By Hussaina Yakubu
The Coalition of Northern Youth Groups (CNYG) has faulted comments attributed to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in which he called for further devaluation of Nigeria’s currency.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Kaduna by CNYG Convener, Yusuf Amoke, said although the vice president chairs the National Economic Management Team Committe, his knowledge on economic matters is limited, because he is not an economist.
The coalition noted that the naira had been devalued a number of times "either deliberately or forcefully by elements of the market, and surprisingly there has been no economic prosperity to commensurate the devaluation of the currency, instead the economy keeps biting harder".
"Further devaluation of naira means more poverty, more insecurity, more restiveness and more death in the land," the coalition added.
The CNYG said, "It is obvious that there is no magic the CBN governor or any other person can do to improve on the economy because the economy is an importation economy; there is less dollar within the system but high demand to import and go for medical and educational tourism.
"This is because it's only oil that brings dollar into the system and unfortunately the subsidy regime and the importation of refined product, further takes away the dollar that is suppose to support the economy.
"Instead of castigating the CBN governor, he should be hailed for keeping the monitory system afloat despite overwhelming pressure on the dollar."
The coalition, therefore, said that to insist on further devaluation of the naira indicated "complete ignorance of the economy and its operations".
"It is on this basis that we call on Mr Vice President to keep that opinion of his to devalue the naira to himself and allow the CBN governor and other sister agencies to keep doing what they can, to help the economy.
It also advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow the vice president to head the economic management team, "because he is a good lawyer but a bad economist".
"Mr President should encourage the position of the CBN governor not to devalue the naira, but instead create ways that will strengthen the currency.
"Mr President should distance the VP from commenting and or interfering on anything that has to do with the economy of this country, because he has over time proven to be a bad economist.
"We shall not allow anybody to use his or her office to project unpopular polices that will plunge Nigerians into further poverty. The one the masses are faced with is enough."
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Edited and published by Sani Idris
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D'Tigress players cry out over N87M in owed allowances and bonuses just less than a month after winning the Afrobasket title
The players have threatened to boycott camp if their demands are not met.
Just a month after winning a third AfroBasket title for the third time in a row, players of the Nigerian women's basketball team, D'Tigress, are crying out over owed allowances and officials' ineptitude.
D'Tigress players in a video narrated their frustrations on how they have been treated since they won the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
In the video, Ify Ibekwe revealed that they are being owed over N87m in bonuses, allowances and donations from corporate bodies.
"We are owed $73,118 FROM the NBBF (Nigeria Basketball Federation), $24,000 from the ministry from the Tokyo grant and $100 000 from donations from three banks in Nigeria," Ibekwe said in the video.
Another player, Promise Amukamara, called out Musa Kida, the president of the NBBF, over the owed sums.
"President of NBBF Mr Kida said that the federation is not owing any players, officials or vendors; this is far from the truth," Amukamara said.
"The last time we check, our allowances, stipends, bonuses, training grounds and donations made by banks for players, officials and volunteers still have not been paid."
In the video, one of the players, Adaora Elonustated their demands, saying that no player would report for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in February 2022 if they are not met.
"Our demands, all money owed to players, officials and vendors. Adequate travel to competitions and team managers for all team functions," Elonu said.
"If all these demands are not met, with all due respect to the presidency, The NBBF and the Ministry, all the D'Tigresss players will not be reporting to FIFA World Cup tournament in 2022 in February; we are one United voice."
Not appreciated
There were further complaints from players about the way the NBBF and ministry have treated them.
"First, we want to say thank you to the Nigerian embassy in Cameroon for appreciating you more than you know. Other than that, we do not feel appreciated or celebrated after achieving these historic feats," Victoria Macaulay said.
She revealed that after they visited Aso Rock, where they got a presidential handshake from President Muhammadu Buhari after winning the AfroBasket title in 2017, they have not been invited back despite winning two more titles.
Ezinne Kalu expressed frustration in how the NBBF only know how to use the D'Tigress to score political points but remain ineffective in supporting the team during tournaments.
"We feel like we are being marginalised. Our senior leadership, like our former president, never really showed up for camps, competitions to boost our morale," Kalu said.
"And when we have significant concerns and issues that need to be addressed when he does show up, he gives vague answers, as if our concerns aren't important to him.
"But when we win, they magically show up for photo ops and celebrations to use for political gain. Musa Kida was not in Cameroon but somehow he showed up in Abuja to take pictures and lift the trophy again for political gain."
Tokyo Olympics
Oderah Chidom and Atonye Nyingifa blamed their poor outing at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, where they lost all their games to the lack of proper planning by the NBBF.
"We didn't get the final roaster until the day before the flight; our first team practice was in Tokyo, the day before the first game," Chidom said.
"There is a lot of things that could have been handled differently to increase our chances of success; starting with our travel, there was a 36-hour flight.
"Our team gear and uniform, making sure there are of standard. Two practices a day, not being able to access medical staff at certain times during the Olympics." Nyingifa also said.
Sarah Ogoke also spoke, raising concerns over why the D'Tigress have not been in Nigeria since 2019.
"Why hasn't the team been to Nigeria since 2019? We are wondering the same thing," Ogoke said.
"As D'Tigress players, we want to back to Nigeria. We don't understand why we have not been to the country for the last two years for camp, or for any celebration.
"It's customary that the team is to go home before major competitions so that we can have morale."
The D'Tigress in September won all their games to win the AfroBasket title in Cameroon.
That was their third triumph in the competition for a third time in a row.
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