The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Judgment day for oil companies

    Judgment day for oil companies

    SIR: Last week something momentous happened – and those of us who campaign for justice for the victims of oil spills in the Niger Delta had good cause to feel Christmas had come early.

    The event was a judgment (obtained by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project) in which ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) court ordered the Nigerian government to punish oil companies over pollution.

    The Court ruled that the Nigerian Federal Government and six oil companies – Shell, Chevron, Elf Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Agip Nigeria and Total Nigeria – have violated various human rights.

    These include the right to a general satisfactory environment and the right to natural wealth and resources, as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights ratified by Nigeria in 1983.

    The Court ruled that the government must now quickly implement the judgment and hold the oil companies to account.

    But while there was a pause for celebration the fight goes on because pressure is needed to make sure that the government adheres to this judgment.

    Oil companies, particularly Shell, have managed to evade responsibility for far too long. And the Nigerian government has allowed them to do so, putting profits before people.

    As a result, communities in Bodo, an area badly affected by oil spills, are sinking further into poverty, unable to eat the contaminated fish or drink the water, stained black from the pollution.

    Oil spills have occurred since production began over 50 years ago and that’s what makes the ECOWAS judgment so significant.

    It’s clear that oil companies wield tremendous influence over the regulatory regime that governs their operations.

    In fact, the investigation process into oil spills in the Niger Delta is a travesty. There is very limited information publicly available regarding the state of Shell’s infrastructure in the Delta. But it is widely known that the company has failed to adequately maintain it over the years, with tragic consequences.

    The government has to exert its authority over Shell as, with the ECOWAS judgment and court cases pending in the UK and the Netherlands next year, the clock is ticking against such negligence.

    It is due to the total failure of the Nigerian system for regulating oil companies and ensuring that spills are properly addressed that the Bodo community decided to take Shell to court in the UK.

    And with countries across Africa, such as Ghana, Sierra Leone and Cameroon, starting to exploit oil, these judgments have implications beyond Nigeria.

    The Nigerian government and the oil companies operating in Nigeria have to set a good example and make sure that the industry brings development to the people, rather than allow a string of needless tragedies to continue.

     

    • Dr Kolawole Olaniyan,

    Amnesty International, International Secretariat, London

  • Need for constitutional role for traditional rulers

    Need for constitutional role for traditional rulers

    SIR: Now that the National Assembly is in the process of amending the constitution, a defined role needs to be enshrined in the new constitution for traditional rulers considering the contributions of the institution to community mobilisation, conf1ict resolution and in safe-guarding the cultural values and traditional heritage of their respective communities.

    Before the conquest of Nigeria by the British, traditional method of administration and governance is what was obtainable and practiced in most of African nations. Traditional system or method of governance was built upon the history, heritage, cultural values and religion of the people.

    During the colonial period, the colonialists saw the loyalties enjoyed by the traditional rulers among their subjects hence capitalized on it for their administration. Post independent constitutions of Nigeria gave some level of recognition to the traditional institution as representatives of their people in the House of Chiefs which later transformed to native and local authorities with executive power over issues such as community policing, immigration, prison service, Customary/Sharia Laws well as tax administration.

    The 1979 Constitutional reform which gave birth to the local government system of administration confiscated and transferred to the local government, the responsibilities performed by the traditional institutions in the post independence constitutions.

    From 1979 to date, both civil and military administrations continued to undermine the institution by using them as mere advisers and instruments of managing crises and conflicts resolutions.

    On return of democracy in 1999, the situation remained unchanged. Part one of the third schedule and Section 140 of the 1999 Constitution clearly spelt out that the traditional institutions can only play advisory roles through the Council of State.

    In Nigeria especially the North it is a popular belief that the wish of an Emir is the will of his subjects. Programmes and polices of government can be better achieved through community mobilization and active participation at the grassroots. Looking at the decentralised nature and the extraordinary pattern of ascending throne in the traditional institutions, which require no ballot or nomination congresses, the traditional institution are in better position to provide answer to some of the security challenges, social and economic problems facing our society, if protected constitutionally.

    It is important to draw the attention of our esteemed senators and members of the House of Representatives that in democratic settings people are always conscious of their rights. Without legal backing, the traditional leaders might not be able to enforce the law; therefore, defined constitutional responsibilities for traditional institutions must be included in the coming amendments process.

    • Malam Ibrahim Saddo Wusasa

    Kaduna

     

  • Fayemi’s public apology

    Fayemi’s public apology

    SIR: It takes real civility for a governor to come down from the gubernatorial height to say sorry to the governed anywhere in the world, and it is a very rare feature in Africa.

    But this was what the amiable, disciplined and pragmatic governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, did publicly during the recent Christmas Carol Service organized by his government in Ado Ekiti.

    He did apologize to “those who might have been hurt, one way or the other, by the policies of this government”, and pleaded with them to take solace in the fact that “such policies were meant to do the greatest good to the greater number of the Ekiti people”,

    Loaded was the message of the governor’s apology; calculated was it too and very suitable as a key in fathoming the character of this governor who had chosen to be a human rights activist long before he dreamt of becoming governor; who had once demonstrated his sense and love of justice, most resoundingly, as the brain behind the famous Radio Kudirat during the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

    The simple implication of Governor Fayemi’s public apology is that the Ekiti State has got a large-hearted, strong-willed governor who would go to any length, including hurting some Ekiti indigenes, in the pursuance of the greatest good for the greater number of the Ekiti people.

    It implies that the governor would correct anomalies or reform bastardized systems, whatever the hue and cry against such policies, while his determination to right the wrongs would not necessarily make him inhuman or daring. It implies that he knew and felt the pains of the offended even as he had no option other than to be on the side of the greater number of his people.

    Those whose properties were demolished for dualization of roads or beautification can now know that he expected and felt their anguish. The teachers too can now know that he understood their feelings at being re-examined for teaching. So would the LG workers now realize that the governor fore-saw their shock before embarking on restructuring.

    The governor was only enlisting their cooperation with determination in his task of doing the greatest good to all Ekiti; not even only “to the greater number of Ekiti people”, as he enunciated but to all!

    Come to think of it, the beauty of that public apology is that it was, in itself, committal to redress, unlike in a situation where the pains of the victims of government policies are ignored or overlooked.

    In other words, the Fayemi that we knew from the years of yore would have prepared himself to proceed from his calculated public apology, not only to applying needed healing balms to the injuries of the injured but also to putting smiles on their faces and winning them back as friends and admirers.

    Of course, if he would do otherwise, he would not have chosen to be a human rights activist in the first place because governance, essentially, is a function of human rights protection.

    You and I can therefore watch out henceforth for better days ahead for the aggrieved in Ekiti State whose grouses had been what they suffered as a result of government policies; the public apology so adequately implied this.

    • Jide Oguntoye

    Oye-Ekiti.

  • Stop discrimination against women

    Stop discrimination against women

    SIR: Discriminatory practices against women takes various forms and all these have tendency to affect the economic prowess and social status of the woman in the community. According to a learned author, the society and its legal system in developing countries such as Nigeria condones domestic violence to a certain extent. Women are seen as properties, which are expected to be in total submission to their husbands. One cannot but agree with the writer in view of certain statutory provisions in our customary legal systems which tend to support domestic violence and discriminatory practices against women.

    The provision of Section 55 of the Penal code which allows a man to beat his married wife under native law and custom “in so far as it does not amount to grievous hurt” is a classical example.

    It provides that “Nothing is an offence which does not amount to the infliction of grievous hurt upon any person and which is done by a husband for the purpose of correcting his wife, such husband and wife being subject to any native law or custom in which such correction is recognized as lawful.”

    Thus as long as the grievous hurt on a woman falls short of the acts defined in the section 241 of the penal code, a husband may correct his wife by beating her. It is submitted that this provision runs contrary to the right to dignity of human person constitutionally guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To subject a married wife to battery and assault in the guise of correcting her is barbarous and unreasonable.

    Discriminatory practices manifest itself in the employment sector and this affects the socio economic profile of women in no small measure. Notorious in this area of discrimination is the Nigeria Police Force. For instance, Section 122 of the Police Act stipulates that policewomen recruited to the general duties branch of the force may, in order to relieve male officer from those duties” be employed in clerical, telephone and office orderly duties.

    Also, woman police officer who is desirous of marrying must first apply in writing to the Commissioner of Police of the State Command in which she is serving requesting permission to marry and giving the name, address and occupation of the person she intends to marry. Permission will be granted if the person is of good character and the woman police officer has served the force for a period of not less than three years.” Upon marriage, a woman police officer shall not be granted any special privilege by reason of the fact that she is married, and shall be subject to posting and transfer as if she were unmarried.”

    It is submitted that section 122 of the Police Act has tendency to relegate women police to the background by not exposing them to challenges where they can be professionally fulfilled. This may account probably for non-production of a woman police as Inspector General. It is further submitted that section 124 and 125 out-rightly affect the reproductive rights of women and their choice of partner. The fact that a male police officer does not need to undergo any procedure nor he is required to obtain any permission prior to marriage shows that the law is gender biased.

    • Barrister O . A Abiodun

    Ikorodu, Lagos State

  • Who will save Nigerians from internet fraudsters?

    Who will save Nigerians from internet fraudsters?

    SIR: There is no denying the fact that our security agencies have become overwhelmed by the magnitude of criminal activities that daily challenge their competence.

    In fact the impunity of criminals underline the inadequacy or near absence of security intelligence system.

    Ironically 80% of the Police have never used a computer yet they are expected to chase after high tech cyber criminals.

    The internet crime is being carried out by young people in the most brazen manner as they are secure in the knowledge that nobody is coming after them.

    I recall when a group of fraudsters opened a fake Nigerian Customs website, they recruited thousands of Nigerians online and gave them appointment letters after collecting huge amounts from them.

    I recently encountered the Yahoo criminals:

    I was looking for a car to buy and decided to check the internet.

    I found sites like: Tradestable, Car finder and Nigerian Customs market office

    Many of the car advertisers claim to be Customs officers based at the Seme border or in Kebbi.

    They ask you to pay some amount to bring the vehicle for you to see, so that if you like it , you can then pay.

    As soon as you deposit the logistics money in their account the extortion starts.

    The syndicate I encountered are using the following: GT Bank Account NO: 0116270510

    Account NAME (witheld)

    The bank officials can check teller NO: 015651636 of 4/12/2012 paid into the account from their VI branch

     

    • Michael Azara

    Lagos

  • Challenges before Governor Yero

    Challenges before Governor Yero

    SIR: Kaduna descended into mourning following the sudden demise of Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa in a helicopter crash that also killed five others at Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. In line with the constitution, his deputy Alhaji Ramalan Yero emerged as chief executive of the state. For the new governor to succeed in uniting the people for peace, stability and development of the state, he must overcome series of challenges.

    First is the security challenge. Why is this task proving increasingly difficult in the state? Because for many years now Kaduna State has become scene of deadly sectarian violence, segregated into Muslim North and Christian South. As chief security officer of the state, the responsibility is on him to unite and secure the life of every citizen regardless of his tribe, creed or political affiliation. It is on this note one could begin to image how committed His Excellency would be in keeping the diverse people of the state united behind him in peace and for love of one another. This may be deemed delusory but it is realistic if he applies wisdom and expertise in dealing with the knotty difficulties of governing the state.

    So it is important that he realise on time, the need to bridge the gap between the two major religions in the state by introducing policies on genuine reconciliation. Besides, demonstrating fairness, equity and equanimity while discharging his duties will do much to keep the state united. Likewise, it will prove prudent if he takes every decision with circumspection, so as to douse all chances of providing his antagonists with spurious points that may be used in labeling him as being more devoted to one religion than the other.

    In trying to cope with this challenge, he should remain impartial and at the same time play a mediatory role in bringing bloody confrontation between these warring faiths to an end. Because taking either side will have a wider implication of backfiring on unity and peace in the state. So I advice him to take a leaf from the book of his predecessor i.e not to be one sided governor; he should be governor for all.

    Secondly, it is important he prioritise on his agenda. How to end the syndrome of impunity? Many believe insecurity persist as perpetrators of crime go unpunished. He should support measures to combat impunity. Because the saying is people desist from committing crime only if the crime is punished with stiff penalty. So to keep the peace, culprits must be brought to book.

    One other key issue that has the tendency of posing challenge to the governor is the choice of deputy and his cabinet members especially if he dares to defy his godfathers. But in order to foster good working relationship with all his cabinet members, the governor should have free a hand to pick the people he feels he can work with.

    Lastly ,as he promised, let him build from the legacies of late Yakowa as abandoning those projects may prove too costly to the state treasury. It will be a headway for the state if he strives to bring the projects to completion. He could start with the Zaria water project of which we have heard so much but seen little action by his predecessors.

    • Umar Rayyan

    Tudun Wada Kaduna.

  • Remembering Madallah blast victims

    Remembering Madallah blast victims

    SIR: It’s only a man whose’s consciousness has been riddled with bullet’s of blind mentality and incurable irrationality that can confute the axiomatic submission of Claude Mekay’s magnum opus titled“if we must die”. Claude was right when he told us in his poem that “if we must die, let it not be like dogs, hunted and penned in inglorious spot. If we must die, let us nobly die”.

    Merchants of sudden death and death-defying ogres invaded Saint Theresa Catholic Church last Christmas and killed their fellow men like dogs during Christmas mass. Men and women, boys and girls who left home for the Church to celebrate the birth of Church, never returned to home, as they were sent to Golgotha in unimaginable pieces by despicable death hawkers.

    I understood John F. Kennedy when he said “forgive your enemies but never forget their names”. Others may choose to forgive and forget those monstrous gallow-birds’sflying like vultures in search for harmless prey, but I will never forget. As I urge Nigerians to stay on alert this Christmas, please let’s make it a solemn duty to give useful information about those irredeemable agents of unthinkable criminality to security agents nearest to you. I think the best way to celebrate this season is to assist our security agency with credible and timely information so that we can have a peaceful celebration this year. Remember security is the duty of all.

    We should never submit to fear and together we can defeat our fear. Therefore, I urge you to resist the temptation of forsaking the house of God this Christmas. We should be in church if we wish and do not forsake the church because of those monstrous characters, who come like the biblical thief in the night to kill, steal and destroy.

    Let’s remember the victims of Saints Theresa Catholic Church tragedy in our silent prayers. May God grant them eternal rest and comfort their families left behind. Certainly, the time to end the groundless and senseless violence is now. Since they say “it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war”, because after war-war, we will still go to the table of ‘talk-talk’ to discuss, why not discuss and avoid war-war?

    To Christians I say keep faith, for the abyss of darkness awaits those despicable ‘ganakos’ who invade places of worship.

    • Godfrey Ehi O.

    Benin City

  • Oyo SUBEB should get its priorities right

    Oyo SUBEB should get its priorities right

    SIR: The continuous building of classrooms for our primary schools in Oyo State despite the dwindling population of pupils in these schools and the fact that the classrooms built by past administrations, local governments, constituency project of members of Oyo state House of Assembly, ETF and PTA are underutilized has continued to be a source of concern for me.

    Does Oyo SUBEB have any agenda for our primary schools aside provision of classrooms? As at the time of writing this piece, construction works are on-going in various primary schools in the state. While there is nothing bad in providing classrooms for our pupils, what I frown at is the policy which gives priority to building of classrooms for building sake. In other words, building of more classrooms when the available ones are underutilized is a misplaced priority. As such, most of the playing grounds in many schools have given in to new classrooms, thereby crippling sporting activities in various schools. In relation to the above, there are many derelict classrooms buildings in many schools that are craving in and need urgent maintenance

    I believe it is more reasonable to maintain the old classrooms than building new ones in view of economic problems staring the nation in the face. My position is that it is high time that Oyo SUBEB review its policies as concerned our primary schools.

    Aside classrooms, there are many innovations that could be introduced to make our primary schools conducive for learning. As an example, the schools can be fenced, well drained with modern toiletries and boreholes. Aside, solar powered street lights could be created at strategic places in the schools to illuminate the school compound at nights. This will stop hoodlums from using these schools as hideouts to perpetrate evils. Lastly, library facilities could be provided for our primary schools as this would promote reading habits among our pupils early in life.

     

    • Adewuyi Adegbite

    Apake Ogbomoso

  • How to make Nigeria work

    How to make Nigeria work

    SIR: The public hearings which attended the constitutional amendment process has revealed the anxieties amongst citizens many of whom have been thinking aloud on whether the National Assembly would live up to expectation. This is in the background of the entrenched notion that the Assembly is not so much in tune with the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Nigeria. This sad but painful perception must be corrected in a deliberate manner. I am yet to see any Nigerian who wishes for the country to continue on this path except those who are making a fortune from this skewed arrangement.

    In the past, many have advanced logical and highly convincing arguments for the re-structuring of Nigeria in such a manner that will make it work to the delight and reward of all and sundry but regretfully that is yet to receive government attention. The challenge is how to build Nigeria without fear and without grievances? It might appear simplistic but with every blast from indiscriminate killings and maiming of innocent Nigerians, rancour and flare of ethnic acrimony which has remained a recurring decimal of our history, it is evident that the national fabric is under strain. We must all rise up before this house caves in. The failure to live true to our claim to principles of federalism has made a mockery of us.

    The pains and frustrations are ever mounting and if all men and women of good conscience do not act and do so in a deft manner, then we all might be consumed in the looming anarchy. Nothing is more fundamental for us at this moment than for us to answer without any deceit if what is obtainable is the best for Nigeria. I nurse no doubt that we are not at our best given the enormous mineral and human deposit which abound within our national frontiers.

    Given that we have travelled this road before without much success, it will do no hurt but rather a lot of good if we can be courageous enough to candidly answer the question of how to organize Nigeria that the best can be gotten from the composite nationalities under a stable and virile government. It is not a presumption that the vast majority of Nigerians want a functional and stable polity. Given that fact, the National Assembly should not foreclose any option in its task to fashion a living constitution for the benefit of all our country men and women.

    The agitation to address the nationality question is not, and should never be misconstrued as calling for the balkanization of the country. The fire of the nationality question which was lit shortly after independence in 1960 has continued to grow in intensity simply because the relationship between the nationalities has remained one defined by fears of domination, some real, others imaginary. In such a foul atmosphere, it is only rational for us to seek a truce in a potentially charged arrangement. The best way in my candid opinion is for all nationalities that make up Nigeria to step forward with a road map that will assuage their fears.

    We must be bold to make a necessary change. The reason why every nationality within Nigeria makes desperate push to control political power at the centre at all cost is the absence of considerable autonomy for all to flourish at own pace.

    Many Nigerians have been killed or maimed and many more face a grim future in our country for no fault of theirs, perhaps simply because of their mode of worship, place of birth or economic status and place of birth. Whatever motivation that propels this rabid intolerance should be addressed rather than fold our hands until the entire country slips into a bloodbath.

    Clearly, the fissures generated by such a potentially destructive path continue to grow with each passing day simply because of the erroneous believe that a section of the country holds the master key or is actually the master in a lopsided arrangement. It has not worked in the past and will never work if we are sincere enough to face the truth. We must re-examine our perceived “settled issues” with a view to making our country truly functional. It is an ethical issue which if well handled will usher us to a more purposeful living.

    There is ample example to point to the fact that we have breached universally known face of federalism and compounded problems of harmonious ethnic co-existence for so long. The greatest gift we can give to our country men and women is to be guided by this historic mission to alter for good our reality of today.

     

    • Rotimi Opeyeoluwa,

    rotbaba@gmail.com

  • Violation of women’s rights

    Violation of women’s rights

    I am disappointed at the small column dedicated to the story of the Nigerian lady who was traumatically victimised and harassed by her former expatriate employers Bollore Africa Logistics Nigeria Limited, I expect The Nation to have done a better caption especially as this is a very serious ongoing international topic of discussion.

    We the women of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are exceptionally proud of her courage to speak out, many women within the same organisations and even local Nigerian companies are suffering in silence but cannot challenge the issue of violence which comes in different forms because we all know what the poor economic standard of living is today and many women are the foundations of their family.

    We say thank you Abigail Kakiyes for speaking out and we encourage more victims to summon the courage so we stand in one voice against the demon of violence against women, it is demeaning and barbaric and must be punishable by law. There is no better time to address this issue than now as the Nigerian constitution is been reviewed. The government of the day must be more proactive towards issues of women and children, we want more action than promises!

    If you do a thorough research on the company, you would find out that this is not the first time they have been reported to be involved in serious human right violations, it is happening in Sierra Leone where shockingly, a rich Group owned by the 18th richest man in France Vincent Bollore, is robbing very poor African farmers. Women and children are affected and suffering from the evil acts of this same company.

    My take is this government must investigate the story of Abigail Kakiyes and look into the activities of this French company which has fired a Nigerian staff for suggesting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Is CSR not mandatory for such a company? What value have they added in their over 30 years of existence in Nigeria? Can they try this nonsense in France or any Western nation?

    I call on the National Assembly, well meaning Nigerians and activist organisations to arrest this matter squarely and begin looking into the activities of expatriate organisations because a lot of rubbish is actually happening to Nigerians in their employ. Nigerians are looked down upon abroad, we cannot allow racism in our homeland. This must stop!

    By Abike Rawling

    Lekki, Lagos