Category: Letters

The presence of any opposition in any political dispensation is to ensure it lives up to its responsibilities.

The happenings in Kogi politics where the voice of opposition has not been heard of recent, but rather the romance with the opposition party, openly praising all the activities of the ruling party in the state.

The role played by an opposition party in an ideal democracy makes it imperative for the party in power to live up to its responsibilities of meeting the yearning and the aspiration of the populace. Hence, vibrant opposition plays much role in attaining a much desired result in political equation of the giving societies.

The opposition parties in Kogi State have been in doldrums for some time now, without any significant voice of ensuring the ruling party in the state is directed on its programmed and its policies where it fails to measure up to expectation.

In some states where there are more development and government are seen to be working, the opposition has been voicing some concern in areas where they feel necessary input are to be made to ensure the ruling party does not derail from the expected norms and value of democratic tenets.

We hope Kogi opposition parties should wake up from their slumber to ensure that government lives up to expectation.

By Bala Nayashi

Lokoja, Kogi State.

Prophetically, it is my fervent prayers and wish, that in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit, the blessings of God will never forsake President Goodluck Jonathan and that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will continue to give him the divine grace and favour to continue to pilot the affairs of this largest black African country in the continent.

Virtually all peace-loving Nigerians are tired of the incessant killings, bombings, destruction of properties, among others, being carried out by terrorists and marauders. It is unfortunate that innocent people are being made to suffer for what they know nothing about.

 For four years on, Nigeria has continued to endure unrelenting human and material destructions. Having come this far, every Nigerian is a stakeholder, in this joint-project called NIGERIA, and as minister of God and church planter, we need to save our country from total collapse before it is too late. God loves our country. I believe there is a better future for our country, if we will turn to God, love God, shun all social vices, love our nation and love one another, Church should teach righteousness, that exalts a nation, patriotism and dedication, while reproach is a sin.

The time is now for President Goodluck Jonathan to do more in finding a more lasting solutions to the wanton killings, bombings among others… particularly in the North East of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). One need not to be told that something is wrong with the intelligence gathering of our security agencies.

 We need to seek the support and cooperation of the international communities, and most especially, too, our neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Niger Republic and Chad Republic, to put an end to this threat on the sovereignty and security of Nigeria.

Also, the federal government should ensure that there is adequate funding, more manpower recruitment and capacity building of all the security operatives. Again, the government needs to involve the religious leaders and traditional rulers and opinion leaders from the places of frequent insurgency, in robust and far-reaching dialogue, to get to the root causes of crime, while parents should stop breeding more children that they could adequately cater for.

Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel (Baba Sekunderin)

 The General Overseer, The Way of Reconciliation Evangelistic Ministries (TWOREM) Int’l, Lagos, Nigeria

According to Charles Kingsley, an English writer, feelings, he says, are like chemicals, the more you analyse them the worst they smell. This could be an aphorism to capture the mood of the nation in this period when clear and present danger rocks the unity of this country. The government’s efforts in the recent past to address some socio-cultural, economic and political hiccups in our nation have is found to be incongruent  with policy formation, bi/multi-lateral relations with states government and the governed which had characterised the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Without being detached, the government’s approach should have more to do with addressing the “feelings” that it creates around its people, such as, insecurity of lives and properties, insensitivity to the yearnings and aspirations of the populace.

Amongst the front burners is the display of lunacy by the Boko Haram sect. The federal government’s response to this malady has created hopelessness in Nigerians. The monster in our mist has become more dreadful than ever! That the entire nation is fear-stricken is putting it mild. I got highly terrified some days back when, aboard a commercial bus en route to Ikeja from Yaba, four strange faces joined the bus – they had with them knapsacks, your feeling is as good as mine was. These monsters have a lot up their sleeves; they now dine, wine, sleep and wake up with the government in Abuja. What they will do and where they will go next are limitless options for them. They put their lives on the line for the cause they fight. The cause, no one knows!  They kill, kidnap and bomb places and people with blitz. It seems the entire nation has become a stage in Nollywood; with the script Catch me if you can!

The news of over 200 students of Government Secondary School in Chibok community of Borno State who were, as of the time of writing this article, abducted by marauders came to the entire nation by surprise. They came like thieves at night; in their luxury buses, they identified and cart away their booty. How it happened in a state under a State of Emergency rule is a mystery. Where were the soldiers? Or will it be safe to conclude that the nation’s military personnel are not capable of nabbing this modicum of insurgency? An act that would have saved us from international embarrassment, rescuing the victims has become rocket science! Even the over-one-billion dollar satellite that was sent to space cannot seem to salvage the situation. The international community has been dragged to this show of shame in the country with credence to law of international relations. What a smell!

One big question that is begging for answer is Boko Haram’s demand; beyond the context of the group’s name  “BOKO HARAM”  that literarily does not depict its demand ( No to western education ), what do they really want ? There are too many questions with limited answers, but the most certain of all is that there is no negotiation with the terrorist group as claimed by federal government.

By Kunle Oyeleke

13, Moshood Musa Close,

Ajuwon, Akute.

SIR: When I read about the match fixing allegations the British Police was investigating prior to the Nigeria/ Scotland match, I waived it off as one of those attempts by the British media to paint Nigeria black.

However, events of the last few days have confirmed my worst fears. Considering the fact that we are still recovering from the Amos Adamu bribery fiasco, the revelation that a Nigerian match-fixing agent, who is also a licensed FIFA agent is offering matches involving Nigeria to the highest bidder has cast a dark cloud over the quality of Nigeria’s participation in this month’s World Cup.

As I write this piece, images of Yakubu Ayegbeni’s goal mouth miss and Sani Keita’s unnecessary red card kept flashing though my mind; unfortunately for us,  these sad memories which have refused disappear,  are about to be re-enacted.

The activities of Henry Chukwuma Okoroji who was allegedly caught telling an undercover reporter that he could fix games and organize certain outcomes during the tournament in Brazil this month is not only despicable but deeply regrettable.

Furthermore, his reported attempt to lure Ogenyi Onazi one of Nigeria’s finest players into this shameful scam is a clear indication of how far some people are willing to go to in their quest for sour grapes.

Nevertheless, Onazi must be commended for being a true professional as evidenced by his decision to rebuff Okoroji’s offer, choosing to place the country above financial and material gains. Onazi’s experience should be an eye opener to other players, that endorsement could sometimes mean a career ending free ticket to jail.

As we match towards the World cup In Brazil, I am not convinced that the present crop of players paraded by Stephen Keshi has what it takes to make us proud, but for the sake of  the over 170 million Nigerians I sincerely pray I am wrong.

• Oche Otorkpa

Twitter: @ochejoseph

SIR: To every objective observer of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, one of its major failings is the faulty strategic approach to key national issues. One is tempted to conclude that the administration lacks deep thinkers who can critically evaluate events, trends and situations with the objective of coming up with bespoke strategy that will solve problems, douse tension and ultimately, boost the image of the president.

This blatant deficiency in strategy has accounted for series of blunders that the presidency commits each time the nation looks up to it for clear-cut direction, symbolic gestures, concrete actions and inspiring pronouncements.

One great example that explicitly highlights this obvious deficiency in this administration is them is handling of the Chibok girls’ abduction. While a more strategic government would have used the opportunity of the problem to rebuild its fluffing image and garner better political capital through a series of well-articulated and compassionate activities and pronouncements, the Jonathan presidency, as usual, didn’t seize the occasion. Even when opportunities present itself on a platter of gold, the president’s “strategists” would rather snatch defeat from the jaw of victory.

Some examples will here suffice.  Barely 24 hours after the girls’ abduction and the Nyanya bomb blasts, President Goodluck Jonathan attended a political rally in Kano in which some APC defectors were welcomed into the PDP fold. The festive mood at the rally and the presidential dance steps didn’t reflect a nation that just witnessed two major tragedies a day earlier.

A more strategic president would have cancelled the rally and immediately mobilized all the military resources at the nation’s disposal to rescue the girls particularly in the light of the reported logistics problems of the abductors in ferrying the girls away.

The body language and silence of the president coupled with the disappointing utterances of presidential aides clearly showed that the president didn’t believe any abduction took place. To him, it was one of the gimmicks of the opposition to pile more pressure on his government ahead of the 2015 elections. It took the relentless social media campaigns and international pressure from foreign media and key political and social figures for the president to realise the enormity of the issue.

The presidency and the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been under the illusion that the opposition, especially, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is responsible for the spate of violence in the country. They see the current insecurity as part of the grand plan to frustrate the second term ambition of the president. Instead of waking up to the constitutional responsibility of guaranteeing the welfare and security of the citizens, the presidency’s warped mindset has sucked logic out of their response to the abduction and other similar incidents.

After weeks of sit-in protests in Abuja, the Oby Ezekwesili-led #Bringbackourgirlsgroup resolved to take their grievances to President Jonathan in Aso Rock. The well-publicised protest was designed to hear directly from the president the government’s efforts at rescuing the girls.  The group unwittingly provided an image laundering platform for the president to address the concerns of the group and other similar campaigns all around the world. But in what has become the hallmark of this administration, the president was nowhere to be found. Not only were they not allowed access to Aso Rock, but also the aides that stood in for the president didn’t help his cause as well. Anyway, their response reflected the mindset of the president: Don’t Blame the Government for the Abduction, Take Your Campaign to Boko Haram.

While the government has failed woefully in responding strategically to the Chibokgirls abduction, the presidency can however learn valuable lessons from the event that has attracted global outrage. It’s time for the president to reorganize his strategy team and appoint competent people who would be bold enough to give him sound counsel without entertaining the fear of losing their jobs. Also, the president must be determined to turn deaf ears to those who believe people with dissenting opinions are his enemies.

• Muyiwa Akande

Lagos

Sir: The goose and the gander are indeed lucky birds.  So also are the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Boko Haram insurgents; especially so for the Boko Haram insurgents who took up arms against their fatherland, but are being considered for forgiveness of sins because the federal government thinks it is the best way to go to have peace and unity in the land.

It does not matter that innocent blood was shed by the two groups, women defiled, and misery callously distributed to innocent souls; but peace we must have at all cost.  It is only logical to conclude that though men may forgive these heinous crimes of bloodshed, the Owner of the souls that were wasted-the Almighty God- will ask for an account of them.  And if these criminals do not make amends with God, they will rot in hell.

But we must thank President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for waving this generous olive branch to the insurgents, just as his predecessor did to the Niger Delta militants a few years ago.  The ball is in the court of the Boko Haram insurgents to either accept or reject this offer.

I am not interested in the needless controversy that has been introduced into the proposition by the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Reuben Abati to the effect that the President has not granted amnesty to the insurgents as purportedly claimed by the Minister of Youth Affairs, Boni Haruna.

Here are excerpts of what President Jonathan said: “My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents, and to ensure their deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration into the broader society….”

To me, the message of the President is clear and simple: the government is ready to grant amnesty if they renounce violence, unconditionally.

At this year’s Democracy Day, Youth Development Minister, Boni Haruna, had said: “A series of integration programmes have been lined up for members of the sect who surrender their arms and embrace peace. Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the federal government, to call on members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace the government’s gesture and key into the amnesty programme.”

The minister’s position did not say that amnesty had been granted; rather, that the option was open to the insurgents to embrace. So, why has the controversy reared its head?

• Johnson Momodu

Benin City.

SIR: As Boko Haram sadly pervades our lives, all manners of views and theories abound.  And that is how it should be.  We have to allow for all shades of opinion as we try to make sense of the calamity that has been forced upon our country.  But I think that in all of this, the goals of the terrorists must not escape our minds.  One of the chief objectives of terrorist organisations is to spread panic and disharmony amongst people.  It is left for the rest of us to remain alert and to be so astute that we do not play into the hands of the terror traders.

One of the theories I find difficult to understand is the idea that the federal government is actually orchestrating all the mayhem in parts of the country; that the government is killing its citizens, slaughtering villagers and children in large numbers for some incoherent political gains.  As hard as I have looked at this school of thought, I just don’t see its merit.  It seems illogical, garbed in too much sentimentalism, and the reward to the federal government is all in the negatives.  It is not like this is an illegal military dictatorship that is going after dissenting political voices or individuals.  This is mass killing of completely innocent people.  Although, the government has got to stop obsessing about re-election and enemies at the gate so some people don’t keep questioning its motives – real or imagined.

However, there is no doubt in my mind now that there is sabotage and skulduggery from within the ranks of the security forces.  There has to be; otherwise, I don’t see how Boko Haram could remain so successful for so long.  They always seem to be at least two steps ahead of the government and always seem to find their way past curfewed and locked-down areas leisurely – driving in long convoys, singing off key and probably smoking Cuban cigars.

Another thing I am struggling with as regards the ongoing insurgency crisis is the prominence being given to video releases by the military wing leader of Boko Haram, Shekau, or whatever his name is.  I am not sure what benefits accrue to the general public from regular broadcast of these videos. Yes, those videos are important to the security forces and I’m sure that they are doing the needful by them.  However, I don’t see any benefit of showing us, the general public, the odious, hallucinatory face of this criminal.  Apart from his mug spoiling my dinner, I don’t think any other purpose is served at all.

What regular showing of those videos does is garner for the perverts cheap publicity and I think that should be denied them.  As it is with the fat boy in North Korea, that publicity and ‘notice me’ is their life blood and I think that should be cut off.  Do that and hopefully this urchin will slink back into the dross from where he emerged.  By the way, how are these videos hosted?  Which domain holds them online?

Really, I’d rather not see any more Boko Haram video and publicity stunts.  One of their more recent ones talked about swapping a number of kidnapped girls for captured Boko killers.  That just ruined my dinner even more.

Imagine that: Boko Haram wants to swap innocent, non-combatant school girls for their brethrens in various lock-downs nationwide.  My instinct of course is that the government shouldn’t even give this any serious consideration.  I mean, it will just open the floodgates to all manners of perversion and unimaginable levels of criminality in the country, wouldn’t it?  But…would this remain my position if I were a parent of one of the abducted girls?

• Michael Egbejumi-David

demdem@hotmail.co.uk