Despite
her noble intentions at cutting the cost of governance and stabilising
the nation's economy, the Minister of finance and Coordinating minister
of the economy, Okonjo Iweala cannot win the war against politicians
increased spending as the 2015 election
approaches. This assertion was made by the Governor Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido.
Lamido
who gave this troubling submission in Lagos said increased government
spending will keep the interest rate at the present benchmark of 12
percent and could spur increase in cash reserve requirement (CRR).
“Despite the best intentions of the finance minister, I don’t see her
stopping politicians from spending money in 2014. She’s got all the
intentions and all the commitments, but at the end of the day, she
doesn’t approve the budget. So there is no way in an election year, when
you are not going to have increased spending,” Lamido submitted.
Lamido pointed out that the federal government spending which hit over N2 trillion in four months will continue to grow
especially now that it is spending huge amount of money in fighting
terrorism and insecurity.
“So the point I am making is that if there is increased spending, what
is likely going to happen will be higher interest rate. So people should
not look forward to low interest rate at a time of increased government
spending.
“There is higher risk of increasing the CRR than reducing it at this
point in time. The central bank will have to respond in events of
elevated spending."
Sanusi, the MPC members did not see any reason to reduce
the benchmark interest rate at the last meeting, saying that “if we
reduce the MPR, credit and lending to especially the real sector would
go up.”
“ The CBN should not change rates for the sake
of changing rates, we respond to situations. The government will spend
more money; we will keep monetary policy very tight.”
Whatever has a beginning must have an end, so goes the saying. But endings are rarely what they are, they usually usher in a new beginning, perfecting the cycle that is the shape of the world and things in it. Wednesday night at the Bernabeu was a perfect example of an end and a signpost for a new beginning. The day dawned for Mourinho on a sad note but it broke into a new beginning for Athletico Madrid who last tasted victory against the Galacticos in 1999.
It is obviously the end of the road for Mourinho in Madrid, however, it may open a new chapter in Chelsea's burgeoning history. Moyes is ending it with Everton to start a new era with Manchester United while Sir Ferguson is ending a 28 year long reign in the premiership to assume the geriatric role at the theatre of dreams.
Speaking of dreams, David Beckham feels its time to end his footballing dream and kick-start something new at 38. The English legend is bowing out with a Ligue 1 cup victory with PSG who would be witnessing the end of Carlo Ancelloti's reign at the French outfit, the Italian would probably move on to build a new constellation of Galacticos in spain.
Away from sports, err football, times are ending and people are finishing. Good times are ending for bad people and good people are starting to feel the heat of bad things, what a paradox life is. The FG is set to spoil and end the party for Boko Haram as the president declared state of emergency in three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. It sounds like a berth of fresh air in those areas, but for those hundreds and maybe thousands who would be casualties of war, its the beginning of the end...
The government may end the reign of terror with the bombardment but what beginning awaits the motherless, the fatherless, widows and countless orphans that will continue this cycle when the smoke settles?
After unsuccessful declaration of state of emergency in some local governments in the restive North Eastern states, the raging and unending trend of terrorism has forced President Jonathan to declare yet another partial but state-wide state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
The declaration which was made by the President on Tuesday evening has rife opinion on the efficacy of the decision. The President announced that the civilian office holders will continue their constitutional duties while the military have their rules of engagement broadened.
"The troops and other
security agencies involved in these operations have orders to take all
necessary action, within the ambit of their rules of engagement, to put
an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists" he said.
Some Nigerians who aired their opinion on the state of emergency criticised the continued stay of the governors in office, seeing it as an hindrance to the efficacy of the emergency rule.
GEJ's decision may have, however, been informed by the need to keep the ruling party's political structure in place and avoid political complications which may aggravate the already chaotic situation that necessitated the emergency rule.
Find below the full text of the president's address...
She had been touching me suggestively since I've stepped into her room and it got me so inconvenient. I was still a virgin and avoided any close contact with guys, though I play a lot with them. The presence of my beautiful and protective school mother always wade off 'unserious boys' loitering around me. Her beauty was so intimidating that most boys in the school couldn't garner enough confidence to approach her, or so I thought. But seated awkwardly in her room while she gloat and pressed me all over was becoming unusual and uncomfortable.
Cythia made it like a point of duty to get me something every time and everyday and wouldn't let any moment pass by without appreciating my beauty or how cute my school uniform or underwear was. I felt so pampered and though I was in SS1 and my beauty was actually coming out like of a rising sun, my school mother never made me see the need to have a boyfriend like every other girl my age. We were not in a boarding school, so the times we saw were limited to school hours and she was two classes ahead of me. Then she invited me to her house which was not too far from the school, just about 15 minutes trek, mine was farther into town.
So when I decided to visit her on a Saturday while her parents and siblings were away for a function I was looking forward to a special treat and all the goodies; indeed I had more than enough. She welcomed me with a big hug and I ran into her arms, she held on to me longer than usual. Though she made it casual, she was looking into my eyes asking me how much I bought my bra and what the name of my common vanilla powder was. I stood still and answered her trying to look beyond her into the large, well-furnished sitting room. She realised my discomfort and let me be. But not for long.
She would touch my cheek at the slightest gist, hitting my behind serially as I stood to check her family pictures hung on the wall. She stood by me with her arm around my waist, pulling on the band of my skirt playfully.
"Baby, you now have a big bum bum o" she said as she touched and turned my backside like she'd never seen it before.
I wanted to avoid the embarrassing situation and save the situation so I sat on the 3-seater and try to look relaxed. Her intent wasn't new to me, I had seen several porn videos while growing
up in the East so I should be able to tell a lesbian when I see one. She came and sat by me touching the fabrics of my skirt thereby rubbing my laps knowingly. Her touches felt like thorns on my skin and I hated the feeling, she must have misinterpreted my reluctance for consent as she made to put her hand under my skirt and in between my legs. I jumped up abruptly and dashed for the door. She rushed after me, whispering her apology but i wasn't going to wait and fall into this dirty act. I was scared out of my wit.
The following Monday while in school I tried as much as possible to avoid her, I sneaked out of class before break time and got back to class late afterwards. Eventually on Tuesday she closed in on me at the quadrangle leading to my class and dragged me to one end of the school with dilapidated and abandoned classrooms. There she threatened to kill me if I ever tell anyone what happened between us and I believed her. This is the first time I'm sharing this with anyone, I hope and pray she doesn't show up in my dream tonight.
Her trouble would not last for long as she graduated few weeks after the ugly incident. Although I still live with the fear of the fact that I almost went bend, I eventually went bad!
The journey was not as pleasurable as I thought it would be;
the roads are still very bad as they’ve always been. But going back to the
North was like a stole away for me, so I savoured it despite the stress. The
open deserted lands are gearing up for the raining season and the baobabs still
stand in surveillance over its vast expanse. I love the North, I can’t totally
say with a passion.
The change in scenery, weather and topography has always
mirror life for me; life is good wherever it places you. As I took in the
almost empty but beautiful sight, I saw a herd of cow and instantly felt ‘nunu’
in my mouth. The thought of 'fura da nunu' in a big bowl with kankara and my ‘abokis’
seated in a semi-circle on a mat thrilled me and I wished the driver would throttle
harder as we approached the city.
The weathered sign that welcomed us to the ancient town
doesn’t look familiar anymore, the road however does; they are as thick as the
Petroleum Trust Fund. The people I see around do not look very familiar. I had known almost everybody in town when I was here for almost 5years, they are my people. Except for few, most of the people I saw do not spark any memory. Time changes yesterday, the new governor must have fulfilled his electoral promises, the roundabout had gone even further into town, it was about 5 minutes drive from arrival to the town, but we've drove for about 20 minutes and it was not in sight. Then I realised something was amiss!
There appeared to be an accident or something chaotic happening in the town, our driver matched the break suddenly and made frantic effort to turn the vehicle around like other commuters.
"What's happening?" we all asked simultaneously and my heart began to race.
One of the commuters coming from the city centre urged us on saying "go back, they are killing people".
"who, why, where?" I asked all to myself as I became aware of people around me in the bus. Could the fight be religious? if yes which religion will I claim? I am a christian but my abokis call me Abdul. If sectorial, I'm doomed because my Hausa is grossly inefficient and is laden with heavy Yoruba accent. And Lagos is about 1000 km away. Mo gbe!
As we were trying to navigate through town, off the main road, I started noticing smoke rising from not too far away and people running and screaming for help. All the environment looked very unfamiliar, I must have boarded a wrong bus... other passengers in the bus kept urging the driver to keep driving to safety, but the more we go the dangerous it tended to become, we started hearing gun shots as more houses went up in flames.
We came across a little road block and I knew the end was almost near. A young man with several matchet cut rushed into the street and fell down bleeding, his afflictors were close-by chasing with matchets and guns. A man from our bus jumped down and ran into one of the houses, I was transfixed and scared and joined the call for the driver to run faster but the pits on the road wouldn't allow for a faster speed. I wanted to pee, I could smell death and I was scared.
As we were about leaving the street and negotiating a bend that led to an adjoining street we had a gunshot too loud not to have hit me. The shot was aimed at our vehicle and it shattered the glass beside me and the bullet sank silently into the head of the Mallam seated beside me next to the glass. His prayer bead hung loosely on his index finger as his bloodied head dropped on my shoulder.
The driver made the turn just in time to avoid the second shot and we were on a deserted road. The women in the bus were wailing and some of the men were screaming at the driver to stop, some were enraged and others, including me, were scared to death. I've never been that close to dieing.
I wanted to ascertain where I was so I could call my people. I looked around for a signpost and saw a dilapidated wall with the inscription "LEA Wukar". I was not sure whether the last letter was 'r' or 'n'. But, before I could decipher which, we arrived at a roadblock manned by some youth dressed for war with guns, machete, and charms. At the sight, my pants went cold. They stopped our vehicle and asked us to file out.
"He's one of them" one of the youth shouted pointing at the man before me.
A big blow to his head with the butt of the gun and the accused laid sprawled on the road, dead.
I fainted!
I heard the familiar whistle of my Samsung phone and I woke up sweating. I laid still for a while trying to take in my surrounding and I realised I was on my bed alone. I reached for the phone and checked the message, it was from my editor.
"Yinka will you be willing to go to Wukari in Taraba state to cover the
story there? The cost will be covered"
Then everything fell into place, I was in Wukari in my dream. I've not replied his e-mail till today. I'm still sundrying my matress, it must have been too much of sweat or could I have peed?
