The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Orji: Liberation and legacy indeed!

    Orji: Liberation and legacy indeed!

    It was in good faith Dr. Orji Kalu, the former governor, and the people of Abia State, threw his weight and support behind Governor T.A. Orji in 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPA), having gained experience as a seasoned civil servant and as Chief of Staff under the Orji Kalu administration. No one could have believed that a bureaucrat of that calibre could betray his people by failing to meet their yearnings and aspirations.

    Five years into the Orji-led administration, it is no longer news that Abia State is one of the worst states in Nigeria in terms of sustainable development. The governor’s inability to keep to his campaign promises is a crime against humanity and he has robbed Abians of their rights and privileges. At any forum, his favourite saying is, LIBERATION OF ABIANS and LEGACY PROJECTS. Does the governor know the meaning of liberation? Or is he contradicting himself? His actions are inconsistent with liberation, rather he promotes oppression. He also claims his projects are legacy projects; perhaps he is talking of leaving a negative legacy by the expiration of his tenure of office.

    T.A Orji claims he has liberated Abians. How come he is sharing all the state resources amongst his so called selfish godfathers and cannot take any bold and meaningful decision without recourse to them to the detriment of poor Abians? He should please note that his administration has inflicted more pains to Abians; there is a wide incomprehensible gap between the state resources and the level of development in the state. The woes of the Orji-led administration include but are not limited to bad roads, sack of non-Abians from the state civil service, nonpayment and delay in payment of salaries, abuse of office, political intimidation, poor drainage system, insecurity, dirty environment, high crime rates, etc. Little wonder the governor is unable to move freely in the state he governs without the support of military personnel.

    In any organised environment, it behoves the government to be concerned with the good affairs of its citizens, but Orji-led government sees this as the last principle of a sustainable development. The government has continued to build hope without anything to show for it for many years since it came on the saddle. The government continues to use tactics of miscarriage of good governance as a legacy it will leave for the Abia people. This strategy defines the government’s ineptitude in serving the people as long as it lasts.( Abians are not particularly comfortable with the new taxation system, whereby proceeds of collection cannot be seen to have been put to use for collective state benefits. It is, therefore, not out of place to say that the government is only interested in the taxes of the citizens and not in the citizens’ welfare.

    Ikenna Z. Chiedu

    writes from Umuahia.

  • Time for action on fire works

    SIR: On January 26, 2012, the news media reported the story of an inferno, allegedly caused by a firework stored at a warehouse at Jankara market, Lagos Island. The havoc caused by this inferno are inexplicably painful; a kid was reportedly burnt to death; property worth of millions were destroyed and many were injured.

    Typical of Nigerians, there was an uproar and the usual reminders that the law prohibiting/banning the importation and sales of fireworks was still in force. Of course, tragedy from fireworks was an accident waiting to happen having been ignored for too long. The case will die down and nothing will be heard of it again and later this year there will be easy accessibility to fireworks. Should this be allowed to continue?

    Nigeria is plagued with insecurity; since fireworks is an imitation of explosives and bombs and with the insurgence of the Boko Haram one expected the government to move swiftly against the use of fireworks. Today, children have become tools in the hands of fireworks sellers. It has become an avenue for children to spend their money on frivolities. Some parents even buy these fireworks for their kids.

    In a country faced with economic hardship, why would one spend over a Dollar equivalent on a product that does not add value while over half of the population lives on less than one dollar a day? I never seem to understand the essence of fireworks as a product. A product I believe is something that should satisfy want, need and something we derive pleasure in. I haven’t understood yet, the wants and needs that bangers satisfy.

    Are fireworks the only way to celebrate or herald us to a new year? Are there no other way to use to show our joy of witnessing another season apart from the use of fireworks? The sound of banger makes the heart race!

    Even the storage of fireworks is hazardous. An inferno could be caused by fireworks if it is stored where there is heat. Government should intercede as the situation is getting out of hand. Adequate measures have to be taken to tackle the problem of fireworks.

    Kemi Okunade

    Olabisi Onabanjo University

    Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State

  • Mr President, I need this job

    SIR: May God grant you the grace to keep doing the good work you are doing , making life liveable in the pursuit of our collective dreams.

    Just like every other Nigerian graduate , with dreams and aspirations , I graduated in 2006, after series of strikes , a year of school closure and family crises with a Second Class degree in International Studies and Diplomacy. I rounded off my national service in Enugu South L.G.A, 2008.

    In 2009 , the Federal Civil Service Commission called for applications for suitable candidates for the position of Foreign Affairs Officers. It was so disorganised; in the end, some preferred (Man know Man) candidates were taken.

    I even applied to the Delta State Civil Service Commission where I scored 77% in the test. A friend scored 66% he and some preferred candidates were taken and the rest confined to oblivion.

    In June 2012, I saw an advert in the Vanguard by the Federal Civil Service Commission calling for applications for the position of a Foreign Affairs Officers 1 and 11, for those with a degrees in French, Chinese, International Studies etc.

    I was so ecstatic and applied. I couldn’t get the form in Abuja owing to the unorganized way it was conducted. I travelled to Port-Harcourt and after much queuing in the rain and sun, I got it, filled and submitted awaiting the test/interview.

    When the names were released, it was pasted in Mabushi Abuja. I checked and found my name in Port-Harcourt after battling through the flood and high fares just to get to Port- Harcourt.

    I was accredited and given a slip on September 21, 2012, which qualified me to write the test the next day . The test comprised of Mathematics, English Language, and Current Affairs.

    I was told that names of successful candidates were released in December. Upon checking, it didn’t include my name. The nine names from Delta State have been interviewed and given appointment letters. Some of them didn’t even show up for the test, but came in through man know man. I was distraught. Is this the government I voted for? After all the good luck and transformation speeches by the President, it is a charade that someone somewhere is still very comfortable robbing Peter to pay Paul.

    Mr President, this is a call to action. I gave you my vote because I believed in you when you said you had no shoes and no hope, but the policies of someone gave you hope. I connected with that sentiment.

    Mr President; the selected names, how did they get them, what were the scores of each applicant, how did they arrive at the nine names from Delta State out of about 400? Sir, please call the attention of Federal Civil Service Commission’s Chairman Deaconess Joan O . Ayo, the permanent Secretary Ambassador Sani Saulawa Bala, Director, Recruitment and Appointment Mr David K. Oladapo to please give me my appointment letter. I need this job to send my sister to school and help others.

    • Wonder P.O Akpeki

    Sapele, Delta State

  • Omuooke Ekiti autonomy: Kudos to Fayemi

    SIR: I wish to appreciate and commend the selfless efforts and exceptional courage of the Ekiti State government under the leadership of Dr Kayode Fayemi on the autonomy recently granted to Omuooke Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government even as we await the official presentation of staff of office to His Royal Highness, Oba Valentine Adebayo Otitoju, the Olomuooke of Omuooke Ekiti in no distance date.

    The expressions of profound gratitude to the state government through this medium became pertinent having earlier written a passionate letter of appeal to the governor to swiftly do justice on the subject matter last year.

    To say that the autonomy granted to Omuooke Ekiti is a well deserved one and indeed long overdue is to state the obvious, taking into cognisance the years of injustice, oppression, and suppression suffered by the community.

    The suffering and challenges faced by the Omuooke people during these lengthy years can be likened to the experience of the Israelites in the hands of Pharaohs in the land of the Egypt before God decided to set them free through Moses. Dr Fayemi is the Moses of our time. Thank God that you have allowed yourself and your government to be used as a vessel to liberate our great community from the age-long evil shackles.

    Mr Governor Sir, you demonstrate, through this action of yours, what a good person, a good leader, a true democrat and an advocate of social justice means in the real words of it.

    As you have written your name in gold, the entire indigenes of Omuooke Ekiti would never forget and would ever appreciate your government for what you have done for our great community.

    I would also like to use this opportunity to appreciate the noble role played by the reputable Ekiti State Council of Obas, particularly the committee assigned for a fact finding mission to the disputed communities leading to the subsequent recommendation of a deserved autonomy for the community as contained in their report submitted to the Governor Adeniyi Adebayo administration after the conclusion of the highly tasking assignment. Your highnesses’ unbiased and objective report and recommendations is what we are celebrating today even though it took ages to be implemented.

    I also wish to appreciate individuals and groups who overtly or covertly contributed in one way or the other during the struggles.

    • Lanre Atere,

    Glasgow

    United Kingdom.

  • Between Fashola and Prophet Obasanjo

    SIR: There are only a handful of men like Olusegun Aremu Okikiolu Obasanjo scattered around the globe. At a first glance, these are men that can easily be dismissed by the average Joe, especially when by reputation, their antics border on the comical and the absurd but wise men that learn from the tides of life are more hesitant in appraising such persons.

    Channels Television recently showed footages of Obasanjo and a handful of his PDP cohorts praying to God on the behalf of Lagos State in Abeokuta, Ogun State. What originally was defined as a goodwill visit by Lagos State PDP stalwarts to rejoice with the patriarch concerning a fire incident in his abode was turned into an intercessory church session. This band of “emergency” prayer contractors from the upper echelon of the political class petitioned the Almighty God to deliver Lagos State from the evil clutches of the ACN.

    Without a shred of doubt, “Saul was evidently numbered among the prophets” on that day as the motley crew of politrick-cians bombarded the heavens for a miracle. Given the sterling performance of the incumbent governor of Lagos State compared to others in the country, it seemed like an absurd prayer. Babatunde Raji Fashola, the political scion of his mercurial predecessor, outperformed the rest to establish Lagos as the flagship state and pacesetter in performance.

    The natural temptation to dismiss OBJ and his band of politrickal prophets as unserious would have been justified but the thought was arrested in a flash. Nigerian history has demonstrated that OBJ is not a man to be dismissed lightly, for some reasons known only to God, this unpretentious man rose from a background of deep poverty to straddle the throne in Africa’s most populous nation twice! We must not forget that this is the same man who cried out to God in desperation when he was remanded on death row in the paranoid years of the Abacha regime. Many do not remember that the prison walls that held him came down for some reason, but he refused to make an escape! Just when everybody thought that the bumpkin’s story was over, the heavens moved and Okikiolu was taken from the prison to the palace. The prisoner became the president and the rest is history now. If it is really true that the Almighty God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, we need look no further than this local shon-of-the-shoil for confirmation. Perhaps the ACN needs to proceed with caution as we move towards the next gubernatorial election in Lagos State because of the prevailing winds in Nigeria. The South-western states have always been the prime examples of harmony and religious tolerance but it seems that our noble cultural “omoluabi” inheritance of diplomatic dealings could be in jeopardy. We have never permitted religious issues to divide our people but there are whispers in Lagos that the ACN has been compromised in some ways. If the ACN coincidentally presents another Muslim gubernatorial candidate for the next elections instead of factoring our time-honoured tradition of accommodation, there could be a serious opening for the PDP if they have the wisdom to present the right person and manage to keep him alive! The BRF incumbency factor weighed against our deep cultural inheritance is not likely to hold sway because it is also common knowledge that Fashola could never have reaped the kind of results that he did without the foundations laid by others like Yemi Cardoso, Leke Pitan, Yemi Osinbajo, Wale Edun and Rauf Aregbesola. Whichever way, it is just a matter of time before we find out whether the Ota politrickal prayer band was in the spirit on that day of the Lord.

    • Ladi Peter Thompson,

    Living Waters Unlimited Church, Anthony, Lagos.

  • Oyo NURTW: Good riddance to the menace of Tokyo

    SIR: Every reasonable observer of politics in Oyo State knew that the former chairman of the state’s chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, a.k.a. Tokyo, was not going to go away quietly.

    On Christmas Eve, NURTW national President, Alhaji Nojeem Yasin, came down to Ibadan from Abuja to administer the oath of office on the newly-elected 21-member administrative council led by Alhaji Taofeek Ayorinde., a.k.a. Fele. Fele had served, for the past six months as the chairman of the Caretaker Committee that Governor Abiola Ajimobi, upon the intervention of Yasin and others, instituted when he lifted the ban on the NURTW and allowed them to resume operation as a union.

    More than anything else that Ajimobi may have accomplished so far, the mature manner in which he deflated the tires of the rampaging NURTW will rank near the top.

    Why is Tokyo fighting tooth and nail, almost to the point of death, in order to remain chairman of the Oyo State NURTW? The perks accruable to the chairmen of the NURTW are impressive and could be the envy of an oil company CEO. Commercial operators (inter-state, intra-state, inter-city, or intra-city) pay “taxes” to these chairmen daily. These daily “taxes” can run into hundreds of thousands of naira for chairmen in states with large cities like Lagos, Oyo, and Kano.

    What is more, these chairmen do not even have to leave home to collect the money. It is usually brought to them at home. The money, technically, is supposed to be dues contributed by members for the welfare of the union, its members (in case of family and personal emergencies), and the maintenance of its secretariat. However, a large chunk of that money goes to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of each area. The DPO, in return, directs his officers to look the other way when the drivers violate traffic laws. The chairmen also appropriate a substantial chunk of the money, for which they does not have to account.

    Tokyo lived large as state chairman. He flew first-class to Abuja on a regular basis and stayed in 4-star hotels. His children attended (and still attend) private schools, including one at a private university. He maintained scores of Islamic clerics whose full-time job was to shield him from the law and from retaliations for his brutish acts. To hear Tokyo speak about the extent he would fight to regain the chairmanship, you would think the title was his family inheritance.

    Under Alao-Akala, Tokyo became a larger-than-life figure in the PDP and in Alao-Akala’s cabinet. The triumvirate of Adedibu, Alao-Akala, and Tokyo used the NURTW thugs to foment all sorts of crises in the state.

    Upon becoming governor, Ajimobi would not have any of that nonsense.

    Had Tokyo been reinstated, his term would have ended last month; a convenient time for Yasin to organize an election during which Fele was elected as the substantive chairman of a new 21-member NURTW executive council in Oyo State. Fele will have three years to turn around that much-maligned union, sever it completely from politics, remove those ogogoro joints, build respectable toilets, build covered waiting halls and sheds for passengers, re-orientate the drivers about safety checks before embarking on each trip, and reinforce good customer service.

    On good advice, he has returned to court, asking to be reinstated as chairman to complete his abbreviated term. It would have been something worth fighting for by all democracy-loving minds if he hadn’t been such a nuisance to the people of Oyo State. There are many things for which followers of government activities in Oyo State can blame Ajimobi, but on Tokyo, he deftly and successfully handled the situation.

    • Abiodun Ladepo

    Los Angeles, California, USA

  • Mark’s comment on gay reprehensible

    SIR: The statements made by David Mark that the ban on same sex marriage was irrevocable are reprehensible. They are a clear demonstration of homophobia and show a lack of appreciation of the humane moral values of the contemporary world. He has used the civic reception of John Cardinal Olorunfemi Onaiyekan to fan the flames of hatred and persecution of a sexual minority and to promote his skewed sense of decency. They are inconsistent with the constitutional role of a Senate President. They are also another clear indication of how the Senate and the church in Nigeria are working together in prosecuting a crusade against gay people.

    Instead of supporting the ban on same sex marriage, the Senate and the government of Nigeria as a whole should make a commitment to promoting and protecting the universal human rights of everyone, whatever their race, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, even when such commitment conflicts with the teachings of religion.”

    • Leo Igwe,

    United Kingdom

  • Mr President, please stop this bloodshed

    Mr President, please stop this bloodshed

    SIR: I write in reaction to President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement on New Year day that all the Boko Haram suspects responsible for the various attacks in the country have been apprehended. The President also gave himself kudos for preventing a wave of terror attacks from the extremist sect during the Yuletide. I beg to say that this is nothing but unnecessary vain-glorying.

    All over the world, leaders are always privy to information that the general populace does not possess. This is why they are people of few words; this is so that they do not reveal sensitive information which are inimical to their interests. An example is President Obama having knowledge of Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts a year before the operation to take him out was eventually carried out.

    President Jonathan in all honesty cannot say he does not know those behind these attacks. Then why do we have the SSS,DMI,DDI,Police Army, Navy, Airforce, NIA, e.t.c? All these agencies submit daily reports to the President yet he is in a quandary about what to do. I know that he might not have enough evidence to arrest these evil fellows but he can employ Machiavellian principles to bully these fellows to stop their fiendish acts. This will also create an image of strength thereby helping his Presidency. Let us not forget that Former President Obasanjo employed these tactics between 2003 to 2007 to pursue his objectives. No wonder Baba as he is fondly called cried out recently that Jonathan is doing nothing while Nigeria gradually slides into the abyss.

    Great heroes are birthed from the womb of great crises. Let him put aside political considerations, because if he fails to act now, he will forever be consigned to the dustbin of history and posterity will never forgive him.

    • Peter Ovie Akus

    University of Port Harcourt.

  • Northern leaders should seek for peace first

    Northern leaders should seek for peace first

    SIR: I refer to the lead caption of the Sunday edition of The Nation of January 6, 2015: Babangida, Buhari others begin consultations.

    I concede to these elder-state men of northern extraction the unquestionable right to associate peacefully and confabulate politically. But I do not know whelther these men fall within the class of men cardinal Ottaviani wrote of when he said “nearly everyone can read but only few can think”. If they belong to the class of men who can think their priority will be on how to work for peace, security and unity.

    At this time, some despicable species of Homo sapiens are on the verge of “Afghanistanising “the Nigerian state. Yet these men called elder-statesmen see no need to consult with those merchants of sudden death to lay down their weapon and embrace dialogue in the interest of peace and security. Their sole ambition like men with incurable monomania and irredeemable idée fixe are busy consulting for 2015 presidency.

    If those growing army of Canes Venatici (hunting dogs) succeed in there unthinkable quest to sink this geographical ship called Nigeria in the ocean of disintegration, then which country will Babangida and his associates rule in 2015?

    Sincerely I wish to appeal to them to join hands with the federal government to restore peace back to the northern part of Nigeria. The transformation of places of worship into cemetery by those who kill in the name of religion and education should worry them and not 2015. The killing of fellow men like dogs should be condemned by these elder-statesmen in the interest of security of life and properties. I expect these leaders to push for the end of the on-going groundless hostility.

    I think its imperative to admonish northern leaders with the words of Robert Green that “give to every human being every right you claim for yourself”. If the northern leaders think the presidency is their birth right, then they must be able to concede such right to the Ijaws, Igbos, Yorubas, Benin’s and other tribes which make up Nigeria.

    Finally, those who know General Obasanjo should advice him that he cannot northernise his ethnicity. It is immaterial if he relocates to Kaduna or the North in search of 2015 presidential candidate. The people will decide who governs them. The Ota farmer has just one vote.

     

    • Ehi G.O.

    Benin-City

     

  • National Bureau of Statistics wrong on Sokoto

    National Bureau of Statistics wrong on Sokoto

    SIR: The National Bureau of Statistics publication ranking Sokoto State at the bottom of development in Nigeria is far from true reflection of the state. The indices of development include state of critical infrastructure and the living standard of the population.

    At the inception of Wamakko administration, aggressive efforts were geared towards renovation and construction of schools across the state which resulted in increase in enrollment of boys and girls into schools. The abolition of discriminatory school fees encouraged more pupils into all schools up to tertiary levels. Governor Wamakko’s administration established a State University that has started admitting students in various faculties completed. The institution has not operated from any temporary site, but stands on its foundation site. Education is a veritable tool of fighting poverty. The youth are now empowered through education. The state has scored high in this direction.

    On the area of health care delivery services, the administration provided necessary facilities and equipment to existing hospitals, motivated the health care workforce. The drug revolving scheme was introduced to afford citizens access to free medical care. New hospitals have been constructed across the state that medical services are now available to the masses. There are free medical services for children 1-5 years and pregnant mothers. More medical personnel have been recruited. More indigenes have been trained or are being trained to meet the manpower needs in the health sub-sector. The state paid fully its counterpart funding to international donor agencies in the health sector.

    Sokoto State is in the front runner of providing grassroots mobile medical surveillance system where well equipped medical vans penetrate every nook and cranny of the state to treat patients free, detect outbreak of diseases and are ready hands to transport critical cases to tertiary institutions in the State capital, Sokoto for adequate treatment.

    Moreover, the first phase of the School of Midwifery at Tambuwal is at advanced stage of completion. This is to complement the efforts of the College of Nursing , Sokoto and School of Health Technology , Gwadabawa to provide manpower needs of the health sub-sector.

    Over 600 roads have been constructed across the state. These roads have opened inter and intra community intercourse which helps in evacuation of farm products to desired markets. The administration has constructed much irrigation farming system which benefits the farmers thereby increased their output. The farmers are busy all year round and so their earning capacity.

    Sokoto State is one of the major beef producers in the country. The administration has provided much grazing reserves for cattle herders. More veterinary hospitals have been constructed with adequate supply of drugs to take care of the health of the animals. The herders testify to relief from animal diseases and good health of their animals that are being transported to other parts of the country. The herders now make more money from their sales which stave off poverty.

    The administration has constructed over 2000 housing units which are being allocated on owner/occupier basis to civil servants. This is in addition to 30-40 houses constructed in each local government. More have been earmarked to be constructed against 2013 fiscal year.

    Through the department of rural roads, rural water and rural electrification so many rural areas are now opened up to modern amenities that cottage industries are springing up everywhere to benefit the youth who now combine farming with commercial activities in the rural areas. Life is much better for young men and women in the rural areas. These are signs of improvement in the standard of living.

    The state government through the Skills Acquisition Programme has trained over 12,000 youths across the state in various trades such as plumbing, electrical fittings, tailoring, carpentry, soap making, brick laying etc. They are equipped, on graduation, with tools and cash to set up their own trade.

    One wonders how the National Bureau of Statistics arrived at its conclusion.

    • Mohammed S. Umar

    Sokoto