SAM OHUABUNWA'S PARADIGM

It is certain that the Federal Government wants to do something to prevent or minimize the clashes between the normal & traditional Fulani cattle herders and farmers. These clashes have been of old and seemed to be inevitable given the traditional way cattle is raised and transported in our Country. I believe that was why they created and gazetted Grazing routes in those days. Because these grazing routes have either been abandoned or taken over by latter day developments including state creations and demographic changes, the clashes seem to have increased in recent times.     But the clashes remained under control until in the last three years or so, when it seemed to have gone out of control. In my view, this has happened because a new group of entrants with weirds motives came into the mix - The Militant-Fulani Cattle Herdsmen . From the method of operations of this group, it looked like their objectives were or are to steal, kill and destroy farming commun...

In this column last week, I applauded and defended the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari  (PMB) to honour late MKO Abiola and his vice-presidential candidate, Babagana Kingibe for their victory in the June 12, 1993 elections, a victory which had been denied in the last 25 years. All fair minded people accepted that it was a good thing to happen, though many said PMB was scoring a   'cheap political point' questioning his democratic credentials including being on the side of Abacha, and some others said Babagana Kingibe did not deserve the honour as he was said to have abandoned the struggle or even sabotaged Abiola by accepting to serve in Abacha's cabinet. Every body is entitled to his opinion but I remain convinced that PMB, irrespective of his motives scored a bull's eye with this June 12 recognition and re-validation. Indeed, PMB in my view scored more points by what he did and said at the award ceremony on June 12, 2018. Hear him "The recognition is...

Monumental history was made this past week. A Nation that seemed to be in denial for 25 years finally came home to face the truth.   On June 12, 1993, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a civilian democratic President. The election was generally adjudged to be peaceful, free and fair but the official result was not released. The military President in Power, Nigeria's own IBB cancelled the elections using all kinds of subterfuge or so it seemed. A motley group of cash & carry politicians led by then irrepressible Arthur Nzeribe, connived with an equally cash & carry judiciary to give IBB an alibi to cancel the elections. The Nation, especially, Southern Nigeria rose up in protest against IBB and his henchmen. I fully remember late Dr Beko-Ransome Kuti, Barrister Femi Falana and the trade unionist Kokori leading protests which many of us joined on Ikorodu Road and Airport Road marching to Alausa in Lagos.There were bonfires all over Lagos and other parts of the South We...

I am thankful to God for the honour of presenting myself for service as the President of our professional association, come November 2018. ENTRY INTO PHARMACY I am a 1976 graduate of Pharmacy from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). At the University I was once the National Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS). I did my internship at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu and my compulsory National Youth service at the General Hospital in Yelwa-Yauri in present day Kebbi State Mazi Sam I. Ohuabunwa OFR, MON, FPSN, FNAPharm, FPCPharm, NPOM PROFESSIONAL CAREER I joined Pfizer Products Plc in July 1978 as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative (PSR), became Area Manager in 1980, National Sales Manager in 1982, Group Sales Manager (Pharmaceutical & Animal Health) in 1985. I was appointed Marketing Manager in 1989 and invited to the Board as Pharmaceutical Division Director in 1990, rising to be...

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo: Reuters Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) began the last lap in the four year term given to him by the people of Nigeria to lead the Nation. Though PMB has expressed a wish to have his mandate renewed, no one can be sure if this request will be granted, until after the Presidential elections in February or March next year (depending on which schedule will rule- INEC or NASS) and hoping that all things remain equal. You may ask me what I mean by "all things remain equal" I have read resolutions by some Ethnic nationality groups insisting that Nigeria must be restructured or there may be no elections. In view of the fact that no one knows if the restructuring will take place on one hand and the fact that nobody knows whether the ethnic nationalities can carry out their threat on the other hand, that's what I mean by "all things being equal"    Nevertheless, the chances of granting PMB's request wil...