The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Lessons from fall of Berlin Wall

    SIR: Citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany the other day celebrated the 25th year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall which occurred on November 9, 1989. The great feat brought together East and West German people.

    That historic unification might not have been possible without the conscientious idealistic efforts of so many people, some of whom include John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev and many people on both sides of the German divide. I watched a CNN correspondent, Jonathan Mann on television during the celebration of that day in 1989 as a young reporter where he gave a report from Germany on the jubilant moment.

    25 years later, Jonathan is still with the CNN but now a well groomed and oriented journalist. I wish same can relate to Nigerian politicians who should be

    well groomed to serve beyond self while in office. I wish political parties can present dependable people for elections with experience to manage the plethora of problems bedevilling the polity.

    People who do not engage in acts akin to sock puppetry and who understand the role of the opposition in a democracy should henceforth come forward. Nigerians would love to see politicians with great promises go into government only after genuinely soliciting for votes from the electorate. People with real demonstrable political skill and sound leadership ability for controlling crisis are needed to wriggle the country out of her present leadership impasse. The nation

    needs political figures who truly understand that elective office is all about solving problems; who appreciate the importance of concessional politics for peace, especially in a fickle country like ours.

    Like the Germans, we need genuine statesmen  to teach our children the importance of service beyond self which must form the bedrock of our educational curriculum to enable a child grow with the concept of seeing life beyond a narrow indoctrinated perspective. Like the Germans, we need leaders that appreciate the power of reason to stop the insurgency ravaging our country and rebuild Nigeria, for, “where excessive emotion takes root, reason takes flight.” Like the Germans, we need leaders with the will to do and solve problems which is the essence of politics and not leaders interested only in making history by the number of years they serve(d) in office.

    • Simon Abah

    Port Harcourt

    Rivers State

  • Save me from PHCN’s tyranny

    SIR: Is it possible for a stranger to go to somebody’s house and remove his property without his consent? This has been happening to me since 2010 and it is far from subsiding. The latest of such affronts occurred again on October 28, 2014 when my entire family was away from home. Before our return in the evening, my prepaid meter which I paid for had been stolen with the service wire.

    It was with the help of the police that I later discovered that the PHCN in Romi, Kaduna state branch office that took my pre-paid meter away for no just reason. Upon enquiries, the branch manager confessed that he wanted to connect me to another free meter from the World Bank and that he took the one I bought from PHCN with the sum of 25 thousand naira to another person who do not have meter. My request to be given another meter has not yielded any result and this is not funny at all.

    I want to use this avenue to call on good Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora, human right activists, civil societies, lawyers and well-wishers to join me fight this menace to a halt by supporting me as I am preparing for a redress this time around.

    • Onuoja Ojodomo,

     Romi, Kaduna.

     

  • Nigeria’s democracy and its future

    SIR: Nigeria is the largest democratic nation in the Africa. Democracy has been regarded as an ideal form of government in which people are governed by their own elected representatives. It is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. It is a people’s government in which the voice of the people is supreme and where the laws are fashioned according to their wishes. The question whether democracy has a future in Nigeria has aroused grave concern among our educated ones. Even the most pious optimist believes that our democracy has a bleak future. It can have a future only when our politicians cease to be power mongers.

    With every sector crumbling, one wonders what the future really holds for our dear motherland. Tolerance is the essence of democracy. Judiciary is its backbone. One after the other, leaders of today have been showing their firm faith in the unity of the Nation. But the common man finds these very leaders, with knives of different size and shape putting deep scars on the face of the motherland.

    There is a gap between promise and performance. We enjoy every right in theory, but not in practice. Real democracy will come into being only when the masses are awakened and take part in the economic and political life of the country. Nigeria today is a rich man’s democracy. Our democracy is a democracy of the rich, for the rich and by the rich. The implementation of laws is almost nil in most of the parts of the country. If they are honestly implemented Nigeria will have been a dreamland for other nations, but the reverse is the case in our society. The National Assembly and state assemblies enact laws and pass them on to the administration not for their execution but for their non-execution.

    Our national leaders introduced adult franchise with one stroke of pen when 85% of our people were illiterate. It was a foolproof experiment to start with. Universal basic education should precede adult franchise. Election is always a costly affair and the lure of money works wonders especially among illiterate ones. The absence of an organized opposition the party in power resorts to dishonest means. No single party in Nigeria can claim to be really democratic.

    Violence has taken a serious turn in our country. Misuse of legislative privileges does not augur well for democracy. Defection from one party to the other on selfish and flimsy grounds has added to the instability of the government in our country. It is bad on both moral and political ground. There is no sphere of national life which can be described to be free from corruption. At the political level everyone – ministers, legislators, and party officials suffer from it. Our democracy has miserably failed on different front, agriculture, home, foreign etc.

    The masses are illiterate. They abuse their votes. They are easily bought. No democracy can succeed until there is widespread education and enlightenment among the people. Here the rich exploit the poor who have no voice or share in the democratic structure. Democracy is on its trial now. Democracy has not failed. It is we who have failed. If we develop democratic spirit, temper, and character and become Nigerians in true sense, it can certainly become a success. The future of democracy will be bright only when our people possess national character, consciousness and responsibility. Intellectuals should come forward and create better society with a true democratic spirit prepared to march further in a democratic way. It is still in the childhood, yet the hope for the future is bright.

     

    • Comrade Ahmed Omeiza Lukman,

    Kieve, Ukraine.

  • Time for Transitional National Government?

    SIR: Without prejudice to the contributions of President Goodluck Jonathan administration to the nation’s development especially in key sectors like agriculture, power, aviation, water resources and transportation, there is the urgent need for inauguration of a Transitional National Government to stabilize the ship of the nation that has been facing high turbulence of security challenges and social unrests especially in the last two to three years. The present administration no doubt has tried its best possible to curtail the situation, but the desired results are not forth-coming. It is either the government lacks the capacity needed to confront the challenges and sanitize the system or its efforts are being undermined by the activities of the fifth columnists or saboteurs for their own selfish reasons.

    Whatever may be responsible for the retardation or retrogression into a pariah state, all hands must be on the deck to avoid a shipwreck. The TNG should be headed by a man of high-integrity who fears God and selfless and who really loves this country. Having a military background may be an added advantage. He and members of his cabinet on this national assignment should see their appointments as a call to duty or to rescue mission so to say, and not an opportunity to corruptly enrich themselves. If need be, they should be placed on stipends. The members should be men and women who have made their marks in their respective callings or disciplines. They do not have to be old fellows. Energetic and visionary youths whom their respective constituencies can vouch for, can be part of this Rescue Mission Team called Transitional National Government (TNG) whose tenure should be 12 calendar months with the possibility of an extension which should not be more than 3 – 6 months.

    This is one of the credible political options open to this country lest we descend into a state of anarchy.

     

    • Gbemiga Olakunle, JP

    General Secretary

    National Prayer Movement

  • PDP torn between Wike and the rest

    SIR: When one considers the happenings in Rivers State PDP, it portrays the national organs of the party as lame, ineffective or corrupt. There is no doubt that Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Minster of State for Education and one of the frontrunners in the race for nomination as PDP flag bearer in the 2015 governorship election is carrying on here as if he is a god.

    Wike fought very hard to be recognized as the strongman that ensured PDP did not sink in Rivers State. Perhaps, unknown to the national organs of the party, Wike was doing all that for purely personal benefits. It should be recalled that Wike and his State PDP executive had gone to court, and obtained an order that challenged the authority of the national organ to supervise Rivers PDP. The court ruled that the headquarters of the PDP must not override or dictate to Rivers PDP. This was a terrible slap on the national leadership of the party. Doesn’t this show that Wike and his Rivers PDP feel above the laws of PDP?

    Hence, Rivers PDP executives and Wike continued to dish out unchallenged decisions. If this is allowed, it is possible that PDP would lose the state to APC. This is as simple as ABC. Wike and his group have continued to be openly supported by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. It is surprising that the First Lady’s continued meddlesomeness in the affairs of PDP at all levels is tolerated and condoned by certain element in the party leadership.

    At the PDP mega rally recently in Port Harcourt to drum up support for Jonathan’s re-election in 2015, all the governorship hopefuls in the PDP were present, except Wike. Again during the PDP congress to select delegates for the primaries, all the 16 aspirants boycotted the exercise; it became Wike’s show. Can Wike be an island?

    Wike is plotting to govern Rivers State; apparently trying to take over from the incumbent governor, Rotimi Amaechi, a fellow Ikwerre. This, naturally, will be resisted by almost every voter in Rivers State. How PDP intends to overcome this problem is yet to be known. This, of course, would make President Jonathan lose the votes of a good number of Rivers people.

     

     • Dr. Bernard Tamuno,

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

     

  • Open letter to Nigerian media

    SIR: In a game of chess there are different pieces, each with its own significance. The King is the most important piece as when it is captured the game is lost. By analogy it can be said that this same truth applies to a country. When a country’s king is captured all is lost for that country. A king is selected by the people he governs. This is true even when the throne passes by birthright, as no king can rule over people who persistently and wilfully refuse to be his subjects. That said, we as Nigerians have since our very formation have either chosen to live oblivious of this fact or have mistaken the true identity of our rightful king.

    If there are no people then there is no country. It follows then that the generations which are

    yet unborn are the true kings of any country. This is why countries who invest in infrastructure, the development of laws and institutions, and most importantly research and education continue to thrive and flourish. These things outlast individuals, offices and directly benefit those that were not born when they where created. Invariably as in our current situation, when the future generations are captured or trampled upon (as evidenced by wanton and brazen corruption, disregard for law and good governance, an outright failure to protect citizens backed with non-challance etc) the result is a failure in governance and wide spread poverty.

    Nigerians are about to enter a year when we have the opportunity to exercise our right as kingmakers. We have the opportunity to let our opinions be known to ourselves and the rest of the world as to whom we consider to be our true king. Chief among this committee of kingmakers are the ones have the opportunity to shape our opinions through their words. Everyday thousands

    of articles, pictures and stories are presented through the internet, the newspapers and television. Our thoughts are shaped by what we hear, read and see. These thoughts form our words and actions and ultimately our culture and society. The irony here is that it appears that everyone of us

    in this king-making committee have forgotten just how powerful we are. Every four years for the past 16 years through our passiveness we let our true king be kidnapped and raped by a political elite hell-bent on ensuring our grandchildren won’t meet a Nigeria.

    We are where we are because we have failed to act and more importantly to act in good conscience. The only way anyone or party can rig an election is if the voters let him. If everybody who can vote turns up to the polling booth with a camera phone, where are they going to get the opportunity to snatch or stuff ballot boxes? If everyone waits for counting even if not at the venue but nearby

    and each party’s official is there when the votes are counted who is going to turn 100 to 1000? If the media keep the pressure up on INEC to register voters and conduct exit polls after every election then how will they disenfranchise us?

    We cannot continue like this. We can decide for a change or if this is what we want then at least it should be our decision. Let us crown our rightful king, these people who are supposed to be our servants have made us suffer for too long.

     

    • Kolawole Olaomoju,

     olachesscoach@hotmail.com

     

  • Nigerians and fear of change

    SIR: Even without an empirical research, many will readily agree that of the chunk of the problems facing Nigeria today, corruption and bad leadership, save the security crisis, stand out. In a sane society, and Nigeria is one, solutions will be sought and men of strong and incorruptible characters will be sought for, if only to champion the fight against economic and moral indiscipline. In social science terms, corruption is an independent variable to which the solutions to several other problems bedeviling the country are dependent upon. Eliminating corruption to its barest minimum would imply simultaneously solving those several other problems. Decoding this solution is nowhere near rocket science complexities.

    It is also very visible like daylight that corruption has not only grown unabated, it has reached a stage where it cannot get any worse. I wouldn’t bet on it not getting even worse though. The amount of money at the centre of a single scam these days would make the leaders of the previous three previous republics nauseous. It has become increasingly clear that the little or staged attempts to tackle corruption have failed woefully and that there is the need for a shining example of a disciplined and incorruptible figure in the most coveted office of the federation – the presidency. If there is a general agreement among people in virtually all the geo-political zones of the country, it is that General Muhammadu Buhari stands for discipline and principle. Moreover, of all the adjectives used to describe this veteran ‘political customer’, incorruptible and disciplined always stick to him.

    This should be easy then, isn’t it? The voters should simply troop out and try to change the nation’s fortunes by voting for a corrupt-free Nigeria. But that has failed to happen, on three occasions. The status quo was maintained and now we are here. But why? Some will be quick to point out ethnicity, rigged polls, religious bigotry and also the controversial ‘divide and rule’ tactic. While all these have a bearing on the reason for the failure of the retired general in securing the electorate’s mandate, the other truth, when viewed from another prism is that we (most of us at least) are afraid of change. Change would mean that corrupt leaders will be apprehended and monies will be recovered. Change would mean that ‘who you know’ syndrome will be eliminated. Change would mean drivers must be licensed and driving a road worthy car without the option of a bribe. Change would mean that examination malpractice would be history. Change would mean that oil theft and bunkering would be frowned upon. Change would also mean a whole lot of other things that a lot of Nigerians are used to, and seemed normal, but would have to drop to avoid prosecution. In this light, one would see another reason why the mass sympathy for General Buhari and the yearning for change have failed to convert into votes. We are afraid of what would become of our lives if this ‘change’ materializes.

    Whether we have had enough of the status quo, the poll results of February next year will tell.

     

    • Sulaiman Aliyu

    Gwagwalada, Abuja

     

  • Dikko’s exemplary model at Customs

    SIR: The administration of Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of Abdullahi Inde Dikko has provided an excellent model of how one man can direct men and materials to unleash growth and development. The service under Dikko has experienced a lot of advancement and development that is unprecedented since its inception in 1891.

    A recent study conducted by Sunday S. Ifah- a Professor of Social Psychology reveals that the condition of the Customs has never been this salutary. An overwhelming percentage of stakeholders were satisfied that the service under the leadership of Dikko has been on point.

    Dikko’s six-point agenda has not only been implemented, but has brought the desired change badly needed to reposition the organisation as a formidable revenue generating institution of government and facilitator of international trade.

    In terms of improved welfare package of staff, the survey shows 73.9% of stakeholders as satisfied. In terms of training, retraining and capacity building, 73% to 89% of stake holders lauded Dikko’s effort. Again, in terms of understanding between the service and its various publics, 86.6% of the polled stakeholder’s agreed that the NCS under the Dikko administration has upped its ante.

    The survey reveals many sterling achievements of the Dikko administration, not to mention his consistency in meeting revenue targets. However, what is important is that all these achievements is the lesson in public administration. “Where two or more people gather to roll a stone, the rudiment of administration has taken place”. However, when one man with vision, character, dynamism and capability is in their midst, the aim of rolling a stone becomes outdated. What is in question is how to build a castle?

    This is the story of Dikko. And I dare call it a model.

     

    • Achum  Valentine,

    University Of Calabar.

  • Appeal to UNN Governing Council

    SIR: May I draw the attention of the University of Nigeria Governing Council to the progress recorded in the issuance of original certificates to graduates after the completion of their studies in the past three years unlike in the past that the graduates have to come back after four or five years for their original certificates.

    The story so far has been encouraging both to universities in Nigeria and to other Africa countries. This gains recorded, unfortunately is about to be reversed without valid reason.

    Currently, we have two batches of “senate approved result” whose statement of results have been given out. Written at the bottom of the statement of results in tiny characters are: “valid for 12 months”. The problem here is that the affected graduates have no guarantees that their original certificates would be ready should they come back for them after one year.

    The anomaly is regrettable. After the rigour academic stress passed through in this institution, it leaves the alumnus with bad memory about the alma-matter.

    I am appealing to the committee in-charge to as a matter of urgency, look into this before the next convocation. I am confident that the 54-year old institution can sustain the wonderful achievement of the past.

     

    • Oladele Oge,

    University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

     

  • Where’s Dangote’s N1000 cement?

    SIR: In your publication today, I read in more than two places of Dangote Cement Plc’s purported reduction in prices of cement . You people should confirm from retailers and consumers and publish your findings if youpeople are not benefiting from the lies.

     

    • Aroge Temitope,

    Lagos