The Coalition For A Better Nigeria has declared that the recent 20th year Bola Ige memorial event has, once again, “brought it to the public knowledge, that so many unresolved murder cases in Nigeria remain the Nation’s albatross.”

The association noted that it is an indication that insecurity is getting worse by the day since 1999 till date, “and this accounted for so many ongoing killings, massacre, kidnappings, maiming and it is the root of all security challenges in the land.”

A statement signed by the National Coordinator of the Coalition, Comrade Awa Bamiji, cautioned that the “Federal Government must think twice and act faster in 2022 knowing fully that the following, 2023, is the handing over date”, saying, “A stitch in time saves nine”.

According to the Coalition, “The only difference and positive turn around we could applaud this present Federal Government for is purchase of weapons and Super Tucano fighter jets and serious efforts to eradicate it but yet, it is not enough.

“Since Minister of Transportation, Rt (Hon) Rotimi Ameachi had confirmed that the Government met very little cash that couldn’t sustain it for 6 weeks in the Treasury on taking over in May 29, 2015, from former President Goodluck Jonathan, it is very understandable that it had no option than to follow the trend of events it inherited by borrowing to survive.

“Following the Federal Government of Nigeria’s directive on debt Restructuring which came with the announcement of a bailout package by President Muhammadu Buhari administration, 36 States of the Federation had approached the President in June to ask for a bailout that would enable them pay their backlog of salaries owed workers, 22 States of the Federation applied to the Debt Management Office (DMO) for their debts to be restructured into Federal Government of Nigeria Bond.

“To safeguard against Bankruptcy, the Debt Management Office has successfully concluded the restructuring of N322.788billion on short term Commercial Banks’ Debts of 11 States out 22 States to long term domestic bond at 14.83 percent yield in 20 years.

“The DMO has equally concluded plan to restructure N10trillion CBN’s overdrafts to Government”, he Comrade AWA Bamiji said.

The statement added that “this could be described as “end of discussion” and we strongly advise the Government to replicate this beautiful idea of restructuring in every other area of its administration by 2022 and cut down this suffocating cost of governance immediately through the adoption of Parliamentary or Regional System of Government so as to save the Country’s economy from total collapse.

“No amount of fuel price hike or salary increase could arrest the looming danger. We are all sitting on gunpowder and the Nation is bleeding economically.

“Our dear super Nollywood Actor, Chief Ojo Ajisafe, popularly known as “Fadeyi Oloro” is in dire need of the generous support of kind hearted Nigerians concerning his failing health.

“We brought this into public knowledge after years of his health crisis which is certainly beyond the control of his immediate family.

“We, congratulate Arole Odu’a, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife, on his sixth year coronation Anniversary which was witnessed by over 30 Traditional Rulers across the States of Federation and coincided with inuaguration of Royal African Foundation that is targeted at addressing a wide range of issues affecting the youths, including leadership, poverty, social inclusion, inequality, among others.

“We say “Many Happy Returns” to our dear Comrade, the field Commander of Amotekun Corps, Osun State and Jagunmolu of Owuile Kingdom, Amitolu Shittu @ 57. Esin Oba a je Oko pe o.

“With heavy heart and total submission to the will of Almighty God, we mourn the passage of the International Rights’ Activist, a Religious Leader and the South African Anti – Apartheid Advocate, Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu, aged 90. For decades, his name had become household name in the Campaign for equalitarian Society.

“We thank God for his long life worthy of emulation and at the same time, commiserate with the International Community of Civil Societies on his death”, the Coalition’s National Coordinator said.

The Coalition then mourned the demise of former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin, who died at the age of 94.

They also mourned one of their Royal Mentors in Yorubaland, Oba Ni Igbejo, Oba (Dr) Oladunni Oyewunmi Ajagungbade III, Soun of Ogbomosoland who passed on at the age of 95.

The Coalition maintained that the Grand Council of Yoruba Youths’ historic networking with Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, led Lagos State Government, Prince Ajibola Afonja Management Team of the First Bank Plc; Mr Yanju Adegbite led management of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) and the “ancient Soun Palace in 2011 for the overwhelming success of Alagba Adebayo Faleti at 80 will remain ever green in our memory and that of general public.

“We sympathise with the good People and Governments of Osun and Oyo States respectively on your individual deaths as well as that of Oba Abdul – Azeez Adewuyi Adeoye, Aribiyan II (Gbadewolu I) Asigangan of Iganganland, who passed on to join his Ancestors. May God Almighty grant your souls sweet repose

“We are using this medium to thank those who have contributed to our self – actualisation as a formidanle team in the past 20 years. Without your timely inputs, our success story would have been otherwise.

“This coming year 2022 will be the best ever for all of you, Nigeria and Africa at large”, the Coalition stated.

Source: StreetReporters.ng