The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Still on same sex marriage

    SIR: I have always felt that the arguments for homosexuality have been based on a bandwagon effect rather than on the test of the notion against nature’s processes, reason or logic. Counries that fail to adopt or have prohibited same sex unions are branded as backward and unenlightened but we fail to recognise that the fact that popular opinion favours a subject doesn’t make the subject right. Whatever society thinks should be juxtaposed alongside set moral standards or nature or any other established criteria, its weaknesses or strengths extracted and used to form healthy conclusions. I reckon that the proponents of same sex relationships have not considered this aspect in depth.

    Homosexuality and lesbianism are the only human process in nature that do not promote procreation. In elementary biology, we know that some lone cells procreate by binary fission i.e splitting of cells. Some other forms of asexual reproduction require only one body. Usually these bodies are so basic that such processes are not in themselves difficult or unnatural.

    We need to face the facts. Most of the fundamental laws of society were extracted from religious books and have been passed down from generation to generation. The frailties and flaws of human nature does not mean that these laws have failed.

    I have discovered with a heavy dose of irony that no professional commercial sex worker wants her child to be one, no matter how legalised the trade stands. Drug peddlers and baron keep their children away from the substance and will not support their consumption or use in spite of the legal stance in some areas. That is simply the evidence of a nature that God has created in man to instinctively and inwardly know and long for the truth despite being lost in perdition and perversion. No bad man wants a bad man-child. No woman want a bad girl-child. No homosexual except bold-faced liars want a homosexual child.

    Let me not be misunderstood here. As unnatural as I consider homosexuality, I don’t place it as a dangerous social problem. In fact I regard it as a “normal”problem classed with the likes of bad breath or body odour. For these latter groups, we do not create right groups and civil societies to cater for their special needs. We set them up to address their challenges and advise them on the necessary steps to take to eradicate or at least manage their problems. We do not use perfumes to hide body odour or candies to hide bad breath. Neither can we use laws to hide the truths about this sort of sexuality except we want to deny that we have a problem in our hands. If drug users can be rehabilitated in spite of its legal nature in some areas, if commercial sex workers can be taught to lead better lives, why can’t this group be rehabilitated and re-taught on the correct use of their organs?

     

    • Daniel Taiwo Ogunronbi

    Surulere Lagos

  • Fayemi’s EKSU lecture: My generation’s position

    SIR: Recently, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, delivered a lecture titled “Reflections on Values and the Building of A Successor Generation in Nigeria” at the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti where he talked extensively about the need to build a successor generation and the values befitting of such a generation.

    Going through the text of the lecture, I couldn’t but present the position of my generation – the younger generation. The truth is, my generation is not aware of any successor generation in the making.

    My generation knows three (3) generations in Nigeria:. The first is the real generation. This is the first generation of educated and prominent Nigerians, the generation of the likes of Herbert Macaulay, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe, Anthony Enahoro, Tafawa Balewa…This is the generation that worked for and witnessed the birth of the entity called Nigeria. This generation loved Nigeria and Nigerians so much so that it gave the next generation free education, first Television station in Africa, Cocoa House Ibadan and many more. This generation carefully planned for its young by ensuring that education became a right and not a privilege. Unfortunately, the military did not allow this generation to finish its good work.

    The second is the their generation. This generation rates itself as the best in everything while shrouding its activities in secrecy and creating the impression that my generation (the younger generation) is unfit and out-of-place. Ironically, this is the generation that the likes of Baba Awolowo gave all to mentor – the generation that goes to class in the morning only to return and find its room swept and its bed laid. This is the generation that enjoyed free education, had enough freedom to indulge in campus politics and from there found their different leanings whether as marxists, capitalists, socialists… This is the generation that Nigeria gave almost all to make comfortable, but is now giving out nothing to the generation after it, save hardships, stifling poverty, mental degradation…

    Reknowned playwright Wole Soyinka tags this generation a wasted one, but I’d rather call it a wasted and a wasting generation.

    My generation feels the hard sole of the boots of the members of this generation. Rather than mentor, they are taming my generation to act and think like zombies. My generation remains a boy at 30 because he still stays with his parents and because no one asks his opinions even in matters that solely concern him. Erudite Professor Jide Osuntokun during the lecture noted that the problem with his generation is that it plans for my generation without making us (youth) stakeholders in such plans.

    The question is, how would they know what my generation knows when they never ask or involve us? Instead, they mock us for attending ill-equipped schools which in fact were made so by the several unworkable greedily conceived policies of their generation.

    My generation has been left to founder and flounder. While the thugs among us are being rewarded by their generation, we, the good and cultured ones, watch helplessly, hoping hopelessly against hope that someday someone somewhere would remember and honour our talents, potentials and loyalty.

    Let us continue to question, challenge and reject the decision of their generation to keep rewarding the thugs among us while the cerebral ones are daily scorned.

     

    • Fola Davies

    Ikere, Ekiti State

  • Let ASUU be

    SIR: The Yoruba say no sane parent gives a stubborn child to a wild animal to feed-on. The parent would rather pray and work for the transformation of the child. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is a common legacy of all the universities in Nigeria, mounted to protect the interest of the academic staff. Whenever the Union secures a right, all the other staff unions in the system press for a similar right.

    Through ASUU’s pressures, many universities in Nigeria are better funded. Unfortunately, some administrators use the enormous funds at their disposal to build fanciful structures, and engage in expansionism, while failing to maintain properly the preceding structures. Some retired workers are not replaced. What is worse, some faculties have no sufficient lecture rooms and examination halls.

    In universities where ASUU has been compromised, the academic and other staffs become a pawn in the chess of the administrators. They experience such degradations as cut in salaries, illegal deductions, and denial of allowances. I don’t know how else a university academic staff can protect its dignity than through a well-positioned ASUU chapter. Those who are resisting ASUU have ulterior motives, and the overwhelming majority should shout them down.

    ASUU is badly positioned when its executive arm is composed of “academics” handpicked by a dictatorial Vice-Chancellor and his/her kitchen cabinet, surreptitiously imposed on the Union. Such a scenario violates ASUU’s Constitution. The handpicked executive members are silenced with unmerited promotions in some universities. Yes, they sell their consciences and neutralize the only protection (ASUU) owned by the academic staff.

    The situation is not different from what obtains in the larger Nigerian society: timidity and failure to oppose dictatorship and exploitation. The saddest question is: If a university community cannot save its union, what contribution can it make to Nigeria’s liberation from neo-colonialism? Those who equate ASUU with incessant strike play the union into the hands of its enemies. They are agents of Mammon; their stomachs are their gods; they commit Boko Haram.

    Repositioning ASUU is a collective responsibility; the excesses of both ASUU and university administrators cannot be properly addressed simply by removing the word “strike” from Nigeria’s dictionary. Strike must remain in ASUU’s arsenal if university administrators are to fear and respect it at all. Strike is ASUU’s teeth that it must use (sparingly) in encounter with horrible inhumanity. Not all ASUU’s strikes are reprehensible. What is more, most of its achievements have been through one strike or another. Those working against ASUU’s existence should remember posterity and nemesis. Let all rise in support of ASUU!

    • Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D,

    University of Ilorin

  • Nigerians in the hands of ‘selfless’ rulers

    Nigerians in the hands of ‘selfless’ rulers

    We have been hearing it for ages from our rulers (leaders?); we heard it last Christmas and also recently on the occasion of Prophet Mohammed’s (SAW) birthday. Very soon, we will again hear it during the Easter period.

    “Emulate Christ (or Mohammed, depending on the occasion) by sacrificing, being selfless and service-oriented…”

    True, Jesus Christ was an embodiment of selflessness, sacrifice and service. He provided genuine leadership by living these virtues before teaching them: “The former treatise have I made O Theophilus, of ALL that Jesus began both to DO and TEACH” (Emphasis mine, Acts 1:1).

    How long will our rulers who have a maddening propensity for material acquisition, accumulation and fiscal mismanagement continue to teach or admonish us on virtues they don’t possess? Are these not attributes they brazenly show disdain for by their gluttonous devouring of our common patrimony?

    When wills the day come that one would open a newspaper, turn on the TV (if there’s light) or listen to the radio and not read or hear about billions disappearing from government coffers as if money has wings?

    To worsen a situation that should attract an ecclesiastical address and a problem that has brought reproach to Nigeria, religious leaders continue to avail these rulers their pulpits or give them special space in the front pews. I am befuddled by the attitude of supposed spiritual leaders who allow these biblical hirelings to desecrate a place that’s supposed to be “the ground and pillar of truth”, knowing that these rulers (leaders?) are full of untruths!

    They are like the biblical thief (who has come to steal, kill and destroy). Or how do you describe one who is vested with the responsibility of effecting development but is busy plundering, destroying and ravaging lives through audacious and avaricious ‘kleptomaniacs’?

    Another thing I find most disheartening is the ‘dividend of democracy’, which Nigerians, gullible as ever, fall for. Is democracy not about providing good governance, development of men and materials (infrastructure), prudent management of our common resources and the freedom to checkmate deviants from assuming office through free and fair elections? Are all these not currently lacking in Nigeria?

    To return to the selflessness and service of Jesus Christ, who our thieving rulers continue to preach to us to follow his path; he fed multitudes that needed to be fed; he healed the sick that came to him; he protected the weak from strong hypocrites (the woman caught ‘in the act’); indeed, the Bible records that “he went about doing good.”

    Can we say that our rulers (leaders?) have not been anointed to do good to us, yet they ask us to pray for them (in their own minds to continue chastising us with snakes and scorpions)? What hypocrites and Sadducees our rulers (leaders) are!

    To whom much is given, much is desired. When we cede our powers to leaders at election, who later turn to rulers, we do so in the hope that they will improve our lot and not impoverish us by obscenely enriching themselves while asking us to keep ‘sacrificing and being selfless’ till we go to the grave.

    Things are not working in this country because those we ave entrusted with providing direction are not doing so. And ecause Nigerians are docile and weak from low self-esteem, that is why we will always have a recycle of the irresponsible, irresponsive, gluttonous, ravaging, destructive, insensitive, uncaring, unfeeling, go-to-hell-if-you-may class at the top, steering us to the precipice.

    Surely, the treatment meted out to King Loius XVI of France and his grandiloquent wife will one day be the lot of these rampaging rulers, since they seem to be irredeemably hard-hearted.

    By Fredrick Adegboye,

    Lagos

  • Nigeria is a lie

    Nigeria is a lie

    The leper said two things, one of them being a lie; he said after he had struck his child with his palm, he also pinched him severely with his fingernails.

    Recently, in a small family reunion I was invited, I watched as a father narrated a movie to the kids. Unknown to him, the kids had viewed the same film. He went about mumbling the story line, while the older ones feigned attention, one of the younger ones just blurted out:”Daddy it’s a lie”.

    My admonition is on the lies as told by our First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. I got a lot of cold knocks, but truth is, very little has changed from my submission. Primarily, that the president’s wife lied.

    My concern not being so much about her lying but the fact that Nigerians have embraced lies as a national past time, from the governed to those doing the governance itself.

    Lies are told about electricity. The whole pension administration is filled with filthy lies. We lie about education, which is why four students killed during a student protest due to lack of water in Nasarawa State University and then the president donates some millions for some water project.

    The cost of lies to our national development cannot be quantified. So it is fashionable that parents lie to kids, husbands to wife, wives to sisters, employers to employees, and how about those legislative lies on job creation.

    Telling the truth is just unthinkable; it has simply become a deviant attitude to be truthful. From the recent past, the truth of the third term remains fuzzy. Many have forgotten the plenty of naira notes on the national assembly table—It’s all been lied away.

    We will never find out who signed our budget only some four years ago. I have not forgotten the ‘god of men’ that visited the then president and could not tell the truth about his health status.

    I guess this writer should let sleeping dogs lie, and of course that itself is the problem, the dogs don’t sleep, they lie continuously. Babangida Aliyu says there was a one term pact, Jonathan says no, show me proof, reminding me of the lies of zoning and some signed documents. They just lie, telling us this, telling us that and doing very little if any in terms of tangible development.

    They lied about Chime of Enugu, and Chime then lied to himself. How about the current new improved, okay newly resurrected dame or what have the liars got to say about my brother Suntai, after that no-smile-carry-baby photo play and he’s coming back next week which never ends.

    The problem with all these lies is how they seem to become the truth after constant repetition; you know that caveat that if you listen repeatedly to a lie, it becomes the truth. One other effect is, it leaves us with a short fuse memory because it’s all too dramatic.

    When last did a public official tell the truth, I mean say it as it is, and have it on record as having said and stood by it. We just talk anyhow, most times without thought or regard to the consequences.

    I recall a visit to Bayelsa then as governor, Goodluck Jonathan told us that by the time he’s done with electricity in the sleepy oil state, generators would be a thing of the past—fat lie, till date the generators blare non-stop.

    When will we reach the stage in our national life, where truth will triumph, where lies are not necessary, or do we still remain a lie…only time will tell.

    By Prince Charles Dickson

  • Taming the unemployment scourge

    SIR: Successive federal governments patently never had foresight to anticipate the exponential population growth that Nigeria had over these years or those that did regretfully failed to put in place concrete and well-articulated measures that will create jobs for the teeming youths of this country. Were Tafawa Balewa/Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kaduna Nzeogwu, Aguiyi Ironsi, Ernest Shonekan and Murtala Muhammed alive, they probably might request to be excused for having very short tenures that made it virtually impossible or impracticable to initiate long-lasting, history-making policies or programmes.

    However,General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, late General Sani Abacha, General Abdul Salam Abubakar, late Umaru Musa Yar’adua and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan are very much culpable. Their regimes cannot be exculpated from the generally execrable situation which Nigeria has found herself economically and consequently the seeming hydra-headed unemployment malady. Apart from the Babangida administration that established the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), it is difficult to recollect any other conscious attempt at getting Nigerians employed. Even then, the Directorate did not live up to its name.

    In those days, jobs were there for the asking. Even school certificate holders got jobs easily. From the benefit of hindsight, it was my senior brother who disallowed my humble self from taking an offer of employment with a bank after school certificate because it might constitute a hindrance to my proceeding for further education.

    Today, virtually local industries in sectors known for massive employment are either comatose or dead; sectors such as textiles, manufacturing and production. The unemployment problem is now so big that we have associations for unemployed youths in states and nationally. Members of these associations are those who still have a glimmer of hope that governments will one day wake up to their expected responsibilities of providing employment opportunities.

    Millions do not have such faith or patience; they have designed other means. Some have taken to armed robbery, smuggling, assassinations, and other vices. It is a pity that young boys and girls in their droves look up to weekly winnings from pools, lotto and football result predictions as major sources of revenue for them.

    To compound the problem of our teeming graduates churned out yearly by the numerous higher institutions, after serving their fatherland, they come out green into the unemployment market only to meet employers asking for years of experience before being employed. Pray, how do you acquire experience if you are not given the opportunity to work?

    These days you do not even get to see job vacancies’advertisements again as employments are surreptitiously done. Where advertisements are made , they are mere formality to legitimize recruitments already done.

    With all these huddles being placed before our youths, can we honestly describe our youths as ‘leaders of tomorrow’? Our youths are not being prepared for tomorrow and it is quite disheartening. Let this administration tackle the energy problem confronting this country to put back on stream our comatose industries. Nigerians are hardworking and industrious people; they would take immediate advantage to create jobs. The Federal and other state governments can take a cue from Osun State where jobs are being consciously created through the‘O YES’ and ‘YES O’ programmes. Unless and until we give our youths a sound today, guaranteeing a future for them will remain a mirage. And a country that does not take care of its young, able-bodied citizens will definitely know no peace.

    • Laitan Akinwwunmi

    Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, Lagos.

  • APC can rescue Nigeria

    SIR: It is almost 14 years since Nigeria transited from military rule to civilian rule. Democracy we say we are adopting or practising but the features of democracy are lacking in our ruling system.

    PDP has triumphed over every other party since 1999 up to the present even though people said they often rig. Ever then, Nigerians are still struggling to enjoy a bit of the dividends of democracy.

    Democracy in its strongest sense encompasses many things. It cuts across voting in an election day. It requires us to take an active role in helping to solve public problems, which requires us to cogitate critically about what goes on in our country and the world around us.

    Nigeria is on the brink of collapse because of the leadership style and the clueless, selfish and wicked ambition of the so called PDP. The party has failed in several years in its quest and has not lived up to its responsibilities. The responsibilities of any reasonable government is to make life worthwhile for its people through the utilization of its resources to provide basic things that can make life enjoyable and important. Also, is to provide security of lives and properties of its citizenry. Any government who failed in this course however, is an irresponsible government.

    Over the years, the only evident achievement of the PDP-led government is the promotion of corruption. However, I still wonder why they have not introduced corruption as a course in our universities.

    The stewardship of the PDP is still failing. The scandals and atrocities committed by them since 1999 to the present are enough to cripple the country beyond recovery.

    Nigeria is Africa’s leading oil producer and has myriad potentials and resources for economic development but ironically, its majority population is living in abject poverty. There is no certainty for better tomorrow; killings, bombings, kidnappings, armed robberies and other social and political vices have found their ways into our normal daily activities and consequently, exposed us to untimely death.

    Nigeria has become an abode for terrorists. We can no longer sleep with our two eyes closed because of the fear of attack either from the so called Boko Haram or unidentified gunmen as the media normally report.

    2015 is drawing near and we have heard the National Chairman of PDP, Bamanga Tukur likening PDP to Barcelona and world best player Lionel Messi. His statement of course means that no party can outdo them. But he should be reminded that Lionel Messi was present when Chelsea defeated Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final in 2012 despite the advantages given to them by the referee.

    This is the right and the best time for Nigerians to wake up from slumber and face the reality. The reality is that, we have waited patiently enough for 14 years and endured enough harsh policy of the PDP-led administration. It is in this regard, that the four main opposition parties resolved and merged to form APC, All Progressive Congress.

    I will like to implore patriotic Nigerians who mean good for the country to rise and stand firm to support the new born baby, APC wholeheartedly irrespective of religion, ethnicity, tribe and race to enable us save our dear country from imminent collapse.

    •Waziri Mohammed

    IBB University Lapai. Niger State.

  • Memo to Okonjo-Iweala and Erelu Olusola Obada

    SIR: I am writing this open memo to the two of you because of the unpaid arrears of pensioners. For the past three years, pensioners have been waiting for the 53 percent increase that is due to them. Needless to say, this entitlement is long-overdue. In view of the intimations of mortality which is the special lot of pensioners, many of these senior citizens have since passed on.

    In respect of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, you may wish to recall that at the King’s College Old Boys’ luncheon where you were the guest speaker, I raised this issue with you in the context of a question and answer session. You promised then that as soon as an audit has been carried out these elderly citizens will be paid. More importantly perhaps, you averred that paying the pensioners is one of those features that will swell the recurrent expenditure of the Federal Govenment. Madam, you may wish to know here that some of these pensioners earn below three thousand naira a month! I repeat-three thousand naira a month. I therefore leave it to you to do the calculation of what the increase of 53 percent will amount to.

    On your own part, Madam Erelu Olusola Obada, in your capacity as Minister of State ,Navy, for Defence, you promised retired military personnel that as soon as the 2013 budget has been passed, the retired soldiers will be paid. Since the 2013 budget has now been passed, I can only hope that the retired soldiers and other pensioners will be paid the long over-due 53 percent.

    At the risk of sounding alarmist, permit me to point out here that when retired soldiers are denied what is due to them, then we have on our hands another source of insecurity.

    All told, the worth of any nation can easily be measured by the way its most vulnerable citizens are treated.

    So please pay the pensioners now. They are a dying breed!

    • Professor Kayode Soremekun

    Covenant University,Ota

    Ogun State.

  • Open letter to Ifako-Ijaiye LG chairman

    SIR: It is no gainsaying that the administration of the incumbent chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State, Hon. Toba Oke, will be remembered for embarking on massive road rehabilitation. This issue was one of the cardinal promises he made to voters in the local government area during his campaign for the local government election that eventually brought him to power in October 2011.

    However, residents of Oguns Street are yet to enjoy this important aspect of dividends of democracy as the ever busy street that links with Agbado Road from Iju Ishaga has consistently remained an eyesore and impassable to residents and road users during rainy season. This is due to total absence of gutter on the right and left side of the street. The street that is wide enough to accommodate a good drainage system runs parallel to Iju-Ishaga/Agbado Road between Toko-Taya and Olusesi bus-stops. It also links Aliyu Adeshina streets together at the tail end of Aliyu street while approaching Iju-Ishaga/Agbado Road from Balogun Bus-stop via Oguntade street.

    Though several appeals were made to past chairmen for provision of drainage on the street since the return to democratic governance at council level in Nigeria in 1999, all of these fell on deaf ears despite the fact that residents and business owners on the street have remained good citizens by meeting up with their civic responsibilities through contribution to the internally generated revenue of the local government.

    It is hoped that the administration of Hon. Oke will embark on provision of drainage on Oguns Street so as to prevent further hardship to the people. The rainy season is here and residents are already apprehensive because of the flood and the fact that the road is rendered impassable after each rain.

    • Alhaji Mutiatu Olaideinde

    Oguns Street, Ifako-Ijaiye LGA

    Lagos State

  • Why Bauchi is model of executive/legislative harmony

    SIR: Even though it may be too early in the day to hazard a conclusion, Bauchi State may yet win a prize or trophy as a state where Executive/Legislative relationship has defied all odds to give birth to a child of harmony, peace and tranquillity. So far the relationship between the executive and the legislature is so cordial that the people of the state are wondering the magic behind that rapport. Actually,there is nothing magical about it. It is just a question of obeying the constitution and being transparent in handling the affairs of the state. Apart from obeying the constitutional provision regarding the function of the executive and the legislators,Governor Isa Yuguda has also brought a personal touch to bear on the Legislatures.

    With the 31 members of the State Assembly comprising of 26 PDP and six CPC members, the state has witnessed stability and productivity.

    Which ever side of the divide one belongs,the ultimate truth lie more with the unique leadership style of Governor Yuguda and the political skills and ability of the speaker Alh. Yahaya Miya in the coordination of the legislative affairs of the state.

    Before the emergence of Alh. Yahaya Miya as the 11th speaker, the state assembly had passed through several speakers this includes; Alh. Maigeri Yerima Bappah 1979-1983; Alh. Garba Norma 1983-Dec.1983; Alh. Yau Nababa and Barr. Ahmed Almustapha 1992-1993; while Rt. Hon. Bappah Haruna Desiena was speaker in 1999-2003; Hon. Auwal Jatto and Tanko Jalam served from 2003-2007; Haliru Jika,Babayo Garba Gamawa and Ahmed Ibrahim Faggo from 2007-2011 and now Alh. Yahaya Miya 2011-till date.

    But before the election of Alh. Yahaya Miya as speaker,the leadership was usually foisted on lawmakers by the strong men in the state in collaboration with the cabal in the ruling party.The House was consequently under remote control as godfathers called shorts from the outside.

    However,for the first time, the state assembly was left alone to freely chose its leadership without interference from the executive. Today, Miya’s sterling leadership qualities has provided an essential stability in the House and has greatly helped deepen and strengthen our democracy. His wisdom,fairness and dedication to duty have earned the respect and confidence of all of his colleague and the executive.

    • John Akevi,

    Nitel Qters. Bauchi.