The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Sapele roads need urgent expansion

    SIR: Sapele is among the early town and cities in Nigeria. It was in fact one of the preferred destinations of the early Europeans who either came to do business or live in Nigeria. The town was famous for its rich timber reserve, a potential which was critical to the establishment of the African Timber and Plywood, ATP in its territory, the second largest timber and plywood industry in Sub Saharan Africa.

    Ironically after many years of unfettered economic growth and prosperity Sapele however became one of the unfortunate victims of long years of military rule, as the economic fortunes of the town took a nose-dive in the 1980s. This was as most of the blue chips company in the area which included AT&P, the major labour employer in the town closed shop. Leading international brands like Kingsway, Kaycee, Singer, Bata, Lenard’s etc, also followed suit. This was accompanied by the closure and conversion of the Sapele Seaport into a naval academy.

    With the departure of these leading business concerns and coupled with the closure and conversion of the Sapele Sea Port to naval academy the town became a shadow of its old self.

    It was only until recently, perhaps since the return of democratic governance (1999) that things started looking up for the town. To cut a long story short, the last few years has seen Sapele gradually returning back to it glory days, as there have been an upswing of business activities in the town, a fact that can be identified in the town’s fast growing hospitality industry, prominent presence of most financial institutions in the country in the town, eye popping shopping malls, the sprouting up of eateries and leisure centres etc. Business and commercial activities in the town has also been significantly boosted by the entrant of Seplat Petroleum Company which bought over Shell’s BP oil wells in the locality.

    Just as there has been an upsurge of business activities in the town in the last few years, so also as there been visible expansion of its population size. One factor that significantly contributed to Sapele’s population explosion in recent years was the prolonged ethnic war in Warri, as a good number of families relocated to the town owing remarkably to its famed peaceful and friendly ambience.

    However, the steady upsurge of the town’s population has also come with its own challenges as its public facilities particularly its roads are presently been overstretched. Suffice it to say that all the major roads in Sapele are today facing the huge challenge of vehicular congestion this is as most of the major roads in the town have become too small and narrow to handle the pressure of vehicles that are constantly plying it, a situation that has made traffic gridlock a common feature in most major roads in the town.

    The road traffic situation in Sapele is made worse by the large number of heavy duty vehicles that are regularly plying major roads in the town, it is either they are conveying petroleum products or bitumen from ASCA at Ogorode, or they are conveying heavy duty materials to and fro from Seplat flow stations at Shell Road or Oton. This is also not talking about the haulage trucks that regularly convey finished products from Flour Mills at Ogorode. The truth is that the traffic situation in Sapele is getting worse by the day, and something urgent needs to be done before the situation gets out of hand.

    It is against this background that I want to appeal to the Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to come to the aid of Sapele residents by way of the state government embarking on the expansion of some major roads in the town to ease the suffering motorists and other road users are daily subjected to.

    Sapele is about the only major town in Delta State that is without a dual-carriage way. Other smaller towns even some villages in the state enjoy this gesture of the state government. As they say, ‘’what is good for the goose is also good for the gander’’; Sapele roads needs urgent expansion!

    • Ohwevwo Ufuoma Eugene

    Sapele, Delta State

     

  • Re: Long road to business fame

    SIR: My attention has been drawn to an error in the story entitled “Long road to business fame” which appeared on page 35 of Wednesday October 2, 2013 edition of this newspaper. The name of the interviewee was erroneously given as Ademola Ajayi instead of Oluwaniyi Akin-Oladapo.

    Also, there ought not to have been a referral to Thrillhouse Nigeria Limited in the story. These errors owes to the fact that the interview was conducted online hence some of the claims were not verified. I wish to state that the story was not written to malign or cause acrimony between the parties. The error is deeply regretted.

    • Hannah Ojo,

    Surulere, Lagos.

     

  • Nigerians are suffering and smiling

    SIR: Living in Nigeria is like a bitter and sweet symphony.  Nature endowed the nation with abundant beauties.  The landscape across the country is like a bed of green grass.  Flourishing vegetation in various regions makes an awesome basket of exquisite delights.  The sun glows soothingly like a lover’s gentle eyes.  Its beaming in dry season can cause a stranger to run under the shade, trees big as giant umbrellas comfortingly cover the open spaces.  Natives sweating under colourful clothing stir wonders to the imagination.  They excitedly go about their business with soaking handkerchief in their hands mopping their brows.  The sound of the exotic languages in the market places is like an orchestra.

    Nigerians must have been made of a special breed.  Farmers, traders, civil servants, students; the society wakes every morning to start the crucial exercise to make a living.  There is no steady power supply, no running water, no good roads; all the modern amenities that make life livable are a luxury to the masses.  Yet like soldiers in a war front, they carry on.  They gather in their houses, churches, bars, and other rendezvous at the end of the day and let off steam like a boiling pot.  They infuse their lives with joy.

    A village clown once observed that you do not need money to live in Nigeria.  He explained that there are many social events going on every day of the week.  He looks for posters for news about where there is a wedding, wine carrying, funerals, chieftaincy celebrations, thanksgiving and numerous other occasions.  He dresses up in his best clothe and goes to these events.  There is no invitation required to get reception.  Some days he is so drunk and ate so much that he is tired to meet up to all his engagements.  He is dumbfounded that people want to leave Nigeria to travel anywhere in the world to live.

    Here profoundly may lie the secret of the smiling faces one sees all over the country.  An average Nigerian toils day and night under excruciating circumstances to become successful.  The first thing he does once he has money is to have a lavish occasion to demonstrate to his community that he has achieved social status.  The size of one’s event is the measure of his acceptance.  The recognition accords him honor and respect.  In some unfortunate situations, folks are confronted with social pressure.  They sell their land, personal properties or borrow money to have a flamboyant funeral for example.

    Nigerians at their best have a culture of celebration.  They dance at festivals, churches, funerals, weddings and every other occasion.  There is no situation that they do not as a custom to turn into a celebration.  This tradition may appear infantile.  However, it seems to help the society overcome like it does with the perpetual onslaught of injustice peppered by a corrupt political system.  They sing always thanking God for everything.

    The melody is sweet.  Under the moonlight, the sky is blue.  The land provides fresh harvest all season.  The people march jubilantly to welcome each dawn.  There will be rainfall.  There will be sunshine.  Nature made the weather kind.  Nigerians close their eyes at night and live the fantasy.  They have the magic to create happiness.

     

    • Pius Okaneme

    Umuoji, Anambra State.

  • Unfair reports on Aregbesola

    SIR: I wish to register my misgiving on the bias of a Lagos based newspaper against Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State. Last week, the newspaper featured an article titled ‘Aregbesola’s church project and its controversy’.

    There is no controversy about the worship centre, except that Senator Iyiola Omisore, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, criticised it. There is no opposition or controversy in the community where the project is sited and among Christians in the state. Even the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is yet to officially criticise the project. There is also no opposition from Moslems in the state. This ‘controversy’ is the figment of the imagination of the reporter and by extension the newspaper, except perhaps, it is the newspaper editorial policy that whatever PDP opposes in Osun State has become controversial.

    Interestingly, Governor Aregbesola who is being crucified by the PDP and portrayed in some quaters as a bearded anti-Christian Taliban is being criticised for building a huge worship centre for Christians.

    The following day, the same newspaper had a news report titled ‘CAC members protest Aregbesola’s take over of land’. The protest by the Christ Apostolic Church looks like a subtle and residual resistance to the recent school reclassification programme. It also could have arisen out of genuine misunderstanding between the church and the government. Protest is legitimate in a democracy and the church should be commended for adopting this peaceful mode of seeking redress. However, the newspaper personalised the issue by making it look like Aregbesola had personally seized the church’s land, when it was in fact the church versus state government.

    Most unfortunate was that no effort was made to get the government’s or Governor Aregbesola’s side in the whole episode. So much for fairness and getting the other side!

    Also on Friday, the paper reported a peaceful and legitimate protest between a church and government as ‘warfare’.

    This is not figurative. It is meant to hype that small protest and give the impression that a serious crisis had broken out between the government and the church, in the magnitude of warfare. It is meant to discount the peace in Osun and create a fictive impression of violent demonstration in which the government had deplored armoured personnel carriers to put down the protest and the bodies are counted probably in scores.

    Of course, this was followed with a scathing editorial on the Open Heaven Arena, using the most foul and uneditorial language.

    I can go on and on, day after day, week after week the accounts of bias against Governor Aregbesola in this paper in its leaders, news, features and dedicated columns.

    It appears the paper sees nothing good in the government of Ogbeni Aregbesola and will easily lend itself to amplify the position of the PDP in Osun to the detriment of the governor.

    The Punch has the right to support any party of politician but I am pleading with this newspaper to adopt a balanced and fair approach in order to sustain the confidence of fair-minded readers and especially the supporters of Governor Aregbesola in Osun State and beyond.

    • Dr Michael Oladele,

    Osogbo, Osun State

  • You goofed on Adamu Muazu

    SIR: The attention of our client, His Excellency Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the national chairman of PDP has been drawn to your editorial comment of Thursday, January 23, captioned “Adamu Muazu’s baggage” in which your newspaper opined that our said client was having charges of corruption hanging on his neck.

    Be it noted that your newspaper opinion was not correct but rather a misrepresentation of facts devoid of any iota of truth. As at the time of your paper’s aforementioned opinion, there was no case of corruption pending against Alhaji  Muazu in any court, tribunal or commission in any part of Nigeria or any part of the world. The Bauchi panel you mentioned in your editorial had been quashed by a court of competent jurisdiction and the case for the quashing was handled by our chambers.

    We hope you will be fair enough to correct the wrong impression created by your editorial comment and apologise to our client.

    • Francis Adejoh Esq,

    Messrs Adeniyi Akintola & co,

    Legal Practitioners, CBD, Abuja.

     

  • Sango-Ijoko road: Amosun must hear this!

    SIR: I have observed with utmost disdain and sadness the handling of the Sango – Ijoko Road, in Ogun State by the contractors handling the job, the officials of Ogun State Land Bureau, and the landlords whose buildings were affected by the on-going project.

    While commending the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for having the courage to face the job in spite of oppositions, one has to pity this hard-working man for having people within the land department and among the contractors, elements who are so much after financial gains and inducements rather than doing the work assigned to them.

    It is shameful to observe that houses that were marked for demolition in Sango axis of the road were not demolished up to the points marked but the landlords were paid for them. Aside these, an independent observer will find out that the erection of the electricity poles was nothing but ruse. Poles were erected in line with what the owners of the buildings can part with.

    The second marking of the houses further exposes the failure on the part of the officials of Land Bureau. House that were marked eight metres additionally were only demolished by just three metres while landlords were paid for eight metres. Who bear these losses? The government and people of Ogun State of course and some people will smile to the bank.

    It was also observed that people trading or living in or near most of these half-demolished buildings are on the verge of untimely death that may occur via unexpected collapse of 80% of the building.

    My appeal in the above is for immediate action on the part of the governor, the various town planning offices and basically the land office. A stitch in time saves nine, so they say.

    • Abiodun Rauph,

    Sango, Ogun State

  • Echoes from Benin youth summit

    SIR: Nigerian comedians may be vessels of laughter, they also can be harbingers of bitter but hard truths. In no better way was this trait demonstrated than the parody of the Nigerian leadership experience seen from the relationship between its old rulers and younger generation as captured by Julius Agwu, one of the nation’s foremost comic advertisements. According to the joke master, the country’s youths are no longer the leaders of tomorrow as a popular political mantra would have us believe. The reason is that their claim to the title has been given an unrealistic extension, a reason for which they are now better known, albeit as “Leaders of the Day After Tomorrow.”

    Like Agwu noted, distraught Nigerian youths are indeed in a dilemma over the role they are meant to play in a country where leadership appears to have become the exclusive preserve of influential, rich and powerful aged and or any other individual annointed by them to foster their grip on power. On account of this and other reasons, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, Edo state governor, decided to organize a summit for the army of youths in the state as part of the country’s centenary celebrations.

    The Benin Youth Summit turned out to be a timely intervention programme as the state goverment left nothing to chance in its determination to ensure that all issues were situated and addressed. However, one central issue that attracted the attention of virtually all the speakers is the need to truly integrate the youth into the country’s leadership hierachy hitherto dominated by its aged rulers. They were also united in the opinion that unless the disconnect between old leaders who have continued to hold sway without giving an inch, and the youth is resolved in order that the latter may be able to play its role, the nation’s inability to resolve its myriad of challenges may go on unchecked. Toyosi Akerele, a youth advocate would call for a generation integration process that will aggregate the interests of both the older generation and youth.

    Another issue that came up for deliberation in the course of the one-day summit is the need to help the younger generation imbibe pan Nigeria attitude in order for them to develop patriotic inclinations. The point was made that current leadership should desist from annointing successors only because of their desire to exercise a measure of leadership control through proxy long after dropping the reins of power.

    In particular, the summit enjoined the youths to disregard claims in certain quarters that the country will disintegrate if certain individuals fail to acquire political offices. In the words of Peter Esele, Nigerian youths must continue to think more of a united Nigeria, given that everyone stands to benefit more under one Nigeria than a disintegrated one just as he noted that the factors for which disintegration whistles are being blown in some quarters  are no more present at the federal level than they are at both regional and state levels hence the antidote is for the country to have a leader whose commitment to the Nigerian dream is not in any doubt in order to restore the people’s confidence.

    • Ernest Omoarelojie

    Benin City.

  • Siren tyranny on Nigerian roads

    SIR: This is not a funeral dirge for Festus Iyayi – distinguished former President of Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, (ASUU) and eminent professor of University of Benin. “To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die’’ and Festus was eloquently eulogised at his burial by his family, peers and friends. He was a victim of this siren madness. So also was Captain Wada – Governor of Kogi State whose convoy led to Iyayi’s death. Wada of course lived to tell his story.

    One can never stop wondering why sane people would willingly hand over their most prized possession they have – THEIR LIVES – to the whims and caprices of ill-trained, semi-literate convoy drivers. Most of these convoy operators have minimum education which is primary standard six. Their level of self-discipline and control is even lower.

    This problem of siren abuse has undergone a long period of gestation in my thoughts. At some stage, I contemplated introducing legislation in the National Assembly but with the backlog of un-assented bills one had a rethink. State legislation looked a better option. Governor Fashola of Lagos State is a trail blazer in this respect and their landmark legislation known as Road Traffic Law 2012 is worthy of emulation by other states. Governor Fashola does not move with siren.

    Sirens gained prominence during the Second World War to warn people against impending air strikes. There is also a new dimension and that is the executive siren which is used not only in Nigeria but in many parts of the world. Sometimes irresponsible and excessive speeding are associated with this class of siren use and has an occasions caused accidents and death.

    For certain classes of government officials such as Presidents, Prime Ministers who are identified targets of terrorists attack, use of the siren for fast movement is justified. The use of course must be regulated which does not seem to be the case in Nigeria. In the United Kingdom, use of sirens and flashing cars known as ‘BLUES N’ TWOS’ by emergency services, fire ambulance, law enforcement is controlled by law. Blue flashing lights is regulated by Blue Flashing Lights Road Vehicle Lighting Regulation (1989) and that of siren by Road Vehicles Construction and Use Act (1986). Occasions when vehicles permitted to use these gadgets can break speed limits are well spelt out and obeyed. Former British Prime Ministers used to have two blue light flashing outriders and a few back-up vehicles in their convoy. The current British Prime Minister David Cameron has done away with the motorcycle outriders and now travels with a minimum of traffic disruption. In the U.K, convoy movement with sirens is unknown for private citizens no matter how rich. On one occasion when we had to clear for our lives, I counted 35 vehicles in a governor’s convoy. How ridiculously insensitive can we get?

    The debate on siren use has become urgent because 2014 and 2015 are important election years. It is time to address this madness which drives ordinary Nigerians off the road. What makes the situation more annoying is that the stern gun swinging personnel who accompany these convoys have no respect for anybody. They are prepared to destroy anyone who stands in their way.

    As the elections draw nearer, virtually anybody who can pay for Hilux van will soon be mounting a siren and start this mini terrorism. The use of sirens is authorised by the President through the Inspector General of Police. There are approved lists of persons entitled to use them but this list is completely flouted and ignored. Legislation does not seem to be working either. One therefore would appeal to the President to re-table this topic at the Council of States. A consensus at this forum may have a trickledown effect which may yet restore sanity to our roads.

    • Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe

    Lagos

     

  • Is Jonathan now a General?

    SIR: Sometime ago, President Goodluck Jonathan, while attending a military function, had remarked that he was not a military general. Many analysts wondered if the president really understood the enormity of the power of the office he occupies. How on earth can a man who is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria claim that he is not a general? How come he is commanding other generals?

    If there is any doubt that Jonathan is perfectly on top of things, the clinical and noiseless manner he recently effected changes in the top hierarchy of the military has put all that to rest. In a sweeping change, Jonathan had removed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, and his counterpart in the Navy, Vice Admiral Joseph Ezeoba. The only survivor is the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, now Chief of Defence Staff. Major General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah was named new Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin takes over from Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; while Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu now steps in as the Chief of Air Staff.

    From the geopolitical perspective, the list of the new service chiefs shows exemplary balance between the North and the South. It is safe to argue that Jonathan, in reshuffling the top military positions, paid serious attention to the most important fault lines of our political architecture, which are religion and the North-South divide.

    But beyond the issue of ethno-religious balance is the emphasis on operational effectiveness and professionalism. The former service chiefs have done a marvellous job in containing the threats to national security especially against the terrorist insurgency of the Boko Haram sect.

    Given the deft manner and tactical manoeuvring with which he has handled the changes in the top brass of the military, who would argue again that President Jonathan is not a General or even a Field Marshal?

    • John Ainofenokhai

    Jonny4deals@yahoo.com

     

     

  • Mbu: Policeman or politician?

    SIR: On Saturday, January 18, I watched the rally organized by a group of some Rivers State citizens with the theme “Voice of Orashi Region Solidarity Rally” in Omoku. The purported rally which according to the organizers, was meant to garner and publicly display support for one of their own, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was attended by politicians, youth activists, clergymen and traditional rulers that constitute the Orashi region.

    As expected, the speakers at the event never hid their disgust and condemnation over the decision of the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to defect to APC, which according to them was a grave sin to the people of South-south. I took particular interest in one of the speakers at the rally even though his English sounded like that of Nigeria’s popular comedian, Chief Zebrudaya. I managed to hear some of his comments when he alleged that Amaechi was being used by some northerners to fight Goodluck.

    One of the most surprising actions at the rally was the prominence of Mbu Joseph Mbu, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State. All those who addressed the rally spoke glowingly of him. Aside the heap of insults meted on Amaechi, eulogies to Mbu dominated the event. Those who eulogized him attributed their outburst to his professional skills and competence in confronting the security issues in the state. To show their overzealousness, songs were chanted where Mbu’s name was described as an emancipator; to crown it up, all the speakers called for his retention as the Commissioner of Police in the state.

    Is it morally or ethically right for a serving police officer to be deeply involved or prominently featured in a political rally? Is it professionally correct for a political group to determine which commissioner of police to be posted in a state?

    President Goodluck with his vast educational background should have realized the implications of such practices but regrettably, he seem to be helpless as the events unfolds; he has never done anything to call the situation to order. This is why I have come to the conclusion that illiteracy and ignorance are not the major problems of Nigeria as we were made to believe in the past. Nigerians, under the most educated president have been made to believe that 16 is above 19, we are now being made to believe that the Police Commissioner and not the Governor is the Chief Security Officer in a state.This is our new version of democracy from a leader that has a doctorate degree!

    Nigerians are so unreal that they believe God can also be tricked. I watched the closing part of the rally where one evangelist was called to pray and I almost shed tears as the supposed man of God went on saying things that were far from the truth one of which was that President Jonathan raised Amaechi from grass to grace!

    The rally of course went successfully – uninterrupted, a sharp contrast to what the police did when some APC members gathered a fortnight ago. If a commissioner of police who is supposed to be apolitical chooses to pitch tent with a political party is celebrated as a hero, it is a measure of how Nigerian laws have been perversely interpreted under the reign of the most educated president has ever produced.

    History will be the final judge.

     

    • Comrade Richard Tersoo Mnenga

    Pfeffingerstrasse 12

    4053 – Basel, Switzerland.