The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • PENCOM failed retired judicial workers

    SIR: As far as we the retired staff of the federal judiciary are concerned, the National Pension Commission is a big failure. This is because when PENCOM officials thumb their chest for the so-called success they claim to have achieved, they cover up the fact that staff of the federal judiciary who retired under the Contributory Pension Scheme since 2009 are still waiting to receive their entitlements. Again no matter what success the PENCOM claims to achieve, if there is one retiree who did not get his/her benefits for no fault of his/hers, the PENCOM has failed and we are over a thousand who have not accessed our benefit under the scheme.

    The issues that culminated in the non payment of retirement benefits to the unfortunate retired federal judiciary staff are unbelievable but true.

    When some of us retired in 2010, we were told that it will take only three months for us to achieve our entitlements. We waited in anticipation. After three months and nothing happened, we began to worry. Previously in 2009 we were invited by PENCOM for verification and enrolment which we responded to and completed.

    When after three months we did not receive our entitlements as promised by our Pension Fund Managers, we approached PENCOM and were told that the Budget Office advised PENCOM to stop paying retired judiciary staff because the judiciary under the National Judicial Council refused to contribute the funds required to redeem our accrued Pension rights. Since then the National Judicial Council through its executive secretary has refused to entertain any complaints regarding

    our entitlements claiming that the Pension Reform Act 2004 did not require the council to provide for the fund necessary for the redemption of our entitlements. Recently we were invited to a meeting with the said executive secretary over the issue and he reiterated his stand that Section 29 of the PRA did not require NJC to pay the money required to redeem our money even when it was explained to him reason why the NJC should do so. He claimed that he held a meeting with Director General Budget Office who took time to explain to him that all MDAs are having deductions made from there allocation to fund the bond redemption and that they could not deduct any money from the NJC’s allocation because NJC collects their allocation through statutory allocation. PENCOM even wrote to NJC explaining the same situation, yet the executive secretary, the chairman, who doubles as Chief Justice of Nigeria remained adamant in their refusal to do the right thing to their retired employees.

    In all these, the National Pension Commission as the regulator of pension has done nothing to make the NJC see reason and do the right thing. PENCOM has also refused to allow our pension managers to pay us from our meagre contributions, claiming that the amount does not represent the ‘final balance’ in our account as provided by the same Act which they flouted with impunity in our situation. Since 2009 till date no retired staff of federal judiciary has been paid.

    I implore you to use your investigative machinery to uncover why the federal judiciary, the so-called ‘last hope of the common man’ has been unjust in the matter of its retired staff.

    We believe that some people at NJC have created this problem to enable them help themselves with funds meant for the redemption of the bond. Billions may have been stolen since 2009.

    • Onwukeme Kenneth,

    Enugu

     

  • Tackling illegal dredging in Lagos

    SIR: It is disheartening to note that in spite of several warnings by the Lagos State Government to illegal sand miners to desist from their ignoble acts or face prosecution and possible jail terms, the activities have continued unabated,  posing threats to gas distribution channels and other buried infrastructure in the state. Illegal mining constitutes serious environmental threat to society. The activities could aggravate flood disasters in concerned areas and expose the entire state to severe consequences.

    Illegal miners are thieves who disallow government from maximizing the natural resources of the state for the good of all. Not only are they not licensed to engage in what they are doing, they are equally denying those that are permitted by law the leeway to operate. Illegal sand mining is equally a direct cause of erosion which has destroyed lives and property of law abiding citizens and still threaten lives and property of more citizens.

    It also impacts negatively on wildlife as sea animals that depend on sandy beaches for their nesting,  are sent into near extinction. It also destroys fishery , causing economic problems for people who rely on fishing for their livelihoods. They are put out of business, worsening poverty , encouraging criminal activities as these people become desperate for survival.  Perhaps, more importantly, illegal sand mining poses a great threat to tourism enterprise in the state, as beaches and other sites people would have visited for relaxation and other social activities, have been devastated.

    These acts of illegality run contrary to the law enacted in 2004 by the Lagos State House of Assembly which stipulates that every person, corporation, partnership or body involved in sand dealing and/or sand dredging operation should obtain an operational permit from the state.

    Since the crime is a local one, it is important that community leaders, representatives of the people and traditional rulers within the communities rise up to the challenge.

    In a world that is being confronted with serious environmental threats from Cape to Cairo and Beijing to Melbourne, it is important that stakeholders join hands to ensure that the danger of illegal sand mining is tackled headlong.

     

    • Tayo Ogunbiyi

    Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

     

  • Endorsement of Sen. Adeyemi for another term

    When he was elected as a senator representing Kogi West at the red chamber of the National Assembly, he did live not any one in doubt that his election to represent his constituency was a fluke.

    His contribution on various national issues has endeared him to all Nigerians for articulating such views to the admiration of not only his colleague but to those of opposition parties at the national assembly.

    Sen. Adeyemi has touched the lives of ordinary Kogi West electorate by ensuring the provision of social infrastructure like the building of lock shops, health clinic in rural areas, building of theatre hall in his constituency.

    Recently, he donated ambulances to some hospitals and cottage health institutions around Kogi State, including outside area that are outside his constituencies.

    The people of Kogi West would not forget his doggedness in ensuring the rehabilitation of Kabba-Egbe-Omu Aran roads which last seen any construction for the past sixteen years.

    Sen. Adeyemi has seen to the rehabilitation of Ajaokuta Steel industry to ensure the sustainability of generating revenue from non oil sector and industrialisation of the nation economy.

    Senator Smart remains our preferred candidate to be re-elected for the third term as senator during the next assembly election come 2015.

    He has the right to contest for another term because his aspiration is guaranteed and protected by the constitution of the

    Federal Republic and that of the PDP, we believe that the value of experience acquired could not be compromised unlike the position of the executives where two terms of eight years is enshrined.

    We hope that with this endorsement he would still continue to make the constituencies’ focal point in realisation of their dream of progress, peace, unity and development in all facets of lives.

     

    Bala Nayashi

    Lokoja, Kogi State.

  • Celebrating the unbending Ngige @ 62

    Representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige (Onwa, as he is fondly called) is 62. He was born on August 8 1952.  He became a political figure in Nigeria, after winning the 2003 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, where he turned a father of a good fight through his commendable stoical approach by not giving in, when certain powers that felt they saw to his governorship success, wanted to kick him out of office through many Kangaroo approach.

    Onwa did not succumb to their gimmicks. He fought back as a man, although diplomatically. Anambra became a very hot place occasioned by political demagogues and traducers alike, as Ngige was in the office as governor. The newspapers made headlines on daily basis, because each day that came had Ngige and traducers in the news. While his tormentors exhibited their retinue of aides and large collection of cars and were after him, Ngige showed them mettle and used his brain more than his mouth.

    Uba was a member of the PDP Board of Trustees when Ngige was being harassed. Ngige did not like the fact that Uba, seemingly, was always asking him to go to the treasury and take money and give to him, upon that there was a seeming promise by Ngige with Uba in writing that the former would show every sense of loyalty to the latter in the event that he won the election. According to Human Rights Watch report, Ngige promised in writing to “exercise and manifest absolute loyalty to the person of Chief Chris Uba as my mentor, benefactor and sponsor” and agreed to allow Uba manage over all significant government appointments and the awarding of all government contracts.

    Nigerians were thrown into the ice when in July 2003, a sitting governor in the person of Ngige was abducted and was placed with a gun on his throat to sign a letter that he would cease to be governor. Fingers were immediately pointed at Uba. Even Ngige fingered Uba as the architect of that, but Uba vehemently dispelled all of that as speculations. He shouted above his voice that he had no hand in the kidnapping saga and never asked Ngige for a dime from the treasury.

    When Ndi-Anambra thought all of that was enough as their state was like the menaces experienced from the charlatans in the Boko Haram today in the North East, thugs in 2004, who were armed with munitions to the teeth descended on the Government House, Awka, and parts of the expensive and expansive lodges were significantly touched. This was too much on Nigerians to bear. The presidency was mute, as if in total support of those who were against Ngige.

    Ngige wept as many people were killed during the subsequent attacks and organised restiveness that ensued. The same Uba who was denying being the brain behind the attacks on Ngige, reportedly granted an interview to Human Rights Watch at his Enugu residence in February 2007; and the following lines were his comments: “I have been in politics from 1999 and even before, but 2003 is the time I produced a governor for the state. Since that 2003 I have been handling the party—the PDP­—and we have been doing well and we did not have any problem in the party.”

    Ngige moved on but in March 2006, a Federal Court of Appeal ruled that Ngige’s 2003 election victory was falsified and hence null and void. This brought the frigid relationship between Ngige and Uba to an end. Mr. Peter Obi of the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was Ngige’s replacement, as he produced what analysts had called quantum confirmation of electoral fraud against Ngige.

    Ngige was again there in the 2007 elections, one of the Ubas, Andy Uba who enjoyed the presidency support was full of smiles when the names of Obi and Ngige were missing from the ballot box. (Others on that issue are history).

    Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige graduated from the University of Nigeria-Nsukka in 1979. He is a medical doctor by profession, and served in National Assembly and State House clinics at different times as a civil servant, and retired in 1998 as a Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Health. He was governor of Anambra State from 29th May 2003 to 17th March 2006 with records of indelible footsteps on the soil of Anambra. Between 1999 to 2006, Senator Ngige was a member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which he was a founding member, and as well the Assistant National Secretary and Zonal Secretary of PDP in the South East in 1999.

    When he came back for the state’s governorship election on November 16 2014, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, he was not successful this time as Mr. Willie Obiano of the APGA stole the show. It would therefore behove on Ngige to quit the stage when the ovation is high, else he would drag the faces of millions of his fans and admirers that cut across the world to the mud.

     

    By Odimegwu Onwumere

    Port Harcourt,

    Rivers State.

  • Nasarawa Assembly and impeachment panel

    SIR: There is no particular way to describe the outcome of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly’s unsuccessful impeachment move against Governor Tanko Al-Makura than to say that it is a boost to our constitutional democracy much as it will, in the meantime, reduce such sinister ambition being nursed by other state Houses of Assembly. From all indication, the peevish lawmakers went to equity with soiled hands. And it follows naturally that they got what they bargained for. Others should draw a lesson from this.

    To be sure, the lawmakers had instituted an impeachment procedure against the governor few days ago, apparently drawing inspiration from the Adamawa’s imbroglio wherein Governor Murtala Murtala Nyako was kicked out of office by their Yola counterparts. Surely, the so-called gross misconduct levelled against Al-Makura was nothing but a smokescreen by the lawmakers who had set out ab initio to see the exit of the governor at all cost. The motive was as selfish as it was victimising. Like the Adamawa’s case, the said offences were not committed recently; they are as old as the present House and yet they wanted the public to believe that what appeared like their sudden wake from a long slumber was done in the best interest of the state. They merely took the advantage of the porous nature of our impeachment law to settle a political score with the governor, the same way and manner the Ebonyi State House of Assembly recently squared up with its speaker and the ongoing charade in Enugu State. All these are 2015 general election manoeuvring and nothing more!

    Clearly, the lawmakers allowed their personal ego to diminish the interest of the poor majority of the state on whose back they rode to prominence. This was eloquently evident in the manner they attempted to usurp the powers of the panel and the Chief Judge. By asking the latter to “reconstitute” the panel, the lawmakers demonstrated their poor understanding of Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) on which they relied to initiate the now infamous proceeding. Perhaps, they failed to realise that the Chief Judge of a state, as far as impeachment procedure is concerned, becomes functus officio the moment he constitutes the panel as required by Section 188 (5) of the same law, implying that he (the CJ) cannot interfere with panel’s affairs and proceedings thereafter. The House cannot be a judge in its own case. This is the rationale behind the above provision.

    The insistence of the lawmakers to carry on with the impeachment of the governor, notwithstanding the dismissal of the charge against him on the issue by the panel, is a clear indication that they are fully determined to plunge the state into political unrest. The threat is misconceived, unnecessary and unfounded. The Musa Ahmed-led house needs to take another closer look (assuming they did that before) of Section 188 (8) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) with a particular attention to the phrase “NO FURTHER PROCEEDING SHALL BE TAKEN IN RESPECT OF THE MATTER” in that provision. In case they are still confused after perusing that Section they should see the case of DAPIANLONG v DARIYE (2007) 8 NWLR (PT. 1036) 332, Per Ogbuagu JSC (as he then was) where he stated explicitly that “The impeachment or removal of a Governor is a serious business or matter and therefore, the provisions of Section 188 of the Constitution must be strictly complied with”.

    Similarly, the House’s contention that Subsection (7) of the said Constitution was not complied with by the panel, in my own view, is hollow. The said provision does not give the lawmakers exclusive power to prescribe the procedure(s) for the panel. The fact that the provision uses the word “may” clearly suggests that either the house or the panel could set the procedure. The panel’s finding cannot be defeated only on the ground that it did not wait for the non cooperative House to set a guideline for her sitting. Equity regards substance rather than form. The House has two options in the ensuing farce; challenge the report of the panel in a court of competent jurisdiction or eat the humble pie and allow the electorates to decide the fate of the governor through the next year’s election.

     

    • Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

  • Appeal to Governor Babangida Aliyu

    SIR: We wish to appeal to the Governor  Babangida Aliyu  of Niger State to rescind  his move to relocate all furniture makers scattered in various parts of Minna, the state capital due to the activities of a few of our members operating near the Government House.

    We the furniture makers in Minna, the state capital are law-abiding people, who have through the years carried out our duties within the provisions of the law. In the process, we also contribute to the growth of the economy of the state through our craft.

    However, recently, because of the excesses of some of our members operating near Tabila House, the seat of power, the governor has directed that all furniture makers should be relocated to Mandela Road, a remote part of Minna where we may not get patronage.

    We want to appeal to the governor to kindly allow us to stay at our current places, and if anyone should be relocated, it should be only those furniture makers who have contacted the state government in one way or another, and expressed their desire to move.

    While we are not opposed to change and efforts to develop the place, we believe that such movement should be a gradual thing, to be carried out only after necessary facilities must have be put in place in the state and enough awareness must have be created.

    The move by some executive members of the association to move to the proposed location does not represent the view of all of us, and should therefore, be rejected by the state government.

     

    • Ibrahim Mudasiru,

    Kanchaga, Minna, Niger State.

     

  • What manner of Presidency?

    SIR: President Jonathan has demonstrated more committment to the 2015 elections than the peace and security of Nigeria. He has continued to deploy security forces under the guise of ensuring peace during elections to intimidate and harass law abiding Nigerian citizens. We have seen it before during the extreme militarization of the Ekiti State governorship elections. Similarly, in Osun State, the deployed DSS officers announced their presence with masked faces and shooting sporadically into the air to intimidate and harass Osun State residents ahead of tomorrow’s governorship elections. The good people of Osun State complained about this anomaly. The President did not give a damn. The security officers have become more emboldened and prevented Osun State workers from staging a pro-Aregbesola rally at the Freedom Park in Osogbo, the state capital. Gov. Aregbesola belongs to APC, the main opposition party in Nigeria. The only interpretation here is injustice in action. Similarly, residents continue to complain of being harassed by masked security officers.

    The security officers deployed to Osun State are fellow citizens, so why are they masked while on duty? How do we differentiate between fake armed thugs in ‘military regalia’ from the real security officers when our own dear officers are masked? Can there be freedom in a state of intimidation, harassment and fear?

    If the security officers deployed to Osun State are for peace to ensure a free and fair election, then we can clearly say the aim is already defeated. There can be no peace, without freedom and justice. There can be no free and fair election in the absence of freedom and justice.

    Our Commander-in-Chief continues to deploy security forces based on political partisanship while the Boko Haram terrorists continue to kill, kidnap and abduct our people as well as taking over territories. Reports say Damboa had been taken over weeks ago and the terrorists have not only driven away our soldiers from military barracks, hosted their flags in the town but have taken over Maiduguri-Dikwa-Gamboru Ngala road and now collect toll gates, kill our people and kidnap girls.

    The terrorists are apparently winning more territories and have reportedly taken over Gwoza (one of the largest towns in Borno State) and the new Emir of Gwoza’s whereabouts is said to be unknown. The former Emir of Gwoza was killed by the terrorists too.

    President Jonathan’s supporters have continued to insult our collective intelligence by displaying the photos of our President with President Barrack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama, describing President Jonathan as a prophet who is not honoured at home.

    Let President Jonathan change for the better and write his name in gold. Let him disengage from the culture of recklessness and impunity. Let him activate the political will to deal with our systemic corruption, sponsors of terrorism and resolve human rights abuses by our security agents to establish justice and to solidify civilian-security agencies’ relationship.

    Akinlolu, Abdulazeez Adelaja,

     University of Ilorin

     

  • Still on Asari Dokubo’s drums of war

    SIR: Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, former leader of the Niger Delta People Volunteer Force (NDPVF) is also a former Ijaw militant. Asari Dokubo is currently a staunch supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan. He recently uttered inflammatory comments with confidence, speaking as if he controls Nigeria, and insulting northern politicians and elders. The man has already declared war on Nigeria come 2015 if President Jonathan did not emerge winner. Almost without exception, but particularly when it comes to northerners, Dokubo picks fight with anyone he sees as the president’s opponent.

    He has uttered several inflammatory, threatening, divisive comments in various media houses capable of causing war in the country. Most amazing is that he has never been called to order by the security agencies.

    When the Chibok girls were abducted, Asari Dokubo insisted that no girls were missing despite the video release by the Boko Haram sect. He said the kidnapping was a northern political propaganda and then he went further to organise an anti-bring-back-the-girls protest with placards reading: “Don’t play politics with my name; Chibok is a scam, no parent, no picture, no girls.”

    Again Asari Dokubo was not taken by the twin Bomb blast that rocked Kaduna recently in which General Muhammadu Buhari and Sheik Dahiru Bauchi escaped deaths narrowly. According to Dokubo the attack was a plan by northern politicians to cause calamity in the country so the military could take power from President Jonathan. He even insinuated that General Buhari instigated the attack on himself!

    For those who don’t know Asari Dokubo, he is a high profile militant with direct access to Nigeria’s presidential villa. He was once arrested in Benin Republic by the government over Boko Haram related activities in December 2013, but President Jonathan pressured for his release.  Asari Dokubo is nothing more than an ethnic jingoist. Dokubo is beating the drums of war today, but would be among the first to travel abroad when things get rough.

     

    • Fatima Sani Umar

    Baze University Abuja

  • Chibok girls and presidential gifts

    SIR: The story of the abducted Chibok girls is an irritant that refuses to fade out of our national discourse. There is no day that the mention of it escapes the front burner of our major national dailies and some notable foreign media outfits. The negativity shooting out from this unsavoury episode of our national life on daily basis should be enough reason why the government should be mercurial and sprightly in ensuring the release of those unfortunate girls. Now that they have spent more than three months in the den of the terrorists, their predicament should move the federal government to consider the option of prisoner-swap as a matter of urgency.

    It is pathetic to hear the alleged N100m gift to the parents of the abducted girls and the 57 escapees when they visited Aso rock at the instance of President Jonathan. Is this the time to give or take gifts? Was the money meant to make the parents forget the agitation and advocacy for the release of their children, or make the parents turn their backs against the #BringBackOurGirls# campaigners who went global to intimate the whole world about the continuing enslavement of the girls and government’s lackadaisical response to their rescue?

    The whole world is watching the unfolding scenario; the government should be fully up in arms against the insurgents and walk their talk. Enough is enough; urgent and proactive steps should be embarked upon to rescue the seized girls.

    To avoid unnecessary shedding of innocent blood as being witnessed between Palestinian Hamas and Israelis army presently, it will be apposite for the president to consider the swap option and stop the parade of inducement already initiated by the millions of naira gifts rained on the Chibok parents.

    President Jonathan should not wait until the abducted girls are murdered or turned to female bombers as agents of hate compulsorily carrying out the instructions of their captors with no option. He should follow the good example of President Barack Obama of America, who swapped five high ranking Taliban prisoners for a single American soldier who was released recently. The plan to borrow another $1billon to combat the insurgency in spite of all the trillions of naira already allocated for defence sounds spurious. We must negotiate instead of wasting more money, lives and properties since the more money we spend, the deadlier the attacks on the innocent civilians from the terrorists.

    • Pastor Mark Debo Taiwo{JP},

    Takie, Ogbomoso

  • Kwara: Fifth columnists at work?

    SIR:Permit me to use your educative and informative medium to intimate the reading public with some untrue allegations going round in Kwara State against its present leadership which I consider inimical to accelerated growth and development of the state.

    Some opposition leaders in the state willing to take over leadership from the incumbent Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in 2015 have been spreading negative reports across the state especially on his performance since assumption of office in 2011.

    While his scorecard remains open, visible and appreciated by discerning minds, some opponents are desperately seeking opportunities to drag the governor in the mud by a recent claim that he had been jettisoning projects started by his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki.

    I would boldly say that apart from an open declaration of his intention to continue and complete some of his predecessor’s uncompleted projects through his establishment of a ‘government of continuity’, Dr. Saraki had severally referred to him as a ‘worthy successor’. One would wonder why he would be referred to as such by Dr. Saraki if he had actually denigrated his successor’s worthy achievements.

    Opponents also went further to claim that he was arrogant and without listening ears but an overwhelming majority of stakeholders have given credence to his humble and unassuming nature and most especially, his appeasing open door policy.

    With recent developments proving that exemplary leadership is not about distribution of hard earned state’s resources to individuals but the investment of such resources in programmes and projects which would be beneficial to all and sundry, allegations of tightfistedness against dutiful leaders have become unpopular in progressive environments.

    I would also not want to forget to mention that the sitting government had also been accused of breaching electoral laws by convening town hall meetings. Such meetings are normally conducted in fledgling democracies to grant opportunities to all stakeholders to meet their leaders in order to air their views especially on how they would wish to be governed. The APC administration had designed town hall meetings as feedback mechanisms to promote participatory governance by rendering stewardship and seeking the people’s views on government programmes and in Kwara State stakeholders including students, market women, teachers, clergymen, community leaders, non-indigenes and other non-partisan groups have been regular attendees at each of the gatherings with the intention of joining hands with government to ensure well-being for all citizens.

    It would be glorifying if opponents could be more constructive in their criticisms by concentrating on areas that more and betterment is needed, especially bearing in mind that no leader is expected to be flawless.

     

    • ‘Segun ‘Bambo Ojomo,