The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Farewell, Justice Kayode Eso

    SIR: The tradition in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos has been that any legal mind whose dicta and ratios are sine qua non to the study of law should be equated with the likes of the Lord Dennings of this world. So, the Faculty has thrown Justice Kayode Eso into that high pedestal of the legal greats of this world.

    It is almost a forthnight since the revered Eso passed away but condolences are still flying in the air. It’s not surprising that the students of the late Justice Kayode Eso’s Students’ Chamber are expressing more grief than others. This is because of their view that his punctual, neat, upright and rigorous character should be emulated including their belief in what is now called ESOISM.

    The Law must go on. It is left for those aspiring to step into the giant shoes of

    the departed “Father of Judicial Activism” in Nigeria to work harder. Adieu, the immortal Justice Eso.

    • Ekpo Uduakobong,

    Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Akoka.

  • Ibrahim Gambari at 68

    SIR: Please permit my humble request to celebrate Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, a distinguished African/Nigerian son and world citizen who turned 68 recently. His life in the past twenty years has been devoted to public service and indeed service to mankind.

    Prof. Gambari needs no introduction in our clime having held office as Foreign Affairs Minister after the collapse of the Second Republic.

    This erudite academic after this noble appointment became Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to United Nations (UN), setting the record of being Nigeria’s longest serving permanent representative in the UN till date. Altogether, this great Nigerian served five Heads of State and Presidents, in a period spanning over a decade. Upon completion of his mission assignment, the UN, in respect and recognition of his industry offered him yet another appointment as Under-Secretary/Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on African Affairs thereby becoming the Under-Secretary/ Head, Political Affairs Dept of the UN- the most important office after that of the Secretary General.

    Prof Gambari served UN as Under-Secretary/Special envoy of the UN Secretary-General to the troubled Myanmar where his mediatory efforts yielded fruits. This led to the multi- party democracy and the release of Aang Sun kyi from house arrest after close to two decades and her election recently into the parliament. The career of this seasoned diplomat in the UN cuts across important committees, commissions and special assignments including the chair of UN Security Council, UN committee on Apartheid, the head and special representative of UN Secretary –General during the UN/Angola Peace Mission, International compact with Iraq, UN special envoy to Myanmar(formerly Burma) and until recently joint UN-AU special representative to Darfur.

    The highpoint of his striking career was his being the last chairperson of the UN Committee against Apartheid under which aegis he presented UN’s congratulatory letter to President Nelson Mandela during the latter’s inauguration in 1994. He was recently honoured with a national award by the South African people and government for his diplomatic forays in that country.

    Before I met Prof. Gambari in person, we had been in communication for over 6 years. Indeed, all through my undergraduate days, we communicated mostly through e-mails when I was in dire need of one of his books: Nigerian Foreign Policy after the Second Republic. It is to Professor Gambari’s credit that he not only sent the book to me from his US base, he even asked how he could get the book across to me, till we finally agreed that it should be sent through his son in Lagos.

    This was to open a ready made courier for more book gifts and other items that the amiable Prof sent to me. Before we met physically, he called me one night, to intimate me of his arrival and to plan our meeting the following day. Our meeting was less dramatic, due largely to his humility. Inspite of being in the midst of glitterati, he gave me an audience and promptly requested I should come to his residence in the night where we even2tually met properly and were able to exchange thoughts freely. Ever since, our relationship has blossomed. Ours is a father and son relationship; he shared with me moments of joy and despair, most particularly after my recent road traffic accident, he not only called to offer soothing words, he gave a fat contribution to aid my recovery.

    Once again, permit me to salute the humility and kindness of this great son of Africa and a distinguished Nigerian. May Allah continue to protect him and his immediate family members that are paying huge sacrifice for his involvement in public life.

    • Badejo Adedeji Nurudeen,

    Adeniji Street,

    Lawson/Itire road,

    Surulere.

  • Tribute to Lam Adesina

    SIR: The death of Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, a former Governor of Oyo State, on Sunday November 11, 2012 as denied Oyo State a true progressive politician. Unlike many contemporary politicians who junketed from one party to another in search of the Golden Fleece, Adesina began as a progressive of Awolowo’s school of politics and remained so till the end.

    Alhaji Lam Adesina’s consistency as a politician was a contributory factor to his success in politics. Alhaji Adesina’s role in the struggle for democracy that the nation is enjoying today is indelible. He along with other activists like Baba Omojola, Comrade Ola Oni and so on confronted the military junta through organized resistance in form of mass rallies, public demonstrations etc, to seek for the de-annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and enthronement of democracy. Perhaps, Adesina paid dearly for his effrontery by being thrown into detention and became a “prisoner of war” courtesy of Col. Ahmed Usman, the then military administrator of Oyo State.

    Adesina’s efforts and suffering in the hands of the military was not in vain because the appreciative people of Oyo State gave him their mandate to govern them at the inception of the present civilian dispensation in 1999, as the Governor. Consequently, he was nicknamed Majiyagbe 1. Arguably, the period of Alhaji Lam Adesina as the governor of Oyo State between 1999-2003 would remain a reference point in the anals of Oyo State. This is because Lam Adesina ruled with the fear of God and his was a civilized administration devoid of acrimony between himself and his deputy, between the executive and the legislature.

    His achievements as Oyo State governor were feasible and practical. Free education, free health services, integrated rural development- all items on the manifestos of the Alliance for Democracy were implemented. Although, the federal allocation to the state was not as buoyant as that of today, however the meagre resources of the state were well managed. He lived in his own house for months; he did not buy an official car for himself throughout his four years tenure but rode the official car inherited from Col. Oyakhire. In addition, all segments of the state – civil servants, students, market men and women, traditional, drivers’union enjoyed dividends of democracy to the fullest.

    One remarkable fact about Lam Adesina’s era is that his government did not erect self promoting bill boards or newspaper advertisements to showcase its achievements.

    To say that Adeshina lived a fulfilled and meaningful and impactful life is to say the obvious. Alhaji Adesina did not live for himself alone. As a teacher, politician, columnist, pro-democracy activist and a governor, he served humanity. He never owned mansions at home and abroad, no fleet of cars, no jets. The crowd that assembled within hours paid last respects before his burial; with tributes and encomiums showered on him as evidence of his impactful life. One wishes that our contemporary political leaders should borrow a leaf from Adesina. They should see power as a means to an end and not end itself; use it for the betterment of the society and not for personal aggrandizement and primitive accumulation noticeable among our leaders today.

    • Adewuyi Adegbite

    Apake, Ogbomoso.

  • The chameleon called NJC

    SIR: It is an indisputable fact that the invaluable role of the judiciary to the sustenance of justice, peace and progress of any society can not be over-emphasized. This explains why any society that lacks justice can only experience peace of the grave yard. The judiciary by its critical role in the Temple of Justice is expected to be upright, consistent and just and where this is not the case, that society is in trouble. The latest macabre dance by the National Judicial Council (NJC) on the issue of recall of suspended President of the Court of Appeal calls to question the integrity of the bench.

    Just recently, Nigerians and the whole world were taken aback, when the announcement was made that the NJC had recommended to President Jonathan the appointment of a new acting Appeal Court President; contrary to its earlier recommendation in May for the recall of Justice Ayo Salami to his position as the President of the Court of Appeal from his unconstitutional and unlawful suspension in August 2011.

    The NJC in realizing its error in suspending this incorruptible and honest judicial officer agreed that the President had no role to play in the recall of the suspended PCA. The NJC had on October 2, 2012 told the Abuja Federal High Court that President Goodluck Jonathan had no powers under the law to play a role in the reinstatement of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Salami. The NJC told the court that rather than Jonathan, the exclusive power of recall resides in it. Why the sudden change of position? May be the NJC has forgotten that it reportedly forwarded a letter recommending Salami’s reinstatement to the President.

    With this latest dance, one is indeed convinced beyond all reasonable doubt that our judiciary is in dire need of judicial surgery. The NJC has only succeeded in ridiculing the judiciary as an arm of government that is not upright, disciplined, principled and inconsistent in handling matters concerning even itself. What then becomes of the image of this institution as the last hope of the common man in the dispensation of justice? Well, only time will tell.

    • Nelsondel Ekujumini,

    Adesina Street,

    Ikeja, Lagos.

  • Maduka/Ubah face-off: Questions, more questions!

    Maduka/Ubah face-off: Questions, more questions!

    SIR: The drama that is currently playing out in the media, involving two ‘heavyweight’sons of the industrial town of Nnewi, in Anambra State, is becoming interesting by the day. From all indications, the Maduka/Ubah face-off does not appear to be an issue that will soon go away. The ‘’war” is being fought in the electronic and print media, with indications that it would soon become a communal issue.

    It does appear, however, that the matter has passed the stage at which the traditional ruler of Nnewi and his cabinet can handle, contrary to what Dan Ulasi, who would like to be seen as a trouble-shooter in the ongoing war, recently hinted on Sunrise, the Channels Television breakfast programme.

    Ifeanyi Ubah, the chairman of Capital Oil, had, for several weeks, been in the news for the wrong reasons involving subsidy collection allegations. And just when the public was trying to find answers to the whys of the allegation, Cosmos Maduka, president of the Coscharis Group, came into the picture, raising an alarm to the effect that a brother, Ubah, whom he bailed out of trouble, had turned around to bite the finger that fed him and, in a curious twist, allegedly plotted a sinister move to put him (Maduka), in trouble. Ubah has, since been crying foul, alleging a grand design to run him out of business.

    The point must be made that both men in the centre of the current war are what we usually refer to as ‘men of timber and calibre’ in the Nigerian economy. One is an industrialist of no mean repute, with significant contributions to the growth of the Nigerian auto industry and the transport sub-sector, while the other is a major player in the downstream sector of the oil industry.

    From what can easily be discerned, there was a business relationship involving Maduka and Ubah, over the importation of fuel. Maduka says he intervened to assist Ubah secure a facility from a bank in which he is a director, when no bank would grant him facility, on account of the alleged bad record he has across the financial sector.

    All went well with the business of importation of fuel, with the first six consignments delivered and the proceeds properly accounted for, and both parties smiled in satisfaction, well, until something happened to the seventh consignment!

    Maduka says one year after the vessel conveying the fuel was supposed to have berthed in Nigerian waters, following in the footsteps of the first six, there has been no trace of the ship, its cargo or the proceeds that should accrue from the sales. He contends that even if Molue, the popular Lagos mass transit bus, was used to convey the fuel from its point of purchase, it would have arrived Nigeria a long time ago. Ubah argues that the consignment arrived quite all right, was sold, and the proceeds deposited in the vaults of the loaning bank.

    The Maduka/Ubah saga is nothing other than a business transaction gone awry. It is typically what happens when transparency is in short supply in business dealing or, for that matter, any dealing. In analysing the fallouts of the multi-million dollar fuel importation business that has now obviously fallen on its face, there is need to ask some salient questions.

    With about 38 years’ active involvement in the Nigerian economy, Maduka is not known to have ventured into any business and failed. Indeed, he has been a pace setter in the different sub-sectors of the auto industry which he has been involved in. If he found attraction in the fuel importation business, why would he need to climb on Ubah’s back to achieve his aim? Who helped who? For a man whose name opens doors within and outside Nigeria, including financial institutions, why would Maduka need Ubah’s assistance to secure a loan facility in a bank in which he is a director? It cannot be that Ubah has exclusive knowledge of the intricacies of fuel marketing, such that a Maduka would need his help to navigate the rough waters of the industry. If children of politicians and other money bags are using their fathers’ names to succeed in the sector, Maduka, who has been around for a long time, would hardly need Ubah to succeed.

    What is the interest of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Aig Imokhuede and Maduka in running Ubah out of business?

    We are watching a battle whose end is certainly not in sight. But while the war rages on, what has become apparent is that the truth is buried somewhere beneath the propaganda, to be unearthed only by the truly discerning.

    • Yinka Adeleye lives in Lagos

  • Still on the American elections

    Still on the American elections

    SIR: The American national elections might have come and gone with all the interest and anxiety generated, political permutations and projections, both within and outside the shores of the United States. The Winner had emerged and the loser accepted the faith, but what are the lessons inherent for African leaders and particularly Nigerian politicians, political parties, electorate, electoral umpire, security agencies, and indeed the media to learn from this world’s beacon of democracy?

    Let us start from the emergence of candidates, particularly the Republican Party flag bearer Mitt Romney who emerged through rigorous and tedious party primaries. Immediately after he won the primary every other aspirant queued behind him and gave him the needed support. It is instructive that none of them defected to any other political party in a desperate bid to seek nomination or to vent anger on the party. Same was applicable to the Democratic Party flag bearer, Barrack Obama who emerged consensually without the power of incumbency playing any visible significant role.

    The electioneering campaign itself was so interesting and enlightening, as it was issue driven. Candidates focus majorly on how to revamp the economy, tackle growing unemployment rate, strengthen the middle class, and improve foreign policy direction among others. These are the fundamental and cardinal objectives on which the candidates canvassed to get Americans’ votes.

    This is contrary to what obtains in Nigeria where election campaign is far from being constructive. Contestants mount the podium to rain abuses on the oppositions and castigate one another relegating serious and fundamental issues to the background. It is difficult to recollect when elections and party politics in Nigeria were defined by ideology.

    Today, almost two years into the Jonathan presidency, the federal government is yet to grapple with the myriad of problems facing the country.

    It is also quite instructive that the election in America was violent free. Most often, the two leading candidates; President Barrack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney campaign simultaneously in the same State or even in the same county without any eruption of violence. What a disciplined party followership. This is the hallmark of civilised democracy. Unfortunately, violence has become an embodiment of electioneering campaigns in Nigeria, and indeed Africa. It is equally interesting to note that even with some of the challenges faced by the electoral body in some polling units in the American election; the electoral body was not castigated by the Politicians to undermine the outcome of the election. There were polling units where election did not start on schedule because of lack of electricity to power the voting machines owing to the stormy sandy that left many cities without electricity few days to the presidential elections. Voters waited patiently on a long queue to take their turns. Both the electorate and the Candidates believed in the impartiality of the electoral body. There was no snatching of ballot boxes or other election materials, no reported case of collusion between the electoral bodies with any politician for electoral advantage.

    Their Umpires conducted themselves impartially to win the confidence of the stakeholders.

    The question is: when will INEC gain the sort of credibility that would earn it the trust and respect of Nigerians as a truly independent body? The Media also has a role to play in this respect. First and foremost, the media has a sacred responsibility to inform, educate and enlighten the people, as guaranteed by the constitution. Hence, the media need to constantly remind political actors about the rules of the game and civilised ways of political conduct.

    Perhaps, the most amazing episode in the whole process of the American election was the manner the two principal Candidates accepted the popular will of Americans. Despite the fact that the result was still a forecast and projection from exit polls, the supposed looser had accepted defeat and winner accept victory.

    All these are pointers to the fact that we still have a long way to go for our democracy to be firmly rooted. But we will get there if all the stakeholders in the Nigerian project decide to abide by the simple dictate of democracy and do things right all the time.

    • Tope Ojo is of the PR Unit, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Alausa, Ikeja.

  • Respite for Lagos – Ibadan Expressway?

    Respite for Lagos – Ibadan Expressway?

    SIR: If there are indices to measure how low we have sunk into in matters of leadership in Nigeria for years now, I think the conditions of Lagos – Ibadan, Shagamu – Benin, Onitsha – Enugu, Enugu – Port Harcourt expressways etc will tell the story better. You do not need to go too far to measure the dept of our leadership crisis in Nigeria for nearly four decades. Our problem has not been money, it has not been bad weather, or bad soil, it is the failure of a people to come to terms with those who govern them.

    Lagos – Ibadan expressway was commissioned in 1976 or thereabout when there were not too many vehicles in Nigeria. Under our own very eyes, things began to change; economic activities increased, population increased, vehicles increased houses, churches, industries etc increased on the corridor but that road has remained like that for nearly forty years.

    The criminal neglect of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway and other federal roads in Nigeria has lingered on with a huge price. Billions have been lost, thousands of lives lost, millions of man hours lost. For 13 years since 1999, we have been talking about Lagos – Ibadan and Shagamu – Benin expressways, the busiest in the country. Former President Obasanjo and the late President Umaru Yar’Adua saw the disaster and put up huge billboards with their photographs on them deceiving Nigerians that actions will soon be seen on these critical roads but all to no avail. Soon, we began to hear about Bi-Courtney and the concession agreement with the Federal Government signed since 2009.

    For three years, Bi-Courtney has been speaking from both sides of the mouth offering one reason or the other why work has not started on this critical road. Two years ago, I began to notice mobilization of men and equipment on Lagos – Ibadan expressway only for them to vanish into thin air. What we continued to see are signboards telling motorists that work will commence soon on the road. The soon has winded to years and the road continues to decay to an unbearable state.

    Only God knows how much Dr Wale Babalakin has pocketed since this rigmarole started in 2009 as either mobilization fee or other sundry payments that are in tune with the rotten Nigerian contract culture. It is only in Nigeria that this kind absurdity can take place. It is only in Nigeria that this kind of impunity will be tolerated. It is only in Nigeria that we do not use sanctions or punishment to call people to order.

    The truth is that if the economy of Nigeria is to be propped up quickly, we need to invest seriously on critical infrastructures like roads and power. The mobility of the federal Government to reconstruct and rebuild Lagos – Ibadan and Shagamu – Benin roads has drastically reduced the rising economic strength of Lagos State. Realizing the potential damage these unattended critical roads have brought to the economy of Lagos and South West states, ACN Governors met recently to begin plans of building an alternative road to the existing Lagos – Ibadan expressway. Perhaps, the Federal Government was rattled by this decision and now decided to act even though belatedly.

    The time you wake up from sleep is your morning. If after 13 years of democracy, the PDP controlled Federal Government is now realizing that Lagos – Ibadan and Shagamu – Benin roads need to be fixed quickly, I say good morning PDP. We expect such quick and decisive actions on the many dilapidated federal roads in Nigeria; be it the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway or theUmuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road. And Nigerians demand that for once, this government should match its words with action.

    • Joe Igbokwe

    Lagos.

     

  • We need concerted efforts against rape

    We need concerted efforts against rape

    SIR: What a sweeping generalization, that the evil winds of rape and its ferocious storms leave a sour taste in the mouth. It is now rampant and daily escalating and its menace is highly worrisome, saddening and embarrassing.

    The ugly monster, a thorn in the flesh, a disease in the blood, a societal defilement, a threat, is also a fear of every sane woman, young and old, including kids.

    But it is disheartening that events of the past have proved it without any iota of doubt, that this ugly monster, sucking the pride of our girls, continues unabated, because those who are supposed to end this notorious evil are not helping matters.

    As a matter of fact, the failure of government to create enabling environment for the security of lives and property, is the cogent factor that opens the evil door for the injurious activities of rapists as they continue to flourish. This reminds one of the words of Thomas Jefferson that”the care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction is the first and legitimate object of a good government.”

    And also, Article 3 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of African Charter on People’s Rights, hold that everyone has the right to life and security. Honestly, we cannot rule out the essence of security, and we cannot say that the failure of government to provide security for the citizenry is not part of what exposes our ladies to falling victim of rape.

    Another crucial causal factor is the docility and unwillingness on the part of victim to expose the rapist(s) or to demand justice. Without any fear of contradiction, many ladies have experienced the bitterness of rape, and yet, keep it to their chest, as topmost secret, which they will carry to their grave, out of fear or shame. Therefore, they give rapists more audacity to further perpetrate the heinous acts. Many of them refuse to confess that they have been raped when they fall victim, and despite the fact that the perpetrators are known to them

    Another cause of the menace of rape today is the incompetence and unwillingness on the part of the enforcers and dispensers of law, by completely deviating from the legal maxim, “justitia nemini neganda est,”which means “justice is to be denied to no man.” Another maxim says “quiqlupoe ignoscit uni suadet pluribus,” which implies, “pardon one offence and you encourage the commission of many.” “Qui pacet innocentis innocentibus” is another, meaning, “pardon the guilty and you punish the innocent.”

    With due respect, our law enforcers and even the dispensers, seemingly lack the will for ex-debito justitae, the obligation to do substantive justice. Our police are seriously overlooking the case of rape brought to them out of flimsy excuses, thereby killing most rape or defilement cases, having forgotten the maxim, “suppressio veri,suggestio est falsi” (suppression of the truth is equivalent to expression of what is false).

    It seems our law dispensers do not aver their hearts to the cases of rape as crimes against humanities and instead of doing substantive justice; they too hide under the canopy of legal technicalities to foster injustice. The time is no more when disputes are dealt with rather on technicalities and not merit and this was buttressed by Aloysius Kastina Alu (JSC) as he then was, in the case of Amaechi v Omehia that “the court shall rise up to do substantial justice, without any regard to technicalities.”

    Our judges in particular, must always bear in mind the legal dictum, “ad officium justitiae rio rium spectat unicuigua corameis placitatanti justitiae exhibere,” which means “it is the duty of those who discharge judicial functions to render justice to everyone who comes before them in accordance to their oath of office.”

    To clip its evil wings of this monster, all hands must be on deck. The victim must be able to come out and report the perpetrators to the appropriate authorities; the law enforcers must ensure the prosecution of the perpetrators, and the dispensers of law must be willing and expedite action to dispense justice for all and sundry to see. The government should also create an enabling environment for the protection of lives and property and for quick dispensation of justice. It was the late legal icon and irrepressible human rights crusader, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, S.A.M, S.A.N, who once held that “a nation that is not interested in providing an enabling mechanism for dispensation of justice will be inviting chaos and instability.’’

    It is time every one of us put heads together and put an end to the scourge of the evil sucking the pride of womanhood.

    • BelloDestiny Paul

    Faculty of law, University of Ado-Ekiti.

     

  • Still on the Port Harcourt Four

    Still on the Port Harcourt Four

    SIR: Is history fair? No tale told by man is ever accurate just as history is mostly told from the perspective of the victor. In the circumstance, how can history be fair? History can be fair and a tale told by any man can come close to perfection if careful effort is made to examine issues involved so as to give sides in the subject matter a chance.

    The Aluu killing of the Port Harcourt Four has been an over flogged issue in recent times. The Jungle Justice meted out on four undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt has boiled the emotion of many within and outside the country. Many have condemned the people of Aluu for the senseless murder of four young Nigerians. Without doubt the killing is unjustifiable!

    The Aluu killing has soon become an historic event with a lot of lessons for mankind: young or old. The victims in the historic event were accused of stealing phones and computers and they were tried by an incompetent court that lacks jurisdiction. The illegal jury of irate mob found them guilty as charged and passed the verdict of death sentence on them. Legal principles were violated: as the accused were not given fair hearing, neither were they allowed to employ the services of a lawyer. Who is surprised? No right thinking person is. Because, it was a kangaroo court that tried them.

    In all honesty, in the Port Harcourt four scenario, the victims of this historic event are fast emerging as the victors of the drama. If the historic even that transpired in Aluu would offer any meaningful instruction, one must look at the issue from the perspective of the vanquished. Then will history be fair.

    Five young men embarked on a journey. They left their campus by 5.00am to pull debt from a debtor in Aluu. One of the five was owed the debt, the other four were carried along to put pressure on the debtor or threaten him to pay his debt. This kind of odyssey is not new or strange. The strange thing here is that, it was an odyssey of no return. As they got to their destination, knocked on the door and demanded the door be opened; one thing could have been clear in their mind, “we will collect our money or….”Opening the door, the house holder would have been shocked to see his creditor accompanied by four other people whom he does not know. In the circumstance, he would be scared. His thoughts could be assumed,” have they come to kill me”. In his panic state, he must have shouted for help. Calling his uninvited guests thieves as a eleventh hour measure to save his life.

    In view of the poor security situation in Aluu at that point in time, what would you have done, if you were paid such a surprise visit? The lessons from this historic odyssey of no return are many. What prevents them from taking the matter to the police? They assumed the role of the enforcer of the law. One was even alleged to be with a gun: which aided his escape and as such the whole truth of the historic event could come to light.

    The lesson is obvious, youths must guard against blind followership. They should learn to act based on reason. Guard against peer pressure and never forget parental advice in a hurry.

    Jungle justice is not new in world history. The Aluu killing was therefore not the first in that line. Its popularity is due to the publicity given to the barbaric act. History helps us study past event so as to be able to understand the present and be able to act wisely in the future. There are definitely many lessons we all can learn from this journey of no return. History is a teacher you ignore at your own detriment.

     

    • Williams Orukpe

    Lagos.

  • The family needs deliverance in Nigeria

    The family needs deliverance in Nigeria

    SIR: It is worrisome that there has been consistent destruction of those values that had kept the family functional. The family (with of course, marriage) has been so battered that even most contemporary social scientists are now confused as to what actually the family definition is. The direct and indirect attacks on this most crucial human aggregate include those from individuals, organized groups and governments of nations.

    The unjustifiable ‘assaults’ on the family are borne out of mad pursuit of self-satisfaction; growing ideology of individualism; the dream of evolving man at the pace of technological advancement; pressure from deviants and their sympathizers for recognition and approval; bad and insensitive governance of the human societies in the last four decades; affluence that come with the industrial revolution, and poverty that come by reason of public corruption; and neglects, etc.

    Particularly involved in the vicious social assault on the family and its institutions are the technologically advanced nations like the US, UK, France, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, etc.

    The consequent rots which include escalating youth delinquencies; runaways; rising illegitimate births; rise in divorce; rising domestic crimes; proliferation of unhealthy alternatives to the traditional nuclear family (cohabitation, gay-couplings, homosexuals and lesbians); increasing legalization of prostitutions; expanding drug problems; unemployable army of adults; and low productivities; etc now overwhelming and the efforts to curtail these phenomenal social decays, is gulping annually billions of dollars!

    The global war against the family is evident in such areas as loose public/political definition of the family; careless interpretation of human rights; legislation of anti-family state acts (e.g no-cause divorce and gay-coupling bills); encouragement of deviant alternatives to the traditional nuclear family; sex liberalisation, and legalization of prostitution; unregulated access to the mass media, whose family value-eroding crusades are cleverly concealed in entertainments; shifting the landmarks on the social meaning of modesty and morals; cutting down of funds available to departments and ministries directly concerned with human development and the health of the family; political insensitivity to the plight of families; mass corruption, looting, and so on.

    The forceful western culture infiltration with resultant social pollution, coupled with large-scale corruption and culture of insensitivity and social injustice of the successive governments have enlisted Africa especially, and Nigeria in particular, into the bunch of nations where the family and its institutions are under growing hopelessness, increasing jeopardy and decay. In Nigeria today, not even the strongly cultured easterners or the highly religious westerners are exempted.

    Today, many Nigerians have swallowed hook, line and sinker, deviant behaviours from the West, in exchange for our family-centred, rich cultures and values. These socially deviant practices are wrapped up in TV Entertainments; Outdoor Advertisements; College civilization, Women liberation campaigns; Child’s Rights protection; Globalization; Culture transfer and so on. What will be your reaction of you wake up tomorrow to hear that a Bill on Incest is to be debated by the House of Representatives? Thanks to God that saved us from the West-orchestrated Gay Bill from sailing through! The stoppage of the bill gave me some hope in some of our representatives.

    The growing neglect, relegation, perversion and vicious attacks on the family, as prevalent today among western cultures, which like wild fire, are consuming the globe, were not so from the start. It came with the Industrial Revolution, and its attendant unconventional behaviour and adventure into wild values, under the cover of social changes.

    The war against the family, whether as subtle as the smuggling into school curriculum, anti-family sexual freedom philosophies as it happened in the United States in the 20th century, is immoral. The battle against the family, whether as violent as the legalization of prostitution as it is in United Kingdom or the passage of no-cause Divorce Bill as it currently is in some western nations, is a social disruption inimical to human development.

    Families in their millions are breaking down as the result of the insensitivity of our leaders and their lip-service. The war against the family, whether its as ‘interesting’ as promoting promiscuity by the TV Media –showcasing naked array of ladies under ‘Beauty Contests’ or featuring ‘stars’that have married ten times with six children for ten fathers, is an immoral revolution! The TVs don’t show the pains and shame behind the fames! The war against the family, its values is a subtle means towards the extinction of humanity. It is an immoral revolution and Nigeria must rise against it.

    Oluleke Petersen

    Director, Omegalph Foundation

    olupetersen@yahoo.com,http://www.omegalph.com/