The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Open letter to IG Abubakar

    Open letter to IG Abubakar

    SIR: In spite of the security challenges facing the Nigeria Police, your administration is already painstakingly working towards giving Nigerians the kind of police they have been yearning for. Your efforts at giving the police a human face through training aimed at inculcating respect for human rights is noteworthy. It is a known fact that there is no organisation without its share of bad eggs who fail to appreciate the need for a good image for the establishment they represent.

    Your administration battle to redeem and restore the battered image of the police seen as pathologically and irredeemably corrupt is commendable just as the cancellation of the practice of mounting road blocks otherwise known street as ‘toll gates’ is a step in the right direction.

    Another area which urgently requires your attention is the practice whereby people are intimidated to part with large sums of money as pre-condition before bail could be secured for sometimes spurious and unfounded allegations.

    It is noteworthy that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State has already taken the bull by the horn in this direction. He recently issued stern warnings to all the men of the police in the state command to stop the practice or be shown the way out of the police.

    One of the problems is that a leader may mean well but along the line, there are usually some black legs in the system whose preoccupation is to sabotage and make nonsense of the leader’s good and lofty intentions. A situation where the Commissioner of Police is preaching sanity on one hand and a group of greedy and corrupt officers under him are doing the opposite does not augur well for a good image for the police.

    The bitter truth is that until the police force is effectively purged of corrupt elements, the people will remain glued to their negative perception. It is pertinent to draw your attention to a popular saying that in Nigeria that ‘Behind every wealth there is a crime”. Without doubt, this is the extent to which corruption has driven our country. Effective checking of corruption in the force will no doubt have a knock-on effect on the capability and success of checking the cankerworm in the larger society. It is noteworthy that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a body set up to fight corruption has, since inception drawn its leadership from the Nigeria Police.

    My candid advice to you, sir, is that you must not relent in your efforts at sanitising the Nigeria police by putting the squeeze on the corrupt elements in the force. You have done it before as Commissioner of Police and you can also achieve the same feat as the overall boss. Apart from the cracking of the whip, there may be need to go an extra mile by drawing a line in the sand to come up at the end of the day with a police that will actually be seen to command the respect and become true friends of the people in the real sense of the word.

     

    •Odunayo Joseph

    Lagos

  • Gov Kwankwaso and the N1.7 billion rams

    Gov Kwankwaso and the N1.7 billion rams

    It is now that I know the reason why the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso is asking for more federal allocation. What is happening to us in this country? Our leaders always left what is needed undone to do what is unneeded.

    Is buying of rams the most important thing to do for Kano State indigenes for Sallah celebration?

    How many rams will N1.7billion buy? Even if it is a ram each to everyone in the state including infants, is N1.7billion not on the high side? While some thoughtful governors are thinking of how to create employment for their citizens by resuscitating dead industries in their states and even venture into new endeavours. The most important thing to Kano State governor is to buy N1.7billion rams.

    If this money is set aside to bring to life one or two dead industries in the state, I believe it will generate 200 to 300 employment for employable citizens of the state. This same governor was the one crying that some states were given big money and some small money by the federal government. If I may ask, what tangible thing has Governor Kwankwaso done with the federal allocation given to his state since he took over in 2011?

    He spent a lot of money frivolously on forced marriage etc. Governor Kwankwaso was so bold to announce to the whole world that he has set aside N1.7billion to buy rams for Sallah and nobody is asking any question, even the law enforcement agencies including EFCC kept mute and allowed this huge amount of money to go down the drain.

    How will he account for this money if called upon to explain? EFCC are you there, oh! I hear you talk of immunity; let us continue to nurse the seed of corruption.

    It is high time to tell northern governors to shut up on agitation for more federal allocation because the one they are given is being mismanaged.

    By Israel Oyegbile

    Sabo Tasha, Kaduna.

  • The restriction on Okada

    Policy is an essential ingredient in the running of a community. It helps the nation into a well planned and structured organisation, thereby ensuring that there are rules and regulations that govern each aspect of our living in the society. A society that does not develop policies has only called for chaos, total breakdown of law and order and a disorganised system in running a society.

    Every move is always planned for, like it is said ‘he who fails to plan, has planned to fail.’ So also before there can be the implementation of any policy there must have been a measure that must have been considered to ensure that a policy is not to discomfort the people, making them miserable than the state they were in before the implementation of such policies. For instance, if a policy is to be implemented in the eradication of a particular practice, a practice that a large number of the masses (because that is how our government sees us), benefit from or use as a means of survival, then another provision should have been made available that the masses can fall back to after such eradication.

    Eradication of a practice, as long as it is to safe the masses from loss of lives and properties, is a welcome development. But before eradication you should go to the root of what propelled the masses into such practice, then find a way to give them an alternative that is better. After then can you come out and declare that you are eradicating a particular practice.

    The Lagos State Government over the time has come up with policies that have been commendable, but it is in the nature of people that when they are being commended they don’t take out time again to consider the implication of some policies that are been introduced. The banning of Okada is not kicked against because it is to save our lives, but why do people enjoy it? I believe this is what needs to be considered before implementing a good policy that has the capacity to ruin individuals.

    The inadequate vehicles for transportation has been a serious issue in our time. We discover that we have more people than the buses that ply our route, and these people must not be a minute late to the office or their respective place of work, because of the danger they stand to face when they get to work. Since government does not know that there is need for more vehicles for the masses, then the masses then will have to find a way of survival for themselves.

    Bad roads is a sign of being in Nigeria, and this has caused terrible hold ups thereby making the masses miss series of appointments, and nothing is done about it, even when an attempt is made, the roads are only repaired to be a dummy that will give way too soon. So why will Okada not come to the aid of people?

    What the state is creating is just distress and encouraging more theft by destroying Okada, the livelihood of individuals whom the government are not concerned about.

    Okada riders are being plunged into what is called ‘total hope lost’, especially for those whose Okada were crushed. Okada riding is one of the highest employers of labour, but now they are gradually being phased out, and there is no job provided for them.

    Let us look at this policy again.

    By Oluseyi Otufodunrin, Lagos

  • Benue politicians should close ranks

    SIR: In Benue State, a lot has gone wrong as a result of irreconcilable differences between the main actors in the politics of the state. As things are today, these gladiators are like parallel lines that will never meet and the consequence is the backwardness of the state. Until proper reconciliation is carried out between the main political actors, nothing tangible would come to the state that is yearning for total transformation.

    It is sad to note that Benue State which has been in mainstream of Nigerian leadership since independence and has produced prominent sons and daughters that have made their marks in the development of the nation is now in the doldrums politically.

    Among them is former Speaker of the House of Representatives during the Shehu Shagari administration, Benjamin Chaha Biam; former Senate Presidents Iyorchia Ayu and Ame Ebute; ex-chief of defence staff during the Obasanjo administration, General Victor Malu (rtd).

    The state also produced seasoned technocrats like Tiley Gyado, Denen Tofi etc.

    In politics, names of eminent politicians like Senator Joseph Saawuan Tarkaa of blessed memory, founder of United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC), Chief Obande Obeya, Wanteregh Paul Unongo, Senators George Akume, Barnabas Gemade and David Mark and Governor Gabriel Suswam readily comes to mind.

    Despite producing these eminent citizens, one thing that is lacking and that has hindered the progress of the state is unity among them. The suggestion has grown that the people of Benue State, especially the elite, are enemies of themselves. The elite must urgently reconcile themselves and focus on the development of the state. They must forget their political differences and pursue the virtue of selfless service to the state. The time for the reconciliation is right now!

    • John Akevi,

    Nitel Qtrs. Bauchi.

  • Bank staff and the spate of robberies

    SIR: The relationship between the banks and their staff could be likened to that of father and his son. A son is supposed to follow his father’s advice and instructions religiously for his own good and that of the entire family. Unlike father and son, banks are not biologically related with their staff but they are being employed to work and serve the customers with a view to making profit.

    Consequent upon that, banks and their workforce are legally bound to protect the interest of their customers. Under this circumstance and in line with banking ethics, every staff is supposed to complete oath of secrecy form every year. The essence of this is to make sure that all aspect s of their customers’ transactions with the bank are kept secret from the public. The scenario helps to create a conducive atmosphere for a smooth banking transaction between the two parties, as customers confidence is boosted the more once they know that their interest is protected.

    The spate of bank robberies in the country calls to question the issue of banks’ observance of relevant protocols before employing their staff. Bank robbery cannot happen just like that; for there is no smoke without fire. Banks need to be fortified in this area as no bank robbery is possible without an insider divulging information to the robbers. Banks should fortify themselves against this phenomenon by recruiting those with unquestionable characters in their outfit. They should insist that their employees, both new and old, get reference from persons of good repute. And these referees should be invited for interview. They should lay more emphasis on this than on entry qualification, since no graduate no matter his or her discipline can just come into the bank and start working without being guided.

    Banks should also encourage their staff to enrol with the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, which is the body that insist on the good conduct of their members.

    • Nkemakolam Gabriel

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State

     

  • As Williams sisters visit Lagos

    SIR: The planned visit of international tennis champions, Venus and Serena Williams to Lagos, Nigeria come October 30 to November 2 this year, is arguably a cheering one in the midst of the deluge of sad happenings that we have experienced in the country, in recent time. The Williams sisters, as they are fondly called, are due to visit Lagos exclusively as part of the Nigerian leg of their two-nation tour of Africa for the year. Only Johannesburg in South Africa and Lagos, Nigeria have been favoured as the preferred destinations of the amiable ‘’Queens of tennis.’’

    Essentially, the Williams sisters’ visit to Lagos, which is on the platform of ‘Breaking The Mould’ (BTM) initiative, is aimed at inspiring, motivating and empowering Nigerian women and young people so that they can achieve their inner potential regardless of the obstacles on the way. Having gone through the crucibles of life, the duo provides a perfect fit for the task of motivating Nigerians to success as they exemplify how determination, passion, hard work and self-belief can turn dreams into reality, despite challenges. Considering the story-behind-the success story of the Williams, it is a natural thing to consider them as the 2012 international “mould breakers” having turned around the initial obstacles on their way to the top.

    Ours is an environment where one keeps asking if it is possible to succeed in view of the prevailing negative forces around us. The contradictions are legion – high rate of youth unemployment, general insecurity, low standard of living, low educational standards, ethnic and gender discriminations among others. Despite facing similar situations, Venus and Serena Williams prevailed over their obstacles to become true champions, an experience we can all share via the opportunity that Breaking The Mould initiative provides.

    Like a larger percentage of us, the Williams sisters were raised in a lowly Compton town outside Los Angeles, United States of America by their humble parents. For the Williams, despite their busy schedule practising and competing on the tennis court, they still created time to have proper education. Having to experience the intrigues of being home-schooled by their mother, Venus and Serena graciously went through it and today, they have their high school diploma. Their sense of value for education notwithstanding their natural talents and abilities is a good lesson for our talented teens and youth who push aside their education in pursuit of their talents. Furthermore, the story of Venus and Serena is a major boost to the breaking of the age-long stereotype that branded the girl-child or women generally as ‘weaker sex’. The Williams sisters have forged ahead to write their names on the sands of time, making history and breaking new records. Today, the duo has won several laurels and grand slams titles.

    The enigmas called Williams sisters are a catalyst for Nigerians across age and class to expand their horizon, come out of the moulds and begin to function in more than a singular mould-cast of their chosen career and aspirations. Our world is a place of unlimited opportunities where enable every man and woman can fully maximize his or her hidden potential.

    • Efe Eguko

    Lagos.

  • Amosun: A honour well deserved

    Amosun: A honour well deserved

    SIR: For those versed with developments in Ogun State, the recent award to Governor Ibikunle Amosun as the “Best Security Conscious State Governor in West Africa” by Security Watch Africa, was not unexpected. The award was recognition for excellence and commitment to a strongly held ideal.

    The Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Security Watch Africa, Dr Theresa Oppory Beeko, stated that the awards were instituted to encourage governments across West Africa to confront the challenge posed by insecurity, as businesses could only thrive in a peaceful environment.

    Beeko singled out Governor Amosun for deserving the”Best Security Conscious State Governor in West Africa” because of what she identified as his achievements in the security sub-sector since May, 2011 when he assumed the leadership of Ogun State.

    Among those that received other awards at the event are the governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji and three Police Commissioners from Nigeria. ‘Security Watch Africa’ is an organisation that sets security agenda for African leaders and is at the forefront of celebrating Security and Safety Excellence in Africa.

    It is worth recalling that the administration of Senator Amosun inherited serious security problem where armed robbers operated with effortless ease which many times forced banks operating in the state to lock their gates against customers for fear of attacks. But the governor responded positively importing 13 Armoured Personnel Carriers(APC’s) from the United States; bought 125 patrol vans fitted with communication gadgets, purchased 1000 AK-47 rifles, 500 bullet proof vests,500 bullet proof helmets as well as two million rounds of ammunition for security operatives to be able to combat the hoodlums.

    The state government also instituted a Security Trust Fund headed by former Director General of the State Security Service,Col. Kayode Areh as well as secured approval from the Presidency to raise a joint military police patrol team code named ‘Operation Mesa’

    At the launch of the security equipment, the governor had told the gathering that the state government had to airlift six of the APC’s from the United States because of the urgent security challenges the state was facing. Governor Amosun, who explained how the state came about the state-of –the art APC’s said, “we spotted the APC on internet at a security trade fair in US and we immediately contacted the manufacturers who were very elated that immediate order was being placed for their product. We ordered 10, but the manufacturers told us they can only get six immediately. So we decided to fly them in because of the urgency involved”.

    Interestingly, since the intervention, crime statistics in the state has crashed significantly and fatality among policemen have equally reduced. Hoodlums suddenly found the state unsafe for their nefarious operations as policemen backed by soldiers either kill or maim robbers that dared to venture into the state. Even some kidnappers that seized the spouse of the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly and decided to hibernate in Ogun, had a bitter story to tell in the hands of men of the state Vigilante Service-another Amosun creation to tackle the problem of insecurity.

    • Olusola Balogun

    Abeokuta, Ogun State

  • What next after phcn sale?

    What next after phcn sale?

    SIR: An appreciable progress was made in the privatisation programme of PHCN with the emergence of successful bidders for five generation stations and 10 out of the 11 unbundled distribution companies on September 25 and October 16, respectively.

    This journey even though a tortuous one has put paid speculations that privatisation of the power sector may not be feasible this year. For the drivers of this agenda of government: the National Council on Privatisation and the Bureau of Public Enterprises it calls for celebrations. As usual, the exercise has polarized stakeholders in the sector who have been speaking for and against the process leading to the eventual selection of the preferred bidders. The dust raised is yet to settle and will not settle in the near future.

    First, the value of the entire PHCN as against its present market price of 200 billion naira has been faulted by the in- house union of PHCN which claimed it was prodigal to sell an asset worth two trillion naira at such a give-away price. Second, transparency of the privatisation programme was also called to question by the governors of Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ekiti States whose governments or their personalities are backing Southern Electricity Distribution Company which failed to clinch Benin Distribution Company.

    The governors granted a press conference alleging backhand deals. They vowed to stop Vigeo Group the preferred bidder from taking over the Benin Zone which Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State claimed they have been spending money on its distribution facilities and transmission networks.

    These governors in their capacity as state executives or as individuals cannot lay claim to be the only ones that have contributed to the growth of PHCN. What of the monies spent or contributed by spirited individuals, communities, companies, corporate bodies, banks and Non-Governmental Organisations in buying poles, transformers, cables, fuses, repairs of transmission networks or transformers and other accessories all in the bid to ensure that their businesses or localities get supply? Should they equally ask for refund or become an obstacle to the process? According to reports, the winner offered 21.78% while Southern Electricity backed by the governors offered 17.78%.

    The lone voice of reason by key stakeholders has since been drowned and overtaken by events in the perceived non-performance of PHCN itself. The opinion of most Nigerians no doubt has tilted in favour of what the drivers of the programme promised in the aftermath of the process. To that effect we all forget that it is our collective responsibility to know how and why our patrimony should be disposed at such ridiculous prices. The allegation made the governors even though weighty cannot cast any meaningful doubt on the process because it was done in bad faith. It was selfish. They only raised alarm because they were outsmarted.

    These governors and others are free to register companies to bid and run public utilities on their behalf for the good of their states because the expected revenue will improve the lots of their people. They are also free with all intent and purposes and with due respect too to cry wolf if there was any.

    But this hullabaloo is typical of Nigerian leaders in all its ramifications. Nigerians are advised not to be hoodwinked by this saintly posture of these governors. Where were they when some stakeholders, the unheard voices of PHCN staff were at one time opposing this entire process and lately advocating transparency?

    What next after the privatisation of PHCN should be the question. Do these qualified bidders actually have the needed wealth of experience and technical know-how to transform the moribund power sector? Will they be able to provide Nigerians with the expected quality and efficient non-stop power supply everyone yearns for? Will electricity be affordable to an average Nigerian when government eventually hands off? These are what should bother Nigerians.

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze

    Samaru, Zaria

  • Market Amazon at 96

    Market Amazon at 96

    SIR: Every generation amongst itself picks, anoints and decorates its own leadership. Such decoration doesn’t come on the platter of nothing; it is usually derived from selfless service to the yearning of the people, the ability to bear the gamut of insults that bedevil such sacrifice, the tenacity to relate with many people with diverse background and interest subject to the base of their human endowments and the thick skin to relate, balance and accommodate the insatiable demands of his/her followers within the context of a relatively scarce resources.

    Such desire to put oneself at the crossroad of human wants becomes more burdensome when it relates to a section of the populace that is of diverse leaning, yearning, enterprise and demography.

    Here, we are talking about the section saddled with the responsibility of bringing food from the farms and feed the families – the market place.

    It is this extremely important fraction of folks, who are conscious of their material and mental being that nature has destined to be the tonnage around the neck of a single individual in the last two and half decades. Like the cross of a Promised Land around the neck of Moses to lead the Israelites, the quest for an eco-friendly, economically viable, humanly habitable and hygienically welcoming market place has been the life battles of no other person but Alhaja Ashabi Abibatu Mogaji – the generalissimo/Amazon of the market place. And has she clocks another year within the nonagenarian circle this week, it behoves on the nation to celebrate a woman of substance, who has dedicated a larger part of her adult life to protecting the rights of market men and women, mobilising them for greatness and innovation, and giving every market person out there a brand to associate with.

    After taking tutelage and learning the ropes before taking the mantle of leadership from her mentor, late Madam Pelewura of blessed memories, Alhaja Mogaji threw her great weight into the battle to have a saner market place, where the rights of the market people are not trampled upon, and at the same time not in conflict with the rules of the state.

    Under the resilient leadership of Alhaja Mogaji, Thursdays of every week was made compulsory sanitation day for market men and women. This is aside daily advocacy campaign of her administration to enlighten the market folks on governmental policies like census, voting, immunization and other economically beneficial programmes of the government.

    The Lagos market is a mixture of an elitist class who prefer the malls and the petty traders who prefer to haggle over price. So, when in 2009, Lagos State government desired an effective and efficiently administered market system to sustain its commercial growth, bridge the elite-market women divide and bring about an appreciable sustainable development to the state, a capable, trust able and tested hand was found in Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, to chair the Lagos State Market Board.

    Alhaja Mogaji has been honoured with no fewer than 10 titles by various traditional rulers and interest groups across the nation. Some of such titles include President General, Association of Nigerian market women and men, Iya Adinni of Yaya Abatan Central Mosque, Ogba-Agege, Yeye Oba of Ikirun Land, Yeye Oba of Kweme Kingdom, Badagry, Yeye Oba of Osolu Kingdom, Yeye Oba of Lagos to mention but a few.

    She has also won several honours and awards from organisations such as Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, National Council of Women Societies, Eko Award 1991, National Youth Organisation and Law Ladies Forum, University of Lagos amongst others. Because of her humanitarian services, she was bestowed with matronship of many organisations like Nigeria Red Cross, Nigeria Youth Organisation, National Union of Lagos Students, Nigerian Society for the Handicapped, and Egbe Omo Eko.

    Alhaja Mogaji, fondly called, Mama, has been a mother of many. A devout Muslim and philanthropist.

    • Ibrahym Mojeed-Sanni,

    Lagos

     

  • Yuguda’s succour to the education sector

    Yuguda’s succour to the education sector

    SIR: When Governor Isa Yuguda took over the mantle of leadership in 2007, the education sector in Bauchi State was on the verge of collapse. There were less than 1,000 trained teachers to manage Bauchi State’s 247 public secondary schools with more than 200,000 students – a ratio of 1 to 200. Also over 7,000 out of 16,000 primary school teachers in the state were not qualified as they did not possess the required minimum qualification of NCE.

    The glaring decay in the state’s education sector was so malignant that only nine

    candidates out of over 3,000 who sat for the 2004 common entrance examination passed. Again only four, out of the 8,000 candidates who sat for the 1999 Senior Secondary School examination in the state scored five credits and above.

    Against the backdrop of the over N700 million spent on the sector in that year alone, the poor showing was discouraging and revealing.

    Faced with the disturbing situation, Governor Yuguda immediately zoomed into action to salvage the sector from imminent collapse. First he declared a state of emergency in the sector and began the immediate renovation of dilapidated structures in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary institutions across the state. The budget for education sector was jacked by over 100 percent from N2.5 billion in 2007 to N6.6 billion in 2009 and N19.4 billion in 2012, in an effort to restructure the sector. The Yuguda administration also procured and distributed six million copies of assorted textbooks to all state-owned primary, secondary and tertiary institution at a total cost of N6.5 billion as a support to the sector. The administration also distributed brand new cars to those qualified by civil service regulation to own automobiles under subsidized loan scheme, including teachers training and retraining to improve their skills.

    To ease parent’s burden in part funding of their children’s education, the administration paid WAEC and NECO examination fees for all its students without discrimination as to the state of origin, tribe or religious inclination. To further develop the education sector, the government established the state university and plans have reached an advance stage to establish a teacher’s academy to produce quality teachers. The administration also expended over N1.2 billion on students allowance in the last three years. Over 21 students are in the USA for various degree programmes in critical areas like aircraft maintenance engineering while more than N80 million was expended on the sponsorship of 38 students studying

    Medicine in Egypt, while over 100 students are in Malaysia. The administration also renovated and equipped science laboratories in selected secondary schools. These apart, six special secondary schools for married women were established as the administration expended over N189 million on the purchase of 10,000 units of double decker beds and another N204 million on 45,000 quality mattresses which were

    distributed to various schools.

    Feeding allowance to students in government boarding schools was increased by 100 percent as N420 million is quarterly expended to feed students with quality and quantity meal. In line with his blue-print policies the governor introduced the symbolic teaching programme, where as the governor, he squeezed time to personally teach economics in some selected schools. This perhaps explains the decision of US Agency for International Development, USAID to invest about N25 billion in Bauchi and Sokoto states to boost their capacity in expanding education and good governance. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) acknowledged the efforts of Governor Isa Yuguda by bestowing on him its 2011 Best Governor Award.

     

    • John Akevi,

    Bauchi