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Hon. Shina Peller Is An Advocate Of The Youth For The Youth – Seun Oloketuyi

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Without wisdom, the labor of a foolish leader would weaken all those around him, and because of that, wisdom remains a principal character in leadership.

Honorable Shina Abiola Peller, House of Representatives member for Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola (Oyo State) Federal Constituency in the last decade has proved that he is a leader with full possession of the wisdom of elders.

For those who have followed his trajectory, they would attest that while he is not a man new to the concept of leadership, what remains unique about his style is the wisdom he brings to bear in his day-to-day activities, and dealings. It is probably why youths of this age gravitate towards him. Not only does he speak their language, but he also walks their walk and identifies always as one of them and their advocate.

A Nigerian entrepreneur, entertainment industry stakeholder, and tourism enthusiast, ever since his sojourn into Nigerian politics, he has remained true to his calling of building leadership-worthy young people for the glory of the Nigerian dream.

While it seems almost magical what he has achieved just within the last decade, one must not be deceived that he failed to put in the work.

To start with, unlike many of his counterparts who forget the pain of the people when they get into office, Hon. Peller never suffered that memory loss.

In 2018, when he joined politics, he stated that he didn’t make the move for himself, but for the people and that he was not one of those people who get carried away with their popularity and decide to run for the fun of it.

Five years later, the result we have to show is a tried and tested politician who has served meritoriously as a House of Representatives member and is still absolutely and undeniably sold out to the cause of the youth and the betterment of the future of Nigeria.

Asides from the duties demanded by his office, he focused his energy on trying to build and redefine the political space by pushing younger people into joining politics. Like a godfather of youths, he has in the last four years expended personal money and resources in the quest to bring youths into the political fold.

Apart from the fact that he started the Lead Generation Initiative (LGI), a citizen and youth-driven nonpolitical, non-profit, and non-governmental organization that is committed to creating opportunities for young people to channel their creativity, energy, and aspirations to adding value to their communities and country, he has been on an enlightenment drive, going around the country in an effort to get young people involved and interested in politics.

The LGI, which achieves its aims through programs like the ‘Get Involved Leadership Training (GILT), get involved regional leadership summit, emerging leaders conference, women leadership development program, creative open crafts, national entrepreneurial enterprise competition, among others, trains representatives from each of the local governments, in all the 36 states of Nigeria and the federal capital territory on civic responsibility, nation-building, community security, communication, and development skills.

A ‘train-the-trainer’ program where the local government supervisors will go back to their respective local governments to train the ward representatives from each of the wards in their local government, the initiative has successfully held the GILT in the five states of Oyo, Osun, Bauchi, Gombe, and Niger, respectively.

One cannot also fail to mention his involvement in We2GedaNG, a non-partisan movement aimed at uniting young Nigerians to forge a common platform that would ensure active youth participation in nation-building.

Peller is no doubt a colossus with that light touch of magic, and he is here to stay. His unselfish mobilization of youths has led those under the umbrella of his movement to realize that Nigeria belongs to them.

Today, as a result of Shina Peller’s involvement and intervention, many youths believe that one day soon young people will take over the world and because of that they need to lay a good foundation to build on.

At 46, not many men have become fully realized political leaders, but Shina Peller is an exception. He believes in the Nigerian dream, he has managed to open the curtains for other youths to see the dream and work hard at achieving it, and he has through wisdom also given them the tools to make it happen against the odds.

The energy of youths with the experience of age they say is a lethal combination. A young man, Shina Peller no doubt possesses the wisdom of the elders and is in no small way channeling it with a youthful energy that brings a world of possibilities.

It is only fair that the world stands still to celebrate the man with the magic touch who has done so much for youths as he clocks 46.

Seun Oloketuyi is a filmmaker and founder of the Best of Nollywood Pan-Nigeria awards.

BIG STORY

Nigeria’s Stability More Important Than Our Pockets — Shettima Tells Senators-Elect

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Nigeria’s Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, has charged senators-elect to “vote wisely” when the upper legislative chamber is inaugurated next week.

The senate will elect its presiding officers for the 10th assembly on Tuesday.

Speaking during the ninth senate’s valedictory session on Saturday, Shettima told the lawmakers that the stability of the country is greater than that of their pockets.

There have been allegations that some senate president hopefuls are using money to woo senators-elect to vote for them.

Although the All Progressives Congress (APC) has nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, for the position of senate president, Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, and Orji Uzor Kalu, chief whip, have insisted on vying for the position.

The vice-president said the country’s interest should inform who they elect as senate president and deputy.

“To my incoming colleagues, I will leave you with a parable, ‘the stability of this nation is superior to the stability of our pockets’. On Tuesday, let us vote wisely, let us vote for the Nigerian nation,” he said.

The number two citizen described his colleagues as “friends who have become an integral part of my history”.

“We have served shoulder to shoulder in the face of adversity and worked relentlessly for the betterment of our nation,” he said.

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BREAKING: DSS Confirms Godwin Emefiele’s Arrest [VIDEO]

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the arrest of suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.

It was earlier reported the arrest of Emefiele by the DSS, shortly after he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

But on Saturday, the Service, on its Twitter handle said Emefiele was not in its custody.

Despite the denial by the DSS, report has it that the former CBN chief was in the custody of the secret police.

But confirming the report on Saturday evening, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, posted: “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons.”

 

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Talking Frankly On Removal Of Fuel Subsidy By Babajide Fadoju 

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Now that subsidy is gone, what is the plan?

Subsidies play a significant role in shaping economic policies in many countries, including Nigeria.

Subsidies are government incentives that aim to support specific industries or sectors by reducing the cost of goods or services.

However, the effect of subsidy removal on the Nigerian economy has been a subject of much debate and analysis.

Subsidies have long been used by the Nigerian government to support various sectors primarily the energy sector.

These subsidies are intended to stimulate economic growth, encourage investment, and alleviate the burden of high costs on consumers.

For instance, fuel subsidies have been implemented to ensure affordable prices for petroleum products, as Nigeria heavily relies on oil for its revenue.

Due to several imports, the subsidy on petrol has to be removed. For one the federal government cannot afford the subsidy payment anymore.

By removing subsidies, the government can redirect its spending towards more productive sectors.

The funds that were previously allocated to subsidies can be channelled into infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and other critical areas that can foster long-term economic growth.

The removal of subsidy is good for the industry; growth will be engendered as several players can now play competitively, efficiency will become the cornerstone to build on and this will aid product delivery to the end users.

The removal of subsidies can promote economic efficiency by allowing market forces to determine prices and allocate resources more effectively.

When subsidies are in place, they can distort market signals, leading to inefficiencies and suboptimal resource allocation. By removing subsidies, the government can create an environment that encourages competition and innovation, driving economic growth in the long run.

That is just one way to look at it, according to economic analysts, the removal of subsidies will trigger a temporary spike in inflation as the prices of essential commodities rise. However, over time, the market will adjust to the new price equilibrium, and inflationary pressures may stabilize.

One of the primary concerns surrounding subsidy removal is its impact on low-income households. These households often heavily rely on subsidized goods for their daily needs.

When subsidies are removed, the cost of living may increase, posing challenges for vulnerable segments of society.

To counter this, the government is prepared to review several areas of the fiscal economy. The government is prepared to review the minimum wage and provide palliatives for the most vulnerable.

More importantly, the money recouped from subsidy will be reallocated into infrastructure development and social programs, fostering sustainable economic growth.

It might be hard at first, but we will cross this rubicon and the country will be better for it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When was fuel subsidy removed in Nigeria?

Contrary to popular opinion, the subsidy regime was ended by the assent to the Petroluem Industry Act by the then president, Muhammadu Buhari in February of 2022. However, the nation was not ready and the budgetary allocation continued into May of 2023 – the end of the Buhari administration.

2. How does subsidy removal impact inflation?

Subsidy removal can lead to short-term inflationary pressures as the prices of subsidized goods or services increase. However, over time, the market can adjust to the new price equilibrium, and inflation may stabilize.

3. Are there alternative measures to subsidy removal?

Yes, there are alternative measures that can be considered before resorting to subsidy removal. These include subsidy reforms, targeting subsidies to specific populations, improving subsidy delivery mechanisms, and implementing fiscal consolidation measures.

4. What are the potential social implications of subsidy removal?

Subsidy removal can have social implications, particularly for low-income households. The increased cost of living may pose challenges for vulnerable segments of society. However, by redirecting resources, the government can implement targeted social welfare programs to mitigate the adverse effects.

6. What are the long-term benefits of subsidy removal?

The long-term benefits of subsidy removal include improved fiscal sustainability, increased government revenue, reduced corruption opportunities, economic efficiency, and the reallocation of resources to critical sectors.

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