CSP GARBA, NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA, OLUMIDE AKPATA AND THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS: FOUR PERSONALITIES WHO INSPIRED THE NATION THIS YEAR * -Godwin Maduka It was Ralph Nader who stated and rightly so that there can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship. In other words, democracy can only thrive and be deepened when the citizens of a State are alive to their responsibilities. The recent events in the country this year have changed my perception and my thoughts about leadership. Citizenship in Nigeria in the previous years has been marked with apathy and tepidness. The laissez-faire attitude is largely because of the distrust Nigerian citizens nurse against the Nigerian State. But it is that way because the people do not understand the enormity of the power they wield. This lukewarm attitude of our people had worried me to no end and deep in my thoughts; I have prayed and hoped for the rise of the Nigerian spirit. Recent events have shown that the people recognize and know their true leaders, regardless of ethnic and religious leanings and are ready to mobilize support for such exemplary characters. Few leaders that caught my attention most recently are... *CSP RABIU GARBA *, the DPO of Fegge Police Station. Even though an Hausa man, he was spared by the rampaging youths who had resorted to burning down police stations and other government structures during the recent #Endsars protest to register their resentment against police brutality and injustice in the society. However, it is important to state unequivocally that regardless of the provocation, disenchantment and resentment, burning down of police stations, government structures and other private properties to express anger is unacceptable and reprehensible. As a police officer, he had conducted himself as a professional, exhibited candour and integrity in the discharge of his functions. He did not choose to become a tiger to the community he was assigned to police. He lent a listening ear to all and sundry irrespective of status and most importantly, ingrained himself in the activities of the community by attending social functions in solidarity with the people. When the rampaging youths got to his station to raze it down, his colleagues working with him took to their heels, leaving him behind. The youths calmed down at the sight of *CSP GARBA* and downed their weapons of destruction. His charming personality and different approach to his duties saved the day, calmed frayed nerves and prevented his station from being destroyed. The fact that this man is neither Igbo nor a Southerner is instructive.*CSP GARBA* should be the new face of policing in Nigeria and must be drafted to help train and retrain some of his colleagues. *CSP GARBA'S* personality has rubbished the claim that ethnicity is the root cause of our woes as a Nation. *MR OLUMIDE AKPATA* is another great leader who I admire and who I have observed closely this year. During the recently concluded NBA election, he showed his uncommon organizational skills with the way and manner he galvanized the young Lawyers, speaking to the issues that affect them. His message resonated with them because it spoke to the core of their worries regarding the prestigious profession. And so they stood with and by him and mobilized greatly on his behalf. The end result was his winning the election by a landslide. *MR OLUMIDE AKPATA * is my *MAN OF THE YEAR*, not just because of his victory at the NBA polls but because he rose to the occasion of leadership immediately after his swearing in. He hit the ground running. I must commend the entire members of the NBA for their comportment during the electioneering process. The NBA as a body has since been able to close ranks and Forge ahead, delivering on the electoral promises of its new leadership. * DR. NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA * the joy which has continued to trail her nomination as a candidate for the top job of WTO is mind-blowing and exceptional. Nobody has enjoyed this kind of support across the board in Nigeria. As an observer, I have tried to decipher the stuff she is made of that made it possible for her to garner the enormous support from all and sundry. The answer is competence and sacrifice. In her bid to lift Nigeria from her economic struggles, entrench a culture of transparency, build strong institutions and set her on the path of sustained prosperity, people who were averse to change and were afraid of the cut off of their corrupt enrichment decided to fight her dirty. They deployed every weapon in their arsenal to the extent of kidnapping her aged mother, subjecting her to the worst psychological trauma. Yet *NOI* remained unbowed and never abdicated the responsibility to rescue the Nigerian economy from morass. Regardless of what happens with the job of WTO, my take is that she has won in the hearts of her people and that is the greatest victory. *THE NIGERIAN YOUTH * is a demography that has been written off as not being capable of handling the reins of power. Indeed, the youths are considered people who indulge in needless frivolities like Reality TV shows, football, social media and celebrity news. But these are young people who have never witnessed constant electricity in their entire lives, who have had their study years in the University punctuated by striking lecturers, elongating their years in the process, who have no promise of jobs even after graduation and had to literally create their own path in a bid to thrive. And so it was with great surprise and relish that I watched how the #ENDSARS movement grew. Young people all over the country came out to say enough. The coordination was top notch. The peaceful nature of the protests gladdens the heart. They drove the narrative themselves, using the power of social media. Even though the protests were largely about police brutality, it was by extension, an expression of frustration on the failures and the disappointments of the Nigerian system. From the hills of Enugu to the creeks of Niger Delta and streets of Lagos and Abuja, the message was the same. People marched under the sun and in the rain. The unity of purpose and the determination of these young folks show that a united Nigeria without ethnic fault lines is possible. Hope is the oil of tomorrow, and these four personalities show that for Nigeria, it is still morning yet on creation day. With hard work, competence, integrity, patriotism and eschewing of tribalism on the path of the leaders and the led, this country can rise up, reclaim our tomorrow and live out the true meaning of the words in our national anthem - great lofty heights attain, to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign. Dr. Godwin Maduka (Okosisi Orumba) is the founder of Las Vegas Pain Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

A STATE-WIDE BROADCAST REINFORCING THE PROSCRIPTION OF IPOB IN RIVERS STATE BY GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE, CON, GSSRS, POS 23rd OCTOBER 2020. My Dear Good People of Rivers State, 2. The Rivers State Government views with serious concern the unending destructive activities of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples Organization of Biafra (IPOB) in Rivers State. 3. Recall that the IPOB was classified as a terrorist organization by the Federal High Court and subsequently proscribed in September 2017 by the Federal Government. 4. However, despite its ban, the group has continued to operate in parts of the country, including Rivers State in furtherance of its alien political objectives. 5. Since its proscription, the group has carried out intermittent processions in parts of Rivers State, especially in Oyigbo and some notorious suburbs in Port Harcourt Local Government Areas. 6. More often than not, these illegal processions have become regular occasions for armed IPOB members to disturb the peace of the State by unleashing violence and destruction on lives and property at will. 7. The Rivers State Government had severally pleaded, warned and even advised IPOB and its members to discontinue its insurrectional actions in Rivers State to no avail. 8. Instead, we were all witnesses to yet, another orgy of violence and destruction inflicted by IPOB at Oyigbo Local Government Area and some parts of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area on Tuesday 21st October 2020. 9. This evil, wicked and audacious action resulted in the unnecessary loss of scores of lives, including soldiers and police officers, and the destruction of both public and private properties, including police stations, court buildings and business premises. 10. Not done, they also visited physical violence on members of some targeted community which, but, for the quick intervention of the State Government and the security agencies, would have resulted in some form of internecine bloodbath in the State. 11. Today, IPOB continued with its devilish and destructive activities at Rumukwurushi, Iriebe and Oyigbo in open defiance of the State Government’s curfew on human movements. 12. Security intelligence and surveillance have revealed that IPOB has continued to expand its membership drive, holding meetings regularly, and expanding its logistical base, including the maintenance of illegal detention cells in Emenike and other parts of Diobu, Port Harcourt. 13. As a matter of fact, Oyigbo town has practically become the group’s main operational base in Rivers State, from which they’ve become notorious for launching premeditated violence and terror on the State, businesses and innocent citizens. 14. As a people, we have become very much unsettled by the terrorist acts and endured the continuing irritations, violence, destruction and provocations of IPOB in and against the people of Rivers State. 15. We agree that Rivers State is part of Nigeria and has always been a home for all Nigerians and will continue to be because this is our true character. 16. But it must also be understood that Rivers State belongs to the indigenous people of Rivers State. 17. As a stranger element with strange political ideology therefore, IPOB has no legal or moral right to invade Rivers State or any part therefore at its behest; to disturb public peace; and subject lives and property to violence or threat of destruction under any guise. 18. What is clear from this behaviour is that our love, accommodation and hospitality towards all are being mistaken for weakness by the banned IPOB. 19. This being so, the time has come for us to sound this notice of warning that: enough is enough!!! We can no longer tolerate this IPOB evil monster in Rivers State. Never. 20. As a Government, we owe our people and all residents the responsibility to protect their lives, property and wellbeing and to prevent trouble-makers of all shades and character from violating our collective peace, security and pursuit of happiness. 21. Therefore, in view of the fact that IPOB has since been proscribed throughout Nigeria; and 22. Having come to the firm conclusion that the activities of the banned IPOB are not just dangerous to lives and property but also constitute clear and present threat to the existential interest and aspirations of Rivers State and all our people; 23. We have decided to reinforce, implement and enforce the existing judicial and national ban on IPOB by putting a total and complete stop to its presence and or activities in Rivers State or any part thereof. 24. Accordingly, as from today 23rd October 2020, the Rivers State Government has: [ ] (ii) Outlawed IPOB from existing and or operating in Rivers State or any part thereof in line with the proscription order of the Federal High Court and the Federal Government. (ii) No form of procession and or agitation by IPOB or any of its affiliates is allowed to take place in Rivers State or any part thereof, hence forth. (iii) Security agencies are hereby directed to stop any form of procession or agitation by IPOB in Rivers State or any part thereof and arrest and prosecute any person or group that identifies with the membership or activities of IPOB in the State; (iv) Government will issue an executive order to strengthen and ensure the effective enforcement of these measures; (v) I will be meeting with all leaders of youth groups and community development committees in the State on Monday 26th October 2020 to take wholistic measures to counter and stop all IPOB activities in Rivers State; (vi) Mr. Stanley Mgbere from Onne is hereby declared wanted for leading members of the banned IPOB to cause the recent violence and destruction of lives and property in Onne in Eleme Local Government Area; and (vii) A ransom of N50,000,000.00 will be given to any person with useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the said Mr. Stanley Mgbere. 25. I wish to appeal to the people of Oyigbo Local Government Area to remain calm and not to take the laws into their hands despite the intense provocation as government has the capacity to deal with the challenge and ensure the safety of lives and property in the Local Government Area. 26. We will soon carry out on the spot inspection and assessment of the destruction they have suffered and take appropriate measures to mitigate the loss and damage caused to lives and property. 27. We hereby express our sympathies to the families of all those that have either lost their loved ones or suffered damages to their properties from the destructive acts of IPOB in our State. 28. Be assured that they have not died in vain and we will do everything within our powers to give all the victims justice. 29. We appeal to leaders of the various ethnic groups residents in the State to ensure that their members respect the sensibilities of our people and refrain from provocations and acts of hooliganism that could breach peace and security in the State. 30. Finally, I wish to assure all Nigerians that Rivers State will continue to be the home for all tribes as we will not shirk in our responsibility to ensure the peace, security and happiness of all residents in Rivers State. 31. We cannot allow IPOB miscreants and other misguided similar groups to threaten our collective peace, security and wellbeing under whatever guise. 32. Thank you and may God continue to bless Rivers State.