ZION B-BC NEWSLETTER. [ A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja Nigeria. ] { VOL. 3. NO 97. 21-06-15.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You Free! (John.8:32).

PROTAGONISTS OF STATE CREATION HAVE BEEN DEFEATED! The penchant and craving for the creation of new States by various interest groups in the Nigerian polity through arguments of marginalization based on egotism, tribal sentiments and rivalry can no longer hold sway as most of the existing 36 States had failed the litmus test of accountability and economic viability! Twenty-two All Peoples’ Congress (APC) governors, converged in Abuja (cap-in-hand), on Tuesday 16th June, 2015, to beg for Federal bail-out because of failure to pay workers salaries/pension allowances for upwards of six/seven months in arrears! These were the same States which met the criteria for creation either by military fiat or the Nigerian 1999 Constitution in which Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from human capital development, natural and material resource, were key pre-requisites for successful take-off of new States! Governors of the bankrupt states who intimidated Mr. President last week with these obnoxious demands had probably lost their Party Manifesto or forgot to revise the promises in respect of the masses welfare and social contracts concerning good employment opportunities and regular living wages before embarking on the thoughtless adventure - a communication that could have been handled through diplomatic portfolio. It is inconceivable to think that debtors would employ the flamboyant lifestyle of flying private jet aircrafts to request for loans as was witnessed in Abuja recently instead of first disposing such luxury liabilities to offset their workers salary arrears!

These politicians said in a communiqué that they were not unmindful of the nation’s economic situation and dwindling revenue which had rubbed off negatively on the people but still believed that the Federal Government held the miracle solution to their predicament which they realized was a result of poor management of immediate past administration!

No wonder, they had no “palliatives” in place except to go a-borrowing!

Did you remember the saga of a four-month ill-motivated and controversial 2014 National Conference organized by the last administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which gulped over N8 billion naira of tax-payers money in delegates allowances but ended with the recommendation of the creation of additional 18 States for the six geo-political zones to complement the existing 36, and with a view to “correcting imbalances” in the monthly sharing formula of crude oil proceeds deposited in the Federation Account, though very few of these States could be adjudged as economically viable to meet the demands and needs of their citizens! Antagonists of more States creation who suggested the merger or collapse of present State structure to form Regions as in the past were proved right with the recent development in which the aforementioned States and some in the PDP camp were unable to pay workers salaries and meet other social commitments.

A recent statistics report from the Debt Management Office (DMO), shows that the total public debt profile of both the Federal Government and the 36 States of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), totalled N11.24trillion as 31st December 2014. Splitting the grand total into debts, owed by the various tiers of government showed that the Domestic debt profile of the Federal Government totalledN7.9 trillion at the end of 2014 while its External indebtedness was $6.445.631.547.93. The States Domestic debt component stood at N1.71trillion as at 31st December, 2014, while their External debt was $3.266.817.562.07.

With a debt profile of $1.169.712.848.66, Lagos State, was the most externally indebted in 2014 and was followed by Kaduna with, $234.416.052.15; Cross Rivers, $131.469.661.94; Edo, $123.128.295.53; and Ogun State, $109.154.553.08. The least exposed States in terms of external debts, according to DMO are Taraba with, $22.780.063.89; Borno, $23.067.549.16; Delta, $24.233.639.67; Plateau, $30.947.579.75; and Yobe, $31.237.619.25.

From all of the foregoing statistics, who should borrow from whom? We believe that the States should have collectively bailed out the Federal Government by off-setting at least half of its domestic debts being a brand new government which is alien to debt matters! But it is not to be so!

At Independence on 1st October, 1960, Nigeria’s geographical landscape was bequeathed with three distinct Regions: namely, North, East and West, by the British colonial masters, who in their wisdom believed that with an engendered co-operation between the founding fathers, the nation would achieve economic viability in no time. Contrary to popular opinion that the North was deliberately foisted on the South in the scheme of political power game, credit must be given to the British management team of that time which perceived the imperative necessity for mutual co-operation between land-locked North and sea-favoured South. Before the amalgamation of the North and South in 1914, the economic potentials of both regions had been identified and the need for the transportation of the abundant cash crops consisting majorly of groundnuts, millets, cotton, soya beans etc. for overseas exportation with the cocoa, rubber, palm oil and coal in the South, was perfected through the construction of rail-road links in addition to the existing road and bridges network. Between 1st October, 1960, and 27th May, 1967, when the second Military Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, created 12 States out of the existing Three Regions and the Mid-West, (created 9th August, 1963), Nigeria was an economically stable and viable nation with rapid advancement in the areas of infrastructures - the building and construction industries, engineering, agriculture, technology and textiles; and with great emphasis for the need for compulsory education of the youths who would in the long run administer the nation!

The first Military Head of State, Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi, was the beneficiary of a military coup hatched by officers, mostly of the Southern Ibo Tribe extraction on 15th January, 1966, while a counter coup master-minded by officers of the Northern Hausa Tribe extraction, produced Yakubu Gowon on 29th July, 1966, and a seed of discord or perceived marginalization among ethnic groups was introduced into the polity! Nigeria was embroiled in an unfortunate 30-month-old civil war (6th July 1967-11th January, 1970), to stop the Eastern Region from seceding and there now exists 36 States in the Federal Republic. Should any sane mind agitate for the creation of a new State again? Our answer is an emphatic NO!

APC And The Rest Of Us!

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), for the first time kept its promise of clearing vehicular queues from all filling stations across the nation between Sunday 14th June, 2015, and Wednesday, 17th June, 2015, through its group managing director who ordered the release of a continuous supply of a reserve of 1.5 billion litres of the premium motor spirit into the market! Sources from NNPC revealed that the Warri and Port Harcourt Refineries were already producing at about 60 percent capacity and would go higher as crude supply increased; while the turn- around maintenance for the Kaduna Refinery would soon be completed.It is envisaged that the importation of finished products would fizzle out gradually and the subsidy scam would become a dead issue! The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has also hit the ground running after eight consecutive years (2007-2015), of incarceration by an administration which believed that stealing did not tantamount to corruption!Former State Governors who were “sacred cows” and would have gotten away with looted funds and properties were being arrested and taken to courts of competent jurisdiction for trial and subsequent convictions if found guilty. Although the expectations of the citizens who voted President Muhammadu Buhari to power are very high, they now see reason in the cautious approach of choosing a cabinet of men and women of integrity and pedigree which must not disappoint Nigerians. Did Mr. President say that he was too old to rule Nigeria? No! What he said was that with the kind of the high demands of him by the electorate, he would have wished he were a younger and agile man who would meet such demands, strength for strength! Let us give it to Mr President who is just about three weeks in office for many laudable achievements in this short period of time. He has tackled the germane and recalcitrant issue of the Boko Haram terrorism headlong, both locally and internationally and has contributed $100million dollars into the operation kitty of the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), comprising of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroun; with a Nigerian Major General as Commander based in Chad Republic. Right now Mr. President is busy studying the Report of the Transition Committee which was just submitted by his own team due to delay caused through the non-cooperation of the past government officials before his investiture on 29th May, 2015. No sharp increase has been noticed in commercial transportation fares while market commodities prices are also stable. According to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the wardrobe allowance of legislators is 25% of their basic salary which is N506,600 per annum not N17million or N20 million as was reported in the newspapers!We shall give Mr. Chairman benefit of the doubt but we urge the electorate to watch closely every move of these lawmakers, majority of who were used to collecting the quarterly jumbo Constituency Allowances, because we are now aware that the monthly pay packets of legislators in the green and red chambers are N1.8million and N2 million respectively which we believe are still on the high side!We will still continue to agitate and insist that legislative duties should be on part time engagement in which only sitting and transport allowances would be paid as at when due considering the socio-economic realities on ground! Let us all join hands to support government in the growth and rapid development of this new Nigeria of our collective dreams where unemployment now compounded with the problem of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and other myriad social vices abound and proffer solutions that would eradicate the challenges. We are all counting down to 5th September, 2015 when Mr. President will clock 100 days in office and give the first phase of account of stewardship, We are trusting that the new management team of the Nigerian Project would deliver creditably in Jesus Christ name. Amen.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is reproach to any people” (Proverbs. 14:34).

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer:

Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations. Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access,to this newsletter, log on to: facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com, https://www.google.com/

+zionfaithbiblebelievingchurch . I am, Yours sincerely,Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor.08130669886, 08098194390.g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com .].