The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Can’t some people be thankful for small mercies?

    “Ex-governors in political wilderness after 2019 elections”. That was the screaming headline of a feature write-up on Page 2 of this newspaper last Saturday. The piece is alluding to some frustration for those of them who failed to secure second term ticket to return as governors or those who served their two terms as governors but failed to step up as Senators. But, why should they be frustrated?

    I see no reason for any frustration, if those being referred to are truly in moaning or whining mood, as imputed in the article under reference. If not for the insatiable nature of man, people who had been fortunate among many, to gain leadership positions in the life of state and nation, ought to content themselves with such privileges and relax after their tours of duty for a while, and reflect on their tenures and plot for the future, taking stock of where they excelled and where they fell short of expectations so that they could do better when other opportunities beckon in future.

    Some are lucky to move so progressively without any break. But not all are so endowed; and the earlier people learn to recognise the limits of ambition, the better.

    If I were in their shoes, I would move into sanctuaries of God, to offer thanksgiving for the opportunity of service and sit back to be availed of unbiased assessment of people, who being largely appreciative of good deeds, could be in the vanguard of a clamour for their return to the lights. That is more endearing and worthy. They should ponder the advice.

  • Revolutionary pressures in Nigeria (3)

    With the reckless and relentless squandering of the country’s bounteous oil revenues at various times between the mid-1970s and the tail end of the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration, various elected governments in Nigeria have conveniently hidden behind the non-justiciability of Section 2 of the 1979 and 1999 constitutions to refuse to make any meaningful effort to actualize the extensive welfare provisions that make up the ‘Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy’ that constitute the chapter.

    They claim that that the country simply does not have the resources to pursue such ambitious welfare schemes stipulated but not made mandatory by the constitution. This is as a result of the ever increasing marginalization of oil in the international political economy and the failure over the years of an irresponsible and complacent political class to utilize successive periods of intense but short-lived bursts of oil boom to diversify the economy and create alternative viable and sustainable revenue sources.

    Yet, the reality of shrinking oil revenues has not in any way diminished the capacity of the various factions of the Nigerian ruling class to engage in the most venal forms of primitive accumulation through both the direct, massive looting of the national treasury and the extraction of humongous amounts of resources as ‘legitimate’ salaries, allowances and emoluments of elected and appointed public officers. It is thus not surprising that Nigeria is routinely described today as the poverty capital of the world and a wide gulf exists between a few Nigerians who feature among the club of the richest individuals in the world and the vast majority of the citizenry who merely exist but do not live in any meaningful sense of the word.

    In the words, once again, of Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) in his book, ‘Nigerian Law on Socioeconomic Rights’, “Despite the abundant resources of the nation, the federal government has admitted that over 100 million Nigerians live below the poverty line. The commitment of the Buhari administration to fight the menace of corruption is not in doubt. But it should be pointed out that that corruption is not the root cause of poverty, but a fall out of the country’s peripheral capitalist economy, which is anchored on privatization, maximum profiteering, capital flight, tax avoidance and capital waivers”.

    Rather, Falana contends that “The State has engaged in the systematic promotion of poverty through the implementation of the neo-liberal economic policies instead of striving by means of appropriate regulations for the minimization of exploitation and the concentration of wealth in a few hands, the securing of adequate means of livelihood and employment opportunities, suitable shelter, reasonable minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, unemployment and sick benefits etc”.

    But how on earth, can the resources be found to implement this kind of extensive welfare programme the question will be asked in many quarters particularly with ever shrinking oil revenues? It would appear as Mr. Falana himself acknowledges that the welfare provisions of chapter 2 of the constitution are predicated on the continued availability of abundant oil resources to make these social services available to the majority of deprived Nigerians rather than the transformation of the Nigerian ‘rentier’ state from almost exclusive dependency on oil rents to one with a solid foundation based on actual production and not merely distribution of oil revenue.

    But without making Section 2 of the constitution legally binding and fully justiciable, Nigeria’s ruling class will not be motivated and forced to put on its thinking cap and ensure the imperative that, in the words of Professor Okwudiba Nnoli, “The demands of production must define the character of Nigerian politics. This means that the state must formulate and implement concrete incentives to increase creatively the productivity of the vast majority of the people…The State must ensure that economic enterprises, public or private, maintain a viable Research and Development activity with a view to creating new products related to the needs and traditional consumption habits of the people, using local resources…Without increased and increasing production, distribution soon reaches a dead end”.

    Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) faced this same skepticism as regards resource availability when they enunciated their four cardinal programmes of free education at all levels, free medical care for all, integrated rural development and full and gainful employment for all in the Second Republic (1979 – 1983). These promises evoked cynicism and scorn from Awo’s opponents who dismissed them as mere election gimmicks that could not be realistically implemented. Awo demonstrated repeatedly, however, that he and his political think tank had done the hard work of estimating the cost, crunching the figures and working out the implementation details of these programmes.

    On the occasion of the launching of his book, ‘The Strategy and Tactics of the Peoples Republic of Nigeria’ on Friday, 31st July, 1970, for instance, Awolowo gave an insight into the kind of comprehensive research and meticulous planning he and his inner circle had done towards the actualization of free education on the country’s return to democratic governance, which he assumed at that time would be in 1974 as earlier promised by General Yakubu Gowon.

    Let us have a glimpse of the incomparable industry I am referring to here by quoting Awolowo at some length on that occasion: “As I have stated in the preface to the book, Tables 1-7 are only abstracts from 158 Tables with altogether 1,587 columns. Tables 1 and 2 set out the estimated school population at all levels for the Northern and Southern States, from 1970 to 1980, taking into account a compound growth rate of 2 and a half percent per annum in our population. Tables 3-7 set out the projected recurrent and capital costs of this great scheme for the next 20 years. Appendix 1 is a summary of the methodology and procedure adopted in computing the 158 Tables from which Tables 1-7 have been abstracted. Table 8, on the other hand, contains Nigeria’s projected GDP from 1970/71 to 1990/91 at current factor cost, and the estimated Government Revenue for this period. Appendix two is an outline of the rationale for this Table”.

    Giving details of carefully calculated capital and recurrent expenditure from 1970/71 to 1990/91, Awolowo stressed that free and compulsory primary education “must not wait till later than 1974…if we truly appreciate the unifying and harmony-promoting influence of such a scheme”. He continued: “Granting then that God bestows on us the wisdom, vision and grace to embark on free and compulsory primary education in 1974, it is clear from Tables 1 and 2 that we would end this decade in 1979 with a primary school population of 7 and a half million pupils in the Northern States compared and contrasted with 6 million primary school pupils in the Southern States. By 1980, the Northern States would have 1.17 million general secondary pupils as compared with 1.2 million in the Southern States. Also, by 1980, 270,000 students of Northern States origin would be pursuing post-secondary education as contrasted with 262,000 from the Southern States. By 1985, the process, which would have begun much earlier, of each constituent state having at least one University, would be completed”.

    Where would Nigeria be today if this kind of meticulous, serious-minded thinking and planning had been applied to Nigeria’s developmental aspirations in diverse sectors since 1970 when Awolowo penned these words? These are exactly the qualities needed by the leadership for the successful actualization of Section 2 of the 1999 constitution in order to respond effectively to the revolutionary pressures occasioned by the crisis of poverty, inequality and underdevelopment in post-colonial Nigeria. Of course, Awolowo was aware that achieving the ambitious developmental goals his party set for Nigeria would require the highest levels of discipline and sacrifice from all and sundry. Thus, in a speech on 6th October, 1978, he lamented the high level of indiscipline and self-indulgence at all strata of our society, asking “What else on earth, for instance, could have made our public servants at the Federal level alone feel at ease with the expenditure in 1977/78 of over N97 million on Local Transport and Travelling, over N28 million on Vehicles, Maintenance and Running Costs and over N7 million on Overseas Travel?”. The levels of waste and fiscal recklessness in our public life have grown even more atrocious and reprehensible over time.

    Interestingly, Awolowo does not disagree with Sowore on the imperative of revolutionary changes as a necessary condition for national transformation in Nigeria. But the sage’s notion of revolution is not the spontaneous, reflexive and superficial #RevolutionNow spearheaded by Sowore. Rather, Awo avers that “In order that she may attain her natural birthright and destiny, Nigeria must be remade and re-created. Every aspect of her existence must be revolutionized: her agriculture, her industry, her trade and other tertiary services, the attitude of her sons and daughters to life as well as their education and upbringing – all must be revolutionized”. Which party can achieve this feat within the context of a democratic, federal and united Nigeria? That is the big question. But the answer certainly does not lie in populist showmanship masquerading as revolutionary fervor.

  • The trouble with sports

    When we cringe that Nigeria is a sporting nation, serious-minded countries laugh. Whereas others start their plans from the scratch, we rely on finished products from our jaded competitions with falsified ages. What we bank on from these competitions can’t stand the test of time. They are fickle and fall away like nectar on hibiscus.

    Our sports will crawl for as long as we cast an indulgent eye on instituting a solid foundation for the industry.  Sports cannot grow without integrated programmes anchored on Schools Sports, which is domiciled with the 36 states’ ministries of Sports and that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja. The catchment area for sports are the schools in the 774 local government areas. Sports is also the vehicle for mass mobilisation of the citizenry. Besides, its role in taking the youth off the streets is invaluable.

    A country in which schools lack playgrounds is certainly not ready. Only a few schools have playgrounds with facilities and trainers. Everywhere is built up – in a desperate quest to ensure that everyone goes to school. Nothing wrong with that, but sports should be considered when development takes place. Sports is a money spinner, the best platform for massive employment, considering the immense followership each game enjoys.

    States aren’t perturbed that Schools Sports competitions, including those named after governors, are moribund. It is ironic that governors, their deputies and executive council members are seen around golf courses and polo grounds, whereas all competitions which in the past served as nurseries to discover kids are dead. Golf and Polo are elitists, very costly to run, their equipment beyond the reach of the common man.

    In the past, schools sports competitions were handled by the Education ministries. States’ Sports Councils and their affiliate sports federations prepared athletes for national competitions. Sports died in the states when sports commissioners and their education counterparts started working at cross purposes. The problem was who to applaud when state contingents excelled in competitions. With time, the units which handled sports at the ministry of education were integrated into other spheres of the ministry. They got choked.

    The first spiral effect of this dastardly decision was the dearth of Colleges of Education for Sports, Teachers Training Colleges etc, where coaches were trained and retrained. Coaches attended such colleges to acquire knowledge and new tricks in their games. Without coaches and trainers supervised by Ministry of Sports chieftains, sports gradually nose-dived into extinction.

    We cannot talk about corporate sponsorship of sports when we don’t have products to market to the business community. Most states’ sports councils’ headquarters are derelict. The workers only remember that they earn a living from sports when major competitions are holding – if the governor is interested in such ‘play play’, as one governor once described sports. The governor argued that the cash spent on sports could be channeled into infrastructure, such as roads and salaries. Incredible.

    I reminded the governor that the citizens of the state needed the government to provide recreational facilities for them. I educated him further that sports is pre-requisite for reducing the damaging effects of some health hazards just as it is the best vehicle for the mobilisation of the people, not forgetting that it takes the youth off the streets and crime. His Excellency asked me to do a paper on what I said. I moved on, knowing that nothing will change. I was right. The governor’s eight years brought no succour for the troubled sector.

    Sportsmen and women are among the highest paid professionals. Serena Williams, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tiger Woods, Lewis Hamilton, Usain Bolt et al are some of the big earners. They achieved this feat because they were exposed to sports as kids. In fact, Serena’s dad groomed his daughters for stardom. No one is shocked by the phenomenal achievements of the Williams’ sisters -Venus and Serena.

    For any commodity to have value, it must have a price. You ask, how much is any sport worth in Nigeria? Keep guessing. A company will place its goods or services on sports if there is massive followership, since the firm needs to reach as many consumers as possible. Firms key into sports to enhance their corporate image and clientele, which they won’t want to tarnish on the altar of sports sponsorship. This is why they seldom support Nigeria sports because most sports federations have not cultivated the culture of accountability.

    Food and beverages firms as well as other sponsors see in the fans who throng the venues a window to market their goods and services.

    In the past, Nigerians watched live broadcast of important sports competitions, such as the All Africa Games (now African Games), Olympics, World Cup, Commonwealth Games, Africa Cup of Nations etc). Parents and kids sat through games. Parents encouraged their loved ones to participate in such sports that they follow because of what they saw on television. In fact, the fascinating story of how Serena and Venus emerged from the tutelage of their father encouraged some parents to mentor theirs, having seen the Williams’ experience.

    The flipside is that the corporate world also watches games in their offices. This makes it easy to persuade them to support sports, having seen the massive followership, who could be converted to customers or consumers of their goods. The job is done if policy makers in the blue-chip companies love sports or have siblings who are desirous of earning a living from sports.

    Sadly, the 2019 African Games holding in Morocco isn’t on television. There isn’t any recap of the days’ programmes on television at night, like it was done in the past, for Nigerians to know their sports heroes and heroines.

    If sports must enjoy the fillip of growth from the corporate world, it must be repackaged like entertainment. In the 1970s and 1980s, foreign stars thrilled Nigerian fans. That has changed, with the massive work of our musicians and actors. One feels good as foreigners call Nigerians wearing our traditional dresses Igwe, Igwe – fallout of what they see from interesting drama stories on television. It is also exciting sitting inside cabs in Europe, listening to Nigerian artists’ songs on radio and foreigners dancing to it the way we do here.

    It isn’t surprising to see entertainment enjoy tremendous corporate sponsorship since governors, business moguls, banking giants and oil industry chieftains attend entertainment shows.Of course, nobody convinces them on the need to do business with the entertainers, having physically seen the crowds at concerts here and in Europe.

    I’m excited Sports Minister Sunday Akin Dare inspected the derelict facilities. Dare’s comments show that he knows what to do. What Dare should do, aside these visits, is to convince President Muhammadu Buhari to make sports’ funding a four-yearly cycle, since most competitions are biannual and after every four years. The yearly fiscal budgets run here won’t do sports any good just as the Treasury Singular Account (TSA).

    It is shameful to read stories of associations’ helmsmen lending the government money for our athletes to attend competitions in which winners will represent us at bigger tournaments, such as the Olympics. Dare should endeavour to persuade the leadership of the National Assembly to institutionalise the NFF Bill and the National Sports Commission (NSC) Bill, which many believe will revolutionalise sports.

    No corporate body will give cash to any sports federation, knowing that it is driven by the government. Companies are reluctant to do business with sports because of policy summersaults, but with the promulgation of the NSC Bill and the NFF Bill, companies will be willing to do good business, since both bodies can sue and be sued in the event of breaches.

  • Alleged fraud: Drama as Fayose storms Ekiti Assembly 24 hours after summons

    There was drama on Friday at the Ekiti State House of Assembly complex as former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose staged a surprise visit to the chamber in less than twenty four hours after the lawmakers summoned him to appear over alleged fraud.

    Fayose stormed the premises of the assembly at about 1:15pm and went straight to the office of Speaker, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye to throw light on the alleged financial misappropriation.

    Fayose was accompanied by Hon. Henry Aladeyelu, Hon. Sam Omotosho, Hon. Dayo Akinleye and his media aide, Mr. Lere Olayinka.

    He was received by the Speaker, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye and the Deputy Speaker, Hakeem Jamiu met with them behind closed doors for about 40 minutes.

    Fayose said he came to Ekiti House of Assembly to tell them “I am here and if they need any clarification, I can answer because a clear  conscience fear no foe.”

    Read Also: Ekiti PDP suspends Fayose’s loyalist indefinitely

    The assembly had at its Thursday plenary session summoned Fayose to appear before its Committee on Public Account over alleged misappropriation of local government funds while in office.

    Also summoned alongside the former governor are the former chairman of the Association of Local Government Chairmen, ALGON, Mr. Dapo Olagunju, the former Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr. Kola Kolade and all the former 16 local government areas chairmen.

    Fielding questions from journalists after the brief meeting, the former governor said that he received the summon on him via television and decided to come to see the lawmakers.

    “Let me say that I got their summon through the news media and I called the Speaker last night to confirm whether it is true or not and he confirmed it. You know my style, when EFCC wanted me, I told them I am here.

    “Today too I have come to the Ekiti State House of Assembly to tell them, I am here and if they need any clarification, I can answer.

    “I am ready to give account of my stewardship. That is why I am here.”

    On whether he was given a soft landing by the Federal Government on his case before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he said, the Fayose you know won’t compromise standard. I won’t follow multitude to sin.

    However, another twist was added to the unfolding drama yesterday when Fayose in a phone call alleged that he narrowly escaped being attacked after left the assembly and was on his way to his home town in Afao Ekiti.

    The former governor alleged that thugs in an unmarked black Hilux Jeep trailed him and hauled stones on his moving Range Rover Jeep.

    He, however, did not give details of the attack on him but said he was grateful to God for sparing his life. He said he was not hurt and nobody in his entourage was hurt.

    Meanwhile,  the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly has disclosed that the former governor of the state, Mr Ayodele Fayose’s ambush to the House of Assembly complex was resisted because he came unannounced.

    The Speaker, in a press release signed by his Special Adviser, Akogun Tai Oguntayo, disclosed that after the resolution of the House at the plenary inviting the former governor to appear before the House, he called the Speaker to confirm if the report was true.

  • Folks out there, mind your business!

    Have you sat down to reflect on the problems of the world, especially of people, and how many of these problems are self-inflicted?

    How many “Good Samaritans” or do-gooders had gone down in issues that are not directly their own? “Oh, my sister… my neighbour or … my mere acquaintance is being maltreated by her husband and I must stand up to it and take up the fight on her behalf”. Or, “oh, I must join this fray on the side of a friend”, on a matter, details of which you are not fully seized.

    Or, in politics, where some assume other peoples fights without being abreast of the details and pontificate on dealing with the other person as if he were God who take up our causes in ways that terrify even ourselves He is siding; the reason Yorubas say “o gbe ni, keru o ba onija”.

    Examples down the ages should make one reflect well and soberly on these matters that do not directly concern us before one sucks himself or herself in. Any student of security studies is taught to be aware of this, because of the potential dangers of rushing into issues of which one is not fully seized of the details or situation.

    The tendency is for some unrealistic people to say what is bad in being one’s brother’s keeper. Deeper reflection should tell such people that it is a different ball game from rushing to the aid of someone in danger of mugging, robbery or an accident victim than plunging oneself into matrimonial, land or religious issues of which one is oblivious of the FULL facts. The consequences could be fatal, as experiences of victims have shown.

    Some 70 years ago or more, in a sleepy town in the South West, a pretty young lady was said to have dared to help remove her sister’s belongings from her matrimonial home, to protest her sister’s maltreatment when her brother-in-law was on the verge of seeking family members intervention to help smoothen out the rough edges in their relationship. It was said that the daring of that pretty young lady to help her sister, as it were, caused her to be afflicted with the pang of insanity. Those who are still alive to recall the incident will confirm that the then young lady named Omomeji totally went insane and pounded the dusty roads of markets and other places in the town for many years and became sex mate to fellow mad people or even normal people demonically instructed to sleep with mad women, before she died.

    Her sister, on whose behalf she meddled in her matrimonial affair, eventually reconciled with her husband while the “Good Samaritan”, or more appropriately, the meddler, had her life ruined beyond redemption!

    This incident of meddlers and “do-gooders” came to mind on a visit to a church to join in their normal Sunday service with a friend who was doing a thanksgiving to God for overcoming a rough patch. The song that our friend rendered in the course of that thanksgiving is instructive and should serve as salutary lesson to all who join in issues or participate in frays of which they don’t have the details, to warrant their involvement.

    The song goes thus:

                  ”Emi ko lo pa o,

                  Ota mi lo pa’ra e;

                  Ibi to ti n ro’jo kiri,

                  L’emi mimo ti paa”

    Message in song; this is it!

  • Power, history and reality

    Power corrupts and absolute  power corrupts  absolutely  is a well known cliché. I put that alongside a saying  that you do not know a man’s  nature until you  give him power. You  may  have guessed  where I  am  heading if you followed  the world  news  as well  the local  one. The major global  news this week  was the suspension of  Parliament in Britain  by the new  British  PM Boris  Johnson and the full  support given him via twitter by US President Donald  Trump.

    In  Nigeria a well-known Northern leader Prof  Ango  Abdullahi   asserted controversially  that the Fulanis  were  better  off under colonial  rule than Independent  Nigeria. I want  to connect Boris Johnson’s suspension  of  Parliament  with the Fulani   lamentation  and fate under  the Colonialists  because Britain was Nigeria’s colonizer and  gave  us Independence under the system  of  Parliamentary  Democracy  which  we  have since abandoned   for the presidential  system  of  government. The  reality  today  however  is  that Britain ‘s PM last  week behaved more  like an executive president in suspending  Parliament  and  exposed  the Achilles  heel of the British  constitution which  is largely  unwritten.

    In   the  lamentation of the fate of the Fulani  herdsmen  today in Nigeria the Professor conveniently  forgot that the Fulani  were the ruling class over the whole of  Northern Nigeria  because the Islamic Jihad of the Sokoto caliphate which is Fulani, was  the   source   from which  power flowed  over Nigeria at Independence  through the Sardauna of Sokoto,  Sir  Ahmadu  Bello,  the first  Northern Nigerian Premier whose  party the NPC was  the ruling  party in Nigeria at  Independence. To  say  that  the Fulanis  were  better off   during colonialism is a tautology.  They  were in power in the North and the  rest  of  Nigeria. They  are  still  very much in power today as the incumbent President of  Nigeria is a full  blooded Fulani  who reportedly said that if he were not educated he would   have been  a cattle  Fulani .

    So  for the distinguished  former VC and  Professor to  say that the Fulanis  were  better off under the  Colonialists is to blow  a trumpet  of  triumph  or kakaki  which  the Fulani  caste  enjoyed under the    policy   of  Indirect Rule  under the British  colonialists  when  Fulani Emirs  ruled over their  Hausa subjects  then  and up till  now.  So  for Ango  Abdullahi to say that the Fulanis  were better off under the British  Colonialsts  is  a fake attempt to pull the wool over our  eyes.  The  reality is that the Fulanis  have always  taken the plums  of power in the rulership  of  Nigeria and right  now  they  are still very  much in the saddle  of  Nigeria’s power politics and democracy.

    In  tackling Boris Johnson’s gamble in suspending Parliament  let  me caution him as I did on Italy’s Matteo  Salvini when  I noted last  week   that in bringing down the government coalition of his party and the Five Stars he  could  lose as a bird in hand is worth  two in the bush.  Now  he has lost because his former coalition partners  have agreed to form a government with a party of the left  which  Salvini never  thought  possible.  In addition they have retained the PM whose  cabinet  Salvini brought down  in a bid  to force  an election. Which shows  that in politics there  are no permanent enemies  but permanent  interests.

    Boris  Johnson’s  disdain for  Parliament  however could  damage  Parliamentary  democracy  for good in Britain. This  is because in the British constitution which  is  unwritten Parliament is  supreme. But the British  constitution is mostly  unwritten  and under  the protocol in which  the Queen  suspended Parliament at the behest  of the PM the Queen’s  action is unqueationable  . Yet  some people  have gone to court to challenge the PM  suspension of Parliament. What  laws or law  precedents will  they use except to mention time  honored traditions and customs. But  how will  that sound in this age and time digital politics and social  media  and hacking of election campaigns  and results?  Obviously  the law  is about  to be given  a kick  in the ass over this Brexit deal  or  no  deal.  One thingis sure though and that is that both Boris  Johnson and Labour Opposition leader Jeremy  Corbyn  have no love lost  between  them on Brexit  and it is difficult  to  say  who  will  prevail   and  the world  will  be watching to see if this is the death  knell  of Parliamentary  democracy  in the Mother of  Parliament or not.

    The  situation in Britain provides ample opportunity  to compare Parliamentary Democracy with the American  presidential  system  with its checks  and balances  and the separation of powers inherent in it. It  is obvious  now  with benefit of hindsight  that both systems  of  government  can  be derailed  under serious system stress  and the machinations  of  politicians.  I    will  use a comparative  analysis to show this disturbing  fact  in the Brexit  saga still  unfolding , the US under  Donald  Trump  and the  Nigerian  senate between 2015  and  2019.

    Udoubtedly  the  British  Parliament  has  been seriously  wounded in terms of image and respectability by the Brexit  Debates. Three   deals on Brexit were rejected by Parliament  and the last by the Speaker who cited   the  wordings as the same and therefore not worthy of  consideration.  This led to the resignation of Theresa May  as PM  and the emergence of Boris  Johnson.  Now Johnson is suspicious  of  Parliament  hence the suspension or prorogation . A mistrust of Parliament by a sitting PM cannot augur  well  for Parliamentary  democracy. As  an observer  noted  if in a Parliamentary  democracy Parliament becomes undemocratic in preventing Brexit from happening then  democracy must  be imposed on Parliament. Which in a way was what the British  PM is trying to do but he is not having it easy at  all   and the world is watching with bated breath.

    In the US under  Trump  separation of powers seem  broken and  apart.  Whereas the checks  and balances  put  in place were to make  the system  intertwined and interwoven.  But  now under Trump  the senate goes its way   dominated   by the Republicans  while the House  of Reps  under the Democrats does  things its way and  there is little room  for accommodation or  tolerance which is the essence of the  checks  and balances in a presidential  system.  So  the American  political  system  is under the personality  stress  of its  incumbent  president and that  stress  has  been  translated into a global  stress affecting all  issues from climate to diplomacy and trade.

    Ironically  the Nigerian  political  system  weathered  its  separation of  powers stress better than both the US and Britain  where  the sovereignty  and integrity of Parliament have been  impugned.  The  Senate President in 2015 became that President by subterfuge and deceit  of the ruling APC.  He  was able to hold on to that position till  the end of his tenure and to the chagrin of his then  party before defecting to the opposition PDP,  This  definitely debarred  the APC  from fulfilling  its mandate as it was crippled in the senate where an enemy  from within its ranks  had imposed himself  as president. Luckily the APC  won the 2019  election  and has put its house in order as lightning  cannot  be allowed to strike   twice at the same spot.

    So  to a great  extent Nigeria’s  metamorphosis from a Parliamentary democracy  to an executive presidency  encompasses  the good  the bad and  ugly  of the two  systems. We have seen  the worst case scenario in which the Speakers mace  had  been  used to break  law  makers heads or get lost in Parliament.  Such incidents led to military intervention and later   the Presidential  system of government.  From  all  indications it would seem that  both our former colonial  master  and the garrulous Americans are  on the verge of  their    round   of  fisticuffs  in evolving their own  democracies   and  we can  only  watch  from  afar.  After all what is good for the goose    should be sauce   for the gander.

    Once again long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Lai, The Tailor: Role model for all youths

    I think it was the philosopher juju musician, Ebenezer Obey that waxed a record many years ago, extolling the virtue in hard work. Before then, many had the narrow mindset that you could only make good in life through the structured careers or vocations. That was when the fad was to be in white collar jobs, or be lawyers, doctors or engineers and such like things.

    But, not any more. Many emerged from petty trading to become champions of commerce and industry. In the years of yore, Chief Ilodibe, a Catholic priest houseboy, rose from that lowly position to pioneer long-haul luxury bus transportation business from the Eastern part of Nigeria under the well-known trade name of Ekele Chukwu Transport Company. In Yorubaland, Chief Rasaq Akanbi Okoya had a modest start in merchandising, to grow to the octopus-businessman that he is today, with his hands in plastic manufacturing, household utensils and enamelware, and real estate. His toothpaste smile is a testament that he succeeded immensely in his business. Neither can one forget Chief Maduka, another Catholic priest houseboy, who today is a major player in the automobile sales industry as Coscharis Motors.

    Lai Olumegbon started as your common pound-the-street tailor, but because of his vision and commitment and strong belief in dignity of labour, he soldiered on, to emerge the leader in the garment making industry in the country, whose clientele expanded from individuals to corporate bodies, including the military and para-military institutions. By any parameters, Lai made good in that business arena. Apart from the wealth that accrued from his tailoring trade, his nation honoured him with the Member of the Order of Niger (MON) award, in recognition of his contribution to the growth of economy from his own line of business.

    At 90, the thoroughbred Lagosian was celebrated the other week for attaining that age in a clime where the wear and tear of doing rigorous business take their toll quickly on people. If one were to use his rotund physique to assess the grand old man, you’d think he had it all rosy from the start; but no, God’s grace on a chequered life is on display. Happy birthday to our own venerated Lai, the tailor!

  • Oyo Speaker, Ladoja, Adedibu others extol Aluko at 76

    The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, and wife of the late Ibadan politician, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, Alhaja Bose Adedibu joined families , relatives and friends of the Ilesa-born business mogul and philantropist, Chief Akanni Aluko on the occasion of his 76th birthday celebration .

    The eminent guests described the celebrant as a true humanist, compassionate and caring father  whose immense contribution to uplifting many is immeasurable .

    The epoch event which , was held at the expansive Monatan , Ibadan home of the celebrant, also witnessed intercessions and prayers for the publisher of the Third Eye newspapers , seeking God’s divine favor , wisdom,  protection and many more years of healthy living for the birthday ‘boy’.

    Wife of the celebrant, Chief Mrs. Kofoworola Aluko, expressed gratitude to almighty God for His bountiful blessings on the celebrant and the family.

    Read Also: Oyo renames roads after Lam, Akala, Ladoja, others

    Former governor Ladoja, represented by his wife, Chief Mrs. Mutiat Ladoja described Chief Aluko as a rear Nigerian, and an epitome of love and compassion.

    Also, present was the mother of the Speaker, Chief Mrs. Ogundoyin who came in company of family friends and relatives to rejoice with the Alukos on the special event.

    Speaking with newsmen at the event, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin described Chief Aluko as a foster father, mentor and confidant.

    He poured encomiums on Chief Aluko, wishing him more years on earth, in good health and prosperity.

    “I am here to celebrate someone that is a father to me. He is someone i have known when i was growing up, especially after i lost my dad , he and my dad enjoyed a very solid relationship, more like brothers  and after the passing away of my dad , he actually stood in as a father and not just to me, but to the rest of my siblings.

    “And we also grew up with his kids, in London, in Nigeria anywhere we went, we do things together. So, its a great thing to see him celebrating his 76th birthday today , and in spite of many challenges, he is a fighter and he is still going from strength to strength  in making sure that the family stays together, both our family and his family because we always stay together . So, it’s really a joyous occasion to witness this great celebration today,” he stated.

  • Agribusiness: young cocoa farmers seek govt support

    Young cocoa farmers in Osun State have appealed to government at state and federal levels to support them with funds and tools to enable them do well in their agribusiness.

    They made the appeal at Iperindo, an agrarian community in Osun State where they celebrated the International Youth Day under the auspices of Olam Cocoa with support from Action Health Incorporated (AHI)

    The Programme Officer of Action Health Incorporated, Tina Igbinedion expressed concern on the future of agriculture given the way rural areas are losing a vital part of their workforce as young people were migrating to cities or abroad.

    Read Also: Osinbajo: 720,000 farmers get N120b credit

    She said: “Agriculture remains a significant employer of labour and can contribute to a significant reduction of unemployment among young people in Nigeria.”

    During the event, the young cocoa farmers were sensitized on healthy living. They also received free medical checkup and treatment.

    They were also thought the modern best practices in cocoa production so as to make commensurate profits.

    Igbinedion said diversification into agriculture is an important mechanism for economic growth.

  • Gunmen kidnap Kaduna lawmaker

    Gunmen operating along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway on Friday kidnapped the member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Zaria Constituency, Hon. Suleiman Ibrahim Dabo.

    Dabo was seized at about 12:30 AM from his car around Farakwai Village.

    The hoodlums left the vehicle on the road with its doors ajar.

    Spokesman for the  State Police Command DSP Yakubu Sabo confirmed the development and said the police were already combing the area to rescue the lawmaker.

    He said: “On 30/08/19 at about 0030hrs, the Command received information through DPO Mararraban Jos that a Toyota Camry with Reg No ZAR 972 TL was found parked without occupants at a point near Farakwai Village along Kaduna-Zaria Expressway.

    Read Also: Police confirm kidnap of six on Kaduna-Abuja road

    ”Patrol teams were immediately dispatched to the area and recovered the vehicle to station. Upon search, an ID card bearing Hon Suleiman Ibrahim Dabo a member of Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Zaria Constituency was found.

    ”A contact was made and it was confirmed that he was the person involved in the incident.

    ”Teams of conventional Police, PMF personnel, SARS and Anti Kidnapping Unit of the Command are currently combing the bush for possible rescue of the victim and arresting the criminals.

    ”The IGP’s IRT were also contacted for technical support in tracking the hoodlums. Update will follow, please.”

    The abduction of the lawmaker came  four days after the kidnap of three final year students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and three other people on Kaduna-Abuja highway.