The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Odebiyi: I will always defend Ogun West

    Our Reporter

    The senator representing Ogun West District at the National Assembly, Tolu Odebiyi, has promised to defend the interest of the zone.

    He was conferred with the Voice Hero of the year 2019 Award by the Voice News Magazine based in Netherland.

    The event tagged ‘The  Voice Achievers Award’ is one of the biggest African social events in the Central Europe, dedicated to appreciating the contributions of daughters, sons and friends of Africa who through their activities have impacted positively on the lives of Africans.

    Read Also: APC senatorial candidate leads 20,000 supporters back to PDP

    The Publisher/Editor-in- Chief,  Pastor Elvis Iruh said:  “The Award  is in recognition of the giant strides of the Ogun West Senator adding that the Magazine decided to confer the award on Odebiyi to serve as impetus for him to sustain the momentum especially in the area of education.

    The organisers also noted that  Odebiyi’s diligence and unparallel contributions to the development of Ogun West have not gone unnoticed.

    The award, which was sent to him in Abuja, was announced as part of events to mark the Magazine’s 20th Anniversary in Almere, Netherlands recently.

  • Osun civil societies flay violation of human rights

    Our Reporter

    The Osun Civil Societies Coalition has expressed concern over the alleged violation of human rights by security agencies.

    The group said although it was not a new trend, the increasing rate of human rights abuse as reported by both national and international organisations, was disturbing.

    In a statement by the chairman of the coalition, Waheed Lawal, the group urged the government to stem the tide.

    Lawal said human right abuses among the security agencies had subjected the country to ridicule  in the comity of nations.

    He said: “As the world celebrates Human Rights Day, Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) uses the occasion to appraise respect for and abuse of human rights in Nigeria and Osun state. We have observed with keen interest cases of human rights abuses and total disregard to rule of law with impunity by Nigeria’s security agencies.

    “We cannot shy away from the fact that Nigeria has been subjected to ridicule among the comity of nations because of the excessive disrespect to the dignity and fundamental freedoms of the citizens by security agents.

    “While we know as a fact that human right abuse has been with us from time immemorial, it is however, disturbing that case of human rights violation is increasing in Nigeria as reported by both national and international organisations.”

    Lawal, who also decried the action of the State Security Service on Omoyele Sowore, described it as a desecration of the judiciary.

    He said the SSS were overzealous and conducted themselves in an uncivilized manner in their bid to arrest Sowore.

    However, the SSS has refuted the claims, saying that it was stage managed.

    Lawal said the SSS should be warned against arbitrariness and frivolity on Sowore’s case, adding that the law must be allowed to take it full course on the matter.

    He said: “We are also worried that Nigeria judiciary is being desecrated, as security agents have seized to accord the temple of justice its maximum respect. We will like to react to the infamous conduct of officers of the State Security Service at a Federal High Court in Abuja last Friday while trying to re-arrest Mr Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporter and Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress in the last presidential election.

    Read Also: Reps to probe Sowore’s re-arrest

     

    “From available facts and short videos watched, the SSS officers were overzealous and conducted themselves in an uncivilized manner in their bid to arrest Sowore. There is nothing more embarrassing to a nation than seeing an institution (a security institution for that matter) flagrantly disrespecting the judiciary and poking it in the eye.

    “The SSS’s reasons for the re-arrest of Sowore and the attempt to exonerate its officers from the barbaric drama that played out during the course of the arrest are laughable, cheap and demeaning. The SSS would have made the arrest in a civilized and professional way, instead of bringing disrepute on Nigeria.

    “While we are not in support of any act capable of truncating national peace and security, it will be offensive to our ideological discipline, conscience and humanity to look away from a clear misconduct and disgraceful manner of the SSS at the court on Friday. We equally detest and condemn any act of brigandage, human right abuse and desecration of our temple of justice by security agencies.

    Lawal added: “The conduct of the SSS on Sowore’s matter is inimical to social justice and capable of breeding anarchy. Sowore is an accused person that has been arraigned in court; the SSS should allow the court to dispense justice accordingly. We must also warn the SSS against arbitrariness and frivolity on Sowore’s case. We are worried by the re-arrest of Sowore because it sent signal of total disregard to judiciary, fundamental human rights and Nigeria’s integrity.

    “Sowore is an accused person, not a convict and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. He should not be subjected to inhuman treatment; even prisoners have right to dignity in the correctional centre.

    “The SSS should stop disparaging the judiciary in the guise of protecting national security, they must have regards for human rights and be civil in their conduct. We cannot have a democratic system in place and be treated like we are in the military regime.”

     

  • 2021: 20 for governor in Anambra

    Southeast Bureau Chief Nwanosike Onu examines the preparations for the 2021 Anambra State governorship election by the All Progressives Grant Alliance (APGA), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

     

    Anambra State will hold governorship election  in November 2021.

    Governor Willie Obiano will hand over the mantle of leadership on March 17, 2022.

    Obiano is serving his second term. He was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    He was recommended to the party by former Governor Peter Obi and the former national chairman, Senator Victor Umeh.

    Since then, the party has gone from one crisis to another.

    Anambra State is on the march again. Who succeed Obiano?

    Although, there are over 90 registered political parties, only three are popular in Anambra State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The state was ruled by the PDP before Obi came and changed the narrative. Since then, APGA has held sway.

    However, the ruling party cannot afford to sleep on guard. Opposition parties are warming up.

    Although the election is a bit far, aspirants have started emerging from the three leading parties.

    The 2021 contest is going to be a battle of billionaires. Some of them are already mobilising.

    The rich politicians who are showing interests are; Sen. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, Sen. Andy Ubah, Dr Obiora Okonkwo, Dr. Godwin Maduka, Dr. Chido Nwankwo (Wichtech), Dr. Ike Ozigbo, (Transcorp chairman), Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and  Senator Uche Ekwunife.

    Others eyeing the seat are Dr George Moghalu, the Managing Director, Nigeria Inland Waterways Agency NIWA, Chris Azubogu, representing Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo federal constituency, Chief  Johnbosco Onunkwo, Stanley Uzochukwu,  Sir Bart Nwibe (oil man), Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Mr Godwin Ezeemo.

    These billionaires are set to shake the state and make the poll competitive and memorable.

    The politicians are following the footsteps of Obi. They are insisting that the next governor must come from the South.

    That was exactly what Obi did when Obiano came into the fray. His reason was that the people of North Senatorial Zone have been marginalised.

    Today, former Governor Chukwuemeka Ezife is leading the people of Old Aguata Union (OAU) in agitation for power shift to the South.

    Also, Obiano has said that APGA would pick its candidate from the South.

    Before now, Sir Fabian Ozoigbo had formed what he called the Great Anambra Forum (GAFORUM) to champion the cause.  He is not  in the game alone. His co-travellers include former commissioners, local government chairmen and other political leaders.

    Speaking with The Nation, Ozoigbo said, never again would a foreigner rule Anambra State

    He said GAFORUM was not interested in any party, be it APC, PDP or APGA, but a candidate with grassroots orientation.

    He said what had gone wrong in Anambra has been those coming from abroad to take over the leadership in the state without knowing the problems confronting the electorate

    Ozoigbo added: “We are tired of electing ‘diaspora’ people into the system and when they are elected, they will abandon the electorate and start bringing their friends and relatives from abroad to come and take all the political appointments without considering the grassroots”.

    Ezeife enjoined political parties to take a cue from APGA and zone the ticket to Anambra South.

    Already, majority of the aspirants in different parties are from the Southern zone.

    However, both the PDP and the APC are adamant. They are not supporting the arrangement, describing it  as APGA’s trump card.

    The APC chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike, said the ruling party would not dictate to his party, adding that parties have the right to choose from any of the senatorial zones, so far the candidate would be acceptable to all.

    Leading the PDP aspirants is Dr. Obiora Okonkwo.

    The PDP contender was recently given the highest  chieftaincy titles by the traditional rulers in the three senatorial zones.

    In fact,  the monarch of Igbariam Kingdom, who led others in the Central Zone, Igwe Nneli Kelly, where Okonkwo was installed as Ibobo Ndigbo (man of charisma), described him as the best among the best.

     

    Factors at play:

    There are notable factors that are likely to shape the election.

    The first being the Church dichotomy, which was introduced into the politics of the state by Obi.

    Since then, it has become a war among the Roman Catholics, the Anglicans and the Pentecostals.

    The Anglicans and Pentecostal are crying out that they are being marginalised by the Roman Catholics, who they claim had dominated the seat and state appointments.

    But, those they are accusing are more in number in the state. Their members occupy important positions in the country.

    Another thing likely to play out during the election is the issue of membership of Christ The King College (CKC).

    Since the reign of Obi, ex students of CKC have dominated the government, which was also responsible for the emergence of Obiano.

    Most appointments in the past 13 years had been dominated by the ex-students of the college, and this has not gone down well with others.

    Again, the the three senatorial zones will play a key role in determining who succeeds Obiano.

    It is believed that any body from the North or Central is not likely to make any impact, irrespective of his or her party.

    Anambra South had held the position for about six years, despite having four of their own in the office at different times.

    From the South, Ezeife ruled for over one year under the military. Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju was governor for four years. Dame Virgy Etiaba ruled for three months while Sen Andy Uba held the position for 17 days.

    From the Central, Sen Chris Ngige ruled for almost three years while Obi ruled for eight years, making the zone the most dominant in the state.

    The first time the position had shifted to the North was in 2014, when Obiano took over from Obi and by 20222, he would have ruled for eight years.

    Based on equity, justice and fair play, the people are clamouring for a governor from the South to take over from Obiano to balance the equation

    Read Also: Edo 2020: APC, PDP guber aspirants in early moves

     

    PDP contenders:

    Despite the legion of aspirants on the platform of the PDP, there are those considered as major contenders.

    These are Mr Godwin Ezeemo,  Okonkwo, Hon Chris Azubogu and  Chief Osita Chidoka.

    Although they are either looking for the position of deputy or just to make the numbers.

    Such names include Sen Uche Ekwunife, Vin Oligbo, Val Ozoigbo (Transcorp Chairman) among others.

    About 80 percent of the aspirants, who wish to run in 2021 are either relying on political party structure or  godfatherism to excel.

    Only few aspirants  have built personal structures, while some of them are just floating without  followership.

    For now, some of them have not made their intentions known, but they are making consultations in different parties with their followers.

    Some of such people are  Sen Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, who won the South Senatorial election on the platform of Young People’s Party (YPP), Dr  Tony Nwoye who is a member of APC, Sen Andy Uba and Sen. Uche Ekwunife.

    These three  aspirants have strong political structures. They call them  movements in Anambra political arena.

    The APGA contingent:

    The aspirants in APGA are many, not because it is the ruling party.

    They include Soludo, now a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Economic team, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Hon Vincent Okpala, Sir Damian Okolo, Stanley Uzochukwu, Dr Godwin Maduka among others.

    APC aspirants:

    The aspirants include Moghalu, Sir Bart Nwibe and another oil guru, Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo.

    However, the duo of Dr Tony Nwoye and Sen Andy Uba are still associating with the APC and PDP, while both have not made any official statement on their ambitions.

    Another speculation in Anambra is the romance between APGA and APC concerning Soludo’s interest.

    While the APGA members believe the ticket belongs to him, others are of the opinion that he may pitch the tent with APC, having been appointed into the Economic Team by the President.

    However, the coast is not yet  clear on the number of persons contesting the tickets in the three leading parties.

    But, the people of Anambra State know those who will never become governor, irrespective of their wealth and influence .

    Again, it is not yet time for a woman to govern the state as stated by some of the political big guns.

    Besides, the people have vowed not to look the way of those they described as political ‘desperadoes’.

    However, it will be suicidal to undermine any of the aspirants in any of the parties that has eyes on Obiano’s seat.

     

  • Sowore: Opposition should live up to its responsibility

    By Emeka Asinugo

     

    In a proper democratic setting, there is separation of powers. And that is very important if the rule of law must continue to guide democracy away from authoritarian tendencies in governance.

    It is the rule of law that fundamentally restricts arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating all authority to established, well-defined laws.

    And it is against this backdrop that the recent alleged display of raw power by Nigeria’s secret police has obviously created the impression that the country’s fragile democracy is under a serious threat.

    Video clips went viral of the state security service allegedly wrestling down Omoyele Sowore and re-arresting him right inside a courtroom even after a high court judge ordered that he be granted bail.

    Sowore, the publisher of New York-based ‘Sahara Reporters’ and a presidential candidate during this year’s presidential election, was the the convener of the #RevolutionNow protest.

    Sowore was released from the Department of Security Service (DSS) detention after a court gave a 24-hour ultimatum to release him.

    The court also awarded N100, 000 costs against the prosecution for failing to comply with a court order requesting the release of Sowore and for not serving the defence counsel with necessary documents early enough. But operatives of the DSS re-arrested Sowore barely 24 hours after his release.

    After the resumed hearing, there was a stampede in the courtroom occasioned by DSS operatives who allegedly cocked their guns to scare away the judge, lawyers, journalists and Sowore’s sympathizers before Sowore and his co-defendant Bakare were re-arrested and returned to custody by the DSS.

    It would be an understatement to say many Nigerians were not happy with the way the DSS continued to give the impression to the world that it was above the laws of the land by flagrantly flouting court orders or trying to get around them by some weird argument that only exposed their disregard for the rule of law and the tenets of democratic governance.

    The excuse had always been that the alleged culprits were a threat to national security. But the question is: who defines what constitutes national insecurity, the law courts or the DSS? And so, from recent events in the country, it is clear that the DSS has become so self-opinioned that it is actually turning itself into a threat to the rule of law, to democracy and by inference the national security it was established to protect.

    The DSS Public Relations Officer (PRO) Dr Peter Afunanya has said categorically that the circulation of the video on the alleged re-arresting of Sowore right inside a courtroom was the handwork of mischief makers, meant to serve as propaganda machine to bring the DSS into disrepute. According to him, Sowore stepped out of the courtroom and sighted operatives of the service within the premises. He ran back into the courtroom.

    In a bid to shield him from an “imaginary arrest”, his uncontrollable supporters mobbed him as they chanted “you can’t arrest him”. Pandemonium ensued.

    Dr. Afunanya said “a critical look at the videos in circulation would convince any objective viewer that there was no DSS personnel during the entire period the crowd of Sowore supporters acted out its orchestrated drama.

    DSS personnel were never, at any time, involved in the incident. In actual fact, it was his people who seized him.”

    But the argument doesn’t add up. What could possibly have caused a pandemonium if all the people in the courtroom were on the same side of Sowore? In other words, it is only in a situation of conflict that a pandemonium can take place.

    Afunanya said the eventual re-arrest of Sowore was effected outside the courtroom adding that his counsel had affirmed it. This informative contention only confirmed that Sowore’s fear of being re-arrested was not “imaginary” after-all as Afunanya alleged. It was real.

    Both Sowore and the crowd that supported him knew that the DSS was up to something cocky. Even looking at the video clip, it will be quite difficult to determine whether or not DSS operatives were there because some of them operate incognito, in mufti dresses.

    Read ALso: Falana to Fed Govt: Stop subjecting Sowore to media trial

    What every Nigerian must understand is that there is always a tendency for overzealous workers in government, especially in the various military and paramilitary establishments, to go the extra mile to execute what they consider their responsibility in the defence of their principals, even when the boss has no idea what was happening.

    It happened in Abacha’s regime and even in Buhari’s time as a military head of state. I guess that this is exactly what is happening. These overzealous workers create an aura of fear on the populace and in such a way, they convince themselves they were paving the way for their boss to be regarded as a sacred cow who is somewhat above the law.

    But this attitude of the agencies is scarcely democratic as it pitches directly against the rule of law. And that is where a responsible opposition comes in.

    What is the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, doing to ensure that the ruling government is actually working in the interest of the people? It is the responsibility of the shadow government to ensure that the institutions of democracy are respected by government and that government agencies do not constitute themselves into a threat to national security by disrespecting the rule of law which is the heartbeat that propels democracy. Nigeria’s shadow government should live up to its responsibility.

  • When the matron of the villa is angry

    By Fredrick Nwabufo

     

    SIR: Jane Appleton Pierce, the wife of Franklin Pierce, 14th president of the United States, is perhaps, most remembered as the ‘’calamity first lady’’. She spent her years working against the political ambition of her husband. And when he eventually became president she still did not let up.

    Is Aisha Buhari ‘’calamity first lady’’? Really, I ask because she appears to reveal all the dirty and soiled undergarments of the villa to the chagrin of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In October, it was an interview granted by Fatima Mamman Daura, daughter of the Mamman Daura to sully Aisha. To this writer, it was clear Mamman Daura’s daughter leaked the video recording of Aisha in her most distressed state to embarrass her.

    Now, Aisha is now coming off as an angry black first lady. Her concerns as regards her family affairs may or may not be genuine, but she has become catty in handling them.

    The office of the first lady is a pivotal one. It should bring the zing to the administration. It should be that ‘’soft and cuddly touch’’ of the administration. The office should also be the staunchest promoter of the government and not an outlet for exhibiting hypocritical tigritude.

    At the weekend, the first lady accused presidential aides of not ‘’defending the government’’ enough.

    According to her, ‘’aides are supposed to take action against the offenders, or to take action or to take charge or be in control, or caution people, they keep mute. But when it comes to unnecessary things, people will start talking from the presidency.”

    I find this amusing. Aisha herself has been the biggest de-marketer of the administration. I will give instances.

    In May, the first lady ridiculed the N500 billion social investment programme initiated by her husband’s government. She said it failed in the north.

    Hear her: “I was expecting the N500bn to be utilised in different methods in the north for the aim to be achieved. I don’t know the method they used, but most of the northern states do not get it. My state does not get it.’’

    In October, 2016, Aisha said she might not support Buhari’s re-election — that he is a titular head being puppeteered by the cabal.

    Read Also: Aisha Buhari’s intervention

     

    In November at the National Islamic Council meeting in Abuja, she spared no verbal attack for anyone, cutting down every organ and institution of government with her tongue.

    But is it the place of the first lady to reprimand aides appointed by the president in the open?

    Does Aisha really know how government functions? Beyond her criticisms of the administration, which I must say resonate with me as a critic, she appears to be classically ignorant of the operations of government.

    Really, Aisha has shaped up to be that lady of the manor who commands obedience by heckling, cursing and caterwauling.

    I saw through the veneer of her hypocrisy when she spoke in support of the draconian social media bill. According to her, the first family ought to be protected from the irritations of social media.

    She even reprimanded Lai Mohammed, minister of information, in public for not taking action on those she conceived to be offenders on social media. It was clear to me that her attacks, even on the administration, were for an insular end – not that she loved the people.

    I advise Aisha, the matron of the villa, to take lessons in grace, temperance and carriage from Michelle Obama, former first lady of the US.

    She could also choose to see a role model in the late Mariam Babangida.

     

    • Fredrick Nwabufo, <fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com>

  • Victims of emergencies

     

    It is sad that Nigerians keep dying, needlessly, as a result of the refusal by some hospitals to treat armed robbery, accident or other emergency victims in spite of legal provisions mandating hospitals to prioritise saving lives above every other thing in such a situation.

    We have the National Health Act which in section 20 mandates a healthcare provider, health worker or establishment to treat persons on emergency whatever the situation.

    Violation of the law attracts a fine of N100,000 or a jail term of six months, or both. There is also the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act which, in section 11 provides for a five-year jail term or N500,000 fine, or both, for any authority or person whose omission results in the death of a gunshot victim.

    So, it is not for the lack of relevant laws that emergency victims have been dying as a result of hospitals’ refusal to treat them.

    Why then is this recurring? This is why we welcome the decision of the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged refusal of the management of R-Jolad Hospital, Gbagada in Lagos State, to treat a victim of armed robbery attack, Miss Moradeun Balogun, who was rushed to the hospital, resulting in her untimely death.

    The decision was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved on Tuesday by Olawale Raji, at the plenary presided over by the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Miss Balogun was attacked by armed robbers on December 2 and was rushed to the hospital by Good Samaritans. She was however allegedly refused medical attention, a thing which eventually led to her death.

    However, the hospital said contrary to social media reports, Miss Balogun was not a gunshot victim; but she nonetheless was attended to by two of their doctors.

    The hospital said it had to transfer her to Gbagada General Hospital since the doctors said she needed the attention of a vascular surgeon.

    “The patient was therefore referred to the closest hospital, Gbagada General Hospital, in one of the available vehicles at the spot since the ambulance was yet to return from a medical assignment.

    The vehicle departed exactly 07:26pm. Further findings and follow up revealed that the patient was received in Gbagada General Hospital,” R-Jolad Hospital said. The hospital added that it remained committed to its core values which place premium and value on human lives.

    Now, it is the hospital’s words against the social media reports. This is where the House of Representatives probe becomes necessary.

    Read Also: Ministers to doctors: be compassionate during emergencies

     

    Many hospitals in the country usually turn down victims of emergencies on account of failure of the people who brought them to hospital to produce police report.

    Yet, the police have always made it clear that this is wrong. As a matter of fact, as recently as May, this year, the (then) Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgal, warned hospitals and doctors to henceforth desist from rejecting gunshot victims, saying such act was inexcusable and constitutes a flagrant violation of an existing law.

    He directed that such medical personnel be arrested and prosecuted immediately.

    Without trying to preempt the outcome of the House of Representatives’ investigation on the incident, it is important to stress that sometimes, things are not as easy or smooth as they are put by senior public officials.

    For instance, we all know that bail should be free, but then, it is not so in many police stations. Likewise, Good Samaritans who helped accident victims have had to go through hell at some police stations, especially if the victims eventually die.

    The onus is on such kind-hearted individuals to prove they were not the ones who killed the victims.

    As we curiously await the outcome of the House of Representatives investigation, it must be stressed that hospitals need to be aware of the provisions of the law in the circumstance and compelled to obey them.

    There is what is known as the ‘critical moments’ in emergencies which make the difference between life and death for the victims.

    That anyone could be victim also makes it imperative for the hospitals to first do the needful; that is attend to the victims even if they are criminals, before reporting to the police.

    We need the criminals to be alive to get useful information from them.

     

  • Lesson from Algeria

     

    Algeria offers the latest example of countries where former national leaders have fallen to abysmal shame, having been tried, found guilty and jailed for corruption.

    Two previous prime ministers of the country during the two decades’ dictatorship of deposed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was forced out of power by the military this year following protracted nationwide protests, Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Selled, have been sentenced to a total of 27 years imprisonment for their roles in squandering public funds through money laundering and abusing their authority by granting undue privileges.

    Other ex-Algerian public officers sentenced to various terms of imprisonment ranging from two to 10 years in the case include two former industry ministers, a former governor of Boumerdes Province and eight businessmen.

    Another former industry minister, Abdeslam Bouchouareb, who is at large, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in absentia.

    Several countries across the world are currently being rocked by massive and persistent protests and violent demonstrations spurred by widespread poverty, inequality, and poor performing economies caused often by tax evasion, contract inflation, money laundering, diversion of public funds for private gain and nepotism, among other forms of corruption. These include Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, Egypt, Czech Republic, Lebanon and Haiti.

    A survey indicates that over the last two years, no less than 10 national leaders have either resigned from office or removed as a result of corruption charges or allegations in such countries as Zimbabwe, South Africa, Iceland, Brazil, Montenegro, South Korea, Slovakia, Peru and Mauritius.

    Other countries whose leaders have had their positions seriously threatened and their reputations tarnished due to corruption charges and investigations include Italy, Romania, Ukraine, Venezuela, Colombia, Israel, Sri-Lanka and, of course, the United States, where President Donald Trump is currently facing impeachment threats from the House of Representatives.

    Nigeria is naturally not immune from this growing antipathy to corruption across the world, even though the country has not got to the level attained in Algeria, where former occupants of such powerful office as prime minister have been sentenced to prison for corruption.

    Read Also: Support govt to fight corruption, says Oyetola

     

    This is despite the fact that some of the country’s former presidents and military heads of state have serious allegations of corrupt practices levelled against them, with the state seemingly helpless to do anything about it. It would appear that the immunity of Nigeria’s former presidents does not lapse even when they have left office.

    Yet, it cannot be denied that some impressive progress has been recorded in recent years in the country’s fight against corruption, particularly under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay, revealed that over  N1 trillion of stolen funds has been recovered from indicted ex-public office holders by the administration.

    This does not include physical assets, both within and outside the country, which have been forfeited to the government.

    Even more importantly, though the conviction rate is slow due to the cumbersome judicial process, a gradually increasing number of top office holders, including former governors, have been found guilty and imprisoned for corruption.

    There is no doubt that the brazenness and impunity with which public office holders rape the public treasury is bound to be considerably reduced the more it becomes obvious that those found guilty are unlikely to escape the legal consequences through manipulation of technicalities to achieve indefinite delays.

    However, the greatest breakthrough would have been made, particularly psychologically, in the war against corruption when, just as in the case of Algeria, occupants of even the highest offices in the land know that they will be held to account when they lose their immunity.

  • Social maladies and criminality in Nigeria

    I got a distress call from one of my former students in the United States about Sowore and the DSS invasion of a high court in Abuja to re-arrest and seize their quarry. She said a video was trending on the internet and showed Nigeria in a bad light.

    This young Ph.D. student in one of the universities in Illinois, United States was actually crying about the situation in our country. She said she saw the lady judge handling the case take to her heels with her files and gown flying in different directions while her police orderly was trying to help her.

    I tried to calm her down by telling her all will be well and that she should face her studies and not become an emotional wreck. I have not seen the video she alluded to but I have read the account in the papers. I then told the young lady about my own experience as a Ph.D. student during the Nigerian civil war and how I was emotionally traumatized.

    The International media particularly the BBC was suffused with starving children of Biafra dying of Kwashiorkor. Then when the then Colonel Benjamin Adekunle and his 3rd marine commando division captured Port Harcourt in 1968, the BBC announced the event and the newscaster said “British oil wells are safe in Nigerian hands”.

    As a young radical, I broke down in tears telling myself that the two black armies were fighting to secure “British oil wells” in Nigeria. From that time on, I could not continue with my research.

    My General Practitioner (GP) in London could not help. I went and saw an Egyptian neurologist who put me on Valium three times a day. This did the trick and I was able to complete my programme.

    When I finally submitted my thesis and I wrote in the introduction that I suffered a psychological breakdown, my thesis supervisor, Professor John Edgar Flint, who is still very much alive, advised me to remove it because people in future might think I went mad.

    I removed it but I know what I went through. I knew I was knocked down but not knocked out!  I told this story to calm my former student who is emotionally tied to the wellbeing of her country that it is not a strange phenomenon.

    When some of us worry about our country, it is because of our experience. The young lady said to me “if Nigeria was ok what would I be doing in the USA where for the first time in my life I became aware of my colour being my defining factor?” I told her I went through the same experience. This is why we all must do something to build this country together.

    I saw the video of Jerry Rawlings, former president of Ghana recently saying that if Nigeria gets its act together by restructuring its polity along regional lines, our country has the potential of being the greatest country not only in Africa but in the world.

    All things are possible, but it will require a lot of discipline and unity and perhaps tears, blood and iron, to parody what Otto von Bismarck said about German unification in 1870. What do I mean by this?

    I will give four examples of unacceptable criminal behavior of our people which should elicit tough and strong reactions. There was a news item of bolts being removed by thieves on the new rail line under construction from Lagos to Ibadan.

    When I heard about this, the first thing that happened to me was that I lost my appetite the whole day. I wish the Air Force will deploy one or two helicopter gunships to shoot at sight anyone found tampering with such strategic assets.

    The same treatment should be meted to those tampering with oil pipelines anywhere in the country. Sometimes last week, a so-called pastor in Isheri-Olofin  while baptizing a member of his church was said to have mistakenly poured petrol instead of “holy water” on one of his parishioners.

    The burning candle in front of them set the pastor and parishioner alight. The fire then spread to vandalized oil pipelines nearby setting the entire area on fire.

    Now where else in the world could this have happened but in Nigeria? We just lack discipline in every facet of our life and draconian steps must be taken to put out the fire of indiscipline before we are consumed by deliberate acts of criminality.

    Recently it was reported that the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai installed in the Rigasa area of Kaduna, solar street lights. He did this with the usual publicity characteristic of politicians. Within a week, all the street lights went dead.

    On investigation, it was discovered that all the batteries had been removed and stolen. He called all the police DPO and councilors in the area giving them a week to find the batteries or lose their jobs. The batteries were immediately found and the solar lights restored.

    Now what kind of country is this where citizens will deliberately vandalize facilities put in place to make their lives better? The governor should have continued with his investigation to find out the culprits and hand them over not to the police but to the EFCC.

    Some years ago my church parish in Ibadan on finding out that the police office in our area was always plunged into darkness when there was power cut, which occurred frequently, bought a generator and donated it to the police. A few weeks later the DPO was transferred.

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    He simply took the generator with him and returned the office to the dark nights which we tried to end by our generosity.

    Whenever I travel on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway under construction, I notice that the flyovers across the expressway are being repaired because the steel barriers on both sides of the flyovers have been removed and fabricated into long spoons sold to caterers.

    Government at extra cost has to replace these steel barriers with concrete slabs. They will have to do this at about ten overhead bridges crossing the expressway.

    What a country! Recently, Raila Oginga Odinga, former prime minister of Kenya was comparing corruption in Nigeria and Malaysia.

    He said ministers in Malaysia take ten percent of the cost of projects as bribes while in Nigeria they take one hundred percent.

    Does anybody blame him for ridiculing a fallen elephant being ridden by ants? Our High Commissioner in that country should write him a stiff protest and make a video telling the ingrate how he irresponsibly brought his country to the brink of civil war twice over election and what role Nigeria played when he came crying to Nigeria for intervention and that his country calling Nigeria corrupt is that of a kettle calling the pot black!

    The time has come when we really have to shape up. For how long will our potentialities as a country remain latent? This question was asked us by Condoleezza Rice, former United States Secretary of State at a breakfast meeting sometimes in 2013 in Abuja.

    In the past we used to have five year development plans before Babangida came and dispensed with it and replaced it with “rolling plan” which apparently gathers no moss.

    Now we do not have any plan at all and we seem to live from day to day depending solely on the vagaries of rise and fall of crude oil and gas. In the meantime our population is growing at galloping rate and the inevitable crisis of youth rebellion stares us in the face in the various manifestations of violent youth resentment.

    We need to summon up the courage of looking at the political configuration of our country to cut down costs through restructuring into six or eight states and allowing each to develop at its own pace while contributing to fund the centre and maintaining an irreducible minimal national development.

    The present over concentrated political and economic power at the centre is not working and it is in everybody’s interest to replace it with what works in other federations of the world.

  • Hike in hostel fees at BUK

    By Rabi Isyaka Rabiu

     

    SIR: On Wednesday, November 27, the Senate of Bayero University, Kano approved an upward review of the accommodation and other administrative charges for both post graduate and undergraduate students of the university.

    In a statement signed by the Director of Examination, Admission and Records (DEAR), Hajiya Amina Umar Abdullahi, the university increased hostel fees for international postgraduate students by 33%, from the initial N60,000 up to N80,000. For Nigerian postgraduate students, there was 100.8 % increase from N12,150 up to N25,150.  Consequently, undergraduate students will now pay N20,090 which is 66% higher than the previous N12,090.

    This sudden hike in the university’s accommodation and other administrative charges will no doubt pose a big challenge to the students of the university whose who mostly are not from wealthy families.

    It is on record that some of the students have to go for part-time jobs outside the school before feeding and taking care of themselves, while some have to look for similar jobs at the end of the session before they can raise money for their school fees, accommodation and feeding for the whole session, since their parents find it difficult to cater for these same needs.

    Despite the above outlined challenges, the university management didn’t put these into consideration before deciding on the increment.

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    Though the university senate has been trying to help the indigent students by providing N50,000  scholarship to some of them, but that is not enough because not even up to 20 % of the indigent students benefit from it due to the current economic situation of the country.

    Comparatively speaking, it still remains vague to me why the sudden increment in the accommodation and administrative charges of the university. What is the rationale behind the increment? Is it that the hostels have been renovated? These rhetorical questions become necessary because there is nothing conducive about the situation of the hostels.

    Bayero University management should in the interest of the general society temper justice with mercy and reconsider these students and their parents by withdrawing the increment as this is the only means of survival to them.

    The school should have a second thought before taking this decision in a school domiciled in an area battling with poverty and unemployment. The consequences of this increment will lead to high cost of living for the students.

    BUK is one of the few federal institutions in the country where students can afford to study, an increment in the accommodation and other administrative charges will only make lives of the students messier, more miserable.

     

    • Rabi Isyaka Rabiu, Bayero University, Kano.

     

     

     

  • Social Media Bill: Disturbing attempt to muzzle free speech

    By Idayat Hassan

     

    SIR: Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has carefully followed the debate on the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019 (SB 132), popularly known as the Social Media Bill.

    This provocative legislation, which has passed a second reading in the senate, is an attempt to use the legislative process to muzzle freedom of expression.

    The bill purports to tackle the increasing problem of false information in Nigeria. However, a number of draconian provisions in the bill empower the Nigerian government to unilaterally shutdown social media and possibly the internet for posts they deem to pose risks for public safety and national security.

    This would pose a serious threat to Nigerians democracy and freedom of speech.

    CDD acknowledges the groundswell of public opposition to the bill, which stems from the intolerant political climate in which civil liberties have been repeatedly trampled upon by the government.

    The arrests, harassment and hounding of journalists, pro-democracy activists and voices of dissent are worrying signs that free speech, as a constitutional right of citizens, is under threat.

    Part three Clause 13, Sub-clause (2), is one of the most concerning aspects of the Social Media Bill. It states that, “no appeal may be made to the High Court by any person unless the person has first applied to the Law Enforcement Department to vary or cancel the Part 3 Regulations and the Law Enforcement Department refused the application whether in whole or in part”.

    Part three Clause 12, Sub-clause (3) also gives the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) absolute power “to direct the National Communication Commission (NCC) to order the internet access service provider to take reasonable steps to disable access to end-users in Nigeria based on their online location”.

    NCC, according to the bill, can give the internet access service provider(s) “an access blocking order”. This draconian provision gives the police power to disrupt the internet access of not only the persons they accuse of spreading false statements but the entire population living in that location.

    According to the Global State of Digital 2019 report, 98.39 million Nigerians use the internet; almost 50% of the population.

    Part five, Clause (35) of the bill, reveals a dangerous push by the government through the NPF to establish powers to determine and declare what news is ‘fake’ and what is true.

    With harsh punishments for those it deems to sharing ‘fake’ news. Publishers, organisations and individuals will face jail terms of up to three years and/or fines of up to N10 million for alleged infractions, which will be decided on by the security agencies.

    CDD is deeply concerned that the legislation places an inordinate amount of power in the hands of the government and security agencies.

    There are also technical issues, as a result of overlapping legislations in Nigeria. The Cybercrime Act of 2015 already has stipulations for the sharing of false information and the Nigerian Communications Commission Act of 2003 grants the NCC powers to oversee the function of telecommunications providers.

    The proposed bill raises far more questions than it provides answers.

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    CDD views the underlying objective of this legislation as being to silence critical voices. While it is indeed true that Nigeria is a country that is, and has been, the victim of disinformation campaigns, the evidence does not seem to indicate the existence of political will towards eradicating false information.

    Since the gazetting of the 2015 Cybercrime Act, no politician or high-profile figure has been indicted for propagating false information.

    Instead, CDD has observed an increase in oppressive and targeting behaviour by the government towards information and ideas which call into question bad governance, corruption and poor service provision.

    In fact, close scrutiny of the bill shows it bears an uncanny resemblance to Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019.

    The fact that Nigerian lawmakers are copying a legislation from a country which placed 151 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index in 2019 is a serious cause for concern.

    CDD sees this proposed bill as being in line with the authoritarian proclivities of the current political elite who are more concerned with policing what their citizens say, do or think, than they are with establishing high standards of democratic and accountable governance.

    We acknowledge the problem fake news and disinformation portends for democracy but believe that restrictive regulation is not the solution.

    CDD urges the senate to disregard the entire bill and look for alternative approaches to the problems of hate speech and the spread of false information on social media. Focusing on improving digital and civic literacy at all levels of society, will give citizens the skills and knowledge to decide for themselves what is true and what is false.

    Legislators time should be focused on establishing data protection and privacy legislation and enforcing existing regulations than restricting citizens access to, and use of, online platforms.

     

    • Idayat Hassan, CDD, Abuja.