THE HARD TRUTH ON WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SECTOR AND FEDERAL SECURITY OPERATIVES/PARA-MILITARY ARE DOMINATED BY THE NORTHERNERS
April 9, 2021 | News
Since the discovery of crude oil, natural gas and condensate in commercial quantities in the South-South region, and its exploration and production, it is as if the majority in the Southern parts of Nigeria suddenly became lazy as the oil wealth practically made many no longer think and do things in consideration of the future.
THE HARD TRUTH ON WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SECTOR AND FEDERAL SECURITY OPERATIVES/PARA-MILITARY ARE DOMINATED BY THE NORTHERNERS
Since the discovery of crude oil, natural gas and condensate in commercial quantities in the South-South region, and its exploration and production, it is as if the majority in the Southern parts of Nigeria suddenly became lazy as the oil wealth practically made many no longer think and do things in consideration of the future. Every Southern graduate want to work in the oil and gas sector just to have a taste of the free money coming from the oil wealth. In fact, every Southern graduate wants to become a billionaire overnight, as many desired to only work for Shell (SPDC), Chevron, Exon-Mobil, Agip, etc. And over the years, this made the Southerners to neglect, or consider not important, other sectors and areas of pursuing their careers and becoming successful.
For instance, they practically forget that the Federal Government sector and its Federal Institutions are the ones that regulate the oil and gas sector, which everyone wanted and still wants to be in. This is where the Northerners have concentrated over the years because they know that once they are in the Government, and can regulate the oil and gas sector, they could easily employ their people in the NNPC and its subsidiaries. They have not achieved and maintained this statuesque over the years, the Southerners have even helped to make this happen in their selfish pursuits and being comfortable with the peanuts they get from the oil and gas sector.
To tell us the hard truth, this is where, I believe, the Northerners seem to be more advanced in their thinking, strategizing, attitude and character than the Southerners.
This subject point is exactly what one Arakunrin Mopelola Omo-Falogbon, noted in his well-circulated piece online recently, titled: No lies here. Just facts. And according to him: “In 20 to 30yrs, Northerners will still be heading Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Why? because many of us Southerners in position will prefer you saying ‘Baba rere, baba ke’ than getting you jobs in these Ministries. The Northerners understand what power is. We here are cool with sending our kids abroad. A young Southerner will prefer CBN or NNPC job to Police, Army or Civil Service job. An average Northerner will gladly join the Police Force or any paramilitary sef."
“Power - 63 Northerners and 37 Southerners get PTDF scholarship for post graduate studies abroad. 62 Northerners came back after their program and only 2 Southerners returned. Who do you think will fill up the "oga" positions at the MDAs? That's not even the problem. The problem is that the same Southerners always condemn & vilify themselves to get elected, thereby giving lesser brilliant Northerner’s opportunities to win. Look out for next election, any Southern contestant will be mauled without mercy by the same Southerners.
"There's a politician from my village, who at some point, was the head of the National Orientation Agency (NOA). Not only did he not help anyone from the village in any way, he also worked against LGA Chairman Aspirant from his extended family. His excuse was that the guy is disrespectful. Due to the nature of my job, I've met with a lot of big shots in power (Southerners & Northerners) and can categorically attest to this. You'll go to a Southerner's office and greet in your local language, he/she will answer in English. But visit a Northerner's office and greet in Hausa, even if you aren't from that part, but in as much as, you can speak that language, you'll feel welcomed. They will go to any length to render assistance to you while your own brothers/sisters will still be giving you stories.
"Let me add this. When Captain Demuren was DG NCAA, a few of our brilliant boys that were trained abroad in Aeronautics were groomed into the system in Kaduna. All the Southerners in that clan have moved to Companies like Bristol, Nestoil, etc. The Northerners are still there moving from one grade to another. One of these guys will be DG in the future and we will say we are marginalized. We choose our path and the Northerners choose theirs too. This is a simple reality in most MDAs. IF YOU LIKE WAIL TO DEATH, THE SITUATION WILL REMAIN SO FOR A VERY LONG WHILE.”
Few years ago, I wrote a similar piece on this subject where I noted that, “WHILE THE NORTH ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, THE SOUTH ARE BUSY LOOKING FOR SECURITY VOTES.” The title of the said piece was hinged on the happenings at that time (between 2017 to 2018), across the country, which I warned should make every political leader in Southern Nigeria to realize that indeed, there is need for them to wake up and adjust their ways.
I noted how, during that period, a N10 billion Africa largest Rice Mill was opened in Kebbi, then followed another N30 billion Africa largest Feeds Mill that was opened in Kaduna. There was also the Dangote 250,000 metric tons Rice Mill set to take off in Kano, and another biggest Poultry Farm opened in Olam Kaduna State. And in the weeks that followed, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned a new Poultry Feed mill worth $150 million located at Chikpiri Gabas village in Gwagwada area of Kaduna State. The President was reported to have said that the mill would not only add value to the diversification programme of his administration but will also assist in creating new jobs for the nation’s teaming youth (apparently for those of them in the north. What does these developments tell us? That the Northerners have been busy “positioning themselves intelligently for an economy without oil.” And someone recently said in this regard that, with the way things are going, soon “na them go even beg una to restructure Nigeria if una want, by then, the oil go soon reign pass.”
We might argue that there is need for the President Buhari Government to, as a point of duty as President of the entire country; to spread its diversification programme to Southern Nigeria as well. But let us ship in here that the Southern political leaders had their chance/opportunity under the immediate past Government of former President Goodluck Jonathan to diversify the economy and develop the South, especially when the oil revenue then was quite high; but what did they do – they blew that opportunity with their huge corrupt appetite. All they did was to starch public funds (most of which the present Buhari administration is still trying to recover), which they squandered on frivolities both home and abroad, instead of investing in projects and programmes (outside oil) that would alleviate the sufferings of their people.
Yes, agreed that President Buhari should be reminded that he is the President of the entire Nigeria State, therefore one region of the country should not be favoured more than the other in the administration’s diversification agenda. But let us also bear in mind that we had the chance and opportunity to do same, but our political leaders blew that chance because of their insatiable greed. Now the North are taking advantage of their opportunity in power. Not that we are in support of the stated recent developments, because two wrongs cannot make a right, which is why we are urging the Presidency to spread the diversification programme across the country, so as not to create divisive tendencies in the polity.
It is no news that the world is busy inventing technology that can do without oil, as oil is obviously daily depreciating in the international market. Instead of Southern leaders to rise up and start building their region’s economy, they are busy shouting Biafra this, marginalization that. While the Southern State Governments are more interested in looking out for Security Votes, monthly Federal allocations and other ‘free sources’ of public revenue funds, which they never use to diversify their various States away from oil, and free-allocations-dependence.
Let us be reminded that ‘Self-sufficiency’ is what guarantees the future security both in food, shelter, productiveness, employment, etc., and ultimately protects the economic growth of your nation. Truth be told, whether we like it (or agree with it) or not, oil is going. Even though, we are yet to harness the 6000 items that can still be gotten/derived from oil in Nigeria, but the fact still remains that oil is gradually and steadily losing its value and relevance in the international market. And the sooner we embrace this reality and stop paying lip service to our various diversification agendas in the South, the better for us and our future generation.
Zik Gbemre.
April 9, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Since the discovery of crude oil, natural gas and condensate in commercial quantities in the South-South region, and its exploration and production, it is as if the majority in the Southern parts of Nigeria suddenly became lazy as the oil wealth practically made many no longer think and do things in consideration of the future. Every Southern graduate want to work in the oil and gas sector just to have a taste of the free money coming from the oil wealth. In fact, every Southern graduate wants to become a billionaire overnight, as many desired to only work for Shell (SPDC), Chevron, Exon-Mobil, Agip, etc. And over the years, this made the Southerners to neglect, or consider not important, other sectors and areas of pursuing their careers and becoming successful.
For instance, they practically forget that the Federal Government sector and its Federal Institutions are the ones that regulate the oil and gas sector, which everyone wanted and still wants to be in. This is where the Northerners have concentrated over the years because they know that once they are in the Government, and can regulate the oil and gas sector, they could easily employ their people in the NNPC and its subsidiaries. They have not achieved and maintained this statuesque over the years, the Southerners have even helped to make this happen in their selfish pursuits and being comfortable with the peanuts they get from the oil and gas sector.
To tell us the hard truth, this is where, I believe, the Northerners seem to be more advanced in their thinking, strategizing, attitude and character than the Southerners.
This subject point is exactly what one Arakunrin Mopelola Omo-Falogbon, noted in his well-circulated piece online recently, titled: No lies here. Just facts. And according to him: “In 20 to 30yrs, Northerners will still be heading Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Why? because many of us Southerners in position will prefer you saying ‘Baba rere, baba ke’ than getting you jobs in these Ministries. The Northerners understand what power is. We here are cool with sending our kids abroad. A young Southerner will prefer CBN or NNPC job to Police, Army or Civil Service job. An average Northerner will gladly join the Police Force or any paramilitary sef."
“Power - 63 Northerners and 37 Southerners get PTDF scholarship for post graduate studies abroad. 62 Northerners came back after their program and only 2 Southerners returned. Who do you think will fill up the "oga" positions at the MDAs? That's not even the problem. The problem is that the same Southerners always condemn & vilify themselves to get elected, thereby giving lesser brilliant Northerner’s opportunities to win. Look out for next election, any Southern contestant will be mauled without mercy by the same Southerners.
"There's a politician from my village, who at some point, was the head of the National Orientation Agency (NOA). Not only did he not help anyone from the village in any way, he also worked against LGA Chairman Aspirant from his extended family. His excuse was that the guy is disrespectful. Due to the nature of my job, I've met with a lot of big shots in power (Southerners & Northerners) and can categorically attest to this. You'll go to a Southerner's office and greet in your local language, he/she will answer in English. But visit a Northerner's office and greet in Hausa, even if you aren't from that part, but in as much as, you can speak that language, you'll feel welcomed. They will go to any length to render assistance to you while your own brothers/sisters will still be giving you stories.
"Let me add this. When Captain Demuren was DG NCAA, a few of our brilliant boys that were trained abroad in Aeronautics were groomed into the system in Kaduna. All the Southerners in that clan have moved to Companies like Bristol, Nestoil, etc. The Northerners are still there moving from one grade to another. One of these guys will be DG in the future and we will say we are marginalized. We choose our path and the Northerners choose theirs too. This is a simple reality in most MDAs. IF YOU LIKE WAIL TO DEATH, THE SITUATION WILL REMAIN SO FOR A VERY LONG WHILE.”
Few years ago, I wrote a similar piece on this subject where I noted that, “WHILE THE NORTH ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, THE SOUTH ARE BUSY LOOKING FOR SECURITY VOTES.” The title of the said piece was hinged on the happenings at that time (between 2017 to 2018), across the country, which I warned should make every political leader in Southern Nigeria to realize that indeed, there is need for them to wake up and adjust their ways.
I noted how, during that period, a N10 billion Africa largest Rice Mill was opened in Kebbi, then followed another N30 billion Africa largest Feeds Mill that was opened in Kaduna. There was also the Dangote 250,000 metric tons Rice Mill set to take off in Kano, and another biggest Poultry Farm opened in Olam Kaduna State. And in the weeks that followed, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned a new Poultry Feed mill worth $150 million located at Chikpiri Gabas village in Gwagwada area of Kaduna State. The President was reported to have said that the mill would not only add value to the diversification programme of his administration but will also assist in creating new jobs for the nation’s teaming youth (apparently for those of them in the north. What does these developments tell us? That the Northerners have been busy “positioning themselves intelligently for an economy without oil.” And someone recently said in this regard that, with the way things are going, soon “na them go even beg una to restructure Nigeria if una want, by then, the oil go soon reign pass.”
We might argue that there is need for the President Buhari Government to, as a point of duty as President of the entire country; to spread its diversification programme to Southern Nigeria as well. But let us ship in here that the Southern political leaders had their chance/opportunity under the immediate past Government of former President Goodluck Jonathan to diversify the economy and develop the South, especially when the oil revenue then was quite high; but what did they do – they blew that opportunity with their huge corrupt appetite. All they did was to starch public funds (most of which the present Buhari administration is still trying to recover), which they squandered on frivolities both home and abroad, instead of investing in projects and programmes (outside oil) that would alleviate the sufferings of their people.
Yes, agreed that President Buhari should be reminded that he is the President of the entire Nigeria State, therefore one region of the country should not be favoured more than the other in the administration’s diversification agenda. But let us also bear in mind that we had the chance and opportunity to do same, but our political leaders blew that chance because of their insatiable greed. Now the North are taking advantage of their opportunity in power. Not that we are in support of the stated recent developments, because two wrongs cannot make a right, which is why we are urging the Presidency to spread the diversification programme across the country, so as not to create divisive tendencies in the polity.
It is no news that the world is busy inventing technology that can do without oil, as oil is obviously daily depreciating in the international market. Instead of Southern leaders to rise up and start building their region’s economy, they are busy shouting Biafra this, marginalization that. While the Southern State Governments are more interested in looking out for Security Votes, monthly Federal allocations and other ‘free sources’ of public revenue funds, which they never use to diversify their various States away from oil, and free-allocations-dependence.
Let us be reminded that ‘Self-sufficiency’ is what guarantees the future security both in food, shelter, productiveness, employment, etc., and ultimately protects the economic growth of your nation. Truth be told, whether we like it (or agree with it) or not, oil is going. Even though, we are yet to harness the 6000 items that can still be gotten/derived from oil in Nigeria, but the fact still remains that oil is gradually and steadily losing its value and relevance in the international market. And the sooner we embrace this reality and stop paying lip service to our various diversification agendas in the South, the better for us and our future generation.
Zik Gbemre.
April 9, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes