AVERTING THE ROAD TO VENEZUELA By FEMI ADESINA

Let’s tell the story of Venezuela, because it bears striking similitude with that of Nigeria.

Just like us, Venezuela is rich in oil, very rich. At a time, the county’s problem was not money, but how to spend it. Just like Nigeria.

And quite like us again, the South American country did not look inwards. It planted nothing, did not invest in agriculture, since there was an endless flow of oil wealth. Life was one long Christmas, and it was jingle bells all the way.

But the rainy days came, as they would always come. And the bells stopped jingling. Rain began to beat Venezuela badly. Nowhere to take refuge. It did not buy umbrellas in the time of affluence, so no shelter from the rains.

From the days of the immediate past President, Hugo Chavez, to the current Nicolas Maduro, the country has seen that life is not one long honeymoon. The egungun festival would always end, no matter how fun and pleasurable it has been.

From a land flowing with milk and honey, what are the characteristics of Venezuelan life today? Hyperinflation. Starvation. Diseases. Crime and high mortality rates. Massive emigration, the worst in the history of the country.

And the half has never yet been told. By 2017, over 75% of the population had reportedly lost 8 kg (19 lbs) due to hunger. There are interminable food queues, and people even cross the borders, looking for sustenance. At least 94% live in grinding poverty, more than 10% (3.4 million) have left the country, and 25% needed one form of humanitarian assistance or the other.

How did a country that was once an oasis of pleasure get to this sorry pass? Simple. 

Economic mismanagement, sole dependence on oil. More than 70% of food needs were being imported, and why not, since petroleum-dollars were flowing. Then, the crunch came. Oil prices crashed, and Venezuela crashed with it. Just like it almost happened to Nigeria. Almost. If not for a simple man from Daura called Muhammadu Buhari.

Imagine pediatric wards in hospitals filled with underweight babies, who still continue to suck the shriveled breasts of equally emaciated mothers. Close your eyes and try to envision hitherto middle class adults now rummaging through rubbish heaps for scraps, with the remainder of what used to be neckties now hanging limply over threadbare shirts and suits that have turned to ‘coats,’ looking more like parachutes on thin shoulders . That was what Nigeria almost became. Almost. And by today, with COVID-19 ravaging the world, all international borders closed, oil prices crashed and external reserves dwindling, that is where we would have been. If God had not brought Muhammadu Buhari our way in 2015.

When he got to office as President, oil prices had crashed from an Olympian height of 100 dollars per barrel (it even went as high as 143 dollars), and then dropped to less than 30 dollars. Where were the savings during the boom years? None. Where were the foreign reserves? Mere pittance. Empty national treasury. Excess crude oil account, depleted. Nothing in reserve, local or foreign. The Venezuelan situation was at the very doors. But how did we avert it? How did we avoid the journey to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela?

President Buhari knew that we had to stave off the evil day by getting to work immediately. Whatever money we had left must be put where our mouth was, otherwise danger loomed.

With a rallying cry, the President urged Nigerians to return to the land. They obeyed. God also showed mercy by giving consistently good rainy seasons back to back. And today, we can count our blessings.

In late 2015, the Buhari Administration came with the Anchor Borrowers Program, championed by the Central Bank. It was launched in Kebbi, and the vision was to grant farmers access to finance, so that they could grow rice, wheat, ginger, maize, soybeans, and many other products.

And what a revolution has been sparked off. When we launched in Kebbi in 2015, it was in a vast open land. When we went back to same state earlier this year for the Argungu International Fishing Festival, the heap of rice was almost touching the sky. We once had groundnut pyramids in this country. Now, they have been succeeded by rice pyramids. Just because a President came, and had a dream. He then turned the dream to reality.

I once visited one vast farm in Nasarawa State run by Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society. It is promoted by a man named Retson Tedheke, started in 2017, and there you have professionals from different disciplines, engaged in farming. Very impressive. I was told Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had also been there. The place sure is dreamland, and who would have thought a prophet could come from a small town like Nazareth? But it’s happening, right before our eyes. Thanks to the man from Daura.

Each time, as I see palliative materials being handed out at this time of health and economic emergency, and I behold heaps and heaps of bags of rice, all locally grown, I imagine what else could have happened. 

What if we had needed to import, and there was no foreign currency, and all international borders were closed? Hunger ooo. Starvation ooo. Weeping and gnashing of teeth. But we averted the journey to Venezuela. We avoided the trip to Caracas, because a man called Muhammadu Buhari came.

There was a time we imported beans even from Burkina Faso. Rice from Thailand, and from everywhere under the sun. Milk, tomato paste, palm oil, vegetable oil, even toothpick. Everything was imported. Today, we rank highest in Africa in rice cultivation and milling, with over seven million tonnes yearly. Jobs have been created in millions, and food sufficiency has almost been achieved.

Cotton farmers were funded last year to start production. It means a rebound for the textiles sector soon, and jobs and jobs.

Fertilizer that used to be imported at hundreds of millions of dollars, with the attendant sleaze that attended it, is now done locally. Nigeria and Morocco are in alliance, and the project is driven right from the Presidency. Not less than 11 moribund blending plants have been resuscitated, and we now produce about 1.3 million tonnes . Prices of fertilizer have crashed from N15,000 to N5,500 per bag. And set to crash further. Farmers now have direct access to the product, and at affordable prices. Just because a man from Daura had a dream, and turned it to reality.

Agriculture has contributed a great deal to our Gross Domestic Product in the past four years. The private sector has equally keyed in. Dangote Group is already test running a two billion dollars fertilizer plant, which will see us become a net exporter of the product. And many others.

A presidential aspirant recently described the closure of our land borders as an ‘insane’ policy. May we have many more positive insanities. If President Buhari was not proactive, even prescient, to have closed our borders, where would local farmers be today? Every food product was being smuggled into the country, thus discouraging local initiatives. And when borders were closed, apart from the security benefits, local production of food items thrived-rice, poultry, vegetables, tomatoes, other food products boomed. Yet, somebody says it’s ‘insanity,’ because the selfish interests of buccaneers were affected. More of such insanities, please.

The Coronavirus pandemic is severely testing our capacities to feed ourselves. And we are making a good showing, acquitting ourselves creditably.

Despite the crash in the global economy, we are continuing with key infrastructure projects, not borrowing to pay salaries as we did in the height of the 2014 oil boom. An army of entrepreneurs is being created in different spheres. All because a man from Daura had a dream, and turned it to reality. May God bless this man. Amen, somebody!

Harry Belafonte, King of Calypso music, sang the hit track, Matilda.

“Hey! Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.

Five hundred dollars, friends, I lost

Woman even sell me cart and horse!

Heya! Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.”

But now that Venezuela is the way it is, with President Maduro striving day and night to turn things round, where will Matilda run to? Nigeria, I guess.

*Adesina is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari

Arsenal evening headlines as Luka Jovic discusses Gunners move and defender's Bundesliga boost

Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic has hinted at moving to the Premier League. (Image: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Here are your Arsenal evening headlines for Thursday, May 7.by football London

Arsenal receive Mavropanos boost following Bundesliga announcement

The Gunners have been handed some unexpected good news following the announcement that German football is said to return.

After confirmation that the top two tiers of club football have been given the go-ahead to resume in the coming weeks, two Arsenal players are set to be back in action.

Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jordi Osei-Tutu could feature for FC Nurnberg and VfL Bochum respectively in Bundesliga 2.

James Benge on Aubameyang's transfer fee, Thomas Partey and Saka's future

The two defenders will have further opportunities to impress at their temporary clubs before returning to the Emirates in the Summer.

Henry makes surprise admission over Liverpool threat to Arsenal

Gunners legend Thierry Henry has revealed he would have been happy to see Liverpool go the entire season unbeaten.

The Reds sit top of the Premier League table with a 25-point lead over Manchester City, having dropped just five points all season and all set to lift the title at the end of the season.

However, Jurgen Klopp’s team suffered their first defeat against Watford in February, meaning they won’t emulate the Arsenal 'Invincibles’ side Henry starred in. 

The Frenchman admitted he would have had no issue if Liverpool had matched that feat.

"I think they are playing football the right way with passion, commitment, organisation, desire, working hard - their football is contagious,” he told Sky Sports. “That's why I thought they were going to do it [go unbeaten] and that's why I wanted them to do it.

It's so funny because people ask me if I'd be upset if they do it, but why would I be upset?"

Gunners striker target hints at Premier League move

Luka Jovic, reportedly on the rader of Arsenal, has been asking Serbia team-mate Aleksandar Mitrovic about life in England ahead of a proposed Premier League move.

The 22-year-old Real Madrid striker has struggled following a £50 million move from Frankfurt last summer, scoring just twice for the Spanish giants.

Reports suggest the club are keen to keep the player but a loan move to a club like Arsenal could be on the cards as Jovic looks to recapture his form from his time in Germany.

The Express say the hitman has been speaking to compatriot and Fulham star Mitrovic about whether a move to England would be suited to him.

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COVID-19: Why Almajiris are relocating to South West/South East – SERAP

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has said that The question of interstate travel is a question of survival. People may think survival in a certain part of Nigeria is more favourable and conducive to their lives.

According to Saharareporters, SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said such movement might be reduced if Northern states they migrate from take the survival of the almajiris more seriously.

The group was reacting to the legality of interstate deportation as state governments take initiatives to prevent the spread of Coronavirus by deporting youths hidden in trucks that tried to gain entry to their territories.

Mumuni said, “The question of interstate travel is a question of survival. People may think survival in a certain part of Nigeria is more favourable and conducive to their lives and that is the only reason they want to move about.

“The better thing is if the government of the state in which they come from take the welfare and well-being of citizens seriously so that the question of almajiris and their problems are solved.

“When states they come from take their survival more serious, they will be able to live and subsist in their state by not only living but good living.”

“So, if people are being returned to their states of origin when we have a public health emergency, we won’t blame the government for that.

“That’s the way it can be eradicated but if you say they are moving to other parts of Nigeria for survival, that they have to do as Nigerians because there is no functional law that says a citizen of another state cannot go to another state to survive.

“Security agents are bound to carry out legitimate order (of the ban on inter-state travelling) and while they are carrying it out, they must ensure that they do not deliberately maltreat Nigerians in the name of enforcing the order.”

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COVID-19: (SGF), Boss Mustapha speaks on NCDC officials charging N35,000 for tests

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has rubbished claims that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) officials are collecting N35,000 to collect samples for COVID-19 test.

Boss Mustapha said on Wednesday, while fielding questions during the presidential task force on COVID-19 briefing.

He said, many Nigerians cannot afford that amount for COVID-19 test.

Mustapha also said the rumours could also be depressing for the NCDC workers.

He said: “With an established patient, you already know his status, but those you are going to collect samples from, you don’t know their status.

“And some people will take delight in saying that you demand for N35,000, how many Nigerians can afford N35,000 to take a sample?

“So, next time let’s verify these stories because it does a lot of damage to the morale of the people that are out there working to keep us safe to help us navigate this very difficult process in which we have found ourselves.”

NCDC has conducted over 21,000 tests across Nigeria.

Of that number, over 3,000 confirmed cases have been recorded.

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INTERVIEW OF SENATOR BUHARI ABDULFATAI: STATING HE IS SCARED ABIUT THE SITUATION.

An Interview of Senator Buhari Abdulfatai representing Oyo North Senatorial District for the 2nd term in the Senate with Isaac Brown on Fresh FM COVID-19 Situation Room 

HE IS AGAIN HERE LIVE FROM ABUJA, DISTINGUISHED SENATOR BUHARI ABDULFATAI, GOOD MORNING SIR

Good morning Isaac, good morning Oyo State. Ajisebi Oyo laari o! Oyo kii sebi Baba Enikookan, good morning everyone.

ISAAC: I'M SURE YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING US ON COVID-19 SITUATION REPORTS FROM OYO, THERE WAS A CASE OF A VEHICLE COMING FROM KANO DESPITE THE FACT THAT BORDERS ARE LOCKED AND CLOSED BUT INTERCEPTED AT OUR BORDER HERE IN OYO! THE PASSENGERS WERE ACCOSTED AND ISOLATED SOME WHERE HERE IN IBADAN JUST YESTERDAY, THE RESULTS CAME OUT AND FOUR OF THEM WERE TESTED POSITIVE TO COVID-19. AS I SPEAK WITH YOU NOW, SOME HAVE GONE. NOBODY SEEM TO BE AWARE OF THEIR WHEREABOUT.

Isaac, let me be honest with you, I'm worried and scared because we are in a very dangerous situation now particularly in Oyo! They should be in the second stage. The second stage is the most dangerous stage of corona virus. That's the transfer and transmission period where you mingle. Unfortunately all along, we did not lockdown in Oyo. So, anybody that wants to travel from corona affected area have conceived the idea that if he's able to escape two States and reach Oyo, he's going to have a free day. The earlier, the better for  us to take a hard decision by locking up our borders. Let me tell you something that happened 300years ago.

An infection broke out in Marseille and a ship was quarantined. Stupid decision of a Mayor of Marseille not to quarantine again and release the ship, a whole town of Marseille perished. What the government did then was that they built a wall around Marseille so that they would not be able to transfer it to other cities. Despite that some people were able to maneuver themselves and go back. Luckily they were able to curtail it. If 300years ago it happened and they were able to do this, why can't we take a firm decision to safe the rest of us especially at this stage, at this period. Look at where you said those people were coming from, KANO. Kano arguably or stupidly, nobody knows. The rate of death in Kano is more than what we're seeing in the paper and it has already moved to Jigawa and Sokoto. Yesterday alone, Sokoto recorded 80 people buried, Kano, 110, Jigawa, 19. Look at what El-Rufai was able to do, he had blocked entry. You can go through their bush if you're passing but entering Kaduna through is tough, it's very tough! We know there will be some stubborn people like the four you  mentioned who have ran away. Only God knows where they have gone to. May be they are in somebody's house there. You can now  see the effect. Something vital here is that transferring it is very dangerous, you said they were five in the car, how are we sure that the fifth person too is free from the disease? That one has gone, only God knows how he's going to affect numerous other with the virus!

ISAAC: DISTINGUISHED SENATOR, YOU'RE FROM OGBOMOSO, FROM THE MOMENT NEWS BROKE IN OYO CONFIRMING COVID-19 CASES, IT BEGAN IN IBADAN AND NOW WE HAVE IT IN YOUR PLACE, OGBOMOSO, WE HAD FIVE CASES TWO DAYS AGO, WE HAD ANOTHER FIVE YESTERDAY, NOW WE HAVE 33 ACTIVE CASES BUT TECHNICALLY WE HAD 29 THAT ARE ON GROUND AS WE ARE GETTING REPORT SOME PROBABLY HAVE RAN AWAY, HOW WILL YOU ACCESS AND SUM UP MEASURES TAKEN BY GOVERNOR SEYI MAKINDE THIS FAR? HAS HE BEEN PROACTIVE?

No! In fact let me be honest with you. At the risk of thinking one is playing politics, one needs to be very careful and brutal with the truth and let people know what we're facing. Compare the decision Seyi Makinde, Governor El-Rufai, Governor Bala of Bauchi are taking, they all claimed they were tested positive within two to three days interval! In my own opinion, I believe Governor Seyi only had severe catarrh. It's not corona because if it were to be corona, he wouldn't have been taken decisions that were very porous. Look at what El Rufai said in the third paragraph of his speech after the first, second and the third test! He said ' I don't wish my worst enemy to have this'.

He continued ' I was in hell in the first five days of this incident'. Meanwhile, the first five days all over the world has been identified as the worst period. That was the time our own Governor dramatically came back and said he had been tested negative. Please, please, let's be serious with this thing. We're talking of pandemic, we're talking of the lives of people here! It is very important we take it serious. When I heard about the OGBOMOSO incident, I was very very worried not only because of OGBOMOSO, I was worried because of what is happening in Oyo. It has gone to another to another town. OGBOMOSO is the largest city in Oyo State after  Ibadan. Definitely I should be worried. Imaging the case of the Togolese, they came in through another border. All these places are my senatorial district. Definitely, I should be worried. There are times, one will have to take critical decision. It may be hard. Let me be honest with you, who loves to be quarantined, isolated or lockdown but we are not talking of an individual but generality of people in a society. We're talking about the nation. All these are sacrifices. Even as people are saying they don't have food to eat, those who have the food don't want to be locked-down. 

ISAAC: FROM WHAT YOU HAVE JUST SAID NOW! ARE YOU SAYING YOU'RE NOT IMPRESSED WITH GOVERNOR SEYI'S MEASURES VIS A VIS PARTIAL LOCKDOWN, SKELETAL BUSINESSES DURING THE DAY CURFEW IN THE NIGHT, SOCIAL DISTANCING,

Let me give you an example. Georgia and Ghana locked down totally. Later they gave partial lockdown. Immediately they relaxed, their cases doubled in Ghana and triple in Georgia. So, they went back to total lockdown. We didn't lockdown at all. We didn't.

ISAAC: WHY?

We all saw that things are going on. We are monitoring it. It was business as usual. Why are we deceiving ourselves? This disease is not a joke but the fear is that, if it boomerangs, the people that locked down, to arrest the first stage, they were able to do test and then identify people who have the virus among them talk less of we that don't have   anything at all. You just have the statistics, five two days ago, five yesterday, today, we don't know yet! The moment you don't lockdown, people will carry the virus from one community to the other. It's scary, very very scary.

ISAAC: YOU JUST RAISED AN ISSUE CONCERNING AFFLICTION OF OUR GOVERNOR BY COVID-19, I'M JUST WONDERING FOR A GOVERNOR WHO HAS BEEN PAYING WORKERS' SALARY AS AT WHEN DUE DURING THIS PANDEMIC, EVEN WHILE ON ISOLATION HE WAS ABLE TO RAISE A SOLID TASK FORCE HEADED BY PROFESSOR ALONGE. HE DOMICILES DIAGNOSTIC CENTER IN OUR STATE. HE HAS ALSO INCREASED OUR TESTING CAPACITY, WE HAVE THESE EXERCISE GOING ON AT ADAMASINGBA, 10,000 IS THE TARGET. I JUST WONDER WHY YOU WON'T LAUD GOVERNOR WHO HAS DONE ALL THESE

Isaac Brown, you need to help us when we are in position. Stop flattering us. When was the issue of paying salary becomes a means of solving COVID-19? In the first two years of Governor Ajimobi led government, he didn't even pay workers salary regularly, he paid 13 month salary as well. So, why are you using that as a yardstick? What are you talking about?

ISAAC: WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, HE WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE ALL THESE?

Hold on Isaac, the challenges are everywhere. Let me give you another instance, look at the Borno State Governor Zulum, despite having limited number of cases in his State, look at what he has done. When you're doing the right thing, always put us on our toes.

ISAAC: IS THE GOVERNOR NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING SETTING UP ONE OF THE BEST TASK FORCE & DIAGNOSTIC CENTERS

Hold on! Let's assume Olodo was not built by somebody, where would he have used? May be he would have sent you people out of Fresh FM and use the station as isolation center! What are you talking about? That's why I said, don't flatter us, criticise us, let us know the truth. Wherever we are lacking, we shall work on it. You said somebody pays salary, is he not expected to pay salaries of our people who are working for the State? Is he supposed to be slapping them? So what are you talking about relating payment of salary to COVID-19? Let me give you an example, Governor Wike by tomorrow is placing the State on total lockdown again by tomorrow! So he had charged everyone to buy what they need! El Rufai ordered for total lockdown for 30days. The truth is that there are times, you take action and decision based on what is on ground for the benefit of majority. I just gave you a narration of what happened 300years ago stupid decision of the leader of Maasel wiped off the whole community.

ISAAC: YOU HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO THE FACT THAT THIS GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONDED TO OUR TESTING CAPABILITY AS WE SPEAK?

Testing capability that is testing only 1000 people out of 7million? We are not 100,000 in population! We are not 1million people for your information.

ISAAC: WON'T YOU COMMEND HIM THAT WE CAN NOW DO THE TEST IN OYO? HE HAS PUT A TESTING CENTER AT UCH!

For given us the testing center, well done but my own concern is approach. It's wrong! The cogent point here is that we need to lockdown and know who are the people we are testing! You know the orientation in this country, people don't really believe in things like this unless there is a drastic measure. Look at Kano, they are paying dearly for it now.

ISAAC: THE WAY YOU ARE TALKING SIR, I'M ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT YOU MAY NOT BE IN TANDEM WITH THE DECISION TO ASK WORKERS TO GO BACK TO WORK. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN THE ORDER AND THE SAME THING IN OYO

Even the Federal government. Look at what they did. Two weeks total lockdown plus another two weeks. They now said, let's relax and have the report of the second stage, then get back to Nigerians. If there are needs for it, we can still go back. It happened in Georgia and Ghana. 

ISAAC: WHAT ABOUT OYO?

No. We didn't do any lockdown in Oyo! It has always been I don't want to be offended! Let me remind of the first Prime Minister of Congo, Patrice Lumumba, said and I quote "Make sure you always put people who have ideas in power because in most cases those people in power don't have ideas" So, one must have an idea of what he really wants to do. This is the time we test Governors or anybody in position if they really know what they are doing. The time of crisis not the time when everything seems naturally normal.

ISAAC: FOR A GOVERNOR WHO IS TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN ECONOMIC REALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH, DON'T YOU WANT TO GIVE IT TO HIM THAT GOVERNOR SEYI MAKINDE HAS STRUCK A BALANCE?

Balance between what? You must first have sound health before you talk of economy. If you're improving the economy and people to enjoy it are dead, have you achieved anything? No you've not! We have alternative to economy, do we have to health?

ISAAC: SO, YOU ARE AVERSE TO ANY CADER OF WORKERS RESUMING TO WORK IN THE STATE?

No! It's not yet necessary because in the first instance, we did not do lockdown. So we don't really have the figures of people who really have the virus. You've scared me again this morning by saying two days ago five persons were tested positive and the same recorded yesterday while four have ran away! For the one tested negative, what about if after two days he is positive! This is somebody that has been mingling with large numbers of people in a society. I've been on television and reading a lot monitoring this pandemic across the globe for the past four weeks. I'm sorry, I'm not a Doctor but I can explain myself very well. So listen to Governor Bala of Bauchi, Governor El Rufai of Kaduna and then you shall know that my own Governor just had severe Catarrh

ISAAC: ARE YOU DOUBTING THAT GOVERNOR HAD CORONA?

If it were to be Corona, I know what the symptoms are. None of the symptoms of corona was displayed.

ISAAC: BUT HE WAS TESTED POSITIVE? 

By who?

ISAAC: NCDC confirmed it

No! NCDC came publicly that they were not the one that tested Governor Seyi Makinde! He was tested probably by Professor Alonge! NCDC reportedly on Channels they did not test Governor Makinde. Whatever I tell you, I'm 100% sure because I've taken my time for the past four weeks monitoring everything happening in States and Countries across the world.

ISAAC: DO YOU AGREE THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE WAS IN ISOLATION CENTER, THE WHEEL OF GOVERNANCE WAS STILL VERY ACTIVE?

Let me tell you where they even have the best, the CNN reporter for New York was tested positive, he was interviewed and after six weeks, he sent out the video, he said for the first five days, he didn't know where he was. So, if somebody is tested positive to Corona, the narratives will be different from all what Governor Makinde said. After five days, there should be another test! In the world today my Governor is already having his names in the  Guinness Book of Record as the first person that recovered from COVID-19 within Five days and by seventh day, he  was already having meetings with his executive. Na wa o.

ISAAC: DISTINGUISHED SENATOR, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, SENATOR ABDULFATAI BUHARI, LET'S GO TO THE NEED TO CUSHION THE EFFECTS FOLKS ARE GOING THROUGH! FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS INTO CASH TRANSFER FOR THE POOREST OF THE POOR. THEY ARE ALSO ROLLING OUT GRAINS AND I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE HAPPENINGS IN OYO STATE AS REGARDS THE RICE MEANT FOR US IN THE STATE. FROM THE INFORMATION WE GATHERED RECENTLY, THE STATE GOVERNMENT WILL ROLL OUT OWN PALLIATIVES TO THE POOREST OF THE POOR IN OYO, 120, 000 HOUSEHOLDS IS THE TARGET. YOUR TAKE ON THIS SIR?

Well. On the Federal government palliative, nobody from my own Senatorial district has informed me that he has received anything! Beautiful enough, I'm even a member of the committee on poverty alleviation in the Senate, till now we are still fighting on the issue. Yesterday, I was with the Director to ask for the exact time they will be moving to South West including my own State. He's given one excuse and another. I'm appealing to Oyo people, I know most of them have not received theirs. They are all  going to get their own very soon.

Secondly, on the Rice you mentioned. I have three issues here, Federal government gave us 1800 bags of rice. That's three trailers. I just bought three trailers too, a trailer is about 15million naira. That's 45million for the three I bought. One thing I don't like is that when we have serious issue at hand, we don't politicise it. You don't politicise issues. When people praise you, your performance should speak for you. Isaac Brown, listen very well, you got 1800 bags of Rice, the same quantities were given to Osun and Ondo. Suddenly, after taken your delivery, you now brought out four bags, not 10, not 20, not 100 claiming that they were spoilt. Agreed! But why didn't the State government show us the remaining 1796 bags that are also spoilt. 

My Governor is an Engineer, he knows what is called plus five minus five margins of errors! I'm not arguing that some of the Rice were not spoilt, but if he wanted to argue, he could have used his own money to buy another sets of Rice, showed us the one he bought and reference the one brought by the Federal government with genuine proof that all the Rice were spoilt. Four days later after the threat to return the Rice, another agency donated some ambulances. The State government took the ambulances. Why didn't they say that the vehicles didn't have spare tires, Jacks and other things? They should have done that and returned the ambulances too. I knew all these because I'm a member of the committee for that agency and I knew how many the agency sent to each State of Federation. On issue like that, everybody is selfish. You tend to know how many are going to your State. If he wanted to do politics with the palliatives, he could have disclosed that four days ago, they gave us bags of Rice, today they sent ambulances so that people won't die. That's why you don't need to be a feeding bottle Governor! Let's concentrate on issues at hand. When politics comes, we know how to handle that situation too. Let's wait till 2022. Concentrate and be focused. When the incident happened. I called the high ranking member of his cabinet, I wouldn't want to mention names because Nigeria, you know when you mention names, you have created another problem for the person. I said look, why did you guys allow your Governor to make this kind of mistake. I added by saying that during our time, in case Governor took some decision and policy that was considered wrong, I can mention four people, Bayo Ojo, Myself, Deolu Akande, Lowo Obisesan, we would go and meet our principal, Oga let's look at this your decision and analyse it critically. He would listen and after his approval, we would then see the effect of coming together. 

Just yesterday, may be as a result of my conversation with that person, they issued a letter, Oyo State is not fighting Federal government. What a medicine after death! What about if other agencies want to send something to us and then they said don't take it to Oyo because they will say the drugs had expired.

By the time they wanted to send money to us, some people can say the State government will say the money is a counterfeit money! When it comes to politics, we shall do politics in 2022.

ISAAC: ARE YOU GLADDENED THAT OYO STATE GOVERNMENT IS ROLLING OUT THEIR PALLIATIVE NOW?

I'm waiting. May be what was delaying it before was that his picture has not been placed on the palliative. I wonder what you have been doing since Five, Six weeks ago! I'm sure, by the time we see it by weekend, we are going to see pictures! Omi Tuntun, Omi Funfun, Omi Pupa! Let's wait and  see what he's going to provide and its quantity.

ISAAC: DISTINGUISHED, EVEN YOU. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, RAMADAN IS HERE, COVID-19 IS HERE?

Brilliant! That is where I'm happy. You should investigate and let people criticise me. I will appreciate that and from that I can learn. Criticism to me as a good politician makes you stronger if the person has a good heart and he cares for development.

ISAAC: SENATOR BUHARI, ENUMERATE THE PALLIATIVE YOU HAVE DONE?

I said it few minutes ago that for an individual to buy three trailers of Rice. I didn't want to discuss it because I didn't do that for politics so that I wouldn't  be a victim of what I'm accusing other people!

ISAAC: I'M AWARE YOU DONATED SOME HEALTH HARDWARES, PPE TO OYO STATE GOVERNMENT

When you were aware, why did you ask that question. Look, I didn't do all those things for political reasons. I did them in order to make sure that I contributed to well being of people in Oyo State and Oyo North Senatorial in particular. That's why you cannot see my pictures in any of the palliatives either the one donated to the State government or those distributed to my constituents in Oyo North.

ISAAC: YOU HAVE DONATED SIX TRAILERS OF RICE TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN ADDITION TO THE PPE DONATED TO OYO STATE?

Items donated were more than that. It was a duty. It is not only when you're looking for votes that you go to people. A good politician must as a matter of responsibility relate with them. Situation now arrives that some of them can not afford to eat, it is true you cannot satisfy everybody but the little one you are able to do would be appreciated and God is going to reward you. If you have the resources and you're given it to the poor, it's a blessing! That's my take.

ISAAC: WHAT WE SAW IN LAGOS AND ABUJA(Crowded Scenes)YESTERDAY POSED A LOT OF WORRY TO MOST NIGERIANS, YOUR TAKE SIR?

My take on that is very horrible! I said at the beginning of the programme and this is the time we take the issue very serious.

 The second phase, the second stage of corona! I am praying and hoping that Nigerians will obey the rules by covering our nose, wash and sanitize our hands every time. It's not necessary and compulsory that we all get sanitizer. We can use any soap to wash our hands frequently. In case anybody comes across the virus, all these activities will definitely kill it. Also, we should all avoid touching our nose, eyes, mouths and ears. We should all avoid picking something from those parts using our hands. With this a better and healthy society can be gotten.

ISAAC: WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE CONTROVERSY RAGING OVER THE VACCINATION & LOAN SWAP BILLS

The bill you mentioned is dead on arrival. There are bills you don't even discuss it. We have six stages before passing a bill. You cannot. I repeat, you cannot stop a Senator or member of federal house of representatives from presenting a bill either good or bad. He will bring it for first reading. He will now convince us before it can move to the  next stage. If it is not killed in second reading by the time it gets to the committee level, it will be killed, if not then at the public hearing stage, it will be killed. It it scales through all the stages mentioned above, the two chambers must concur before the onward forward to the president for his accent who can either kill or allow the bill to scale through. The process is a long one. Remember, few months ago, I came to you and you asked me about the social media bill. I said you should not worry yourself. It's dead on arrival.

ISAAC: YOU DID!

There are a lot of people there who are very intelligent and know what is good for the country at a time or the other. I could remember yesterday, one of the brilliant senator I've ever seen stood up and said why are you people wasting your time over the vaccination bill back to the owner. In fact, it's no longer in the National Assembly, it's in his house. Everybody laughed. So, it's nothing to worry about. I repeat, it's dead on arrival. 

On the internal borrowing. Sometimes, I don't care and I don't worry when we are borrowing especially for infrastructural development. What we are borrowing the money  is a key. Take for example, an individual that borrows money for burial ceremony and another one borrowing the same amount for a sachet water's factory! You can see they're two different human being! What I care about borrowing is that it's a long term one at a cheaper rate so that when you invest it wisely, the citizens would be the beneficiaries.

We saw a lot in the early 70s when everything was good for us. We didn't invest it very well like UAE and Malaysia so, we are suffering to redirect our bearing and get it right. God willing.

ISAAC: ON YOUR RESPONSE TO VERACITY OF THE GOVERNOR'S COVID-19 STATUS, WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT IMMUNITY. THE FACT THAT HE RECOVERED QUICKLY MAY NOT BE A REASON FOR ANYBODY TO INFER OR CONCLUDE THAT HE NEVER HAD COVID, ANY RESPONSE TO THIS?

You know we have what is called procedural. We agreed in this country today that NCDC are the people who are testing Nigerians for COVID. COVID-19 is not something that somebody will go to hospital. If you go to private hospital, you will still be revered to them. I even said something that our Governor has written his names in the Guinness Book of Record. He is the only person I have known since this thing started that had the symptoms alongside two other persons. I repeat, if had not have severe catarrh but COVID-19, he had already has his names in the book of record. After three, four days, he had regained his health? Fantastic. In fact, if I were you I'll gathered all the medications he said he took that healed him, get a trademark and start selling so that people can have the same immune like his and get better from the ill health faster. 

ISAAC: THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO DRAW THE CURTAIN ON TODAYS PROGRAMME. THANK YOU SIR DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FOR BEING PART OF THE PROGRAMME. MY FINAL QUESTION IS THAT IS THE PPE DONATED TO OYO STATE GOVERNMENT THE FINAL THING YOU ARE  GOING TO DO? OR YOU ARE STILL GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RELIEVE FUND?

Isaac Brown, Isaac Brown, leave my donation to me. 

ISAAC: WILL YOU DO IT SIR?

I'm not going to tell you that. It's between me and my God. Even the ones I did, when I did it, you didn't know. I'm not doing eyes service. By 2022, you'll see different postals from politicians. For this one, let me be. There are a lot of people that will donate and you will not know. That's how it should be. The situation we are in now does not call for eyes service. It is a sober reflection and an assistance to humanity. Whatever anybody can do, let's do it without making unnecessary noise.

ISAAC: WHEN THE NEWS COME TO ME, I WILL LET THE PUBLIC KNOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH DISTINGUISHED SENATOR BUHARI ABDULFATAI.

You are welcome Isaac and thank you.

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 381 NEW CONFIRMED CASES

Highlights from NCDC

• On the 7th of May 2020, 381 new confirmed cases and 4 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
• No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
• Till date, 3526 cases have been confirmed, 601 cases have been discharged and 107 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory
• The 381 new cases are reported from 18 states- Lagos(183), Kano(55), Jigawa(44), Zamfara(19), Borno(9), Bauchi(19), Katsina(11), Kwara(8), Kaduna(7), Gombe(6), Ogun(5),Sokoto(4), Oyo(3), Rivers(3), Niger(2), Akwa Ibom(1), Enugu(1), Plateau(1)

Samples Tested

22,492

Confirmed Cases

3,526

Active Cases

2,818

Discharged Cases

601

Death

107

Confirmed Cases by State

States Affected	No. of Cases (Lab Confirmed)	No. of Cases (on admission)	No. Discharged	No. of Deaths
Lagos	1,491	1,052	406	33
Kano	482	450	19	13
FCT	316	272	40	4
Borno	125	111	0	14
Gombe	109	109	0	0
Katsina	106	89	9	8
Bauchi	102	96	6	0
Ogun	100	80	18	2
Kaduna	92	77	14	1
Sokoto	89	80	1	8
Jigawa	83	82	0	1
Edo	65	51	10	4
Zamfara	65	62	0	3
Oyo	55	42	11	2
Osun	37	3	30	4
Kwara	24	16	8	0
Kebbi	18	18	0	0
Rivers	17	13	2	2
Akwa Ibom	17	5	10	2
Delta	17	12	2	3
Taraba	15	15	0	0
Adamawa	15	15	0	0
Yobe	13	12	0	1
Ondo	13	7	6	0
Ekiti	12	9	2	1
Nasarawa	11	10	0	1
Enugu	9	7	2	0
Niger	6	5	1	0
Plateau	5	4	1	0
Bayelsa	5	5	0	0
Ebonyi	5	5	0	0
Benue	2	2	0	0
Imo	2	1	1	0
Abia	2	1	1	0
Anambra	1	0

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RE: HOW GOVERNOR DAPO ABIODUN AND ECONOMIC ADVISER DUPED SUBEB CONTRACTORS IN OGUN STATE

Babatunde Adedokun said he came across an opinion article online with the referred title, alleging the indiscriminate delegation of executive duties by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State to the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi and especially the Governor's Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo. The writer primarily alleged that the said delegation has hindered the distribution of award letters to contractors who bid for the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Contract.

These allegations are not only ridiculous because they are unrealistic but also because they are lagging in facts and the understanding of the prevalent circumstances hindering the despatch of the award letters, all of which are ready for collection.

It is understandable if the writer misconstrues or mischievously twists the fact of official delegation, but they should be educated enough to know that the appointments at all of both the SSG and the Economic Adviser were for the purpose of delegation, consultancy and assistance. How then does the performance of one's official duty imply negligence of responsibility?

In addition, the writer is probably unaware of the fact that the current administration of the Ogun State Government, led by Prince Dapo Abiodun, does not deal in the "we we" mediocre way of contract awards, so contractors must have been selected based on a rigorous investigation of company profiles and capabilities. This resulted in the spread of all contractors across and even outside in the borders of the State.

Consequently, due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, these letters cannot effectively be picked up by the contract awardees because of the lockdown, interstate border closure and other work and social restrictions.

While the misplaced allegation of indiscriminate delegation is not deserving of the least attention, I am privy to information that the letters of the SUBEB contractors are ready for pick up and will reach each contractor as soon as possible and as the pandemic situation permits.

Unfortunately, it appears that the purveyors of fake news and misleading stories and opinions will not rest despite the media's enlightenment on the drastic effects of these on national security.

He said he strongly plead with the State Government to intensify sensitisation programmes on the effects of this nefarious act. Maybe one day, everyone will seek the good of all, not the good of some.

COVID CURFEW: A BITTER EXPERIENCE IN LAGOS

image from within nigera

This the experience of one of the violator of the covid -19 curfew. He gave account of his experience and advice people to obay the curfew which is 8pm - 6am.

He said It was like a joke when my boss and I were stopped by the policemen at Itire linking Okota bridge around 8:05pm hopping to beg and leave but were denied such.

 After we were delayed for 3hrs+, we were finally driven to the station where we stayed again for another 1hr+ before locking us in the cell till 9:05am the next day. 

We finally were driven with 30 others including 6 females to Panti at Yaba where we faced the magistrate judge and sentenced to pay N2k fine with 1hr community service. We finally were released to go at 3:40pm yesterday. 

It was a horrifying experience.

Please make sure especially in Lagos to get home before 8pm. You may need to leave where you are from 6pm. The harassment, embarrassment, waste of time, humiliation, disrespect etc is beyond one's understanding. 

The best way to avoid such humiliation is to make sure you leave your place of work as early as possible.

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