The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Omisore’s negative campaign in Osun

    SIR: Senator Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 9, governorship election in Osun State has been going about his campaign in the most negative way. This could be either he is not acquainted with the fine art of mounting the soap box or he does not believe in wooing the electorate whom he hopes to preside over.

    He has been going round telling lies and intimidating the people. He has never proposed any agenda of governance. Rather, all he keeps telling people is that he would reverse all the policies of Governor Rauf Aregbesola on education. He kept referring to Osun indigenes that have returned home to help in the development of their state as ‘foreigners’. He has been bandying words like ‘capital flight’ without explaining what he meant (obviously, he does not know the meaning).

    He does not know and does not care to know about the policy of backward integration in the state that mandates contractors and government officials to maximise items purchases in the markets in the state and it is only where this is not available that other markets can be considered.

    He also is not aware of the 10-kilometre roads constructed in each local government and handled exclusively by local contractors.

    He has also been constituting nuisance everywhere he goes to campaign. His convoy would deliberately block the roads and force other motorists to queue behind them for hours, in order to give the impression that they are all together. This infuriates them to no end. Then his scanty crowd at the Gbongan Road campaign office will take over the entire express road, stalling traffic on the ever busy road, in gross act of lawlessness.

    On the contrary, the All Progressive Congress (APC) secretariat on the other side of the road, though with bigger crowd, conducts its affairs with discretion, with its crowd tucked neatly into the belly of its wide compound.

    While the state governor moves quietly, without siren and not disturbing anyone, Omisore’s convoy moves about the state menacingly, driving other road users out of the road with his thugs hanging precariously on tailboards, car bumpers and car roofs, with doors open, wielding various cudgels and whips, creating an atmosphere of terror and insecurity, making citizens and other road users to scamper for safety.

    The worst part is that he keeps threatening every community he goes to campaign that he would flood their communities with soldiers and arrest their leaders and opposition figures few days before the election. I thought he could not do this but I was horrified to hear him on tape threatening the people of Ifewara that he would flood the community with soldiers who would not hear a single Yoruba word.

    He has never articulated any policy on education, healthcare, job creation, agriculture, infrastructure, rural development and road construction. How on earth does he hope to win?

    Distributing kerosene and other subversive gifts a few days before the election will simply not cut it. He does not know that he is being tolerated and August 9 would be his Judgement Day.

    • Michael Ogundele,

    Osogbo, Osun State

  • Number plates: Averting unnecessary crisis

    SIR: Anarchy may take over Nigerian roads any moment soon if the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) makes good its threat to go ahead with the dubious enforcement of the new number plates policy effective August 1, in total disregard to the two subsisting Federal High Courts’ judgements that had already declared the proposed policy unconstitutional, null and void.

    The move is coming on the heels of a recent conflicting judgement delivered by the High Court of Anambra State, per Justice Peter Umeadi, who curiously declared that FRSC, indeed, has power to issue new number plates and drivers licenses contrary to the earlier decisions of the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Abuja, respectively. In the words of the Lagos State sector Commander, Chidi Nkwonta, “Nigerians should discountence the first misleading judgement and take this one because we are going to continue enforcement as from August 1, 2014”.

    This kind of impunity is only possible in country where might, rather than rule of law, is the order of the day. Disobedience to court orders by government and her agencies happen so frequently in this clime so much that they chose which decisions to abide by and the ones not to obey, and, indeed, they want Nigerians to accept this brazen affront on our constitutional democracy hook, line and sinker!

    For avoidance of doubt, the contentious issue had been extensively dealt with by their Lordships, Justices James Tsoho and Adeniyi Ademola both of the Federal High Courts, Lagos and Abuja. An appeal on the matter already laid before the Court of Appeal, Lagos division, which appeal was filed by none other than the FRSC itself. It is, therefore, inconceivable that the same commission now wants to contemptuously abandon the case at the Court of Appeal under the disguise of the present judicial logjam. May the commission be reminded that do that is an express invitation to chaos in the country and nothing more pretentious.

    Conflicting rulings and judgements, particularly by courts of concurrent jurisdiction, is not totally new in our legal milieu. No thanks to the heterogeneous structure of the country. However, the question to be asked under the circumstance is; how do we wriggle out from this type of  legal lacuna? It needs be stated that litigants are forbade from choosing which court’s decisions to obey and the one not to abide by. Litigants cannot play smart by capitalising on judicial technicalities to render decisions of courts nugatory. And this is where professional ethics come to play. Lawyers as priests in the temple of justice are expected to guide their clients at all material time towards maintaining the sanctity of court and cause of justice. Nigerians expect nothing less in the circumstance. Lawyers must constantly remind their clients that the decisions of the court, however wrongly decided, must be obeyed until set aside by a higher court.

    Another disturbing question is how the parties could have conducted the matter before the Anambra High Court without adverting the mind of the court to the earlier judgements? Or did the judge outrightly refuse the invitation to take judicial notice of the judgements of his learned brothers at the Federal High Court? Agreed that courts of coordinate jurisdiction are not bound by their decisions (in terms of judicial precedence), nonetheless, they are always encouraged to mind the pronouncements of their learned brothers especially if the facts (s) before them is(are) similar. The reason for this is to avoid apparent absurdities that such departure might lead to. This was exactly what the Federal High Court, Abuja, per Justice Ademola, did when he stated in the earlier decision that “the court is also mindful of a Lagos Federal High Court on same subject matter which I completely align with”.

    In view of the foregoing, FRSC should not hide under the conflicting judgement of the High Court of Anambra State to create unnecessary mischief and crisis in our already-troubled society. The commission should allow the appeal, which it has already filed, to run its full course. It should not try to “arrest” the judgement of the appellate court through this back-door move. This should equally serve as a litmus test for the newly appointed FRSC Corp Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi. He certainly will not want to start on this infamous path. He should therefore, with immediate alacrity, ask his men to stay action on the controversial policy pending the determination of the appeal. To do otherwise is to put the commission in disrepute.

    • Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

    Ebonyi

  • When will Nigerians get it right?

    SIR: I have always been of the opinion that being good or bad is not a function of tribe, education or religion. Being faithful in a marriage or relationship also is not a function of sex; neither is being a good parent reliant on gender. Often times, people say: “men are wicked, women are greedy, women are troublesome, and men are naturally promiscuous”. How true are these claims? Because one man beats his wife does not mean that another woman does not beat the hell out of her husband. Because women are often associated with love to children does not mean that all women are good parents and there are no better male parents. We have heard and seen stories of women, who throw away their babies, haven’t we? Where did the love go? On the same vein, if men are stronger vessels, we have heard and seen men cry their eyes out while a lady pats them to silence. Where was the strength?

    My main point: come 2015, should Nigerians vote tribe or character? Should they vote religion or reliability? Should Nigerians vote party or personality? Gender or genuineness? All those politicians that try to incite us against particular political parties make those parties look so bad and make themselves the saviours. Just like the man who calls women greedy and leave his gender out, or the woman who calls every man a goat and doesn’t mention the breed her father belongs, politicians may try to paint opposing political parties black, but they themselves also have their rots. And then you see us, fighting their fights, you see us mounting road blocks and burning tyres in the middle of main roads, causing traffic jams. You see us misbehaving, killing ourselves for these guys who will only enrich themselves and family when they get to power. You see us fighting for sentiment rather than common sense and true leadership. When will Nigerians get it right?

     

    • Joseph Joshua

    Abuja

  • The additional state Nigeria needs

    SIR: The agitation of the just concluded National Conference for the creation of 18 new states didn’t come to me as a shocker. Looking at their agitation from different perspective, I think they are right to the extent that some states in Nigeria are bigger in times of land occupied and population than some countries in Africa. In addition to this, creation of new states will enhance the development of the country and also create jobs for some many people.

    Lagos State with the population of 9,019,534 is bigger than Togo, Benin Republic, Libya, Liberia, Gabon, Gambia, Swaziland and Cape Verde among others. In the same vein, Oyo State covers approximately an area of 28,454 square kilometres. This cannot be compared with Cape Verde, Comoros, Gambia, Swaziland and Djibouti among others.

    The big question is that what should be the yardstick for state creation? This is a billion dollar question that even the confab could not answer. Should land size or population be the criteria for state creation? If land size is the criteria, certainly, Oyo State deserves two slots. Meanwhile, if it is the population that will determine it, Lagos and Kano both deserve one slot each.

    The biggest question is: do we really need 18 states? We only need one state!

    We need one state where Nigerians can see themselves has one, where corruption will be nowhere to be found and where tribalism, ethnicity, gender differences or religion will not be the basis for relationship.

    We need one state where there is stable electricity supply, where there is free and fair election and where there is truly equality before the law. We need one state where there is no discrimination between the Polytechnic and the University education. We need one state where strike will not be the best means for workers to channel their grievances to the government.

    We need one state where there is protection of lives and properties. We need one state where there are conducive job opportunities for job seekers. We need one state where there are basic infrastructures and where the government encourages entrepreneurs.

    We need one state where pensioners and females will not be treated as slaves, where physically challenged people’s opinions can be heard and respected. We need one state where we can sleep with both eyes closed. We need one state where Boko Haram insurgency will be the thing of the past. We need one state where Nigerians can cajole or rob mind with their leaders.

    The one state we need is Nigeria. Let us join hands together to make Nigeria great.

     

    • Oluwagbenga Bankole

    Sango, Ogun State

     

  • The unfortunate Kaduna twin bomb attacks

    The twin attack on the two prominent Nigerians which took place in

    Kaduna could be described as dangerous, callous and unfortunate to the peaceful and cooperate existence of this country.

    The attempt on the lives of the two highly respected Nigerians who are revered in different parts of this country for political and religious affiliations, shows those desperados of this dastardly act are out to throw this country into political and religious crises, which would not augur well for the peaceful co-existence of this country.

    Both Sheik Dahiru Bauchi and Gen. Mohammed Buhari have contributed to the development of this country in their chosen fields, hence their being accorded esteemed respect across the country.

    The activities of those responsible for the twin attack did not take into cognisance the great implication of what they intend to do the collective interest of the country, which would have a great impact on the stability of this country.

    We must appreciate that God in his infinity mercy did allow this unpatriotic persons to achieve this myopic and undesirable desire of plunging this country into another mayhem, which no responsible Nigerian will support.

    We should continue to be vigilant in our daily activities to stem the ugly trend we are witnessing at this critical period of our nation’s history, that has never been seen, not even during the civil war that took place in the 60s.

    No sane Nigerian would support these dastardly acts of spilling blood of innocent Nigerians who are already impoverished going about securing their day-to-day means of livelihood.

    We pray that those who lost their lives in the Kaduna twin blast would have peace of grave and God would console their families, while also praying for those injured to recover quickly.

    The government should not rest from its responsibilities by assuring the citizens of providing security to all. Nigerians should report any form of suspicious movement within their environments.

    Nigeria will surely overcome such agonising period she finds herself and

    It will continue to remain steadfast in loving one another.

    By Bala Nayashi

    Lokoja, Kogi State.

  • Haba! Delta NULGE and Service Commission

    Local governments are supposed to be training ground for leaders and politicians for higher participation and exhibit professionalism in governance at the state and federal levels.  What one can see now is that the reverse is the case because of corruption and lackadaisical attitude of union executive members and the Local Government Service Commission in Delta State.  Like the popular saying, “born great but tied down”, the local government system, especially in Delta State, is in chains, even in the face of almost limitless prospects as engine room for massive grassroots development.

    During a short visit to one of the local government secretariats in the Delta Central, I observed with dismay and was further perplexed the way and manner staffers were moving from one office to another with hullabaloo, signifying that things were not in good shape. On enquiry, I was made to understand that workers are complaining seriously of the deductions of seven hundred naira (700.00) per month for ten months by the Nigerian Union of Local Governments Employees (NULGE Delta State).  I reliably gathered that the proceeds will be used to build a five-star hotel as guest house for employees of the twenty-five local governments in Delta.  I was flabbergasted. One may ask, is it fair to all? Is five-star hotel to be used as guest house by the employees of Delta State local government their priority?  Deducting workers salaries to build a five-star hotel by union is uncalled for.  Who gave the union the approval?  The executive arm of the Delta State government should not use NULGE as “ATM” that is, a way to siphon money. NULGE should be directed to stop such irregular deductions with speed and alacrity and concentrate on how to improve on workers welfare and avoid causing confusion in the twenty-five local governments of Delta State.

    This is done every four years. In some cases, workers will pay without seeing the ID or at the close of its expiration. The big question now is, are workers expected to pay for ID?  Was the money for Workers ID not budgeted for?  What is happening in the NULGE and the Local Government Service Commission of Delta State?  I wish Governor Uduaghan will take appropriate action because a stitch in time saves nine.  NULGE and the Local Government Service Commission must not become “ATM” to the state.  This is a dangerous dichotomy, indeed!  It is pregnant with meaning.

    Okwute Emmanuel Okwute,

    Warri, Delta State.

  • Haba! Delta NULGE and Service Commission

    Haba! Delta NULGE and Service Commission

    Local governments are supposed to be training ground for leaders and politicians for higher participation and exhibit professionalism in governance at the state and federal levels.  What one can see now is that the reverse is the case because of corruption and lackadaisical attitude of union executive members and the Local Government Service Commission in Delta State.  Like the popular saying, “born great but tied down”, the local government system, especially in Delta State, is in chains, even in the face of almost limitless prospects as engine room for massive grassroots development.

    During a short visit to one of the local government secretariats in the Delta Central, I observed with dismay and was further perplexed the way and manner staffers were moving from one office to another with hullabaloo, signifying that things were not in good shape. On enquiry, I was made to understand that workers are complaining seriously of the deductions of seven hundred naira (700.00) per month for ten months by the Nigerian Union of Local Governments Employees (NULGE Delta State).  I reliably gathered that the proceeds will be used to build a five-star hotel as guest house for employees of the twenty-five local governments in Delta.  I was flabbergasted. One may ask, is it fair to all? Is five-star hotel to be used as guest house by the employees of Delta State local government their priority?  Deducting workers salaries to build a five-star hotel by union is uncalled for.  Who gave the union the approval?  The executive arm of the Delta State government should not use NULGE as “ATM” that is, a way to siphon money. NULGE should be directed to stop such irregular deductions with speed and alacrity and concentrate on how to improve on workers welfare and avoid causing confusion in the twenty-five local governments of Delta State.

    This is done every four years. In some cases, workers will pay without seeing the ID or at the close of its expiration. The big question now is, are workers expected to pay for ID?  Was the money for Workers ID not budgeted for?  What is happening in the NULGE and the Local Government Service Commission of Delta State?  I wish Governor Uduaghan will take appropriate action because a stitch in time saves nine.  NULGE and the Local Government Service Commission must not become “ATM” to the state.  This is a dangerous dichotomy, indeed!  It is pregnant with meaning.

    Okwute Emmanuel Okwute,

    Warri, Delta State.

  • A most apt expose on Eha-Amufu roads

    The article published in your renowned newspaper about the plight of my people as a result of the deteriorating state of federal roads at Eha-Amufu  including broken bridges en route Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Local Government of Enugu State to Nkalagu in Ebonyi State, could not have come at a more opportune time.

    For decades on end, we have gone through a most harrowing period, the experience of these sufferings and unfortunate neglect are better imagined and no one will wish his enemies such debasement. The rains are pounding the town and the surrounding villages continuously thus worsening the impassable roads.

    The Mainland Eha-Amufu is permanently cut off from their brothers and sisters who live on the farmlands because of the broken down bridges. Our people are painfully returning to the stone age of either ferrying their goods and human beings on their backs or risk the hazards by swimming across.

    It is disheartening that a people who had done no wrong would be allowed to continually face such punishment. Yearly, millions and billions are being read out during budgets. Is it not surprising, nay amazing, that such a very vital link road to the first major cement factory in the country East of the Niger, has been abandoned and does not qualify as a priority road?

    In those good old days, I grew up to learn of ‘Trunk A’ roads, which were federal roads, always well maintained and treasured and Obolloafor-Ikem-Eha-Amufu-Nkalagu roads prided as such ‘Trunk A’ roads. Alas! successive federal governments have left my people in the lurch.

    The story making the rounds in the villages at my home town, is that the abandoned road has been finally captured in the 2014 budget but that the money allocated can barely complete the construction of the roads let alone attempt rebuilding the three collapsed most important bridges.

    My appeal is that whichever ministries are responsible – Works and the Finance Ministry too – should release the money on time and that whoever is awarded the job must be competent enough to commence work immediately and of course do a credible work.

    We are all going to be on the watch, monitoring the progress of work when it commences and will cry foul if any shoddy job is contemplated or embarked upon. Haven’t our rights been trampled upon enough?

    James Agbonchikiri

    Eha-Amufu Town

    Enugu State.

  • The unfortunate Kaduna twin bomb attacks

    The unfortunate Kaduna twin bomb attacks

    The twin attack on the two prominent Nigerians which took place in Kaduna could be described as dangerous, callous and unfortunate to the peaceful and cooperate existence of this country.

    The attempt on the lives of the two highly respected Nigerians who are revered in different parts of this country for political and religious affiliations, shows those desperados of this dastardly act are out to throw this country into political and religious crises, which would not augur well for the peaceful co-existence of this country.

    Both Sheik Dahiru Bauchi and Gen. Mohammed Buhari have contributed to the development of this country in their chosen fields, hence their being accorded esteemed respect across the country.

    The activities of those responsible for the twin attack did not take into cognisance the great implication of what they intend to do the collective interest of the country, which would have a great impact on the stability of this country.

    We must appreciate that God in his infinity mercy did allow this unpatriotic persons to achieve this myopic and undesirable desire of plunging this country into another mayhem, which no responsible Nigerian will support.

    We should continue to be vigilant in our daily activities to stem the ugly trend we are witnessing at this critical period of our nation’s history, that has never been seen, not even during the civil war that took place in the 60s.

    No sane Nigerian would support these dastardly acts of spilling blood of innocent Nigerians who are already impoverished going about securing their day-to-day means of livelihood.

    We pray that those who lost their lives in the Kaduna twin blast would have peace of grave and God would console their families, while also praying for those injured to recover quickly.

    The government should not rest from its responsibilities by assuring the citizens of providing security to all. Nigerians should report any form of suspicious movement within their environments.

    Nigeria will surely overcome such agonising period she finds herself and

    It will continue to remain steadfast in loving one another.

    By Bala Nayashi

    Lokoja, Kogi State.

  • A most apt expose on Eha-Amufu roads

    The article published in your renowned newspaper about the plight of my people as a result of the deteriorating state of federal roads at Eha-Amufu  including broken bridges en route Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Local Government of Enugu State to Nkalagu in Ebonyi State, could not have come at a more opportune time.

    For decades on end, we have gone through a most harrowing period, the experience of these sufferings and unfortunate neglect are better imagined and no one will wish his enemies such debasement. The rains are pounding the town and the surrounding villages continuously thus worsening the impassable roads.

    The Mainland Eha-Amufu is permanently cut off from their brothers and sisters who live on the farmlands because of the broken down bridges. Our people are painfully returning to the stone age of either ferrying their goods and human beings on their backs or risk the hazards by swimming across.

    It is disheartening that a people who had done no wrong would be allowed to continually face such punishment. Yearly, millions and billions are being read out during budgets. Is it not surprising, nay amazing, that such a very vital link road to the first major cement factory in the country East of the Niger, has been abandoned and does not qualify as a priority road?

    In those good old days, I grew up to learn of ‘Trunk A’ roads, which were federal roads, always well maintained and treasured and Obolloafor-Ikem-Eha-Amufu-Nkalagu roads prided as such ‘Trunk A’ roads. Alas! successive federal governments have left my people in the lurch.

    The story making the rounds in the villages at my home town, is that the abandoned road has been finally captured in the 2014 budget but that the money allocated can barely complete the construction of the roads let alone attempt rebuilding the three collapsed most important bridges.

    My appeal is that whichever ministries are responsible – Works and the Finance Ministry too – should release the money on time and that whoever is awarded the job must be competent enough to commence work immediately and of course do a credible work.

    We are all going to be on the watch, monitoring the progress of work when it commences and will cry foul if any shoddy job is contemplated or embarked upon. Haven’t our rights been trampled upon enough?

    James Agbonchikiri

     Eha-Amufu Town

     Enugu State.