The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Nigerians must unite

    SIR: Since 1999, there has been a high level of misunderstanding among the citizens of Nigeria; misunderstanding in religion, ethnicity and region. Nigeria, once a peaceful nation during the time of our founding fathers has today become a case study in ethno-religion crisis. Gone are those days when leaders promote peace and harmonious co-existence among the citizens. Today’s leaders know nothing more than protecting their personal interest and interest of their families leaving the majority to suffer in poverty. Most worrisome is the manner with which citizens are set against themselves in order to divert their attention from the evils being perpetrated by the leaders.

    We must admit that Nigeria is not the only multi-religious country in the world; neither is she more religious than other nations in the world. Why should we allow the peaceful foundation laid by our heroes go down in vain? We need to trace that essence that saw our founding fathers through their years of struggle for independence. We have truly lost the essence of one nation.

    Let us understand that we cannot move forward in this atmosphere of chaos and disunity. We need to know that the cord that has bound us together cannot be broken. Even if we decide to break up as some individuals have suggested, there would hardly be a clear boundary that divide us into separate nations.

    Today, Nigeria is no longer what it was used to be. There is inequitable distribution of resources, the leaders are not committed to the well-being of the masses; greed and selfishness is the order of the day.  Nigeria has remained an underdeveloped country despite the fact that we are blessed with rich human and material resources that would have been harnessed for the development of all.

    Most of the problems we face today are by-product of disunity among us.  The lack of unity has paved the way for corruption to thrive and our leaders steal our patrimony day in day out while we fold our arms watching and supporting in disunity. Everything is done in Nigeria today on the basis of religion. This has cost countless lives of innocent Muslims and Christians, while many are rendered homeless.

    Until we realise the damage that lack of unity has done to our corporate existence and development, Nigeria would have a long way to go. Urgent actions should be taken to unite Nigerians to put a stop to all these problems. We must bear in mind at all times that the cord of nationhood is too strong to be broken.

    •Rahmat Lemu

    netrahmatlemu@yahoo.com

  • Time to go the extra mile on insecurity

    Sir: A lot has been said concerning the issues of Boko Haram. They have gone from fighting against Western education to destroying, killing of innocent souls, burning of houses and properties, damaging of the country’s reputation and also other activities

    that retard the country’s development.

    Is it the recent of Nyanya bombing or the abduction of college girls from their hostels which have put some of the affected families in agony of losing their children and relatives respectively?

    Still, the presidency continues to say that the country will overcome the insecurity challenges.

    My question to the presidency on the insurgency is: Who are those behind the abduction of the college girls? Where exactly are the girls being kept by their abductors? What measures are being taken by the government to locate or identify their abductors’ den?

    This is the time that all Nigerians must unite to fight the insecurity before it spreads to

    other parts of the country.

    It pains me to see our leaders exchange bitter words of recrimination while insecurity is there to tackle. We need to unite to fight the scourge together.

    Now, what is the essence of the state of emergency in those states when the problems which brought it into being still persists? It’s hard to imagine that the abductions, killings and

    burning of houses still take place despite the heavy presence of security personnel. Is it that some of the service men are complicit?

    More than anything, the entire region needs the unity of purpose to put end to the insurgency

     •Akinlolu Babatunde

    Lagos State.

  • SOS to National Conference on noise pollution

    SIR: I note with dismay, the non-inclusion of noise as one of the major environmental problems for consideration at the on-going National Conference. The issue and problem of noise ought to be spelt out to be understood and discussed by the delegates. There is need to ensure that the provision is made to handle noise issues as stipulated in the relevant laws of the country.

    The NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (ESTABLISHMENT) ACT, 2007 section (part) v: subsection 22 states that the agency, in consultation with appropriate authorities, shall:

    (a) Identify major noise sources, noise criteria and noise control technology; and (b) make regulations on noise, emission, control, abatement, as may be necessary to preserve and maintain public health and welfare. (2) The Agency shall enforce compliance with existing regulations and recommend programmes to control noise originating from industrial, commercial, domestic, sports, recreational, transportation or other similar activities.

    (3) A person who violates the Regulations made pursuant to sub-section (1) of this section commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding N50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment and an additional fine of N5,000 for every day the offence subsists.

    (4) Where an offence under subsection (3) of this section is committed by a body corporate, it shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding N500,000 and an additional fine of N10,000 for every day the offence subsists

    These have not been implemented over the years hence noise levels have continued to increase in the nation. Nigeria, and in fact, most African nations apart from South Africa and Egypt, have continued to gloss over the issue of noise as it is viewed more as a natural phenomenon that must be endured.

    Creating awareness of the negative effects of increasing noise levels in our society today would definitely help us appreciate noise, not only as a nuisance, but also a destroyer. Increasing noise levels have led to more cases of hearing impairment even among the youth. Today, health problems like high blood pressure have become rampant and only few people have paused to ask why it is so. Curbing noise will settle many health issues that our health sector is not even equipped to handle.

    Many problems Nigeria is facing are preventable and noise is a central factor in these problems. It is hoped that the national conference will heed this call so that noise issues can be tackled alongside other national problems.

    • Joy Oluchi Uguru

    President, Acoustical Society of Nigeria (ASON)

    Lagos

  • De-listing of LGs: Whose interest?

    SIR: Nigeria runs a convoluted federal system of government. Obviously, one of the impediments of this current convoluted governance structure is the over concentration of powers, enormous responsibilities and resources of the state at the centre. The sharing formula for revenues accruing to the nation bears eloquent testimony to this by allocating 56% to the centre, 24% for states and 20% to Local Government Councils. For a long while this lopsided arrangement has given impetus to the demand for devolution of powers.

    The ongoing National Conference came at the right time to objectively tackle the issue and remedy the situation. However, to the consternation of all, the Political Restructuring Committee of the conference penultimate week veered off the track by inconceivably suggesting the de-listing of Local Government Administration entirely from the constitution of Nigeria. Ultimately the suggestion if implemented will annihilate the only reason why Nigerians thought government exists in the rural areas in the first place. This wrongly mooted idea should not be allowed to find its way into the recommendations of the National Conference, pronto!

    Surely, the impact of Local government administration has not been felt in majority of the states in Nigeria since 2003 when the aberration called joint states and local government account was created. This contraption gave state governments the unfettered, undeserved leverage to blatantly divert allocations meant for local government councils to other non-appropriated interests.

    Over the years states and local government councils have become paupers or mere appendages of the almighty federal government only to fail woefully in meeting the aspirations of their people. In the same vein, states have wittingly reduced the local government administration to a mere government house department which can only function at the whims of the executive governor. In some states, local government elections are yet to be held in more than seven years. Governors now determine which projects to execute or not in local governments they neither know well nor even visit in their four-year tenure.

    Section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended granted the states this undeserved cover. The section affirms that “the system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.

    Local government administration under the 1999 constitution is very confusing as that of 1979. Both constitution guarantees the existence of a democratically elected local government system; they however gave states the responsibility to handle issues of organisation and structure. The constitutional confusion and complexity led to a prolonged disagreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Lagos State Government over the creation of local governments between1999-2007. The issues in contention are yet to be fully resolved and these are negatively affecting the development of local government administration. What is the way out?

    Local governments can do better if they are well funded. The role of the third tier of government should be well defined and all the legal and constitutional obstacles hampering its performance should be removed. An urgent legal interpretation of the Joint State and Local government account is paramount. The local government will never perform if its duties are usurped by men in the city and proxies who know little or nothing about the winding roads leading to the rural areas.

    De-listing of local government administration from the constitution will further exacerbate the suffering of majority of Nigerian in the rural areas and deny them the little dividends of democracy they presently enjoy.

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze

    Samaru, Zaria

  • Kudos, LAUTECH Vice Chancellor

    Kudos, LAUTECH Vice Chancellor

    SIR: Few months ago, an appeal was made to the Vice Chancellor, LAUTECH, Professor Adeniyi Sulaimon Gbadegesin, over the ill treatment meted to some students in the university. Specific mention was made of the Faculty of Earth Sciences. The appeal was published by many national dailies. Mention was also made of a student, Adebayo Isaac O, who was in the Department of Geology. As at the time, he had spent up to 10 years in the University for No Just Cause than victimization and wickedness on the part of some lecturers.
    To the glory of God, effectiveness, efficiency and magnanimity of the Vice Chancellor, a committee was set up to look into the case and the case was resolved promptly. In a nutshell, that student graduated on Thursday April 24.
    This is therefore to intimate those who read about the appeal in the dailies that the problem had been resolved. Second is to thank Prof. Gbadegesin and implore him not to relent in his reformation of LAUTECH. Town is aware of the unprecedented house cleaning ongoing since his arrival as the institution, it is highly imperative. As a matter of fact, thanking him becomes imperatives because he is not the first V.C that the appeal was made over the issue of Isaac Adebayo and the hell of the students in Earth Sciences were passing through with little or no efforts to look into the issue.
    The V.C. is advised to direct his attention more on academic sector of LAUTECH. This because the case of Isaac Adebayo was just a tip of the iceberg of students being victimized or wronged with no just cause but because they had no means to voice out their future just long in the balance and rotten away on the campus.
    • Adewuyi Adegbite
    Apake, Ogbomoso.

  • Boko Haram: Time for a different approach

    SIR: A lot has been said and done about the activities of the Boko Haram in the past but the menace continues unabated. The truth is that the issue has not been handled rightly. Several tactics have been employed and each has been matched with devastating consequences and more calamities. What this means is that the most viable option has not been embraced. Another troubling aspect is that our leaders and people have tended to look at the grave problem from wrong perspectives. That is, we have narrowed the menace to ethnic, political and religious perspectives. The leaders and the people are shying away from the main issue which is the fact that the perpetrators are aggrieved and disgruntled by the socio/political and economic situation in the country.

    With all due respect to our religious leaders, traditional rulers, politicians inside and outside government, academia, captains of industries and well meaning Nigerians, the fact remains that we have not really done much to support the government of the day in resolving this problem. While religious leaders are trading blames and castigating one particular religion or belief for being the architects of the menace, politicians are accusing one another of being the sponsors of the sect. Some captains of industries are keeping mum because the activities of the sect are prominent in areas where their industries are not located. Traditional rulers in some parts of the country are also not coming forth with viable ways of resolving the problem because it is not happening in their domains.

    Majority of the people are also trivializing the issue because it does not affect members of their immediate families.

    It is only in this country that we talk of East, West, South and Northern parts of Nigeria. Outside, they see us as Nigerians and no one part of the country can isolate itself from the others.

    The most painful aspect of the scenario is that Nigerians are easily carried away by worthless endeavours. Or how best can we describe a situation where taxpayers’ money is spent on the ongoing Constitutional Conference in the face of insecurity?

    I had expected the delegates to foreclose every other discussion and concentrate on the state of insecurity in the country. What is the essence of creating more states and resolving the issue of resources control or allocation when the roof top is on fire? The people that are supposed to enjoy the outcome of the so-called conference are presently under siege. If at all they get all other things right, how would it positively impact on the lives of the people that are living in fear? People whose lives and properties are not secured?

    Presently, the politicians are gearing up for the forthcoming elections because, they are not really bothered or concerned about the pains the families of those that have been killed or maimed by the activities of members of the sect are going through. What they are saying indirectly is that even if millions of Nigerians are killed today, there will still be millions of people that will participate in future elections.

    The United States has spent millions of Dollars in the search for the missing Malaysian Plane because of three or four Americans that were on board. That is how a government shows responsiveness and commitment to the plight of citizens.

    Just recently, over 200 girls were abducted by members of Boko Haram sect. Though some escaped by divine intervention, others are still in captivity. What else do you want to hear or be told about the capability of members of the sect? They have proven beyond reasonable doubt that they are fully on ground. The best thing to do at this point in time is to call for peaceful resolution of the matter. The government should be sincere and show commitment to true reconciliation by appealing to members of the sect to sheath their sword and be prepared for true reconciliation through dialogue and negotiations.

     

    • Raymond Oise-Oghaede

    Lagos

  • The real problem with Nigeria

    SIR: When I first started writing some years back, some of my write-ups used to catch your attention and this motivated me to write more. These days, the reverse is the case leaving me to wonder on the criteria used to choose the opinions featured in your newspaper. This is after writing series of articles on security, economy, education, and governance to mention but few without getting published. My impression these days is that you concentrate on issues that have to do with politics not minding its benefits or impacts on the society. Of course, this is done at the expense of the beautiful write-up on other subjects that can as well do the nation good.
    A case in point is a letter written in March 11, tagged “Transforming Nigeria to Paradise.” In the letter, I made a comparison of Nigeria’s aesthetic values with that of United Kingdom. Inference was drawn that the bane of Nigeria poor environment was bad leadership and poor follower-ship. No good planning, no continuity; no prudent management; no accountability and no fear of God.
    The Europeans are not wasteful as we do here. Houses built in the 18th century are still there competing favourably with the modern ones. This explains why they have enough to take care of infrastructure like roads, water, electricity and other social amenities. Historically speaking, Nigeria must have caught a fine figure of developing nation in 70s. What led to her unfortunate and deplorable current status? Leadership. Imagine a situation when a leader looses focus or direction of his/her leadership!
    Our leaders pursue national goals with less intensity and zero perseverance as a result of unnecessary and egoistic distractions.
    As if that is not enough, the followers lack the capacity and reliable system of checkmating them. Instead, they applaud their mediocrities, inefficiencies and corruptions by rolling out drums, trumpets and bells to welcome them at the expiration of their corruptive tenures. In some cases, they confer them with costly titles. Worst still, at election time, they fall prey to them, gullibly and naively voting them into office, for second and even third term! What rubbish?
    Now that the 2015 general elections are fast approaching, it is high time the electorate realize that they are the employers of their leaders. This means they can hire and fire them at the poll, most especially those that failed to perform or perceived to have failed to deliver. We the electorates should stop trading away our votes on the altar of religion or ethnic sentiments. Let us start the appraisal and evaluation work on the performances of our leaders and this step will guide us in making sound judgement on who or how to vote in the next coming general election, for a better nation.
    • Ipadeola J. Adebayo,
    Ibadan

  • Open Letter to President Jonathan

    SIR: Early 2006, I wrote President Olusegun Obasanjo, pleading he starts work on the dream Great Nigeria. Past Nigerian leaders dreamed of Great Nigeria too but unless a dream is interpreted and implemented, it remains a dream or mere illusion. The Great Nigeria dream has not been interpreted or implemented. But it is no fantasy. It happens that no Joseph has stepped out to give clues.
    Sir, I am not a preacher or the son of a prophet but I know for sure that Nigeria’s greatness is of God. Nigeria has everything she needs to be great.  If she fails to answer her calling, just too bad! Any man or nation that heaven blesses highly must not toy with it. Nigeria’s greatest assets are human, not oil. If the core assets are not well managed, they will turn disasters; walking bombs… just beginning to show.
    Greatness is never accidental. Great nations give the world something great and none became great with imitating others. Nigeria’s greatness was given. The black race has not given the world one great nation. It lies with Nigeria. One great man does not make a nation great. Nelson Mandela was a great man as also Alexander the Great, but they did not make their countries great.
    Mr. President, it is impossible to fix Nigeria without knowing her. Nigeria’s past leaders failed because they did not know Nigeria. Did they sense the significance of the Rivers Niger and Benue, they would have joined hands and success would have smiled on them and the nation.
    Sir, mass poverty, corruption are avoidable; curable diseases that Nigeria can fix in 15 years. If she cannot wipe mosquitoes in six years, then what hope with armed gangs? Surely Nigeria will do a dozen great things over the next 10 years.
    Apartheid, greed, corruption, deceit, conceit, mass unemployment, disunity, poverty, wickedness, diseases, indolence, insecurity and impunity have joined forces to scorn Nigeria. Mr. President and all Nigerians are dared to fight or submit. Sir, will Nigeria fight or submit?
    Apartheid rules Nigeria. Democracy cannot hand three percent of a nation 75 percent of her wealth. Let’s face it: Neither the National Assembly nor the National Conference is the problem or solution to Nigeria’s woes. The Presidency– leadership – is!
    Recall Sir; the fanfare with which the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) was launched in 2003. States had their version (SEEDS) as also the local governments.
    The Presidency, the National Economic Council, the Economic Management Team, National Council on Development Planning, the Joint Planning Board, the Council of Elders, Ministers, past Secretaries to the Government, Permanent Secretaries, the Economic Summit Group, NECA, MAN, Labour, Civil Society and a 35-member Drafting Committee joined hands. The government promised NEEDS would reorient national values, reduce poverty, create wealth and generate jobs. Ten years later, NEEDS is history. No one takes responsibility; no remorse!
    Every great nation gave the world something great. Greece gave democracy, the Olympiads. Egypt gave the pyramids, astrology. China, India, Israel, Italy, Great Britain, Russia, Germany each gave something great.
    France reinvented democracy to overtake Greece. America did same and overtook Europe. Nigeria must reinvent democracy to enter the road to her destiny. And the time is NOW.
    Mr. President, I beseech you in the name of God Almighty: Please start work now on the dream Great Nigeria. We have wasted years at high costs: despair, avoidable pains and deaths. Nigeria is at the crossroads. More delays, one false step and the costs would be one too much.

    • Anokwuru Richard Anyamele.
    Lagos

  • Tears for the abducted girls

    SIR: I can’t imagine how life would have been for the abducted teenage girls. Everyday, countless thoughts skip through my heart. Sometimes I feel pain inside me. Why do we have to be citizens in a country where poor ones are helpless? This is a country where not much value is attached to human lives.  Sometimes, tears roll down my cheeks in fears and hopelessness.
    Sometimes I ask rhetorically – had it been these girls are my biological sisters, surely, I know that my house would have been flooded with tears now; tears of grieve, pain and sorrow. I am worried day and night because of the fact that no one knows the conditions in which these girls are right now. These heartless terrorists might have turned them to sex objects or subjected them to hard labour. No one can vividly confirm if they are even alive.
    The most painful thing is the lackadaisical attitude of the federal government in handling the situation. It is not an ideal to continue to exchange words with the governors of these affected states as the federal government has been doing. The governors might have been frustrated too with way and manner innocent lives are being lost in their states. This is a critical issue that ought to have been handled with all seriousness. I am always amazed at how successful these terrorists have been able to carry out the attacks in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states without serious challenge from the security agencies.
    Isn’t this a testimony that some of our leaders have a hand in these acts? We must wake to reality that we need a change in the style of governance in this country. We must not continue to live like this.
    I always wonder how heavy the hearts of the mothers of these girls might be. But despite all these delays, I still hope that the Nigerian Army would be able to bring these girls back to their families alive. The most unfortunate thing which I don’t pray to happen to them is the loss of their innocence in the hands of these lions in human skins. I pray for the safety and release of these sisters as soon as possible.
    • Safiya Abdulganiyu,
    IBB University, Lapai-Niger State

  • More action needed to tackle insurgency

    SIR: The year 2014 is set to be the bloodiest ever since the end of Nigerian civil war. The country faces daunting security challenges amidst enormous economic problems. From Borno to Yobe, Adamawa to Bauchi and Kano to the Federal Capital Territory, it has been a harvest of deaths by Boko Haram insurgents. Also from Benue to Taraba, Plateau to Nasarawa, Kaduna to Zamfara, Fulani herdsmen have continued to cut down many innocent lives particularly farmers most of whom have now abandoned their farms for safety.
    These are no easy times for the government and people of Nigeria. Even though the government and the security agencies have not been keeping quiet,  yet the twin agents of death continue their repulsive style of audacious attack on defenceless Nigerians.
    The federal government needs to do more than it is presently doing in its management of the security situation in the country. In as much as it is true that terrorism is becoming a global challenge, there is need for the government to demonstrate more decisiveness in its handling of the Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen’s insurgency.
    This is the time for the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to suspend all its campaign activities and rise up to the occasion by taking proactive measures that would outsmart the agents of death. We have had enough of bloodletting in the country. The porous borders in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa among others must be tackled to stem the influx of terrorist into the country.
    It should, however be emphasised that an effective public security cannot be obtained without the active involvement, participation and support of every segments of the society because security is the responsibility of all individuals, groups, communities, organizations and other units that constitute the society.
    • John Akevi,
    Gboko, Benue State.