called on President  Muhammadu Buhari to bar those on the watch list from contesting for elective positions in the 2019 general elections. ''Nigerians  are dead heads, when it comes to news coverage. You discover that Nigerians make noise out of nothing. If President Muahmmadu Buhari is bold, if President Muhammdu Buhari is  courageous, he should order that those on the list shouldb be barred from contesting for the general elections, they should be barred by INEC.'' ''The United States of America(USA) gave President Olusegun Obasanjo the list during his first term as President

Nigerians have for long contended  with the problems associated with the pharmaceutical drug distribution network and the increasing presence of quacks in the health sector. Indeed, unauthorized persons prescribe, dispense and handle medicines in open markets, major roads, street corners and bus-stops. These persons have now occupied leadership roles in drug distribution, mainly for their personal interests, to the detriment of millions of Nigerians, who patronize them. Sadly, Government is yet to come to terms with the visible dangers that abound  in the unstructured  distribution channels, while relevant regulatory  agencies are handicapped when  it involves the implementation of the provision of the laws on drugs.  It is a known fact that quackery  cuts across all professions including journalism. Presently, jobless Nigerians in various fields, Secondary school leavers and in some cases drop outs are engaged by phony health insurance companies to propagate their object

The Justice Kayode Esho panel report on the Judiciary of 1994, indicted several Judges in Nigeria for wrongdoing.  Although the report recommended most of the Judges, including Justice N.S.N Onnogben, then a Judge of the Appeal court , Calabar, Cross River state, for retirement/dismissal, the Judicial review panel headed by Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin gave most of them and Justice Onnogben a clean bill of health, thereby nullifying the recommendations of the Justice Esho panel.  Justice Onnogben was a high court Judge, when the recommendation was made, but was however, promoted to a Judge of the Appeal court.  Again, the Justice Babalakin panel reversed the recommendation by the Justice Esho panel that Justice E.I.D Emeordi of the Delta state Judiciary be dismissed.  This reversal did not go down well with the Delta state government, which eventually retired Justice Emeordi and Justice G.O Akoro. While justifying his retirement, the then Attorney General and Commissioner for J

Discrimination was the order of the day during the colonial era. In November, 1947, Imoudu led others to demonstrate against racial discrimination at the Bristol Hotel, Lagos.  In the cause of the demonstration, he was physically assaulted and arrested by the Police. However, of worry, is the self-preservation approach of present day labour leaders. At different times, he mobilized the conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to protest against colonial rule and also workers and peasants for the independence movement led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, during the nationwide tour of the National Council of Nigeria Citizens (NCNC), to raise funds and support for the Nigerian delegation to the constitutional conference in London. The Labour wing of the NC-Democratic Grand  Alliance, of which Imoudu was a member, won four seats in the Lagos Town Council elections in 1950. In 1964, Imoudu  led the general strike  against the restriction of Democracy, which was  targe

A s Nigerians continue to knock the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s selective fight against corruption, the Founder  and spiritual Head   of Shafaudeen worldwide, Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke, in this interview with, says that the present administration’s corruption fight,  has the traces of  the corrupt class who funded its emergence. Excerpts: Nigerians are expressing worries  over the present administration's continued selective corruption war, what do you think is wrong ? It is unfortunate that the All Progressives Congress(APC) was formed on the basis of looking for credible people, they were able to get that in President Muhammadu Buhari, but how to win the election depended mainly on who could fund the party. Unfortunattely, most of those people, who have the strenght to do it,  belong to the corrupt class of the nation. It happened in Singapore, when Lee  Kuan Yew wanted to moun the reign of power, he had nothing, but was sp

Soon after the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC)Comrade Ayuba Wabba met with the Chief of Staff to the President at the presidential villa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Mallam Garba Sheu disclosed that the Federal Government would resume talks with organized labour on Thursday, 4 October, 2018. On Sunday, labour suspended the strike action, which it had described as indefinite. In this interview with Federationews2day, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke says that the labour unions in Nigeria today can only bark, but cannot bite.  Excerpts : Not long ago, labour proceeded on an indefinite strike action, over the new national minimum wage issue, but a few days into the strike it called it off. What are your views ? Since the time of the late Michael Imoudu to the era of Hassan Sunmonu, labour unions were found to be very dynamic in effecting the necessary changes for workers in Ni

Days to the Governorship election in Osun state, the Federal Government introduced a scheme, ''Trader Money'' to enable petty traders access interest free loans. The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was at the Bola Ige International market, new Gbagi Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria to launch the scheme.  In addition, the Federal Government  released billions of Naira to the Osun state  Government under the under leadership of Mr. Rauf Arof the state. egbesola and under the cover the Paris Club refunds, to pacify  the poverty and hunger stricken workers. Eight years is more than necessary to impact positively on the people of a state, if those who call the  the shots have what it takes to deliver the proverbial ''Dividends of Democracy''. Even though the workers in the state endured the abnormality  of receiving half salaries  for  over three years, the voting pattern in last Saturday's elections in the state confirms that the  people are  n

Nigerians workers  have been called upon to vote out corrupt and anti-people political office holders in the 2019 general elections. This call was made by the Chairman of the Oyo state chapter of the  Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria(ASCSN), Comrade Babatunde Balogun, at a News Conference in Ibadan, Nigeria. ''We will use the 2019 general elections to turn this dismal record around, by voting out the corrupt and anti-masses government in Nigeria at all levels to have a government of our own. Our stand on this is that the nation's expensive Democracy, natural, human and hard earned resources is only serving the interest of the ruling elite who are less than five percent of Nigeria's population, this has placed the plight of the working class and the masses in general on deaf ears.'' Comrade Balogun lamented that those who could afford to spend money were now in control of governance in the country, saying'' the commercializatio

The need for an increase in wages and better working conditions prompted Imoudu to lead a demonstration from the locomotive yard in Ebute metta, Lagos to the Government House situated at Marina, Lagos Island, Lagos. The Governor General of the Colony of Lagos, Bernard Bourdillon noticed that any form of industrial action at that period, could disrupt railway supplies to the coalition, during the Second World War in 1941. It was on this premise he acceded to a 50 per cent pay rise for the workers. This success, further inspired Imoudu to put forward more demands, among which were conversion of daily casual labour to salaried employment, Saturday work with pay, permanence of daily labour, holiday travel grant and payment of arrears to cover 1932 to 1942 of unpaid entitlements. This did not go down well with Bourdillon, who facilitated the termination of Imoudu’s appointment on 23 January, 1943 and also ordered his arrest under the Nigeria General Defense Regulations, 19

Mao Zedong popularly known as Chairman Mao, was successful with his noble goals for China through despotic means. His leadership was severe, dictatorial and personalized. For as long as Chairman Mao's  cultural revolution lasted, thousands of Chinese died of starvation and inhuman labour. Mao and his co-travelers argued that same was the price their people had to pay  for re-education. This brand of governance ensured the extermination of the heroes of the civil war and the old party chieftains by the President's armed squad. Chairman Mao is perhaps the role model of those who hold sway in Nigeria today. Indeed, the Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai is among several other political office holders, who adore President Muhammadu Buhari. Those in support of this argument insist that on a number of occasions, the Kaduna state Governor had knelt down to greet and/or consult with the President. They maintain that this is only a sign of respect in the tradi

Recently the Police Community Relations Committee(PCRC) did an awards ceremony  in Ibadan- communities near the expressway-Iwo road expressway- that have been the subject of debate  for sometime now. Awards were given to individuals, who have over time assisted the Police Division, financially and materially, even though the crime rate in the community is on the increase. Indeed,  complaints handled by officers and men of the Police Division at Felele, have not been impressive, even though a one time Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro handed over to Musiliu Smith at the Police Service Commission. Sadly, owners of houses in communities, as a result of monetary considerations, deliberately refuse to thoroughly screen  prospective tenants before giving them accommodation and in the process, take in criminals. Of worry, is the increasing number of ''Ogogoro'' joints, beer parlours,  and hotels in residential areas, with government agencies in charge of physica

The activities of Labour leaders today is the raging  debate among workers in Nigeria. Workers express sadness and worry over the way their leaders handle issues concerning them. While the workers continue to wallow in the vicious cycle of poverty, hunger and worry, their leaders insist that they should be patient and show understanding with the Government. The agility and activeness of labour leaders of the present time, is determined by the political class and not by the deteriorating condition of workers in the country. Up till this moment, the name Michael  A thokhamien  Imoudu, represents a good example of a labour leader with a difference within the Nigerian territory and has continued to serve a s a source of inspiration  for the present set of labour leaders. Perhaps. Imoudu was born on 7, September, 1902, to a Soldier, who had fought in East Africa. His upbringing resulted into his fearless personality. He did not have fear for witches or wizards, master or servant,

Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay was born on 14 November 1864  in Lagos to Thomas Babington Macaulay, the founder of Lagos Grammar School and Abigail, a daughter of Samuel Ajai Crowther. At the age of five, Young Herbert was enrolled at ST. paul's Breadfruit School, Lagos. For a while, he worked as a clerk at the Public Works Department(PWD) and during this period, he developed an interest in building, drawing, and town planning. In 1890, at the age of 26, he won a government scholarship to study in the United Kingdom, and in 1893, Herbert returned to Nigeria as a qualified Surveyor. His interests included music and reading. At the beginning of his career, he was appointed Surveyor of Lagos and he played a crucial role in the re-planning of several buildings in Lagos, including the Anglican Christ Church Cathedral. Interestingly, he was the first Nigerian to buy and use a car. As a result of his brave and fearless nature, he was popularly called ''Ejongboro'' &#