The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Politically-motivated armed robbery in Ogun?

    Politically-motivated armed robbery in Ogun?

    SIR: Permit me a space in your widely-read newspaper to comment on the killing of police officers in Ogun State allegedly by armed robbers, as reported in the media on Tuesday, October 23. It has never been heard of for armed robbers to put a distress call through to the heavily armed officers of the Quick Response Squad or the Joint Police/Military Patrol Team in order to lay ambush for them and kill them.

    I smell a rat here. The whole operation smacks of conspiracy when armed robbers are no longer interested in robbery but killing of security agents. Can we still call that robbery? The timing of this tragic incident and other reports in the social media (on alleged breakdown of a new APC at Ijebu-Ode) since last week when it became public knowledge that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State would be honoured in Ghana as the Best Security Conscious Governor in West-Africa, lend credence to the theory of politically-motivated armed robbery, orchestrated to fault the well-deserved award to Senator Amosun.

    I therefore call on the Commissioner of Police, Director of State Security Services and other relevant agencies to look beyond a mere robbery incident and establish if some politicians in Ogun still engage in keeping a “Killer Squad” to perpetrate heinous crimes in the state.

    From my little experience, you may trail or monitor a person or group for up to 3 or 5 years before making them to face the full wrath of the law. You just have to cast your net wide.

    The police should also investigate their men to ensure they are not being used by the opposition, beside the need for professionalism in crime control.

     

    • Chief Ayodele Adesanya

    Sagamu, Ogun State

     

  • Amosun and the changing face of Rock City

    Amosun and the changing face of Rock City

    SIR: Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, has been a screaming metaphor of governmental failure since the return of civil rule in 1999. The state capital has been on the wrong side of the developmental chart ever since.

    A good number of those who held sway as governor and public office-holders in the state during the locust era of the military, and under civil rule did not do more than pay lip service to the gnawing problem of development and the rot in the city. The result is that the city is languishing under the heavy yoke of bad roads and the twin problem of flood and erosion.

    What would have passed as an average effort by the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel to address this sore in the heart of one of Nigeria’s foremost cities ended in a fiasco, as people who were said to have been mobilized for major contracts in the city simply took a walk after collecting full payment for the jobs.

    Officials had always explained the failure of the government to address the plight of the city on the premise that Abeokuta is an ancient town whose plan is lacking in adequate implementation.

    However, the story is changing. At the inception of his administration last May 2011, Governor Ibikunle Amosun promised the people of Ogun that his administration would give attention to the challenges of wresting Abeokuta from infrastructural decay, flooding and erosion identified as the loudest sources of misery to the inhabitants of the city.

    He restated his resolve to ensure a holistic implementation of the Abeokuta masterplan, reputed to be one of the most badly mauled plans in the country. He was shocked that the residents of the city, who complained about the menace of flooding and erosion had constructed structures, kiosks and containers to block the natural drains constructed by the founders of the city. During one of the visits, the governor promised that all illegal structures blocking the drains would be pulled down.

    Although few people believed the governor then, he has commenced a process in earnest to remove the shameful scar of rot from the city. He has also taken some practical steps to fulfill his promise to recreate the exploits of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State in Ogun. He seems to be drawing his inspiration from transforming effect of creative governance in Lagos as shown by the conversion of Oshodi from a centre of filth and crime to a welcoming centre.

    In the past 10 months, Abeokuta residents have witnessed the noticeable impacts of governmental presence.

    For the first time in Abeokuta, several people who had exploited the weakness of previous administrations to encroach on the right of way including the commercial Bank in the city, got the message and decided to embark on the expected corrective step of vacating the area and relocated. Those illegal structures built without government approval were sealed off by the State special Task Force on Bureau of Urban and Physical Planning (BUPP) under the programmes “Build Right.”

    Across the city, landlords of such structures deemed illegal by the government have taken the initiative to embark on the demolition themselves. Those who have certificate of occupancy got their compensation from the state government for the demolitions. Even as the exercise continues a good number of roads, especially the major ones and streets would be stripped off in due course for roads reconstructions and expansions.

    With the first phase of demolition and the additional space added to the major roads like, Sokori/Ita-Eko/Totoro road and others, Abeokuta is like a bride waiting to be decked in colors of gold when the contractors complete the work at the site at the end of the rainy season.

     

    • Ademola Orunbon

    Abeokuta, Ogun State

  • Oshiomhole wrong on death row prisoners

    Oshiomhole wrong on death row prisoners

    SIR: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, recently ordered the execution of two prison inmates pending appeal of their suits before the courts.

    The characters of these inmates were described by the prison authorities in the state as “ unmanageable “.

    Despite being on death row, the governor failed to recognize that these inmates have their Rights to Life pursuant to Section 33, 1999 Constitution.

    This section entrenches that everyone has a right to life and no one shall be deprived of this except under the circumstances permitted by law.

    Looking at the length and breadth of this section, the action of the governor has no legal backing for it is a breach of the law to execute someone pending appeal.

    Also affirming this right is Article 4 of the African Chatter on Human and Peoples Rights. To this end and others, the right to life has received the status of a jus cojen. It is universally recognized.

    Taking a clue from the decision of the court in Nosiru Bello v. A.G Oyo State (in which the court held that the killing of the deceased was unconstitutional), I think this mishap should be re-addressed.

    Lucy Freeman, Amnesty International’s deputy program director for Africa, speaking on this, described this act as “ a deep disrespect for the judicial process”.

    Not considering the fact that these two were convicted for murder, the constitution remains supreme (Section 1).

    The law will prefer 99 guilty persons freed than one innocent man killed. Since the deed hasn’t been done, there is still room to respect the grundnorm – The 1999 Constitution.

     

    • Ekpo Uduakobong

    Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.

     

  • The travails of Ifeanyi Uba

    The travails of Ifeanyi Uba

    SIR: The on-going trial of fuel subsidy scam bears similarity to the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to nip in the bud acts that are inimical to the economic well-being of the nation. This development has shown that the proceeds of crime will never bring forth good seeds; neither will the tracks of any such acts be forever covered.

    Last week, one of the subsidy fraud suspects, Patrick Ifeanyi Uba was remanded in prison custody on the order of Magistrate Martins Owumi of the Lagos State Magistrate’s Court.

    The order was sequel to an affidavit in support of an application for remand sworn to by Chief Superintendent of Police, Francis A. Idu and filed before the court. The court action was sequel to the report of the Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel subsidy headed by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, which President Goodluck Jonathan set up to audit the report of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the same subject, headed by Farouk Lawan.

    Uba’s Capital Oil and Gas was said to be culpable for fraudulently obtaining N42.291 billion from the Federal Government by falsely pretending that it imported and sold 538.7 million litres of petroleum during the 2011 fiscal year through 26 transactions.

    Before now, Uba, like others before him, had endlessly struggled to ‘wash’ his new earned status as one of the nation’s billionaires through acquisition of traditional titles accompanied by excessive celebrations and opulent lifestyle.

    Until September 3, 2011, the name hardly rang a bell. However, on his 40th birthday anniversary, the smokescreen was lifted. Well over 100 pages of adverts were plastered in several newspapers to mark the day. The celebration was adjudged to have“broken all tenets of modesty and brought superfluity to walk on all four.”

    Interestingly, just one year later, the façade of a nobility and hard working businessman he constructed round himself began to be lifted.

    Apart from the current travails, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) listed his company as one of the 113 corporate organizations heavily indebted to banks. The debt profile of Capital Oil is in the region of N48.014 billion, which AMCON said it had “restructured and awaiting performance.”

    The fact remains that Uba has made some meaningful contributions in employment generation with the establishment of his oil marketing firm. Its equally noteworthy to mention that his Capital Oil played a notable role in kerosene distribution at a time the cooking fuel was most needed in many homes.

    But it should be pointed out to our entrepreneurs that organisations all over the world are imbibing best business practices and good corporate governance that enhance sustainability. This is the way we expect our businessmen to go. His current travails should serve as lessons to all.

     

    • Alfred C. Nwachukwu Snr.

    Abuja.

  • The Aluu massacre and national malady

    The Aluu massacre and national malady

    The recent massacre of four University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) students tagged criminals by the people of Aluu in Rivers State, who became the prosecutor and the judge overnight in their own court of law has left many Nigerians and foreigners in a stupor with pangs of anger and righteous indignation. It had been shock, grief and lamentation since the judicial killings took place. Before the unfortunate incident, forty students were killed at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi in Adamawa State. Why kill innocent souls for no just cause, especially future enlightened leaders? The action of the killers is embarrassing, degrading and has not only dented but denigrated our image nationally and internationally.

    Now that the Aluu community has massacred four students for an unconfirmed allegation, which was not substantiated by a court of competent jurisdiction but its people, who are now the real criminals, is it the Aluu community or the students? The jungle justice exhibited by the people without following the appropriate procedure is condemnable, wicked and a clear demonstration of not wanting or encouraging any good thing. To me, the people of Aluu are the criminals for going into wanton destruction of students by taking the law into their hands.

    Furthermore, the Federal and Rivers State governments should rise to the challenge of unmasking the real culprits behind the cowardly and dastardly act no matter how highly or lowly placed. This is because the act is not only condemnable as it is despicable and regrettable putting Nigeria in bad light which is the very depth of abomination. Consequently, there is need for all to be guided by the word of an elder statesman, octogenarian and first executive president of Nigeria, Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shagari, who said “This moment of our history demands of all of us the spirit of tolerance and cooperation rather than the things that divide us, we will have succeeded in bequeathing a fitting legacy to the coming generation.”

    However, let this be a time of sober reflection for us all. As Nigerians and the international community condemn the wicked act, let everybody look inward and reappraise what happened. Injustice and oppression cannot but ultimately produce a desire for revenge and or rebellion but the law of the land should be adequately applied. Let our deep sympathy go to all who lost their lives, persons and sense of security. Nigeria needs to be made safe for all; and the federal government should lead and show the way especially through its security agencies.

    In my opinion, all progressive and articulate Nigerians irrespective of religion, tribe and status must dislodge the idea of being agents of darkness and destruction. In this connection therefore, it is absolutely necessary with due respect, humility and sense of responsibility to appeal to all Nigerians to remain steadfast, focused on the path of truth, honour, fairness and justice so that Nigeria can make meaningful progress economically and politically in our current democratic structure.

    With these recent killing of students in Port Harcourt and Mubi, one may say that Nigeria’s democracy is therefore dangerous if the massacre is not properly investigated and the perpetrators brought to face the music. If not it might lead to a stage that the falcon can no longer hear the falconer and that things will fall apart. This is not the best for Nigeria’s democratic structure. In the words of Desmond Mpilo Tutu, “Justice must be done to the poor and oppressed and if the present system does not serve the purpose, the public conscience must be roused to demand another.”

    In other words, the federal government needs to investigate thoroughly if there was gross negligence by any person or group of persons that would have helped to stop the killings and then follow due process. Let us not make Nigeria a sick country by our actions.

    Charles Ikedikwa Soeze, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.

  • Aluu Four and the limit of self help

    SIR: Comments have flown far and wide. Some say it’s barbaric while to some, it’s an act of self help. I couldn’t but marvel when some said it was an act of self defense by the Aluu people. When I asked who the assailant was, no one could make a sound.

    Is self help (which in this case is a brutal scenario of jungle justice ) recognized in the law Are we still in the Hobbesian state where life is short, brutish, and nasty?

    Section 1 of the 1999 Constitution affirms the supremacy of the Constitution. All rights of the citizens are entrenched in the constitution ( Chapter 4 to be specific). Every person has the right to life and can only be deprived of this under lawful circumstances. These circumstances are dither provided for in sub-section 2a – c.

    Also inherent in chapter 4 is the right to fair hearing (Section 36 to specific ). This section states that “in the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality”.

    Sub-section 5 of section 36 states that everyone charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty. This was given judicial backup in the case of Alabi v. The State.

    To those who fancy the killing of the Aluu 4, they should, by themselves, apply the few aforementioned provisions of the 1999 Constitution and make their judgments. Without any scintila of doubt, I say and rightly say that the provisions of the constitution have been breached.

    Let’s receive the law with open arms. It’s a fidus Achates (faithful friend). My condolence to the families of the deceased.

    • Ekpo Uduakobong

    Faculty of Law, Unilag

  • Genocide: I disagree with Chief Okunnu

    SIR: I was shocked to read Chief Femi Okunnu’s interview on page 51 of The Nation newspapers of October 17 where he was quoted to have said “there was no genocide from his point of view and knowledge as a member of government at that time”.

    Well, I think the Chief was economical with the truth as it is a known fact that Anioma people especially the Asaba people were massacred during that period. Maybe, Chief Okunnu is not also aware that Gen Yakubu Gowon, the Head of State of that era, apologized to Asaba people for the senseless killings of innocent and defenseless Asaba civilians. It was published in “Nigeria prays” The Guardian, September 21, 2001.

    Late Gen. Muritala Mohammed (then Lt Colonel) led the second division of the Nigeria Army from Benin-city through Asaba enroute Biafra. Late Lt Col. Ibrahim Taiwo was the commander of 7 Brigade of the Nigeria Army that entered Asaba on October 5, 1967. Between the 5th and 7th October 1967, Asaba lost a generation of her sons to the rampaging Nigerian soldiers. These innocent civilians were hurriedly buried in mass graves in that town.

    These facts were presented at the Justice Chukwudufu Oputa human rights panel in 2001, by people like the Bishop of Enugu Anglican diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, Dr Ifeanyi Uraih and Dr Gethrude Okogwu.

    Where is the report of that panel today? Chief Okunnu, you were probably enjoying your cozy ministerial apartment in Lagos, when your fellow country men were being decimated in their thousands. Only the truth can heal the wounds and set Nigeria free. You rather speak the truth or remain silent as usual.

    • Ifeanyi Odittah,

    Lagos

  • The face in the mirror

    SIR: Give the leaders a break! Yes, you heard that right. Direct the energy of the positive scrutiny and criticism of our country’s leaders to your own personality for the next couple of minutes. What do you see? Who are you? How have your positive, negative values and characters affected those around you? Are you similar in nature to our bad and ill mannered leaders that we all criticize? Or are you the doppelganger or the look-alike in personality that Nigeria aspires to have as a good leader?

    Why these questions? Because I have discovered that sometimes, we could be the ones hindering our progress in any level. We complain that our leaders don’t serve us well, which I strongly believe. But I also believe that in our little ways we hinder the little progress that we should have as a country. We ourselves do not make ourselves see the light. Most of us are similar in personalities to the corrupt, deceitful and insensitive leaders that have ruled us in the past. The difference is just the fact that we do it in our own small ways. Another difference is just the fact that we are not in high and juicy positions, where our life in total is magnified by critics, journalists and the paparazzi. Whether we carry out the good or the bad in the big or small ways, it always makes a difference.

    Let us take a look at real life examples from the individual corruption of the immigration officials of this country to the untruthfulness of the airport officials that put Nigerians at risk just because of what they will have as an extra tip at the end of each day’s work. On October 13, I boarded Arik Airlines at Heathrow en route Lagos. I noticed that the World Health Organisation licensed spray to prevent transmission of diseases from one country to another wasn’t sprayed on our flight to Nigeria. If you are reading this, you should have heard or witnessed a similar situation, whereby the W.H.O spray is used when leaving Nigeria but not used on the return. This also happens on Aero Contractors, when you leave Nigeria heading to Ghana the W.H.O spray is used, but when you are heading back to Nigeria the W.H.O spray is not used.

    Are diseases of the world then licensed to make entry into our country? I was very disappointed that Saturday evening not just because the law wasn’t obeyed. I don’t blame Arik Airlines for not spraying; I blame the officials at the airport who don’t do their jobs because of their lack of integrity and preference to money over lives and responsibilities. Most times we criticise the leader in all ways. But in our daily lives of cheating people, collecting bribes amongst so many others, there is no difference between the ill-mannered politicians and us.

    Let us take a critical look at our immigration officials. The regular fee for a Nigerian Passport is approximately N9, 000, but the last I heard about the fee from a friend who decided to get a passport was outrageous; the price now ranges from about N16, 000 to N25, 000. The increase in price came about by the money watering mouths of the immigration officials who promise people to get the passport for them between a day and a week if they can pay such outrageous prices. This is just one unclean phase of the many others of the Nigerian Immigration.

    In our everyday lives the corruption is seen everywhere from our family lives to our community world. Take a look at your personality in the mirror. Do you influence those around you negatively? Do you indirectly tell or show the younger ones that corruption and insincerity amongst others, is a norm in our society? What does your personality tell the next person to you?

    • Oluwayemisi Joseph

    Lagos

  • Let us face agriculture, now

    SIR: Having been opportune to be at the world food day lecture and exhibition organized by the Oyo State Government under the Oyo State agricultural development programme (OYSSADEP), one cannot but say how richly blessed we are in this nation if only we would concentrate more on agriculture.

    The attention that our government has given to crude oil as been over whelming it is time to face agriculture. After all, food is a primary and basic need of man. Government should look more into funding and allocating land to farmers, provide them with fertilizers, and modern machines for efficient production of food and other agricultural output.

    Nigeria is a country known for large production of cassava, and from my observation, it is difficult to see a household that owns a farmland without cultivating cassava. While at the Oyo State exhibition, I could not but marvel at size of some of the crops that were brought for exhibition, and the willingness of farmers to produce even better crops if only, the much needed support they seek from government would be given. If only agriculture were crude oil? Think again!

    The excitement grew even more when getting to a stand occupied by a team, Harvestplus. There, I saw yellow cassava (which I was later told had that colour because it has been fortified with Vitamin A). That same cassava was used in making eba, fufu, African salad, and cassava salad while on the other hand its leaf was used in making a nice soup. Also on display at other stands where cakes, bread, and chips all made from cassava.

    Is it not time we concentrate more on agriculture? It is rather scary to think of what the future holds for food production in this country considering her ever growing population. Should a nation so richly blessed with good climatic condition and a simple topography die of hunger? I mean is it okay for Nigerians to go hungry because both the government and the people of Nigeria are yet to rediscover the “messiah”.

    Let agriculture be taught in schools with more emphasis on the practical aspects. Let the children who are the leaders of tomorrow know that farming is not a “dirty job” rather a noble profession. Our youths should cease that desperate search for white collar jobs where there might none, and go to the farm. With adequate and prompt assistance from the government, we would be able to make good contributions not only to ourselves but to our country Nigeria and invariably the world at large.

    Agriculture is like a pot of hidden treasure, waiting to be discovered.

    • Okonkwo Ifeoma Pricillia.

    Ibadan, Oyo State

  • Imoke’s undignified view of women

    Imoke’s undignified view of women

    SIR: After the victory of the Super Eagles over their Liberian counterparts which guaranteed them a place in next year’s African Nations Cup in South Africa, The Guardian of October 16, quoted Liyel Imoke, Governor of Cross River state who hosted the Eagles to a dinner after the match as saying: “I had my initial fear for the players the moment the NFF picked Calabar as venue for Eagles matches. As you are aware, Calabar is home for good food as pounded yam, edikang ikon and afang soup. We also have the best of tourism sites in the country and above all, Calabar is well known for its beautiful women. My biggest fear initially was that the players might not do well on the pitch after enjoying all those special ‘delicacies’.

    Imoke brandishes women as his state’s tourism asset. According to him, women are special delicacies. Indeed sexism has different tones. It is men like Imoke who think of women as nothing more than an object of sexual gratification.

    In a world that has been increasingly moving for women empowerment and gender equality, it is unfortunate that there are still those who are taking us back to the dark. Happily though, President Goodluck Jonathan knows that women, in their position as mothers, play vital roles in nation building. That is why he has accorded them a special role in his government. Out of the 42 members of the Federal Executive Council 13 are women. Today we have the first female Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission. There are female cadets in the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA), and for the first time the Chief Justice of Nigeria is a woman.

    There are only two people in the world: a man and woman. Fifty percent of the time men are dealing with women. Men, in their words and actions with women, should be tactful. They should treat women with dignity and respect. Protective paternalism should be the ideal.

    • Dr Cosmas Odoemena

    Lagos.