The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • The Benue we want

    As the state and, indeed, the nation move towards the general elections with the emergence of gubernatorial hopefuls from the various political platforms, it is instructive and incumbent on us to articulate the Benue State that we want. The Benue dream has been articulated by many for various reasons ranging from pork profits to transition to political hibernation at the national assembly. That the Benue people deserve a better deal is not new in the politics of contemporary Nigeria.

    Previously regarded as second class citizens in the then Northern Nigeria political equation when it was alleged that her stool was the resting feet of regional leaders, the state has evolved into a strategic decider of Nigerian politics that deserves the best. The self worth of the average Benue indigene and resident has no less been degraded to a status that is abysmal in the Nigerian state. As we move to 2015, Benue deserves the best in leadership and resource sharing formula for the following reasons.

    First, Benue produces one of the most hard working labour forces in the country and deserves a leader that will be in the fore-front of job creation to absorb its teeming graduates. As a state that is home to indigenes-by-birth and residential status from various parts of the country, the next governor must be prepared to create competitive opportunities as is obtainable elsewhere in other leading states of the federation.

    Second, the Benue Diaspora, whether locally or internationally, must be accommodated in the scheme of things or affairs that affect the state. A Benue Diaspora Commission will have to be established by the incoming governor in 2015 to cater for the needs of indigenous professionals who want to return home either as retirees or on career advancement option. This is most important because it will be recalled that when Benue State University was established, the bulk of the Benue academia that started the university were returnees from politically-stagnated careers from federal universities that had gone political in considering their promotion criteria instead of academic productivity. Today, the story has not changed as many Benue indigenes still suffer the same fate in various federal and state universities.

    Third, as far back as the 1980s, an elder statesman, Pius Igbax, had advocated a Benue database for the skilled and unemployed in Benue from which the state government can source for her labour force. Although this was not recognised at the time, technology and local needs have made it pertinent in the current times to have such a tool in our hands through the facilitation of the state government. There are some positions in which political affiliation is not a requirement but merit which such a database or commission can provide. Fourth, thankfully, all my first three points are dedicated to the benefit of the youths. Now we have to look at the mainstay of the Benue economy, which is agriculture. A new Benue governor will have to take a cursory look at agriculture in the state and effect a change.

    Yearly, our farmers don’t have enough of the product which must be adequately addressed through the establishment of a fertilizer factory in the state. Some would rightly argue that does the presence of a cement factory in Gboko mean accessibility and affordability to the product in the state?  Everybody knows that the cement is readily available and quite affordable to builders in the state and so the same would apply to a fertilizer factory in the state. Again, there is the problem of storage facilities for agricultural produce in the state.

    Fifth, there is the need for the establishment of agricultural processing factories to be established based on a public-private initiative by a new Benue Governor in 2015.This does not imply that some are already in existence in the agrarian state even though they have been suffocated by politics of recognition.

    In conclusion, the Benue that we want deserves even development, state allocation notwithstanding. Indeed, the Benue that we want begins today.

    Emmanuel Tyokumbur                   

    Department of Zoology,

    University of Ibadan

  • A call for decorum

    SIR: Nigerians are perennial critics of those in position of authority. Of recent, religious and respected former leaders now top the chart of spokespersons of political parties and politicians seeking elective positions.

    Our religious, past and present political leaders who are supposed role models must guard their utterances on burning national issues. For religious leaders specifically, they should endeavour to preserve and maintain absolute neutrality, poise, solemnity and serenity known for their vocation by shunning any bait capable of knowingly or unknowingly dragging them into the murky waters of Nigerian politics.

    Nigeria should not be written off despite obvious challenges. Her situation can be salvaged not by condemnation but by patriotism, good works and good behaviour of all, fervent prayers and supplication for those in position of authority.

    One statement that epitomises the concept of good leadership and followership was offered by Abu Bakar, the first person according”

    Uganda Muslim Brothers and Sisters Standard” to lead the Muslim Community after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in his first address as Khalifa – or head of the Islamic state. He told his audience “I have been chosen to rule over you, though I am not the best among you. Help me if I am right; correct me if I am wrong. The weak among you will be strong until I have attained for him his due… and the strong among you will be weak until I have made him give what he owes…” Nations grow and develop by concerted effort of all citizens; not only by policies, programmes and endeavours of those in positions of authority.

    Do we regard the powers that be as ordained by God, speak mildly to them perhaps they may accept admonition or fear of God? This election year should rekindle in all of us the burning desire for collaborative effort, unalloyed support for our government; fervent intercessions and passionate interventions for our leaders.

     

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze,

    Zaria, Kaduna State

  • Why we must get it right, this time

    SIR: The entire world would focus on Nigeria in February when the country would go to polls to elect another set of leaders that would pilot the affairs of the country for another term of four years.

    What is paramount in the minds of Nigerians is that the votes are made to count. The enthusiasms shown during the voter registration exercise have shown clearly the urge by Nigerian to use their votes to choose those who will govern them.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the onerous duty to live up to the expectation of Nigerians in being seen to be credible, transparent while ensuring that votes of Nigeria do count.

    Many Nigerian are still in skeptical about the INEC’s preparedness to conduct credible election come next month going by the shabby way the issue of permanent voters cards (PVCs) was handle in most states across the country.

    The myriad of problems facing the country make this election uniquely different from any election ever conducted since the country embraced the presidential system of government.

    Nigerian politicians should do the country a patriotic duty by ensuring the credibility of this election by going against any form of electoral malpractice. We need to show the world that we can get it right without rancor and other undemocratic norms. Relevant stakeholders should partner with one another to ensure the best election to be conducted in the history of this country.

    This country must tell the world by this election that we can enthrone best practices in the management of our electoral process.

     

    • Bala Nayashi,

    Lokoja, Kogi State

  • Buhari in Imo Government House

    Sir: The need for change of government was in the air. One Father Mbaka had reversed himself from support for President Goodluck Jonathan to General Muhammadu Buhari in a sermon. Nigerians being vaingloriously responsive to prophecy drifted in massive support of Buhari. His visit was described by some as evidence of Divine intervention. Party faithful were mustered with GSM invitation to Governor’s office and they thronged out to hear what the governor had to say about the visit. Elders were invited to boost authenticity. I was among the invited.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha had invited us to develop an advice to him on what he would raise before the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC). Our discussions on what was to be presented to the prospective president, was marshaled out in dilated offerings that denied aged people their promise of breakfast. Table had been laid. Consensus was reached on two people to make presentations on behalf of Imo Council of Elders after some contentions were raised on persons within the fold. The candidate was believed to be on board and landing time was long since reached. All of a sudden alert came that entourage of the candidate was on ground at Governor’s private residence. The governor in his usual reverence for visitors almost dashed out to receive them and forgot that he had assembled at least 20 seniors in his home from time-barred breakfast time of 7.30 up until alarm blew. Some seniors were on medication that demanded food before using. They suffered through the long period before Buhari came and after 11 a.m. when his entourage moved in. The seniors were abandoned in separate parts of Okorocha’s mansion to their pains. It was necessary after breakfast with the hallowed guest to move to Sam Mbakwe Chambers for a formal meeting with the visiting guest and his entourage comprised of top executives of APC and some of their board members.

    Chief of extemporization, Governor Okorocha opened up at Sam Mbakwe Hall formally welcoming candidate Buhari to Owerri. His wits about his defeat at primaries set up a mild uproar. He himself rushed through what could have been presented by the nominated duo for time to return on a scheduled flight had come. Governor Okorocha could only speak about roads-Enugu to Port Harcourt, Aba to Calabar and Owerri Port Harcourt as primary arteries. He wanted direct contract on Second Niger Bridge. He forgot Petrochemical Plant that had huge employment and subsidiary industry potentials. He did not dwell enough on national insecurity and the threat on Igbo people with amazing potentials for dispersal all over the world and the need to ensure their safety and productive life wherever they may dwell and make positive contributions. He forgot to stress that the real responsibility of leadership is protection of the led and assurance that only the best technocrats should be engaged without discrimination to fend for the betterment of the majority. Those who qualify to add multiples to national wealth and well being should be engaged without qualms as to origin. The bottom line of good governance is pervasive wealth and well being of all in the land. If one tribe can assure that why should a president bother? The decline of Nigeria should be levied on Quota.

    Buhari did not address any of the issues raised to him by Governor Rochas. He spoke of his military exploits and precipitately landed on his quip on Jonathan that corruption was growing in leaps and bounds under his watch and something drastic had to be done about it. I believe he will choose the right technocrats for the job if he lands it. He did not address the price Ndigbo have had to pay through the war years and the losses of relevance their loss of the third position in Nigeria has cost them. Neglect of Ndigbo will always count as Nigeria’s loss any time into the far future. The disintegration proclivity was not even on Buhari’s radar. The Boko Haram debacle did not feature.

    Famished like desert dwellers, elders dispersed with glum faces and utter revulsion for the treatment meted out to them.

     

    • M A C Odu,

    Owerri, Imo State

  • Nigeria: The wages of impunity

    SIR: Recently, the Al-Shabaab the Islamic terrorist group in East Africa caused an outrage in Kenya on two occasions: the first was when a bus load of Kenyan  citizens was waylaid and 36 Christians were singled out and murdered in cold blood. The second incident took place late last November in a mining camp in the same country: while miners were soundly asleep, the same Al-Shabaab terrorists showed up and murdered dozens of Christians in cold blood. The terrorist said the deed was in retaliation for the Kenyan government’s participation in a combined military action to root out the terrorist group from that region. These two incidents led to the dismissal of the security chief as well as the resignation of the interior minister of that country.

    This is in great contrast to what obtains in Nigeria where we have a sit-tight Minister of Defence and the National Security Adviser who have refused to resign their positions despite the fact that they are clueless as to the best way to tackle the insurgency. Instead of resigning, they continue to give excuses for non-performance.

    Last October when the military launched a well co-ordinate attack on the Boko – Haram insurgents and were gaining on them, a cease-fire was inexplicably declared with a claim that the Boko Haram insurgents had agreed to negotiate for the release of over 200 Chibok girls abducted since last April. The group later denied any ceasefire deal with the government and the great price Nigeria paid for that ruse was the re-grouping of the sect to launch devastating attacks that led to the fall of Mubi and other towns.

    Up till today, those responsible for the so-called ceasefire deal with the insurgents never apologized to the nation for failing her neither did they take the honourable path of resigning their positions.a

    When the issue of the missing $20 billion came up and the NNPC could not give any satisfactory explanation as to how the money was spent, instead of resigning her position as the minister overseeing that parastatal, the lady had the temerity to go to court to stop the House of Representatives committee set up to investigate the matter!

    The same thing happened with the case of a  jet which the same minister was said to have appropriated ‘for her exclusive service and on which billions of naira was spent for the minister’s pleasure alone! That too has been swept under carpet as nobody is talking about the matter anymore.

    Also, last year, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, organized a recruitment exercise into the immigration service that turned out to be a nightmare, claiming not less than 19 lives of the applicants. There was an out-cry of condemnations and the call for the resignation of the minister. But the man sat tight! When integrity and honour are set aside and impunity and corruption mount the stage, the country’s image receives a battering in the comity of nations. When you have a president who does not seem to care whether his ministers are corrupt or not but all that matters to him is how to actualize his second or third term bid, the nation will continue to be a huge joke amongst other country of the world.

    Is the President displaying the all pervasive third world leadership syndrome that when one climbs up to that high pedestal, one loses one’s sense of reality and immerses oneself in fantasy until suddenly, the reality dawns on one-as happened to Blaise Campaore in Burkina Faso recently? When is the bubble going to burst in the face of our president? Is the President so reassured of the impregnability of Aso Rock and so convinced of his messianic role that he has failed to take into cognizance what the masses of this country are going through right now?

     

    • Steve O.Attah

    Lokoja

  • Danger as PDP gets desperate

    SIR: Nigerians should gird their loins for the danger ahead as PDP leaders get desperate over next month’s Presidential elections. There is total disquiet and confusion in the House of PDP as events of February draw near. A party that says it will rule Nigeria for 60years is now gasping for breath and fighting for survival. How are the mighty fallen? The House called PDP is giving way gradually, it is going down gradually, it is collapsing systematically and it is sinking slowly.

    In Port-Harcourt during the flag off candidate Buhari’s campaigns, one person was feared dead and many others seriously injured when armed youths shot at vehicles moving supporters of APC to the venue. In Lagos PDP has been training thugs and arming them for the task ahead. Across the country stories of arm build up and training of thugs are filtering into the ears.

    General Buhari of 2003, 2007 and 2011 is no longer the same Buhari in 2015. Buhari in 2015 has become dynamite, an explosive, a game changer, a fortress, a smoking gun, an avatar, the numero uno, the political bulldozer, the caterpillar. Machine gun, a hurricane and a colossus. To ignore the GMB massive movement now is to play to the gallery, to dismiss his build up now is to tell a lie to yourself, and to set aside his potentials now is to be economical with the truth. Calculations, equations, permutations have changed and they are turning almost 360 degrees. It is a complete turn around. The momentum is there. The speed is there, the dynamism is there and the force is there also.

    As things stand APC needs to wake up to device ways to protect its members and teeming supporters. The potentially dangerous elements in PDP and their agents have nothing to give Nigeria now except agonies, tears and blood. Having decimated and desecrated a promising country, PDP is now ready to give Nigerians serpents instead of fishes, stones instead of bread and urine instead of water. 

    Now, what do you do a cook who cannot cook well? You sack him. What do you do to a teacher who cannot teach well? You sack the teacher. What do you do to a President who cannot lead his country very well? You vote him out!

    APC is not PDP and it can never be. Unless you vote in APC and try them for at least four years, you cannot do an objective comparison between APC and PDP. APC stands for good governance, national security, economic development, human capital development, land and resources development, active foreign policy. APC will fight impunity and abuse of power. APC will fight political irresponsibility of wealth without work and politics without principles.

    We have shed enough blood in this country and God forbid that we should travel that road again. Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State is relying on the Military and the Police to remain in power. PDP and its drivers are relying also on the powers of the Army and Police to remain in power at all cost. Can these vital and strategic institutions afford to fail Nigerians again in this election?

    • Joe Igbokwe

    Lagos

  • Chibok girls: Nine months after

    SIR: Tomorrow January 9 marks 270 days, nine months since the abduction of school girls in Chibok town, Borno State. With about 37 days to election, it is becoming hopeless that Chibok girls will be released anytime soon. Campaigns and election matters will soon dominate the whole news in Nigeria and indeed the world. The much discussed election is undoubtedly going to be a great test on Nigeria and indeed for Africa’s democracy, and indeed security.

    The level of hopelessness among Nigerians is also increasing by the day. Nigerians must rise beyond the politics of tribe and religion. Uprightness, capacity to deliver on the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians is one good reason why Nigerians must converge even if it is for the first time to rescue this land.

    Under normal circumstances, the Chibok girls ought to have graduated if that incident had not occurred. It is likely that some of them would have been in the university by now. Some of them could have been married with babies by now. Some of them could have started legitimate business by now. All of those dreams are gone at least for now.

    Nigerians must remain in prayers for a better Nigeria, put all their commitment into a free, fair and credible elections come February.

     

    •Comrade Abdulbaqi Jari Katsina

    Katsina State

  • Omens of Ekiti politics

    SIR: That governance in Ekiti State today is like the proverbial bird which perches on an unsteady rope is a fact indisputable.                 Prominent among the problems of the new government in Ekiti State is the irreconcilable differences between the executive and the legislature, if the judiciary has maintained its calm and, hopefully, its independence.

    While the seven PDP minority members of the State House of Assembly have irregularly impeached the speaker and his deputy, the 19 APC majority members have stuck together in absentia, and they are now reported to be back in Ekiti, sitting and performing legislative functions that, understandably, overturn the legislations of the minority ‘House’.

    Whereas this drama sets the true lovers of Ekiti State worrying, the politicians in Ekiti State seem to derive some sadistic joy from it all, as in a murderous game of wrestling or a tug-of-war.

    One question that the spectators in the Ekiti drama must have been asking rhetorically is:  why can’t the executive and the legislature forge ahead in governance if, basically, they are all Ekitis who are perhaps the most homogenous group of people in Nigeria?

    The answer to this question is easily traceable to the nature of man. Man can be recalcitrant if fooled and cheated, just as he would do everything possible to cover his tracks if he has successfully, willingly wronged a fellowman. Invariably, what follows an unresolved foolery, the type that was suspected in the Ekiti governorship election of June 21, is a quagmire, if anarchy is cleverly avoided like the Ekitis are patiently doing.

    The amount of ominous emotion that both the PDP and the APC have displayed about winning the presidency in 2015 should caution us that election rigging may devastate our nation in 2015; and that we must find a way of preventing election rigging.

    The omens can obviously be worse than just having an executive versus legislature kind of drama in Abuja and, besides, the time has come for Nigeria to embrace true democracy as a way of life; for democracy is, by itself, an arbiter or peacemaker, if allowed to prevail. Side-tracking it can always be catastrophic. Let’s be warned.

     

    • Jide Oguntoye,

     Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State            

  • Between Jonathan and Buhari

    SIR: Great men like John F. Kennedy battled with infidelity as president, Richard Nixon lied his way out of the presidency, Bill Clinton almost got impeached because of acts of impropriety but they were, and are, people, that history cannot do without: they made, are part of, and are history.

    So much has been written about General Muhammadu Buhari, warts and all.  Buhari like many other statesmen is fortunate; he is popular with the teeming population of the underprivileged in society, those that really matter in the electorate process despite elitist blackmail.

    Goodluck Jonathan is also a lucky man; first, he rode to the presidency on pure happenstance and later got his first mandate through goodwill of Nigerians in 2011.

    Whose way will victory go between the incumbent president (PDP) and General Muhammadu Buhari (APC) in the forth-coming presidential elections in February 2015?

    It is clearly a tough call. But some analysts have submitted that barring all untoward circumstances and if we are to have a free and fair contest now, the odds will be against the incumbent.

    He has been equated with Lyndon Johnson who rode to the presidency on the benevolence of the American people after the death of the much loved Kennedy but was too overwhelmed to seek re-election on principle in the end, due to his poor handling of foreign policy (Vietnam).

    Can Buhari provide Nigerians with an experience to take us to seventh heaven? Aren’t Nigerians expecting too much from Buhari? Is there a chance that his much-vaunted, probable victory might be likened to that of Jimmy Carter who defeated Gerald Ford to become president due to his high belief in himself, with only a couple of thousands of votes out of millions less in Ohio, Hawaii and Delaware because the electorate wanted someone with more experience?

    What hope does the incumbent have in western Nigeria with no-nonsense leaders who have been able to strike strategic alliances with the north?

    What hope does President Jonathan have in the north west and north east? The elites from those regions say he has a chance, but they should know better. He would have had a major chance had zoning been allowed to stay in that party. Most elites do not vote, the browbeaten masses do, and these will follow the principle of “group think” to vote for Buhari.

    Certainly President Jonathan will carry the day in the eastern part of Nigeria. Regrettably unlike the West, the East has not totally accepted national politics and are still seething from the plagues of the Biafra war which they accuse the north of directing. He is likely to carry the north-central region that, like the east, are yet to carve a political identity for itself.

    Without a doubt we need a leader who can help define Nigeria for Nigeria. A leader that can stand toe-to-toe with world leaders without a subservient complex, who will be a big brother in Africa, who will go to war if need be to prevent factions from using their territory to plan insurrection against our country. He must be ready to submit himself to microscopic inspection and shirt-front daring religious leaders who pronounce dangerous diktats.

    Someone who understands the power of reason must be ready to enforce the secular make-up of our nation to respect people of all faiths. Someone who knows what politics is all about: solving problems.

    I have long ago made up my mind (even as a non-card carrying member of any political party) to vote Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 if he becomes the presidential flag-bearer of a major party for this simple fact: that it will be detrimental to our democracy if Nigeria becomes a one-party state and if we do not change our leaders from party to party and from time to time.

     

    • Simon Abah,

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State

  • Thank you Gov. Fashola but…

    SIR: I like to express my gratitude to Gov. Babatunde Fashola’s administrations in Lagos State for constructing the two kilometers Amikanle Road starting from Bunker petrol station through Aiyetobi area. I am commending the governor because this is the first time in 15 years of democracy that the Lagos government is giving consideration to our rural community.

    I am however piqued that the road constructed leads to nowhere and appears not to be useful to the six communities making up Amikanle. We, the residents of the area thought the road would have passed through Yetkem Road and terminate at White House. That is the road motorist and commuters ply while going and coming from their place of work. The construction road, as it is, ends at a gully going to command Secondary School. The anomaly in the road provides justification for participation paradigm in development study.

    The participation paradigm is based on the assumption that the common people are intelligent and can be active agents of change. Development efforts should then be based on people’s capacity to articipate and contribute actively in the task of transforming their society. It emphasizes that development should evolve from the people as opposed to trickle down belief in which ideas aboult development emanates from government circle and the pass down the ladder to the rural people. If this approach has been exploited by Lagos State Government before the construction, the government would have benn told of what to do. The most worrisome Is that even the less that one quarter kilometer road that passes through Baale Amikanle’s palace to link Alaso community was not captured in the project. Whereas the people of Alaso had submitted application to that effect to the infrastructural unit of the state Ministry of Works in 2006. Whole the road project is a sign of government presence, it is however, a mark of government non-recognition or lack for the people it governs. And this is why the road is already peeling off three months after completion

     

    • Dayo Willaims

    Alaso Community, Amikanle, Alagbado, Lagos .