The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • That Akiolu’s statement

    SIR: Through the Oba of Lagos, Akiolu has spoken, the race has not  ended. It has just begun. I have followed the reactions of  many Lagosians to  Oba Akiolu’s open endorsement of  Akin Ambode for the Governorship of Lagos. The alacrity and  suddenness of his endorsement shocked many people. Many have criticized him for such brazenness and others are already plotting how to deal with him. There are also insinuations in many quarters that he is on an errand sort of. That there is a hand of Essau and the voice of Jacob, sorry, the voice of Akiolu. Again, Bola Tinubu is being fingered to be behind the message so brazenly delivered.

    I however beg to differ.

    Those that share this position do not know him well enough. If they do, they will know that he holds his cards close to his chest. A political generalissimo, he never pulls the chestnut out of the fire until the last moment. He distracts to surprise. He waits to pounce. He hibernates to be able to spring a  surprise. Such are his ways. He weighs every option carefully and never plays his hand too soon because he knows that will give his detractors enough time and ammunition to attack.  For him, the surprise element is an asset as risky as it may be. But later on Tinubu and his political abracadabra.

    Back to Oba Akiolu’s endorsement. Here is my take. We are in a democratic setting. Lagosians have become more politically savvy but that should not deny any one the right to exercise his freedom of speech. Akiolu has expressed an opinion that is well within his right to express. He may have done it in an unexpected manner with the timing suspect, but there is no denying him the right to do so. All this talk about Obas not being involved with politics is hogwash. All Obas are leg and neck deep in politics. Politicians seek and court their support for electoral victory and to solve problems.  Akiolu’s idea about the man that is good for Lagos will be tested come February 2015. Lagosians will choose who will be the next governor and not Akiolu. He has had his say. The people will have their way.

    We must give Akiolu a pass. Lagos has become a country within a country. It is the biggest prize after the centre. It is attractive. AKiolu;s love for Lagos must have driven him to want the best qualified man for Lagos, even though what he announced publicly ought to have been left for the privacy of his palace. There is no faulting his love for Lagos.

    The APC will still hold primaries and I urge all that come from within the zone to see Akiolus’s statement as a challenge. They must come out and compete and not close shop. If they simply close shop because of what Akiolu said, then that means in the first place, they lacked the courage and temerity to contest and to govern Lagos. Against all odds, let’s have all of them at the track and at the starting point. The months ahead will be interesting. These permutations will change. New alignments will emerge. Even Oba Akiolu’s feet which now seems set in wet cement may soon soften. Akin Ambode now the front runner has his job cut out. He will soon realize that an Akiolu endorsement will not be enough for him to get the trophy. The lion of Bourdillon has only hummed and not said a word. It’s amazing how people attribute so much to him and also swear by what they do not know. His silence right now should worry the contenders while it should give we the voters hope. The APC owes Lagos and the country transparent primaries in Lagos to set the tone for other countries.

    While the dust of Akiolu’s state

  • Let Patience Jonathan be!

    SIR: Since First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan’s emotional outburst over the missing girls, Nigerians have been busy posting, downloading and sharing the video, and sniggering all the way. There are even T-Shirts with “There is God o!”.

    I can understand a nation trying a comic relief to ease tension of the dire security situation in the country, but in constantly making fun of the First Lady it exposes a moral depravity that seems to be creeping into Nigerians.

    But are these not the same Nigerians who are united in grief, and who  want the Jonathan government to bring back the missing girls? Now, the First Lady is doing her own little part in this mission, and people are  turning her to an object of ridicule.

    We make “informed” choices during election campaigns, and then vote, then turn round to ridicule that choice. Who are we fooling? A nation of “literates” that vote in the “illiterate” to lead them, a nation of “wise” people who vote in “foolish” people, a nation of “smart” people who vote those who they are “smarter” than, a nation of “good” people who vote in “bad” people. We reap what we sow. And today, the tail is wagging the dog.

    But Dame Jonathan is not new to us. Don’t we already know her and her capabilities? Did we not give her that chance again when we gave our mandate to her husband?

    Jonathan may not have a polished accent, or a good diction, she may not be sophisticated but she remains our First Lady. God can elevate anybody. He does not look at intellect, He does not look at grammar. Whether you are a professor of English, or literature, a writer, an author or even a laureate of anything, God has placed Dame Jonathan above you.

    I myself may not like the First Lady’s style, but I accept her humanity, and its failings, just like everyone else’s. Her love for the nation is not in doubt and her motherliness transcends. We would not act this way to our wife, mother or sister. We should not do it then to our own First Lady.

    As a people, we should even hide her mistakes instead of exposing it to the world. What would our foreign friends think of us? Our action to Mrs Jonathan is disrespectful, reprehensible and diminishes us as a nation.

    This caricature must stop, henceforth! Let Mrs Jonathan be! We should instead continue to pray for the missing girls so that they come back to their families alive. There is too much at stake for Nigerians to worry about than to get distracted by inanities!

    • Dr Cosmas Odoemena,

    Lagos

  • Kaduna: Provide alternative before Okada ban

    SIR: Among the numerous reasons why government exists is to provide security, healthcare, education and job opportunities to its citizenry. Government as well makes favourable laws for the overall benefit and the wellbeing of its people. The lack of these good laws or inabilities of government to meet these obligations has in some glaring instances pitched the people against the authorities on laws viewed to be antithetical to the feelings and well-being of the masses. The executive bill titled “Kaduna State Commercial Motorcycles Prohibition Law”, which replaced the Commercial Motorcycle Law No. 4 of 1999 and the Road Traffic Law Cap 135 of Kaduna State 1991 and assented to May 6; by Governor Muktar Ramalan Yero was a good pill wrongly prescribed.

    The ban which takes effect on May 21, affects the entire Kaduna North and Kaduna South; Kafanchan Metropolis in Jema’a Local government only, parts of Zaria township, parts of Chikun Local Government, Sabon Gari, Lere, Birnin Gwari, Giwa and Igabi Local Government Areas. Contravention attracts aN10,000 fine, or three  months imprisonment or both and also empowers all magistrate courts in the affected local government areas to prosecute violators of the law, including confiscation of their motorcycles.

    The reasons proffered by government for the ban was built on two standpoints: First was that the ban was aimed at reinforcing security in the state while the second was predicated on the influx of commercial motorcycles into the state following a similar ban on their operations in some neighbouring states.

    By banning the use of motor cycles, the government has placed the cart before the horse. One cannot see any concrete immediate alternative and visible palliatives in place to cushion the effect which the ban will create. For instance, are there available Tricycles for about 100,000 commercial motor cycle operators to cash in on?

    Democracy is defined as government of the people, by the people and for the people. Suffice it to say that every decision and policies of government must carry the imprimatur of the people to make it valid. Were the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) and other stakeholders taken into confidence in the making of the law? Apart from government statement brandishing the legal instrument to whip people into the line, what other forms of consultations has government carried out?

    The imminent suffering before the provision of alternative cannot be quantified. Has government considered how much man-hours will be lost while people wait for means of transportation to their offices and businesses before succor finally comes?

    We should learn from the bad experiences of other states and avoid the bobby traps they had fallen into in the hasty ban of motor cycles. Kaduna deserves peace and has been peaceful despite intentional provocation by demonic rabble rousers who are bent on fomenting trouble. However, government whose duty it is to provide security should not stoke anger, trouble or both either by its inactions.

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze

    PHCN Samaru Business Unit, Zaria.

  • Chibok: As we say Never Again!

    SIR: The abduction of about 200 Government Girls Secondary School students last month by the Boko Haram insurgents has shown that our problem is not in religion, nor in ethnic leaning but on the leadership and management of this country. There is no part, religious group in this country that is not praying, wishing the return of these young girls to their family members. Many persons, groups, within and outside Nigeria have shown deep concern, organized protests demanding from the Nigerian government and their home countries to do more in the rescue of these little children. Nigerians, the world are worried, disturbed at what could be happening to these girls in the thick forest of Sambisa?

    Nigerians are very loving, caring and kindhearted people, we are ever patriotic and loyal to Nigeria but our leaders are the biggest problem we have. It was late Chinua Achebe, who put it very succinctly that, ‘the trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.’ Sometimes, I wonder what, why it is so difficult for our leaders to fix Nigeria. Many have submitted that corruption is the canker worm destroying the fabric called Nigeria while the government would deny such. But, a close look would reveal that truly corruption is it. With all the available resources to the security agencies since 1999 till date, the trainings and re-trainings, equipments requested for, bought and made available, array of senior officers, we still have not tamed the Boko Haram militants. Certainly, government is made up of human beings, Nigerians from all nooks and crannies are likely to be aware of the problems bedeviling their communities. One then ponders why our elected representatives would continue to provide us with borehole water and be advertising it as an achievement or dividend of good governance in this 21st century. In this country, those we elected into government office will buy wrapper, ram, and rice, ground-nut oil to share amongst citizens and claim they are performing wonderfully in government.

    The government must use this Chibok girls abduction as an eye opener. It has come to the point our leaders must be firm and resolute in pursuing the transformation of Nigeria. We need to learn from the Singapore experience, leaders who are patriotic and loyal to Nigeria would be dedicated at its genuine transformation. Our institutions must be allowed to get stronger than individuals for optimum result. Virtually no institution in Nigeria works with its rules and regulations except the few individuals in power at the centre and in the states give orders which in most cases runs contrary to laid down principles.

    Our leaders can really re-build Nigeria the moment they attach seriousness to governance, remove corrupt tendencies and persons.

    We must say it loud and clear, there is a great lapse on our security at the moment, not because we do not have the men, cannot acquire the facilities to aid our security but, because misappropriation of funds and corruption has made nonsense of its leadership. It is time we de-politicize our police and military to allow them work professionally, no country survives any external aggression while politicizing its security. The world is watching and is interested in seeing how we manage this security crisis at our hands. Yes, we want the girls back and alive but, the process at getting them back, how we curb the often attacks by the insurgents appears very important also.

    • Uzodinma Nwaogbe

    Community Defence Law Foundation, Ikeja, Lagos.

     

  • Industrialising Ogun State

    As Ogun State prepares to host its second Investors Forum between 21st and 22nd May, 2014, I believe so strongly that there is need to give the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration a pat on the back for the manner it is going about fulfilling its avowed electoral promise of industrialisation and employment generation for residents.

    The watchword of the state government is a picture of the fact that, ‘if you keep doing things the same way, you will keep getting the same result.’

    Hence, its approach to governance in the last three years has brought about several laurels and awards both locally and internationally, including the fastest growing economy in Nigeria, the architect of the new Ogun as well as consecutively adjudged the most secured state in the country.

    The provision of security of lives and properties, which is a duty of government, is paramount in changing the economic face of a state or nation.

    Even President Goodluck Jonathan last year referred to Governor Ibikunle Amosun as ‘a hardworing governor’ at the inauguration of a mega company. He also once said Ogun is the only place he had visited most, not for fun fare, but for inauguration of multi-national companies.

    Speaking at the opening of the United States’ largest investment in Nigeria, Procter and Gamble, located at Agbara, Ogun State, which is expected to provide 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, President Jonathan affirmed that ‘Ogun is the most industrialised state in Nigeria.’

    It is pleasant to note that this was the 43rd mega company to arrive the Gateway State in less than three years. So, I’m not surprised that the up and doing Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Abimbola Ashiru, also pointed out that nineteen more companies had concluded arrangements to start business in the state this year.

    It is no news that the current administration at inception held an investors’ forum to attract investors as well as breakfast meeting with investors with the governor in attendance and captains of industry while a routine visit to various companies across the state as a way of sustaining the good rapports is on-going.

    This year’s edition, as stated by the government, would be an avenue to showcase the comparative advantage the Gateway State has over others in Agriculture.

    It is no news that Ogun is the highest producer of cassava in the country aside the fact that its soil is one of the best for cocoa, cotton, rubber and several other cash crops.

    Investors from several parts of the country and beyond would converge on Abeokuta, the state capital, see the opportunities that abound in doing agricultural business in the Gateway State.

    As a way of encouraging corporate organisations and individuals to keep up the tempo, a few days ago, the state government honoured faithful tax payers at both corporate and individual levels and assured that it will not relent in using taxes judiciously on laudable projects.

    Apart from creating a secure, enabling environment for business to thrive, “the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration has aggressively transformed the ancient Gateway State from the 19th Century to 21st Century.’’ These were the words of Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo during the opening of the state’s first flyover on 24th January, 2014.

    Today, flyover is no longer strange to us in Ogun. It has now berthed in Sagamu, Ijebu Ode Expressway, Ijebu-Ode town, Sapon and Itoku areas of Abeokuta while three are also being constructed on the 32km Sango-Akute-Ojodu road under construction. Road construction projects are also on-going in Ayetoro town, 107km Ilara-Ijoun-Oja/Odan-Tombolo, as well as Ilisan/Ago-Iwoye Road, Mowe-Ofada road, Magboro Road, Channels Television Road, among others.

    These, no doubt, are strange feats to the state which used to be at the centre of uproar and crisis. However, unemployment is one of the major problems bedevilling the Nigerian nation. And one lasting dividend of democracy that could be given to the man on the street is job opportunity.

    Unfortunately, our practice in Nigeria is more of giving the masses fish to eat rather than teach them fishing. An idle man, they say, is the devil’s workshop.

    The Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in The Report Nigeria 2013, Page 43, a publication of Oxford Business Group, pointed out that, ‘unemployment is at 23.9% with youth unemployment at around 37%. In the north-east of the country, where Boko Haram thrives, unemployment is worse, reaching 35% in Yobe and Adamawa.’

    If concerted efforts are in place at all levels of government to engage people in productive service, our country would in no distant time become a ‘Mecca’ for all to visit.

     

    Femi Onasanya

    Abeokuta, Ogun State

  • Still on the Chibok girls’ list

    I went through the papers and the interview granted to Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye struck me.

    I saw in the papers that the principal said the data of the students were destroyed by the sect. I want to remind the principal as well as the entire globe certain cogent points.

    I registered WAEC 2014 for my school and I will like the principal to remember that the validation list of all the candidates registered for this year’s WAEC examination is still currently on the website of WAEC. All the school needs to do is contact the exam officer who registered to print out the validation list.

    WAEC started her off-line registration this year – software was used without the internet that stored all students’ data usually installed on a system to prevent errors. The list can be got from that offline CD too.

    More so, all schools have submitted the duplicate of the photo album to the WAEC office nearest to them. The school can contact WAEC for the photo album

    Furthermore, Tuesday 13th, May is CRS and some exams are still on, we can get the names in batches.

    Getting these names published will help us know those we are looking for and furthermore show the sincerity of the Nigerian government. Every well-meaning Nigeria wants these girls back.

    This politics is getting out of hand; the principal must do as his conscience leads.

     

    Oni, Afolabi Ajibola

    English Language/Literature Teacher

    Debiruss College, Lekki-Epe Express Way.

  • Ogun’s amazing strides

    SIR: I visited Ogun State during the Easter period. I was in Abeokuta, Mowe and Otta.

    Sincerely, I have always prayed that Ogun State should benefit from its proximity to Lagos State and improve its infrastructure and quality of life, though in my mind, I don’t see how similar level of infrastructure can be developed. There is so much disparity in the income and income capacity of Ogun compared to Lagos State.

    To my astonishment, I saw an Ogun State with road infrastructure development and standard comparable, if not exceeding that of  Lagos State in all the three towns I visited.

    I am short of words and can only pray that Allah (SWT) continues to help and guide the Governor and his administration to achieve more.

    If we can continue like Ogun in all the states of Nigeria, then we have hope, which, most of our generation have since concluded is lost.

    • Saheed Lasisi

    Abuja

  • Re: First woman party chairman in Nigeria

    SIR: I write in response to a news item in The Nation Friday, May 2, on page 58, entitled: ‘APC gets first woman state chairperson’. In the said report,the newly elected chairperson of APC in

    Adamawa State, Ms. Binta Masi Garba had stated that: ‘as the first woman chairman in the country, gender to me means nothing because I have the experience and ability to take our party to the promised land through justice, equity and team work’.

    I am more interested on the chunk dealing with: ‘…the first woman chairman in the country’.

    Perhaps,on the strength of this claim, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar in a congratulatory message described her election as ‘historic and exemplary’.

    For the records, the late Chief Mrs.Susan Adagba, spouse to the late gynecological icon, Senator Joshua Adagba was the Benue State Chairperson of the National Republican

    Convention(NRC) in 1991. Given this fact, therefore, it is not true that Ms. Binta Masi Garba is the first woman chairperson of a political party in Nigeria. Just for the records, please.

    Congratulations Madam on your well deserved election.

    • Atah Pine

    Makurdi,  Benue State

  • Chibok: Fears over foreign intervention

    SIR: For how long will Nigerians depend on foreign intervention for protection of lives and properties?

    The manner to which the government of Nigeria is approaching the issues of insecurity,  especially the abduction of over 200 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno on April 14, by the Islamic Boko Haram sect, show sign of weakness. It is obvious that the state of emergency in Borno State and other states are good as useless. It is indeed worrisome that despite the security beef-up in the state, the insurgents still attack innocent citizens. The abduction of the girls depicts security lapses in the part of the soldiers deployed to the state to maintain security.

    Nigerians have to be very careful about international intervention. If you look at Afghanistan and Pakistan, with American drones killing innocent people in their search for Al Qaeda targets, you will understand why international intervention, especially by any foreign power is not advisable  for Nigeria at this crucial time.

    Nigerian government should intensify efforts to ensure that the innocent Nigerians held hostage at Sambisa forest are rescued without harm or injuries. I strongly believe that the Nigerian security forces have the nerves to rescue the abducted girls. In furtherance of the goal of combating and putting to rest the issue of insurgency, the government of Nigeria must work to secure its border with Cameroon to arrest the influx of terrorists into Nigeria. The money allocated to ministry of defence, should be used judiciously, instead of some unscrupulous group of people diverting it into their personal accounts.

    It is high time President Jonathan woke up from his slumber and take holistic action to end the menace. Those selfish  leaders who are quiet now, thinking insurgency is the problem of the poor and average Nigerians, should not forget the law of Karma: what goes around comes around.

    •Nwanyim Jideofor Moses

    IBB University,  Lapai  Niger State    

  • Roadmap to no electricity

    SIR: Give Nigerians steady electricity first, and everything else shall follow.  Many people were very jubilant that the days of epileptic power supply were over.  The onset of President Jonathan’s roadmap to electricity supply caused Nigerians to enjoy a sweet change to having full current and almost uninterrupted power.  Electric generator dealers were beginning to mourn the end of their business.  Surprisingly, the shrewd ones were not shaking; instead they stored more generators in their warehouses.  They were sure that their colleagues were panicking to a premature autopsy.  And today, they are smiling to the bank because they have sold out their stock and are importing more.

    What secret do they have?  They know the beast they are dealing with.  Nigerian government is so mired in decadence; it will take a messiah to bring electricity at every turn of the switch.  Politicians will say and do anything to give the populace the conjecture that they mean well for the country.  Meanwhile, they only want to tease dejected minds in order to create an avenue to drain the national treasury.  Think about how many billions of dollars, no one talks in naira when it comes to the posh project, which has been sunk into the abyss to revive the dinosaur known by different names with the objective to achieve steady power supply.

    Presently, many communities must agree that the euphoria is over and the nightmare has returned.  The government finally celebrated the privatization of the power sector, a laudable accomplishment by international standard.  Unfortunately for Nigerians, that ushers in the beginning of electricity sharing or total blackout.  The town of Umuoji in Anambra State, for example, was told by officials of the private company, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) that one of their two main transformers broke down about October, 2013.  Since, they chose to ration power every two days for the two sections of the town with the remaining transformer.  Of late, they said that the active transformer broke down also and now the entire town is in a state of blanketed darkness.  Barbers, welders, tailors and the general public are suffering to maintain a modern living.

    The buzz word by the government is patience.  They said it will take time to re-construct the dilapidated electricity infrastructure.  But they do not have the goodwill.  The people have for long lost any trace of trust. The abuse and corruption in the electricity reform has made the citizenry apathetical.  The government is vowing that it will replicate the success of the telecommunication industry which started lethargically after privatization.

    Nigeria is losing out.  The president cannot boast to Western dignitaries that he is leading a civilized country when the society is running on power generators.  One hopes there is a time in a man’s life when he looks into his soul and sees the folly of his decisions.  If by 2015 election there is no conviction in actualizing President Jonathan’s roadmap to power supply, he will be stomping on frayed nerves of the electorates during his campaign.

     

    •Pius Okaneme,

    Umuoji, Anambra State.