The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Budget without human face

    Budget without human face

    SIR: Animals appear to have gained more recognition and attention from the Presidency in the 2014 Appropration Bill, even as the breakdown of the budget shows the wastefulness and insensitive nature of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led regime towards the populace. The provisions of the budget have once more exposed the government non-readiness and lack of foresight in terms of positioning the country’s economy to meet the standard of the developed countries. It is, indeed, appalling that while ordinary Nigerians could barely afford a three square meal a day, our big man in the Villa is busy thinking of how to feed his pets in 2014 with the taxpayers’ money.

    The N4.6trn budget estimate presented before the National Assembly by President Jonathan through the Minister of Finance and the Cordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, shows that the Federal Goverment will be spending 73 per cent of the proposed budget on recurrent expenditure, while a meagre 27 per would be spent on capital projects. The impication of this is that Nigerians are not likely going to witness any improvement on our dilapidated roads or see any change in the education sector, health and other critical sectors of the nation’s economy.

    A glance at the budget shows that a whooping N2.4bn has been allocated for the President and his deputy’s foreign and local trips in 2014, while another N1.6bn is earmaked for a new presidential jet and yet another N362m for meals and refreshment. And to further show that the government lacks confidence on her so-called transformation in the power sector, it plans to spend N836.6m on fuelling of generators in the Presidency, its ministries and agencies. These frivolous allocations clearly show that the federal government is not keen at pursuing developmental policies that would drive our economy and put food on the average Nigerian’s table.

    The most outrageous is the proposed N38m for Aso Villa’s zoo. The money would be used to buy more “wild animals” and feed some other animals in the zoo. All this is aimed at satisfying the pleasures of the president and his co-travellers in the Villa amidst the growing poverty and pangs of hardship in the country. Sincerely, one does not know how the maintenance of this private zoo will add to the productivity of the president towards delivering on his promised transformation agenda. Similarly, the Nigeria Police is to spend N125.6m on its dogs in 2014, even as the government plans to spend a huge sum of  N7bn on the proposed jamboree called “National Dialogue”, an exercise which outcome is bound to gather dust on the presidential archive like other ones. The impact of the World Economic Forum which would be hosted in Abuja in 2014 at the expense of the country’s budget estimate of N4bn remains to be seen.

    It is instructive that while these frivolities received huge allocations in the proposed budget, key sectors of the economy like education, health, judiciary among others are left with meagre allocations. For instance, under the proposed budget, the judiciary received a paltry N4.7bn which is a sharp decline when compared with the N5.5bn it was budgeted for in the 2013 Appropriation Act. A serious government interested in exterminating corruption and quick dispensation of justice in the country ought to have equipped this sector and empower the fund strapped anti-corruption agencies.

    The federal government should borrow a leaf from the Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, whose 2014 budget of N219.2bn would see the capital project receiving a large chunk of N148bn representing the 68 per cent of the budget, while the recurrent expenditure would only receive N70.6bn, that is the 32 per cent of the proposed Appropriation Bill.

    The National Assembly would be doing a great injustice and diservice to the fatherland and the people of this country if it goes ahead to approve these outlandish reckless, anti-peopleallocations. The lawmakers should, therefore, teach the president the principle of frugality and prudent management of our commonwealth by rejecting or altering some of these frivilous estimates.

    • Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

    Lagos.

  • Haba! If you Sanjo me, I will Ebele you!

    SIR: When Gerald Ford was President of the United States, an incident occurred that is of particular relevance in this instance of the present imbroglio between Presidents Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. President Ford’s 18-year-old daughter was quoted‘ as having said, with reference to an issue that was the talk of the nation then, that “the president was stupid.”

    Excitedly, journalists rushed to the White House where a cornered President Ford was asked bluntly by a reporter; “Mr. President, your daughter said you are stupid. Any comments?” President Ford’s response, paraphrased, went something like this. “You know what you just said is not true. I have seen the clip of my daughter’s comments. What she said was “the president was stupid,” and I am very proud of the fact that by saying that she has exercised her rights as an American citizen to criticize the American president not minding the fact that the president is her father. How many 18 year-old American citizens say worse things about the president daily around the country without remorse? If she had said “my father was stupid,” then, I will do what I need to do as her father.”

    Americans responded to his answer with acclamations and kudos. He was hailed for upholding the tenets of the oath he took at his inauguration; to defend and uphold the American Constitution and the rights of American citizens!

    I am sure that President Jonathan took an oath that is similar, in intent if not practice, to the oath taken by any American president, even any president, at inauguration. So, why the pugilistic exchange of” blows” and “counter-blows” between an incumbent president and a former one, who, for all intents and purposes, was, in my estimation, simply exercising his rights as an ordinary Nigerian? Does Mr. President read the newspapers daily where allegations worse than President Obasanjo’s comments and allegations feature regularly?

    Fellow Nigerians, writing scathing criticisms of a president, calling presidents names unfit for dogs and pets, and peddling innuendoes about a president’s penchant for doing the incredible, and so on, are issues of fundamental rights of citizens around the world; the much ballyhooed and acclaimed “dividends of democracy.” Both Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan know this for a fact. No one would deny or prevent President Obasanjo from his opportunity to enjoy his rights as a Nigerian citizen.

    Donald Trump writes full page letters to the American president regularly. Former American presidents also communicate with the incumbent president on regular basis through the pages of newspapers. Incumbent presidents never respond. So, why is the presidency in Abuja so bent out of shape?

    In the wisdom of African folklore, when two elephants make love, the ground suffers. When they fight, the ground suffers too! So, it does not matter what two elephants do to one another; it is the ground that will suffer. Unfortunately, the ground that is suffering is Nigeria!

    When, in 2011, at the Eagle Square PDP Convention, President Obasanjo stood at the head of the chorus of PDP’s members, urging them to follow him as Jonathan was anointed PDP presidential flag bearer in the 2011 elections, Nigerians suffered. Today, in 2013, as arrangements are being put in place for the selection of PDP’s flag bearer for the 2015 elections, Nigeria is still suffering!

    The country’s issues and sufferings would never be addressed by the kinds of political ping-pong being played by its present and/or former leaders.” If you Sanjo me, I will Ebele you,” is definitely not the way to go.

    • Angelicus-M. Onasanya

    Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

     

  • Budget without human face

    SIR: Animals appear to have gained more recognition and attention from the Presidency in the 2014 Appropration Bill, even as the breakdown of the budget shows the wastefulness and insensitive nature of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led regime towards the populace. The provisions of the budget have once more exposed the government non-readiness and lack of foresight in terms of positioning the country’s economy to meet the standard of the developed countries. It is, indeed, appalling that while ordinary Nigerians could barely afford a three square meal a day, our big man in the Villa is busy thinking of how to feed his pets in 2014 with the taxpayers’ money.

    The N4.6trn budget estimate presented before the National Assembly by President Jonathan through the Minister of Finance and the Cordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, shows that the Federal Goverment will be spending 73 per cent of the proposed budget on recurrent expenditure, while a meagre 27 per would be spent on capital projects. The impication of this is that Nigerians are not likely going to witness any improvement on our dilapidated roads or see any change in the education sector, health and other critical sectors of the nation’s economy.

    A glance at the budget shows that a whooping N2.4bn has been allocated for the President and his deputy’s foreign and local trips in 2014, while another N1.6bn is earmaked for a new presidential jet and yet another N362m for meals and refreshment. And to further show that the government lacks confidence on her so-called transformation in the power sector, it plans to spend N836.6m on fuelling of generators in the Presidency, its ministries and agencies. These frivolous allocations clearly show that the federal government is not keen at pursuing developmental policies that would drive our economy and put food on the average Nigerian’s table.

    The most outrageous is the proposed N38m for Aso Villa’s zoo. The money would be used to buy more “wild animals” and feed some other animals in the zoo. All this is aimed at satisfying the pleasures of the president and his co-travellers in the Villa amidst the growing poverty and pangs of hardship in the country. Sincerely, one does not know how the maintenance of this private zoo will add to the productivity of the president towards delivering on his promised transformation agenda. Similarly, the Nigeria Police is to spend N125.6m on its dogs in 2014, even as the government plans to spend a huge sum of  N7bn on the proposed jamboree called “National Dialogue”, an exercise which outcome is bound to gather dust on the presidential archive like other ones. The impact of the World Economic Forum which would be hosted in Abuja in 2014 at the expense of the country’s budget estimate of N4bn remains to be seen.

    It is instructive that while these frivolities received huge allocations in the proposed budget, key sectors of the economy like education, health, judiciary among others are left with meagre allocations. For instance, under the proposed budget, the judiciary received a paltry N4.7bn which is a sharp decline when compared with the N5.5bn it was budgeted for in the 2013 Appropriation Act. A serious government interested in exterminating corruption and quick dispensation of justice in the country ought to have equipped this sector and empower the fund strapped anti-corruption agencies.

    The federal government should borrow a leaf from the Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, whose 2014 budget of N219.2bn would see the capital project receiving a large chunk of N148bn representing the 68 per cent of the budget, while the recurrent expenditure would only receive N70.6bn, that is the 32 per cent of the proposed Appropriation Bill.

    The National Assembly would be doing a great injustice and diservice to the fatherland and the people of this country if it goes ahead to approve these outlandish reckless, anti-peopleallocations. The lawmakers should, therefore, teach the president the principle of frugality and prudent management of our commonwealth by rejecting or altering some of these frivilous estimates.

    • Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

    Lagos.

  • Critical issues for Nigeria’s progress

    Critical issues for Nigeria’s progress

    SIR: The axiom is apt: there can be no peace where there is no justice. Yet, President Goodluck Jonathan and supporters care less about justice, but how he will stay 12 years in Aso Rock. The late Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, and after gaining freedom, he stepped down after a single presidency term. Egocentricism is killing Nigeria, politically and financially. Jonathan’s conference is a financial fiasco ab initio.

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) is gaining ascendancy. That trend should become even more accentuated as Jonathan takes personal control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), apparently out of frustration. Too many Nigerians have been systematically frustrated since 1999 till date; it is the turn of Nigeria’s enemies to be frustrated. In order to maximize profit, all well-meaning Nigerians should rise in support of APC for change.

    Positive and sustainable change resides in equity, justice, peace, and stability which rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones can guarantee for progress. Secondly, giving General Muhammadu Buhari the opportunity to revive his War Against Indiscipline (WAI) is crucial against the level of corruption that has pervaded Nigeria. APC and all well-meaning Nigerians should insist on Buhari’s presidency; he is an epitome of self-discipline and accountability. His experience as a former Head of State, Petroleum Minister, and Finance Minister with optimal performances should not be wasted.

    Providentially also, Buhari has never betrayed any form of religious fanaticism. I urge all APC chieftains to shun politicization of religion; total de-politicization of religion is imperative for social equity and cohesion. Adhere strictly to Nigeria’s constitutional secularity. And, may the NLC, TUC, ASUU, etc. remain forever united and strong. Amen.

    Another political leader whose talents should be seriously tapped is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I would propose for him the position of Finance Minister, for sustaining the economy of Lagos State even when the federal government seized the bulk of what Lagos should get from the federation account. Pa Obafemi Awolowo helped to manage Nigeria’s post-war economy, as a Finance Minister without any certificate in accounting or economics; Tinubu will not do less. Both Buhari and Tinubu are not associated with stolen oil wealth; they will be accountable.

    No society can be stable without order. That is a big lesson the emergence of Boko Haram has taught us. Credit should be accorded those who introduced the presidential rotational concept. We should formalize it to rotate among the six geopolitical zones. Northwest should serve a single term of four years (2015-2019) to complement the opportunity that Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had; Jonathan served the remainder plus his own single term which he craved inordinately. South-east should take-over, 2019-2027, even though Jonathan offered that zone plum appointments to secure its unflinching support. But no such advantage is sustainable. If adopted, rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones can be a stabilizer, as does rotational kingship in many African traditional societies and communities.

    •Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D,

    University of Ilorin.

  • The President Jonathan that we know

    The President Jonathan that we know

    SIR: When Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo spoke in his open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan about the state of the economy and his general incompetence in office, many well-meaning and knowledgeable people did not altogether decipher the true and patriotic intention of the messenger. We cannot but tell Nigerians that we warmly agree with Obasanjo’s last open letter upon the state of the nation because he has been particularly familiar with developmental policies aside the fact that he has seen many men and things.

    The Jonathan that we know fits the description enunciated in Obasanjo’s letter because Jonathan according to the Wiki leaks revelation, had himself opened up on his lack of experience when he told Robin Sanders, the past US Ambassador to Nigeria that he was not actually so experienced in governance or more experienced than other Nigerians who were not favoured for the position but was chosen because of where he came from, Niger Delta. This statement alone should have provoked a good scrutiny of him to his clear-sightedness on issues and if he would pay attention at all to advice, if given.

    We have always been of the opinion that President Jonathan in 2009 does not have the sane cavil to lead Nigeria and our judgment still remains so, because it is truly amazing that government services are still ridiculously slow and there are feelings of distress and ill-ease wherever one goes. Meanwhile, every one discusses politics and 2015, nothing is done. The practical things of life that would help to ameliorate the conditions of our people are wholly neglected. Corruption and stealing has become good businesses amongst the ruling elite.

    Finally, we want to warn that Jonathan would have broken the law if he should take the oath of office as substantive President the third time, just as our constitution does not recognize elected President or Governor to spend above eight years in office no matter the circumstances. The ‘doctrine of necessity’ an aberration in itself was irrelevant at the time Yar’Adua died and Jonathan who had a joint mandate with him was sworn in. if Yar’Adua had died seven days after he took the oath of office in 2007, would Jonathan be qualified to contest in 2015 after taking the second oath in 2011 to make 12 years in office as against the maximum of eight years in our constitution?

    The two years he spent as a substantive President must and should be counted against him because the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not a Father Christmas or managed by Santa Claus.

     

    • Akin Malaolu

    Sec-Gen, Yoruba Ronu,

    Surulere, Lagos

     

  • On the Ogun Home-owners charter

    SIR: The era of demolition of properties and houses in Ogun State has become a thing of the past with the newly introduced “Homeowners’ Charter Initiative”.

    Under the programme, owners of eligible properties built without the required approvals or illegally built on land belonging to Ogun State will be given a window of opportunity to obtain Building Plan Approval, Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or other title documents. All penalties and fines are being waived and the documentation requirements have been relaxed; fees are also discounted to enable as many residents as possible to benefit.

    The consequences of building without approval are extremely serious for the people affected as well as government and many homeowners are now regretting their decision; not only are the properties so constructed illegal but the uncontrolled development of properties create unplanned areas devoid of essential infrastructure such as  water, schools, health facilities and road services.

    Owners of such illegal property have now found themselves between the proverbial “devil and the deep blue sea”. They are unable to process ownership documents such as Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) since Building Plan Approval is a pre-requisite for such, the fines payable for building without approval make the process unaffordable for many who now wish to regularize. In addition, those who have built on government owned lands live with the uncertainty about government intentions and, therefore, have no means of regularizing their status.

    Without documentation, thousands of property owners are unable to prove legal ownership of their property, such property, no matter how valuable, cannot be offered as security for even the smallest loan. In terms of valuation in sale transactions, Ogun State property is relatively undervalued compared to similar property in neighbouring states. This is a direct consequence of the absence of documentation.  In addition, our courts are regularly inundated with cases relating to property disputes that would be avoided if standard documentation were widely available.

    Homeowners’ charter initiative in the state is an extremely generous offer of Ogun State government to enable homeowners in the state to regularize their properties status, and it is a once in a lifetime offer and it is strongly advised that homeowners in the state should take full advantage of the programme to be self assured of their properties in the future.

     

    •Ademola Orunbon

    Olomore, Abeokuta,

    Ogun State.

  • President Jonathan should wake up

    President Jonathan should wake up

    SIR: Every other day, government-owned radio and television stations regale Nigerians with this administrations “achievements”.

    Garri, which is our staple food, is now N50 per cup and half, and so the masses are unable to feed. The civil war Kwashiokor disease is returning. The minister of agriculture cannot parley with the states agriculture commissioners to evolve an integrated agricultural programme for the country. We are bounded in the south by an ocean and have many rivers inland, yet we import fish. The minister of agriculture is doing “very well”.

    Every day we read about our big men being flown to India – even India of yesterday – or Saudi Arabia for kidney –related diseases. The minister of health cannot equip even one hospital in our dear country to prevent such shameful travels and frittering of foreign exchange, despite the huge huge budgetary allocations made for the health sector. The health sector is doing ‘every well’.

    There is no employment, no regulation of religious affairs, no mining and export or solid minerals, no low cost houses for workers etc. They are doing very well.

    Of course we know that our ‘leaders’, past and present, have never cared about the country and the plight of her people. They only care about themselves – how much public funds they have stolen and their own personal security, nothing more.

    History shows that no country in the world ever became great without passing through a revolution – America, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany –etc. they had their revolutions. So, maybe ours is coming. Then our sun will shine.

    • Dr. (Mrs) Irene Okolo

    Uwani – Enugu

  • The play of presidential giants

    The play of presidential giants

    SIR: Nigerians are rightfully horrified by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s and President Goodluck Jonathan’s naked dance in the market. Everyone already knows that Obasanjo likes to unleash pent-up rage at political enemies. Ask former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. But we are just now learning that Jonathan, though gentle and genial, is not a timid guy. Jonathan’s letter to his pen pal, Obasanjo, shows that when faced with a threat to his political life, he can as well spew out venom. But the strategic intents of both individuals and their letters’ probable ramifications are beyond mere political survival, which is why Nigerians should be alarmed.

    On good authority, Obasanjo’s letter rankled Jonathan and his team who decided it was time to take off the gloves. There is no doubt that Jonathan hit Obasanjo below the belt, even acknowledging in his letter that “the grapes have gone sour.” But Jonathan took serious risks by describing the former leader’s letter as “distinctly ominous” and a “threat to national security as it may deliberately or inadvertently set the stage for subversion.” Simply put, you can’t accuse anyone of threatening national security and let them go free. If the law must apply, then the stage should be set for Obasanjo to answer a few questions from investigators. Given that no pot is big enough to cook Obasanjo (to paraphrase Tony Anenih), the President may have inadvertently weakened his hand.

    But the problem with Jonathan’s approach is that he is the President. People care less about what happened in Obasanjo’s government many years ago; people look up to the current leader to fix things. That’s why they hired him. Second, by taking on Obasanjo in a tit-for-tat manner, Jonathan elevates a citizen (it doesn’t matter if he’s an ex-President) to a level of an alternate President. Third, Obasanjo’s vituperations are good ammo for the opposition and each day that Nigerians debate this issue, he wins and Jonathan loses. Fourth, Jonathan’s letter was more defensive than substantive, appearing more like a desperate attempt to maneuver out of a rope-a-dope situation he had been boxed into. Leadership 101: when a President takes on an individual who espouses popular sentiments, there can only be one loser: the President.

    The tone of Jonathan’s letter also suggests a siege mentality, if not insensitivity, to current economic, security and political situations in the country. Simple logic: Nigerians believe the country is not doing well. Obasanjo says things are bad. Jonathan says things are good. Therefore, Obasanjo is on the side of the people. Ask the millions of unemployed youths if they are happy with their leaders. Ask the families of those whose loved ones have been murdered in cold blood if there is security in Nigeria. Ask those who have to pay bribes everyday to get the simplest things done if there is corruption in the country.

    Jonathan has a point that previous leaders left him a mess and they are now accusing him of not cleaning the mess fast enough. But Nigerians know of only one President and his name is Goodluck Jonathan. A President soaks in insults, even those from predecessors. It’s part of the job. The popular leadership refrain is, if you can’t stand the heat, don’t get in the kitchen.

    Jonathan’s letter was ill-advised because it accentuates the key issue in the debate, which is, are Nigerians better off today than they were in the past? Unfortunately for Jonathan, there cannot be an objective response to that question because memories are often like the morning dew: they disappear in no time. Winston Churchill won World War II and lost the next election. George H. Bush won the first Iraqi war, continued Ronald Reagan’s economic prosperity policies, but he never got reelected. No one talks about how Obama liquidated Osama Bin Laden. Charles Taylor is still wildly popular in Liberia despite his despicable past. Buhari is perhaps the most popular politician in the North yet only few remember the terror he unleashed in 1985 when he became Head of State.

    • Asueliment Aisabokhala

    United States

  • Good leadership is Nigeria’s bane

    Good leadership is Nigeria’s bane

    SIR: There is no gainsaying that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is in difficult times. But the truth must be told, Nigerians are expecting purposeful, resourceful, Godly … leadership. One is deeply surprised that since May 29, 2011 when we began another democratic dispensation, Nigeria’s development continues to be hampered by bad leadership, moral decadence, hunger, poverty, insecurity and deep-rooted corruption. Our leaders tell lies under oath, trust in deceitful words. They make promises and break them.

    What Nigerians need now is a good and God-fearing leader who will work hard in raising the standard of living of the people, transform the society, enact policies that would give all Nigerians a sense of oneness. Some of the challenges of national integration and development in Nigeria include the challenges of economic crisis and poverty, unequal development, crisis of governance and poor political leadership.

    Nigeria has a very big potentials to become one of the most powerful countries in the world, and for it to occupy such position, it must transform its system, integrate the people, grow the economy and fight poverty and hunger. Nigerians and the leaders should also allow God to direct their affairs.

    Nigerians should be full of prayers for divine assistance and grace for President Jonathan to tackle the raging socio-economic and political problems facing the nation. He needs it to be able to tackle the energy problem, to revive the ailing industries, encourage entrepreneurs, create mass employment  for the youth, tackle corruption seriously, adhere to the tenents of the rule of law, improve infrastructural facilities, among others.

    Nigerians must create the atmosphere of trust, transparency, honesty and accountability. We need to harness the God’s abundant gifts of nature around us to make the country great. Our leaders have to learn and start taking decisions on what is best for the country rather than their self-serving interests. Unless and until we address the challenge of leadership, the country can never move forward.

    Religious leaders in the country should not feel shy to address issue of bad leadership and also make their views read and heard.

     

    • Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel (Sekunderin)

    Lagos

  • The reality of our world today

    The trouble with every human society has been incompatibility of two certainties, one actor could be right in emotional and moral terms, but the other right in practical terms. It is a given that two rights are mutually incompatible.

    Opinion plays a powerful role in human relations, a strong opinion can be called “Belief” A set of beliefs can be about a particular subject. Some human actions are expression of particular ideas.

    Our world today is a true representation of Biblical records of calamities of horrendous proportion. These graphic revelations are so apt in apocalyptic prophesies that defy known social theories.

    The actions of states actors and non-state actors across the globe shock all known theories and practice of event research studies in inter-nation actions and interactions

    Event analysis represented a trend in political science toward more precision and better empirical research. At the end of World War II, students of international politics concentrated on exploring the attitudes and perceptions of nations and developed many theories – often, grand sweeping about why nations behave the way they do.

    Many decades after saw a shift of interest to nations’ actual behaviour. The term “event data” has become the accepted reference for word and dead that international actors direct toward their domestic or international environment.

    Words and deeds refer to both verbal and physical actions and relations (a diplomatic protest is verbal while a troop deployment is physical).

    Actors include statesmen and other public elites who speak for nations, inter governmental organisations. Today, the stage has become crowded with new sets of actors that disregard the rule of the game at play. Labour Unions, Student Union, Civil Society Coalitions, Religious Organisations have been very active actors on the play stage.

    Then comes the other set of actors who not only have disregard for the rule of the game, but bent on setting a new rule. These later entrants are known as social deviants that thrive in chaos.

    Their modus operandi defies all civilised norms and values, laws and order of constituted authorities. Their operations cut across national boundaries as outlaws.

    They come in different shades with the same aims and objectives codified as a manifesto. State actors call them: Militants, Terrorists, Kidnappers, Armed Robbers, Assassins, Drug Barons, Human Traffickers, Crisis Merchants, Gun Runners. Their generic code is simply organised crime; they constitute illegal government in a concerted effort to dislodge a legal government from power.

    All these translate to an event which is an observation of a group communication process that minimally records or shows who says or does what to whom. In the end, we shall live to see system theory in practice as the state actors battle the non-state actors in this war. A true representative diplomacy by state actors with visionary leaders equipped with the ability to think about or plan the future with great imagination and intelligence will serve as a panacea.

    Ogbu A. Ameh

    Abuja