Enough-is-enough-nigerians-wake-up-and-take-back-your-country-from-the-clutches-of-the-enemies-of-our-country
September 7, 2020 | News
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! NIGERIANS WAKE UP AND TAKE BACK YOUR COUNTRY FROM THE CLUTCHES OF THE ENEMIES OF OUR COUNTRY
We are greatly disturbed every time we consider the fact that Nigeria, despite having similar factors, human and natural resourcefulness, difficulties and experiences as a nation, just like other developed nations like China, Japan, Singapore, US, UK, Germany France, etc., have had and yet they came out victoriously and more developed; the nation Nigeria, is still struggling to come out of the woods as a Third-World and ‘developing’ country where the space between the rich and poor, the Government and the Governed, the haves and the have-nots, and the Public Masters and the Public (Common masses) – are increasing daily. All of which has made Nigeria to being pushed to the verge of becoming a tragedy as a nation, or as a failed state. The saddest part in all of this, however, is the fact that it is as if majority of the Nigerians that are being shortchanged in the system, seem to be ‘comfortable’ with it, as they appear to accept whatever rubbish being dished to them by the custodians of the nation’s wealth and resources.
While the swearing-in of the new/returning Governments across the country are over, the big question is, are we going to witness another four-year-round of Nigeria and Nigerians being ripped off by these political leaders, specifically those in the National Assembly that have made it a habit to always allocate for themselves the luxurious life as lawmakers, but to the detriment of the Nigerian populace. The sad part is that majority of the Nigerian people have become too comfortable, indifferent and laid-back about this anomaly.
We are baffled by how Nigerians have refused to be provoked by all the nonsense that have been going on in this country as demonstrated by those in political power that decide the future of this nation. Rather, what we see instead is many holding one man, responsible for all their woes! Someone once asked: How far can you push a Nigerian before he reacts like an angry lion? Is it not a ridiculous mockery and insult that Nigerians are the only world citizens that when pushed to the wall, spend more energy to break the wall and cross over, rather than fight back? How can we have political leaders who steal, misappropriate and mismanage our collective wealth, and we see these same people living large in stupendous affluence and reckless living, in the midst of poverty-stricken population, yet the same suffering Nigerians do nothing about changing this unhealthy statuesque, while some even praise and hail those responsible for the woes the majority population is facing.
A lion never shies away from a fight when it is hungry, neither does it blame the buffalo for resisting or refusing to be eaten. How come some of our national heroes and forefathers risked everything to give us a sane society? But now many of us, have become indifferent and too-laid back to resist those who are the real enemies of our nation-building.
Recently, someone posted a very interesting piece on this subject matter on social media, which practically drove home the point we are trying to paint here. In describing the State of the nation, the writer noted how Nigeria is a self-deceiving country. Of how Twenty-one Nigerian Senators in the Eight Assembly have been receiving pensions from the Government as ex-governors and deputy governors. The said former and current Senators, some of whom once served as Governors are Bukola Saraki of Kwara, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Kabiru Gaya of Kano, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Theodore Orji of Abia, Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa, Sam Egwu of Ebonyi, Shaaba Lafiagi of Kwara, Joshua Dariye of Plateau Jonah Jang of Plateau, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Ahmed Sani Yarima of Zamfara, Danjuma Goje of Gombe, Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe, Adamu Aliero of Kebbi, George Akume of Benue and Isiaka Adeleke of Osun. The former deputy governors in the said Eight Assembly of the Senate are Ms Biodun Olujimi of Ekiti and Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe of Abia. Danladi Abubakar Sani served as the acting governor of Taraba state. There are also former Governors who had served in the immediate past government as Ministers. This included: Chris Ngige, Fayemi who is now the Governor of Ekiti State, Amaechi and Fashola (SAN).
In Akwa Ibom State, the law provides that ex governors and deputy governors receive pension equivalent to the salaries of the incumbent. The package also includes a new official car and a utility vehicle every four years; one personal aide; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5 million per month and N2.5 million for his deputy governor. In Rivers, the law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for the ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for the former governor “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years and two cars for the deputy every four years. It is alleged that in Lagos, a former governor will get two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja, estimated at N500 million in Lagos and N700 million in Abuja. He also receives six new cars to be replaced every three years; a furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary to be paid every two years, and a N30 million pension annually for life. This is the sad reality in Nigeria.
Now the big question is, how many years did these guys serve their states as governors and deputy governors? Is it more than 8years? Is that a reason to be entitled to pensions for life? Even if they are entitled to pension for life, must it be so outrageous? As if that is not enough: How on earth can any public servant with conscience collect salaries and allowances as a senator or minister, and still have the audacity to claim pensions equivalent to the salaries of a serving governor in Nigeria?
It is not rock science to note that once you are elected a senator or appointed a minister, you must forfeit any pension accruing to you from government at any level until you vacate office. This should also apply to senators that were collecting military pensions like former Senate President David Mark.
Though, still a controversial matter, it has been reported that a Nigerian senator pockets approximately 30 million naira monthly as salary and allowances. Our "honourables" are not interested to make laws that could restructure our country into economically autonomous Federating States/Regions to save the country from sectional agitations that is threatening to destroy Nigeria. The sad and hopeless situation is that the rest of Nigerians are busy arguing based on party, ethnic and political affiliations while these enemies of our nation continue to rape us. It was noted that it costs tax payers 290m Naira yearly to maintain each member of our National Assembly in a country where nothing works, and about 80% of Nigeria’s population earn below 300 Naira a day? That means, a working-day-earning of a Nigeria Senator is more than a yearly income of a Nigerian Doctor; it's more than the salary of 42 Army Generals or 48 Professors or 70 Commissioners of Police (CPs), or more than twice the pay of the US President or 9 times the salary of US Congressmen.
Also recently, we recall a video that went viral on social media of Honourable Muhammed Kazaure Gudaji of the House of Representatives in the Eight Assembly, who practically left dazed and speechless after visiting Senator Dino Melaye’s House to count all his luxurious cars - from Mercedes Benz G-Wagon (N45.4m), Mercedes E-Class (N8.6m), Mazda CX3 (N8.6m), Range Rover Sport (N62.7m), Single-rear-wheel Polaris Slingshot (N7.3m), Classical Rolls Royce Phantom (N49.8m), Porsche Carrera 911 (N34.6), Harley Davidson power bike (N9.4m), Bentley Continental (N71m), Rolls Royce Phantom (N163.3m), Lamborghini Huracan (N86.7m), Mercedes Benz G63 (N51.8m), Rolls Royce Ghost (N105.7m), etc., all in one man’s garage who is supposedly a Public Servant. This is aside his gold-plated furniture, multi-billion-dollar mansion in Abuja and only God knows where else. He uses a N2m and N1.1m Patek Wrist Watches, N3m Rolex Watch for men, amongst other things that make one wonder how much does a Nigerian Senator really earn? This is just ONE SENATOR, we can imagine what the rest 109 Senators combined are worth, in a country where the minimum wage has been N18,000 for about a decade, and only moved to N30,000, which many State Governors are already crying out and complaining that they will not be able to pay.
The annoying part about the said Senator Dino’s example, is the fact that he does not hesitate to fluent his collection of cars and affluence of wealth via different social media platforms, and he has a growing fan base of Nigerians who are jobless and cannot even afford a decent meal. What would make a supposed Senator exhibit such audacity online, knowing fully well the level of poverty and suffering daily experienced by majority of Nigerians and the very people from the constituency he is supposed to be representing in Kogi State? It is simply because over the years, Nigerians, rather than condemn these obvious enemies of our State, they celebrate and sing their praises, even when some of these political leaders have corrupt cases hanging on their necks. As such, THESE ‘PUBLIC MASTERS’ WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING BECAUSE MAJORITY OF NIGERIANS, ESPECIALLY THEIR OWN PEOPLE, ALLOW AND ENCOURAGE IT.
It was only some few months ago that we saw a video that went viral online, of the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello being prevented from leaving an event, as he was nearly mobbed by his constituents’ as they shouted “Barawo, Barawo…” (meaning Thief, Thief… in Hausa). We noted then that this was just a tip of the iceberg of things to come, if our Nigerian politicians at all levels continues with their bad-governance, misappropriation and mismanagement of our collective national wealth meant to improve the standard of living of all and sundry in the country. but surprisingly, the same Niger State Governor has been returned and sworn-in to serve another four years.
Is it not appalling that today, we have serving and former Council Chairmen, Senators, Governors, Public Servants and even Presidents, that have countless mansions in different parts of the country; many state-of-the-art-cars which they hardly/never use but are left covered in tarpaulins within their compounds; as well as businesses and structures that only benefit them and their families, fronts and aides. But all around them, are poverty-stricken Nigerians whom they were supposed to serve while in government. Seriously, it is appalling and quite disheartening to observe the sort of greed exhibited by our political leaders who amass public funds put under their care with reckless abandon and impunity. Sometimes we are forced to ask, what would they do with all their accumulated wealth that even their great grandchildren will not be able spend? It is total madness and vanity of the highest order.
Well, it is high time the country had a referendum on those outrageous salaries and allowances of Nigerian Senators, House of Representative members and other political office holders. If we are seriously against the looting of our commonwealth in Nigeria, in the name of democracy, then it is about we wake up and start doing something drastic in this regard. We have seen other countries ‘take back’ their country’s economic future from the hands of wicked and greedy political leaders. Nigeria’s case should not be an exception. Former American President, Abraham Lincoln, in one of his famous quotes, once said: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” This nonsense that is being tolerated in Nigeria has to stop. And can only stop when we all play our part by publicly condemning these ‘public thieves’ of our national collective wealth.
For my consistent advocacy, some politicians in Delta State have attempted to frame me up with frivolous and unfounded charges all because they are being told the bitter truth. They have named/called me all kinds of unprintable names just because they are afraid and scared of the truth. Some say Zik Gbemre is a “petition writer” and a troublemaker. I wonder why correcting politicians now suggests that one is a troublemaker. A former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Delta State, once told me in Court that Zik Gbemre is a petition writer, and he used to wake me up with write ups every night, and I asked him if it was a crime to be a critic, and he said no!
Some elites would say that we should not ask or demand our political leaders to be accountable, and that we should leave everything for God to judge. But those organized and civilized countries’ citizens who ask and demand their political leaders to be accountable, are they not serving and worshiping the same God? God does not support or condone evil, and we believe it is our duty as Nigerians to ask and demand our political leaders to be accountable to the public at all times – in the management of our collective wealth. A critic of mine often ask why am I not tied of repeating myself in my advocacy, on such subject matters concerning Nigerian politicians. And my only response is, the Nigerian politicians are not tired of stealing/misappropriating our collective wealth. So, I will not be tired in my advocacy of condemning them always, as long as they keep doing the wrong things. I will continue to ask and demand from our Nigerian political leaders to be accountable, and I will keep repeating myself until they stop stealing/misappropriating public funds meant for the good of all and sundry.
Zik Gbemre.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
We are greatly disturbed every time we consider the fact that Nigeria, despite having similar factors, human and natural resourcefulness, difficulties and experiences as a nation, just like other developed nations like China, Japan, Singapore, US, UK, Germany France, etc., have had and yet they came out victoriously and more developed; the nation Nigeria, is still struggling to come out of the woods as a Third-World and ‘developing’ country where the space between the rich and poor, the Government and the Governed, the haves and the have-nots, and the Public Masters and the Public (Common masses) – are increasing daily. All of which has made Nigeria to being pushed to the verge of becoming a tragedy as a nation, or as a failed state. The saddest part in all of this, however, is the fact that it is as if majority of the Nigerians that are being shortchanged in the system, seem to be ‘comfortable’ with it, as they appear to accept whatever rubbish being dished to them by the custodians of the nation’s wealth and resources.
While the swearing-in of the new/returning Governments across the country are over, the big question is, are we going to witness another four-year-round of Nigeria and Nigerians being ripped off by these political leaders, specifically those in the National Assembly that have made it a habit to always allocate for themselves the luxurious life as lawmakers, but to the detriment of the Nigerian populace. The sad part is that majority of the Nigerian people have become too comfortable, indifferent and laid-back about this anomaly.
We are baffled by how Nigerians have refused to be provoked by all the nonsense that have been going on in this country as demonstrated by those in political power that decide the future of this nation. Rather, what we see instead is many holding one man, responsible for all their woes! Someone once asked: How far can you push a Nigerian before he reacts like an angry lion? Is it not a ridiculous mockery and insult that Nigerians are the only world citizens that when pushed to the wall, spend more energy to break the wall and cross over, rather than fight back? How can we have political leaders who steal, misappropriate and mismanage our collective wealth, and we see these same people living large in stupendous affluence and reckless living, in the midst of poverty-stricken population, yet the same suffering Nigerians do nothing about changing this unhealthy statuesque, while some even praise and hail those responsible for the woes the majority population is facing.
A lion never shies away from a fight when it is hungry, neither does it blame the buffalo for resisting or refusing to be eaten. How come some of our national heroes and forefathers risked everything to give us a sane society? But now many of us, have become indifferent and too-laid back to resist those who are the real enemies of our nation-building.
Recently, someone posted a very interesting piece on this subject matter on social media, which practically drove home the point we are trying to paint here. In describing the State of the nation, the writer noted how Nigeria is a self-deceiving country. Of how Twenty-one Nigerian Senators in the Eight Assembly have been receiving pensions from the Government as ex-governors and deputy governors. The said former and current Senators, some of whom once served as Governors are Bukola Saraki of Kwara, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Kabiru Gaya of Kano, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Theodore Orji of Abia, Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa, Sam Egwu of Ebonyi, Shaaba Lafiagi of Kwara, Joshua Dariye of Plateau Jonah Jang of Plateau, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Ahmed Sani Yarima of Zamfara, Danjuma Goje of Gombe, Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe, Adamu Aliero of Kebbi, George Akume of Benue and Isiaka Adeleke of Osun. The former deputy governors in the said Eight Assembly of the Senate are Ms Biodun Olujimi of Ekiti and Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe of Abia. Danladi Abubakar Sani served as the acting governor of Taraba state. There are also former Governors who had served in the immediate past government as Ministers. This included: Chris Ngige, Fayemi who is now the Governor of Ekiti State, Amaechi and Fashola (SAN).
In Akwa Ibom State, the law provides that ex governors and deputy governors receive pension equivalent to the salaries of the incumbent. The package also includes a new official car and a utility vehicle every four years; one personal aide; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5 million per month and N2.5 million for his deputy governor. In Rivers, the law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for the ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for the former governor “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years and two cars for the deputy every four years. It is alleged that in Lagos, a former governor will get two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja, estimated at N500 million in Lagos and N700 million in Abuja. He also receives six new cars to be replaced every three years; a furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary to be paid every two years, and a N30 million pension annually for life. This is the sad reality in Nigeria.
Now the big question is, how many years did these guys serve their states as governors and deputy governors? Is it more than 8years? Is that a reason to be entitled to pensions for life? Even if they are entitled to pension for life, must it be so outrageous? As if that is not enough: How on earth can any public servant with conscience collect salaries and allowances as a senator or minister, and still have the audacity to claim pensions equivalent to the salaries of a serving governor in Nigeria?
It is not rock science to note that once you are elected a senator or appointed a minister, you must forfeit any pension accruing to you from government at any level until you vacate office. This should also apply to senators that were collecting military pensions like former Senate President David Mark.
Though, still a controversial matter, it has been reported that a Nigerian senator pockets approximately 30 million naira monthly as salary and allowances. Our "honourables" are not interested to make laws that could restructure our country into economically autonomous Federating States/Regions to save the country from sectional agitations that is threatening to destroy Nigeria. The sad and hopeless situation is that the rest of Nigerians are busy arguing based on party, ethnic and political affiliations while these enemies of our nation continue to rape us. It was noted that it costs tax payers 290m Naira yearly to maintain each member of our National Assembly in a country where nothing works, and about 80% of Nigeria’s population earn below 300 Naira a day? That means, a working-day-earning of a Nigeria Senator is more than a yearly income of a Nigerian Doctor; it's more than the salary of 42 Army Generals or 48 Professors or 70 Commissioners of Police (CPs), or more than twice the pay of the US President or 9 times the salary of US Congressmen.
Also recently, we recall a video that went viral on social media of Honourable Muhammed Kazaure Gudaji of the House of Representatives in the Eight Assembly, who practically left dazed and speechless after visiting Senator Dino Melaye’s House to count all his luxurious cars - from Mercedes Benz G-Wagon (N45.4m), Mercedes E-Class (N8.6m), Mazda CX3 (N8.6m), Range Rover Sport (N62.7m), Single-rear-wheel Polaris Slingshot (N7.3m), Classical Rolls Royce Phantom (N49.8m), Porsche Carrera 911 (N34.6), Harley Davidson power bike (N9.4m), Bentley Continental (N71m), Rolls Royce Phantom (N163.3m), Lamborghini Huracan (N86.7m), Mercedes Benz G63 (N51.8m), Rolls Royce Ghost (N105.7m), etc., all in one man’s garage who is supposedly a Public Servant. This is aside his gold-plated furniture, multi-billion-dollar mansion in Abuja and only God knows where else. He uses a N2m and N1.1m Patek Wrist Watches, N3m Rolex Watch for men, amongst other things that make one wonder how much does a Nigerian Senator really earn? This is just ONE SENATOR, we can imagine what the rest 109 Senators combined are worth, in a country where the minimum wage has been N18,000 for about a decade, and only moved to N30,000, which many State Governors are already crying out and complaining that they will not be able to pay.
The annoying part about the said Senator Dino’s example, is the fact that he does not hesitate to fluent his collection of cars and affluence of wealth via different social media platforms, and he has a growing fan base of Nigerians who are jobless and cannot even afford a decent meal. What would make a supposed Senator exhibit such audacity online, knowing fully well the level of poverty and suffering daily experienced by majority of Nigerians and the very people from the constituency he is supposed to be representing in Kogi State? It is simply because over the years, Nigerians, rather than condemn these obvious enemies of our State, they celebrate and sing their praises, even when some of these political leaders have corrupt cases hanging on their necks. As such, THESE ‘PUBLIC MASTERS’ WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING BECAUSE MAJORITY OF NIGERIANS, ESPECIALLY THEIR OWN PEOPLE, ALLOW AND ENCOURAGE IT.
It was only some few months ago that we saw a video that went viral online, of the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello being prevented from leaving an event, as he was nearly mobbed by his constituents’ as they shouted “Barawo, Barawo…” (meaning Thief, Thief… in Hausa). We noted then that this was just a tip of the iceberg of things to come, if our Nigerian politicians at all levels continues with their bad-governance, misappropriation and mismanagement of our collective national wealth meant to improve the standard of living of all and sundry in the country. but surprisingly, the same Niger State Governor has been returned and sworn-in to serve another four years.
Is it not appalling that today, we have serving and former Council Chairmen, Senators, Governors, Public Servants and even Presidents, that have countless mansions in different parts of the country; many state-of-the-art-cars which they hardly/never use but are left covered in tarpaulins within their compounds; as well as businesses and structures that only benefit them and their families, fronts and aides. But all around them, are poverty-stricken Nigerians whom they were supposed to serve while in government. Seriously, it is appalling and quite disheartening to observe the sort of greed exhibited by our political leaders who amass public funds put under their care with reckless abandon and impunity. Sometimes we are forced to ask, what would they do with all their accumulated wealth that even their great grandchildren will not be able spend? It is total madness and vanity of the highest order.
Well, it is high time the country had a referendum on those outrageous salaries and allowances of Nigerian Senators, House of Representative members and other political office holders. If we are seriously against the looting of our commonwealth in Nigeria, in the name of democracy, then it is about we wake up and start doing something drastic in this regard. We have seen other countries ‘take back’ their country’s economic future from the hands of wicked and greedy political leaders. Nigeria’s case should not be an exception. Former American President, Abraham Lincoln, in one of his famous quotes, once said: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” This nonsense that is being tolerated in Nigeria has to stop. And can only stop when we all play our part by publicly condemning these ‘public thieves’ of our national collective wealth.
For my consistent advocacy, some politicians in Delta State have attempted to frame me up with frivolous and unfounded charges all because they are being told the bitter truth. They have named/called me all kinds of unprintable names just because they are afraid and scared of the truth. Some say Zik Gbemre is a “petition writer” and a troublemaker. I wonder why correcting politicians now suggests that one is a troublemaker. A former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Delta State, once told me in Court that Zik Gbemre is a petition writer, and he used to wake me up with write ups every night, and I asked him if it was a crime to be a critic, and he said no!
Some elites would say that we should not ask or demand our political leaders to be accountable, and that we should leave everything for God to judge. But those organized and civilized countries’ citizens who ask and demand their political leaders to be accountable, are they not serving and worshiping the same God? God does not support or condone evil, and we believe it is our duty as Nigerians to ask and demand our political leaders to be accountable to the public at all times – in the management of our collective wealth. A critic of mine often ask why am I not tied of repeating myself in my advocacy, on such subject matters concerning Nigerian politicians. And my only response is, the Nigerian politicians are not tired of stealing/misappropriating our collective wealth. So, I will not be tired in my advocacy of condemning them always, as long as they keep doing the wrong things. I will continue to ask and demand from our Nigerian political leaders to be accountable, and I will keep repeating myself until they stop stealing/misappropriating public funds meant for the good of all and sundry.
Zik Gbemre.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes