Press Release: Obasanjo Inspires Nigerian Youths on MTV Meets

Politician, soldier, farmer and born again Christian Chief Olusegun Obasanjohas inspirational words to share with the young panellists featuring in MTV Base Meets Olusegun Obasanjo with MTN.

Asked his advice on how young people can find their niche in the world, Chief Obasanjo says, “You must make up your mind what you want out of life.  That thing that you have chosen, you must never give up.  Whatever your hands and your head find to do: do it with all your might!”. Click to continue reading...

A career soldier, Obasanjo became Nigeria military head of state between 1976 and 1979.  He handed over to a democratically elected regime of AlhajiShehuShagariin 1979, thus becoming the first military ruler to willingly hand over power at a time when military rule was still in fashion in Africa.After spending over three years in prison for his alleged part in planning a phantom coup against the then military junta, Obasanjo ran for the presidency of Nigeria in 1999 as the candidate for The People’s Democratic Party - and won. He served two terms as president of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, leaving office in 2007.In retirement, Chief Obasanjo keeps himself busy with a flourishing farming business and still finds time to act as an UN envoy, and play an active part in the African Leadership Forum, the not-for-profit organisation designed to help improve the quality of leadership in Africa while at the same time helping to train the next generation of leaders for the continent.

Chief Obasanjo met with MTV Base VJ Vanessa Mdee and a group of ambitious and passionate young people at his home in Abeokuta in Ogun State, Nigeria in June 2012 as part of the MTV Base Meets…with MTN mentorship and youth empowerment initiative, which connects thought leaders and influencers with young people.

Chief Obasanjo also speaks about his support for the democratic process, saying, “There's no better form of government.  Democracy has…its problems, [but] it's still the form of government that allows for participation by the people, consultation, dialogue - even protests....  It's the form of government that makes you to be able to call your own leaders to order.  Now, positive protest is part and parcel of democracy and when I say positive what I mean as much as possible non-violent…It should be the responsibility of all us to make democracy strong: to deepen it and weld it into this country.  Because we have no alternative - that is why I always cry against those things that will militate against democracy.”

““You must make up your mind what you want out of life.  That thing that you have chosen, you must never give up.  Whatever your hands and your head find to do: do it with all your might!” Chief Obasanjo concludes.

Other topics to be covered by Chief Obasanjo include the value of education, pivotal moments in his life, the joy he found during his time in prison (where he grew maize for all the inmates), and his love of dancing and music – particularly Bob Marley!

Among the seven young people who had the opportunity to meet and interview Chief Obasanjo were Rwandan law graduate and baking entrepreneur Sandrine Kabzanguka (25), 26-year old business graduate and actress Kocabelle Gueminifrom Cameroon, Nigerian oil industry engineer and entertainer Daniel Effiong (28), Nigerian HR manager Ibilola Fabunmi (27), Nigerian internet entrepreneur Michael Ugwu (31), South African schoolgirl and would-be doctor Omolemo Matloga (15) and Liberian high school graduateand wannabe model Sasha Baker (18).

First initiated in 2011, MTV Base Meets…withMTN connects African youth with the thought leaders, opinion formers, decision makers and role models who shape their world. Further influencers still to feature in the current series include Togolese international footballer Emmanuel Adebayor(29 August) and South African politician and activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (5 September).

To learn more about MTV Base Meets Olusegun Obasanjo with MTN, or to view clips from the series, please go to www.mtvmeets.com or www.mtvmeets.mobi.  Connect with the campaign on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MTVMEETS or join the conversation on Twitter at #MTVMEETS.

Enough Is Enough on FG’s Games With Fuel Subsidy…. Nigerian Youths

Despite the concerns raised by different groups and individuals, President Jonathan will, tomorrow, present the 2012 Budget to the National Assembly excluding the provision for fuel subsidy.

In her two appearances before the Senate Joint Committees on Appropriation, Finance and Petroleum Resources (Downstream) for the public hearing on The Operations of the Fuel Subsidy Scheme in Nigeria, the Minister of Petroleum represented the Federal Government's position as follows:

The fuel subsidy structure is inefficient, costing us N600bn ($3.75bn) in 2010 and N1.3 trillion ($8.125bn) from Jan“ October 2011. The Federal Government cannot continue to pay as its unsustainable. By removing the subsidy, the savings will be used to provide critical infrastructure and services. Currently, only a small percentage of Nigerians (the marketers, middle & upper-class Nigerians) benefit. When removed, more Nigerians will benefit.

In the words of a Yoruba proverb, the Federal Government has, yet again, left leprosy to treat ringworm. While we understand that the current cost structure is unsustainable, Nigerians can no longer afford to pay for government's inefficiencies. It is too expensive (financially; productive man hours and human lives) and it is also NOT sustainable.

Issues to Consider          

1.    A lazy, thoughtless approach

The government clearly finds it easier to undertake an unwise blanket removal of subsidy than engage in the discussion of trimming the inefficiencies in fuel subsidy management and in the running cost of government. The language is also deliberately confusing one minute it's deregulation and the next it's fuel subsidy removal.

2.    How much subsidy?

The Interim Report on the Process and Forensic Review of NNPC by KPMG states are based on our analysis, subsidy over-deduction for 2007, 2008 & 2009 was estimated at N2 bn, N10.3 bn and N16.2bn respectively. A rough estimation of subsidy payment on product losses for the period under review (2007-2009) is estimated at N11.8 billion.

Clearly, the subsidy management regime is fraught with waste, graft and insincerity; evidence that the N1.3 trillion does not accurately reflect the amount of petrol imported or consumed by Nigerians.

3.    A matter of trust?

To counter the argument that Nigerians do not trust the government to wisely manage the savings from the removal of the fuel subsidy, the government is planning a subsidy savings management program. The details were shared by the Vice-President in a meeting with some civil society organisations on Friday, December 9th. Why has this plan not been made public? The questions and concerns that arise are obvious ones:

a.    How does the government plan to calculate fuel subsidy removal savings?

Will these savings be the theoretical cost of the subsidy minus cost of corruption - or the current (inflated) figure? Also, how does the government intend to remit same to this proposed quasi-government agency? Will this necessitate the setting up of another special account, in the manner of the Excess Crude Account?

b.    The Obasanjo regime wound down the widely acclaimed PTF because it served as a duplication of the work of the ministries. We agree with this approach.

c.    Setting up a new body means an increase in recurrent expenditure for staffing, salaries, pensions, cars, running costs etc. This is UNACCEPTABLE.

4.    No Effect on the Poor

The government assertion that the subsidy removal would have little effect on the poor is quite simplistic. The resultant increase in the price of PMS would drastically increase the cost of food, transportation and doing business, shutting down many small enterprises which directly or indirectly depend on the price of petrol remaining low. The middle class is the engine of growth by way of consumption and the SMEs that create jobs. Any strain on them is negative for the economy.

The Way Forward

The government should take a more measured and sustainable approach that takes into consideration all stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

They need to:

1.    Reduce Cost of Governance

The government must drastically cut down the cost of maintaining public and civil servants security votes, multiple advisers, fuel guzzling convoys, excessive foreign travel and estacodes etc. Expenses such as

(a) The Vice-President residence awarded to Julius Berger at N7 bn

($43.75m) with a request for N9 bn ($56.25m) more; (b) disbursement of

N250 billion per year in security votes to the President and

Governors; and (c) a N1.7 trillion wage bill (2012 Budget) are criminal and unstainable!

2.    Reduce Cost of Subsidy

Why does NNPC get 445,000 barrels of crude a day that it can refine?

In 2006, there were 3 marketers; we now have 77. According to BusinessDay, the increase has also been linked to this year elections and it has been suggested that the subsidy programme became an avenue for patronage extended to those with political connections. Significant savings can be made on the bandied N1.3 trillion if the government will prune out the briefcase marketers, clean up the NNPC/PPPRA to plug waste and leakages, and tackle smuggling.

3.    Restore or Sell the Refineries

This is of critical concern and priority. Increasing the capacity of our refineries would reduce the amount of fuel that needs to be imported into the country. How much has been spent on repairing the refineries in the last 12 years?

4.    Provide Power

According to a 2009 report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Agency (NERC), Nigerians spend N797 billion yearly to buy fuel for powering generators. In 2010, President Jonathan said the cost of fuel (to power generators) was $13 billion. NERC’s estimates 32% of generator fuel is PMS. This means Nigerians spend about $4.19 billion or N646 billion on petrol, while the rest goes to diesel. Imagine how much fuel import dependence we can curb if this government fulfills the often-repeated promise of improving power supply in Nigeria! Why has the government not presented a policy document or engaged openly and directly with Nigerians on this issue? Why the rush to remove the subsidy when other holes have not been plugged?

Enough is Enough Nigeria will continue the conversation by hosting a public Town Hall Meeting within the next 10 days to discuss the issue. In a country that provides no social services and the average citizen provides all basic utilities water, electricity, and security; the government cannot remove the bread from our mouths while it continues to feed fat on its princely cakes.

We will engage in words and action. Enough is enough!

Enough is Enough Nigeria (www.eienigeria.org) is a coalition of individuals and youth-led organizations committed to instituting a culture of good governance and public accountability in Nigeria through advocacy, activism and the mobilization of the youth population as responsible citizens.  The coalition includes The Future Project;

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria; Education as a Vaccine (EVA); Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND); RISE Networks; LYNX Nigeria; Chocolate City Group; EME and Light Up Nigeria. EiE Nigeria created the RSVP (Register|Select|Vote|Protect) Campaign to leverage technology, especially social media to mobilize significant participation from citizens in the 18-35 age bloc in the 2011 elections and beyond.

Naeto C And Kevin Pam Made Ambassadors For Nigerian Youths & The rape challenge

The Ministry of Youth Development has unveiled plans to ensure that cases of sexual abuses and other violence against Nigerian young women are tackled to ensure human dignity.

As a strategic bait of hooking the youths to the moral thrust of the campaign, scintillating slogans like, Rape a Woman and Kiss Goodbye to Greatness; Let’s Wage War against Rape’; ‘Real Men Don’t Rape; The Federal Ministry of Youth Development Warns Against All Forms of Violence against Young Women; I swear I Can Never Rape a Woman; and Rapists Are Monsters and I am Not a Monster,have been introduced  .

Nigerian rapper Naeto C  and Kevin pam (BBA winner)  have also been appointed  by the Hon Minister Of Youth ,Mallam bolaji Abdulahi,as  the Spokespersons and the Ambassadors for the Nigerian Youth & the Rape Challenge and they will be unveiled today  at the ladi kwali hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

Good they appointed Naeto, because we all know he can never rape. He’s got Nicole Chukwueke Lol.