Category: Letters

SIR: How are the mighty fallen is a popular global maxim. This is the story of Godwin Emefiele, ex-governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This calm, humble looking man was typically blinded by the lucre of power, money and influence. The aphorism that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely was manifest in ways and manner he superintended over the CBN.

Every day, we are reminded of how transient money and power is. However, most deluded office holders in Nigeria do not seem to appreciate the limit of their official elasticity. They keep on acting as if tomorrow never exists and arrogantly act and behave like gods until such a time when there is no longer room for penitence.

The position of the CBN governor is highly exalted and influential. Therefore, governments at the federal and state levels, powerful officials and individuals have always lured and tampered with the sanctity of the bank to align with some dubious, personal or group economic policy decisions.

The chicken they say learns from where guinea fowl is being roasted. His predecessor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was hounded out of office on account of his loquaciousness and for abandoning his core mandate to meddle into politics. Emefiele did not only meddle into politics by buying the presidential nomination form of the All Progressive Congress (APC); he procured a number of vehicles for campaigning pressing his closeness to ex-president Buhari and the cabal to his advantage. The enormous power and wealth at his disposal drove his character, attitude, ambition and that of his behind-the-scene supporters.

Read Also: ‘Emefiele not compatible with new economic thinking’

The hasty redesign of the naira notes which brought untold hardship to Nigerians was one policy which broke the camel’s back. He hid behind “President Buhari approved it” to undertake all sorts of programmes which mostly benefited his friends, family and cronies. Emefiele saw it coming but the sweet scent of power and the allure of authority beclouded his sense of judgement.

When one sheepishly presents oneself as a ready pawn to be used by politicians, the devastating backlash is always borne by him alone. Emefiele is personally gnashing his teeth alone at one corner of the detention room designated for the once upon a time powerful man by the Director of State Services (DSS).

Emefiele was one of the luckiest CBN governors. He was appointed by Goodluck Jonathan on June 4, 2014 after the suspension of Sanusi and then miraculously retained by Buhari. His tenure was also miraculously renewed even though, he was not adjudged to have performed well. He was the only governor of the apex bank in the history of the nation to serve two tenures and also two different and opposing administrations. History will also remember him as the only one who ventured into the murky waters of Nigerian politics without the decency of resigning his position. 

Emefiele is presumed innocent until allegations against him are proven beyond reasonable doubt and a conviction secured against him by a court of competent jurisdiction. The DSS should as a matter of fact and urgency, charge him accordingly and not make a political meat of his detention. Relevant security agencies in an ideal situation must have gotten the full dossiers of ex and serving public officers whose hands are stained with ill-gotten wealth. They should be made to face the full wrath of the law. The fight against graft or official malfeasance should serve public and not political party or individual interests. 

•Sunday Onyemaechi Eze,

sunnyeze02@yahoo.com 

Sir : Thirty years have passed since the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election in Nigeria, a historic moment that remains etched in the memory of the nation. This election, widely regarded as the freest and fair in Nigeria’s history, represented a pivotal moment for democracy and the hopes of millions of Nigerians.

As we mark the anniversary, the phrase “justice delayed is justice denied” rings true. It is crucial that we address all forms of injustice as we move forward. Among the injustices that demand our attention are the fraudulent nature of the constitution and the marginalization resulting from an inappropriate power structure imposed by a cabal determined to subjugate and control the instruments of power by any means necessary.

The current power structure perpetuates marginalization and denies many Nigerians the opportunity to participate fully in the democratic process.

The anniversary of the annulment of the June 12 election also brings to light the issue of arbitrary killings carried out by the state with impunity. We must remember individuals like Kudirat Abiola, the Ken Saro-Wiwa, and countless others who lost their lives due to state-sanctioned violence. Their deaths serve as stark reminders of the urgent need for justice and accountability. We cannot allow these heinous acts to go unpunished. Only by holding those responsible to account can we begin to heal the wounds of the past.

Read Also: June 12: Hope to Renewed Hope

Financial fraud has been endemic in our nation, with the looting of the national treasury and fraudulent contracts, including subsidies. Corruption has persisted across successive administrations, from Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha to Abdulsalam Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, to Muhammadu Buhari. No individual should be exempted from the pursuit of justice and the demand for accountability. It is imperative that those responsible for these acts of financial misconduct face the full force of the law. 

Only then can we rebuild trust in our institutions and ensure that the resources of our nation are utilized for the betterment of all Nigerians.

Indeed, we must accord recognition, appropriate dues, and compensation to the families of MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe. 

Their sacrifices and contributions to our democracy should never be forgotten. By providing them with the support they deserve, we demonstrate our commitment to honouring their memory and rectifying the wrongs of the past.

To truly move forward, all individuals involved in the annulment of the June 12 election must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted according to the law. The pursuit of justice for these actions is a necessary step towards building a better Nigeria—a Nigeria where the rule of law prevails, and the voices of the people are heard.

As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12 election, let us renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy, freedom, and justice. The struggle for a better Nigeria continues, and it is incumbent upon each of us to play our part in shaping a brighter future. Together, we can overcome the injustices of the past and pave the way for a truly democratic and prosperous Nigeria.

•Prof. Babs Onabanjo,

United States.

Sir : The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) welcomes President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech. While we appreciate the acknowledgment of the hardship faced by the Nigerian people, the speech failed to provide solutions to the most pressing issues facing Nigerians, such as the rising cost of living, the widespread insecurity, and the lack of basic infrastructure.

President Tinubu’s request for ordinary Nigerians to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country was not matched with unequivocal sacrifices to be made by the political and economic leadership of the country. The present scenario where only the poorest of the poor and some segments of the middle class are asked to deepen sacrifice whilst the political class continues on the path of self-indulgence is not the way forward for economic regeneration.

President Tinubu highlighted the removal of fuel subsidy as a necessary step to free up resources for collective use, which had previously been pocketed by a privileged few. While we understand the intention behind this decision, it is crucial to emphasise that the burden of sacrifice should be shared by all, including the leadership. Furthermore, concrete steps must be taken to ensure that the sacrifices made by the people are not in vain.

Read Also: Petrol subsidy removal: N21.8tr budget execution, revenues to rally

We recognise the president’s promise to invest in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare, and other public utilities to improve the quality of lives. However, we stress the importance of translating these promises into actionable plans with clear timelines and effective implementation strategies. Nigerians need more than just assurances; they require tangible solutions that will alleviate their current suffering and provide them with hope for a brighter future.

We call on President Tinubu and his administration to engage in open dialogue with civil society organizations, trade unions, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive and inclusive policies that prioritize the needs of the Nigerian people.

Leadership should be by transparent examples where the followers see the leaders in the front line of sacrifice and contributions to economic growth and development. 

• Eze Onyekpere & Victor Okeke, CSJ Abuja.

SIR: Two days before the curtain fell on the Muhammadu Buhari administration, an aircraft marked ‘Nigeria Air’ was sneaked into the country, celebrated in the media as the launch of a new national carrier, only to be spirited out of the country mysteriously after 24 hours, to its rightful owners.

In an apparent attempt to deliver on his promise to birth a national air carrier before the exit of the Buhari administration, Hadi Sirika, the former Minister of Aviation, through his actions caused great embarrassment to the nation. He must be held liable.

The ongoing investigative hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has brought to the fore startling revelations about the shady project. But it shouldn’t stop at that. Sirika and his accomplices involved in this scam must be made to account for every kobo spent. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and annual budgetary figures indicate that about N85 billion was committed to this project between 2016 and 2023.

Every man desires to be successful in his/her endeavours in life. What I find difficult to comprehend is the obsession of the former minister with launching a national carrier at all costs.

Read Also: Reps’ verdict: Nigeria Air launch is a fraud

Revelations emanating from the House probe allege that Sirika had contacted Ethiopian Airlines a few days before the unfortunate incident, to provide an aircraft that would be presented to Nigerians as a Nigeria Air aircraft. The aircraft has since been returned to Ethiopian Airlines. This is shameful and embarrassing to a country whose national airline, the Nigerian Airways, was once the pride of Africa and the black race in the decade following independence from colonial rule until corruption, waste, inefficiency, and red-tapism killed it. Since then, successive governments have sought to return the nation to that glorious era by entering into partnerships with various international airlines like South African Airways, British Airways, and KLM. All such efforts ended in futility. Virgin Nigeria, which was a partnership with British Billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic, was short-lived.

Aviation is a global business that is best left in private hands. Government should act as a regulator. The shareholding structure of the proposed Nigeria Air is 95% privately owned and 5% government owned. Who are the private investors involved in this deal? These and many more questions are what Nigerians expect answers to as the parliamentary probe into unravelling the Nigeria Air scam continues.

•Peter Ovie Akus,

New Jersey, USA.

SIR: Returning to Nigeria after a wonderful conference cum holiday in a beautiful Island of the United States of America, is like a war general who had escaped the horrendous war, now going back to the war zone after all his colleagues had been arrested.

I do not actually blame the japa generation – the generation leaving Nigeria in droves for greener pastures – because everyone deserves to live a good life. No citizen should suffer from the failures of leadership.

Nigeria, my country, is blessed beyond measures in human and material resources, but our leaders lack the requisite competence to harness these unquantifiable resources.

In the political arena, Nigeria seems to put her worse foot forward. We define politics in terms of tribe, zone, ethnicity and party affiliations, consigning competence and moral qualities to the gutters. How else do you define a country where the leaders compete amongst themselves as to who is most powerful? Who is richest or who has the most following?

The citizens have turned tools in the hands of these chess masters. They turn out policies that would not work or rather, would be made not to work.

The japa generation would wonder who would ever choose, on their own volition, to return to a country where nothing is certain. Education is truncated or stalled for bad policies; security is unsure for lack of competence and corruption; energy, in terms of power, is at the lowest ebb; anti-human policies are awash; I mean, you can name any vice and you will sure find it in my country.

The long awaited removal of fuel subsidy is now with us. The outgone Buhari regime finally removed the subsidy, as his last gift to Nigerians, though welcomed by the Tinubu administration, which is expected to champion the course. Now, do not get me wrong, I believe that the erstwhile much touted subsidy was a ruse, a charade and fraud of the highest order. Many billionaires had been produced on this subsidy scam, and so, it must go. All of our presidential contestants knew this and they all vowed to remove it. We all applauded their decisions. At least, they all had a common ground on this vexed issue.

In The United States as elsewhere, fuel is not cheap at all and the citizens are used to it and probably laugh at us in Nigeria. I go with my friends here to buy fuel and it sells for between $3.4 to 3.5. Do a mental conversion to Naira and you’ll understand how much they pay for fuel here. Are they complaining like Nigerians? No! This is because the system has been structured in a way to provide buffer. You could work extra jobs, that are actually available, to cushion the effect of such increment, which, of course, do not happen often.

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Secondly, you do not have to own a car or ride in your car to go to work. The public transport system is top notch. You have options in trains or buses, which are cheap or you could do Uber.

Primary and secondary education are free. You do not have to worry about the spiral effect of removal of subsidy. There is provision of student loan for tertiary education and food is the cheapest thing you can get.

So, in a situation where the government is doing its utmost best to make life meaningful for her citizens, a removal of any subsidy should not cause uproar.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian leadership knows next to nothing about proper governance and all that it entails.

How I wish Nigerians have the opportunity to do something extra like elsewhere. Why can’t car owners do a pool, like if you find colleagues traveling together, share the fuel money or even use their cars as a mini Uber or cab? Why can’t we run small businesses to earn extra income? Many things we can do to cushion the effects. May God help the new government to right the wrongs of many years.

•Prof. Tunji Oyelade,

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.  

SIR: Dear Mr. President, the first rains have fallen in the northwest region and I wish to plant corn in commercial quantities. There is one huge problem, though. The murderous bandits scattered in the bushes will not allow me to go anywhere near my farm. In fact, there are thousands of farmers with arable lands 10 times larger than mine, but are forced to abandon these farms to remain uncultivated because of the appalling bandits. The farmers dare not visit their own farms, let alone attempt to cultivate them.

Bandits have been seen to display ridiculous levels of impunity by either taking control of hard-working farmers’ harvests; kidnap the farmers for ransom, or both. Worst-case scenario, the farmers lose their lives for failing to cooperate.

This trend cuts across major farming towns in no fewer than five of the seven north-western states, and a few local government areas in Niger State. Farmlands in Funtua, Dandume, Faskari, Bakori, Kankara, Malumfashi and Danmusa Local Government Areas in Katsina will largely remain uncultivated. In Zamfara State, the case appears even worse. According to Yusuf Anka, a conflict journalist in Zamfara, villagers have been attacked and killed almost on a daily basis within the past week. This has clearly sent chilling messages of terror across the region. Farmlands in Tsafe, Anka, Gummi, Gusau and Talata Mafara Localities of Zamfara will most definitely remain idle, unless, of course, something drastic is done by the president, through his now obviously funded (and equipped) armed forces.

Nigeria has 35 million hectares of arable land, which is bigger than that of most of the countries of the world, according to the World Bank. The immediate past minister of agriculture in 2022, admitted that only 44% of the nation’s arable land is being utilized. Whether this ‘utilization’ is judicious and efficient enough is a topic for another day. In any case, it is safe to say that this percentage will continue to southwards as the bandits continue to ransack villages, and inject terror into the minds of city boys and farmer wannabes like me. I cannot risk my life for all the corn in the world!

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The northwest region hosts the majority of the poorest of the poor in Nigeria and these numbers can only start to drop if the poor inhabitants are allowed to do what they do best, which is subsistence farming at the very least. No amount of interventions, grants or agricultural initiatives will have any palpable impact if the security of the common farmer cannot be guaranteed.

There might probably be a new National Security Adviser (NSA) for the president within the coming days or weeks, or least of all, a new approach to addressing the security challenges facing each region of the country. What this submission is calling for is an improved tempo and a display of urgency from the centre in dealing with these unrepentant terrorists once and for all.

Since this administration has decided to be gutsy in removing fuel subsidy within hours of its inauguration, for instance, we can say that the administration will not be afraid of trying new things. Is it with the implementation of state police? Is it through the tightening of regulations surrounding combating of the financing of terrorism? Is it with the reorganization of the country’s armed forces? It cannot hurt to try new things, at this point, honestly.

The least the northwest region deserves is to feel safe again. It will no doubt be the biggest payback from President Tinubu by a mile! We in the northwest care less about who gets what appointment and where. We just want to safely plant and harvest corn, Mr. President.

•Aliyu Sulaiman,

Katsina.

Sir: The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Ibom State Government House, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo.

Dear Pastor Umoh Eno, there is joy in my heart to welcome you to the seat of Government constituency, Akwa Ibom State and to bid farewell to the government of Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, government.

I will never cease to thank God, by whose grace you have become our leader. The joy in my heart is only to the extent that you will outperform your predecessor.

But I have a short message for you. What we expect to see in Akwa Ibom State under your watch is no less than good governance, government of completed projects, pay gratuities to retired civil servants in the State. Project the name of the State by good governance.

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There are so many projects abandoned by the previous government of Akwa Ibom State. To mention but a few, Atan Ikot Okoro Road, General Hospital Ukanafun, abandoned academic block Ikot Osurua, Inyang Isong Road Ibiaku Ntok Okpo, Ikono LG, International Worship Centre, Ibom Science Park, Urban Secondary School fencing and devotion Hall in Ikono LGA, Peacock Paint Factory, Eket Ibeno Road Dualization, Feyreps Cassava Mill Ibiono Ibom, Ikpanya Road, Ibiono Ibom LGA, road leading to Goretti Girls School Ikot Ekpene, Community Secondary School, Ikot Uso Ekong in Eket, Mexican Cow rearing farm, China Market Eket and many more.

Please endeavour to complete these projects so that the fund invested in these projects will not be wasted because government is a continuum.

Let the people whosover as a result of these uncompleted projects get relief.

Cancel your dream project “the Happy Hour project” do not do happy hour in Akwa Ibom State. The reason is that as you are creating happy hour to people who drink, you are creating unhappy hour to people who do not drink, for people who drink but are not within the circumference where the drinking happens, it is unhappy hour for them also because they are not participating.

The best happy hour is payment of bursary to students of tertiary institutions, payment of gratuity, improving on social amenities and infrastructure, good roads in Nsit Ubium, Oruk Anam, Ibiono Ibom, Ukanafun etc, free JAMB form, free WAEC fees to the people of Akwa Ibom State, etc.

Project the name of God as a pastor that your are, never you abandon the title referencing you to God, for what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his soul? – Mark 8 v 36. The world is watching, Akwa Ibom People are watching, Nigerians are watching, some people are praying for your fall to cast aspersion on the church. Becoming a governor is the greatest test on you to see how firm you can stand.

Do not look back at people who never supported you, it is your good governance that will bridge the gap between friends and enemies.

Please be very prudent on how you spend the resources of the State as this is very crucial, do not allow anyone to influence what you do, take only good advice, always be prepared for a day of reckoning. if our resources are missing we will hold you responsible. Pray for more critics to put you in check instead of sycophants. We pray that you succeed.

Nkereuwem Anana Esq

Sir : At 8:22 pm on March 30, I transferred N103,000 from my Sterling Bank account (0075368754) to my FairMoney Microfinance Bank account. (7988739461).

I contacted FairMoney’s customer service on Friday, March 31, only to be informed that the transaction did not deliver into my account, despite Sterling Bank’s claim that the transaction had been successful.

I requested for my FairMoney Statement of Account covering the period March till date, to establish that the N103,000 transaction was unsuccessful.

I contacted Sterling Bank customer service on Wednesday, April 5, and was informed that Recall of Fund would be the most appropriate course of action since I had not received the money. After it was approved, I received a mail stating that the case would be resolved in 45 working days (from April 5 to May 23).

I had earlier sent a mail where I attached a copy of the transfer receipt from my Sterling Bank App (One Bank), the receipt issued to me in Sterling Bank (Matori branch) that the transaction was successful and my Statement of Account from FairMoney showing the transaction was not successful, as well as the mail showing the Recall of Fund which lasted on Tuesday, May 23 from Sterling Bank and nothing was done.

When I got in touch with someone who knows someone in the hierarchy of the bank, he told me that he had brought my complaint to the attention of the Managing Director, who had promised to handle the matter within a week. Nothing has been done till date.

But after I called Sterling Bank’s customer service and threatened to make the case public especially the social media, I started getting calls and emails every day from Sterling Bank, promising that the Recall of Funds would be carried out as soon as possible and that the case would be resolved.

Even now, I still get emails from Sterling Bank apologizing for taking so long to resolve my concern, yet without any solution.

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The money I’m referring to is my heard-earned income, but Sterling Bank won’t let me spend it when I want to. I’ve endured far too much sorrow and suffering trying to get the bank to resolve the problem. Sterling Bank has wasted my time, resources, and money.

FairMoney has also been contacting me through emails to let me know that the transaction failed and that I should ask Sterling Bank to contact them via help@fairmoney.io so they can work things out. Sterling Bank received my letter, however they made no response.

I visited the FairMoney office on Wednesday, June 7, at Pade Odanye close, Off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja to file a complaint again. The customer support representative again informed me that the situation was still the same.

The official showed me the multiple emails made to Monify asking if the transaction had been successful. As of June 2, the response from Monify was that “the transaction was not successful.”

I went back to the Sterling Bank branch in Matori to ask them to reverse my money since Fairmoney confirmed it to them only to be told again that the transaction was successful based on the email response he received, and that they are expecting another update from the head office.

This is most unfortunate. I am by this medium appealing to Sterling Bank to immediately reverse the transaction.

• Taiwo Adam, Ibrahim, Matori, Lagos.

Sir: In every corridor of power around the globe, there are people who call the shots. Some are seen. Others are invisible. But you hear and see their exploits. They are real. They wield enormous powers such that the real occupier of the office, on behalf of whom the powers are wielded, most times, defers to them and relies on them to take certain critical decisions. Most times, when they are not within reach, critical decisions must be delayed. Unless they have their say, nothing moves, nothing works. They are called the powers behind the throne!

Around President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in those days, Rauf Aregbesola, the immediate past Interior Minister, was the de facto power behind the throne. You hardly get anything without his input and final stamp. Once you encounter President Tinubu, the next thing is ‘go and see Rauf’.

As governor of Osun State, unless certain Lagos matters get to Osogbo, they are never resolved. Tickets into certain offices in Lagos are got from Osogbo, with the express approval of ‘Rauf’.

With Tinubu, Rauf’s words were law. Fall out with Rauf and you are out of favour with Tinubu. 

But somehow, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola mismanaged the relationship, abused the trust and even attempted to play God. Now, he is left in the cold to lick his wounds. 

Curiously, rather than retrace his steps, show remorse and find a way to be reintegrated into the fold for possible political rehabilitation, Aregbesola appears to be grandstanding.  Unfortunately, those he misled and turned into political orphans in Osun are still urging him on. They are the ones who gathered to welcome him back to Osun. For what really, I do not know.

Read Also: I was chased away from Osun for four years, says Aregbesola

As minister, he was treated to a celebratory banquet by the APC government in Osun, led by Adegboyega Oyetola. Now, he is being welcomed not by the Osun State APC. 

While in Abuja, he never participated in any election in Osun. He never showed any iota of concern for Osun as a minister during the raving COVID-19 pandemic. It is on record that as a member of the Presidential Committee on COVID-19, Aregbesola behaved as though Osun needed no support from the fedral government to the extent that after Osun successfully contained the famous Ejigbo 127 Ivory Coast returnees, he almost forced another set on Osun.

If the so-called ‘welcome home’ gathering is to relaunch himself back to political reckoning, I think Aregbesola and those behind it have missed the point again. 

But if it is to continue his political war against the party and persons that brought him to political reckoning, it is a good start. Unfortunately, he and those behind it may not go far either, unless the Osun State PDP government is willing and ready to fund the political war.

Historically speaking, since 1999, those that are today waging war on the progressives in Osun have never spent their personal money to advance any political cause. They have always relied on Tinubu’s financial war chest and government’s money. Once these two sources of funding are blocked, give them six months from now, the market will cease to exist and the traders will go their separate ways.

But one thing Aregbesola must know is that an average Osun APC faithful only appears to be waiting for the appropriate time to square up with him. One thing that is however certain for now is that, except Aregbesola changes his perceived arrogant posture, with regard to his relationship with APC in Osun especially, it may be difficult for him to return to political reckoning as far as the progressives’ politicking is concerned because for now, the era of ‘go and see Rauf’ appears gone!

• Ismail Omipidan, Ila Orangun, Osun State.