The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • The unfortunate report on polio in FCT

    SIR: The recent report of two polio cases in FCT is unfortunate and embarrassing and it shows that more still have to be done in the fight against the disease. For polio cases to be reported in Federal Capital City where two ministers of health, the two ministers of FCT and the First Lady reside shows that the government is not serious about fighting the scourge.

    Instead of Minister of State for FCT, Jumoke Akinjide to take responsibility for the situation, she was blaming the reported cases on the influx of the people to the FCT.

    How many people enter Abuja per day or per month compared to Lagos? Because if it is about the influx of the people, Lagos ought to be reporting polio cases everyday given the high rate of movement into the city.

    I expect Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu to be able to give more convincing reason than that given by the FCT minister.

    What steps are the ministry of health and the ministry of FCT taking toimmunise the children entering Abuja and other children in the satellite towns within FCT?

    It is embarrassing that Nigeria is still one of only three countries in the world where polio still exists. In this, we are in the company of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

    The campaign to stamp out polio received the first jolt in 2003 when the governments in some northern states and some Islamic leaders rejected the polio vaccines on the ground that it was a western ploy to arrest population growth in the Muslim world.

    Against all odds, Nigeria has reduced polio by 95% as at 2011. But the crippling disease still threatens Nigeria’s children.

    Awareness must be carried out in some of the northern states where polio vaccination is still being resisted. The killing of nine health workers involved in polio vaccination in Kano State last month must be condemned by all. Muslim clerics in the North must also enlist in the task of properly educating their members that polio vaccination means no harm, they must be informed that some Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and Malaysia had cooperated with World Health Organisation in ensuring that their populations were well covered by the polio vaccination.

    If China and India with the populations of over 1 billion each are polio free, I believe Nigeria with population of 170 million has no excuse to be in the company of three countries where polio still exists.

    • John Tosin Ajiboye

    Osogbo Osun State

  • Ogun Assembly needs prayers

    SIR: The frequent uproar and skirmishes at Ogun State House of Assembly call for serious concern and concerted efforts before the worst happens. During the last legislative period under the Daniel’s administration, the assembly was polarized into two groups and did not sit for months, yet jumbo allowances were paid for work not done. Then, a group of the legislators made us to believe that it was fighting for the future of the state by opposing the executive request for bond (or bondage as it was called then) from the capital market.Some of the principal actors in the house then are in the present assembly. Yet, the same bond has been approved unconditionally. Our Honourable legislators owe us an explanation.The Ogun legislators are not reputed to be championing good governance via innovative legislative Bills. They are not fighting the executive because of the interest of the masses. They do not bother to serve as check to the executive. Most of the laws in the state are copied from Lagos where the legislators are devoted to legislative business. Our legislators are hereby challenged to name a Bill ever proposed and passed into law aimed to offer succour for the welfare of the people of the state.Coincidentally, most of the Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria today have their headquarters in Ogun State. The time has come for them to intervene and decree special deliverance to free the assembly from the forces and spirits of retardation, stagnation and upheaval.The latest crisis is alleged to be caused by the composition of House Tender Board. The question is, of what importance is the board to legislative business? Are our legislators elected to award contracts? A discerning mind would know that behind all these brouhaha is the sharing of our common wealth. It shall be well with Ogun State House of Assembly.Femi Ogunbanwo, EsqLagos

  • Nigeria not a secular state

    SIR: To protect your privacy, remote images are blocked in this message. Display images

    I beg to disagree with President Goodluck Jonathan as reported in The Nation, page 60 of Tuesday March 12 describing Nigeria as a secular state.The dictionary defines ‘secular’ as ‘not connected with spiritual or religious matters’. Also wikipedia says, ‘a secular state is one that supports neither religion nor irreligion.The Nigerian state supports Christianity and Islam.The Nigerian state sponsors people on religious pilgrimages; in Nigeria,there are religious houses in state house/s); the Nigerian government declares public holidays to mark religious festivals; recently,the media reported that a top government official went to Rome to represent the country at a religious event. Also recently, a Nigerin government in the south-south region donated state money to a religious organisation. In fact,the President was reported to have made the remark referred to above at an occasion where some states were reported to him for not sponsoring Christians on pilgrimage. In the light of all these,,how can we say that Nigeria is a secular state? No doubt, secularity in state matters may be desirable. However, it is not possible inNigeria. Nigeria is a multi-religious state and we do not have to pretend otherwise or be ashamed to say so. Nigeria is a muslim country. Nigeria is a christian country. Nigeria is a country of indigenous beliefs. Any government that thinks otherwise is deluding itself or just being hypocritical. I, for one, I am very proud of this religious pluralism which I believe is God’s gift to this country and should be guarded jealously from generation to generation.

    • Adisa Aro Seidu,Ojodu-Berger,Lagos

  • Jonathan’s visit to Borno, Yobe

    SIR: President Jonathan’s visit to Maiduguri affords every keen observer of the present insurgency the rare opportunity to decipher the administration’s largely incoherent counter-terrorism strategy. Ever since the beginning of the war on Boko Haram, we have been inundated with claims by the government and its (in) security agencies that the ongoing military campaign – despite its deplorable excesses – is strategically well-grounded.

    We once had the president prophesy that the Boko Haram will not last beyond June 2012. His police chief had earlier declared Boko Haram’s days numbered while a defense chief contended that the insurgency will only come to an end when and only when Boko Haram runs out of suicide bombers.

    So far, months have passed, police chiefs sacked, and defense chiefs reshuffled even as Boko Haram campaign of terror runs amok.

    Our current counter-terrorism strategy is counter-productive in that it incites further escalation by its constant targeting of defenseless civilians. This necessitates the need to re-examine the strategy with the aim of decreasing its support, diminishing its presence, limiting its ability to operate and squeezing it out of its safe havens. Such strategy should be specifically geared towards targeting the ideology rather than the individual terrorist, because every individual terrorist is redeemable, salvageable and worthy of dignity as a human. It is only through counter-ideological confrontations that we can effectively achieve these strategic goals of defeating terrorism in all its ideological hues.

    It is misleading to posit Boko Haram as a strictly religious or political phenomenon. No Nigerian Muslim would want his religion to be presented in such destructive, bloodletting and atavistic form. Such simplistic generalization and counter-factual condescension miss many important points: Are Boko Haram adherents having no other goals and dreams in life than suicide bombing and violence? What had they been doing all their lives that they were both Boko Haram and non-violent prior to the 2009 escalation?

    We live in a country riddled with numerous politically-induced demographic disparities where the assuaging fabrics of social welfarism are shredded to pieces by elite greed and political nepotism. Those socio-economic and cultural imbalances are more visible in northern Nigeria where the near absence of civil activism and a conformist cultural orientation have conspired to entrench a regime of impunity and elite insensitivity across the region with little resistance. Yusuf craftily tied his message around those elements of our socio-political discontent.

    Military approach alone cannot defeat terrorism. After eleven years of stalemate in Afghanistan, the US is finally reaching to the Taliban with the hope of striking a deal. I am not an advocate of incoherent strategy of containment. Boko Haram has been losing the publicity battle within its operational bases, and so does the military. It is this realization that is forcing a rethink among Boko Haram’s ranks that led to the recent offer of dialogue. Dialogue at this time presents the government with a double-edged opportunity to co-opt the moderates among the insurgents, an action which has the potential to alienate the group’s extreme core or trigger factional strife that will see both factions expend or seriously weaken each other. This will also demonstrate the government’s willingness to assume responsibility and to dialogue without undermining its resolve to use force to protect the citizenry when necessary.

    Regrettably, any chance for peace has been pre-empted with the president’s renunciation of dialogue and the publication of the government kill list that places bounties on the group’s top command.

    There seem to be only three types of victims of the FG/Boko Haram war: those who are innocently killed or maimed; those who are falsely accused or smeared; and the rest of us who are helpless, vulnerable, and terrified to speak out.

    Jonathan’s visit to Maiduguri affirmed one important point: that the ghosts of terror have not only infiltrated his administration, but have also impaired his ability to think and act like a leader capable of trading-off short-term political exigencies for future stability and not vice versa. With that now clear, Jonathan’s visit to Borno cannot be condemned for waste of resources.

    • Ahmed Musa Husaini

    Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

  • Police PRO misinformed on traffic wardens

    Police PRO misinformed on traffic wardens

    SIR: I read the comment of Police Public Relations Oficcer (PPRO) Frank Mba on the status of Traffic Waredens in The Nation newspaper on Saturday March 2.

    I want to use this medium to ask Frank Mba to provide documents that transfered traffic wardens from Federal Ministry of Works to the Police. I need to know, Nigerians are interested as well. They need to

    know!

    Mba should know that Nigerian Police do not give letter of employment; they recruit and train. The moment you pass out from the police college, your appointment is confirmed.

    I challenge him to show if he has any employment letter other than the service record in his file.

    He said traffic wardens are not part and parcel of the Police but the Police use the same measures to discipline the traffic wardens e.g. detention, orderly room trial just to mention a few. Traffic wardens are not part and parcel of the police but the last batches that were promoted in February 2006 attended their promotion course at Police College Ikeja, Lagos where they were lectured both on traffic and police duties. In January 2007, these traffic wardens wrote their confirmation exams along side with regular Police Inspectors. Only one question was asked on traffic duties; the remaining four questions papers were on police duties.

    Police have tailors, drivers, technicians working with them as specialists; they enjoy all amenities residing in Police Barracks. While policemen are promoted regularly, the reverse is the case with the traffic wardens.

    It is a shame that the P.P.R.O does not know the information or data concerning the office he is representing. Mba should go and read Decree 21 that established Traffic Warden Service in 1975 and the Police Act Cap 359 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

    • Michael Akpanke

    Ipaja, Lagos State

  • Nigeria needs to turn a new page

    Nigeria needs to turn a new page

    SIR: Nigeria became independent about 53 years ago. Since then till now, certain selfish persons keep arresting her growth. Those who killed Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa and company arrested Nigeria’s growth. The civil war and the circumstances that led to it arrested Nigeria’s growth. The long years of military rule, and the military leaders, such as General Yakubu Gowon and General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), who prolonged it unnecessarily, arrested Nigeria’s growth. The civilian rule of President Shehu Shagari that perpetrated unbridled corruption arrested Nigeria’s growth.

    The annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by IBB was a catastrophe whose negative effects are still fresh in the memory of many Nigerians. What is at par with that annulment of a free and fair presidential election was the truncation of rotational presidency that was instituted to redress past political summersaults. Yes, it is a big slur on General Olusegun Obasanjo who supported Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s opportunism.

    The saddest aspect is that many elites forgot where Nigeria was coming from (political destabilizations) and supported Jonathan because South-south had never produced a President, and rotational presidency is not in Nigeria’s Constitution. If we give rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones a chance, that would have given Nigeria a new outlook of an orderly society. The most stupid argument against it is that some zones lack presidential materials, whereas the protagonists are yet to mention the zones that have no presidential materials or the super zones with impeccable presidential materials.

    Rotational presidency was a well thought-out measure in view of Nigeria’s ethnic peculiarities, borne of the fact that every society must establish an order that suits its peculiar circumstances. Saying rotational presidency is un-democratic betrays a shallow knowledge of what democracy connotes, namely, whatever a people accepts as good for its society. The All Progressive Congress (APC) planners should go by rotational presidency. Jonathan and some Igbo allies are only trying to scoop hot soup impatiently, without regard for Nigeria’s stability.

    The fact of perceived past injustices does not mean Nigeria must never open an orderly page. The northerners have never ruled Nigeria in isolation, but always with the collaboration of their southern accomplices. So, it is not totally true that the north has been exclusively dominant. More urgently, Nigeria requires a political order that is just to all the segments and can stabilize the country, i.e. rotational presidency. Nigeria requires turning a new page in 2015.

     

    • Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D,

    University of Ilorin.

  • Attention, LAUTECH Vice -Chancellor

    Attention, LAUTECH Vice -Chancellor

    SIR: Since his appointment as the acting Vice Chancellor, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Prof. (Prince) Adeniyi Suleiman Gbadegesin has proved that the confidence reposed in him by the government of Oyo State is not misplaced. From the feelers from the institution, he has succeeded in clearing the Augean stable and restored the institution back on the path of fiscal discipline and sanity, which years of inept leadership has denied her. He has equally facilitated uninterrupted academic calendar through zero tolerance for workers’ strike, student unrest, which his administrative policies have checkmated. Among other things Gbadegesin has made efforts to introduce moral discipline on the campus by introducing dress code for the students of the institution. It is equally hearth warming that the crisis over the ownership of the institution has been nipped in the bud during his. tenure. All the above pointed to the fact that Prof. Gbadegesin is out to restore the lost glory of LAUTECH.

    In pursuit of this object however, the V.C is advised to direct his searchlight to the academic activities in some faculties as regards poor performances of some students which were actually caused by negligence and wickedness on the part of some staff of the institution. Of particular interest is the Department of Earth Sciences. Some of the allegation, which some students of this department leveled against the authority of the Department which the Vice Chancellor should investigate include delay in releasing the examination results of students, missing of students answer scripts, extortions through payment for field works, which the students many never go, unilateral withdrawal of students by the department, and sexual harassment. Some student also alleged that dearth of professors in this department has turned the only PHD holder and a long time HOD to a tin god and a dictator whose words are laws that cannot be challenged by the Senate of the university. The students allege that through his authority, many students have been expelled based on poor academic performances that are orchestrated with the connivance of some subjective academic staff of the department.

    The allegations may not necessarily be true in their entirety; this is because many students are not trust worthy, unserious, undisciplined and lazy. At times they look for excuses to justify their failures. Nevertheless, the allegations are worth investigating because there are many students in the department who have spent up to 10 years and whose fates hang in the balance unless the VC gives the matter urgent attention it required. The news emanating from the departments is not helping the image of LAUTECH. The earlier the department is sanitized the better.

    •Adewuyi Adegbite

    Apake, Ogbomoso.

  • Social media and students’ writing skills

    Social media and students’ writing skills

    SIR: Social media has made information and communication accessible to everyone irrespective of age, time, distance and many more. The world has become a global village with new technological advancement and the free flow of information and media content.

    The advent of social media has impacted on the way students communicate with one another especially in written form. Colloquialism is acceptable in spoken language but never in formal writing. Indeed, the way students communicate has changed completely because of the frequent use of social media like facebook, tweeter, 2go, BBM, Whatsapp, Badoo, and so on.

    However, these modern forms of communication that students use while chatting or interacting in social media is gradually influencing the way students write in the school. We have heard several reports or cases of such abnormal writing skills that have been developed or adopted by students due to their constant interaction in the social media. Terms such as laugh out loud or lot of love are being abbreviated to (lol), BRB to mean, be right back, UW to mean you welcome, U to represent you, letter D to represent the, R to represent are, and many other words and terms like that.

    Lecturers and teachers have reported a dramatic decline in the writing abilities of students. They do not capitalise words or use punctuation marks rightly anymore. Universities, polytechnics, colleges and even secondary schools are complaining about the trend of communication style being used by students via the use of social media.

    The opportunities that are inherent in the use of social media have been strongly abused especially by the students. Most students do not know the appropriate time to use social media. They use it even when their lecturers, teachers are in class lecturing or teaching and sometimes, lecturers would have to seize their phones and enforce punishment on such students.

    Consequently, the need for media literacy education becomes imperatives for children who are approaching adolescent age. This will give the children early and proper understanding of how to broaden their thoughts, skills, knowledge and provide them the opportunity to explore, learn and share his/her views with other people around the world.

    • Habiba Abubakar Yahaya

    IBB University, Lapai, Niger State.

  • Governance meltdown in Kogi

    Governance meltdown in Kogi

    SIR: The emergence of Governor Ichalla Wada in the highly doctored electoral heist of 2011 has aggravated adversely, the virus infected-politics of my dear state.

    As it stands today, if performance is the yardstick to measure a working state, Kogi State is at best, comatose. Keen watchers of the unfolding scenario have attributed the non-performance of the governor to the litany of court litigations against him, while others have traced the seemingly lacklustreness to the massive debt he inherited from his godfather predecessor, Ibrahim Idris. Why is it that the financial position of the state is still enmeshed in mystery? Or, is ex-governor Idris still in charge as being insinuated in some quarters? Wada should speak out.

    The infrastructures on ground, ranging from Kogi Polytechnic, Obajana Cement Factory, Kogi University and the once beautiful, “Confluence City” etc were conceived, initiated and executed by the ACN candidate in the last governorship poll, Abubakar Audu. Ironically, Capt. Wada, who many believe is a ‘very good man’ has hardly come to terms with what governance entails, or by extension, is burdened by the PDP’s impunity.

    Kogi is a vivid example of where nothing works: no well defined policy formulation and implementation; the 21 LGA’s are a shadow of what they should be because constitutional democracy is flagrantly abused; propagation and dissemination of poverty is at its summit; graduate unemployment is growing at geometric rate etc.

    In Borno State, Governor Shettima, inspite of the recurring Boko Haram insurgency has taken governance to another dimension. He underscored the importance of water supply by constructing 100 boreholes within his first 100 days in office. Adams Oshiomhole came like a whirlwind to sweep Edo clean of PDP’s corruption; he has since littered the entire landscape with enviable projects and restored in situ, the lost glory of the people.

    Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso just inaugurated “Kwankwasiyya pilots” where 100 Kano indigenes were sent abroad to study piloting. Inspite of the meagre monthly allocation of Ekiti, Governor Fayemi’s performance ratio far outweigh some oil producing states. Ekiti roads are a joy to behold.

    Governor Babatunde Fashola is doing the unthinkable; many thought Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had done all, but, alas, they were wrong.

    BRF’s road projects, housing scheme for low income earners; the total eradication of security threat miscreants; changing the entire outlook of Old Eko landscape to a masterpiece and his welfarristic programmes are a 21st century wonder.

    These laudable news from the less-endowed states calls for a sober reflection. The time has come for the administrators in Kogi State to brainstorm, think right, perform the required surgical operations and exploit maximally the varying opportunities for the benefit of Kogites or else posterity shall eternally write their names on the debit side of the balance sheet of political history.

    In case my memory fails me or I’m ill-informed on the state of things in Kogi, I want people who think they know to keep me abreast of the supposedly achievement(s) of Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada, since his assumption of office.

     

    • Anthony Oloniruha

    Kabba, Kogi State.

  • Tribute to Hugo Chavez

    Tribute to Hugo Chavez

    SIR: It is often said that some leaders were made while some were born. For Hugo Chavez the departed President of Venezuela, it can be said that he was made as he rose as military academy student to become the President of the oil-rich country.

    Born Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías on July 28, 1954, in Sabaneta, Venezuela, Chávez was the son of schoolteachers. Before becoming known for his reform efforts and strong opinions as president of Venezuela (1999-2013), he attended the Daniel O’Leary High School in the city of Barinas before going to the Venezuelan Academy of Military Sciences in the capital, Caracas where, he later said, he found his true vocation.

    He also found time to play baseball and to study the lives of the 19th Century South American revolutionary leader Simon Bolivar and the Marxist Che Guevara.

    In 1992, Chávez, along with other disenchanted members of the military, attempted to overthrow the government of Carlos Andres Perez. The coup failed, and Chávez subsequently spent two years in prison before being pardoned. He then started the Movement of the Fifth Republic, a revolutionary political party. Chávez ran for president in 1998, campaigning against government corruption and promising economic reforms.

    After taking office in 1999, Chávez set out to change the Venezuelan constitution, amending the powers of congress and the judicial system. As president, Chávez encountered challenges both at home and abroad. His efforts to tighten his hold on the state-run oil company in 2002 stirred up controversy and led to numerous protests, and he found himself removed from power briefly in April 2002 by military leaders. The protests continued after his return to power, leading to a referendum on whether he should remain president. The referendum vote was held in August 2004, and majority of voters decided to let Chávez complete his term in office.

    Chavez’s first decade in office saw Venezuelan GDP more than double and both infant mortality and unemployment almost halved. Poverty also plummeted (The Guardian reports that its “extreme poverty” rate fell from 23.4 percent in 1999 to 8.5 percent just a decade later).

    College enrollment more than doubled; millions of people have access to health care for the first time and the number of people eligible for public pensions also quadrupled.

    Unemployment dropped by 7.7% since the start of Chávez’s presidency. It dropped to 10% in February 2006, from the 20% high in 2003 during a two-month strike and business lockout that shut down the country’s oil industry. The World Economic Forum ranked Venezuela as 82 out of 102 countries on a measure of how favorable investment was for financial institutions.

    I join the Venezuelans and other eminent people all over the world including Chavez’s childhood friend, Diego Maradona in mourning with the immediate family

     

    • John Tosin Ajiboye

    Osogbo Osun State