The Nation Newspaper

Category: Opinion

  • Acting President Osinbajo’s Last Order On Terrorism

    If I had a chance in my youthful days, I would have enlisted into one arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces. But I was frustrated, as several attempts I made for admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna were met with a brick wall. After the third failed attempt, I resigned to fate and gave up pursuing a career in the military.

    But to say, I have a passion for the military is grossly understating my feelings. I am very emotional about soldiering because its nature does not only blend with me, but perfectly communes with my adventurous nature.

    The satisfaction that I am battling to protect someone else, known or unknown to me, drives me crazy. That I can stand to be counted among citizens of Nigeria who can sacrifice their lives to protect and defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of my country confers on me an infinite feeling of fulfillment and heroism.

    In addition, what keeps me glued to the military is also the sacredness any military personnel attach to “Orders”. No officer violates the sanctity of “order” and all eyes are set on the “last order”, which notifies of a detour from an action in progress and induces fresh compliance with the new direction. No officer would want to be caught napping for flouting an “Order”. Indeed, if other professionals had imbibed the discipline of unquestionable compliance with “order” religiously as done in the military, the world and Nigeria, in particular would have been a better and more cherished place.

    And the effectiveness of orders in the Nigerian military has been brought to our attention once more, in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaigns in the country. When Boko Haram insurgency raged with consuming fire, especially in Nigeria’s Northeast, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed new Service Chiefs to energize the anti-terrorism campaigns.

    The President, who doubles as the Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, appointed the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai as leader of the counter-insurgency war and the new assignment came with an “order” that the military command and control centre in Abuja be relocated to the hotbed of terrorism in Maiduguri. It got instant compliance. And the President fleshed it by ordering the Nigerian military to defeat Boko Haram Terrorism (BHT) within record time.

    That was the order from the Commander-In-Chief to Gen. Buratai. And he lived every day working assiduously to not just comply with this presidential order, but also to post positive results in accordance with the order. The Army boss led our troops to the trenches and the tale of Boko Haram insurgency began to twist in favour of victory for Nigeria. By December 2015, barely months after this order to Gen. Buratai, Nigerian troops decimated Boko Haram insurgents considerably reducing their capacity to commit reckless atrocities on Nigerians.

    At the outset of 2016, Gen. Buratai had reclaimed nearly all Nigerian territories captured by insurgents and by the middle of the same year; Nigerian troops had completely overwhelmed terrorists. The stage was set for their final defeat and in December 2016, Gen. Buratai fully complied with the order to defeat Boko Haram insurgents, with the demystification and dismantling of the formerly dreaded Sambisa forest in Borno state, insurgents most protective enclave.

    That is the seriousness the military attach to “orders”. And the stage of the counter-insurgency war now is at the level of total elimination of terrorism by tracking down fleeing remnants of Boko Haram and also, stopping their capacity to strike soft targets.

    Therefore, days back, Gen. Buratai ordered the Commander, Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, Major Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru to capture the factional leader of Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau “dead or alive,” within 40 days. It’s the first indication that Shekau is in trouble as Major Gen. Attahiru has just assumed duty to co-ordinate the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria’s Northeast. And as accustomed to the military, it’s certain that the Theatre Commander would not play with this crucial order.

    I assumed the COAS’s order was the final, until another overriding order was issued to Gen. Buratai by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. The Acting President was clear that Shekau should not only be arrested, but the Nigerian Service Chiefs should relocate to Borno state and through concerted efforts, scale up actions to halt further terrorists attacks on soft targets. It means the two complementary orders are being tackled simultaneously.

    And I believe since the military religiously comply with orders, they are also mindful not to go beyond the dictates of the orders. President Buhari ordered the defeat of Boko Haram terrorism and it came to pass. Perhaps, Boko Haram is yet to be totally eliminated because there was no order to this effect until now, which accounts for the flashes of suicide bomb attacks in parts of Borno.

    What infinitely excites me is that all the necessary orders have been issued now on the final military destination with Boko Haram terrorism and of course, the last one emanating from the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo. I have no modicum of doubt about the hard times awaiting Boko Haram insurgents, as a military officer would prefer death than fail to execute an order to its conclusive end.

    And relieving still, the order is backed by action and collective approach as exemplified by the relocation of Service Chiefs and Heads of other security agencies to Borno state. It appears to me, Boko Haram insurgents dread orders and the present crop of Service Chiefs who are in Maiduguri to serve humanity and save their country have never failed to fruitfully execute orders concerning the counter-insurgency war. I can safely assert that the die is now cast and terrorists have tougher times ahead. That is the essence of the “Last Order,” on Boko Haram by the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo.

    Again, it also means the current tempo of the counter-insurgency war is no more business as usual and tailored to finally eliminate terrorism from our shores. Nigerians should be assured that Nigerian troops will chase Shekau and his remnants of foot soldiers into the darkest of holes, in compliance with this order.

    I can happily sight the days of Boko Haram torment of Nigerians and our country gradually ebbing out and I feel, it’s better for terrorists to surrender than be caught up in the crossfire in the course of executing these “Orders”. Myself and indeed, countless Nigerians appreciate the sacrifices of these tactful Service Chiefs and the courageous Nigerian troops. We cannot wait to see Shekau and his minions boil in their own stew.

    Abiodun writes from Ibadan, Oyo State.‎

  • July 4 and an odious legacy

    Celebration is a very important aspect of life. It offers a person or a group the opportunity to take a break from rigid official protocols, recreate a little and indulge the human faculties. People celebrate their birthdays, nations celebrate their independence anniversary and cooperate entities celebrate different dates to mark one event or another. October 1st stands out as a very important date in the historical annals of Nigeria, a day the country got her independence. June 12th stands out as a day democracy was viciously raped in Nigeria, rape being a social vice abhorred all over the world. Also May 29th is symbolic in our historical calendar, a day Nigeria returned to civil rule after many years of military rule. We also have workers day marked May 1  every year. There is also the children’s day observed on the 27th of May and then February 14th, a day set aside for those who in one way or another are victims of emotional misadventure. Also there abound different dates for religious festivities when people indulge in all kinds of celebrations. July 4th 2017 has made a case for itself in Nigeria’s political diary, therefore we must celebrate it.

    The events of that day in the putrid chambers of Nigeria’s senate will be studied by students of politics with dedicated commitment to the power fulcrums for many years to come. Like June 12 and May 29, July 4th has become sacrosanct among all other signifying elements that define political events in Nigeria. On that day our country was saved from total collapse when some distinguished senators attempted to subvert the will of the people and truncate the democracy we have committed blood and water to rehabilitate. Let us, in the spirit of patriotism wear our dancing shoes, bend down and wriggle our waists made thin through economic hardship unleashed on us by successive administrations and gyrate to the iconic beat of celebration drums.

    Surely Nigeria is a country submerged in extraordinary ironies especially within the political hierarchy. Or how else can one interpret the recent scenario where those elected to make laws almost subverted the same laws to enthrone anarchy through what many people have termed a coup. Coup? Yes, a word that sends hair-raising and blood chilling feeling among the populace raised its ugly head within the much desecrated chambers of the senate on July 4, 2017. Has anyone heard of a civilian coup? Yes, only in Nigeria, a country with nine lives. We must all come together and thank the Almighty that as we dangerously stood on a precipice, we didn’t tip over into the abyss of eternal pandemonium on that July 4. On that day, there was a failed coup organized by senators in all its dislocating and subverting possibilities.

    In every country of the world, those who plot a coup and fail pay the ultimate price for committing a crime against the state. Bukar Suka Dimka, Mamman Vatsa and Gideon Orka paid the ultimate price. If they had succeeded, they would have been ex-heads of state today and perhaps statesmen enjoying the plum provisions that come with that exalted status. They didn’t succeed; therefore they are forever consigned to Nigeria’s historical trashcan of ignominy. Perhaps because our senators are elected they are free today and discharging their duties in a crass manner of disingenuous foolery.

    For the records on July 4th 2017 at the plenary session of the senate, Enyinaya Abaribe moved a motion that the senate president Bukola Saraki should be sworn in as the acting president since the acting president Yemi Osinbajo was absent from his duty post. Osinbajo had gone to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to attend an African Union functions. The motion was promptly supported by other senators including Ike Ekweremadu, a man who prides himself as a lawyer. It was a cold and calculated plot to usurp the office and powers of the presidency without minding its ominous consequences. The conspiracy and sabotage that underlined the plot will make Nigeria’s aging coup maestros turn green with envy. Interestingly, the constitution is clear under what circumstances the senate president can be sworn in as the acting president. Our law makers were aware of this but chose to follow the part of treachery by trying to hijack the presidency and apparently plunge the country into turmoil. The event of that day in the senate brings to mind former President Olusegun Obasanjo who in a rare moment of epiphany declared that rogues and armed robbers are in the State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly. His submission was dismissed as the ranting of a frustrated ex-president who was bemoaning his failed attempt to perpetuate himself in power through the third term charade. Today, Obasanjo can gloat over his prophetic calling and perhaps put his oracular sensibilities to more use. .

    It is only the consistent mutilation of the country’s political structure that can explain how those who populate our senate chambers emerged as law makers in Nigeria. Perhaps that answers the question as to why they have become an appalling calamity with such damning disclaimers from the ever accommodating and tolerant Nigerians. Today, the senate has become a chamber where unethical things redolent of duplicity and notoriety take place but it also reveals the monumental shallowness that lies at the heart of those we entrust with the onerous responsibility of law making. The actions of our law makers in recent times regrettably recall the receding memories of military rule in all its sadistic potential.

    One begins to wonder the kind of genome that Nigerians have which made it possible for us to tolerate anything and everything. We can take insults and disgrace without raising a voice in protest. Does this inhere from our religious injunction which encourages us to turn the other cheek in docile stupidity for our inglorious assailant to register as many slaps as possible? By their actions, our lawmakers have insulted Nigerians and therefore should immediately tender an unreserved apology. The Nigerian state should extract an apology from our senators otherwise; it will set a dangerous precedent within the corridors of power. We refuse to be inundated with hackneyed platitudes such as ‘let bygones be bygones’.  July 4th shall indeed remain green in our memories.

    Odiele is the Department of English, University of Lagos, Akoka.

  • July 4 and an odious legacy

    Celebration is a very important aspect of life. It offers a person or a group the opportunity to take a break from rigid official protocols, recreate a little and indulge the human faculties. People celebrate their birthdays, nations celebrate their independence anniversary and cooperate entities celebrate different dates to mark one event or another. October 1st stands out as a very important date in the historical annals of Nigeria, a day the country got her independence. June 12th stands out as a day democracy was viciously raped in Nigeria, rape being a social vice abhorred all over the world. Also May 29th is symbolic in our historical calendar, a day Nigeria returned to civil rule after many years of military rule. We also have workers day marked May 1  every year. There is also the children’s day observed on the 27th of May and then February 14th, a day set aside for those who in one way or another are victims of emotional misadventure. Also there abound different dates for religious festivities when people indulge in all kinds of celebrations. July 4th 2017 has made a case for itself in Nigeria’s political diary, therefore we must celebrate it.

    The events of that day in the putrid chambers of Nigeria’s senate will be studied by students of politics with dedicated commitment to the power fulcrums for many years to come. Like June 12 and May 29, July 4th has become sacrosanct among all other signifying elements that define political events in Nigeria. On that day our country was saved from total collapse when some distinguished senators attempted to subvert the will of the people and truncate the democracy we have committed blood and water to rehabilitate. Let us, in the spirit of patriotism wear our dancing shoes, bend down and wriggle our waists made thin through economic hardship unleashed on us by successive administrations and gyrate to the iconic beat of celebration drums.

    Surely Nigeria is a country submerged in extraordinary ironies especially within the political hierarchy. Or how else can one interpret the recent scenario where those elected to make laws almost subverted the same laws to enthrone anarchy through what many people have termed a coup. Coup? Yes, a word that sends hair-raising and blood chilling feeling among the populace raised its ugly head within the much desecrated chambers of the senate on July 4, 2017. Has anyone heard of a civilian coup? Yes, only in Nigeria, a country with nine lives. We must all come together and thank the Almighty that as we dangerously stood on a precipice, we didn’t tip over into the abyss of eternal pandemonium on that July 4. On that day, there was a failed coup organized by senators in all its dislocating and subverting possibilities.

    In every country of the world, those who plot a coup and fail pay the ultimate price for committing a crime against the state. Bukar Suka Dimka, Mamman Vatsa and Gideon Orka paid the ultimate price. If they had succeeded, they would have been ex-heads of state today and perhaps statesmen enjoying the plum provisions that come with that exalted status. They didn’t succeed; therefore they are forever consigned to Nigeria’s historical trashcan of ignominy. Perhaps because our senators are elected they are free today and discharging their duties in a crass manner of disingenuous foolery.

    For the records on July 4th 2017 at the plenary session of the senate, Enyinaya Abaribe moved a motion that the senate president Bukola Saraki should be sworn in as the acting president since the acting president Yemi Osinbajo was absent from his duty post. Osinbajo had gone to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to attend an African Union functions. The motion was promptly supported by other senators including Ike Ekweremadu, a man who prides himself as a lawyer. It was a cold and calculated plot to usurp the office and powers of the presidency without minding its ominous consequences. The conspiracy and sabotage that underlined the plot will make Nigeria’s aging coup maestros turn green with envy. Interestingly, the constitution is clear under what circumstances the senate president can be sworn in as the acting president. Our law makers were aware of this but chose to follow the part of treachery by trying to hijack the presidency and apparently plunge the country into turmoil. The event of that day in the senate brings to mind former President Olusegun Obasanjo who in a rare moment of epiphany declared that rogues and armed robbers are in the State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly. His submission was dismissed as the ranting of a frustrated ex-president who was bemoaning his failed attempt to perpetuate himself in power through the third term charade. Today, Obasanjo can gloat over his prophetic calling and perhaps put his oracular sensibilities to more use. .

    It is only the consistent mutilation of the country’s political structure that can explain how those who populate our senate chambers emerged as law makers in Nigeria. Perhaps that answers the question as to why they have become an appalling calamity with such damning disclaimers from the ever accommodating and tolerant Nigerians. Today, the senate has become a chamber where unethical things redolent of duplicity and notoriety take place but it also reveals the monumental shallowness that lies at the heart of those we entrust with the onerous responsibility of law making. The actions of our law makers in recent times regrettably recall the receding memories of military rule in all its sadistic potential.

    One begins to wonder the kind of genome that Nigerians have which made it possible for us to tolerate anything and everything. We can take insults and disgrace without raising a voice in protest. Does this inhere from our religious injunction which encourages us to turn the other cheek in docile stupidity for our inglorious assailant to register as many slaps as possible? By their actions, our lawmakers have insulted Nigerians and therefore should immediately tender an unreserved apology. The Nigerian state should extract an apology from our senators otherwise; it will set a dangerous precedent within the corridors of power. We refuse to be inundated with hackneyed platitudes such as ‘let bygones be bygones’.  July 4th shall indeed remain green in our memories.

    Odiele is the Department of English, University of Lagos, Akoka.

  • Understanding Fayose’s Obsession With The Military

    Even primary school pupils in Nigeria tease themselves with the name of the Governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, as a dippy, brainless soul, whose heart is unrepentantly steeped in evil. In Ekiti state where a rigged election conferred on him the noble task of state leadership, he administers a democratic state like a tyrant or dictator.

    His cursed tongue spares nobody with the senseless verbal offensives. Fayose, the shoemaker cum politician, also claims he is a pastor, but commandeers the power of God Almighty over life and death, by insanely predicting the death of President Muhammadu Buhari. His professed religiosity of the criminal ilk, hardly place him on a pedestal to discern good from evil.

    Same emergency jurist invites thugs to invade courts, the temple of justice; he arms thugs to protect suspected criminal elements to evade justice like former Aviation minister Femi Fani Kayode (FFK) or his wife, or Apostle Johnson Suleiman of Omega Ministries Inc.

    Only acquiescent to violence, he would tyrannically storm the Ekiti State House of Assembly and chase lawmakers into exile. He cannot pay Ekiti civil servants despite monthly federal allocations to the state and three tranches of bailout funds from the Presidency amounting to billions of naira. While Ekiti state is steadily ebbing towards extinction on the development among Southwestern states, Fayose’s indices of personal growth and development have kept appreciating to the skies.

    Like his boss, former President Goodluck Jonathan, corruption is mere stealing, so the Governor has neither conscience nor limit to embezzlement of public funds. That’s why he dipped his hands into the $2.1 billion Arms Procurement Fund, which is scandalously referred to as the Dasukigate.

    Fayose hates any decent conduct or Nigerian, but infinitely loves crooks and roguery. That’s why even in the Dasukigate arms procurement scandal, Mr. Musliu Obanikoro was his ally and comrade in thievery. But the poor soul has confessed to sins and is returning his loot, while seeking the face of God in penitence. But such decency is not part of the religious, parental or leadership orientation of Governor Fayose.

    As a Pastor, he has murderous instincts that run riot like a hungry lion which breaks loose from its cage. Only God Almighty has the accurate statistics of Ekiti state civil servants who have died silently from the fangs of hunger because the Governor embezzled their salary.

    No one can disclose the number of Nigerians Fayose murdered in cold blood through Boko Haram insurgents by diverting and embezzling funds voted to procure arms to battle insurgency in the Northeast. No data still, on the number of Ekiti people he used a compromising military to murder in the last guber ballot that dashed him “victory.” A man in his dilemma would certainly be tormented by the spirit of the innocent dead.

    To comment on the weird and extremely inhuman aberrations of Fayose is like wasting precious time. But sometimes, it becomes imperious because he is a man trapped by hallucinatory prophesies. He is constantly in trance and dreams “really big dreams.” Not too long ago, he bemused Nigerians again by mouthing a prophesy to the effect that God has revealed of crowning him President of Nigeria in 2019.

    But Nigeria is not a country in devils kingdom and his ardent acolytes like Fayose have no chance to rule it. Imagine, Fayose as President of Nigeria! God Almighty does not hate Nigerians to the extent of enthroning a debauch and devil like Fayose as the leader of Nigeria. And readers’ comments that followed the story indicated the extent Fayose is isolated even by members of his own family. One simply said “God forbid.”

    Surely, Governor Fayose knows that his political sunset is lurking in the corner, as Ekiti people are warming up for the governorship polls in 2018. Fayose knows even the devil he worships garbed with the garments of a Pastor would not save him from the rage of Ekiti people in closing his political chapter. He is truly the devil’s incarnate who has devoted his energies and time to prove these past years. Little surprise former President Obasanjo chased him out of Government House.

    Frightened by this inevitable possibility, Fayose is stiff scared, like a little child cast in the den of lions. If Fayose lost his mind before, he has now buried his heart completely, with just months to the termination of his political journey. He has intensified his odious attacks on personalities and institutions like a dog in the early stage of madness.

    Fayose’s latest victim is the present leadership of the Nigerian military. Fayose dared opened his fouled mouth to cast aspersions on the Nigerian military which is battling the counter-insurgency war. Nigerians do not need an empty head like Fayose to tell them whether Boko Haram insurgency has been defeated or degraded. Referencing corruption in the present military leadership by a character like Fayose is the most amusing angle to it. May Fayose be counseled to begin to cultivate peace for his soul by returning the billions he allegedly looted from the Dasukigate meant for procurement of arms for insurgency in the Northeast.

    To make reference to Transparency International (TI) report on corruption in defence procurement contracts illustrates the extent Governor Fayose is uninformed and shamefully and poorly exposed, even to information in public domain. TI’s Nigeria’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani refuted the report from his organization and lucidly stated that the fraudulent defence contracts were under the regime of Fayose unpopular boss, former President Jonathan. And Rafsanjani regretted the error in time placement of the report. This was done on a live television program and the records are there for a Fayose who talks before thinking to peruse maybe sometimes in prison after his tenure.

    Therefore, to twist the facts today only demonstrates Fayose’s incurable madness and ignorance. Facts are sacred, but lies are retold several times without impact. What Fayose cannot twist is that the current military leadership has not awarded arms contracts to political chieftains of his opposition political party, the PDP and the Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) President.

    In the past, CAN leadership airlifted dollars out of the country in the guise of buying arms, but ended up purchasing repainted or refurbished arms at Wuse market in Abuja to fight Boko Haram. Bulk of the money developed wings. If Fayose’s retentive memory is this poor, it is these clan of defence procurement contractors, the Transparency International report alluded as clarified by Rafsanjani.
    However, Fayose’s baseless vituperations on the Nigerian military is understandable because he sees in them decent and professional soldiers not susceptible to his dubious influence to rig him back to power next year. Fayose dreads a military leadership that would not assist him and his clan of politicians to snatch ballot boxes like what happened in the last governorship elections that gave the polluted and regrettably victory to him as Governor of Ekiti state.

    Now sitting on a throne not designed for him, Fayose is equally confused as all doors have closed against him. This is no doubt a haunting reality as Fayose who brags as a “General” in the act of election- rigging, which earned him the title of “Generalismo of Ekiti” politics is in serious trouble.

    But the chips are down for Tyrant Fayose, as there is no hiding place for him. His abhorring failure to deliver on his campaign promises to Ekiti is giving him sleepless nights. But it’s too late in the day to make amends, having wasted productive years, chasing shadows, perfecting the mastery of the art of abuses and looting or embezzlement of public funds.

    His phobia on the exposure of his sins after the expiration of his wasted tenure is a pain in the neck. He should start thinking of his journey to the jungle to preside over wild animals, that is self-exile or be prepared to cool his heels in a jail somewhere.

    Fayose is a potential candidate for jail, once he is stripped of immunity. Nonetheless, the Governor has a chance to negotiate his soft landing by at least, redeeming himself in one area that is too glaring. So, as the Ekiti state dictator prepares to face another governorship election in the state, he should endeavor to return Ekiti state’s monies he allegedly looted and pay Ekiti workers their months of owed salaries and entitlements. With this done, at least, Ekiti people would not place a curse on his soul in addition to sending him to the political doom.

    Okanga writes from Agila, Benue State.‎
    ‎

  • Between Boko And Borno Haram

    Between Boko And Borno Haram

    We cannot refrain from analyzing the counter-insurgency campaigns in Nigeria in the last two years under President Muhammadu Buhari. We cannot cast away a conscience overshadowed by the irrepressible inner voice which echoes a quenched, but gradually resurrecting tempo of Boko Haram terrorism only in some parts of Borno State.

    It is a plaque yet to completely desert Borno in Nigeria’s Northeast and it is quite worrisome, to say the least. Unfortunately, some Nigerians have failed to properly equip themselves to discern the recurrent suicide bomb blasts in just parts of Borno state. This mindset is probably and sadly informed by partisanship and malice; the natural cynicism in us as a people to accept when others have done well.

    Only very few Nigerians have devoted time to dig deep to comprehend the subsisting images of insurgency in Borno. But one does not need to scratch too far to understand and appreciate the reality of why only Borno has remained in the grip of suicide bomb attacks and abductions in today’s Nigeria. This is particularly in contrast with the quietness about Boko Haram Terrorism (BHT) in virtually every other locality the incensed devils held captive in the country but have been liberated inntge last two years.

    Nonetheless, I wish to state the often repeated and perceptible tradition of the present wave of insurgency in that part of the country. Anytime a bomb explosion or abduction occurs, it is easier to blame it on the factional leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, the insurgency kingpin known to us. But many of us are unwilling to scratch beyond the veneer to unearth the reasons Boko Haram insurgency has refused to loosen its hold on the state.

    When we make such confused or blind conclusions, those who are masterminding the latest incidents of suicide bomb blasts are convinced of their veiled protection and ennobled to sponsor the perpetration of more atrocities. They take an undue advantage of a society lost in its own peculiarly relaxed tendencies over what affects it.

    But I am sufficiently prodded to say those who detonate bombs now in Borno are not necessarily members of the dreaded Islamic Boko Haram sect. The real and dreaded Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria have been defeated by the Nigerian military. There is no doubt about this and no one can take us back to Egypt anymore.

    The Nigerian people and members of the international community must be bemused and deems it incredible when they hear preachments about the non-defeat of Boko Haram terrorism from the same group of perilous Nigerians who are promoting snippets of terrorism in Borno state. But even the frequency, inactive and lifelessness manner of the operations of the suicide bombers in that state now indicates a remarkable difference. It is quite different from what was tenable before May 2015.

    We should ask ourselves critical questions, as poetically reflected by Senegalese Poet, David Diop about “Time Then and Time Now.” Before President Muhammadu Buhari ascended the throne as leader of Nigeria, Boko Haram insurgents assailed most parts of Nigeria. No one can pinpoint to such evidence at the moment.

    For me, much like others, I dare say, that the Nigerian military battled insurgency to a standstill, decimated and defeated Boko Haram terrorism by the collapse of Sambisa forest is stale news. Terrorism was everywhere in Nigeria.

    It seized the three states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno in Nigeria’s Northeast. It was in Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kogi, Kano, Kaduna and begun to stray into Southern Nigeria in places like Lagos and Osun states. The compendium of cities in Nigeria under the yoke of Boko Haram also included Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which witnessed daily bomb blasts.

    Some of us are privileged living witnesses of the public anxiety or phobia of insecurity, which palpably gripped Nigerians everywhere. It aggravated to the extent some Nigerians living and working in Abuja asked for official transfers from their offices in Abuja and relocated to states they considered safer because of the fear of what others comically referred to as “the fear of Uncle Boko,” meaning Boko Haram insurgents.

    The military have been able to extinguish the force of BHTs and even in the three most affected states in the Northeast, respite came and normalcy returned, including a bustling nightlife in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. Unfortunately, there are attempt to revise the gains that the Nigerian troops made in the counter-insurgency war by a few disgruntled elements better to be regarded as Borno Haram. And people are unprepared to trace why, how and who is responsible?

    Meanwhile, the biggest unanswered question is why has terrorism refused to free Borno from its jaws? Can Nigerians find out why terrorism has been railroaded into oblivion and bombs have stopped blasting elsewhere, including Abuja and even in Yobe State, Borno’s neighbour? If these other parts of Nigeria have been rescued from terrorism, Borno has no reason to be trapped in the claws of insurgency.

    The state has received the greatest attention from the Federal Government and its troops. There is an intimidating presence of soldiers on streets and communities in Borno. The Nigerian Military is building public amenities, infrastructures and establishing its institutions in the state, like the first Army University in Nigeria located in Biu local government. The Theatre Command Headquarters is in Borno and it has several battalions scattered everywhere under its watch.

    Therefore, I do not share the porous view that all these efforts by the Nigerian military has not tamed Boko Haram insurgency in the state and Shekau’s foot soldiers are still tormenting the people, as deceptively projected. It is certainly untrue.

    I am more at home with the hypothesis that some corrupt elite and politicians in Borno state are those who have allegedly invented another version of terrorism as manifest in the splashes of bomb blasts in the state. It is business for both the sponsors and the attackers used for the game.

    The suspected sponsors, who are some dubious personalities in the corridors of power in Borno state want terrorism to keep thriving in order to find justification to access and pilfer local government funds in the guise of security spendings. Fingers are pointing at the Chairman of Magumeri Local Government Chairman, Abdulkarim Bukar as one who pays ransoms and insurance fee to Boko Haram to carry out their atrocious activities. This is because they hate a semblance of the end of terrorism because insecurity provides the fertile excuse of executing no capital projects, while both monthly federal allocations and IGR develop wings into private pockets, without anyone raising an eyebrow.

    Part of the looted funds is also used to sumptuously fund the foot soldiers who have continued to abduct, plant and blast bombs in parts of the state to create the impression of the festering of Boko Haram Terrorism. This clan of dubious persons in the corridors of power tutor their errand “boys” on where and who to attack with the explosives. My visit to Kwajafa in the wake of Boko Haram atrocities after it was recovered by the military shows that Boko Haram has eyes as a few houses were destroyed and some left untouched.

    But an axiom says, whatever has a beginning surely has an end. We least expected that the rest of Nigeria will enjoy peace and respite from terrorism. But the Nigerian military in the counter-insurgency war have restored both to us on a platter of gold.

    The dubious elements hiding under the shadows of terrorism to loot us and claim it is Abubakar Shekau would soon have no place to hide anymore, as they would be unmasked and exposed. Be it known that the splashes of bomb blasts are signs of Boko Haram terrorism, but the masterminds are not of the Boko Haram stuff. It is akin to the Biblical narrative of the Esau and Jacob, the sons of Isaac. We feel the hand of Esau but the voice certainly is Jacob’s.

    The arrest of Shekau is near and the recent activities of his group to intimidate the new leadership of Operation Lafiya Dole under the leadership of General Attahiru is better understood as a desperate panic measure by a man whose end is near. And this is feasible. And once Shekau is hooked, I ponder who else the dubious politicians would blame or use as cover for the bomb blasts they are sponsoring to explode in Borno, just because they scheme to find a convincing excuse to continue to exploit and loot the people. It is a matter of days for us to know who is Boko or Borno Haram.

    Kolawole PhD, a University lecturer writes from Keffi, Nasarawa State.

  • National Development: The mind renewal approach

    National Development: The mind renewal approach

    The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything – Albert Einstein

     

    Thomas Paine once wrote: these are times that try men’s soul.

    What would he have said if he were here to witness the social delinquency of our time, resulting into crime and violence, empowered by corruption at all levels? The foregoing drives a nail of remorse into mind, morality and mind-renewal beckons, greed clings, lives clock chime; but to what do we yield?

    Scholars and social commentators over time have analyzed the current socio-political malady in our polity; many have blamed it on corruption, weak/limited rule of law, poor parental upbringing, greed, system of governance, and more recently: the limited participation of youths in political process powered by the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign.

    Nevertheless, it is pertinent to understand that the aforementioned contending issues in our polity are not age related. Thus, it is a fact that: age has nothing to do with corruption, greed, and other contending issues.

    However, the importance of youthful vigour, intelligence, exposure, and innovations, cannot be overemphasized because the youths are the future, and they ought to take part in shaping that future. The purpose of this thesis is to approach the socio-political quandary we have found ourselves holistically, irrespective of age, tribe, religion, and ethnic background, our challenges such as: poverty, insecurity, corruption etc. are homogenous; consequently they are present in every Nigerian state, religion, tribe, and ethnic group.

    It is rather saddening that, in spite of numerous moral educations, religious educations, workshops, seminars, school programs, boot camps, campaigns; the society has shown no sense of improvement. Could it be that people have not been listening? Or they have not been proactive? Time and again, those who profess to be good seem to clearly outnumber those who are evil, yet those who are evil seem to prevail far too often. The problems we face are as a result of the dominant negative lessons we have learnt from the society, and it has affected our general mindsets.

    National development, rule of law, good governance, morality, tolerance, security, and equity, would be achieved when we choose to first renew our minds, then we can begin to engage the counteractive measures that have once failed due to poor mindset. In respect of the foregoing, it is important for every Nigerian to employ morality in our disposition, begin to work for the good of all, eliminate greed, with a renewed mind. Accordingly, if renewal of mind is the solution we seek, then, how do we renew our minds?

    The process of mind renewal has its base in socialization. In order to fully renew our minds, we must restructure our societal curriculum by resetting our priorities. We have long lost our priorities by worshiping riches, and encouraging people to amass wealth by any means available; legal or illegal. The importance of money cannot be overemphasized, however, should it be amassed at the expense of others; by putting their lives, comfort, and future in jeopardy? In the pursuit of power, authority, fame, and respect, people have committed themselves to ugly atrocities such as: diversion of public funds, armed robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, ritual killings, thuggery, etc.

    However, the ruling class (government) despite being products of the society, because of their refusal to change the corrupt status quo, must take the first step by creating an enabling environment for the renewal of minds.

    It is difficult to renew the minds of people in a society where: criminals are celebrated, morality is being perceived as foolishness, unemployment rate is alarming, there is poor parental upbringing, food insecurity, low income, and widespread of poverty. Therefore, if every Nigerian child irrespective of gender and financial status have access to universal basic education; every Nigerian graduate have access to employment; every Nigerian family have shelter, food, clean water, uninterrupted power supply, and fulfill every section on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, only then can our minds be renewed, and we will then put to work the lessons of the numerous moral educations, religious educations, workshops, seminars, school programs, boot camps, campaigns, we have learnt. Mind renewal cannot be attained in a rotten polity, the change and improvements we seek can only happen when the polity becomes conducive for mind renewal.

     

    Benjamin can be reached via: dadabenjaminopeyemi@gmail.com

  • Martial mania

    How many regimental formations does a country need to kit up for peace and security? This question rankles, as Nigeria seems hooked with the jackboot syndrome.

    The Senate, last week, gave its definitive nod to a bill formulated to brew the Nigerian Peace Corps into a government para-military agency. The corps had operated as a voluntary civil outfit since 1998 and was registered as a non-governmental organisation in 2005, according to its promoters. But now it is being provided statutory muscle to function as a quasi-military squad.

    Last week’s affirmation by the Senate wasn’t its first tryst with the enabling bill. The red chamber had in November, last year, passed the Peace Corps bill sponsored by former Senate Leader Ali Ndume (APC, Borno), but eased up last May on account of members’ beef with a version harmonised with the House of Representatives’, which had passed the bill in June, last year.

    Going by the enabling bill, the agency aims to facilitate peace volunteerism, community service, neighbourhood watch and nation building among others. It also seeks to train youths to promote peace, conflict mediation and resolution among warring groups. A report by the Senate Committee on Interior last year indicated the head of the corps would be known by the martial title of Commandant-General, to be supported by six Deputy Commandants appointed from the six geopolitical zones of the country. And even ahead of its impending statutory mutation, the corps’ personnel have adopted beige khaki gear and beret to show up its jackboot disposition.

    In giving legislative stamp to the Peace Corps bill last week, the Senate touted its potential to empower the youth and provide them with gainful employment. And that ordinarily recommends the desired statutory backing for the corps – just like any other agency with the same potential. The catch is that the legislative exertion dating back to the Representatives’ vote was loudly mute on how the bills of the corps’ operations would be picked. Also, the ‘distinguished’ and ‘honourable’ members of NASS omitted to explain why the agency’s employment potential could be maximised only by its paramilitary orientation.

    Besides, if there was one outfit with enormous dose of controversy in its background, this particular corps was it. Ignore the legislative tack whereby the Senate plenary waved aside apparent wise counsel by one of its committees – namely that the major objective of the Peace Corps bill to provide youths with employment could as well be achieved by strengthening existing agencies – to deliver last week’s endorsement; to say the modus operandi of the corps over the years was highly contentious could severely understate existing records.

    Recall for instance that the Police on repeated occasions faced off with the corps over its operations. In February, this year, it slammed the lid on a training camp run by the corps in Offa council area (Kwara State) that it dubbed illegal. The camp was conducting paramilitary training for some 5,000 persons, which the Police claimed it had no notification of. And though the corps disputed that claim, you could ask what the paramilitary rigour was all about when the law yet deems it a civil outfit. And in March, the Police – quite crudely – sequestered the Peace Corps National Commandant, Dickson Akoh, along with 48 members of his group on charges of fleecing youths seeking enlistment with the squad.

    The Police also had issues with the corps’ procedure for recruiting members to its ranks. Speaking at a training event for senior police personnel in March, Police Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris red flagged this procedure, saying: “Nigeria is not a lawless country. You can’t just wake up overnight and establish a security organisation, there are processes…We have so many challenges in this country and we don’t want people of questionable character to enter our security services and constitute a threat to the security of this country. And that is what the peace corps is doing. You don’t just go on the streets and be picking people by the virtue of the fact that they gave you money.”

    Following the arrest and detention of Akoh and company in March, the Federal Attorney-General and the Department of State Security (DSS) pitched in with the Police to argue in court that the corps was legally registered but was engaged in illicit operations. Akoh, for his part, filed a counter-suit seeking compensation from the Police and some other government organs for alleged illegal detention.

    It is uncertain whether those litigations have run their full courses in the courts. But if you wanted some morally soothing narrative for the Senate’s approval of the Peace Corps bill, what you would get was a report by its committee articulating Akoh’s thesis that his squad ran into storm with security agencies because the Presidency extended it a formal invitation to attend the last Armed Forces Remembrance Day. As for the N40,000 apiece said to have been appropriated from applicants, Akoh reportedly explained the money was for provision of uniforms, medical care and one-month accommodation for the duration of training, training manual, honorarium for guest speakers, certificate of training as well as Identity card for enlisters.

    While it is a toss the President would give assent to the Peace Corps bill, considering reservations expressed by security and judicial lynchpins of the Executive arm, legislative support for the agency’s paramilitary mutation is so strong that House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara once hinted the Legislature could override a presidential veto. He also argued the Police and other security agencies were acting as they did with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) before its adoption by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. “That was the same argument when the Civil Defence Bill was before the House – that it could not be funded, that they were divulging some of the powers of the Police to the Civil Defence, that it would never work. At the end of the day, all these were surmounted and now we have the Civil Defence that, in some cases, citizens have said they are more dependable than the conventional police,” he was reported saying.

    There is no clear indication, as far as I see, that NASS did thorough due diligence on stated concerns over personnel integrity of the peace corps and its funding modality – even with its leader having acknowledged that money was raised from applicants for whatever compelling reasons. Worse is: there is no convincing explanation why this corps must be paramilitary, with the martial implications for the polity. Other than the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that is tenured for one year and is constantly replenished, there is no paramilitary agency in Nigeria today that is not bearing arms or seeking to do so, even though they started out as non-arms bearing formations. The Civil Defence that Dogara cited and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) are ready cases in point.

    With its brazen martial zeal even ahead of the law enabling its mutation, the peace corps is an enforcer squad waiting to be unleashed.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Eliminating Terrorism In Nigeria And The Qatar Example

    Terrorism is a global tormentor. It is now the world’s biggest affliction, with most countries trapped in its quagmire completely helpless. In the Middle East and parts of North Africa where terrorism has a solid base, rages and spread tentacles to other parts of the globe, its being hell on earth on how to extinguish the fury of terrorism.

    Terrorism’s multiplication into subsets or splinter rebellious or extremists groups has drenched most parts of the world in its consuming fire. Before now, emphasis on combating terrorism was centered on field combats alone. But happily enough, nations suffering the menace of terrorism are collectively working round the clock to tame the tide, by also exploring alternative means of battling terror groups.

    Both individuals and opinion leaders are involved in concerted efforts to overcome terrorism, as aside direct confrontation with violent extremists sects, campaigns have now shifted focus to checkmating sources of funding for terror Organizations. America’s President Donald Trump had launched a crusade, appealing to nations to check and severe sources of funding for terror sects.

    This was after Qatar was accused of funding terrorists and extremists groups to trouble other parts of the world. Fighting terror is now also a battle between the rest of the world and individuals in nations that fund terrorists’ atrocious operations.

    Gladly, Qatar responded positively and instantly to the emerging reality on terror wars as it agreed to act accordingly. In a public statement credited to the foreign minister, Qatar explained that “This is in light of its commitment to fighting terrorism, drying up the sources of the funding of terrorism, combating extremist ideology and the instruments of spreading and publicizing it, joint action to end it and fortify societies from it.”

    Following Qatar’s positive and favourable disposition, it led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States as part of the commitment to curtail financing for terrorists and enhance the battle to defeat terrorism across the globe. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was impressed with Qatar’s Emir for “being the first to respond to President Trump’s challenge at the Riyadh Summit to stop the funding of terrorism.”

    Nigeria is in similar dilemma with Qatar. Funding of the remnants of Boko Haram Terrorism (BHT) in Nigeria by internal forces is largely responsible for the splashes of terrorism in parts of the country, especially in Borno state.

    The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Muhammedu Buhari has done all at its disposal to defeat and finally end terrorism in the country. The Buhari Presidency overhauled the military hierarchy and appointed a committed set of Service Chiefs whom he charged with the responsibility of ending Boko Haram insurgency.

    The President restocked Nigeria’s military weaponry and provided funds to carter for the welfare of troops on the battlefield in the counter-insurgency war. Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and counter-insurgency campaigns leader, Lt.Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, also left no stone unturned by deploying various strategies and tactics in battling terrorists to a standstill. The defeat of Boko Haram terrorists is the reward of the unflinching efforts and priceless sacrifices of the courageous Nigerian troops.

    But the veiled forces, suspected to be politicians, some of whom have links with neighbouring countries, which economically reap bountifully from festering insurgency have refused to stop their devilish acts of financing terrorists. Occasionally, suicide bombs have continued to be detonated in Borno state, in Nigeria’s Northeast, just like abductions of adults. And while the dreaded Islamic Boko Haram sect has been defeated, the prospect that terrorism will finally be smothered in Nigeria is bleak on account of its funding by both internal and external forces.

    However, a fresh angle in the global battle against terrorism has now been introduced, with the Qatar example. What the whole world is canvassing is that ending terrorism is not only about the combat engagement of terrorists on the battlefield. There is so much to be done upon the realization that the military fighting terror sects anywhere usually makes tremendous gains against the terrorists.

    In combat, terrorists sometimes get killed or their weapons destroyed or confiscated. But their sponsors freely replenish the stock, thus, empowering them to wax stronger to commit more atrocities.

    The Saudi-led coalition against Qatar and America’s plea to improvise the direction and approach in the counter-terrorism war, by adding the relentless and determined search for sponsors of terrorists sects or organizations is one strategy that has remained too long in the cooler. It means the remedy of eradicating completely, the scourge of terrorism in the world is the total clampdown on the sponsors or those who fund it to flourish.

    Money, weapons and food supply are central to the ferocious operations of terror groups around the world, Nigeria inclusive. And once the consensus to block these avenues of strength to terrorists is enforced, terrorists would have been too weakened to operate and the phenomenon would gradually fizzle out.

    The current appeal to the conscience of humanity is that it is not enough for the rest of the world to willfully consent to the satanic minds of those who use terrorism to nourish their political or economic interests. Such human beings must be identified and compelled to face lawful penalties for their sins as accomplices in the heinous crimes against humanity via the instrumentality of terrorism.

    And finally back to Nigeria, it’s obvious that the people and victims of terrorism are demanding and crying for justice. Certainly, security authorities, like the DSS, NIA, the Police and the Civil Defence should know the sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria. The Qatar example is encouragingly informative enough and conveys in clear terms that terrorism does not operate in a vacuum. It is nourished; funded and protected. These security agencies are yet to identify to Nigerians the internal sponsors of Boko Haram insurgents to massively arrest and arraign them for prosecution. It’s a challenge that has questioned their competence.
    They must therefore make haste to go after them in consonance with the Qatar example in order to bring them to justice to serve as deterrence. This is just the only fair thing to do so as to sustain the military’s gains in the defeat of terrorism. This would also block the current streak of funding for terrorists, which has unabatedly continued to shatter the peace and coherence of parts of Nigeria. It will finally end terrorism in the country.

    Failure to toe this plank of reasoning and action would only amount to raising an army of terrorists, which suffers destruction after military onslaughts on them; but would resurface again because the sponsors are allowed to go scot-free. The thought of quelling terrorism in Nigeria would be a mirage if the sponsors are not made to pay for it. Thus, the Qatar example becomes very germane for Nigeria and the security agencies responsible must tighten their seat belts.

    Goulding is a researcher with the Global Amnesty Watch, London.‎

  • In memory of Osotimehin

    In memory of Osotimehin

    To many of us who worked with him, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, immediate past Executive Director of United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), was “Baba” as he strove to maintain a consistent father figure. Getting to office early was a routine for him, so you didn’t need anyone to remind you if your punctuality rating was fine or otherwise with Osot’, as he was otherwise referred to. He was a stickler for time at most functions. This earned him profound respect among colleagues even as he was never in a hurry to sanction, although this did not go down well with those who had absorbed his disciplinarian mentoring.

    The workaholic Prof. was, however, a good old Lagos boy too. His cordial friends fondly called him “Bob”. As a communication consultant to NACA for some memorable period, the “Bob” in Prof got revealed to me occasionally when he deemed me a good guy signalled with thumb up approval. With his infectious smile, he would regale me with some social postulations in very tender voice. “Can you guess how you could tell if a man and a woman in the same car are husband and wife?” he tried nudging me after a successful presentation. “How, sir?” I wondered. “But Tunde,” and he really never failed to register his admiration for me as a namesake, “you are married and should know. Look, if you see a man driving a car with a woman beside him and his concentration is faultless, that woman is his wife. But when he keeps looking sideways and radiating excitement, ah ah, there you go. Sisi niyen jo (meaning that’s a girlfriend) Just try to observe…”

    Most sadly, Prof. Osotimehin fulfilled Poet Kalu Uka’s guess of the happiest moment being the saddest encounter. A medical doctor, professor and administrator par excellence, Osotimehin could be said to have seen it all even with the failed ambition of becoming the Vice-Chancellor of the nation’s premier University of Ibadan.

    As a proficient medic, Osot’ once preached why it won’t do anyone any good switching off phones at night. “Someone was dying in our neighbourhood sometime ago. The neighbourhood was desolate given the time of the day, yet this urgency persisted. Somehow, they had knocked on my gate but it sounded like the gate of another house was the one being banged. Telephone clarified it all. My phone rang and I rushed to pick. Thank God for the technology,” he recalled.   Osotimehin’s use of telephone was optimal but professional and courteous. He indulged abundantly in giving instructions and advice through texts and this he did till late at nights while I consulted for NACA. Unlike many folks in this clime, Baba won’t play unfounded big man with phone messages. Your messages would get attention as soon as they reached him.

    Beyond the recall of his intervention in the case of the dying person late in the night, this writer witnessed his compassion, especially for journalists, on at least two other occasions. For long, he agonised over the death of our late colleague and foremost HIV and AIDS activist, Omololu Falobi. On the occasion of the first anniversary of Omololu’s demise, he was invited to be part of the first anniversary commemoration. He wanted the invitation from the organisers given the best of attention. He felt like attending the programme personally but then he also ruminated on the Yoruba culture that does not encourage elders to attend sessions dedicated to mourning younger souls, especially of the age of the children. Finally he dispatched one of his staff, Sam Archibong, to Lagos for the event.

     The second occasion was the 2008 accident involving Akin Jimoh, then of Development Communication (DEVCOM), now of UNICEF. Anyone who saw Baba that day would know something was wrong.  He ensured some good support for Akin, something that transcended the official. Before founding DEVCOM, Akin was the leading light in health reporting at The Guardian newspaper.

    It was therefore not an accident that Osotimehin chose to accord the concerns of the young people a top priority as the UNFPA boss. This dynamism has earned him a trans-generational and global celebration during and after his death. Melinda, wife of renowned Bill Gates, the multibillionaire, tweeted to attest to Baba’s ingenuity as a development zealot who was also a veritable source of knowledge for her and anyone who had the opportunity to have access to him.

    Yours sincerely met Osotimehin for the first time in 2007 when he yearned seriously to have a communication expert who also had a great deal of development work experience. As the aide to the Information Minister then, my friend and very dear brother, Niyi Ibietan, now of National Communication Commission (NCC), offered to assist him head hunt. He resorted to me. My meeting with Baba was an exciting one having read a lot about him but never had any encounter. No time to waste, his welcoming courtesy bore his concern. “Good to see you, Tunde. My challenges here, I’ve been told you can tackle. Going through your impressive profile convinced me reasonably but I want you to demonstrate this. Really so nice to know you were British Chevening scholar.”  Promptly, he shared details of his challenges and wanted a written proposal in response to that, first thing the following Monday. Our meeting was on Friday. “Your response would determine if we would be able to move forward.”  Not only did I get Baba’s professorial endorsement, he got his management to critique my offering too and their additional endorsement. Thus began my consultancy which ran for almost one year until I won a travel grant that took me to Michigan State University as a visiting scholar.

    Though it was part of my initiative to start a journal for NACA, Baba wanted a journal that must match what Remi Oyo was producing for Villa, Villascope. I spent my Sundays and Saturdays on this and enjoyed the support of another great consultant, James Sarki, for the contents.  The excellent aesthetics of the final product were ensured by the defunct Taijowonukabe. “I knew you could do it, Tunde,” I got another thumb up. Of course I felt fulfilled that I could match the handiwork of a grand master like Lanre Idowu, who was the consultant working on Villascope then. So much inspiration I drew from another baba that Lanre Idowu has always been.

    Gbemiga Ogunleye, former editor of The Punch, and Taiwo Obe were the first to reach me with condolence messages on Baba’s death. Their two messages reminded me of the same thing – the NACA Magazine which I made a success of.

    NACA availed me with the window to serve a national agency for the first time with my professional expertise. It also enabled me with the opportunity to interact with the fine crop of journalists on the health beat. My relationship with some of these colleagues not only subsists but has also bourgeoned. Till date, they remain my entry point into the elite circle of Abuja journalists. Another equally strong connection I cultivated at NACA and sustain till date is Dr. Tunde Ahonsi, now of UNFPA Ghana.

    Osot’ lived for humanity and the manifestations are conspicuous.  It is in fact interesting that at least one of the daughters is already in the UN system. Good people hardly die…

    • Akanni, PhD, is a development consultant and senior faculty at the LASU School of Communication, Lagos, Nigeria.

     

     

  • Corruption catalysing godfatherism, candidate imposition

    Corruption catalysing godfatherism, candidate imposition

    The discipline of ethics along with its subject matter; morality, focuses on how human beings consistently satisfy their needs and constantly better their living condition and that of their fellow beings, through goodness, justice, happiness and conscience in a democratic polity.

    The shaky foundations of transition to democracy in Nigeria propelled by Rtd. Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar after the demise of Gen.Sani Abacha in 1998 dispersed all genuine designs and patterns of alignments of a civil society.

    The sentiment that accompanied the transition was primarily centred on acquiring political power through hook or crook without necessarily establishing relationships between people’s participation and democracy.

    In other words, an important element in the process of democratization of people’s participation and empowerment became completely subsumed within the narrow and corrupt interests of the elite groups.

    Corruption, a term with widespread popularity across the globe, with an “operational centre” already established here in Nigeria, building a strong arsenal, capable of resisting the attack of anti-corruption bodies. The EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) unlike the ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) have been proactive in battling the resistance in spite of its daily growth, with productive efforts to rescue the nation from the damnation of corruption marked by the agglomeration of time upon time.

    Godfatherism precedes candidate imposition. As it is, political godfathers have taken the position of king-makers; they impose candidates on political parties, and also the electorates. Hence, should the political godfathers alone receive all the blames for our poor decision-making? Are the electorates to blame for the unfavourable outcomes of election? How does the ignorance and gullibility of electorates contribute to godfatherism?

    As the Lagos state local government elections scheduled for July 22, 2017 approaches, it is a road we are familiar with. Nevertheless, it appears that it has become our culture to remain in the Egypt of godfatherism, rather than proceed to the Canaan of true democratic practise where the authoritative allocation of value as opined by David Easton would not be farfetched.

    Under the current political structure in Nigeria, the godfathers as oppose to the electorate decides and imposes the flag bearer of their respective parties. In some cases, they sponsor the campaign, and make sure their candidate wins before the election date by every means available. Would it not be begging the question if one is to ask the candidates who they owe their allegiance to: the godfather or the electorates? Would the candidate rather bite the finger that fed him/her and risk losing the lucrative political office?

    With an insight into the Nigerian political woes, I believe the godfather should take their bite from the cake of blame. Their existence instigates corruption, and it forms a wall between the electorates and the very much anticipated dividends of democracy.

    The elected candidates are so much overwhelmed with satisfying their godfathers first as a form of debt payment and gratitude, which leaves the treasury with little or nothing left to implement the numerous infrastructural and social pleasantries promises made to the electorates.

    Electorates, however  after the first tenure forget too soon the empty promises of office holders as soon as campaign for second term begins, on receiving money, two cups of rice, one litre of groundnut oil, sachets of salt, and other food items to break the fasting period of the previous tenure in office. Consequently, the governed needs to wake up and begin to employ logical reasoning in their selection of candidates, with an understanding of the fact that: they can’t eat their cake and have it.

    Kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the senate for passing the amendment of the Electoral Act No 6 2010, bill 2017 which is expected to abolish arbitrary fees for nomination forms fixed by political parties when signed into law. President Muhammadu Buhari famously claimed he borrowed money to pay for his nomination form which cost N25million, in the build up to the 2015 general elections. Conversely, the bill has now put a limit of N10million on the form.

    Meanwhile, the cost being put at N10million is still expensive for majority in a country where the minimum wage is staggering at N18, 000.00 per month. How then is it possible for a middle class earner, who has been arguably swallowed by the low class, thereby leaving the society with just two classes, to purchase a nomination form? Could this be the reasons why candidates subscribe to godfathers?

    Hence, the foregoing leaves the government (executive, legislature, and judiciary) with a question, and a dished food for thought for the governed.

    Has the government been able to create a fair environment for classless, free, and fair elections?

    However, if the governed continue to feel unconcerned, and continue to sell their votes for food items and material needs, the equity and dividends of democracy which they seek would remain a mirage.

     

    Benjamin resides in Lagos and can be reached via- dadabenjaminopeyemi@gmail.com