The Nation Newspaper

Category: Hardball

  • Mental health of inmates

    Mental health of inmates

    Incarceration should not be an impediment to proper healthcare for inmates with mental health issues. However, many people who are incarcerated in the country lack access to mental health professionals because they are in short supply.     

    “We have 8,246 inmates with mental health conditions in our custodial centres,” according to the Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of medical services, Dr Glory Essien. She gave this figure during the third public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, and Other Inhumane Treatment by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), held in Abuja, on August 12. 

    From her explanation, the mental health of these inmates had been impacted by their incarceration. She said: “From the moment someone is brought in—those who have seen a custodial centre know what I mean—the police escort them to the gate, it’s opened, they’re admitted, and then that gate locks behind them.

    “That instant loss of freedom can trigger something. Some begin to show signs of disturbed behaviour almost immediately, as if something in their mind has shifted.”

     When this happens, the shortage of mental health workers complicates the problem.  “If you’re in a facility housing 500 to 1,000 inmates, and you’re the only attending doctor, nurse, or psychologist, it’s simply not possible to monitor everyone individually,” she observed.

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    The prison system, therefore, trains some inmates to assist the staff in identifying those showing signs of poor mental health, she added. According to her, they are “trained to alert the staff when they notice concerning behaviour. They might say, ‘This inmate seems dazed, hasn’t eaten, hasn’t spoken to anyone.’  Such observations help the staff to “intervene early,” she said. But she noted that these efforts are inadequate in dealing with the scale of the problem. 

    Two other speakers at the event gave further insights into the issue. The Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of pharmaceutical services, Mohammed Bashir, said there were 81,122 inmates in 256 correctional facilities nationwide, adding that specialised consultants “usually go to about 12 designated custodial centres that have a large number of these cases.” This is concerning.  Correctional centres with a small number of such cases also deserve attention.

     The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, noted the maldistribution of mental health professionals, saying, “Let them not only be centred in Abuja and Lagos; we need them to go out to the fields. Because if we even put two in the states, it will help them.”

    The authorities need to address this aspect of conditions in the country’s correctional centres. 

  • The making of a royal banger

    The making of a royal banger

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, had conferred a honorific title, the “Okanlomo of Yorubaland”, on an Ibadan-based businessman, Dotun Sanusi.

    But the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, took offence, claiming he was the only authority — by law — allowed to confer Yoruba-wide titles, and threatening Armageddon, if the Ooni did not reverse himself within two days! 

    The making of a royal banger!

    Okay, even among the royals, a tiff is not unexpected, though its regularity might be far between.  Royals were first human, before a feudal system lofted them above fellow creatures. Still, must royal tiffs be so base, be so crude, be so uncouth, from both sides?  Frankly, the exchanges, between the Oyo and Ife courts, are rather forgettable!

    By Yoruba sacred myth, Ife is the spiritual fount of Yorubaland — what the late Ooni Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, coined the “Source”, in the bruising royal politics of his day.

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    Oyo, on the other hand, was the imperial capital, on account of the then fashionable crime of empire building.  Pray, how can sacking, maiming and killing a captive people — fellow Yoruba and other folks — be a blessing to anyone, including the cruel imperial power?

    So, by myth and brazen power, both Ife and Oyo have a special place in Yoruba history.  Which is why you’d expect whatever emanates from either court not to be disagreeable, even if both violently disagree.  But the toxin issuing from both courts, over the “Okanlomo” matter is, to say the least, disgraceful.

    The Oyo opening salvo: “… It is very obligatory for the Alaafin to call the Ooni of Ife to order and demand revocation of the so-called Okanlomo of Yorubaland Chieftaincy title conferred on Engr. Dotun Sanusi with 48 HOURS (capitals his) or face the consequences.”  Crude.

    The Ife riposte: “My principal has directed me against issuing a press release on the empty threat of the Alawada Baba Sala” the Ooni’s spokesperson dismissed the threat from the Oyo court as comic relief: as Moses Olaiya, the iconic Baba Sala and late ace Yoruba rib-cracking comedian, provided.  Rude.

    After everything, the whole huff was needless.  Sanusi just said his Chieftaincy was “Okanlomo Oodua”, not “Okanlomo of Yorubaland”!  Idle tiff?

    Even then, “Okanlomo” is honorific, not a core traditional title.  “…of Yorubaland” is also farcical.  If the Ijebu were never under the yoke of Oyo, even at the climax of its imperial powers, and the Ijebu are part of Yorubaland, then it’s common logic that the Alaafin couldn’t validly confer any pan-Yoruba title, beyond Oyo’s immediate vanity, and definitely not outside its old imperial boundaries.

    Let these two monarchs get busy with serious things.  The Okanlomo feuding should be infra dig to their majestic dignities, though the Alaafin would appear more blame-worthy, for opening the front with a vain-glorious attack.  Enough!

  • Trump’s tariffs war

    Trump’s tariffs war

    Nigeria was named among 67 countries on which United States President Donald Trump recently slammed new tariffs purportedly aimed at correcting perceived trade imbalances, but which many perceived as a weapon being used by his administration to force its way with other countries on the global stage.

    The new tariff regime imposed 15 percent tax on exports by Nigeria to U.S. markets. The tariffs are varied as per countries, and other countries in the 15 percent band in Africa include Angola, Ghana, Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d`Ivoire, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Countries affected outside of Africa include Afghanistan, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji and Guyana. Others are Iceland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Nauru, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Vanuatu and Venezuela.

    China, Washington’s most formidable trade rival, got hit with 30 percent tariff alongside additional product-specific duties. Brazil faces a staggering 50 percent tariff, but key industries like aircraft, energy and orange juice come under reduced charges. Other major economies are also targeted. Canada faces 10 percent duty on energy products, and 35 percent on goods not covered in the US-Canada-Mexico Agreement. India’s exports will attract 25 percent tariff, with a further 25 percent threatened to take effect from 28th August.

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    When the trade tax blitz dubbed “reciprocal tariff” was initially announced, the U.S. administration gave a 90-day window to negotiate deals, with the deadline set for 1st August. Most negotiations, however, failed to produce new pacts, triggering the rollout of the hiked tariffs. “This is about fairness. For decades, other countries have been taking advantage of America’s markets. Those days are over,” President Trump declared while announcing the measures. The White House insisted the policy is necessary to “level the playing field” and hoped the new tariffs will boost American manufacturing. Analysts outside of the administration, however, argued that the measure would disrupt supply chains and drive up consumer prices globally.

    The policy sleight of hand comes at a time Nigeria is working to expand its non-oil exports, particularly agricultural and manufactured goods, into North American markets. Industry stakeholders fear the new U.S. import duty could hinder the efforts, while trade analysts described the measure as an aggressive use of tariff policy that risks igniting disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    Options open to Nigeria include imposing counter-tariffs on American imports. This would be hurtful to Nigerians. But it should also promote consumer distaste for imported items, which is a good thing. Besides, Nigerian authorities should explore new trade alliances that will de-emphasise trade with the U.S. and open up new market frontiers for the country. And the earlier that is done, the better.

  • Bribery and bills

    Bribery and bills

    Unbelievable! Scandalous! Ibrahim Auyo, a member of the House of Representatives representing Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency, Jigawa State, dropped a bombshell during a meeting with his constituents. 

    In a video of the meeting, which went viral, the lawmaker, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made claims that seemed to have a   ring of truth because they came from an insider. Speaking in Hausa, he said: “Since I was elected as a member in 2015, no individual has given me a bill to pass, either from Auyo, Hadejia, or Kafin Hausa. They are just pretending.” This was part of his defence after some people had accused him of poor representation based on his alleged failure to sponsor bills in the House.   

    He continued: “And also, even the bills and petitions are paid for. You have to pay from N3 million, N2 million, or N1 million to present it.

    “And after you present the bill, you must follow up by lobbying the whole 360 members of the House to accept the bill.”

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    Expectedly, this response to criticism of his legislative performance by some of his constituents provoked public outrage. His claim that money usually changed hands among House members in the process of presenting bills puts the legislators in a bad light. 

    However, he also said he was open to receiving proposals from the constituency. “For the bills, I give each community the chance to present theirs,” he stated, adding, “They should sit with their community leaders, write down their needs, and bring them to me in Auyo.

     “Even if I am not in Auyo and I am in Abuja, they should delegate two or three people from the LGA to meet my team so we can confirm it is from the constituency and see if I can address it or not…

    “I have my representatives—they should go through them. If they do so, I can first review it; if I can do it myself, I will. If it is a bill, I can also present it.”

    This suggests he would be willing to pay to be allowed to present a bill, given his claim that such a practice exists.  If it does, that would be another condemnable instance of political corruption. 

    The Deputy Spokesperson, House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and “a deliberate attempt to mislead Nigerians.” He added that Auyo “has been grappling with mental health challenges, which have significantly impacted his participation in the 10th Assembly.” He also said the lawmaker “has recorded less than 10 percent attendance and has contributed zero bills, motions, or petitions.”

     He asked: “Where is his proof of these alleged payments?” Indeed, Auyo should corroborate his claims, if he can. More importantly, the anti-corruption agencies have a duty to investigate the bribery allegations.

  • What bites Babachir Lawal? 

    What bites Babachir Lawal? 

    Just as well: Sunday Dare, the president’s special adviser on Media and Public Communication, has given Babachir Lawal, first secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) under President Muhammadu Buhari, a piece of his rather caustic tongue — and fairly so.

    The former SGF must know that the privilege of elite access to the public space (radio, TV, even the new media, with its all-comer malady) comes with anticipated elite decorum.  If you breach that decorum, you’re fair game for whatever riposte comes your way.

    So, if Lawal withered under Dare’s withering fire, he simply had it coming.  It wasn’t pretty, though!

    Some tasters, from what Dare felt was an indecorous Lawal’s interview, on Channels TV: “The outing revealed a deeply troubled soul, slowly unravelling — even if wildly swinging in all directions, wearing ideological inconsistency like a badge of honour,” opened the blast. “It was obvious that the entire performance on Channels … was nothing more than a poorly scripted attempt to bait President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is the same man Babachir (who) once swore the ‘wrath of God’ should fall upon anyone who stood in Tinubu’s way to the Presidency.”

    Dare was clearly piqued Lawal was heaping insults on the president.  He also claimed his grumpiness had to do with ogling the Tinubu vice presidential ticket, which proved a mission impossible.  During that gambit, an Armageddon flared over a “Muslim-Muslim” ticket, in which Lawal was the unfazed crusader-in-chief.  Two years later, after a quietened war front, Lawal would appear still unconsoled, nay unconsolable!

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    Even then, the president won’t be the first the rather cocky Lawal would insult.  The other day, on a live show, he told TVC’s Nifemi Oguntoye: “Give me a break, man.  Shut up! …” bang on air!  But for Oguntoye’s civility and calm professionalism under a rude and crude assault, that interview could well have pivoted into an ugly shouting brawl.

    Now, what’s eating Babachir Lawal?  Why does he think — and with Oguntoye, his body language was haughty, puffy and utterly condescending! — that being rude to others is the new high fashion in civilized discourse?

    Then, his claim, at the Channels TV interview, that Peter Obi won the 2023 presidential election — how so?  By INEC records, Atiku Abubakar even beat Obi to the third place.  Though both second and third pushed their legal right to clamour for a sole spot they both lost, how could, in Lawal’s bizarre record, the third even have trumped the second, to claim a phantom win, when both knew they lost?  Lawal magic?

    Lawal probably voted Obi — no crime! — the so-called “Christian candidate” in 2023. But that absurdity collapsed after that election had been lost and won.  For Lawal to still be mouthing that moonlight tale is not only reckless but also unbecoming.

    Ex-SGF Lawal must know that he adds nothing to his reputation by throwing tantrums in interviews just to make a political point, no matter how cynical.  There’s life after politics — and the next generation are watching.  A word is enough for the wise.

    Besides, Dare, a much younger fellow, should not be schooling Lawal on the etiquette of civility.  The reverse should be the case.  Those who have ears, let them hear!

  • Lawmaking by bargaining

    Lawmaking by bargaining

    Lawmakers in Benue State seem never able to shed the transactional mindset, regardless of dispensation. If you want action on something by the house of assembly, you would need to oil your way to getting that action performed. Simply put: nothing goes for nothing, as they say in pedestrian discourse.

    Governor Hyacinth Alia came up against that mindset last week when the state assembly suspended screening of commissioner-nominees he sent in for its approval and resolved to decline further correspondence from the executive arm until certain demands by the lawmakers are met. At a plenary presided over by Speaker Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, the legislators said they were not opposed to confirming the nominees per se, but that the governor must first demonstrate respect for legislative resolutions and prior agreements. That decision was taken after the member representing Gwer West state constituency, Shimavever Jiji, raised a motion of urgent public importance accusing the governor of treating the assembly with contempt, and allegedly refusing to honour its resolutions. The motion was seconded by Thomas Dugeri, who expressed concern over what he described as the governor’s continued neglect of legislative input.

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    Several lawmakers who spoke in the debate said they were not out to obstruct governance, but rather to ensure the executive arm respects the legislature and upholds the rule of law. Among demands they made was provision of official vehicles for seven assembly members yet to receive theirs. “The house resolves that the seven vehicles must be released to members before any further requests from the executive are considered,” the lawmakers decided. They also insisted on Governor Alia implementing resolutions directing the suspension of Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council and Executive Secretary of the Benue State Sports Lottery and Marketing Board. “The house resolves that any letter or correspondence from the governor will no longer be honoured until the mentioned persons are suspended,” Dajoh announced. Each time a resolution was read, the speaker asked, “Is that taken?” and members chorused “Yeah” in unison.

    This happened last Thursday, 8th August. But it bore resemblance to the previous Benue assembly that convened a session in the final days of former Governor Samuel Ortom’s tenure solely to pass an executive bill intended by that administration to provide bogus life pension for ex-governors and their deputies. The lawmakers had before then suspended their statutory functions because of huge salary arrears owed them by the Ortom administration; but when the administration managed to defray part of the arrears, they held the ad hoc session to pass the executive bill that Ortom couldn’t even sign into law before his time in office expired.

    Lawmaking can’t be more transactional. The Benue honourables must learn that their role in governance is constitutional and not a bargaining tool.

  • An elephantine problem

    An elephantine problem

    Today, August 12, is World Elephant Day. Established in 2012, this annual international event raises awareness about the situation of African and Asian elephants, which are listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The day also aims to share information on their care and management.

     Coincidentally, a farmer was tragically killed by an elephant attack in a village in Ogun State about two weeks ago. The incident raised questions about the management of elephants at a government reserve in the state.

    According to Ogun State Commissioner of Police Lanre Ogunlowo, the police received a report from the Itasin community on July 28. It said that elephants had escaped from a government reserve and attacked a farmer, Musa Kalamu, who later died on the way to the hospital. He added that officers of the Ogun State Forestry were contacted to prevent the animals from causing further damage. The victim was said to have been working on his farm in the Itasin-Imobi area; the government reserve is in Ijebu East local government area.

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    A voice in a viral video showing Kalamu’s body said: “This is Kala, he was attacked by the elephants at Onitasin… the marks of the attack are all over his body, even his intestines are out.”  Another villager said: “This elephant keeps coming into our community to destroy our crops, damage our fishing nets, and now, it has taken a life.” The villagers called for urgent government intervention, stressing that invasive elephants have posed danger to lives and farmlands in their community for years.

    Before now, there had been reports of elephants causing havoc in some Lagos and Ogun communities after leaving their reserve. The question is: How were the elephants able to move out of the reserve?  If the elephants had a reason to leave the reserve, that shouldn’t mean they must have a way to leave. The elephants were able to leave the reserve because they could – this indicates a failure in its management.  If the reserve were properly managed, the elephants would have been unable to leave.

    Wildlife conservation is a serious issue. The Wildlife Conservation Society has outlined and advocated several key actions. These include increasing aerial surveillance in strongholds, training and deploying more rangers, supplying new rangers with equipment, assisting authorities in shutting down trafficking networks, and growing community development programmes to help communities co-exist with wildlife. The authorities should take action. 

  • Obi’s new fixation

    Obi’s new fixation

    It started as a three-pronged farce, but you can trust Peter Obi, Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2023 presidential election, to weigh in with comical nobility!

    It was all intra-African Democratic Congress (ADC) manoeuvering to game that platform’s presidential ticket, among the many wannabes scrambling for that lolly.

    Crafty Atiku Abubakar, now the northern irredentist (as he postured in 2023, thus dealing the PDP a near-mortal blow), then a born-again(st?) pan-Nigerian, as he now postures in the run-up to 2027, started it all with that farcical pledge: I will only do one term and quit!

    How would that help anyone, though?  After his one term, who takes over?  The North which should duly have, had it waited for the South to finish own eight years, watching its back as it does?  Or the South that would now step into, Heraclitus-speak, an entirely new river, in Nigeria’s perennial challenge to find true nationhood?

    It was crafty Atiku’s attempt to explain the crass illogicality of own rabid ambition.

    Then, Rotimi Amaechi, a decent governor at Rivers and passionate Transport minister under PMB, but whose politics is out-and-out boyish and infantile.  “I’ll do one term too,” he pledged. “If I renege, stone me!”  As boyishly infantile as Rotimi Amaechi!

    But of course, anywhere there’s political inanity — for our man is condemned to talking (sense or trash) — there you’d find Obi!  In the latest political burlesque in town, he certainly must show up!

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    Waxing poetic over the farce, Obi compared himself to the American duo of Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy and South Africa’s eternal pearl, Nelson Mandela, the one and only Madiba.  Well, talk is cheap! 

    It’s clear heresy, driven by a chronic personality flaw, for gas-emoting Obi, with his China stats and constant lies, to ever compare himself to this trio.  It’s even worse for a guy whose tenure as Anambra governor was at best mediocre, to swear, with some papal solemnity, that he would solve all of Nigeria’s problems in four years, without realizing his clear self-mockery. His usual empty drivels are the clear opposite to rigour!

    Well, such drivels drove him to his over-performance in 2023.  Why not an encore in 2027?  Best of luck to him!  He’s often reminiscent of one of James Hadley Chase’s popular titles: believe this — believe Peter — you’d believe anything!

    That’s the comic Peter Obi projecting his new-found fixation with spending four years and vanishing.  Again, good luck to him — and hey, it’s a democracy!  The right to self-scam, aside scamming the gullible, is free and democratic! 

    Even then, nothing appears more amusing than comic Obi doubling down on his new fixation with a single term, like some agama lizard, nodding furiously to what no one knows. 

    It’s comic relief, en route to 2027!  Enjoy it!

  • Hurricane Nwifuru

    Hurricane Nwifuru

    Governance in Ebonyi State must be on crutches about now, courtesy of a one-month suspension slammed by Governor Francis Nwifuru on 87 cabinet functionaries. Officials affected include 25 commissioners, 22 permanent secretaries, 14 senior special assistants and 24 special assistants.

    The governor, on Monday, 28th July, imposed the sanction that will keep affected functionaries out of government operation for all of a month. A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Monday Uzor, said they were being suspended for failing to attend an important government function. Governor Nwifuru directed that the officials “proceed on a one-month working suspension without salary for failure to attend an important government function,” the statement read; adding that the governor made clear the affected officers should not sign any official document within the period of their suspension, with the commissioners expected to hand over to their permanent secretaries.

    The statement listed the functionaries affected. According to the spokesman, the governor remained firm in ensuring government officials uphold the highest standards of conduct and dedication in serving Ebonyi people.

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    A natural poser is, what was the important state function so many officials of government failed to attend? The statement didn’t clarify. Subsequent findings, however, showed it had to do with the burial of the mother of a prominent businessman and close associate of the governor, Chief Innocent Elechi Ojiugwo. The entrepreneur hails from the same Izzi clan as Nwifuru and is said to be one of the biggest financiers of his governorship campaign in 2023. According to reports, the burial event was duly logged in the governor’s itinerary, with the suspended functionaries listed among persons to accompany him. But the governor also had an official assignment in Abuja same day and when a delayed flight hindered his timely return, he assigned Deputy Governor Patricia Obila to represent him at the burial, with expectation that government officials would also massively attend.

    Many government officials apparently got hint of the governor not returning in time for the burial ceremony and decided to also stay away. This did not go down well with Nwifuru, who directed that attendance be taken at the event. A media aide, Leo Oketa, in a Facebook post, said the governor, upon his return, directed the suspension of officials not at the burial. “This is not the first time the governor has warned about government officials absenting themselves from government functions. This time, he had to act,” the aide added.

    You would wonder, though, how a private funeral became a state function as to justify culling government in reprisal against attendance defaulters. And what happened in ministries where both the commissioner and permanent secretary are on suspension? If the business of government is unhindered by the suspensions, those officials are superfluous and had no business being engaged in the first place.

  • Sweet-sour success

    Sweet-sour success

    While the Super Falcons, Nigeria women’s national football team deserve congratulations for winning the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco for a record 10th time, on July 26, their historic triumph was dampened by the controversy that followed the Federal Government’s cash award of the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each player. They were also given apartments and national honours.  

    Amid the controversy, some retired soldiers criticised the cash reward in interviews with Saturday PUNCH.  One of them who retired as a Corporal in 2024, Lukmon Aderibigbe, narrated how his colleague had sustained a gunshot injury during a military operation against Boko Haram in 2013.  According to him, his wounded friend was referred to the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, for treatment, where he was told that the National Health Insurance Scheme did not cover gunshot wounds. As a result, the wounded soldier had to pay for his treatment.

    Aderibigbe said: “The situation worsened when his salary was stopped after he was ordered to return to his unit in Borno State (Monguno), even though his injury had not fully healed. All efforts to convince his commanding officer of his condition failed.

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    “Tragically, he was later killed during an attack on his unit by Boko Haram in 2014. He couldn’t escape because of his injury. What kind of country do we serve, where a soldier who sacrifices everything is treated this way?”

    In a similar case, Olumayowa Akogun-Abudu, who retired as a Lance Corporal, said: “I was wounded at Kamuya by a suicide bomber while on advance with the 27 Task Force Brigade on April 27, 2017.

    “They (government) gave me nothing. I was even spending my money while recuperating. It was one of the reasons I left the military, because I felt our sacrifices were not valued, neither were our efforts applauded.”

    These accounts, among others, were given as counterpoints to the government’s perceived lavish generosity to the victorious female footballers. They do not present the Nigerian military in a good light.  

     If retired soldiers could paint such pictures about the country’s army and, by extension, the government, it is food for thought. Importantly, are these narratives true? Did the army treat the soldiers in the stories as described?

    It is indeed ironic that otherwise positive news about the Super Falcons’ cash reward generated bad and ugly stories in certain quarters.