BBC and VOA Hausa Service
Kole Shettima
Fifth National Economic Summit Ends in Abuja
The above summit came to a close this evening with immediate, medium and
long term recommendations on how to improve the economy. Participants
include representatives of the government and private sectors in Nigeria,
international financial agencies such as the World Bank and the IMF, and
those of the United States and Britain. Among those interviewed by the BBC
include Ibrahim Ida, Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs in the
Presidency, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, a banker, and Ahmed Rufai, former chair of
the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. Among the problems of the economy
identified include none implementation of policies, over-lapping taxes and
levies, inadequate infrastructure and corruption. Some of the immediate
recommendations made include the abrogation of dual exchange rate,
deregulation of price of petroleum products, and privatisation of some key
industries.
National Association of Retired Police Officers Launched
The above association was launched in Abuja. The launching was attended by
General Abubakar who also laid the foundation for the headquarters of the
Nigerian Police. The occasion was chaired by Muhammed Buhari and the Guest
Speaker was Maitama Sule, the Dan Masani of Kano. The Chairperson of the
Association is former Inspector General of Police Sunday Adewusi. A
donation of N24 million was realized at the occasion. The aim of the
association is to take of the interests of retired police officers. The
report was by Ladan Salihu of the VOA.
Nigerians Debating a Draft Constitution
A VOA reporter, Suwaiba Suleiman Isa reported from Lagos that Nigerians
have started warming-up for the debate on the 1995 draft constitution. A 25
member committee have been inaugurated to among other things collate the
views of Nigerians on two draft constitutions. One was the original draft
which was submitted by the Constitutional Conference while the other
contains amendments made by the late General Abacha. One of the key issues
is the idea of a rotational presidency. While the draft submitted by the
Constitutional Conference proposed rotation between north and south, Abacha
amended it to rotation between six zones of the federation. Another
difference is that while the Constitutional Conference suggested the office
of a president and a deputy, Abacha’s amendment include the two offices and
that of a Prime Minister and a deputy.
Muslim Scholars Meet in Niamey to Discuss Family Planning
Muslim scholars and representative of various international agencies and
governments are meeting in Niamey the capital of Niger Republic to discuss
Muslim perspectives on family planning. This international conference in
Niamey was preceded by series of meetings in the various provinces of Niger
to find out the views of the citizens on the issue. In interviews with
leaders of women movements and Muslim women they explained the difference
between family planning and women not giving birth, and that as long as the
message is about spacing children, women have been very supportive (I
cannot remember who reported this).
Sex-Export Industry Smashed.
Eight girls from Edo State between the ages of 16 and 19 were rescued from
a sex-export industrialist in Ilela at the border between Nigeria and
Niger. The industralist is Sunday Vincent. He was alleged to attempt to
smuggle the girls to European countries through Niamey in Niger Republic.
Mr Sunday promised the parents of the girls handsome money if they are
allowed to go with him. He took the girls to a medicine man who shaved the
girls private part and rubbed herbs with the intention that the girls will
not disobey him, and they will follow his instructions all the time. The
report was by Isa Saidu of the VOA.
Nigerians Not Happy with the Process of Recovering Stolen Money
Many Nigerians are dissatisfied with the process of recovering the loot by
some members of the previous regime. So far about $750 million have been
recovered from the Abacha family alone. President Rawlings of Ghana is said
to have received $5 million to launder the image of Abacha (The NPP, the
most prominent opposition in Ghana has alleged that the money was used to
fund Rawlings reelection in 1996 which he won. General Abacha was the
special guest at the swearing-in ceremony in 1996. The NPP has sent a
delegation to Nigeria to investigate the alleged $5 million given to
Rawlings). The government of Ghana has denied the allegation and has sent a
delegation to Nigeria.
Nigerians interviewed by Bala Ibrhaim of the BBC in Kano argued that the
process should more open and those found guilty including the banks where
the money were kept should be publicly prosecuted. A friend of Major
Mustapha, one of those now in detention, argued that his friend do not
deserve to be persecuted now. According to him, Mustapha was a loyal junior
officer of General Abacha.
Polio Campaign in Nigeria and Ghana
As the first phase of the immunization against Polio comes to an end in
Nigeria, the campaign has picked up in Ghana. According to Ahmed Yerima and
Abdulmalik Dan Birni of the VOA, the campaign is expected to cover 95
percent of the population. In an interview, Hajiya Lami of the Muslim Women
Association, called on every one to participate in the immunization
program. The USAID and other international organizations are funding the
campaign in both countries.
Gombe United Has a New Coach
According to a report by Ado Abdullahi Azad of the VOA, Gombe United has a
new coach in the person of the state military administrator Lt Col. Inuwa
Bawa. The military administrator was a player for the Academicals. He has
also allocated 6.5 m to standardized the Abubakar Umar Stadium in Gombe, 7m
to scout for new players and 3m to pay-off debt owed to players.
Talakawa (Common people) Protest Against a Chinese Company
Many residents of Gombe have protested against a Chinese company for
destroying their houses. The company is licensed to mine in the area for
the purpose of railway rehabilitation. In the process, the grenade used by
the company have been bringing down buildings. This report was by Ado
Abdullahi Azad of the VOA.
(The above is my recollection and translation).
kole
Kole Shettima
Political Parties Want Some Changes
Leaders of the 9 registered political parties met with General Abubakar
yesterday and with the Independent National Electoral Commission today
according to Isa Saidu of the BBC. While no official statement has been
issued by the government, it is believed that the parties raised concerns
about the implementation of the transition program. The smaller political
parties such as Alliance for Democracy, Peoples Redemption Party and the
Movement for Democracy and Justice requested for a change of the
requirement that parties must get a minimum of 10 percent of electoral
votes to be considered for final registration in the up-coming local
government elections. M. D. Yusuf of the MDJ spoke on this issue. However,
the bigger parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are opposed
to any change of this requirement. The Chair of the PDP, Solomon Lar,
suggested a change of the date of the gubernatorial elections from January
8 to a week later because it coincides with the Ramadan fasting. Other
parties are opposed to the suggestion because according the parties,
Nigeria is a secular state. Other issues discussed with INEC and General
Abubakar include tax clearance and the minimum qualification to stand for
elections. The parties want these requirements waved. INEC will decide on
these issues on thursday.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government, Gidado Idris, has issued a
circular informing all civil servants who want to stand for any election to
resign from her/his position a month before the date of the election.
Parliament in Niger Republic Debate sending Troops to Guinea Bissau
The National Assembly in Niger Republic is debating whether to send troops
to Guinea Bissau as part of an ECOMOG contingent. The report is by Tijani
Hassan of the VOA. At the last ECOWAS meeting, Niger Republic pledged a
contingent of 500 troops. However, the Parliament wants to find out who
will be responsible for their transport and general welfare. A member of
parliament, Hassan Sunama of the INDP-Lafiya, in an interview, explained
that the previous contingents sent to Liberia and Sierra Leone were not
well fed and paid. The Chair of the Defense Committee, Barka Wazagal, also
explained that although the military supports sending troops to Guinea
Bissau, the Parliament has to make sure that all necessary arrangements are
put in place.
Second Phase of Immunization is December 9 and 10.
The second phase of immunization against “ciwon inna” (polio) in Nigeria is
on December 9 and 10, according to a report by Ahmed Mohammed Kolom of the
VOA. The USAID has budgeted $1.2 million in support of the program. He
interviewed Dr Umar Anwar, one of the doctors in the program and Hajiya
Ummi Tanko Yakassai, Chair of Jamiyya Matan Arewa (“Association of Northern
Women”), one of the participating organizations. Dr Anwar explained that
immunization against polio is much cheaper and easier than compared to
other diseases such as tuberculosis. Hajiya Ummi called on those who did
not participate in the recently first phase to do so on December 9th and 10th.
Opposition Parties in Togo Call on Rawlings to Intervene
Opposition political parties in Togo have called on President JJ Rawlings
to intervene in their conflict with the government. The parties argued that
only an outside intervention can solve the problem. The report is by
Abdumalik Dan Birni from Accra, Ghana. President Rawlings responded that he
had on many occasions raised the problem with the President Eyadema but
there has not been progress on the issue. He said that he is opposed to the
imposition of sanctions against Togo which is proposed by the European
Union. According to him, it is only the poor and neighbors of Togo who will
be affected.
Gani Challenges Obasanjo
Chief Gani Fawehenmi, the most controversial lawyer in Nigeria, has gone to
court asking the it to order General (rtd) Olusegun Obasanjo, a
presidential aspirant of the PDP, to declare the source of N130m he
donated to the party. He was interviewed on VOA Africa Service. According
to Gani, in light of the recent revelations about Abacha’s family and the
squandering of Nigeria’s resources by Babangida, it is imperative to know
how Obasanjo got his money. This will ensure enthronement of transparency
and accountability in Nigeria. He indicated that Obasanjo is sponsored by
Babangida and northerners to protect their interest. When he was told about
the difficulty of campaign finance reform in the US, he responded: “why is
the US is supporting Obasanjo’s candidature?” (Obasanjo donated $130
million to his party the PDP as a contribution to all the 774 local
government council elections on December 5. He claimed thatbhis friends in
Nigeria donated the money to him).
Internally Displaced Refugees in Yobe State
A massive “attack” by birds have forced some people to move away from their
homes in Fika local government council of Yobe State to the headquarter in
Fika. Farmers interviewed by Mato Adamu of the BBC reported that they had
to leave their homes in order to escape from destruction by the birds. The
Waziri of Fika A Bomoi and the Chair of the Council Bukar Daphima explained
that the situation is under control due to an aerial spray by the PTF. They
also argued that the birds have not destroyed the houses of the people but
only their farms.
(The above is my recollection and translation)
kole