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A group, Concerned Igbos Forum, recently called on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, to follow the steps of the Deji of Akure, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, who abolished the title of Ezendigbo in his domain. However, in this interview with Poverty Line, the Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, Eze(Dr.)Alex Anozie counsels that Igbos should be allowed to choose their leader anywhere they reside. Excerpts :

What is your reaction to the call by a group to the Olubadan of Ibadanland to abolish the title of Ezendigbo?
My brief reaction to that is that the group mentioned is unknown to Igbos in Ibadan and Oyo state. And we are sure that they were sponsored by those who lost out in the court.
Thirdly, our Kabiyesi, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, is a king whom God has bestowed with wisdom as God bestowed on King Solomon in the Bible. Let us all remember the story of the Bible about the two women who went to King Solomon for the resolution of their problem. The woman with the dead child requested the King to cut both the dead and living child into two equal parts. And God gave King Solomon the wisdom to handle the matter justifiably.
So, the people behind the call to the Olubadan and their sponsors are assured that the Kabiyesi, Olubadan is very much wiser than them all, and they should be ignored completely. As law-abiding citizens, we have always preferred to patiently abide by the rule of law, hence we have used the court and the court has given several judgments in favor of myself and my people.

And very interestingly, Kabiyesi, the Olubadan is a very law-abiding King who believes so much in truth and justice. Also, all the courts' judgments are in his possession. Kabiyesi so much believes in the rule of law. We want to appeal to all Yoruba leaders, Obas inclusive, to remember the very cordial relationship the Igbos and Yorubas have had for centuries. So let them guard against the antics of any group which desperately, out of selfish ambition, seek to cause confusion and misunderstanding between the Igbos and Yorubas. We so much appreciate the cordial relationship that exists between the Igbos and Yorubas and we pray fervently that it shall remain so forever. 
Igbos should always be allowed to choose their leader wherever they reside.

Also read-Legalizing Crime and Criminality

Free and compulsory education from the Primary and Secondary levels is a step in the right direction for those who know the value of education.
The renovation of dilapidated structures in public schools, the building of new classrooms, the provision of functional toilet facilities, water, and fencing all contribute to ensuring that pupils and students have quality education. 
Sadly, the stoppage of the payment of WAEC and NECO fees by some state governments, most especially in these times of insecurity and economic downturn, has denied indigent students the opportunity to be educated.

Indeed, the educational system in Nigeria is in deep crises, while vital, literacy indicators point to a deplorable condition.
Most of the schools, in the public and private sectors, have become breeding ground for criminals, trailed by an ever-increasing rate of school drop-outs.
The quality of education has fallen significantly at all levels, just as cultism, gangsterism, ritual killings, and the use of hard drugs have taken over space.
A number of teachers have contributed negatively to the sorry situation, even as the absence of adequate teaching aids and recreational facilities have worsened the troubled state of education in the country.
Poor management, the multiplicity of agencies with duplicated functions, and inadequate coordination are stumbling blocks to available, relevant, accessible, and affordable education, to all irrespective of social and economic status.
Considering the fact that illiterates constitute the majority of the population, immediate and long-term social and economic returns from education remain a mirage.
The question Nigerians have continued to ask is-Do state actors know the value of education?

Every ruler has a ruler he reports to according to Ecclesiastes 5: 8-9,'' 8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.''

Poor people could be likened to civil servants, if their salary scale is compared to that of the political office holders, most especially in some nations that are underdeveloped amid the abundance of natural and human resources.

The ratio and the gap are too much between the civil servants and the political office holders creating a social class of dichotomy of kleptocracy for those who are opportune to control the resources of the land and the harsh effects of extreme poverty among the larger number of the population.Transfer Money with Wise

This situation is usually characterized by institutional indiscipline, corruption, and the emerging state of insecurity.

To correct the aberration, the relevance of the religious sector must not be undermined.

This is to promote God and godliness in the lives of the people to be able to do things the right way without having an inordinate ambition to cheat on others.

The Holy Quran 3: 23 refers, for the consciousness of all rulers and those who are aspiring to hold sensitive positions. ''O Allah! Lord of power and Rule, Thou givest power to who Thou pleasest and thou stripes of power from whom Thou pleasest, and Thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest: In Thine hand is all Good. Verily over all things Thou hast power.''

The Holy Prophet Muhammad warned that all leaders are not only accountable to the people but their creator, the almighty Allah, so also in Proverbs 22: 22-23,'' 22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.''

The Holy Quran 6: 165 refers, '' It is He who hath made you the inheritors of the earth: He hath raised you in ranks, some others: That He may try you in the gifts (power) He hath given you: For thy Lord is quick in punishment; yet He is oft forgiven, most merciful.''

Let us use power wisely and dispense power with caution bearing in mind that we shall all be accountable not only to the society we purport to be serving but without a doubt to our creator from whom we are all from and onto whom we shall all return.

The World Bank report that 7 million Nigerians are now under the poverty line has only confirmed that there is massive poverty in Nigeria.
This assertion was made by an Ex-Officio of the Oyo State Council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), who is also a former Chairman of the union in the state, Comrade Andrew Emelieze in a chat with Poverty Line.Transfer Money with Wise
''The World Bank report that indicates that 7 million Nigerians have fallen below the poverty line in the last 2 years confirms the reality on the ground that there is poverty on a massive scale in Nigeria. The prices and goods and services have gone beyond the reach of poor Nigerians. The insecurity in the land has prompted several farmers to abandon their farmlands, the resultant effect is the high cost of foodstuff all over the country.

For over a long period of time the Landlords and Tenants Association, community leaders, criminally-minded residents, some unscrupulous officers, and rank and file of the Police have ensured that various categories of criminals in Molusi, Solanke, Oyegbami, Olorunsogo, Molete, Oshodi, Scout camp, Aluko, Felele straight and Rab, among several other communities in Oyo state perpetrate crime with impunity.
Cultists, armed robbers, car snatchers, kidnappers, ritualists are just a few out of the long list of criminals, who have perhaps, been motivated by the comments of state actors during the end of SARS protests the previous year.Transfer Money with Wise
How can accountable and responsible leadership appeal to worried residents to dialogue with criminals?
The body language of state actors indicates that these criminals not only have their consent but also their blessings.
Interestingly, these criminals continue to commit heinous and grievous crimes on a daily basis without hindrance.
Notable among the criminals are one Samba, a barber at the Scout camp junction, linking Oshodi street and Aluko street, one samad, a generator repairer, Lekan and Segun Adewale of 8 Kehinde Aderibigbe Street, Olorunsogo, Molete, one Tobi Adesanya, a.k.a Ijoba, one Akin an electrician, who along with his gang operate from an abandoned building on the same street with the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG)(    Potters house), Olorunsogo, Molete, the Okada riders operating at the Molusi street junction, Molete among others.

The rejection of electricity supply from the Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN) by the Distribution companies in Nigeria calls for great concern.
This assertion was made by an Ex-Officio of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), who is also a former chairman of the union, Comrade Andrew Emelieze. Transfer Money with Wise
''The rejection of electricity supply from the Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN) by the Distribution companies calls for great concern. It is worrisome and most unexpected that our people are not enjoying the services they paid for despite the so-called privatization of the distribution of electricity. It is equally unfortunate that an apartheid regime was introduced in the billing and supply of electricity, a situation in which some people can have electricity for longer hours than others, with annoying estimated billing. For how long will Nigerians continue to pay for a dysfunctional system. The only option is for Nigerians to cease to pay for darkness and decide that the payment of electricity would be subject to the availability of electricity,'' Comrade Emelieze stated.

The inability of most State Governors in Nigeria to turn around the fortunes of their states has occasioned the involvement of the private sector.
This assertion was made by an Ex-Officio of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), who is also a former chairman of the union, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.                                         Transfer money with Wise
''Most State Governors in Nigeria have surrendered to fate as a result of their inability to turn around the fortunes of their states. They are now running from pillar to post, suggesting that they have turned governance into a private business. Since this is the case, they should hand it over to the private sector to govern their states. It is not possible for the State Governors to climb on the backs of the people to get to power and thereafter sell the people to the private sector'', Comrade Emelieze noted.

The discussion on the lip of every Nigerian, presently, is the embarrassing absence of the visible impact of the government at all levels on their lives.
It is not, definitely, the vision of the elected and appointed, to provide basic amenities-water, electricity, and health facilities-rather the preference is for white elephant projects.
The monetary value of projects embarked on, is on the high side, while such projects have in no way empowered the youths.
In the place of future leaders, Nigeria is presently grooming future criminals.
The only way that governance can be felt by the people, is for Those-in-Charge to initiate and execute projects that meet their needs and aspirations.
The resources of the states are been managed by manpower, who lack commitment, determination, and prudence, while too much focus is on the borrowing and servicing of bank loans revolving around an inefficient and ineffective cash flow management system.
Modalities for the award of contracts in most states are devoid of transparency, accountability, and due process, even as consultants have finally become an integral part of governance in several states.

Since the criminal elements among the commercial motorcyclists(Okada riders) are crucial to the success of Those-in-Charge in the affected states and are significant factors in their investment, banning them is not on the cards.
Interestingly, the pace of governance is very slow, corruption has hit the rooftops and poverty has taken root in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.
Perhaps, the only way forward is to ensure that individuals who occupy executive positions are made to be more accountable.