The Nation Newspaper

Category: Dayo Sobowale

  • Leadership, bravery  and  security

    According to reports,  Nigeria’s  former  Head of State and  Military  ruler retired  General  Olusegun  Obasanjo, in Awka in the South Eastern part of Nigeria called on the Igbos  to vote  out incumbent President Muhammadu  Buhari in the 2019  elections if they  are to stop  the ethnic  cleansing and domination of the Fulani  they are experiencing under the present political dispensation in  Nigeria. That  was a bold  call and a challenge to  the Buhari Administration by a former Nigerian leader who obtained the surrender of the Igbos as the nation of Biafra at  the end of the Nigerian  civil  war. This then  is no cavalier talk  or  cheap   bravado.  It  is a challenge that cannot  be ignored as the 2019  elections approach.

    Similarly , the head of the Christian  Association of Nigeria  Rev  Olasupo  Ayokunle   called  on Nigerian Christians to protest by carrying placards    next    Sunday  at Church  services  nation wide over the killing of Nigerians by herdsmen culminating in the killing  of two  Catholic  priests in the   nation,  again by  murderous  herdsmen.  These  two  Nigerian issues  and the planned  meeting of the leaders of a divided nation, Korea, divided  by war  since the end of the Korean war  in 1953  engage  our attention  today. The  comparison  with  Korea  is at once instructive,  relevant  but  also  saddening.  This  is because  the  near   impossible  –   the prospect  of peace and unity    of the two  Koreas –  is happening  in the Korean  Peninsula ,  after the  very     recent  beatings  of drums of  nuclear  war  between  the US President Donald  Trumpand the North  Korean   leader  Kim  Jung  Un. This    was  something unthinkable  a few months  ago.  Just  as Nigeria  seemed  always      capable  of   easily  maintaining  her  peace  and unity  a few  months ago,  until the emergence  of the Fulani  herdsmen.  Who,  from all indications   now appear  to  be sacred cows  that  our security apparatus cannot  contain or  subdue , even  as they slaughter citizens  of our Middle Belt  with brutal  arrogance and barbarity cumulating  in the Obasanjo  political nuclear  missile  lunched  from the heart of the Biafran  rebellion that  he ended  on the battle field  in the 70s.   Really   Nigeria  is indeed in the grip of an avoidable  political    and security   crisis well  beyond  the elections of 2019. That  is a major  part of our discussion  today.

    Let us go back  to the Obasanjo salvo  urging the Igbos  to  reject Buhari in 2019  elections. He  really  did not mince words  and he did  not speak  from both sides  of his mouth as in the past.  He shot straight like the veteran general that he is and like the Palm Wine Drinkers Club of the Great  Ife  would say –  he  has spoken and he  has spoken  well.  That really means the government should  be bothered  and come  to  grips with the matter of the  Fulani  herdsmen  or be prepared  to be voted out not only by the Igbos  but  the rest of Nigeria in 2019. Already  the signs  of resentment   are brewing fast as the NASS from the senate floor has asked the President to address  a joint NASS session on security. Obasanjo  spoke the minds of Nigerians both leaders and followers   alike when he said ‘ Every Nigerian leader is  very much embarrassed   with  the state of the nation where  people are  attacked,  killed, raped and made refugees  in their  homes.  He  then  concluded bravely that the objective of his’ CNM  was  mostly on how  to sack   Buhari  from Aso  Rock in 2019  and ensure    that a visionary  government  is elected. Definitely  the ball  is in the court  of the present occupants of Aso  Rock  to nip  in the bud  this menace of rampaging  Fulani  herdsmen in order  to scale the  elections of 2019  or  they    should  be   prepared  to vacate the place for a new government  as advocated   so  loudly    and boldly  by   retired   General  Olusegun   Obasanjo.

    Similarly  the call by CAN president Rev Olasupo  Ayokunle   to Christians to hold peaceful protests in their churches on Sunday April 29    to ask  the Federal  Government  to stop  the killings  of innocent citizens  and  protect  all  Nigerians as  categorically stated in our constitution  is timeous    and bold. The  CAN  leader also asked   Christians to  write protests  like’ Enough  of  Bloodshed in  Nigeria ,’ ‘Enough  of  unlawful killings  in the country ‘. That  to me is   frank    and relevant leadership  for  Christians  in  Nigeria. Especially  in the South or even  Lagos where  at  the height of the Boko  Haram bloodletting and burning of  churches  and mosques  in  the  North  East,   the  Church  leadership cautioned on giving audience  to  fleeing bishops  from  the North asking for help   from  southern  churches   so  as  not to cause panic  in peaceful  and lucrative  Lagos  parishes  and dioceses,   with their grim  stories  of killings and persecution   in the  north. Now,  like Shakespeare  said in Merchant of Venice ,  this   CAN  leader  is like ‘ a Daniel  come to judgement ‘  for  Nigerian  Christians. He  has not  made  a call  to arms or  asked  Nigerian  Christians to Praise the Lord  and  pass  the ammunition as in the olden days  when the church  was the state  but  he has already shown  the way  to show the authorities  that Nigerian  Christians are peaceful  demonstrators  but certainly not  sheep  for slaughter hence forth. That again  is bold  leadership  in the direction of national  peace , stability    and  security  which   seem  to be fleeing our shores  rapidly   on this herdsmen crisis.

    Let  me now  show  why  we should be envying the North    and  South  Koreans  who  are now dreaming what we are afraid of losing in the last  few  weeks. Unbelievably  the controversial US President Donald Trump  set  the ball  rolling with his strong arm  tactics  on N Korean leader Kim  Jung Un  to denuclearize. They both called  each other moron and mad  then.

    • Continued online www.staging.thenationonlineng.net

  • Culture, terrorism and education

    At  the Commonwealth  Meeting this week  UK Prime Minister  Theresa May  reportedly offered   aid  and support for  member states of the Commonwealth  that repeal  anti gay and lesbian  laws   pledging to help  them  know that the world is different nowadays  and people should be allowed  the freedom to choose  who  to love. Since the   Nigerian president also  visited the UK  PM this week  I  do not know whether  the issue was discussed  or  not but  I intend to talk  about  that request  at length today. I will  be discussing  this  alongside  the  reported  remark  by the Benue State Commissioner  for Education  who  raised  the alarm  that  there  is similarity  in the consequences of the terrorist  tactics  of    armed  herdsmen destroying schools  especially primary   and   secondary  schools  in the state  and that of Boko  Haram  whose name means’ No  to western  education’.  The consequences  of  both  the herdsmen raids  on schools and farms  and that  of Boko  Haram  are not unintended  consequences  the Commissioner   lamented   loudly,    but  planned  and deliberate  action to slow down  the growth  of education in other parts of the nation  as  Boko  Haram  has done so  effectively  in the six states  of the former  North  East  of Nigeria.

    These  two  events, Theresa May’s plea   for  LGBT   recognition  at  the Commonwealth Heads of Government  Meeting  [CHOGM]  and the  destruction of primary and secondary  schools in Benue  State  and the North East  form  the kernel  of discussion  today. We  will  look  at the two issues in all  ramifications  especially  how  importantly  they  affect humanity  and  civilization  and  the background  of how gay  values  evolved  and how they impact  religion  and culture. These  are  touchy issues  but since the British  PM  has belled  the cat  it is high   time  we  spoke   the truth as we  know it  in  this part  of  the world.  Which,  fortunately   or not,   is still a part  of the Commonwealth with  its own  dose  of the historical, or should we say –  the usual   all – pervading    colonial  mentality.

    According to statistics  36  out  of 52 nations  in the Commonwealth  regard  homosexuality  as a criminal  act   and the history of that  dates  back to the Colonial era  where  Sodomy Acts ban  sex  between  people of the same sex. So  most  Commonwealth  nations have just  not repealed  such  acts which  the Mother nation of the Commonwealth  through its PM  is asking them  to do  with the dangling carrot,  for now  of aid   and I presume sanctions later  if  they reject  the offered carrot.  Worse  still, the British  PM  gave  a historical  analogy  that the world has  changed  and that in the early  fifties  the British  Monarch  and Head  of the Commonwealth traveled  the world in five weeks  but now the world is a global  village and the whole  world is watching the Commonwealth  Games in Australia and CHOGM  in  London  simultaneously.  Yet, it is apparent  that majority  of  Commonwealth  nations  loathe same sex  marriage  and that  is why  they  have criminalized  what  the UK  government  and leader  is urging them  to adopt  to show they  are modern and are moving with  the times. Sadly  and very  strongly  I disagree  with  the British  PM   and  wish  to tell  her that it is her nation  that has fallen  out of step in the march  of modernity  and development   and  it is Britain  that should retrace its step and retract  from being a LGBT rights  peddling nation  to one that recognizes  that marriage  is between  a man  and a woman  and not between two men  or two  women. Indeed  in the 36  out of the 52 Commonwealth nations that  Britain  is wooing,  it is their culture  and way  of life  and a sign  of human progress  that men  and women should marry  and procreate  and a sign  of  backwardness  and inhumanity  and a perversion of good  culture  and upbringing for people  of same sex  to  love  each  other like a man would  love a woman. Of  course  it goes with  the public  mood  and fashion  in Western  Europe nowadays  to brand those  who  resent LGBT people as intolerant and unaccommodating   but   then  European  values  are  deteriorating  and are  decadent   when men  are  men  are expected  to marry  when it is obvious  they can not on their  own raise children. I  think  it is European  nations who should pause at  the cliff edge of their decadence  and take another  look  at why majority  of their former  colonies  do  not agree  with them  on  gay  rights.

    I   urge  the Europeans  to look at  China  and the  former  Soviet  Union and see  what  those  two  nations  value  now  and in their  recent past.  China  today  is having  hundreds  of  cooperative  projects  to build infrastructure, roads, power  plants along the old historical route called   Belt  and Silk  Road  where  in the past  trade routes  were opened linking China with  Asia and from  where economic  travels and migration  created the likes of  Marco  Polo in  the    history  of global  trade  and  commerce. Although  the Chinese  government  is  unrepentantly  atheist  and  communist same sex  rights  are  non  existent   in  China   just   as they  are  extolled  in Britain. Yet  China  practises  the philosophy  of  Confucius  which   preaches  hard work  honesty  and  diligence. Whereas  Max  Weber  had written  that  Protestant  ethics  of hard  work, punctuality   make  such protestants  or Calvinists successful  capitalists,  I am  sure  Weber  will  be fuming in his grave to  see  that descendants  of Protestants and Calvinists  are now in their  new  world selling  same sex  marriage to people  who  abide by the dictates  of  the bible  that marriage is between  a man  and a  woman.
    Similarly  Russia  was  a Marxist  state  where  state  terrorism  was government policy  to execute  opposition  leaders  and  entrench  the goals and objectives of  Lenin  and later  Stalin.

  • Democracies, technologies and change

    I  am  enamored  today by the concept  of change through  technology  which the doyen of Development Economics  Joseph   Schumpeter   called  creative  destruction   through distruptive technologies. The   latest  of such   emergent  technology   is the internet  and the best  known is tweeting which US President  Donald Trump  has used  in his unique  way  to bring   not only  his  opponents in the US but the world at large,   to  their feet.  I   am  using these  technologies I will name  and identify  to classify  the democracies  in which they exist   and leave it to the reader to decide whether  such technologies  have  benefitted  such  societies  for good  or bad. It  is my contention  that technologies in the hands  of   decent, responsible  people  and leaders benefit  the larger society  and vice  versa

    American  civil  rights leader  Martin  Luther  King was  killed on April 4 this last  week  50  years  ago and his  tactics  of non  violence  was  successful  in its own  way  to make the oppressors of the black  man  to acknowledge the injustice  in the American  political  system  and honor him  with a public  holiday  after his death. Today  however given  what  is on my mind it is not about  him  that I  want to talk  about  but  the man he was named after, the German  theologian and reformer   Martin  Luther who  revolted  against  the  authority of the Pope  at a time when  the Church  was the state  and the   Pope  was deemed infallible. Martin  Luther  questioned the authority  of the Pope  and the  Church  to sell  indulgences  which   were  supposed to be forgiveness  for the sins  of  Christians and such  indulgence could even be purchased  for dead  relatives. Luther whose  father  wanted to be a lawyer  but  who  ended  up  a monk  cried  foul  and said  the clergy  should  not  intercede  for  Christians and that  every  Christian  can  have access    to salvation  without the Church. Before  this Luther  had  fasted  and done penance as a monk in  monasteries  such  that his health  was ruined  permanently.  He  was  helped  in turning the tables on the Pope  and the Catholic  Church  because  the technology  of  printing evolved  in his time  and his written opposition to the Pope, the 95 theses he nailed on his Church was  printed  and circulated  all  over Europe  to the vexation and chagrin   of the Pope. In  addition  it was when  he   was  in the   protective custody of the  German Prince that  secured  his life   that he  translated  the bible  to German  language  so  that Germans  could follow  their religion in their own  language  and not the Latin  or Greek  that was  the language of educated  people at the time. Luther’s  religious  thought   was therefore  the father of freedom  of thought  and religion  that was the precursor  of elective democracy  that is now  the prevalent  ideology  in our world today.

    It  is with  this  background   that  I want  to digest  the topic of the day. I will  look at   the  statement credited  to our presidential  spokesmen  who  said  that they would not react to   former  President Olusegun  Obasanjo’s  second criticism  that the Buhari  Administration is  a failure  because   the    well  known  critic  was the president’s  senior  as an Army  officer  and  the incumbent  president was indeed  the Oil  Minister  in his cabinet  and  military  administration. I    will  comment briefly on a video  and news item  sent to    my   phone’s   Whats app  showing and commenting on the disruption of the Easter  service  and Bishop  procession  at  the Christ  Church  Marina, Lagos last  Sunday. The  third  issue  was the news  that the president had released  $ Ibn   for  security  purposes  in the nation and the money  will  be used  to pursue  military  equipment.

    I  want  to go  on to  identify  the three  types  of democracy inherent  in these  three  situations and go  on  to show  how  and  why  I have  branded  each the  way  I have. I  call  the first  type inherent in not replying OBJ a Garrison  or Mess Democracy.  I call  the  second concerning the disruption of service at the Cathedral  last  Sunday  – -Ilorin Bishop Politics   or ‘Anti  Marina Bishop Democracy’ – AMBD. The  third type  of democracy which  concerns  the Ibn  dollars  disbursement I will  call  – Money  Miss Road  Democracy. Let  me now elaborate   on the nature  of these  democracies based  on the technologies at stake in each  one of them.

    In   the  case  of OBJ’s  criticism  and the reluctance  of  Aso Rock to engage  him,  one  cannot but  conclude that the impression  is being  given  that the  Nigerian state  is being regarded  as a huge barracks  or  garrison ruled  by military  officers,  who  accord  themselves the respect and protocols of   gentlemen  officers  as expected in the  Military Mess  where  such  officers remove  their belts  and braided  hats  to  enjoy  themselves. The origin  of such  impression go  back  to the 1966 coup  as well  as the subsequent  ones. The  political  change  then  was  achieved  by the barrel  of  the gun and the  change  of uniform  from  military  dictatorship to flowing  agbada  and  babanriinga   which  signaled  the  metamorphosis  of military  leadership  to  elective  politics  whereby  the military  class  still  dominate  our  return  to  democratic  politics  then   and even,  till  now.  I think this is foolproof evidence why the presidency cannot take on the former  president. It is a clear case of dog does not eat dog.

    In  the case  of disruption of service on the Marina it  is clear  that  the  internet and especially  Whats  App  is  escalating an issue  that  the House  of   Bishops  will  wish  to  just  disappear   to  avoid  the embarrassment  of the charge of bribery  and ethnicity  in the election or is it  translation  of the new  Bishop  of  Lagos. This  time around, like  printing helped Martin  Luther  to fight  the Pope  ages  ago. the internet is  bringing the issue of  the election of the Bishop of Lagos before  the world at  large. Which  simply  means  that  the leadership  of the Nigerian Anglican  Communion  cannot  behave like  the proverbial  ostrich  with  its  head  buried  in the sand.  The world  is watching and the technology  of creative destruction   that ushers in  change  is performing  a duty  that cannot wait  for anybody.  Including  the House  of Bishops.

    Lastly  it is my advice  that the Nigerian  security managers  should   take a cue  from  how  Britain  is tackling  religious  terrorism  on its  territory. It is funding development  of software  that will identify  and scuttle  recruitment  of jihadists  on the internet. That  is the way Nigeria should  deploy part or most  of the 1bn  dollars  now  being deployed.  Otherwise  it will  be money  down  the drain  with suicide bombers recruited  on  the internet  laying siege  incessantly  and with impunity  on Maiduguri and its environment   and killing innocent  citizens and our gallant  soldiers.

    It  is better  to nip in the bud the strategy  of terrorists online rather  than deploying jets to fight enemies  who  use civilians as human  shield  as the Boko  Haram  has  done  so  spitefully  and bloodily  in our  beleaguered North  East  for so long. Once  again, long live  the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

  • Constitutionalism, materialism and security

    I  want  to go philosophical  today not because  of the saying that a man  with  a good wife is lucky but a man with a bad  wife  invariably  becomes  philosophical  about life. I  am  going this  way  in this piece because the concepts highlighted in today’s  headline have been lambasted and  violated by people in   very   high  places  and  in unexpected   scenarios   and institutions  in the last  week ,  hence  my concern,  which  is  deep  one indeed.

    Let  me lay  the foundation  for our discourse  with two  Nigerian  proverbs. The  first   is  that one does  not leave a fire  on a thatched  roof  and go to sleep . The  second is that anyone   who  rides on the back  of a tiger  ends up  in its belly. These  proverbs drive my analysis  and thinking on the topic  of the day  and the issues and incidents involved. The  first   incident  is the bold recourse  to constitutionalism  by the nation’s  president  and leader of the APC  in asking  the party’s  Chairman  and Executive Committee  to  follow  the  party’s  constitution  and not  elongate  their  tenure  because the nation’s  constitution  and  the party’s  constitution  forbid   such. The  second  is a publication I received  on Palm  Sunday in Christ  Church  Cathedral   Marina,  Lagos  titled ‘I  want  to become   the Bishop  of  Lagos Diocese  ‘with  a picture  of the outgoing Bishop  of  Lagos ‘  Rt Revd  Adebola  Ademowo ‘ in  full    regalia   with  wads and bundles    of  various Nigerian  currencies  and the dollar lacing  the pix  ,  with  a palatial  mansion  and  Chevrolet   SUV    in the background. The  third  is the strident  call  at a Convocation of the Taraba   State   University  by no less  a person than retired  General  Theophilus Danjuma  for  Nigerians  to arm  themselves  against  attacks  by  armed  Fulani  herdsmen  because the Army  cannot  protect  them  in this regard . The fourth  on the international  scene  was the unexpected visit  of North  Korea’s  missile  and  nuclear – pugnacious  leader ,  Kim  Jong  Un  to China   and  the prospect  of that for  world peace and security.

    Let  me make some initial and brief  comments on these  incidents in the light of today’s  topic. The  first  is that leaders  should  live up  to their responsibilities  and not go to sleep   in a house  with  fire  on  a thatched  roof.  That  is what  President Muhammadu  Buhari  has  done with APC  with  his warning  and alarm  on tenure  elongation. That  is what  General  Theophilus  Danjuma has done with  the Nigeria nation  and  government in  accusing  the army  of  partiality in defending Nigerians against  the fury  and violence  of  marauding herdsmen not only in    Taraba  but in the rest  of  Nigeria . Sadly  that is what the Nigerian  Anglican Communion  leadership  has NOT  done in the case of the election of the Bishop  of  Lagos in the  manner of the man  riding the back  of  a tiger  with predictable  and dire  consequences  such  as the publication which  vividly  dents  the image and standing of the Anglican  Communion  in terms charges of  misuse and abuse  of  power and crass  materialism  against  a leading  prelate  of the Church  on his retirement . Again , the North  Korean leader has seized  the bull  by the horn  in retracing  his steps from  setting the world  on fire by his visit  to  China  first  This is  before  his equally  unexpected   future  meeting with his Nuclear nemesis,  the equally tweeter  and  nuclear    crazy,  but effective world leader  in the quest  for global peace and  harmony, the   bold   antagonist  of fake news, US  President Donald   Trump.

    We  now  proceed to  highlight  the  salient  issues  inherent and flowing from  these  various events  and developments . We  start  with the issue of  constitutionalism  which President  has done just in the nick  of time . On  the  surface it may look  like  an  endorsement  of APC  leader   Asiwaju  Bola Tinubu’s  earlier  remark  on his new APC Reconciliation  Drive that the  current APC chairman John Oyegun  will  lead the party  astray. But  the President  has  shown  his hand that  this  cannot  be allowed on his watch  and  on the eve  of another presidential  election .According to  the Nigerian  president –‘ In  this  circumstance ,  what  is expected of us is to conduct fresh  elections , once the tenure of the  current executives  approaches  its end. A  Caretaker  Committee  cannot remedy this situation and cannot validly act  in place  of elected  officers ‘He  then  concluded  —‘  I  am   therefore   of the firm  view  that  it is better  to follow   strictly the  dictates of  our party  and national   constitutions rather  than put APC  and  its activities  at great  risk. ‘That  advice  or instruction  is the mark of leadership  and a lesson  in constitutionalism which simply  is living by the rules.

    Unfortunately  this is the opposite of what the leadership of the Nigerian  Anglican  Communion  has done on the complaints  by  concerned  members of the laity  at  the Cathedral  on the Marina with  regard  to the election  of  a bishop  to succeed  the outgoing Bishop whose image was  caricatured in terms  of materialism in  the publication ‘I  want  to be the Bishop of  Lagos Diocese’  now in circulation amongst  Anglicans in  Lagos  Diocese.   Incidentally    I wrote  on the legacy  of  materialsm  over spiritualty  apparent in the claims  of achievements   made   by  the outgoing Bishop  last  Saturday in  this  column and  the title  was ‘ Leaders , Values  and  Expectation.’  I  was therefore  pleasantly  surprised   last   Sunday  , which  is  Palm  Sunday  ,  to  see  the printed  sermon in the Cathedral’s  bulletin   titled – ‘Snares  to  Growing in the Knowledge  of  God – Materialism  (Wrong  Values)’.  The  sermon said –  ‘In  conclusion,  materialism makes  one blind to  the means through which one is making money.  A  materialistic  person  does not care who  suffers in their  process  of acquiring  wealth . ‘  That  sermon  which I   commend to all  Anglicans , was signed by  Revd  Canon Adekunle Ajado  and endorsed  by  ‘ the one who  serves among you ‘ the Very  Revd Adebola  Ojofeitimi, Provost  of the  Cathedral  Church  of  Christ  Marina. It  is apparent  that these men  of  God do not  believe in going to  sleep  in  a  Cathedral    with fire  on the roof   on the issue of  materialism.   An  issue   that   their leaders in Abuja  have treated   so  far  with such deafening   silence,   ecclesiastical  levity  and   benign  neglect .

    We  round  up  with  the alarm   by  General   Dnajuma that  Nigerians should  arm  and defend  themselves  against  armed  herdsmen  because  the army  is  not neutral  in protecting   them    According   to  the former  Army  general –   ‘There  is an attempt  at ethnic  cleansing in Taraba State   and some rural  states   in  Nigeria .. We must   resist it. We must stop it …Our armed  forces  are not neutral. If   you are   depending on the armed forces to stop   the killings,   you   will all die one by one‘.  The army  has defended itself  by stating that it was because  it   it stayed   professional   and  neutral   that    caused  the anger of the Taraba  state  governor against the army.  The Federal Government  has  condemned  and  called   the alarm  a call  to  anarchy. Either  way, the   Ministry  of  Defence   and   the Nigerian  Army   cannot  dismiss  the alarm  sounded  by  their former  boss who  was both a  former  Minister  of  Defence  and a former  Army  Chief  and one of the best  if not the most  successful . He therefore certainly knows what he was saying.   A word  is   therefore  enough  for  the wise in the interest  of the  security ,  unity , peace and stability  of the Nigerian  nation. Once again. Long live, the Federal  Republic of  Nigeria .

  • Leaders, values and expectations

    The  saying that bad news travel  fast has become an understatement in  this age of viral social  media  and fake news.  It  is   a  world where   hacking has become a  real and potent cyber  weapon  that  destroys democracies  and even  the companies  that  have  made  billions from the internet   through  mass  consumer  participation  and sheer  volume. This   has made data  mining a huge  wealth  spinning proposition  for internet  companies like  Face  Book  which  for   now  is fighting for its corporate  life because information  and data  have  become weaponised  and have been  pilfered  cheekily  under  its watch.  Such  data  is now said to have been  used  to get the President of the US  elected  and the world  is reeling from that development   which    both  British  PM Theresa May  and defeated US presidential  candidate Hillary   Clinton  had  earlier   warned  the world  about  but were ignored at the time.

    In  spite  of this development  however  bad  news will  still  remain  bad news and  it is in that light that I look  at  today’s topic. It  is my  contention here that in an  age of  fake news and cyber  hacking, leaders especially  of democracies  must be on their  toes  in living up to the expectations of  those who  elected them  as well as those  such  leaders lead  in any  aspect  of leadership  especially  the political and religious. To  illustrate  my views  today  I  will  look perfunctorily  at  events in Nigeria, Poland, China, and  the US  and the role of some political  and   religious   leaders  in those nations and draw  conclusions  and lessons  from  the events I  will  highlight.

    On  Nigeria   I  wish  to  discuss  Nigerian  issues  on a comparative  basis with  Poland  not because  the Eagles  are playing with Poland in   a  friendly  soccer match this weekend  but because  of the issues  of patriotism,  and   national pride inherent  in the events   I  want   to discuss about  the two  nations. All   the events  look  like bad  news  but in the light  of expectations of leadership involved in them one  can still  see that all  hope for improvement  is not lost . In  Nigeria the news  that over  a hundred  of  the Nigerian  girls  seized  by Boko  Haram  had  been  returned  by their abductors  is good  news  but the abduction  and the   negligence   involved  in their being taken  and returned  by their captors is  dangerously  bad  news indeed. Where  is the power  and authority of the sovereign state, in the hands of the government  of the day, in all  these?  It  obviously  took  a   nap  while Nigerian  girls  were  taken  away by insurgents  that were  said to have been  defeated   but  who  resurrected  to show  their staying power  with  disdain  and impunity. As if to say  they can always  abduct  and return  Nigerian  citizens in their nation and there is nothing the Nigerian  government can  do  about it.  That  is bad news indeed  and certainly  worse  than the cyber  hacking   blamed on  Russia  and threatening western  democracies as  we  know  them  today. It  is poor  consolation  to assert  that the  DSS  negotiated  their return  and that  they will  be received in Abuja  by the president.  This  is because   the   DSS  and  government should  have  prevented  the abduction  in the first  instance  and giving  them  audience  in  Abuja is like giving  an  award  to   Boko  Haram for its   invincibility,  terrorist insolence  and murderous intents  and actions that have killed many  Nigerian with impunity in recent  times.  This  is  indeed  a very  sad  development  in our  fight against  Boko  Haram  insurgency.

    Similarly, a priest  in  Poland   recently  said  he hoped the present  Catholic  Pope  should  just  die  and go and meet  his father in heaven  because  he  asked Christians in Europe  to  accept  Muslim  migrants. The  priest  has been  admonished by  his superiors  in the Catholic  hierarchy  but  what  he has said seem  to  be the policy  of the government  of  Poland.  This is because  Poland, Hungary, Czech  and Slovak  Republics, all  members of the EU  have refused  to take their quota  of  migrants allotted  them   by the EU. Even  in the face  of threats  by the German Chancellor Angela  Merkel  that their structural  funds  for development from  the EU  will  depend on their readiness  to  accommodate migrants,  these four elected  governments who  have branded  themselves  as’ illiberal  democracies ‘ have refused to take in  Muslim  migrants  claiming  they will  undermine  their  security  and that  of  Europe at large.

    I  want  to compare  the frustration or  fallen  expectation of the Polish  priest with  the leadership  of the  Catholic  Pontiff   with  a worrying development  in the Anglican  Communion in Nigeria with  regard  to the election of a new Bishop of  Lagos whose   seat  is in the illustrious  Cathedral  on the Marina in  Lagos. Some  key  members of the Cathedral  had made  allegations   of bribery  in the election  of the new  Bishop    who  I understand  is a committed   prelate  in his own  right   and have  accused the outgoing Bishop   who  also is an Archbishop of railroading his succession   and taking the diocese  through  unnecessary  and extravagant  farewell  benefits and send  off  events. What  bothered  me however in a letter sent  to me on Whats App  was  the reply  to the accusations   of abuse  of office  and power  against  the outgoing prelate. The  man  of God  retorted  with  flourish    that  even  if  he was  being given  a 200m naira farewell  handshake  it  was not peculiar  to  him  because two  former  prelates  of his calibre  had  taken  50m naira  more  before  him.  In  addition  he wrote  that  the Chancellor  inspired  the benevolence  and there  was  nothing to it as  far  as he was concerned.  This was his reply on the social  media to a query  from the  spiritual  leader of the Anglican  Communion in  Nigeria.

    This  reply  in circulation in the social  media reminded  me of the arrogant  but unconvincing answer of former French  President Valery Giscard  d ‘Estang  to allegations that  he received  gifts from  former    blood   thirsty   dictator  Jean Bedel Bokassa of the Central African  Republic. Giscard    imperiously  replied  then  – ‘I issue  a categorical  denial  and a contemptuous one ‘.  

    But no one  believed him. Similarly  the prelate  on the Marina has a credibility problem  on his response.  This is not difficult  to see, given  the fact that  he did  not  accept   or see  that 200m  naira  is a lot  of money  to give  to  an outgoing priest  no  matter  his rank  or  the investments he made  for the progress  of the diocese  during his tenure. Indeed  to  see a   religious  legacy strictly  in terms of material  achievements  is a sign  of potent ecclesiastical   impoverishment and  lack  of  spiritual  commitment  and  leadership . Definitely  a 200m  naira  mansion  on earth   makes  it  extremely  difficult   for  a rich  man  to  seek  heaven  in   any hurry. Just  as the bible says it is easy   for  a camel  to pass through  the eye  of   a needle   than    for  a poor  man  to enter  the kingdom  of heaven. Surely  in this instance the hood  has not made  the monk   and the  probleam of  the laity  in the Cathedral  on  the Marina  is  clearly  understandable  in terms of  concern  over   failure  of leadership  by example, this time on the   spiritual   than the material  plain.

    Finally  let  me take both  the US  and  China  together  on  leadership,  values  and expectations  on  drugs  and intellectual  property  which  were  the issues  very  much  in the public  domain  this week.  On  drugs,  US  President Donald  Trump  has advocated  the death  penalty  and he  really  meant it  and I give  him  kudos for  that  even  though  he has gone on to link that  with his anti  migration policy   by stressing that drug  pushers come from the nations he wants their  citizens  kept  out of the US and build border  walls  against.  But   he is   behind China  in his death penalty stance  because China  has long ago prescribed the death penalty  for  corruption.  But    in  announcing a huge  tariff  against  Chinese  goods  on intellectual  property I  commend  the US president   because  China is the piracy  capital of the world  and there is no book, good or service that the  Chinese  cannot copy  and sell  globally   with   impunity   in  violation of international law.  China  may  bristle or   even  threaten  retaliation. That is the truth  and the Chinese    need   to  put  their  house in order  and respect copy rights and other intellectual  property  requirements  to  make the world  a civilized place  for all  of us to live in. Again   Long  live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Pragmatism, deterrence and peace  

    The  sacking of US Secretary of State Rex  Tillerson by US President   Donald  Trump  after  a visit  to Kenya and Nigeria and the issues surrounding that situation is food  for thought today in all  its ramifications. We look at that single  incident in the context of today’s  topic   and the lessons  and conclusions to be drawn   therefrom which  are many and so interwoven,  just as they  are far flung across the globe.

    The  first    was that the unexpected meeting   between  the US President Donald  Trump  and North  Korean leader  Kim  Jung Un was  announced while the  US Secretary  of State  was on his African  visit  and he was taken  aback  by the development. The second  was that on the eve of his arrival in Kenya the self – declared  President of Kenya  Ruhallah  Odinga and the elected  President Uhuru Kenyatta   unexpectedly   appeared  at a press  conference where  they announced  to a bewildered  world  and even  more surprised  and astonished Kenyan  citizens, that they are ready  to work together in the interest of Kenyan  unity  and progress. The  third  was  the  reported  announcement  by the Nigerian  Foreign  Affairs Minister,   Geoffrey   Onyeama that Tillerson’s    sack  after  his visit  to  Nigeria will  not affect   whatever  agreements and  deals made  during  his visit  to  Nigeria immediately  after which  he was given the boot by his boss, the US    president.

    Starting from the  announcement from S Korean envoys who  visited the N Korean leader in his country and went to the US to  brief the American  president on that  historic meeting before  making the announcement   that made the world hold its breath in   disbelief  and  relief, that a nuclear holocaust  has been averted in our time, it was  obvious that a  scenario of unprecedented  diplomatic  pragmatism was  unfolding right before an unbelieving world.  That  two strong global  leaders who had called each other idiots without  mincing words  and  had  boasted  that each  had enough nuclear arsenal  to wipe out the  other and the rest of the  civilized  world,  have now agreed  to  meet and discuss, was a break through in international relations  and should  qualify the two  for at  least  a Nobel  Prize.  That  is if  the wise  men in Oslo  know what they  are  doing and  can  remember  that they gave the last  US President, Barak  Obama the Nobel  Prize  for peace at the beginning of his presidency for  its potential  for peace and that   presidency after two terms averted its own  red line in Syria  and created ISIS which has spawned  the greatest  terrorism,  migration  and security  crisis of our time.   Surely, the saying in Shakespeare’s  Julius  Caesar   that  ‘ambition should   be made  of sterner stuff  is applicable here. This  is because    this  time,  two strong  headed  leaders have sheathed their dangerous nuclear  swords,   unbelievably after  a sporting  event, to the relief of a frightened world that had prepared itself  for the worst. This  to  me is  a’ real    world ‘  balance  of  mutual   deterrence  that has resulted in a  real  euphoria  of global  peace and is   vintage  diplomatic  pragmatism  that merits genuinely  a Nobel  Prize  for peace, regardless  of the personalities  and past    mutual   and   global  annihilation  tantrums that have  brought us to this present  scenario. Really,  in my view, this is the stuff  of which  genuine Nobel  Prizes   for Peace  are  made as   incentives  for peace should be  generous and  encouraging  especially   at this point in time.

    In  Kenya, the US Secretary  of State  fell  sick  and had  to skip  some functions but  his host  the president of  Kenya  had  a pleasant  surprise  for  him in terms of peace and reconciliation in Kenya which must  have been on top of his visiting agenda.  Kenya had been victim of terrorism in recent times and the US was trying to shore up regional effort  to combat  terrorists who had struck US embassies  and shopping malls in the area   for  some time. But  what  stole the thunder on Tillerson’s visit  was the unexpected and inexplicable and almost  unAfrican  way the two antagonists in the last presidential elections in Kenya came out to say they  are fed up with fighting and election violence and have made peace. That  to me is highly commendable and I recommend  it to  African  nations  especially  Nigeria where  Boko  Haram  is still  kidnapping  our girls in broad  daylight while  Fulani herdsmen  and farmers are  at loggerheads over farming and grazing rights  while the  government struggles  openly  to be objective and fair  in resolving  the violent and  highly  provocative situation in terms of  huge   loss  of  human  lives now  all over the nation.

    Indeed   Nigeria  could  be said to  be the Waterloo  of  the short  diplomatic career  and    shuttle  of the US Secretary of State Tillerson  as he was fired by the US president shortly  after visiting Nigeria.  The reason  given  by the volatile  US president was that they  disagreed  on the Iran Nuclear  Deal put in place by the Obama Administration  which the new US   president called the worst  deal in US history  and promised to destroy. An  interview  by CNN Christine  Amanpour  of a former US Secretary of State, a lady  recently  shed  more light on the dismissal of the US Secretary  of State. Amanpor  had asked a  leading question ostensibly  to portray the US  president in bad light over the sacking but was unpleasantly  disappointed  by the response  of the lady  diplomat  who served the Obama Administration.   According  to the former  Assistant  Secretary  of State, Tillerson  was pursuing a personal  agenda as Secretary of State  when  he should have subsumed that  to the wishes  and leadership of the US president who  appointed him  in the first  instance. As  if to buttress  this view point   Donald  Trump  announced  that Tillerson’s  replacement,  former  CIA  chief Pompei   is someone who is on the same wavelengths  as him  on most  matters    and especially  the Iran Nuclear  Deal  just  as he thanked  Tillerson with a wave  of the hand for his services. That  really  meant  goodbye  to  bad rubbish as  far  as the Tillerson tenure  as Secretary  of State  was concerned.

    It  therefore  came   as a surprise  that the Nigerian  counterpart of the sacked US Secretary of State, our Foreign  Affairs   Minister  Geoffrey  Onyeama  reportedly  said  that whatever  Tillerson  agreed  with Nigeria was  valid because he came  to  Nigeria as US  representative  and the mouth piece  of the US  president .  Surely  that  is being diplomatically  correct  but   very  realistically  and pragmatically  wrong.  It  is another way  of saying  our Minister of Foreign Affairs  was  being presumptious. Any  agreement with  Tillerson  as US Secretary  of State  will  not be worth the paper it is written  on because of his frosty  relations with  his boss whom  he reportedly  called  a moron  and never retracted  that description when given  the opportunity. Anyway  his boss, the US  President  Donald  Trump   never  forgave him. Tillerson  was a CEO  of  Exxon  Mobil  and was a successful  oil  man  close  to Russia’s Putin   and    was also against sanctions against  Russia  over the invasion  of  Crimea.  Nigeria is well advised to take any agreements with him with a pinch of salt  until  his successor  reaffirms any such  paper  tiger  of   agreements. Once again long live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

  • Accountability, politics and diplomacy 

    Crazy  as  Nigerian  politics can  be at  times,  it can have its lofty  and edifying  moments. As  the film with that unique title-  ‘the  good, the bad  and the ugly ‘goes –  it can  be all  of these  and more. Today  we  look  at a   series  of events not only in  Nigeria but the world at large that  show that while   the morals expected  amongst  world leaders can  be of the highest  ethical  standards at most times occasionally they  fall  short  when  one least  expects.  We  tie  that with the saying in diplomacy  that in international  relations there  are no permanent  enemies  but  permanent  interests  and invoke   a popular   dictum in political  science that  says that  the morals amongst   nations cannot  be the same amongst  individual  leaders,  especially  in politics.

    We  start  with  the Nigerian  Senate which  this week  performed  the very  salutary  duty  of calling on   government  parastatals  to  render  their  audit  report  as required  by law  or face  the music of  legal  prosecution.  The  Senate according to reports  noted that only  ten  percent of the  over 400 public institutions  involved  have complied  and listed  a worrying long list  of various  periods  of non compliance  stretching   from  between one  to five  years.  More    alarming    was the fact  that the list contained  our powerful  anti  corruption  agency, the EFCC  and  the goose  that lays our golden egg, the  NNPC. Not  to talk  of many corporations  that  are supposed  to drive  our economy  and create jobs  and prosperity  for  Nigerians. This  is   aclear  case of   corruption,  institutional  irresponsibility,   lack  of  transparency and accountability   at  the  highest  level  and the government  should intervene. The reasons are obvious and the negative import of this should seriously bother government. If  government  institutions do  not render  audited  report and   accounts, as and when  due, then the  government  cannot claim  to be fighting corruption  as charity  should start  at home with public institutions  accountable  to government supervision, running  and  funding. It is not enough   or even    easy   to classify    or decry this as anti corruption forces fighting back  through  the Senate. This cannot fly. Auditing is part of government running of public institutions. Just  as corporate  bodies in the private  sector cannot  imagine  not  having Annual  General  Meetings and  audited  Annual  Reports,   it  should   be  a rule of thumb  for public institutions to  play ball  or  face  the wrath  of the law  for  negligence. Which  in   this instance  is not only  unpatriotic  and condemnable  but is also brazenly  criminal  in all  intents and purposes. Government  just  must  stop  this nauseating  situation.

    On  the international  scene we  look  at  the visit  of the Saudi  Crown  Prince to the UK  as well  as the visit  of the Liberian President  to Nigeria.

    First, in the  case  of the   visit to  Britain  of    Saudi  Crown Prince  Muhammed Bin Salman,  the British  government has shown  clearly  that in international  relations there are no permanent  enemies but permanent  interests. Protesters  were  busy in  London  condemning the visit  because  of the indiscriminate bombing of civilians in  Yemen  by  Saudi  jets propping up the government  in  Yemen  against Houthi  rebels who are Shia Muslims supported  militarily  by  Iran, Saudi  Arabia’s  implacable enemy  in the two pronged fight to get control  and leadership  of the Muslim  world as we know it today.  The  protesters  are   called ‘ Stop  the  war  Coalition ‘  and ‘Campaign  Against  Arms Trade ‘but  they  might  as well  be barking at  the moon.  This  is because  the UK  government  of  Theresa  May  is negotiating an arms and other business deal  worth over 100m  pounds  with  Saudi  Arabia  on this  visit.  The  UK  government  is not bothered  that this   is   an  unelected leader    in his thirties who  is  acting  for his   father who is  over  80  and  has seized  the powerful  levers of  power in  Saudi  Arabia  where  he locked  up  his cousins and fellow  princes in a luxurious hotel  in  Riyadh  recently, and did not release them until  they  paid huge amounts which  he alleged  they  embezzled    in his own   brand  of anti corruption  drive. The  British  establishment overlooked Saudi  politics  and its  peculiarities,  and rolled  out a royal  red  carpet  for the  Saudi  Prince  to  meet  the Queen  in person  and   the  PM  in 10  Downing  Street.  Such  is  the nature  of British  respect  for   leaders  of  nations that kill  innocent   civilians in war  and  such is the nature  of morals  amongst  nations being quite  different from those  amongst ordinary  human  beings, especially  when  juicy   contracts are  involved  in the face  of an uncertain Brexit  future.

    We  now  look  at the visit of the Liberian  President George Weah  to Nigeria   and  his  humble request  for  Nigerian  teachers  to  help  the Education  sector  in  Nigeria.  Let  me confess  first  that  I  have a soft  spot  for  Liberia  as  a nation  and a softer  heart  for  its new  president  as a  soccer  fan.  This  is because  Nigeria played  a major  role in bringing peace  to  Liberia  at a time  when the Nigerian  government  and military  dictated the pace and role of diplomacy  and even  force in maintaining  and   ensuring    the  security,  sovereignty  and territorial  integrity   of  not  only African states  in general  but that of the ECOWAS  sub region  in particular.  I  do  not want  to say  more  than that except  that the Nigerian  government of the day should help and grant  the request  of the   Liberian  government led  by   former  soccer legend, George Weah.

    With  regard  to  the Liberian  President himself,   I  say   again  that  I  admire him a lot  for   his   football  pedigree  and  success as the first  African  to win the European  footballer  of the  Year  award. I  nostalgically  and happily  recall  his soccer  success  with  the great AC Milan of  Italy   and  the pride  his exploits  gave  Africans as he  won honors  and laurels  amongst  the best clubs  and  giants of  European    soccer.

    In  Nigeria   his  equivalent  in my book  and for  my  generation,  was  my friend  and soccer  hero  Segun Odegbami, who   similarly   in  his playing days gave my  generation of football  fans so much  joy  and pride  with his runs and dribbles   for  the  Green  Eagles  at the National  Stadium  when it was really a  soccer  stadium  and not   the   rusty   event   centre   that  it is nowadays. Let  me once  again salute  the Liberian  President  George  Weah  and  wish  him a productive tenure  of office for  his nation  and   people. Once  again  long live  the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Corruption, religion and politics

    Corruption, religion and politics

    In  my time as an undergraduate  at the great Ife  in the early  seventies, more  final  year students  chose  to work at  the Department  of Customs  and Excise  than in any  government institutions on  offer  for  employment   and recruitment   after  graduation at  that time. Most never  wanted the Civil Service  and working in oil  companies  and banks   were the more  preferred  places for new  graduates.  The  reasons were obvious. Those  in Customs  who   left  the campus on graduation got richer quickly  and built  houses in a year  or two, while those in  the civil  service  only showed traces of toil  after getting their first  cars in  record  time. Those in banks and oil companies  were the rich  boys and girls in town.  These  in those  days were the eligible bachelors  who  married  the most  beautiful ladies  in town  and threw  the most  expensive parties.

    That  was in the seventies  and I  was  part  of it   and let  me use  myself as an example because I  cannot sue myself   for  defamation   or  slander   as my Sociology Professor,  the late  Pa  Sam  Adenola  Igun  use  to  say  in those days at  Ife. I was in the Civil Service   after   graduation as  an Assistant  Secretary on level 08. I  managed  to get  a job at the Daily  Times  as Staff Writer  and made it to  a bank   where  I worked  for 27  years before  retiring a decade ago. That  was  my time, a far  yesterday   and a far cry too,    from   the realities of today  which we will  look at  in the  context of today’s topic.

    Nigeria  today  has a government in place  that came into power on the  reputation  of a presidential candidate   renowned   for  integrity  and discipline. That  government was elected  in the  2015  presidential  elections and has fought  corruption massively  and seized looted  properties  from  looters.  Recently   there was   talk of selling seized  properties  from  looters  and two strong voices came up  like thunder.  The  first was that of the Sultan  of  Sokoto  the Head of the Nigerian  Muslims who  said despite the  war on corruption,  corruption is still  very  much  with  us. The other was that of the  governor of Ekiti State,  Ayo  Fayose   who  said  that  the names  of looters should be published  before seized  assets  are sold. Obviously  anti Corruption  forces  have fought back desperately  and the government itself  is fighting for its political  life  just  as the next elections of 2019  is around the corner.   I  have put this scenario  of the nature of the government of the day in perspective so one can  appreciate  the   comparison  I  want to make between  the eligible  bachelors of  my time and those  of the present time.

    The eligible bachelors of today are not in the Customs or  banks or oil  companies  as before. They are in the Political Class,  the Civil Service, the Security services,   and    the religious institutions. Special Assistants –SAs for short are the dream  husbands  for parents who  want the best for their daughters in marriage  nowadays. Pastors  are elegant  and very  wanted,   budding grooms  grooms  that  most Nigerian  mothers    seek   for their  unmarried  daughters  so  that the immediate future  can be bright for them  and their family at  large. Of  course  politicians and Honorables are the toast  of high  society  in any or all  of our 36  state capitals  and  the numerous  local  governments,  where  even  local  councilors will  get  a royal  treatment  before  any teacher  or  university  lecturer. That is the situation on the ground nowadays  in  Nigeria  as we battle corruption   and prepare  for another  presidential  election next year.

    What  is however  pathetic  about  the scenario  I  have  dug  up is that  in the battle against  corruption  of  the  present Administration    today, and in  the nation at  large,  the professions and calling I  have highlighted   as  reeking with  the most  eligible bachelors in society   nowadays,  are  in the   front  line of the government  of the day’s     fight  against  corruption. Your  guess  is as good as mine  therefore  how  successful  they  have been.  I   add  very   significantly   that   these  Nigerians   are  mainly  from the two  major  religions in  Nigeria namely   Christianity  and Islam  and   again  they   are  the toasts of   sermons and  praises   at all  our mosques   and churches  where  they  are blessed    as  products of divine benediction   and salt   of the earth,   regardless of the source of huge  donations and grants they  bring personally   for  the welfare    of the leaders   of  these  religious institutions. I will    therefore  illustrate  with  three  events   both  here  and in  the USA to  show that  corruption  is hydra headed  and that those  who  are  expected  to fight it must  like Caesar’s wife  be above reproach as  those who  live in glass  houses  should   not  throw  stones.

    I  will  comment  on the news in the media that there  was  corruption in the election of the Bishop of  Lagos by the House of Bishops in  the   Nigerian Anglican  Communion in Ilorin, the capital  of Kwara  State  recently.  I will  take issues  with  the suggestion of the US President Donald  Trump  that  teachers  should be trained  to use guns after  a mad student walked calmly to a school  from where  he had been dismissed  in Florida, USA,   and killed  17  of his school mates. I will  round up with the  observation  of  the Sultan  of  Sokoto  that corruption  is still  very  much  a way  of life in Nigeria   in  high   places   and  that criminals  should   be called  criminals regardless  of whether   they   are  Christians  or  Muslims.

    The  news  that bribery  was involved in the election  of the new  Bishop of Lagos  by the House  of Bishops in Ilorin bothered   me as I am an Anglican  and worship at Christ Church  Cathedral,  Marina, Lagos,  the Mother Cathedral  of  the Anglican  Communion in Nigeria and the seat  of the Bishop of  Lagos. The  pedigree  of this   Cathedral   is an  important  one in the  history of the Anglican  Communion  and the House  of Bishops  should accord that respect to history  and know that  the election of its Bishop is important   and  should  be treated  with great  respect and circumspection  given  its huge  contribution now and in the  past, to the fortunes  and growth  of  Anglicanism in Nigeria.

    Christ  Church  Cathedral, Marina   should  not be treated  as  just   a part  of  the Anglican  Community in Nigeria because it has paid its dues  in  terms of the quality  of its congregation  and its leading role  as  center of  high  quality  church music, its impeccable Choir  and communal  rendering of liturgy and Songs  of Praise  of   the highest quality  in  Nigeria. Succession  to the seat  of the Bishop  of Lagos should not be stage managed  as alleged  and not at  all  by those who  think money  can  buy anything in Nigeria  including the House  of  God. The  end should come decisively  to  an era of those who have  said the clergy  should not be given second hand cars and should only use new Camrys  when  most of the congregation  in many Churches  do   not even own cars and are  expected to buy such expensive spiritual  fringe  benefits  for their spiritual  leaders. Money  indeed is the root of all evil  but it should  not  affect  the choice  of who is the  Anglican  Bishop  of  Lagos.

    On  Donald  Trump’s suggestion  that teachers  should bear  arms I  think  he was just  trying  to dance to the  powerful    guns lobby  on the right of Americans to bear  arms. His excuse was that if teachers  have arms mass killers  could be stopped faster. But then teachers according to analysts did not enter their profession to bear arms but to educate.  The US’  problem  is that it has over pampered  its youths  and the result  is the  unprecedented  killings by teenagers of their  mates.  The  present generation  of  Americans  glorify  rights at  the expense   of  God  and   even   their own security. Even  the present killer of 17  innocent kids  was given a VIP treatment in  court  with the female police officers handling  him  so  carefully  and with something  akin  to affection. That will not deter crazy people like  him  from envying and wanting to emulate  him.  In  addition the students of the school    who   were  killed  by one of them   were  allowed   to   lead a delegation    to  the White  House   to  meet  the president of the US  who  simply said he has heard  them   and was thinking of  making a law   to check  mental  history   and raising the age of gun owners   to  21, well  beyond the age of the students.  It   is the moral  right of parents   in the US   to  control   and discipline their   children   in school   as   students   not   turn them  on society  as protesters  when  one of   them   turns  the gun on his fellow    students    in  this crazy  manner.    The   US  motto    is ‘In   God  we trust ‘   but  in reality  Americans    value  their rights  to  own  guns   and    live   as gays   more  than  their God  or even their security.  Indeed   America  has not been truthful to its own on the guns  issue  and is going to  pay a huge price  now  for that moral  corruption  that can  only spew  out  more violence and killings after  the six  that have occurred  in  schools   in   the two  months of this year  alone.

    Lastly,  the  Sultan  of  Sokoto  at a recent  book launch  observed  that the Fulanis as a tribe  have been  branded  as killers because  of  some Fulani  herdsmen killing people all  over the nation. According  to reports, the Sultan said – There  are millions of  Fulani who don’t even know what a cow is. I am Fulani I am not  a herder. He then concluded –Lets  give criminals their ideal  name, not Christian criminals, not Fulani criminals, not Muslim criminals. If  the government   has  failed, let  them call us to come and help  out. I cannot agree more with the Sultan. Once  again,  long live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

  • Culture, democracy and leadership

    Culture, democracy and leadership

    Let  me state clearly  from the onset  that  I believe democracy is a form  of  government that has outlived its usefulness in the modern world as we know it  today. I  do not buy the arguments of those who say the worst  form of  democracy is still  better  than a dictatorship. That  is just  plain  nonsense to me and it is not because  I am  angry  with democracy  as an ideology. It is because day in day  out,  we see good examples of why there should be a better way for human beings to govern themselves  than this  present   process   of periodic elections that   throw up leaders  who  are strangers to those who elected  them   into power even  before  they are sworn  into office. As  at  this week  the newest  president in the world is Cyril  Ramaphosa  the man   who  is taking over from disgraced former president of S Africa , Jacob  Zuma,  who  should face charges of  corruption immediately  and whose party should  be punished or admonished  for putting up with him  for  so long,  but  whose  party  has such a solid majority  that it will always win elections in that  nation  no matter  the quality  of leadership   it offers to   S Africans.  That is democracy  and that is a shame indeed  for any such ideology  which  conscripts  citizens  to the servitude  of avoidable poor  and bad leadership.

    Today  however  I  look at events in Nigeria  where the ruling   APC   has now admitted  that  it has dissent within its  fold and has now drafted  its most gifted  political  strategist  to  put its house in order in order  to  be  battle ready  for 2019  elections. Which   to  me   is  a great   distraction and a costly  diversion   of   talent  that  has been  hitherto ignored in  governance    and   is now being used    belatedly    for  a   fire   brigade  exercise.  We  also  look  at the USA where the president is on trial  as it were because he dared to say  that  a man  working for him  is a good man  even though  allegations have surfaced  that  he was a wife beater  who molested  his   two  divorced  former wives  We  also  look  at  Russia  where  a  presidential  election is to take place with  no one in doubt    that the winner will  be the incumbent  president  Vladmir  Putin who  is being  vilified   in the US   for  helping the current  US   president  Donald  Trump  win the 2016  presidential  elections in the   US.

    We  look  at these  nations  and their  democracies   in the context  of my  resentment against  democracy, its workings  and failure, in spite  of the laudable  objectives  of politicians in these  nations.   I  am  not blaming the inadequacies  of democracy  on leadership but on the environment of democratic  values  especially  emerging   political  cultures    and expectations tied symbiotically  to  a game of numbers   and  elections that  have  in many instances undermined  political stability and humanity without  which no political system  can  survive. Let  me   first  attempt   to highlight  the political  values   in these  nations driving their democracy   in  the directions they  have now found themselves.

    In  Nigeria  a  political  culture  of rigging at  elections is  a way  of life while the economic culture is corruption  and the sociological attitude  to work  is well  steeped in nepotism  and ethnicity. In   the  US   the political  culture is that of  ‘winner  takes all ‘ which  creates a no  prisoners taken approach   to the use and exercise  of power  without  consideration  for   the feelings or even  the existence  of losers  at  periodic  elections.  The  economic  culture  is laissez  faire capitalism  which  widens social  inequalities brazenly  till  the next  elections  and the sociological attitude  nowadays is  sexism or more  appropriately  sexual    harassment.  In  the UK  the cabinet  system  makes  the PM  first  amongst  equals and that creates leadership  competition which  can  at   times   be disruptive but the Parliamentary  system ensures great  accountability  and transparency. The  economic  system is rooted in social  insurance   and human rights  hold sway even at the expense  of state  stability  and security.  Again  like the US  sexual  harassment   is the major sociological  pursuit   of the moment along with  gay  rights and sexual equality.  How   all  these political   and socio –  economic considerations   and values  make or mar  the practice of   democracy  in these   nations  is what  I will  examine next.

    In  Nigeria  the present government  got  into power on an  anti-corruption platform  accentuated  by the discovery, on getting power that its predecessor  party  in power  had looted the nation’s treasury blind. The  new president had health  challenges,   which given  his age, were really  not unexpected  but he recovered but not early  enough for the   Catholic  bishops to tell  him to his face during a visit  that he has frittered  away  his goodwill  capital.  But  the government   from  the beginning  really  never  got   its  bearing  right as it was derailed by a  palace  coup  at the start  by a member  of the party who  became the President of the   Senate, the No.  3    position  in our democracy.  That  political  wound has been  untreatable   and I think   that would be part  of the reconciliation  assignment  of former Lagos  state  governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu  for the APC  on the eve of the 2019  presidential  elections.  But  that too  is like a political hemlock   to a leader  who  should be  in the forefront  of leading the nation    at  the next elections.  For  now crisis  management is a priority  for the ruling  APC. That  can  only mean that it has lost sight of the more  nagging issues  like  restructuring  and the killing of Nigerians  by  herdsmen  which  has made a   beleaguered   state  governor  to ask  his people  to arm  and defend themselves  if the central   government  can not do so  against  well  armed  herdsmen. This  issue  will  overshadow  any  fence mending in the APC because it is the party in power  and  its best  captain should  be deployed  to  nip  a   problem  with  high potential   to foment a civil  war  from going in that direction,  rather  than a protracted mend  fencing  which is like  closing the stable doors after  the horses  have bolted.

    With  regard  to the US  I  want to treat  their  democracy  on a comparative basis  with  that  of  Russia since  the US intelligence  community  has developed a rare paranoia   and sees Russia  lurking behind  any action  of   the US president  and has said Russia  aided his election  in  2016, which is something that annoys him  no end.  But  really  the US Intelligence  community  has short  changed itself  professionally  by playing  second fiddle to  Russia  on election  hacking. Sexual  harassment  too is fuelling   that  Russian  fiddling allegation.  But  it   also shows a moral  depravity heightened  by  Trump’s  background and unexpected victory. Surely  there  can  be no sexual  harassment in the fact  that his three former  wives  camapiagned  for  him. That  gives him a right to applaud  his aides  competence while  condemning sexual  harassment  in any  form.  Anyway  a political culture that makes great noise over sexual  advances  several  years  old is an unserious  and malicious  one. That  is what the US   has  become in spite  or despite the election of  Trump  and that is a sorry  situation indeed  without  much   political   value   or  respect  for  transparency  and    justice  as expected  in any democracy.

    At  the other  end Russia  is mocking the US’ political  and intelligence  establishments . Russia  under  Putin  is getting more  religious  and the Church  and the state  are partners on moral  values  while American  politics is dominated  by gay rights  and sexual  harassment. In  addition  Russians  are proud  that the mighty  Americans  cannot  manage their  elections  and insist  that  Russians intervened   to  elect  an  American  president with  all  the wealth  and technology  that  the Americans claim  to be at their  disposal. They  wonder what  sort of morality  Americans have,  given  the pursuit of gay rights and sexual  harassment.  So  who  has the better  democracy  between  the two worthy  of emulation?  Of  course  any  African  or Arab  will  favour  the Russian democracy  on  its    anti gay rights    posture  alone which is an anathema  in their  culture. Of  course  Americans  will scoff at that, while comparing   gay  rights with  civil   liberties but that  is an  insult  to such  people  and really  the Americans funeral. Once  again  long live  the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Separation of powers and clash of interests

    Separation of powers and clash of interests

    Human  experience in terms of political  power has  shown massively  that power  corrupts and absolute power  corrupts absolutely. That  was what  the   ancient   Greek  political  philosophers  elucidated  on   from Socrates, to Plato  and Aristotle  at one end and the Italian philosopher Machiavelli weaved  into  a master strategy  to claim power  for  its own  ends or  sheer  self  interest  at  the other end, to make  a  study  of power  and its uses  and  abuse   an  elusive  study in terms of where  it starts  or  where  it ends.  An  old saying says that  you  can  never know the true nature of any man or leader  till  he  gets  power to lord  it over his fellow human  beings.  That  really is a statement of fact and is the underlying thought  for  our topic  of today.

    We  start  with Africa today  and   the reason is not far fetched  if you followed  events in S Africa, Kenya   and Nigeria in this  last  one week. In  Asia, especially  in the two  Koreas, a dangerous  game of sports and nuclear  politics is being played out with the   Winter  Olympics expected to happen  even  as North  Korea  has vowed to stage a  military  exercise on  the threshold  of the Games.  Which  is a very  dangerous  proposition that  can escalate in terms  of violence  and loss  of lives at the drop of a hat.  Both  situations on the Korean  Peninsular  and the three  nations mentioned  before  will be analysed in the context  of separation  powers  as in a presidential  system   and  the conflict of interests  attendant on these  events.

    We  look  first  at  S Africa  where elders of the ruling ANC paid  a visit   this week  to the incumbent  President Jacob  Zuma  and asked him to resign  and he  first  refused.  At  first  Zuma’s  reason was that even though he was corrupt,  he had  refunded the money  in question  and he should be allowed to complete  his tenure.  Later sanity prevailed according to reports, and he agreed to go,  after a one on one discussion  with   the man expected  to take over  as leader of  the party  and president of the nation, Cyril  Ramaphosa. In   addition  to this the usual   State  of the  Union Address  of the South  African president was postponed  as there  were  protests on the streets  for Zuma  to  go  with the Nelson Mandela  Foundation issuing a statement  that the S  African  nation  can  no  longer  wait  for  him  to go.

    Two  issues  come out of  Zuma’s  reaction to the prodding for him  to go. The first  is that power had blinded him to his corrupt  practices   such  that he thought restitution of stolen  funds was enough punishment for  him  to be accommodated and forgiven  by both  party and  nation.   He  found out too late  though that  he was wrong.  Secondly he  had forgotten  that he   was   to  have been  removed  for corruption  as Vice  President  to  President  Thabo  Mbeki  but he manipulated  the same party  machinery  to portray Mbeki  as’ holier  than thou  ‘and highhanded  and it was Mbeki  that the party  asked  to go instead  of him. Surely  Zuma should know now that even though the mills of justice  may grind  slowly, they grind exceedingly. Especially  where  there   is no shortage  of brave frank  leaders  as the ANC  has  shown  the world this last  week.

    In  Kenya we  saw  that  the newly  declared Peoples  President  Rahula  Odinga   has now asked   for  new  elections  by  August  2018. Why  he chose that date  is a mystery he only could  solve. Which  to me is like putting  the cart  before  the horse. He  could have said this before declaring himself  president and exposing  himself  to a charge  of high  treason. In  addition  I must  register my admiration  to  the restraint  shown  by the president of  Kenya, Uhuru  Kenyatta  so  far.  Perhaps  what   is holding his hand  was the fact that he was charged for genocide  in the post election  violence of the 2007   Kenya  presidential   elections  and what saved him  then  was that he won  the 2012  elections in  Kenya  and witnesses  did  not come to the Hague  to give evidence against  a sitting president.   If  that is the deterrence,  it is a good one  and it shows  that the concept  of separation  of   powers  can  on some occasions  contain provocations and blind  promotion of selfish  power interests . Although in terms of separation of powers  and rule of law the Kenyan  government had disobeyed  court  orders  to  open the   shut  media  houses,   one  can still  regard  that   as  a mild offence in the face  of the blantant  provocation  of the inauguration of a  president  other  than the last elected  one which for now is Uhuru  Kenyatta.

    In  Nigeria  the raging issue  is that of the killing of Nigerians in some states  by those said to be Fulani  herdsmen.  The  situation has not been helped  by  the Minister  of  Defence  saying that the cause  of the killings  was because those killed blocked  the grazing routes  of the Fulani   herdsmen. The  Inspector  General  was also  reported to have made the same observation.

    This has led to the  House  of  Representatives passing a resolution  that the President should  sack the Police  IG. Coming  on the heels of a court  order  that the  Senate  has the authority  to approve the appointment of   the boss of the EFCC, an  appointment    that  the Senate  has refused to approve  and which  the government  has refused  to change or reconsider, then,  you know that there is no love  lost  between  the executive, the judiciary  and the legislature  in Nigeria’s  agile  presidential  political  system.

    However  it remains  to be seen how the legislature  can  make the executive  do its bidding when  the  duty  of the legislature is to make  laws  enforceable   and interpreted  by the other  two  arms  of government in our separation of powers  system.

    Obviously  the government feels that both the EFCC boss  and the IG  are doing  their  jobs  to the best  of  their  abilities and  I  presume  that under such circumstances  government  will  boost  the morale of its appointees  by giving them  moral  and even  physical  support   as it is doing at present. This may  overheat  the system  but really  it is the duty of government  to  bring order  out of chaos  and there is no doubt  that its handling of the herdsmen  killings has stretched  it capacity  to instill  order  and stability  to  breaking point. There  have been  reports  that the army   will  be conducting  military  exercises in the affected states nation wide. We  expect  such  exercises  to  bring order  and peace  into  the   states  and areas  affected  by  the killings  At  least  this will be a far cry  from the military  exercises expected  at the Korean  Peninsular  during the ongoing Winter  Olympics which  simply  throws  the games into jeopardy  and is an ill  wind  that   can  only fuel  fear  and insecurity  when  all that area needs  for the peace  of our time is friendship  and stability.  Once again, long live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.