The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Atiku’s baffling press conference

    Atiku’s baffling press conference

    • Ademola ‘Bablow’ Babalola

    Sir: Few days after the result of the 2023 presidential election was announced and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared the winner, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP, who came second in the election, took to the streets to show his grievance over the outcome of the election. 

    Many Nigerians were surprised and anxious to know what exactly could have prompted a presidential candidate, Atiku, to take to street protest instead of challenging the outcome of the election in the court. Of course the constitution allows the results of elections to be challenged in court for this is the only acceptable and recognized step to take to show one’s dissatisfaction with the results. People wondered why a presidential candidate would suddenly turn to a protester. 

    Perhaps Atiku thought that through the protest, he could gain public sympathy and earn an underserved victory. But when this became futile, he headed to court to challenge the results. During the proceedings, all manner of abuses were thrown at the justices handling the election petitions. In the end, the tribunal delivered the judgement based on the evidences before it. It affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu.

    Thereafter, Atiku signalled that he would go to the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, while Nigerians were waiting for the apex court to review the judgement and give their final verdict, another drama from Atiku’s camp would ensue. In a move borne out of desperation, the PDP presidential candidate applied to file fresh evidence at the Supreme Court! That was after the drama at the Chicago State University that revealed nothing new that Nigerians had already known!

    Read Also: BREAKING: Claim of discrepancies in my credentials fabricated by Atiku, says Tinubu

    I perceive frustration and desperation in all that Atiku is engaged in at the moment. After the Chicago State University had come out publicly to confirm that Asiwaju Tinubu attended and graduated with honour from the university, Atiku isn’t even ready to believe the school. To him, the authentication of Tinubu’s status as a graduate of CSU isn’t enough to settle the matter. Ironically, while Nigerians expected Atiku would at least wait for the decision of the apex court, he still went ahead to call a world press conference. To achieve what?

    And to imagine that his lawyers also have been running helter-skelter, going from one national television station to another, blackmailing the personality of the president and the presidency in the absence of the evidence that they desperately sought but could not find?

    I can perceive the reason Atiku resorts to this blackmail instead of waiting for the Supreme Court’s final verdict on the case. He knows that time is running out on his presidential dream. Of course this cannot be a glad tiding to someone who has for five times contested to be the president of Nigeria and lost.

    If not to engage in a needless negative exposure of Nigeria to the world, what exactly is the correlation between the case in the court and his so-called world press conference? And where lies the wisdom in calling and begging other presidential candidates who also lost out in the case to team up with him to join the fight?

    Who is Atiku really fighting? President Tinubu or the electorate that voted for him? Is he fighting the INEC or the judiciary that were instituted to serve as umpires? 

    • Ademola ‘Bablow’ Babalola, babalolaademola39@gmail.com
  • Dapo Abiodun: When a father immortalises son

    Dapo Abiodun: When a father immortalises son

    By: Elijah Udofia

    Sir: The whole essence of human existence is to be of help to one another. Even the Almighty enjoins us to extend a helping hand to those who are weak and vulnerable.

    The current economic downturn, which of course is not limited to Nigeria, has caused a lot of dislocation and made it difficult for families to discharge their responsibilities to their loved ones.

    Poverty, the seven-letter word is one phenomenon that has prevented a lot of people from achieving their full potential. It denies many people access to good health, good education and generally reduces many to nothing in society.

    Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State must have spared a thought for families that are going through a lot and wondered how they are coping with the current economic realities which is not friendly in any way. He must have also wondered how children who are brilliant academically and those who have the zeal to study, but whose parents are not financially buoyant enough to sponsor them due to the economic hardship, are feeling.

    For a man whose parents were teachers and knowing the impact education can have in the life of an individual, he and members of his family decided to step in and do the best they could to ensure that at least some of these children are given a lifeline to face the future.

    And so on Saturday, October 7, the 1,500 capacity Hall at the Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, was filled to the brim when Abiodun launched the Gbemiga Abiodun Education Scholarship Award with 550 indigent students in Remo Federal Constituency being the first beneficiaries. 

    In coming up with the idea of scholarship for those who find it difficult to support their educational pursuit, the Abiodun family must have aligned with the American Human Rights Activist and screenplay writer, Timothy Pina, who said: “Philanthropy is not about money, it’s about feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their needs to help.”

    He told the people that the scholarship scheme was his family’s way of assisting the poor in honour of his late son, Gbemiga Abiodun, who died in 2017.

    The governor informed the people that the scholarships cover pupils in primary and secondary schools, vocational and tertiary institutions. He emphasized that it is meant to ensure that brilliant students and those whose parents could not afford to educate them, have access to quality education.

    The governor would further explain: “The award is in two phases. The first phase is a Scholarship Award, designed for indigent and brilliant students, while the second phase will be a Bursary Award for in-need but not necessarily brilliant indigent students whose chances of upward socio-economic mobility are probable with bursary support.”

    Read Also: Dapo Abiodun’s long walk to tribunal victory

    Governor Abiodun informed the people that 200 learners from public primary schools would receive the sum of N50,000 each to take care of their educational materials, 200 students from public secondary schools would get N100,000 for their educational materials, while 100 students in tertiary institutions would be paid N250,000 each to take care of their educational needs.

    He pointed out that the scholarship award is designed for a period of three years and for those within the age bracket of 6-25, and selection will be determined by the State Ministry of Education Science and Technology, using the Cumulative Promotion Examination Result obtainable from the Ogun State Education Revitalisation Agenda (OGSERA) platform while the beneficiaries for tertiary institutions were recommended by their respective institutions.

    While the Abiodun family deserves a thumbs up for adopting a unique style in honouring their departed loved one, it is imperative at this point to urge the scholarship awardees to adhere to the advice of Timothy Pina, who says: “to begin to visualize your bright future ahead of you and then start walking the roads towards it.”

    • Elijah Udofia, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
  • An all-inclusive National Social Register coming?

    An all-inclusive National Social Register coming?

    Sir: On October 17 Nigeria will have a date with history to showcase a new National Social Register that will be all inclusive and acceptable to all. This is because the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu has kicked off the process with the recent visit to the popular Makoko, a riverine community in Lagos State.

    During the on the spot fact finding mission, the minister assured that similar exercises have commenced in other parts of the country. The goal according to her is to produce a new National Social Register that will be acceptable to all Nigerians based on accuracy, fairness and accountability.

    The minister disclosed that the mandate given to her by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to ensure that those on the National Social Register are verified poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

    According to her: “The President is truly committed to change the narrative and leave good legacies behind. He is very courageous to take bold decisions in the larger interest of the populace.

    The President just wants to give back to the country”.

    Dr Betta Edu has been moving around the country since her appointment in ensuring that lives and welfare of the people gets better while promising to be accountable for the trust entrusted in her.

    Read Also: Fed Govt begins verification of national social register in Lagos

    The minister therefore solicited for full support of the media towards projecting the policy and programmes of the ministry as well as rendering account of progress made to Nigerians. 

    On the issue with the 16 million internally displaced Nigerians with majority in the north, she said that government is responding swiftly to their different needs.

    She however noted that most of them are not ready for now to return to their ancestral homes due to heightened insecurity. She reiterated that the target of the current administration is to lift 70 million extremely poor Nigerians out of poverty in the first year and raise the bar to 173million in the next eight years.

    About 15 million households amounting to 60m vulnerable Nigerians including pensioners will receive N25,000 each for the next three months as part of the social interventions programme by the federal government.

    All eyes are therefore on October 17, when the new National Social Register would be unveiled to Nigerians. Good luck I say to the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    • Taiwo Olapade, Lagos.
  • Navigating economic challenges and governance woes

    Navigating economic challenges and governance woes

    By John Amabolou Elekun

    SIR: In recent times, Nigeria has found itself at a critical juncture, grappling with a myriad of challenges that have significantly impacted the daily lives of its citizens. From soaring prices of essential commodities to deteriorating infrastructure, the nation faces a complex web of issues that demand urgent attention.

    One of the most pressing concerns is the skyrocketing prices of necessities. The cost of fuel, diesel, and foodstuffs has reached unprecedented levels, placing a heavy burden on the average Nigerian. This economic strain is not only affecting individual households but is also posing a threat to businesses, hindering growth and development.

    The dilapidated state of roads further compounds the issue. Infrastructure, a cornerstone of any thriving economy, is crumbling in many parts of the country. This not only disrupts transportation but also hampers trade and contributes to the overall economic downturn. The need for robust investment in infrastructure maintenance and development has never been more apparent.

    Read Also: Tinubu’s CSU certificate not forged, BBC clarifies

    Adding to the nation’s woes are unfavourable government policies that have contributed to the economic downturn. Ill-conceived regulations and decisions have inadvertently fuelled inflation and hindered business operations. Addressing these policies is essential to creating an environment conducive to sustainable economic growth.

    Perhaps one of the most pervasive issues is the spectre of corruption that continues to haunt the corridors of power. Reports of corrupt practices among government officials raise serious questions about the ethical standards within the government. Tackling corruption head-on is paramount to restoring public trust and ensuring that resources are allocated for the benefit of the entire nation, rather than lining the pockets of a select few.

    In the face of these challenges, Nigeria must pursue comprehensive reforms. Transparent and accountable governance, coupled with strategic economic policies, can pave the way for recovery. The government must engage in open dialogue with citizens, considering their concerns and insights in the decision-making process.

    While the road ahead may be challenging, there is hope that Nigeria can overcome these obstacles. Collaborative efforts between the government, private sector, and civil society can create a foundation for sustainable development. By addressing the root causes of economic instability, investing in infrastructure, and fostering a culture of transparency, Nigeria can navigate these turbulent times and build a brighter future for its citizens.

    • John Amabolou Elekun, Iju-Ajuwon, Lagos.

  • Netanyahu: A sad albatross

    Netanyahu: A sad albatross

    By Dr. Vitus Ozoke

    SIR: There is one thing a country must not have – and must therefore avoid by all means. A country must, by all means, avoid corrupt leadership. In good, normal, and ordinary times, a country with corrupt leadership may still manage to chug along without suffering dire existential consequences. However, such a country must pray – and hope – that it is not hit with a major catastrophe, one that requires a credible and popular leadership that can summon the unquestioned and enthusiastic loyalty of its vast citizenry. When a country confronts major challenge of existential proportions, a credible leadership not only becomes necessary, it becomes imperative.

    The beleaguered nation of Israel has been hit with the worst existential catastrophe in its history, comparable only to its 1973 Yom Kippur (Ramadan) war with the Arab nations of Egypt and Syria. One of the major differences between 1973 Israel and 2023 Israel is that the 1973 Israel was in the hands of a credible leadership. For all her jingoistic and xenophobic flaws, Prime Minister Golda Meir, the Iron Lady of the Middle East, was not corrupt. Today’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not just corrupt, he is incredibly corrupt.

    Netanyahu is so corrupt that when he has been indicted for corruption, his strategy has been to fight his corruption indictment with even more corruption. Since January, tens of thousands of Israelis from all walks of life have been engaged in large-scale demonstrations and protests across Israel in response to Netanyahu’s unprecedented push to weaken the Israeli Supreme Court and reform the judicial system by limiting judicial oversight on official decision-making and legislation. Remarkably, among these protesters have been some members of Israel Defence Force (IDF) who have avowedly withdrawn their loyalty to Netanyahu. 

    Questions are:

    Did Hamas choose this time to attack Israel because it thought, not quite unreasonably, that Israel was vulnerable from growing cracks of insubordination in its security and defence ranks?  Did Hamas choose this time to attack Israel because it believed, not quite unreasonably, that Israel’s intelligence agencies were lax and distracted by Netanyahu politics?

    Read Also: Nigeria, others ask IMF, World Bank for debt relief

    How does a nation’s army disaggregate patriotism to nation from the filthy lucre of a corrupt commander-in-chief? Should the average Israeli soldier even have to undertake such difficult and profound calculations? How fair is that?

    How fair is it to mobilize Israeli soldiers to confront a deadly foe at the command of a corrupt and loathsome commander-in-chief? What are implications for troop morale?

    In truth, I do not pretend to know the right answers to these questions. What I do know, however, is that a corrupt leader is an albatross on his nation, both in good, normal, and ordinary times, and even worse so in bad, dangerous, and challenging times. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not the best face of Israel right now. He is the ultimate albatross. If he resigns today, it will be a psychological relief to the average Israeli even as the bloody stench of the horror of Black Saturday still hangs in the air.

    But, beyond Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, there is serious lesson for corrupt leaders in other dark corners of the world. Africa must be paying attention to Tel Aviv. A corrupt leader is a national security threat to his nation. A corrupt leader is the single most dangerous security vulnerability for his nation. A corrupt leader is an open invitation to opportunistic foreign enemies, yet a secret bouncer to the loyalty, morale, and patriotism of local national army.

    • Dr. Vitus Ozoke, United States. 

  • Powering our national priorities

    Powering our national priorities

    • By Samuel Akinnuga

    I wish to begin by making brief comments on two developments on the international scene that have generated widespread reactions and major concerns. First, we go to China. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has now been on for ten years. As a strategic platform of influence, with the promise of addressing critical infrastructure gaps, the initiative has deepened China’s relevance and leverage in the beneficiary countries, particularly in Africa. The infrastructure projects in Nigeria, courtesy of the BRI, are numerous, viz: the Abuja-Kaduna railway (the first of the standard gauge standard railway modernisation projects in Nigeria), the first phase of the metro line project in Lagos, amongst others.

    In other countries on the continent and elsewhere, they have built roads and bridges, built high-speed railways and financed energy projects. As China gets more involved in the economies of these countries, the point needs to be made: it is not charity. It’s all in the advancement of its national interest. As such, countries like Nigeria need to interrogate these ‘gestures’ within the larger context of our mid to long-term national imperatives. I would like to believe that those who can, by virtue of their current national assignment, are thinking about this.

    Next, we go to the Middle East. Last Saturday’s attack and the ongoing war has again drawn the world’s attention to the perennial contention between Hamas and Israel. The human costs on both sides are needless. To my mind, a legacy of war cannot be what we bequeath to the generation coming behind. How about a legacy of peace for a change! This is not the time to take sides with this or that country, it is the time to take sides with truth, justice and whatever is in the interest of enduring peace in that region. If the two-state solution would help achieve this, then why not!

    Back at home, we have more than enough on our plate.

    In my conversations with colleagues and associates, I often consider how our domestic drama strengthens or weakens our claim to leadership on the continent. We are a beautiful country with a potential for great things, and like many Nigerians, I want to see this country prosper and matter but I am under no illusion. It is still a long way to that utopia. The reality is: relevance is a function of might, be it technological, economic, military, or cultural. We don’t particularly lead in any at the moment. Within reasonable timelines, we can make significant improvements in at least two areas: cultural and technological, depending on our priorities. The interesting thing is that the strengths in these areas can offset the weaknesses in the others. What single asset would drive success in these areas? Simple, an education approach that is reflective of the times.

    Some months ago, when the University of Lagos increased its fees for reasons the management explained was “in view of the prevailing economic realities and the need for the university to be able to meet its obligation to its students, staff and municipal service providers among others’’, I predicted that the same reason would be advanced by other institutions that were waiting in line to make similar announcements. There is no denying it: the reason is quite valid. The times are tough. Headline inflation, as of the last official inflation date released by the National Bureau of Statistics in September, is at 25.8% (the highest in the same period since 2005). According to the same report, food inflation rose to 29.34%. I submit these numbers to reiterate the tough realities for everyday Nigerians. People are literally seeing ‘shege’ just to get by.

    I recall an interview from two months ago where Professor David Aworawo, Head of Department, History and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos, disclosed that he had signed deferment forms for 12 students in his department who could not pay N19,000. In view of the increased fees, it is likely that many returning students would not return and many of those who gained admission to start their first academic year this September may not even bother. We ought to do something about this. I digress.

    Read Also: We are poised to invest aggressively in Nigeria’s talent pool – Aliyu

     Today, many of our students (and graduates) are finding a way in content creation. They are proud to identify themselves as ‘Influencers’ even though some go to ridiculous lengths to make a point. At least they earn decently from these efforts, some would say. This is not to say that we don’t have some outstanding ones. We do. A good number are also considering new careers in tech-based careers as data scientists, software engineers, front-end/back-end developers, UI/UX designers, and so on. They see that tech is the new oilfield. There are decent opportunities in tech and I encourage more young people to pursue careers in this area.

    A more strategic approach to education at all levels is key to everything we aspire to be. Our current approach will take us nowhere. We have become a country obsessed with simply producing graduates. Here, everyone wants to be a graduate, including those who, by their conduct in society, are not better off than those whose formal education ended at the primary level. It is clear that many are not fit to go through the rigours of academic life at that level. 

    Being a ‘graduate’ here is a big achievement. Well, it should be on some level, but we ought to know better from our collective experience that simply producing graduates is not the ultimate. Thousands of graduates cannot find work for their able hands due to several reasons. Here, we talk of unemployment, then underemployment and then unemployability.

    My point is: simply producing graduates cannot be the goal. Every ‘graduate’ should be seen as a national asset, with a unique contribution to national development. In this regard, their training should be taken much more seriously. We need to institutionalise an arrangement where our best and brightest are identified early on in their educational journey, and are encouraged to pursue careers in Sports and the Arts, STEM-related disciplines, and also those we need to prepare for careers in public service. My recommendation is that this arrangement should be made in line with the specific areas in which we intend to set a pace in the world.

    Planning and achieving global relevance is possible. It is hard work, yes. But it is a worthy pursuit. Any serious leadership prospect for us depends on it. Rome was not built in a day but our own ‘Rome’ should not take forever.

  • Atiku’s desperation and the future of Nigeria

    Atiku’s desperation and the future of Nigeria

    Sir: The presidential election is since over; despite the campaign of calumny, and desperation of the desperados, the winner has been duly declared and inaugurated as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inherited a nation in the throes of chaos; a country grappling with daunting challenges and he is confronting those problems headlong. From the first seconds, after he took the oath of office, the president has hit the ground running: from unfurling his tough and bold economic agenda to decoupling the instruments of corruption that have held the nation down. He is assiduously pursuing the achievement of his campaign promises by taking some tough, but necessary, measures.

    Unfortunately, Nigeria’s problems have always been that of leadership, mismanagement of resources, and mind-sets. These are deep-rooted malaise in the society and their agents and beneficiaries are quite grounded. All over the world, to effect a positive change from the old order is always a herculean task, and people’s resistance because of expected shocks to be experienced in the system along the way, which is exactly the Nigerian situation today.

    Tinubu’s audacious moves to take Nigeria to the next level of progress and development are being unnecessarily distracted by the antics of those who have lost out, not just in the politics of Nigeria, but in the endemic corruption that has brought the nation to its knees.

    Sadly, even though the defeated politicians have gone to court, they have refused to allow the judicial process to go on without distractions. They have thrown caution to the wind, lost all forms of decorum and decency, and handed over modesty to the dogs in their bitter fight to destabilize the country. They are highlighting and weaponizing the nation’s diversity, whipping up regional, ethnic, and tribal sentiments, and needlessly heating the polity.

    Read Also: Dis-Atiku-lated bomb

    The issue of the 2023 election has become a sort of ‘war’ and degenerated into the kind of ‘do-or-die affair’ in a manner of politics played when Atiku Abubakar was Vice President of Nigeria. And as it is in war, the truth has become a casualty in Nigeria. Atiku and his PDP lost the election before the first ballot was cast by brazenly breaching the party’s power rotation agreement, thereby turning Peter Obi, a former ally, into an adversary. He also offended the likes of former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and irked Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the former Rivers State governor, and major financier of the PDP in its troubled time.

    Rather than traveling from Abuja to Dubai, Dubai to Chicago State University to stop a ship that has already sailed, the Waziri Adamawa should be retrospective and try to save whatever is left of his image that has been badly battered by a series of damning verdicts on him by his former boss, serial defeats in his quest to superintend over Nigeria in 30 years and make peace with Nigeria and Nigerians. It is particularly sad and unbecoming that the former vice president took to social media and ‘world press conference’ to blackmail and intimidate the judiciary.

    Atiku missed a golden opportunity by not taking a cue from President Goodluck Jonathan, swallowing his pride, accepting his 30-year-old and eternal rejection by Nigerians, and congratulating his colleague and former ally, who has proven that it is not how far, but how well.

    Nigerians must wise up to the shenanigans of the likes of Atiku, Peter Obi, and other politicians who aim to use them as cannon folders in their desperation to seize the rein of power, including disparaging the president, spreading negativism about the nation and pushing the nation over the cliff.

    As we await the verdict of the Supreme Court, Nigerians must remain calm and resist the push by selfish politicians to use them to throw the nation into chaos.

    • Lanre Atere, United Kingdom.
  • Between mandate and certificate

    Between mandate and certificate

    Sir: The political terrain in Nigeria in recent times is sloppy and many strong forces are falling into the murky waters of the slippery terrain through tribunal weeding. The tribunal has ruled over different elections conducted in the past and the outcome was shocking. Like erosion, the tribunal is eroding the expected and unexpected. In Nigeria, the outcome of the elections announced by INEC is not always the final, the judiciary has always been the last line of action. Many electoral cases are still hanging in courts. It is the era of electoral brouhaha. In whatever way, the lawyers are smiling.

    Out of the electoral proceedings going on in courts, the most serious one is between the age-long friends whose friendship clashed with interest. Politics is a dirty game. It has no permanent friend or enemy. What is constant is the interest. Tinubu and Atiku have wined and dined in the era of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). They belonged to the same political ideology and caucus. The urge for political power diverged their roads into separate parts. The path they chose differently has landed the old friends in the court of law at home and abroad exposing themselves to the world. 

    Like Abraham Maslow in his hierarchy of needs theory, the peak of the pyramid of needs is what the duo of Atiku and Tinubu are dragging. That is self-actualization. Tinubu and Atiku want to be named in the pages of history as president. They have long crossed the border of all pyramids of needs like many other political grandeurs. The self-actualization pyramid is the reason why it is difficult for Atiku to accept the will of God. Contesting and re-contesting spending millions in dollars. After the defeat, he hunts abroad to upturn what God has predestined and stamped. It is not possible. 

    I have come a long way to realize the differences between a mandate and a certificate. It is so disgusting to start digging up the certificate after losing the mandate. The masses through elections have given their mandate to whom they consider the best for the job. Nigerians did not vote because of the certificates of the candidates during elections, Nigerians voted for their trusted candidate. Whether the trusted candidate is performing to the expectation or not, the time shall count. In positive or negative, the time has started counting. Nigerians chose Buhari massively over Goodluck Jonathan with a PhD. in 2015 without considering a certificate. Many governors and myriad public office holders were voted in without degree certificates. In an electoral context, the people’s choice matters.

    Read Also: Why my SSCE certificate bears Sadiq Abubakar – Atiku 

    Tinubu served as a governor and a former senator;  which certificate did he tender to run for governorship and senatorial race or certificate did not matter in those periods? Nigeria lost former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun on a flimsy note of NYSC certificate. In Nigeria, we tend to leave what matters to chase a misplaced priority. What should be the most important is good governance that will guarantee egress for all out pangs and pains. Without thinking twice,  I will support Tinubu’s resignation based on non-performance; not because of a certificate. If the constitution specifies a school leaving certificate as a minimum requirement for the presidential position, arguing about a university degree while an SSCE holder can occupy the same position is a misplaced priority. If we are ready to be serious about certificates, requirements for political offices should be rejigged and the minimum requirement should be far from SSCE. 

    While the judiciary is to take its stand on Tinubu and Atiku’s case, I maintain the stand of the people’s mandate. The certificate saga is a distraction; it should be dead on arrival. 

    • Usman Issa, Ilorin, Kwara State.
  • Desperation and unscrupulous paths to power

    Desperation and unscrupulous paths to power

    Sir: The sort of desperation being displayed lately by former vice president, Atiku Abubakar who contested the last general election on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is a reflection of how the country has fared in 24 years of unbroken civilian rule.

    In the cutthroat world of politics, the pursuit of power can sometimes lead individuals down dark and morally questionable paths. A handful of desperate politicians, consumed by an insatiable hunger for the highest office, are willing to employ tactics that defy ethical standards, including resorting to blackmail and other nefarious means.

    Blackmail, a tactic as old as politics itself, has found its place in the arsenals of those who believe the ends justify the means. These politicians, often driven by a relentless ambition to occupy the presidential seat, are willing to exploit personal vulnerabilities, secrets, and scandals to coerce their rivals into submission. In doing so, they compromise the very principles that underpin democratic processes and sow seeds of mistrust among the electorate.

    The use of information as a weapon is not limited to opponents’ personal lives; it extends to exploiting systemic weaknesses. Some desperate politicians might resort to manipulating electoral processes, undermining the integrity of campaigns, and even engaging in voter suppression to tilt the odds in their favour. Such actions not only erode the foundations of democracy but also foster an environment of cynicism and disillusionment among citizens.

    Read Also: Why my SSCE certificate bears Sadiq Abubakar – Atiku

    The desperation for power can lead politicians to form unholy alliances and make Faustian bargains. Aligning themselves with powerful interest groups, they may trade favours for support, compromising the interests of the general populace in the process. This brazen disregard for the greater good exposes the lengths to which some politicians are willing to go to secure their coveted position at the nation’s helm.

    As these unscrupulous strategies become more sophisticated, they pose a severe threat to the democratic fabric of nations. The erosion of trust in political institutions, fuelled by revelations of underhanded tactics, undermines the very essence of representative governance.

    It is imperative for societies to remain vigilant against such practices and to demand transparency and accountability from those vying for public office. Only through an informed and engaged electorate can the insidious influence of desperate politicians seeking power through blackmail and other unethical means be effectively countered. After all, a true democracy thrives not on the desperation of a few but on the collective wisdom and integrity of its citizens.

    • John Amabolou Elekun, Iju-Ajuwon, Lagos.
  • Born free but everywhere in chains

    Born free but everywhere in chains

    • Femi Oluwasanmi

    Sir: The major factor that differentiates the human society from the animal kingdom is the existence of government vested with the responsibility to protect lives and property, create and maintain law and order, preserve systems and structures that preserve dignity and provide socioeconomic stability.

    However, these seems to be on a reverse gear in Nigeria putting into consideration the rising in the rate of insecurity and other socio vices that have eaten deep the fabric of peace and created an atmosphere synonymous to a society where people are born free but everywhere in chains.

    In its resolution on October 5, the Senate urged the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Gwabin Musa to immediately facilitate and supervise the quick return of all displaced persons to their ancestral homes and provide a sustainable security corridor in all flash points within the affected communities.

    Since the inception of this dispensation, the issue of insecurity has continued to manifest in different forms at the different levels taking the shape of ethnic coloration, religious manipulation, and to the hydra-headed killer groups masquerading as Boko Haram, bandits, among others.

    Due to insecurity, more than two million people have fled their homes to seek refuge at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps where life is solitary, nasty, traumatic, and people potentially exposed to outbreak of diseases and other health challenges.

    Apart from these challenges, the deplorable condition at the camp has created an avenue for different forms of abuses especially the issue of “sex for food”.

    Between January to June, not less than 11 cases of sexual abuse were reported at the Gbajimba and Anyiin Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Guma and Logo LGAs respectively in Benue State by the Sexual Offences Awareness and Response (SOAR) initiative during a quarterly meeting of the Benue State Child’s Rights Implementation Committee (SCRIC) chaired by the state Ministry of Women Affairs. This is not to talk of the IDP camps in Borno, Adamawa among others.

    Because of the fear of being evicted from the camp, some victims of this horrendous demonstration prefer to die in silence than to speak out even when asked by the visiting organization or body.

    Read Also: Subsidy regime promoted corruption, says NNPCL Kyari

    This sexual abuse syndrome seem to have spilled over to the host communities with the harassment being faced by the female IDPs in the process of looking for water to fetch when they run out of water at the camp and sometimes when looking for firewood to fetch and sell in order to augment their feedings and buy clothes that can replace their fading clothes.

    As a result, some of the young men among the IDPs have joined terrorist groups while some have turned to the canvassers, recruiting people to join the unscrupulous elements threatening the soul of Nigeria if they want to be set free from the chains of poverty and inhuman treatment. This is why despite the victorious song on war against terrorism being trumpeted by government, insecurity has not abated.

    Recently, eight prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from Akwa Ibom were abducted by the bandits on the Zamfara highway en route to the orientation camp in Sokoto State. Seven corps members were similarly kidnapped in Rivers State on their way from the orientation camp in Ondo State in May.

    In the past, the call to NYSC service used to be a call for joy and celebration but now, the opposite seems to be the case because of the acceleration in the spate of insecurity.

    To stop Nigeria from bleeding, the government must stand up to her responsibility to protect lives and property, ensure more training and empowerment centres are created for those at the IDP camps, intensify the war against insecurity so that those trapped by the chains of poverty and inhuman treatment can regain their freedom.

    •Femi Oluwasanmi,

    Ibafo, Ogun State.