The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Ogijo needs government attention

    SIR: To say that Ogijo, a fast growing community in Sagamu Local Government of Ogun State is a neglected community is an understatement. The town which is situated along the once motorable Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway plays host to numerous multinational companies, which have unfortunately compounded the ruins of the community over the years.

    Despite the comparative advantage which the community seems to possess, residents of Ogijo and its environs have continually endured the absence of active governance, grave industrial pollution, lack of basic social amenities amongst others challenges. From the emission of hazardous gases, to the improper disposal of industrial waste, the obstruction of the highway with trailers and lorries, these companies pose a huge treat on the healthy existence and successful lifestyle of residents in Ogijo and its environs.

    Ogijo, as a boundary town between Lagos and Ogun states, but under the jurisdiction of the Ogun State government, it seems that the Sagamu-based local government and Abeokuta is rather too far to remember the existence of this community, although it generates loads of taxes for the state and local governments.

    We hereby appeal to the government of Ogun State to in particularly establish the presence of government in Ogijo by checking and controlling the industrial and environmental menace of multinationals in this community, providing basic social amenities, creating enabling structures for small and medium scale enterprises.

     

    • Tola Emmanuel

    Lagos

  • Governance by ignorance

    Wonder in Nigeria shall never end. One of the things the Nigerian media enjoy is that it always has something new or strange to report. They are never devoid of odd issues to report on. Little wonder, they believe bad news is good news.

    Before I proceed, please permit me to doff my hat and salute the Christians, particularly the Catholics in Imo State, who stood by unborn children whose death warrant Governor Rochas Okorocha and his cohorts assented to.

    It amazed me some days ago when I heard that a governor who is adjudged to be a man of the people, somebody that claimed to love children and a man with special interest in children could sign such a dastard bill into law. It is disheartening to see one of the most revered governors owing to his unprecedented antecedents, legalise abortion in the state.

    Looking at it from the religious angle, Christianity frowns at it. This is because, when ever abortion is committed, life is terminated which God forbids. As the omniscient God, He knows everything even before they happen, and more so, nothing happens without his approval.

    This might raise eyebrows as regards why they relegated their faith to the background. But thank God the Christians made him see reasons to have a rethink.

    Although, legalising abortion in Nigeria is contestable as regards the incessant rape cases threatening womanhood. These days, seldom a day passes without a report on rape. Minors, young girls are now vulnerable to sexual assault. The worst is that even old women are not left out. What an unfortunate generation! This consequently leads to untold future agony and trauma, as it will degenerate into stigmatization, unwanted pregnancy and the likes.

    While considering the foregoing, a responsible government should investigate what precipitates rape, molestation among others and find remedy to address the menace. For example, the raping of old women, minors and even insane women have spiritual undertones. I expected the government to cut the roots and not the branches.

    While I was brooding on the issue, I could not fathom the kind of leaders we have in Nigeria. This is because our so- called leaders just wake up in the morning to take any decision they think is good for the people without making due consultation. Is this what the electorates bargained for?

    I was a bit relieved when l saw a headline recently-Governor Rochas: I signed bill ignorantly. While I expressed my displeasure over that ignorance which is not an excuse, I am equally giving him a half standing ovation for not only admitting his flaws but also apologizing.

    The other time, a Senator who claims to be representing his people sponsored a bill of child marriage, how unreasonable! This raise the question as to whether there are no pressing needs other than girl- child marriage? Or better still, why prioritising that when there are one thousand and one problems bedevilling the country that needs urgent intervention. Does that suggest we are being governed by ignorant folks who parade themselves as presidents, governors, law makers and the like? This is just a handful out of many.

    I suppose it is high time religious and other well meaning bodies took giant strides in scrutinizing public policies and proposed bills with the intent of pointing out loop holes, just like the Christians in Imo State rather than being their puppets used for widening ethnic, political and religious cleavages whose consequences are better imagined than experienced as it is the joy of unscrupulous politicians and a sweet story for the media.

    By Emmanuel Onoja,

    Ibadan.

  • The squeeze of law and order among youths

    Nowadays, one can hardly read a newspaper without being inundated with various accounts of criminals and devilish activities being perpetrated in our society. The height of this unbecoming higgledy piggledy moral decadence and the squeeze of law and order reached an alarming rate and I feel I should express my opinions as regards the remote and immediate causes and proffer solutions to these ignominious acts.

    Unusual incidence of cult-related stories, rape, murder, robbery, arson and cases of prostitution in particular are prevalent. Yesterday, I read about a case where a family of five was shot to death and put into unruly extinction by a gang of three boys with sophisticated weapons. As if that was not enough, just this morning, we heard of a case where an elderly woman was locked up and raped in a room by four young boys. What can we say about the outrageous, barbaric and uncivilised act by our young ladies who go about having sex with just anything all in the name of money what a shame!

    Besides, the present upsurge in social vices in general is mainly caused by the collapse of traditional values and norms. For instance, over the years, the cherished virtues of chastity and moral purity previously the pride of damsels and their parents have been abandoned just as respect for honest toil has largely given way to the worship of filthy lucre.

    Furthermore, if the economic quagmire in the country is not addressed, then this unbecoming development would be unending battle and moral decadence will assume an alarming proportion. Because mass property lies at the root of the moral decay in the land. Therefore, I want to make bold to say as an antidote that the government should put in place policies that would help elevate the moral standard of the people. In fact, government should pass a bill that provides stiffer penalties for anyone caught in the illicit trade of prostitution and others.

    Finally, efforts must be made by all concerned to open up economic opportunities in the country. Government at all levels should do more than pay lips service for the need to create Jobs for the nations intimidating army of unemployed youths whose idle minds and hands now lend themselves readily to the proverbial use of the devil.

    Omoba O. Purity,

    Etsako East,

    Ogiriga – Okpella,

    Edo Staten.

  • Disturbing increase in sexual crimes

    SIR: There is a pronounced rise in sexual crimes particularly rape across the globe and in our country. Hardly does a day go by without one reading of the rape of a woman, an adult defiling a child, father having carnal knowledge of daughter and similar depraved acts somewhere in the country. This is very disturbing.

    Rape is a horrible crime that deserves condemnation by every right-thinking human. But as one condemns, one should also pause a while and consider if he is not in any way contributing to the crime. While physically we may appear irreproachable, spiritually, we cannot escape our share of the guilt of such atrocities.

    Presently, the earth is saturated, choking with erotic thoughts. Wherever one looks it’s all about sex. Sex has since become about the highest selling commodity –if it isn’t sexy, forget it; and so many are just too eager to cash in on the boom. The fashion of today reeks of nudity and sensuality. Consider popular music, movies, and TV reality shows of today. They are mostly celebration of sensuality, nudity, lust, calls for debauchery. The celebrity must exude sensuality, in fact the more he/she projects sex, the more he/she is celebrated.

    The print media is not left out. Take a look at magazines and even dailies. So much space is now being taken up in the latter for sex talk. Sex is even incorporated into adverts of products which have nothing to do with it. This is just ridiculous!

    The effect is a poisoning of the thought environment hence many find themselves thinking of sex more often than is healthy. And the more people contemplate sex, the stronger the erotic thoughts surrounding the earth (and almost strangling it) becomes. Sex has lost its taboo; it has become just too casual. With this initial boundary crossed, naturally perversions set in.

    A more enduring solution is for humanity to begin to get the present sex-mania under control. We must begin to advertise sex less, to de-emphasize it. Let us make effort to keep the hearths of our thoughts pure. By so doing, we’ll reduce the strength of erotic and indeed other harmful thoughts and save ourselves heartaches.

    •Nnoli Chidiebere

    Aba, Abia State.

  • LG autonomy, a necessity

    SIR: Before the National Assembly went on their recess in July, the Senate and House of Representatives had separately debated and voted on the various items listed for amendment in the constitution. Of all the recommendations in the reports presented by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review and their House of Representatives counterpart, autonomy for local governments was of great concern to Nigerians.

    The Senate public hearing held across the six geopolitical zones and public sessions conducted by the House of Reps last year in the 360 federal constituencies of the country attested to the fact that majority of Nigerians were evidently for local government autonomy.

    However, at the end of voting on each item, the Senate dropped the clause for the proposed financial autonomy meant to abolish the joint state/local government account and allow the local councils to get direct funding from the federation account.

    On their part, the Lower House unanimously voted in favour of the abolition of the joint account in line with the aspirations of the people. However, all hope is not lost on the issue of local government autonomy. Since the House passed its own version, there are chances of it still scaling through at the conference session, where the committees of the two chambers will meet to harmonise their differences before the final passage by the National Assembly.

    Much as the lawmakers would want to remain loyal to the governors for the role they might have played in their electoral victories, they must know that it is equally important to protect the interest of the populace, who gave them (the legislators) the mandate to represent them in the parliament.

    Granting financial autonomy to the local councils is a necessary option to open the door of rapid development at the grassroots level.

    • Michael Jegede,

    Abuja.

  • Oranmiyan: Beyond the hosting right

    SIR: The raging controversy over the right to host the annual Oranmiyan festival between the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo could be said to be the continuation of the age long supremacy tussle between the two topmost thrones in Yorubaland. Beyond that, it shows the place of the legendry character among the Yoruba pantheons and it is an evident that our traditional leaders are living up to task as guardians of our culture, customs, traditions and heritage. Oranmiyan was a mythological personality credited with many extraordinary actions. He was believed to be the founder of the ruling dynasties and actually reigned in Benin, Oyo and Oko now Oke-ona Egba where he died and was a king of Ile-Ife all during his lifetime.

    Ife is qualified because Oranmiyan was a prince, a king and had his tomb and obelisk in Ile-Ife. Oyo on the other hand is qualified because Oranmiyan was the founder of Oyo and its throne. What applies to Oyo is also applicable to Oko. Consequently, celebrating Oranmiyan by the Oyo and Oko thrones is celebrating the founder’s day.

    In fact, veneration of the Oranmiyan could not be limited to the two cities or thrones. This is because Oranmiyan was taken by some Yoruba towns as a god of war that must be propitiated before venturing into war in the turbulent period in the Yoruba history.

    Beyond the annual festival, of greater imperative is how we can apply Oranmiyan’s political and organizational acumen and sagacity to solve our nation-building problem. For example, some of the political theories propounded by enlightenment philosophers in Europe in the 18th century like the concept of separation of powers, and checks and balances propounded by Jean Montesquieu (1689-1775), were the basis of the Oranmiyan’s innovations in government more than eight centuries earlier. Oyo Mesi, the council of state in Oyo Empire had its idea in separation of powers and checks and balances to prevent dictatorship and tyranny.

    The claimants to Oranmiyan have a great task at hand and one expects that subsequent celebrations should be more of intellectual brainstorming than cultural display and merrymaking.

    • Adewuyi Adegbite

    Apake, Ogbomoso.

  • Corruption: A President against the people

    SIR: President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent attempt to shift the blame of the cesspool of corruption that has characterised his administration and the public sector on ordinary Nigerians is a pure demonstration of his administration’s lack of will, focus and sincerity to tackle this menace. It also exposed the Peoples Democratic Party’s hypocritical approach towards the fight against official graft in the country.

    This ludicrous accusation by the country’s number one citizen came while making a presentation at the 54th annual conference of the Nigerian Economic Society. He told participants at the forum that Nigerians “reward corrupt practices” through their actions and conducts. According to him “I want a society where all of us will frown upon people who came up with what they are not supposed to have…”

    It is unbelievable that the president said this, given his administration’s record of dining and wining with persons of questionable character. It reminds one of the Holy Writ’s admonitions to remove the speck in one’s eyes before venturing o remove the log in another’s. We need to remind the president that he does not have the moral justification to so paint us black whereas his administration reeks with avarice.

    When the president took that infamous decision to grant the ex-corruption convict and his kinsman, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and other thieves, presidential pardon, despite the barrage of criticisms and public condemnation that trailed it, did it not occur to him that he was tactically endorsing this cancerous menace in the corridors of power? Was it not this same president who recently hosted the ex-convict Olabode George in Aso Rock for God-knows-what mission, that now turns back to accuse Nigerians of encouraging corruption by our conduct?

    If, perhaps the president has forgotten so soon that some of his cabinet members are seriously facing integrity question over their alleged involvement in corrupt practices in their various ministries and yet he has refused to bat an eyelid and still keeps them around him, we will remind him. Recall that it took the collective threat of the Senate before the former chairman of Pension Reform Task Force Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, accused of being involved in the N195 billion pension scam, was reluctantly relieved of his job by the same Presidency accusing Nigerians of supporting corruption by their actions and conducts.

    One also wonders if it was ordinary Nigerians that squandered the nation’s $67billion of foreign reserves and Excess Crude Account, as recently alleged by ex-Education Minister, Obiageli Ezekwesili, an allegation the presidency is yet to debunk.

    To further expose the president’s weakness and his regime’s non preparedness towards the fight against this hydra-headed monster, he also reportedly said at the event that he would not disclose the names of the individuals and private sectors that have been found wanting in this regard on the lame excuse that “ I will not want to be attacked”. This clearly shows that our president sees some individuals as more powerful than this country. Little wonder the anti-corruption outfits under his regime have been literally rendered toothless and ineffective.

    The president should leave the ordinary Nigerians who have become victims of his inept leadership alone. He should first deal with this malady among his officials before pointing accusing fingers to the Nigerian populace.

     

    • Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

    Lagos

  • Police checkpoints back on Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway

    SIR: Barely two years after the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed broke the jinx of police obstinacy of extorting money from motorists by dismantling all illegal police checkpoints along the country’s highways and pronouncing strict punitive measures on any police officer who backslides, the practice has since returned to Aba/Port Harcourt expressway.

    From Imo River Bridge in Rivers State to Alaoji in Abia State, over 10 police checkpoints are mounted there. This development would ordinarily not have been abnormal if they are there to oversee the security of life and property of the people, but they compel motorists, especially the commercial ones to dole out cash at every checkpoint.

    Over the years, the Nigerian Army has never been involved in this extortion syndrome, but this time around, the army officers working with these police officers have joined the bandwagon. Whereas the police officers collect the toll by themselves, the soldiers engage the services of civilians to collect on their behalf.

    This return of the practice at this time that the nation is battling hard to forge ahead with advanced climes should not be swept under the carpet by the federal government. There is therefore the urgent need to nip it on the bud before it spreads over to other parts of the country.

    I call on the Inspector General of Police, to detail his men to patrol the Aba/Port Harcourt expressway with a view to arresting these policemen and their military counterparts and mete out adequate disciplinary measures to them to serve as deterrent to any intending defaulters.

    • Nkemakolam Gabriel

    Port Harcourt

     

  • The myth of post-racialism

    SIR: In the mid1990s, my brother-in-law (at the time) and I had a Saturday ritual of watching boxing matches. We enjoyed the adrenal slugfest in all its perpetuity. Watching the fiery exchanges between combatants was just refreshing.

    I remember one of those Saturday evenings when we came home late to catch what was left of one of those fights. We watched and cheered loudly as two fighters did battle, going toe-to-toe. I remember how badly we both wanted the black fighter to pummel the white fighter to an embarrassing loss. Although the white chap lost the fight but I remember thinking later that night – why was I cheering for the black fighter over the white one – even when I did not know their names.

    The lesson I learned that day was that as human beings, our world view is not devoid of race, ethnicity and historical experiences. There is a “default” codification in our DNA that gravitates to racial proclivities – to deny it will be outright dishonest.

    Do we really think that almost 100 percent (actually 95 per cent) of African Americans who voted for Barack Obama in the last presidential elections did it because they loved his policies so much? When you heard Newt Gingrich repeating the disdainful mantra of “food stamp president” (in reference to Obama), did you think it was all politics?

    This brings me to the just concluded – Zimmerman v Martin case in the US. It would be an extreme case of ignorance to suggest that race was not a major factor in this case – from all sides.

    I hear many in the African American community state that this was all about the pursuit of justice for Trayvon. Again, I dare say that to stake that claim would be dishonest. It is not all about justice. Race is a big part of this case and other cases before and many after this.

    I have heard many suggest the possibility of post-racialism, where we view things completely outside the purview of black or white. That, in my humble opinion, is mythical, virtually impossible. It is reality to see life in terms of colour, race, culture, experiences, and even religion. It is only when we become “ugly” about it that we stoop to sub-human standards.

    It is okay to have a default expression or interpretation based on racial lens. To deny it or to act in a toga or groundswell of hate is putrid, debilitating and dishonest.

    • Obuko Uwanogho,

    Houston, Texas, USA

     

  • Oyo Police should call Ladoja to order

    SIR: I have observed with keen interest the recent political development in the Pacesetter State of Oyo and I am not happy with the larger-than-life posturing of a former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.

    The former governor has been going round the state campaigning for his 2015 governorship, under the platform of his Accord Party. Anywhere he goes, he makes frantic efforts at discrediting all the developmental strides of the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

    His character and conduct have shown him as an agent of destabilization and destruction, rather than a statesman which he ought to be. He has allowed his inordinate ambition to becloud his sense of reasoning, thus carrying himself as someone who is above the law.

    I therefore, want to call on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Ndabawa, to call Senator Ladoja to order. Everybody knows that the electioneering campaign for the 2015 election has not started, according to the Electoral Act. Why then is Ladoja creating unnecessary tension in Oyo State through his campaign?

    The people of Oyo State will not fold their arms and watch Ladoja visit the state with violence, thuggery and brigandage again as witnessed during his reign as governor. We are not ready and prepared to substitute anything for the peace and tranquillity that we are currently enjoying in the state since the commencement of the Senator Abiola Ajimobi administration.

    There is no doubt that safety, peace and security have served as the bases for the unprecedented transformation currently taking place in Oyo State. We, therefore, do not need Ladoja and his ilk to rock the boat. He should be reined in before he sets our dear state on fire again.

     

    • Nureni Akanmu,

    Idi-Ose, Ibadan, Oyo State.