The Nation Newspaper

Category: Opinion

  • Beyond the ceasefire deal with Boko Haram

    The world would have received the news of the truce signed between the federal government and the Boko Haram insurgents with cautious elation.  This certainly would bring a new lease of life especially to residents of the North-east, the area hardest hit by the activities of the blood thirsty sect.   The group had dislocated the normal life of the entire north-eastern Nigeria turning it into a killing field for the past five years.  The mindless butchery by the group gave it global headlines and made some western countries to call for the designation of the group as a terrorist organization.   However, the federal government in its wisdom resisted such branding at the time giving as reason that it would make every Nigerian be labelled and singled out for unnecessary security checks outside the country.  Now the spectre of the group has grown beyond what the government could blunt or degrade as they have already claimed territories and hoisted their jihadist flags collecting revenues from the locals.

    The Boko Haram has been portrayed to be better armed and equipped over and above the scale of equipment holding of the Nigerian Armed Forces. We have found this a justification for the failure and inability of the armed forces to contain the miscreants who fought with greater conviction and commitment.   How they acquired their weapons and brought them into the country with the ubiquitous security networks across the nooks and crannies of the country beats one’s imagination.  Footages of the arsenal and weaponry of the group showed heavy armaments that could not have come in concealed sacks that could pass unnoticed by the security agents and intelligence community.   We should therefore be asking fundamental questions about the competence of the security and intelligence community in gathering critical intelligence for the safety and security of the country.

    There has been some scepticism about the ceasefire and truce knowing that the sect has acquired a notoriety of a trans-border terrorist group.  Their support and revenue bases are traceable to both internal and external sources possibly from disgruntled politicians and Al Qaeda in the Maghreb.   This therefore means that any serious negotiation can only be carried out if we tear the façade and unveil those behind the sect with the aim of knowing and settling whatever be their grievances; otherwise, the whole thing would be exercise in futility.

    The manner of government negotiation and acceptance of the ceasefire and truce appears hazy and suspect.   First, there was no clear cut and articulated framework to deal with the crises.   The government appears caught in the web of domestic and global campaigns against its jelly-footed method in fighting the insurgency.  This truce with the insurgents therefore appears like a desperate and calculated political move with 2015 in view.  This is because some groups are already tying their electoral support to the release of the Chibok girls and an end to insurgency in the North-east.

    As if  the move of the government in this truce business  was not an issue of concern enough, the speed with which the Defence Headquarters directed immediate compliance with the ceasefire and truce calls to question any serious interest on the part of the military to prosecute the campaign against the insurgents.  It was like a heavy weight boxing champion dazed and drunk from the punches of a challenger and waiting for the knell only for his manager to throw in the towel to save him from further punishment.  The manner the military has tried to tackle the insurgency has thrown up a critical question about the professionalism of our Armed Forces.  The Boko Haram as a local insurgency should not have been above the capacity of our armed forces but we saw a military that was lacking in the will and appetite to fight perhaps due to poor training and equipment.

    Why would professional armed forces employ the use of armed local vigilante to fight alongside its officers and men in internal security operations of low intensity conflict?  If the military had limited the role of the vigilante group or what they referred to as the “Civilian Joint Task Force” (Civilian JTF) to intelligence gathering, it would have been understandable as acceptable global practice.   But to allow them carry arms openly and fight alongside the regular army would appear to offend basic and elementary rule of the International Humanitarian Law.   This is in addition to making them gain adequate knowledge of military style of operation in warfare, which at the end of the conflict would have created a veritable reserve force inimical to the safety of life and property.  The military could not have been able to bring them under command and control without basic military training and so to such armed civilians, everything is permissible in conflict; including extra judicial killings and war crimes.

    Another issue that agitates ones mind is the timing of the ceasefire and truce.   It came only when we were told that the military had received supplies and now better prepared to give the terrorist a bloody nose.   Ceasefire without disabling their capacity to take on the state is just incubation for a more vicious campaign in no distant time.  It is hoped that somebody somewhere is not trying to shield the group from total decimation and give them the opportunity to rearm, regroup, and reorganize to launch a fresh offensive.

    There have been about three schools of thoughts with their theories on how to contain the menace of the group.  One is that the government should dialogue with the sect and pacify them.  The other is that a full scale military action should be brought to bear on the sect.   The last is of the view that the carrot and stick approach should be employed; which of course is a combination of the first two.  The pacifists who feel that dialogue is the best option would want to carry their drums to the market at the announcement of ceasefire and truce.   Indeed, they may have their strong point because from all indications and evidence on the ground, victory on the military front appears too remote and almost unrealizable.

    Some people have even tried to draw parallel between the negotiations and trade off the American government had with the Al Qaeda terrorist group to exchange the release of one American serviceman with five of its members detained at Guantanamo Bay.   The truth is that the reality in one clime cannot be imported into another, lock-stock-and-barrel.    The first issue is that there is no Al Qaeda cell in America as an organized group; but here we are with a terrorist group nesting and rooted deeply in our own soil.   The second point is that the American intelligence community and security forces are up to their responsibilities, which they discharge with utmost ruthlessness.   In our situation, we have intelligence community that is completely clueless and security forces whose competence and professionalism has been called to question on all fronts.

    Would this ceasefire and truce between the federal government and the Boko Haram bring an end to insecurity in Nigeria?   I am not a pessimist but one is worried that the ceasefire will not signal the end of insecurity in Nigeria.  This is because the Boko Haram is just a small fraction of the general insecurity in the entire country.     In nearly all the other parts of Nigeria, you equally have vicious bloody campaign by different ethnic militias and criminal groups.   In the South-east, people go to sleep with two eyes open because of the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers.  This has affected the investment climate of that region without a doubt.   The same is true of the South-south and Niger Delta region where if you asked some able-bodied young men what they do for a living, they would tell you without hesitation that they are “kidnappers.”

    Some of them are known to pay protection fees to the security agents who give them vital information to escape arrest.  In the South-west, the story is not different as armed robbery and criminality of all kinds are commonplace.   This is happening in a country with a bloated Police Force and other intelligence agencies.   What purpose are they serving if they cannot gather intelligence to contain the activities of these men of the underworld?  If we feel concern for the soul of our nation, it is time for us to take a hard look at the activities of the police and other security agencies in relation to security of life and property in the country.   Recall the notorious case of Lawrence Anini in the defunct   Bendel State.  It opened our eyes to the fact that any crime that cannot be cracked by the Police or the security agents has a police or security connection or link behind it.

    While one is not in any way opposed to dialogue or truce with the Boko Haram, the government should be seen to be calling the shot on all fronts, which sadly appears not to be the case now.  If there is indeed truce and ceasefire with the Boko Haram without first eliminating and degrading their capacity to make or initiate fire to unleash mayhem on the people, then the whole exercise should be called off as bad sale.

    If we are serious about tackling insecurity then we should not ignore the army of unemployed youths who remain veritable source and feeder to the criminal networks.   Insecurity in Nigeria goes beyond truce and ceasefire with Boko Haram.  Our government should stop the insurgency in the North-east as well as all parts of Nigeria.   We should not look for political capital from the release of the Chibok girls.   The government is duty bound to bring back our girls and if that is achieved today, it is not a great feat.

    • Kebonkwu Esq writes from Abuja

  • Ambode and continuity of excellence in Lagos

    As Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola approaches the exit after two four-year terms, the question of his successor is on the front burner.  Who will succeed Fashola and raise the bar in terms of people-oriented and people-applauded governance in the state? The playing field is filled with aspirants of different complexions from the major political parties. However, it is interesting to note that one particular would-be governor stands out.

    When Akinwunmi Ambode, a governorship aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC), retired voluntarily after a 27-year career in the Lagos State Civil Service, including stints as the Accountant-General from 2006 to 2012, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and Auditor-General for Local Government, to pursue other dreams, it may not have been clear that he would later emerge as perhaps the most credible governorship aspirant ahead of the 2015 election. But today, he is possibly the most experienced individual in terms of familiarity with the state civil service structure to seek the position of governor since Lagos State was created in 1967.

    It is a testimony to Ambode’s observed and undeniable quality that Fashola reportedly wrote, in a glowing letter of commendation: “I write on behalf of the people of Lagos to commend your high sense of dedication, selflessness and integrity which you brought to bear on the civil service. I wish to specifically remark that working closely with you has been of tremendous mutual benefit, particularly in the present administration.” He continued: “You have displayed high sense of professionalism and have been a good team player, guided by the philosophy of a true public officer, who must place himself last while rendering service to the public. We are convinced that your brilliance and zeal will make you excel in your future endeavours.”

    It is not surprising that Ambode, 51, Chief Executive Officer of Brandsmiths Consulting, made a passing reference to the characterisation at his May 15 book launch at the Civic Centre, Lagos.  The presentation of two books, Public Sector Accounting by Ambode, and his biography, The Art of Selfless Service by Marina Osoba, provided a fitting forum for him to bask in the glory of his recognition.   “The letter of commendation by Fashola is my gold medal for public service,” Ambode said at the event.

    Certainly, Fashola knew what he was talking about, and his striking song of praise for Ambode was firmly rooted in reality.  Ambode is credited with designing a system that increased the state’s revenue generation from N600 million to N10 billion. A related excerpt from his biography illustrates his expertise: “In a popular business newspaper, Business Day, of Tuesday 2nd July 2013, it was reported that Fiscal Management in Lagos State had surpassed that of the Federal Government and internally generated revenue from taxes has touched the 75% mark in stark contrast to the Federal Government’s 20%. Also, the paper further stated that Lagos State makes up to 20% of total Nigerian GDP and 40% of non-oil GDP.”

    The narrative continued: “All these gains from the smallest state geographically (that is in terms of  size) showing that Lagos State which is without any of the rich mineral resources that other states have in abundance can think outside the box and create wealth using what little it has and building on its commercial base.  These great strides are particularly noted to have happened in the last six years (2006-2012) during which Akin headed the State Treasury Office (STO).”

    ”If we take the concept of resource generation, allocation and distribution into cognisance and apply the principles of good governance, we will achieve economic growth and development,” Ambode said, while presenting a paper  titled “Public Finance: Probity and Accountability”  at a workshop organised in August by the Lagos State Government and the Lagos Business School at the Pan-African University, Lagos.

    Also important in considering his suitability for the office of governor is his work experience at the local government level, given that the so-called third tier is regarded as the closest to the people. Ambode himself observed: “If you work successfully at local government level and you are able to make a difference, there is nowhere else you cannot work successfully.”

    It is logical to expect that successful governance after Fashola’s era would not only require building on his administration’s achievements, which Ambode has signified that he would do by speaking of “continuity of excellence”. It would also demand a re-imagined governmental approach to cope with the increasing challenges of a megacity with at least a population of 17 million, which may soon become a metacity or hypercity with at least a population of 20 million. This is why an individual with Ambode’s broad perspective, reinforced by post-retirement training in top international business and leadership institutions, would be in a better position to manage the diversity of the populace for the social good.

    What Lagos deserves at this juncture is a political helmsman who brings to politics a useful knowledge-driven vision as well as experience of the workings of the administrative system, which Ambode represents. This is not the time, or more precisely, the time is past when governorship aspirants, especially in Lagos, with all its urban sophistication, would expect that all it takes is mouthing populist slogans without manifest competence in what may be considered essential to modern governance, namely, a solid developmental visualisation informed by a practical blueprint.

    It is remarkable that, beyond his respected financial wizardry and managerial mastery, Ambode’s claim to selfless service, which is also recognised, is another plus. This aspect is important because a leader without a correct sense of service is ultimately negative.  Service to the people, in the purest sense of the concept, is apparently not alien to Ambode.  It is instructive to note Ambode’s idea of leadership. According to him, “A true leader sees his work as selfless service towards a higher purpose. A true leader should be judged by what he has not – ego, arrogance and self interest.”

    Against the backdrop of this philosophy, Ambode promises an inspirational departure from egocentrism, which is the bane of many political leaders. In this respect, he would appear to be not only a well-rounded personality, but also an appealing mind.

    Ambode’s description of Fashola’s letter of commendation as a “gold medal” deserves further reflection. Only individuals of his type who are regarded as gold medal material, rather than those who may be labelled as silver or bronze medalists, should qualify for consideration in the governorship race, and Ambode seems to be in a class of his own in this respect.

    Demonstrable commitment to good governance and ability to deliver what the people yearn for should rank among the uppermost qualifications for the type of progressive leadership that would benefit the state at this point in time. As Fashola prepares to leave the stage, the state deserves an exemplary successor who will be focused on excellence in office informed by a mastery of wealth creation and a humanitarian orientation.

    The question of who should rule needs a convincing answer as the state searches for a leader who has not only the capacity to make a difference but also the enthusiasm to do so. Ambode will not be a square peg in a round hole, considering his profile and the unassailable evidence of its genuineness. The All Progressives Congress (APC) must get it right; and the electorate too.

    • Ayoola writes from Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos

  • I remember Tayo Akpata

    The recent and sad passing away of Chief Tayo Akpata, brought back to me, memories of a positive encounter I had with the respected statesman in the turbulent sixties.  The political history of the First Republic, 1960 to 1966, is replete with the abuse of the federal parliamentary majority made up of the NPC, NCNC and NNDP for illegitimate ends, intimidation and violence against political opponents during elections, manipulation of the electoral process to produce candidates returned unopposed, and the publication of false, illegal and pre-determined election results.

    Thus the deliberate, intense and sustained assault by the parties in the federal coalition government on the opposition party, the Action Group and its control of one region, was almost scripted in its systematic and unrelenting nature.  As one set of assaults lost its potency, another set would unfold to take its place.  At times two or three such attacks would take place simultaneously.

    The confusion which occurred in the Western House of Assembly on May 25, 1962 was obviously stage-managed in order to provide an excuse for a declaration of a state of emergency in the West and thus enable the federal government to assume control of the region.  All this was in spite of the fact that the Action Group had a clear majority in the House, whose members had assembled there to pass a vote of confidence on Alhaji Dauda S. Adegbenro, the newly appointed Premier.

    As we all know, what followed the contrived chaos in the Western House of Assembly was a pre-planned sequence of events, to finally destroy the political opposition.  In the first place, the West was taken over by the federal government.  This was followed immediately on that very day by the issuance of restriction orders on the leading members of the Action Group party, to various uninhabitable parts of the old West.  The Coker Commission was then set up on June 16, 1962 to achieve the final destruction of the reputations of top members of the Action Group, particularly, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief S.O. Shonibare and Alhaji S.O. Gbadamosi, Mr. Alfred Rewane, Chief J.A.O. Odebiyi and Chief S.O. Lanlehin

    As the Coker Commission was rambling on with deliberate and vindictive speed, charging, accusing and insinuating, whilst depriving its victims, particularly Chief Awolowo, access to their own files and documents to enable them refute the charges, a new front in the single-minded war of attrition was opened,  Chief Awolowo and 30 of his most trusted and dependable party members were arrested and on November 2, 1962, charged with the commission of the offence of treasonable felony and related offences, and taken into prison custody.

    The obvious intention of the NPC and NCNC politicians in decapitating the Action Group, so to speak, was to eliminate it and gain control of the West.  With the creation of the Mid-west, and the ascendancy of the NCNC into power there, one aim of the conspiracy had been achieved.  The Mid-west was created out of spite for the Action Group, not as part of a programme of general state creation.  The Yoruba West was therefore available for grabbing by the NPC through their ally, Akintola’s NNDP.  The NCNC was effectively eliminated from the West when Chief Akintola’s UPP (United Peoples Party) absorbed the Western NCNC and metamorphosed into NNDP.  The NCNC thereafter joined the Action Group and other progressive parties to form the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA).  The NPC, NNDP and their allies then formed a conservative grouping which was called the Nigerian National Alliance.  Thus, battle was joined.  There was one thing the parties in power did not bargain for, namely, the steadfastness of the people of the West, indeed the greatly increased fervor for the Action Group and the resilience of that party, in spite of the fact that its leaders were in prison.

    At this stage, we students of the University of Ife, then based in Ibadan, decided to establish a students’ wing of the Action Group to support and encourage the Mother Party, which was under terrible and remorseless assault by the ruling Northern Peoples Congress and its southern allies including Akintola’s Nigerian National Democratic Party.  We also formed a campus version of the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA).  I was elected chairman of the Campus Action Group Party and automatically became Leader of the Campus UPGA.

    One of the major activities we planned was the invitation of Dr. M.I. Okpara, Leader of the NCNC and Premier of Eastern Nigeria, to come to Ibadan for an UPGA rally.  Our invitation was gladly accepted.

    We assumed that the rally would take place in a large field inside the Ibadan campus of our university.  We applied to the university authorities.  A meeting of the university governing council was hastily summoned and our request was turned down peremptorily.

    We then located another large field outside the campus at a village called Gbokodo. We were informed that we required the permit of the Ibadan Local Government Police to use it.  We applied to the Local Government Police and were turned down outright.

    We became desperate.  Premier Mike Okpara was due in a few days, and we had no ground for our rally.  Someone suggested the University of Ibadan campus.  The universities of Ibadan and Ife had a common boundary.  It was just a 30 minute march from Ife campus to the centre of U.I. campus.  But we were confident of a negative response if we applied to the U.I. authorities for the use of their grounds. Luckily, someone recalled that the U.I. Students’ Union had large grounds and an impressive union building.  This was independently administered by the Students’ Union without interference from the university authorities.  We were elated since we expected immediate approval from our fellow students in U.I.

    And so we confidently contacted the President of the University of Ibadan, Students Union, Pip Edhore.  To our terrible shock, Pip flatly turned down our request.

    Desperation set in until a colleague from U.I. itself said, “Why don’t you go to see Mr. Tayo Akpata, the Senior Assistant Registrar, Students’ Affairs?  He can overrule the Students’ Union President”. With great reluctance, doubt and skepticism, we approached Tayo Akpata.  After hearing us out, Akpata, declared that the Student’s Union President’s attitude was baffling.  He considered it a breach of our constitutional rights of freedom of expression and freedom of association.  He therefore overruled him and gave instructions that we were to be given the full use of the Students’ Union premises.  Our surprise and joy knew no bounds, that a member of the university administration could be more “radical”, more liberal, than a student leader.

    On the appointed day, with Dr. Mike Okpara already in Ibadan, we received news that the University of Ife Governing Council had met again and that all students were banned from moving out of our campus on that eventful day.  As we were all resident in hostels in the campus, this last straw broke the camel’s back.  We mobilized, grouped together and the whole campus, including initially disinterested students, linked arms together and matched out of the campus singing war songs.  No one dared to stop us.  We arrived at the University of Ibadan Students’ Union premises.  Dr. M.I. Okpara, Alhaji Dauda Adegbenro, Acting Leader of the Action Group, Professor H. Oluwasanmi (later Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ife), and a host of other major political figures were there waiting for us.  The ground was packed full, with people virtually standing on each other.  Great speeches were made, and we had a great rally, thanks to a young, radical Assistant Registrar called Tayo Akpata.

  • Why Nigeria needs the Kano model

    It is no gainsaying that Nigeria is in need of a true transformation. There is the need for overhaul of our various systems from education to the economy and infrastructure. The change we need in Nigeria is beyond sweet-talk and abstract slogans; it is genuine transformation that would be evidenced in results. Action is urgently needed to reinvigorate various sectors of our socio-economic life; from education to health and infrastructure. For anyone, like me, who has been to Kano in recent past or has keenly observed what is happening there, it is only natural to jump at the suggestion of having what I would call the Kano model reflected in the country at large.

    The Kano model is my coinage to sum up the wholesome revolutionary undertakings of the present administration of Kano State under Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. At a time of sloppy governance characterised by cronyism and acute corruption, Kwankwaso comes along as unbeatable patriot for whom leadership is about service. First, his government set a nationwide record by abolishing the easiest and “justified” way of siphoning public treasury by the name, “Security Vote”. He instituted another measure of public integrity by conducting government business in the open. Minutes of the weekly state executive council meeting are published in the newspapers for the people of the state to have an idea of how their money is being spent. Kwankwaso also showed great capacity in creativity in terms of internally generated revenue (IGR). Within the last four years, the state government is said to have jerked up its revenue base from the meagre N400 million to almost N2 billion!

    Since it is said that the congregational prayer is as good as the priest that leads it, having set a personal record of eschewing underhand dealings, Kwankwaso blocked revenue leakages and exorcised the civil service of all ghost workers following months of difficult but worthwhile verification exercise. It is a little wonder therefore that the governor announced crossing over to the 2013 fiscal year with a whopping N20 billion as backlog cash in the government’s kitty.

    It is for this that the government was able to judiciously utilise what is for the people for their own good. And the monies were expended on meaningful and critical projects that now place Kano at par or even ahead of its contemporaries in the country. The major thrusts of the Kwankwaso years in Kano could be summed up in two broad categories; expanding the manpower base and bridging the infrastructural deficit.

    In harnessing Kano’s manpower strength, the state government has sent over 2,000 students for higher degrees in foreign universities. Some of the sponsored students are undergoing specialised training as pilots, marine engineers, pharmacists, etc. Governor Kwankwaso insured their studies by paying for all the tuition fees and upkeep allowances for the duration of their studies upfront, to avoid any disruption.

    In the home front, the governor has set a record of establishing two universities having established North-West University in 2012 in addition to the Kano State University of Science and Technology established during his first term (1999 – 2003). In addition to this, Kwankwaso constructed thousands of wonderfully designed blocks of classrooms dubbed Kwankwasiyya; itself an ideology springing up out of the governor’s demonstrated patriotism a la Awoism and Zikisim. The classrooms, which are also tastefully furnished using modern building mechanisms, dot the roads and alleys of Kano from entry points to the remotest part of the state. Thousands of teachers were also recruited to cater for the growing enrolment figures.

    Kano, all of a sudden, is like a new capital city being built from the scratch. It is turning into an Abuja of sort – or even something higher – with the level of ambitious projects all around. While in other places construction works are largely concentrated on roads, in Kano it is across all infrastructural needs. A three simultaneous mass housing project is targeting to provide 3200 housing units at Amana, Kwankwasiyya and Bandirawo, modern cities that are all fitted with social amenities, including roads and schools.

    Three fly-over bridges are currently in various states of completion. The objective of the ambitious fly-over projects was not only about beautification of the city centre but also to ameliorate the grueling traffic jam that is often times characteristic of the city, and a hindrance to its commercial activities. The fact that Kano is virtually turned into a vast construction site earned the governor the sobriquet Audu Bako of the modern age – for the beginners, Commissioner of Police Audu Bako was the first administrator of Kano State who set a very good footing for the state’s progress.

    Only the other day, I read of the advanced level of work at the sites of twin independent hydroelectric power projects being spearheaded by the state government. Making power available for the numerous industries in the state would not only revive the dying manufacturing industry, but will also boost the government’s employment drive as evidenced by the 21 vocational institutes set up across the state.

    With the beautiful stories coming out of Kano State, stories of lofty accomplishments in an exemplary prudent manner, one is tempted to wish for such a person to replicate these beautiful ideas for all of us, Nigerians.  Nigeria will better for it if we can have a visionary and hard working man with integrity at helm of affairs. Should APC have Kwankwaso as their candidate, my vote will be theirs.

     

    • Balogun writes from Wuse Zone 2, Abuja

  • Change agent Rivers State needs

    Ahead of the Rivers State gubernatorial contest, there is a wild and orchestrated projection among pundits and observers alike on the probable outcome, with all eyes fixated on who becomes the flag bearers of  the two dominant parties: the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress. It is a major decision soon to be undertaken by the leadership of the parties via their primaries.

    As expected, the political field is littered with potentials running for the exalted position across party lines, signaling the fact that the stakes are pretty high. Irrespective of the evaluations as we have so far seen in the strategic positioning of the aspirants, one thing that is obvious is the quality or otherwise of those who have indicated interest in the coveted job as they can be marked up by their respective proposals for renewal and indeed their leadership record and integrity.

    Interestingly, everyone in the race agrees to the need for change—a change that can really affect the course of governance to connect with the historical greatness of the state as envisioned and built by the founding fathers. It is in this consciousness that many are beginning to situate the aspiration of Major Lancelot Anyanya (rtd) of the Peoples Democratic Party whose political activities are galvanizing a moral crusade for a rebirth. On most counts, analysts are unanimous, that Anyanya’s aspiration is founded on the public good and going by such altruistic fundamentals as being disseminated by the intellectual wing of his campaign organisation, The Rivers State Renaissance Project, it is too true that the man is imbued with a huge sense of service.

    Then, what to do to return Rivers State to a new era of true greatness? This is an important question which Anyanya has responded to via The Renaissance Project in what he characterized as the “Creed of Greatness” and “Call to Societal Greatness”. In both dimensions, he harped on the fact that the greatest societies are those who gave the greatest opportunities to the greatest number of people to attain greatness just as the emphasized the need for grand vision, great management of resources and great leadership, thereby re-inventing the capacity and willingness to reach within inner seed of greatness and renew society.

    The fundamentals he’s talking about here are what constitute the critical yearnings today in the state, requiring a quick connect with the immortal postulation of John F. Kennedy that, “we need leaders of inspired idealism, leaders to whom are granted great vision, who dream greatly and strive to make their dreams come true, who can kindle the people with the fire from their own burning souls”.

    This is exactly what the man from Ataba, a clan of the Ijaw ethnic group in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State personifies, going by his leadership record and convictions on the sanctity of selfless service, the grand vision, integrity and the courage to stay the course.

    Of course, his burning zeal and bold dreams are too noticeable for all who might have seen his “Renaissance Manifesto”, a 20-page document detailing the Action Plan for a NEW Rivers State. For strategic and substantive purposes, the whole manifesto has a generic code: Security Vision. The idea being that there is the urgent need for a total security in all facets of development in the state, and in the process ensuring the future greatness and happiness of the people. Thus we have topics like Homeland security, education security, food security, health security, economic security, infrastructure security, socio-political security and environment security. In each of these major areas are carefully and painstakingly thought-out policies and deliverables within the short, medium and long terms. A careful reading clearly speaks to the depth of knowledge of the issues, realism and freshness of thoughts in confronting contemporary challenges in the state.

    Sitting down with him to feel his pulse and convictions on the race, Anyanya comes away as a consummate intellectual who sees a correlation between the impact of his long years in public service and his preparation for higher purpose. He is concerned about the drive for greater relevance of Rivers State in the scheme of things, noting the vast economic infrastructure in the state but which he felt has yet to maximize its potentials, particularly in tackling poverty amidst plenty,  a salient factor he considered should also define the kind of leadership the state should have. He reckons with the notion of attitudinal change in our politics to raise the bar of discourse, identifying the issues of development and proffering practical and workable solutions. This comes against the grain of such combative politics of identity witnessed in the state in recent times and the need to fashion out a moderating view based on politics of substance.

    In all of this, Anyanya has identified his abiding faith in God and will of the people as the cornerstone of his aspiration, taking his case for a new era of true greatness to them and explaining the imperative for regeneration of Rivers State and indeed making a difference. The essentials here are what he encapsulated in a philosophy of governance which pursues the ideals of a democratic society in which the role of government would be to create public value and enhance citizen satisfaction by way of an enabling environment of equal opportunity, inclusiveness and the rule of law. Consequently, we can have a new society of new set of values that reduces inequality, re-inventing the ladder of social progress which can realistically assist those whose opportunities had lagged behind. Critical in this new arrangement as Anyanya posited would also be a clean and efficient government, truly serving the common good.

    Of course, it is worth emphasizing here his call for the people to intervene in their own development agenda and that of their future generations by getting really involved as discerning agents of change without recourse to unbridled partisanship in political affiliation or the debilitating hate politics but constructively seeking the right kind of leaders who can be trusted to hold their mandate in trust. Thus the people must as a necessity articulate their own development convictions (paradigm shift) and demand renewal in leadership attitude, beliefs and prowess to change their well-being for the better. It is in their enlightened best interest to be so involved in the development process as a democratic right and thereby regenerating the state. As Claude Ake remarkably posited, “development is the process by which people create and recreate themselves and their life circumstances to realize higher levels of civilization in accordance with their own choices and values”. These are critical considerations in the present situation in Rivers State, calling for sober retrospection on the choices available and the courage to choose a path of political and economic redemption.

    Coming from a multi-disciplinary background, Anyanya’s antecedents arguably fit the bill of the anticipated modern era, combining his meritorious public service experience with his incisive private sector knowledge as a respected entrepreneur. Seen as a great  thinker and strategist, his exceptional performances at different levels of leadership over the years actually find expression in rich academic and professional life, not just as the prize winner as the best graduating cadet in his class at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), but has also distinguished himself at different times in the graduate schools: International Law and Diplomacy, University of Lagos, International Security at the Galilee International Management Institute in Israel, and of course he is a worthy alumnus of the prestigious Kennedy School of Government (KSG). His recent engagement as the chairman of the governing board of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has so far underscored his leadership acumen in effecting an enduring positive change. And as he has repeatedly said, greatness is coming to Rivers State by rebirthing the fundmentals of human security to engender development.

     

    • Olutomiwa, wrote from Lagos.

  • Ebola: Beyond the WHO certification

    Exactly 93 days after the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, was imported into Nigeria, by the late American-Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, the World Health Organisation, (WHO), certified Nigeria free of the deadly disease. Subsequent to its 42-day observation, the Country Representative of WHO, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, made the declaration at a ceremony in Abuja. While the Ebola trauma lasted in the country, 19 cases were recorded leaving in its trail eight dead with 11 survivors.

    Aside the number of lives it claimed and the psychological trauma it brought upon the country as a whole, the Ebola ordeal came with lots of economic losses. For instance, First Consultants Clinic, where the late  Sawyer was admitted, was shut down for a considerable period of time, thereby incurring losses in terms of patronage from clients. Night clubs owners and hoteliers are equally counting their losses as patronage went down for the fear of Ebola. Equally, some private schools paid dearly for the Ebola invasion in monetary and psychological terms. In the same manner, ‘bush meat’ sellers had it so bad, as no one was ready to touch bush meats with a long pole since one risk factor for the infection of Ebola Virus has been traced to the consumption of ‘bush meat’.

    As the nation heaves a sigh of relief from the Ebola onslaught, it is important to remember the men and women who fought the deadly virus to a standstill, particularly health workers, even at the risk of their lives. Our hearts go out to relations, friends and colleagues of medical workers who died while combating the virus. We must equally commend the governments and people of Lagos and Rivers states respectively while not forgetting the Federal Ministry of Health, WHO, the press, the US Centre for Disease Control and other development partners for playing integral roles in Nigeria successful containment  of Ebola disease.

    However, in spite of the WHO certification of Nigeria as Ebola free, it s not yet time for celebration, as doing so at this point would be dangerous and foolhardy. This is the time to consolidate on the gains of our triumphant wrestle with the virus. Inasmuch as neighbouring West African nations such as Liberia, Guinea and Sierra-Leone are still grappling with the disease, it remains a threat to the country. Considering the porous nature of the country’s borders, it would not be illogical to think that Ebola Virus could still find its way into the country if we completely loose our guards by thinking that the worst is over.

    That is why we all need to be more alert to ensure that our borders are impregnable. Those who are in charge of our borders need to be alert, more than ever, in discharging their responsibilities. Health workers at the various local and international airports must ensure that people coming into the country are properly screened to determine their Ebola status. Equally, all hospitals in the country need to train more of their medical personnel on how to handle Ebola related cases.

    Similarly, schools across the country must not compromise the current hygiene trend. To do that would be suicidal. Officials must continue to insist on proper hygiene among teachers and students while screening of visitors, staff and students must be a continuous process. It is only in doing this that we would be consolidating on the gains of our bizarre experience with Ebola. Officials from the federal, states and local governments too must continue to pay routine visits to schools in order to ensure compliance with stipulated Ebola preventive measures. Also, we must keep faith with all required hygienic precaution such as regular hand washing.

    Equally, this is the right time to invest heavily in the health sector of the country by supporting local scientists with needed resources to look into ways of finding cure for the Ebola virus. If our scientists could be supported by all stakeholders in the same way we resisted the Ebola virus, Nigeria could score another first in the battle against Ebola, by being the first country to discover effective vaccine for the cure of the virus. This is the kind of enterprise that we must be engaged in now.

    It is equally important that our country lends a helping hand to neighbouring West African countries being ravaged by the disease. We could assist them by providing technical and personnel support. Lagos State is already working in this direction as the government has concluded plans to send some of its health workers, that helped in tackling the virus, to help provide people in Sierra-Leone with the necessary assistance to fight Ebola. In doing this, we are indirectly helping ourselves because we cannot sleep with our two eyes closed unless the whole of Africa is totally free from the scourge of Ebola Virus.

    Perhaps more importantly, everybody must be watchful of their health situation and swiftly report any odd health situation to the nearest medical facility. Failure to do this at the right moment may possibly jeopardize numerous lives. This is not exactly the moment in time to play with health related issues. Every household must continue to preach and imbibe positive hygiene measures to guide against harmful tendencies that could jeopardise family health.

    It is important to agree and work with position of WHO Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan, that: “While the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak is over in Nigeria due to Nigeria’s geographic position and the proximity of its borders to countries with cases of the disease, it is important to continue to be vigilant for any suspected case and to observe a strict compliance with the WHO Ebola disease guidelines. There is need for the Federal Government to continue to work with states to ensure adequate preparedness to rapidly respond to any suspected case”.

    This, indeed, remains the only logical thing to do, as to do otherwise would only show that we have learnt nothing from our recent ordeal with the Ebola Virus. This is not the time to rest on our oars. Rather, this is the time to work tirelessly for the successful elimination of the Ebola Virus in Africa and, indeed, the world. We owe humanity this much.

    • Ibirogba is Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State

  • Fayose: Populism or opportunism?

    Over the ages, man by virtue of his uniqueness as a rational being has fashioned out means and ways to advance its primacy among all other living creatures that God has created to inhabit the current earthly plane. In his efforts to a further divine injunction to expand and dominate the world, various schemes and processes were  put in place by him to ensure orderliness as the key ingredient to achieving the mandate from the Supreme Being.

    One of such efforts was man’s desire to evolve leadership and by extension governance in promoting societal good rooted in orderliness. In the end, the concept of governance was evolved by him to cater for his well-being and security.

    Several definitions have been given to the concept, but the most apt is that which states that a government is the system by which a state or community is governed.As the definition suggests the people, which are the basic component of a given socio-economic space, design and implement an arrangement that cater for the well-being of all.

    Flowing from the initial steps, the people who have designed and implemented the system are assumed to subscribe to the authority whom they have agreed to set up as a means of not only guaranteeing their well-being but also ensure that their safety is adequately catered for in the socio-political space that they’ve found themselves.

    Thus, for the government architecture that has been designed, it is assumed that the best in any given society is invested with the right legal and coercive instruments to function effectively as the ‘guardian’ of the area under his authority.

    Owing to the dynamic and intricate nature of government (as a machinery) and governance as a process, it is assumed or envisaged by philosophers who over time evolved the concept, that leadership must be attained by those considered as the best the society could put forward at any point in time.

    Governance and government have also assumed different forms such as monarchy, democracy, autocracy and other patterns but the central theme in the process that threw up leadership is the need for members of the society aspiring to leadership to undergo a certain form of apprenticeship, a period that allows an aspirant to understudy the society which he hopes to preside over.

    In monarchical arrangement, which is rooted in leadership by divine rights, princes and those in the nobility are put through a period of tutelage where they are taught etiquette and right mannerism that must be exhibited by occupants of the offices they are destined to occupy. They are also expected to learn more about the history, culture and tradition of their society.

    In some monarchy, some of them are even expected to undergo some form of leadership training via administering lesser territory before eventually becoming the supreme leader. The same process (though with some form of modifications is also expected to take place in a democratic environment where those who aspire to a high office usually rise through the ranks by taking up one post or the other before becoming the figure everyone defers to.

    Thus, the leader of any given society must be seen to have passed through the furnace and rigours of apprenticeship and must be seen to be a man of high moral rectitude, of sound mind and intellectually capable of functioning effectively in office.

    These bring to light the current theatre of the absurd playing out in Ekiti, a state acclaimed to be the Fountain of Knowledge but, which is currently being presided over by Ayodele Fayose, a combative character as its chief executive.

    Fayose, who is currently standing trial in various law courts on charges that bother on graft and unethical financial dealings during his first stint in office, was returned as elected in the race that pitted him against the then incumbent, the cerebral Olukayode Fayemi.

    Aside from his trial, Fayose whose initial tenure was marked by unbridled violence was impeached from office by members of the state House of Assembly for the same reasons of engaging in graft. Cognizance of statutory provisions that bar such a character from seeking public office until after 10 years, he soon launched into self-help to stave off efforts by well-meaning citizens of the state to question his eligibility.

    A self-styled populist, Fayose is reputed to have limited or scanty regards for democratic or governmental institutions which he hopes to utilize for the greater well-being of the people whom he has in the past touted as his major constituency. In the premises of the state High Court Complex, his nature took the better part of him when he allegedly ordered his rampaging supporters to beat to pulp, a judge, who had the audacity to urge him to call his restless supporters to order.

    Interestingly, the security operatives drafted to maintain order looked the other way when the Afao-Ekiti born politician unleashed his ‘boys’ on the hapless judge. The symbolism of the action and the manner it was managed is such that in Nigeria under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the platform upon which Fayose won the June 21, election, might is right. It is only in Nigeria that a barbarism of this nature will take place, and the people vested with the powers to act would behave as if nothing happened.

    To Fayose and his co-travellers in the PDP, there is nothing wrong in committing unpardonable infraction on the very institutions of state necessary for safeguarding the well-being of the people that they lead. Nothing short of being in power is desirable and any means to sustain it would do.

    Not satisfied with defiling the temple of justice, and as part of his current efforts at showmanship, rather than do stocktaking for effective take off of his administration, Fayose did what many people think is rather impossible by throwing the gates to the newly constructed Government House located at Oke Ayoba open to all manners of people.

    His media handlers were quick to rush to the information space to describe the action as epitomizing his populist bent as a ‘caring leader’ not minding the fact that the monument is a sacred edifice that should be accorded the best in terms of reverence and awe by not only those in leadership but those teeming masses of the populace. Can anyone imagine the gates of the White House being thrown open to all comers? I don’t want to talk of Aso Rock Villa because, I believe they are part of the present madness. Besides, I see a very spiteful character that is so full of hatred for conventional reasoning, and would do anything to desecrate it. There is nothing wrong in not accepting conventional positions, but whatever you are bringing must be superior. In this instance, has Fayose offered anything better than the new Government House? Guess.

    To Fayose, there is nothing wrong if and when such edifice or institutions are desecrated as long as they provide tools for political opportunism. The new governor must be advised to free himself from the current electoral hangover by applying himself to the task ahead. Reading the current trends in the country, electorates are getting impatient with incompetent office holders, and from the way he started, he might have a shorter tenure than the last time.

    • Raji is Special Adviser on Information & Strategy to the Governor of Lagos State.

  • The imperial presidency

    If all the sub-committees of the constitution drafting committee of 1975, none was more important than the sub-committee of the executive and the legislature.

    The sub-committee was saddled with working out the modalities for the operation of the presidential system of government, which was a novelty at that time considering the fact that we have never operated the system before.

    The sub-committee was headed by Alhaji Abdu Ganiyu Folorunsho Razak (87), the Mutawali of Ilorin and the Tafida of Zaria, who was born in Onitsha, Anambra State and served as Nigerian Ambassador to the Ivory Coast (Cote Ivoire) from 1962 to 1964. He is the first lawyer from Northern Nigeria.

    Razak was a delegate to the 1960 constitutional conference in London, a member of the Leaders of Thought from Northern Nigeria for the 1967 constitutional conference, Minister for Railways between 1965-1966 and a man of distinct letters. He declined to be a High Court Judge when his name was gazetted for the appointment. Long before Dr. Abubakar Olushola Saraki, the late Waziri of Ilorin, Alhaji Razak was the “grand commander” of politics in Ilorin. Very urbane and highly civilised. I met him for the first time in 1975.

    Other members of the sub-committee were Dr. Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe, former  minister in the First Republic and my very good friend, Alhaji ShehuMalami, former chairman of Union Bank and later Nigerian ambassador to South Africa, Professor G.A. Odenigwe of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, former Minister of Works, Dr. Kole Abayomi, Senior Lecturer at Nigeria Law School in Lagos, I.D. Ahmed, a councillor by then in the Kano Local Government Authority, Sam Ikoku, who was then of the University of Lagos and former Secretary of the defunct Action Group, who later became the secretary of the Peoples Redemption Party of the late Aminu Kano.

    The other two members were Alhaji Sule Gaya, a former minister in Northern Nigeria and Dr. U.O. Eleazu, lecturer in Political Science in Institute of Management and Technology, now Co-ordinator and Director, Nigeria Policy Development Centre (Think Tank).

    The sub-committee recommended, among other things, that the future president of Nigeria “must perform and be seen as performing the following functions: that of being a symbol of national unity, honour and prestige; being a national figure- a political figure in his own right; and that of being an able executive-someone who can give leadership and a sense of direction to the country”.

    The sub-committee declared: “We were very much influenced by the debate on national objectives and public accountability and the need to avoid concentration of power in the hands of a few, or a sectional group; the need to replace ethnic with national politics, etc. In short, it is the intention of the sub-committee that anybody who wants to be a President must strive to become a national figure, and the method of his election is meant to provide him with a means of nationalising himself as well as test his standing as a national figure”.

    The sub-committee declared further: “what has been uppermost in our minds is how to provide for an effective leadership that express our aspirations for national unity without at the same time building up a Leviathan whose power may be difficult to curb”.

    Call it rotational principle, call it zoning or call it Federal Character, it was Razak’s committee that first proposed this idea as far back as 1975.

    The sub-committee insisted that rotational principle must be embodied in the constitution. The sub-committee went further to group Nigeria into four zones. That was in 1975 when we had 19 states. According to Razak’s committee of 1975, Zone 1 shall consist of Sokoto, Niger, Kwara, and Kaduna states, Zone 2 will comprise Kano, Plateau, Benue, Borno, Bauchi and Gongola states, Zone 3 – Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Bendel states and lastly Zone 4 which were Anambra, Imo, Rivers and Cross Rivers states. The recommendation of the sub-committee was that there shall be rotation of the Presidency and each of the four zones should have the Presidency once in a while.

    In defending rotational Presidency, the sub-committee submitted that “By and large, we have been very much influenced by the experience of political leadership in this country-both civilian and military; the need to de-commercialise politics (or to undecorate politics as one member put it); the need to balance the stakes politics so that each section of this country will come to feel a sense of belonging to a great nation; the need to develop an approach of consensus to politics and finally the need to accentuate our national inclination towards a bargaining approach to decision-making rather than regarding politics as a game of the winner-take-all”.

    Incidentally most of the committee’s reports were accepted by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) later. On November 1, 1977 the chairman of the CDC, Chief Rotimi Williams presented a bill to the Constituent Assembly for a new constitution. He said: “Safeguards Against Abuse of Power, all of us in the Constitution Drafting Committee, without exception, were eager to ensure that the sovereignty of the people is not merely manifested in the choice of the persons entrusted or to be entrusted with power. We were also concerned to ensure that no functionary of the state shall be in a position to install himself as a dictator over the rest of the country. Hence provisions were made in the Draft Constitution to prevent the over-concentration of power in any one hand or in the hands of a few and to ensure that there are adequate checks and balances to avoid the abuse of power”.

    In my later discussion with a member of the CDC, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, the Otun of Ikorodu, he said” concentration of power in the hands of just one man could disintegrate the country. All that we did between 1975 and 1976 was to ensure that the government truly belongs to the people. And truly we have no apology for that”. He was a member of the sub-committee on the Economy, Finance and Division of Powers. He wrote most of the reports of that sub-committee.

    If you take a look at the 1979 and especially the 1999 constitutions, one could see the imperial powers of the President of Nigeria.

    Having read and re-read the report of Abdu Razak’s committee, I am still not sure that it is what the committee recommended that is in practice today, with the imperial, dominant and regal powers of the President crowned by the constitution and a cash-sharing National Assembly that has made itself impotent in an era where sycophancy, hero-worshipping and boot-licking is the only industry around.

    If one reads the 1999 constitution, one will be puzzled and astounded by the extensive wide powers of the Nigerian President. In short he almost owns the country. In a land where majority are very poor, one can’t have all these wide powers certainly without inviting envy, jealousy, outright grudge if not hatred.

    Our biggest dilemma is how to cope with the authoritarian and absolute powers of the President as decreed by the constitution. It is these powers that have made the race for the Presidency absolutely desperate.

    Just imagine the despondency of the incumbent to retain his Presidency at all costs as if there is no more life outside government having been in power for over 15 years and the desperation of his political adversaries to dislodge him by all means.

    We shall see in the coming weeks the ugly effects of the despair and hopelessness.

    If we have reduced the power of the presidency and made that post less attractive, may be and just may be the forlornness will be avoided. A Presidential election is not supposed to be a do-or-die affair. In some countries the Presidential election is a celebration period. That is the way it is supposed to be.

     

    • Teniola, a former director at the presidency, lives in Lagos.

  • Ambode in the public arcade

    It was an informal conference of sorts at the Seminar Café, the refreshment rendezvous inside the sprawling premises of the Lagos Television (LTV8), Agidingbi, Ikeja, four weeks ago.

    Resplendent in uniform aso ebi and numbering about 10, including three women, the “discussants” were guests of a couple that had come to walk down the aisle at the popular Blue Roof events centre – within the same premises.

    As assorted liquor washed sumptuous meals down their throats, one of them – an elderly man whose name was simply disclosed as Andrew – drew a deep pregnant sigh. Within seconds, he changed the kernel of their light discourse when one of them demanded to know why the sudden change in Andrew’s mood.

    “It is true that we are having a swell moment here, but I must confess that my mind is filled with thoughts about the future of this my cherished state. How I wish God answers my fervent prayer as the next governorship election draws near!” He gave a hint about the “storm” in his mind.

    “Ha … ha …? Are you contesting for governorship? Tell us now so that we know how to work for you,” one of them, a woman, cut in jocularly. A bout of laughter followed.

    Suddenly, Andrew wore a serious mien. “What I have in mind is not a matter to laugh about. For three days recently, I prayed and fasted over the chance of the man who, to me, has all it takes to sustain the tradition of excellent administration, which has remained unbroken since when Tinubu (ex-Governor Bola Tinubu) was in the saddle in this state,” rising on his feet, he replied.

    This poser naturally followed: “Who then is in your mind?” His reply was emphatic: “Akin Ambode! He is the exceptional technocrat who is now being voluntarily supported by genuine lovers of a new Lagos across the state.”

    For a while, the 2015 governorship ambition of Akinwunmi Ambode, a shrewd accountant, who doubles as the immediate past accountant-general of the state and a leading contender on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) became the kernel of their discourse.

    The contribution of one of them, Sola Adetayo, was a clear pointer to the indubitable fact that whatever one does at one point in time in a leadership position will sooner or later become a reference point.

    His co-discussants hanged on his lips when he took them down memory lane. “I was well aware that the man (Ambode) was the one who, as the prime custodian of the state’s treasury under ex-Governor Bola Tinubu. We all remember the political war that happened between Tinubu and the then President Olusegun Obasanjo when the latter seized the funds due to local government councils in the state following the controversy over the creation of additional local councils in the state.

    “It is to the eternal credit of Ambode that he, through a rare ingenuity, evolved the financial infrastructure that helped the state survive those trying times. It therefore goes without saying that such a talent is needed to steer the ship of a state as complex as Lagos”, Adetayo said amid affirmatory nods by his hearers.

    Disclosing that he was a retired civil servant in the state, he spoke about his experience when he retired from the Ministry of Finance under Ambode: “When I retired in February 2006, I never in my wildest imagination thought I would not take years to get my entitlement. I got the most pleasant shock of my life when a few weeks after, I was paid my entitlements. When I made enquiries about how it happened, my colleagues told me that it was Ambode that insisted that our entitlement must not be delayed because having worked diligently for the state in our service years, we did not deserve to be paid back with hunger and deprivations in retirement”.

    “I was happy. I later dawned on me that it was the same Ambode who would always ensure that our salary was promptly paid when we were in service. He would always say that a well-motivated worker whose salary was not delayed would serve diligently and honestly to move the state to greater heights. He was passionately in love with the state and it showed in his utterances and actions all through. Since then, each time I remember him, my mind always prays for him. I never knew I would have this opportunity to pay him back. In fact, I can’t wait to have him lead the state after the coming election.”

    Virtually everyone contributed one good thing or the other that had reportedly been said about the accountant. A Surulere-based woman, who gave her name as Alhaja Funmilola Alabi, said: “I have never met him (Ambode), but I remember that a friend of mine once ran to him when her son gained admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). My friend, a widow was hard up for money and he was desperate to secure education for her only boy. Somebody told him to go to Ambode, assuring that he would help him whether or not he knows her”.

    “My friend did not believe it. She just summoned the courage one day. Following some enquiries about his residence, my friend visited thrice before she could meet him at home. My friend said she was about weeping when she was narrating her ordeal to Ambode who, according to her, asked her not to cry. To cut the story short, the man volunteered to sponsor my friend’s son through school. He is in his final year now.

    This writer was in a commercial but heading for Ojota from Lagos Island last week. The main issue being discussed was the forthcoming governorship election in the state. The concern of everyone is the ultimate emergence of the ideal man who has all it takes to ensure that the current train of development in the state is not drawn back to the “service lane.”

    After a concoction of arguments, an Igbo man, Cletus Nwachukwu, who claimed to be a trader at the popular Tejuosho market submitted: “I am not from this state, but I appreciate what Tinubu and Fashola have contributed to governance in the state. I have seen the posters of all manners of aspirant gunning for governorship and I have heard a lot about them. However, from my findings, one person stands out; he is the man called Akin Ambode”.

    “I have never met him (Ambode), but I have heard a lot of things about his virtues as a leader and manager of resources. Many have referred to him as an astute manager, an uncompromising disciplinarian, a humanist of no mean order and a progressive-minded technocrat. I am convinced that he will do the job by seeing the state move on steadily on the highway of all-round development.”

    Just yesterday, the same issue kept lips busy at a taxi park right at Ladipo Junction in Mushin. An Osun State-born commercial cab driver, Alhaji Rafiu Oladele, said although he is a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he would vote for Ambode should he emerge as APC’s candidate because his assessment of the man had convinced him.

    “I am a devout Muslim who believes in truth. Yes, I belong to PDP as a party, but my concern is the progress of where I earn my livelihood. I have been lucky to move with a few people who have gained one thing or the other from the connection with Ambode and I am impressed. I have been made to believe that we will have a duteous and God-fearing governor in him. So, I will do my best possible to work for his success at the polls if he emerges as APC’s candidate. He will be a good choice as the one whose head the cap fits”, Oladele said.

    Besides his exemplary leadership acumen and public-spirited temperament, many at various for a today are always quick to allude to Ambode’s stint at the corridor of power in the state as an exclusive political advantage that will likely earn him victory at the polls over any other contender.

    Will the state retain the luck to have the right man to steer its ship? The moment of decision is almost here!

     

    • Akinlabi is a Lagos-based political analyst

  • Ikem’s diatribe against Imoke

    Reading the piece entitled “Redrawing Cross River Political map”, written by Venatius Ikem, former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and published in The Nation of October 21, where he sought to play the role of a hatchet man, one cannot but conclude that it was a puerile effort of a man who is cognitively challenged.

    By Bassey Ofem

    pon sighting the caption, I had intuitively salivated at the prospects of savouring fresh insights on the political transformation currently going on in my state. But lo, I was let down when I discovered that the author was merely out to mislead and misinform his undiscerning readers with his cant.

    Indeed, his outing in The Nation was a classic piece in contradiction and obfuscation.

    In the piece, he tried feverishly to portray Governor Liyel Imoke as manipulating the political process in Cross River State to suit his personal interest.

    However, in his febrile and desperate effort to demonize the governor and tar him with a brush of a manipulator, Ikem, ended up confusing the readers.

    It is imperative to mention that ever since Governor Imoke booted him out of office as Commissioner for Works in his cabinet, Vena, as he is called by his associates no longer sees any good in the governor and what he does.

    It would be recalled that Ikem had demeaned his exalted office when he unabashedly engaged in a fight with a hapless young man at a party. He had reportedly stabbed his victim, an aide to Senator Ben Ayade in the head with a broken bottle. This disgraceful incident was lavishly reported by the media, including the Punch on January 2, 2012. The Governor considered his action untoward of a public office holder and swiftly gave him a matching order.

    This was the ‘mortal sin’ Governor Imoke committed against Ikem, setting the stage for the pathological hatred from Ikem.

    Since then, he has seized every opportunity and deployed every available media, both conventional and social to insult his governor.

    The piece in The Nation is at best a display of intellectual handicap and a ventilation of a frustrated and beleaguered politician.

    For instance, Ikem claimed that his preferred aspirant, Jeddy Godwin Agba was haunted (sic) out of office as Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC). He, however, recanted in the same sentence by saying that his current benefactor (Jeddy Agba) voluntarily retired from NNPC.

    Poser: If someone was haunted as he ignorantly used the word or did he mean to say hounded out of office, could he at the same time voluntarily retire? As governor of Cross River State, does Governor Imoke also superintend over a behemoth such as the NNPC? Where does Imoke derive the power to hound, or to borrow Ikem’s own terminological inexactitude, haunt Jeddy Agba out of office?

    Again, another contradictory paragraph that exposes Ikem as a man who is not native to truth but one weaned on mendacity is his claim that current state PDP chairman, Ntufam John Okon should not have become the party chairman, because according to him, the man had just retired as Clerk of the state House of Assembly a few months before becoming the state PDP chairman.

    How hypocritical could Ikem be to raise issues about Ntufam John Okon’s position as the state party chairman while not considering it inappropriate to support his principal and aspirant, Jeddy Agba for the governorship of the state, despite that he was until a few months ago a staff of the NNPC?

    Is this not a clear case of Ikem trying to approbate and at the same time reprobate? While it is fine for his paymaster to aspire to the office of the governor of Cross River State, even as he was still in the employ of NNPC, it was sacrilegious for the state party chairman to have aspired and become the party chair, following his retirement as Clerk of the state House of Assembly. For Ikem, what is sauce for the geese should not be sauce for the gander?

    For Venatius Ikem, it is expedient to seek to confuse the debate over Governor Imoke’s laudable effort to open the democratic space, and allow the people to take ownership of the democratic process. Yet he wants Nigerians and indeed Cross Riverians to see him as a democrat who is only interested in the ambition of his patrons.

    It is in this context that it becomes pretty difficult to rationalize Ikem’s discomfort, unhappiness and distaste with the decision of John Owan Enoh to seek to represent the Cross River Central Senatorial Zone in the senate.

    Ikem’s claim that Governor Imoke does not want a ranking senator in Cross River to return to the senate so that he can continue to rule the state by proxy is ludicrous and lacking in substance.

    Perhaps a victim of selective amnesia, Ikem forgot that Senator Teslim Folarin from Oyo State was also the Senate Leader. But neither the senate nor Oyo State went kaput on account of his failure to return to the upper legislative chamber.

    Another issue Venatius Ikem raised and which rightly portrays him as one who plays politics of hatred is his confusion as to how Governor Imoke, who is a leading member of the PDP and according to Ikem, acclaimed bosom friend of the President and member of his kitchen cabinet, can still keep friends such people as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal, ‘a ring leader of a rebellious group’.

    For those familiar with Imoke and his style of politics, the governor sees politics as a game, pure and simple. So, while he might disagree with someone politically, he will never personalize such disagreement. This is what Ikem cannot understand.

    Ikem is not done yet with his myriads of laughable claims, but this time it is President Goodluck Jonathan’s failure to pay a visit to the state, since his assumption of office because, according to him, Governor Imoke has nothing for him to commission.

    Ikem, as a former member of Imoke’s cabinet did not really know his boss. If he did, he should have known that he is not a leader given to playing to the gallery. The governor does not commission projects because it does not make sense to spend taxpayers’ money on projects commissioning when such funds could be put to better use to improve the lot of the people.

    Apart from Nigeria where elected political office holders commission as little as well water project and dredging of gutters, where else is this done?

    That the governor does not commission projects is not to say there are no projects. With hundreds of kilometers of roads constructed and in use across the state when Ikem was Commissioner for Works, how many of those roads were ever commissioned?

    Today, the Institute of Technology and Management in Ugep, has commenced academic activities. Was the institution commissioned? The civil servants housing estate in Akpabuyo is today fully occupied; was there a big or lavish ceremony called commissioning? Does it also mean that the over 200 rural communities in the state enjoying rural electrification without commissioning are not citizens of the state or was it that the projects were not executed in Cross River State and deserving commissioning?

    Today, there are women and children in four local areas of the state who no longer die during childbirth due to improved quality healthcare made possible by the administration of Governor Liyel Imoke. This is despite the about 810 health facilities spread across the state. Should the citizenry have waited for their commissioning which will never come before accessing the facilities? Perhaps Ikem needs to be taken on a facility tour of the various projects to justify their presence in the state.

     

    • Ofem is a Calabar-based lawyer.