The Nation Newspaper

Category: Opinion

  • Revisiting the Ilorin Sallah tragedy

    There is no doubt that the recent Sallah stampede in Charity House, Ilorin, Kwara State, is an unfortunate and sad incident by all parameters. While not ruling out the truism that lives belong to God, who alone decides where and how everyone departs, there are minimum best practices for safety of lives and property which may have been inadvertently neglected by somebody. It is hoped that lessons have been learnt following this incident, which should never be allowed to reoccur.

    Ordinarily, it would have sufficed not to continue to constantly refresh the memories of the families and friends of the dead by bringing the issue persistently to the front burner, but reading Comrade Issa Aremu and Kawu Modibbo (both indigenes of Ilorin), particularly their jaundiced comments on the unfortunate incident, my mind quickly raced to Labour Party MP, Gerald Kaufman’s famous description of his party’s 1983 manifesto as the longest suicide note in history. Indeed, Aremu and Modibbo’s comments, in my thinking, could yet turn out to be one of the shortest suicide notes in media history.

    Tendentiously, both made very spurious allegations that Senator Bukola Saraki was using government funds to oil his philanthropy. What could be so below-the-line for pundits, who are supposed to know that to make unsubstantiated allegations, reduces one’s integrity? Rather than question the propriety of gathering such a crowd in such a place without making adequate provisions for their exit in case of emergency, or query why they could not understudy how the late Saraki did it for almost 40 years without a single incident or suggesting how such should be done in the future or maybe, agitating for compensation for the dead, Modibbo, pugnaciously embarked on his new devotion of calling his quondam boss names. Come to think of it, how else could a man operating at such a high level of politics in Nigeria be a leader? If leadership is not about influencing others to accomplish an objective and directing in a cohesive and coherent way, what then is leadership?

    Only the likes of Modibbo question the destiny of such a young, resourceful, detribalized and philanthropic man, forgetting that only God installs who He wills as leader, regardless of age or tribe. Modibbo shockingly took his handshake beyond the elbow by accusing the Emir of Ilorin of misdemeanor for sending the Vice Chairman of Traditional Council of Chiefs to commiserate with the state government on the sad event. What a freedom carried too far?

    In his case, Aremu, who only recently declared Governor Ahmed the Best Teacher-friendly Governor, described the same government as insensitive. What a paradox!

    Indeed, as a principle, I ignore such grotesque and ungainly write-ups, knowing it would not connect with the thoughts and feelings of those who know, but for the gullible few at the risk of being taken in by these obvious clever by half embellishment of lies.

    Here was an unfortunate incident that shook the entire state and the Saraki family to its foundations; and which many would rather leave in the past than make politics out of, knowing that only God, the creator and all knowing, can explain how and why such had to happen.

    Curiously, while the buzz continued, Aremu and his co-traveller in mischief, forgot that for more than four decades, the Sarakis, who have also paid the way for a number of persons through school at home and abroad, rehabilitated a number of schools across the state, provided jobs and empowerment to quite a number of persons, have been hosting the people during Sallah celebrations. This is unlikely to be the last having become a tradition of the Sarakis to appreciate the people, who have shown them love and sustained their support through the years.

    Needless repeating the fact that Allah commanded those who have to share with those who do not have. But more than anything else, as a devout Moslem, the Sallah season for Saraki as with many other Moslems, provides an opportunity to meet and share Allah’s provision with the people, knowing of a truth that no one ever advances when many people are left behind.

    Interestingly, no matter how cynical anyone might be, truth remains that the Sarakis know that the people are everything. They know that nothing is too small to appreciate a people, who also appreciate their positive contributions to their lives and the development of Kwara State, with or without Sallah. This, perhaps, is the simple philosophy that has defined the yearly Sallah celebration by the Sarakis and underscores the bond between the family and the people.

    Unfortunate, as it were, one would have thought that it was high time the dead had a deserved rest than become the subject of mischievous ogling through warped and highly jaundiced media commentaries. This, for the right thinking, particularly, where there are obvious political tan to the whole incident, is tantamount to killing and burying the dead the second time. And, only the conscienceless can do this. Even if Comrade Aremu is not a Moslem, he would still have known that as common in Islam, such handouts form part of Sallah celebrations, except he has a new find to the contrary.

    Still, while this seeming grisly smear campaigns against the person of Saraki, a former governor of the state, have been sustained in very ridiculous manners without regard that the state and the affected families are still in mourning, those fuelling this unspeakable filth have since assumed a watchdog role over what the current administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has done or is doing or not even done since assumption of office.

    How would the likes of Comrade Aremu have known that so far the Governor Ahmed’s administration has provided no fewer than 5,000 jobs through KWABES and another 10,000 through the SURE-P programme? Or, how would they know without asking, about 5000 youths were recently trained on ICT use and opportunities, not withstanding that the Kwara State government has disbursed more than N350 million to entrepreneurs in line with the state’s Small Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) projects?  Talking about a road map out of poverty to prosperity, has anyone taken a trip to Ajase-Ipo International Vocational Centre, intended to undertake training of Kwara youths in fields such as automobile engineering, carpentry, metal works, hair-dressing, tailoring and so on and provided soft loans to prospective graduates of the centre to establish and manage own businesses across the state?

    Also in line with government’s shared prosperity programme, the administration has approved a N3 billion car loan for civil servants despite its meagre resources. Only recently, the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City & Guild of London (C&G), to design a curriculum for a training programme that would turn Kwara youths into job creators than job seekers. Already, there are youth empowerment coordinators in all the 16 local government councils of the state, to ensure beneficiaries spread across the councils, just as the state has equally started creating a data base for the youths whether or not they are Kwarans. The exercise has already attracted a number of youths. Rather than query destiny by their sustained attack on the Sarakis, let the Aremus and the Modibbos contribute their quota to the new move to transform our state to commercial nerve centre of the middle belt.

    • Adebayo writes from Ilorin.

  • From the cell phone

    For Gbenga Omotoso

     

    Jonathan’s government is government of deceit. From Ifedayo Akinyandenu, Ibadan

    Jonathan went for pilgrimage to seek the face of God but he has forgotten that God does not answer those whose hands are not clean. His government is full of atrocities and corruption. He is deceiving himself going to pray. What kind of prayer is that one? Blood is flowing in the country and the president is not giving it attention. Whatever he does now will be written in the book of history. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos

    I was down with fever before I read your “Jonathan and other VIPs”. I swear my stress and fever miraculously vanished thereafter.The week was ‘droughtful’ but you manufactured reality for me and others. Is Nigeria truly broke after those prayers by VIPs at the Wailing Wall? From Tunde Opada No. 2 Iye Road, Eruku, Kwara State.

    Re: Jonathan and other VIPs. What a gospel truth. Coming back home, we expect Mr. Presiìdent to call Wike to order; and to Amaechi, to tell him ‘go and sin no more, I want peace at my back-yard. I am now truly born again. Anonymous

    Re: Jonathan and other VIPs. There is nothing wrong in undertaking pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia or Jerusalem or both. The essence was always to atone for the sins. However, we need to be faithful to our God first at Home before showing to our people that we portray some holy activities. Rather than spitting Jonathan the president, terrible ministers, governors and godfathers in all the political parties should be chastised when they claim to be Godly. From Lanre Oseni

    God bless you sir for your piece: Jonathan and other VIPs. You made my day. From Comrade Afiyo

    Gbenga, you are too much. I appreciate you a lot for the backpage write-up of October 31st on “Presidnt Jonathan’s visit to Israel. The scene at St Peter Church was an enactment of the denial of Nigerians by their leaders who swore with the bible, oh sorry, “Ijaw soul” to transform (TRANSFIX) us; reminiscent of d biblical denial. Whatever it is moment of truth is staring us in the face: irrepressible revolution that will level the grade for the milk and honey to flow to every doorstep as ordained by God. From Priye, Akure, Ondo State.

    Jonathan sees himself as an opportunist and would make use of it before he leaves. He went to Jerusalem with his entourage for pilgrimage and he knows that there is no such in his religion. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos

     

    Good sir, when I read your editorial notebook at the back of The Nation Newspaper, I was so happy over your write-up. The type of leaders we have in this country called Nigeria is pathetic, they do not reason at all, because they are in position lacking nothing. Our president is always laughing that is why people see him like a baby, they call him all type of names. People are killed in our country like rams. Anonymous

     

    For Olakunle Abimbola

     

    Your article is sensible. The Oba is a disgrace to the rich Yoruba culture. Anonymous

    “The Oba, his libido and the law” is nothing short of a masterpiece, well thought out, well written, well edited. Even though the court declared him free, his conscience does not. He should seek God’s forgiveness, apologise to that girl and compensate her. It is a crying shame, he lowered the prestige of Obaship. From the Venerable Olufemi Oyawale

    Abimbola, I beg to disagree with your lamentation “how callous can a judicial system be!” in “The Oba, his libido and the law”. Much as I condemn the immoral display by the Oba, his acquittal on rape which requires, under legal demands a concrete evidence, as stated by the Judge, which was missing obliterated his culpability. The court could not have allowed morality but criminality to prevail in the case. What I suspect is possibly a renege on agreed understanding between the two parties because the lady had all the chance on earth to cause mayhem when the Oba was at his disgraceful act. Apart from that, she confirmed the Oba had been making passes at her and yet she could not avoid a one on one meeting with him. However, for sanctity of royalty, the traditional council and government should impose a serious sanction on the Oba in whatever way they deem appropriate to his dehumanising act. From Lai Ashadele

    Shame to the amorous Oba Alli of IIowa-Ijesa, shame to the police officer who slept over the near death of citizen, shame to the people of llowa-ljesa and to the teachers and school children who demonstrated in support of a don juan. From Chinaka Caleb

    Olakunle, your defence of Salami in his case with the judiciary and the indictment of President Jonathan is no doubt your perception of the issue which is an inalienable right. My worry however is on your ignorance nay refusal to appreciate the fact that it would be prejudicial of President Jonathan to use his office to take a stand in a contentious judicial issue against either side of the divide. I thought that a journalist of your status would be awash with constitutional provision on the independence of the three tiers of government; with their inalienable autonomies. It would have been embarrassing of Jonathan to fall foul of the constitution he swore to protect by reinstating Justice Salami. It was rather overbearing of Salami to have refused a truce by the judicial intercessors asking withdral of all pending cases in Court. That alone cleaned your imaginary blood stain on Jonathan. From Lai Ashadele

    Thanks for this incisive write-up about Justice Salami. God bless you. Anonymous

    Re: His blood on his hands. This is a wonderful valedictory send-off speech for eminent Justice A .Salami. But you should know better that Jonathan does not ‘give a damn’ whose blood is on his hands. Anonymous

    Excellent headline brilliant body. God bless you. From Tunde Akingbade

    My reliable Olakunle, I am thrilled by your write-up today in The Nation newspaper. Thank you. But why is MOB the cynosure of all eyes now? Why is Fayemi not bold enough to right the wrong he did to Opeyemi? From Falola Michael, Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government, Ekiti

    Re: Ekiti ronu. You make a sound point here, but who between the two, who is the candidate of APC? We must be ready to call a spade by its name. From Akinlayo. A., State of Osun

    Ola, ‘Ekiti ronu’ is really an appeal for the combantants of Ekiti to have a rethink. Whether anybody will listen, nobody knows. How I wish somebody listens. If possible, can the pugilists be restrained from the contest? May God save progressives from the machinations of progressives. From Alhaj Hon. ADEYCorsim, Oshodi, Lagos

     

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    In Islamic perspective, followers would have leaders base on the characters they exhibit, then we should ask ourselves why the sudden change of things in our country Nigeria? I believe it is due to our basic neccesities that we neglect that bore out trouble for us. From Ibrahim Tijjani, Yola-south, Adamawa State

    Can the encomiums that are heralding the fearless and courageous retired Jurist, Justice Ayo Salami challenge the likes of the ex-CJN and the NJC to leave their honours intact and that nature abhores vacuum? The search for just governance continues. From Elder Dan E., Amalaha, Aba, Abia State

    I just read your article “Pilgrim’s purpose”. Why did you sound like a religious bigot? If Jonathan sought partnership with Israel on security; has it got anything to do with the ‘Christian God?’ From Chidi N.

    Re: “Pilgrim’s purpose. Our elders say that the hen does not use its two legs to scratch the ground for its daily meal; it uses them naturally one after the other, otherwise, it will fall if it uses the two legs all at the same time. So, the law of nature enjoins all humans to be careful of what we do. A reasonable leader will weigh all options open to him before taking action if he does not want to receive ridicule and disgrace from the followerships. But, for the president to have embarked on such a frivolious jamboree to Jerusalem with a large entourage of indicted characters in the name of pilgrimage while we have chaos at home does not depict a good leader who can think and understand the thinking of others. Thomas Jafferson, one of America’s founding fathers, said. “The will of the people is more powerful than a standing army”. From Prince Adewumi Agunloye

    You did your best to analyze the President’s pilgrimage to Israel with respect to past Christian leaders but said nothing of past Muslim leaders that is not a balanced reportage. Does it mean no past Muslim leaders ever went to Mecca or you just wanted to castigate Mr.President? You have to be fair to him and balance it. Thanks! Anonymous

    A leader who politicizes whatever he or she does will never succeed. The president is playing politics in every action he takes even religion which everybody believes is sacred to us he has politicized it. He has forgotten that, he who abandons his responsibilities for selfish means will pay for it dearly. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos

    For Tunji Adegboyega

     

    Your comment on “That pro-Oduah rally” (The Nation on Sunday of October 3) was captivating, arresting and all the same thought-provoking. Illiteracy and poverty are powerful weapons the government of Nigeria is using to fight its citizens. And, where laws are broken with impunity, there can’t be growth and development. It’s not yet uhuru in Nigeria. Anonymous

    People will always come out to protest if they will get paid for it, in spite of the fact that the issue is about corruption. But how can the nation move forward with this attitude of glorifying corruption? Those who protested in favour of Stella Oduah’s BMW cars scam were not wishing Nigeria well. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    ‘That pro-Oduah rally’. Those who carried out the pro-Oduah rally did it because we have politicised, ethnicised and ‘religionised’ everything. Do not be pained because there is hunger in the land. The journalists also did not help matters. For example, most write-ups in the last three weeks wanted punishment for Stella before investigation. Have you heard Oduah’s defence of allegations before the panel then on October 31? Learning in pain would make analyses of issues become irrelevant in most cases, hence the Enugu youth rally. From Lanre Oseni.

    I do not agree with you that there can be a revolution in Nigeria. The truth is that the bourgeois class will do all it can to remain in power. When the progressive intellectuals grab state power, the bourgeois class will find it difficult to mobilise the wealth at its disposal now to befog the minds of the toiling masses against change. No mountain can conquer the people when state power is at their disposal. Thanks. From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna.

    Pro-Oduah rallyin Enugu was a pointer to the level of ignorance and illiteracy among the youths. Education is more than the walls of a tertiary institution. Our dear minister saw nothing wrong in the scandal as long as her poverty-minded supporters are behind her; her senseless defence at the House of Representatives committee probe panel shows how deep corruption has sunk among most public officials in our sinking nation. From Oluwafemi, A.

    Re: Youths fighting for negative values. Unfortunately the youths have nothing to learn from the corrupt elite masquerading as leaders. Rally, ignorance, poverty, tribal sentiment have really put our leaders of tomorrow on a collision course with their tomorrow. Therefore, they need reorientation, rebirth and ideological values to change their base of anything goes. From Comrade Rufus Olusesan, Lagos.

    Which values are you talking about inculcating in our youths? Bias, and mob justice without hearing the ‘accused’ in an orchestrated media trial of an innocent public official? Search yourself, look at yourself in the mirror and examine your conscience. Anonymous.

  • ASUU spokesman got it wrong

    I was quite bemused by the reference by ASUU spokesman, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, to my enjoyment of Duquesne University’s reputed Flex benefits for its members of academic and non-academic staff while denying similar benefits to ASUU members. First, in most instances, as its very name suggests, the Flex Benefits Program at Duquesne was flexible. It was also contributory. The university simply matched, up to a predetermined ratio, whatever amount had been contributed by the staff. For example, each faculty or staff made individual decision about how much he or she would contribute towards retirement, pension, life insurance etc.

    In my case, I contributed 12% of my salary towards retirement and pension but the university was obligated to contribute not more than six percent of my wages towards my retirement portfolios which had been divided by me into different mutual funds like Vanguard, Lincoln, Travelers and TIAA-CREF. At the same time, there were colleagues who contributed only 3, 4 or 5% of their wages towards retirement and thus enjoyed less than the maximum of 6% which the university was obligated to match. In accordance with the flexibility of the program, at no time did I contribute towards or enjoy the benefits of Duquesne University Health program. Likewise, whereas some colleagues at Duquesne paid over $1,000 per annum to park on campus, I neither paid for nor enjoyed the campus car park facility. After losing my protest to the university President that the parking charges were excessive, I simply bought a monthly bus pass; I rode public transportation to work. Doing this drastically reduced expenditure on car maintenance while still enabling me to get to and from work at a cost of less than half of what I would have been paying just to park.

    The flexibility in Duquesne University benefits program paled into insignificance when compared to the flexibility in salary structure. I joined Duquesne University employment with superlative credentials that aided my bargaining power in matters of salary. Indeed, I was the highest paid Assistant Professor in Duquesne University’s College of Liberal Arts which at the time included all Science as well as Arts Departments. God enabled me to enjoy such exceptional successes in grantsmanship that I was offered an assurance of at least a 10% annual salary increase for three years at a time when annual salary increase in the university averaged 3.5% and some faculty were given no increase at all! The university knew that I would take my service elsewhere if it failed to make attractive offers to retain me. The consequence of this was that by the time I became an Associate Professor, my salary had already outstripped those of my colleagues in the same Department. Even so, whatever I earned was far less than what an Assistant Professor was earning in the College of Pharmacy where a beginning Assistant Professor’s salary exceeded those of some full Professors in the College of Liberal Arts! It is noteworthy that when the stock market bubble got burst in the USA, with the concomitant reduction of university revenues, Duquesne University like many universities across the USA, froze salary increase for a few years! My wife is a Professor and chairperson at Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois, where salary and wages have been frozen for the last three years. Since Dr. Ajiboye admired Duquesne University Flex benefits program so much, would he canvass that ASUU adopt such flexibility rather than the current system where a Professor of Engineering at the University of Lagos enjoys similar salary structure as a Professor Religious Study at Ibadan and a Professor of History at Ile-Ife?

    There are five universities within a four mile radius of Duquesne University. One of these is Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) where I taught before moving to Duquesne. Each of these universities had salary, wages and benefits structure that were unique to its own institution. For example, CMU contributed a fixed percentage of a staff’s salary towards retirement regardless of whether or not the staff contributed. By contrast, Duquesne University contributed nothing towards the retirement funds of a staff or faculty who chose not to contribute. In any case, would ASUU embrace the disparity in salaries paid at Carnegie Mellon University versus Duquesne University?

    I took a 38% salary reduction when I moved from Carnegie Mellon University to Duquesne University. Such disparity is constitutive even among universities owned by the same state government. The University of Georgia in Athens, the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, the Georgia State University in Atlanta and the Georgia Southern University in Statesboro are owned and funded principally by the Government of the State of Georgia. Even so, there is significant disparity in the salary structures of these universities.

    At CMU, the saying that science is a bad concubine reflected the long hours that faculty spent in their laboratory sometimes at the expense of social and family life. However, all things being equal, those who spend long hours in their laboratory achieve enhanced research and scholarly productivity that results in timely or even accelerated promotion. Only in Nigeria would an academician demand overtime allowances under the euphemism of Excessive Work load Allowances. Such a demand would seem incongruous across the world.

    There is no question that the enormous rot in Nigeria’s education sector cries for urgent and immediate attention. But as unpopular as saying so might make me to the membership of ASUU, the truth is that ASUU has been a part of the problem. I would gladly love to engage Dr. Ajiboye in a prime time televised debate on my assertion.

    Now, even as I did during my contribution on the floor of the senate, let us direct our attention to some practical solutions to this most pressing national crisis.

    First, the National Assembly of Nigeria should henceforth appropriate at least 26% of Nigeria’s current revenue to education alone. Second, government in Nigeria, especially the Federal Ministry of Education, has been denigrated into a beast of burden. The metastasis of asphyxiating bureaucracy demands the streamlining of the endless parastatals that drain resources while making little or no contribution to national well-being and progress. Third, to raise revenue for funding a national redemption program in education, all imports should attract a mandatory education tax of one percent. Fourth, beginning from January 1, 2014 till December 31, 2018, all workers in Nigeria must contribute 5% of their income as education taxes. Embezzling any amount of these revenues targeted for education should be taken as an act of treason. This should attract the most severe penalty such as impeachment, imprisonment and perhaps death penalty. Fifth, the costs for running the offices of all elected and appointed political office holders should immediately be pruned by 50%. Something tells me that the implacable demands by ASUU are fuelled by resentment at the cult of obscene privileges which Nigerian politicians have become. But our task is to curb needless privileges rather than add to them.

    Finally, as a member of the Education Committee during my tenure in the House of Representatives and now as Vice Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, I have almost always been the strongest advocate for the well-being of Nigerian universities. At a senate hearing not long ago, a chieftain of the National University Commission disparagingly lampooned academic staff of Nigerian universities for depending too much on government rather than obtaining extramural funding as is the case abroad. I was the one who immediately and robustly came to the defence of the academicians. I explained that the comparison was in error for two reasons. First, well funded private grant agencies like Ford Foundation, Carnegie Foundation, Howard Hughes Foundation, etc do not exist in Nigeria. Second, it was egregiously incorrect to assert that most research grants in the USA came from outside government. I pointed out that the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the United States Department of Agriculture were federal government agencies which principally fund research in science, health, and agriculture, respectively. With the absence of such agencies in Nigeria, I submitted that it was unfair to blame the academicians.

    • Prof Adeyeye is vice chairman, Senate Committee on Education

  • Calumny and Anambra guber politics

    Anambra State is indeed a hotbed of Nigerian politics. The state has often proved inscrutable even to those who have taken more than a casual interest. It has made and destroyed many and consigned many more to the dustbins of history.

    On the whole, Anambra is a flagship state in many respects and has produced a catalogue of firsts, especially in human development and nation building. It has an array of citizens who have played key and leading roles in national and international arenas, rather too numerous to recount here. It has incidentally also produced the only Nigerian Saint-in-waiting, already beatified and awaiting final canonization by any Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic faith.

    In the world of crime and political brigandage the record of Anambra is equally quite respectable. Its official name used to be Home for All – the good, the bad, the ugly – but later changed to the Light of the Nation. Either way, the names are quite apt and capture Anambra as unique and indeed the Gateway to the Eastern Nigeria.

    Since the return of the nation to civil rule, Anambra has proved to be one hell of a workshop of democracy. Its irrepressible people have commendably insisted of the ethos democratic governance and have been able to pressure their leaders and governors to be people-oriented and many have pursued populist policies as a result. A case in point is the Senator Chris Ngige who in his short stay as governor (2003-2006) embarked on massive road and infrastructure development and many other populist programmes to the admiration of most people.

    The current electioneering campaign has however degenerated into politics of very bizarre coloration. All Progressive Grand Alliance took over from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which ruled between 1999 and 2006 through Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Senator Chris Ngige. Then came the APGA government of Peter Obi, which is still in power and struggling to convince the people that APGA is their party for being the party of Igbo foremost leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

    The proponents of this theory have equally gone ahead to ascribe to the ethnic and regional divides the various political parties, especially the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which produced Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige as Senator in 2011. The emotional blackmail has been orchestrated to the point that the new All Progressives Congress (APC), the product of the merger between All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is now being branded Yoruba or Hausa Party, despite South-east parading some of the most important national executive offices.

    Branding of some parties as ethnic is seen by many as necessary political brinkmanship of APGA members, a party standing on quicksand that is threatening to cave in with the evitable exit of Governor Obi.  The submission of the Peter Obi factor to the inescapable corrosive power of time is something the party appears unprepared for.  That is why many adduce the reason for the branding of APGA as Igbo party as one last ditch effort to retain Anambra State, which is their last bastion, its underwhelming performance in the last eight years on the saddle notwithstanding.

    Many have also reasoned that it was such accruable political gains that made Anambra State government to renege on the agreement it had with the Lagos State government to relocate some rehabilitated destitute from Lagos, only to cash in on it to tar the Fashola/APC government of Lagos State as anti- Igbo, despite appointing an Igbo man a Commissioner and some other Igbos into executive positions in the Lagos State government.

    The attempt by Senator Ngige to interface and mediate in the so-called deportation crisis predictably scalded him politically and the passion  incensed by the saga showed abatement only when Fashola apologized for the manner the translocation of those challenged Igbo citizens from Lagos was carried out and Fashola did so on the prompting of Senator Ngige. Even at that, some APGA strategists still think the matter should be accentuated and made a cardinal issue in the gubernatorial election.

    The claim of such people that All Progressives Congress (APC) is Hausa/Moslem party is also unfounded when one considers that 17 National Executive members are Christians and 18 are Moslems. This is an even spread since the decision of the APC on all issues is by simple majority, with the national chairman wielding the power to vote only when to break a tie. What this also means is that both Christians and Muslims have equal rights in APC and equal voting powers and can only be swayed by issues.

    On the other hand, APGA has been presented by the same people who call APC Hausa or Yoruba party as Igbo party. Igbos constitute over 90% of the South-east and are also found in more than just a sprinkling in some neighbouring states, especially in Rivers and Delta states. At home and in the Diaspora, they may number well up to 40 million, making them a race and not just an ethnic group, and APGA is supposed to be the political party appropriated by these 40 million people. Yet, its membership strength in the entire South-east is said to be less than 100 thousand and appalling in significance round the country. In Anambra State particularly, when INEC carried out party membership audit recently, it was discovered that APGA had no authentic register to clearly identify its members in the state with.

    One irrefutable fact also is that APGA has less than a sprinkling of Igbo leaders in its fold. Apart from Peter Obi and perhaps Victor Umeh for being the party chairman and one Nwobu Alor (all from one town called Agulu in Anambra State), notable Igbo leaders have not identified with the party. Both the APC and the PDP parade arrays of Igbo leaders far more than APGA despite having been led by Emeka Ojukwu.

    APGA cannot therefore be said to be Igbo party (whatever that means), when the Igbos are not predominantly in the party and are found much greater numbers in other parties. It cannot also be said to be an Igbo party when the Igbo leaders are not members of the party. On both counts, APGA can be said to be trailing both APC and PDP both in Anambra State and in the whole of the South-east.

    Many of the proponents of APGA as Igbo party also insist it is the party left behind by Ojukwu and of the view that for the sake of the late Ikemba, Igbo politicians should join and remain in the party. Those who attempted to heed this call came to grief as there appears to be a policy within the party to keep Igbo leaders away, the latest may be Professor Chukwuma Soludo who was politically guillotined for joining APGA and attempting to contest the November poll on the platform. There was no doubt that the Soludo treatment awaited any other Anambra politician who ventured to grab hold of the APGA gubernatorial ticket. So, those who argue that people like Chris Ngige should have dumped the so-called Hausa/Yoruba Party and join the so-called Igbo party argue amiss.

    What is more, when Ojukwu was alive, he was obviously the only notable Igbo leader in APGA and did not quite succeed in convincing the others to join the bandwagon. If Ojukwu could not succeed in pulling the Igbos into APGA, can those who succeeded him and jealously shielding the party be able to achieve it with their mortal fear of the authentic Igbo leaders? It is doubtful.

    More importantly, If ACN and the PDP could win all the Senate seats at the last election, can APGA stop the same parties at the November governorship election by merely whining about APGA being an Igbo party? Can the APGA pundits convince Anambrarians to vote party instead of persons as has always been the case?

    One may further ask: in what ways has APGA as a party advanced the Igbo interest in the Nigerian polity? Is the future of Ndi Igbo better served by politics of inclusiveness or that of exclusivity? Time shall tell.

     

    •Mefor, a journalist wrote in from Abuja;

  • Is covering up Aviation minister’s sins the way to go?

    Is covering up Aviation minister’s sins the way to go?

    An article titled ‘’Nigeria, Where Plane Crashes because of Bullet Proof Cars’’, which was written by one Kayode Daramola and which was published in your newspaper on 27th Oct 2013, has been brought to our attention. It contains nothing but malicious falsehood and it is clear that the author seeks to impugn the character and reputation of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the former Minister of Culture and Tourism, former Presidential spokesman to President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Minister of Aviation. In an attempt to launder the image of the embattled and disgraced Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, Daramola felt it necessary to tell a series of lies and construct a string of malicious fabrications against Chief Fani-Kayode. This was simply because Chief Fani-Kayode was amongst those that were the first to call for the sacking or the resignation of Oduah as Minister of Aviation after the Associated Airline crash in which 16 people lost their lives. Daramola wrote, inter alia, that ‘’Stella’s accomplishments are not unknown to people, what is unclear to the entire citizenry of this country is that the writing on the wall are political machinations scribbled to dent the glittering image of the working amazon supervising the aviation sector as well as set her on the same pedestal with non-performing ministers of yesteryears indicted for the mismanagement of 19.5 billion Naira Aviation Intervention Fund. Even the most vociferous voice in the name-calling of Stella Oduah, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, was banned for five years from holding public office and charged to court by the EFCC for misappropriation. Has the five-year ban not expired and Chief Fani-Kayode ready to return to the Minstry of Aviation to take what he forgot?’’

    One really does wonder whether people like this ever went to school or whether they are capable of being reasonable and logical. A former minister voices his concerns about the loss of lives and lack of safety in the Aviation sector, and in the petty and sick minds of people like Daramola it is because he wishes to go back to the Ministry of Aviation! How does Daramola know that he and his whole family will not be in the next plane crash? Has it occurred to him that people like Fani-Kayode are simply trying to save and protect lives, including his? The sort of disingenuous drivel and utter rubbish that Daramola has written is rarely seen or read. Under normal circumstances one would have ignored this worthless and desperate hired hand and agent of the devil who is simply out to do a hatchet job, but it is important to set the records straight. And the facts are as follows. First of all, more people have died under the watch of Daramola’s vampire ‘’amazon’’, Stella Oduah, than any other Minister of Aviation in the history of Nigeria except for one. Under her watch there have been no less than six crashes (both military and civilian) and just under 200 lives have been lost. All that in just two years! Three months after Stella Oduah took control at the helm of affairs in the Ministry of Aviation planes and helicopters started falling out of the sky and they have not stopped since. That, to Chief Fani-Kayode and millions of other Nigerians, is, quite rightly, a matter of grave concern. Clearly, Daramola attaches no value to human life, otherwise he would have been concerned as well. It is a matter of public record that by the time Chief Fani-Kayode took over as minister at the Ministry of Aviation in 2006 there had been five crashes with 453 deaths in just one year before his resumption of duties and he not only put a stop to that terrible cycle of crashes but he also put the necessary reforms in place to prevent them from recurring before he left. In his entire seven months at the Ministry of Aviation not one person lost their life from a plane crash in Nigeria. As a matter of fact he is the only Minister of Aviation in Nigeria in the last 11 years that did not lose one person under his watch. Three months after he left office, the reforms he put in place were discarded and the crashes started again and they have not stopped since.

    If Nigeria was not a place that people placed no value on human life, Chief Fani-Kayode ought to have received all manner of accolades, awards and honours by now for such a phenomenal achievement, yet instead he receives nothing but insults and sponsored lies by the paid agents of Stella Oduah whose position is getting less tenuous by the day. This is a minister who claimed that plane crashes were ‘’inevitable’’ and they were ‘’acts of God’’ and who had the temerity to spend 1.6 million USD on two bullet proof cars for herself with taxpayers’ money. The saying is that when it comes to journalism ‘’opinion is cheap and facts are sacred’’. The author may have his reservations about Chief Fani-Kayode and he is entitled to his opinion. I doubt that Chief Fani-Kayode or anyone else will lose any sleep over what he thinks. However, he is not entitled to fabricate facts or distort the truth.

    Let us take his fabrications one by one. It is not true that Chief Fani-Kayode was ‘’indicted’’ by anyone, including the Senate Aviation Commitee in 2008 or at any other time, for the misappropriation or mismanagement of the 19.5 billion Aviation Intervention Fund. He was cleared of any wrongdoing in the management of that fund by the Senate Aviation Commitee during a public hearing in 2008 even though they were baying for his blood, whilst others were indicted. It is true that in 2008 he was initially charged to court by the EFCC together with others on the alleged mismanagement of the fund but three months later all charges against him on the 19.5 billion Naira Aviation Intervention Fund were dropped by the EFCC for want of evidence whilst others were charged and are being prosecuted for that matter till today. The issues that Chief Fani-Kayode has with the EFCC today and which has dragged on for the last five years have nothing to do with the Ministry of Aviation or the Aviation Intervention Fund. These are matters that have no substance or seriousness and that are clearly politically-motivated. The whole charade was malicious and ill-motivated and it was designed and constructed simply to punish and silence him by the Yar’adua administration for his loyalty and commitment to President Olusegun Obasanjo. The current government has allowed it to drag on due to Chief Fani-Kayode’s relentless opposition to them. It is only Daramola that does not appear to be aware of this in the whole country.

    Again, it is not true that Chief Fani-Kayode was ever ‘’banned from holding political office for five years’’ by anyone. The recommendation that he should be banned from political office for five years ‘’for putting too many Yoruba people in the Aviation parastatals when he was minister ‘’was made by the Senator Anyim Ude-led Senate Aviation Commitee in 2008 whilst they were on their witch-hunt but unfortunately for them the Senate at plenary not only rejected their recommendation and described it as ‘’absurd’’, but they also said that they did not have the power to ban anyone from public office. The fact that a rival for the governorship bid in Osun State, Chief Iyiola Omisore, was also a member of that Aviation Committee and that he tried his best to get the Senate to ban Fani-Kayode from running for public office simply to keep him out of the governorship race tells the whole story. Yet whatever the motivations for this ridiculous suggestion were, it was laughed out of the Senate and the Aviation Commitee was put to shame.

    People like Daramola that attach their names to this shameful and libellous piece ought to know that no matter how many times they tell lies, at the end of the day they will be exposed for what they are. More importantly, those that take money from heartless, greedy and thieving vampire ministers to tell such lies and cast aspersions on the character and reputation of innocent and good men always end up very badly because God’s judgement always falls on them. Daramola would do better to explain to the world why Stella Oduah would rather spend 1.6 million USD on two cars for herself with taxpayers’ money rather than put runway lights on the nation’s runways. He would also do well to explain what pleasure she derives in watching people die in crashes and hearing about the attendant blood flow. When the next plane crash takes place Daramola and those that sent him to write such rubbish will be counted amongst those that have blood on their hands assuming that they are not on the crashed plane themselves. May God forgive them for their bloodlust, their insensitivity and their dirty lies.

     

    Salako is a Lagos-based lawyer

     

  • Whodunit?

    Whodunit?

    After keeping her counsel for well over a week while the heavens raged, Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, finally faced members of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation and told them that the BMW armoured cars bought at a cost of N255m by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, were not meant for her use.

    At about the same Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was denying ever granting waivers for the clearing of the armoured cars. What she did apparently was grant a waiver for the clearing of cars used for the 2012 National Sports Festival, EKO 2012, hosted by the Lagos State Government. Meanwhile, officials of the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) caught in the eye of storm have denied violating any laws or breaking any rules in making the purchases. In between denials they get tangled up as to what cars were bought and who they were bought for.

    Then here come Coscharis Motors who have equally denied any wrongdoing – blaming the whole probe on a political conspiracy. Well said, brothers and sisters. In Nigeria nobody ever does anything wrong; credit is as always reserved for poor old Mr. Devil!

  • Jonathan’s legacy

    Jonathan’s legacy

    Sometimes you get the sense that President Goodluck Jonathan missed his calling. Rather than politics I suspect he would have made a good reverend with his preachy speeches.

    He was at it again in Okrika, Rivers State this weekend at the burial of his mother-in-law, Mrs Charity Oba. For the president what really counts is what is left behind.

    His words: “The key thing is that whether you are being buried silently or you have the privilege of being honoured by so many people, is what did you leave behind? As a political leader and to most of my friends here who are politicians, politics or holding political office is almost like death.

    “While you are there you are on the stage. The day you leave what will people remember you for? That has always been my guiding principle.”

    Well said, Mr. President. The trouble is most observers don’t get a sense that your legacy is what keeps you awake at night. They suspect that 2015 is more like it.

    As a result of what is shaping up to be a bruising battle for power over the next 15 months, we’re already witnessing the

  • Europe he we come!

    These days it seems like the bulk of the African continent wants to flee to Europe and the Americas. The more daring may even put distant Australia in their sights. For years small groups of migrants have perished in the Sahara as they sought to cross the massive desert in search of a better life across the Mediterranean.

    The desperation of the present exodus to Europe was dramatically underlined by the disastrous drowning of more than 300 Eritrean and Somali asylum-seekers when on October 3 their fishing boat caught fire and sank barely half a mile from the island of Lampedusa, off the Italian coast.

    I recall what one of the migrants in a quarantine center on the island told a journalist: “I will keep trying until I make it.” Not even the regular drownings in the treacherous seas are enough to deter these desperate souls. For them life in their countries is already hell, dying on the sea would be something on an improvement.

    Although these dramatic headlines of migrant misery suggest that only the rabble are fleeing, the truth is that our elite actually set the example. They run to Europe and America for proper healthcare, to hide stolen loot, give their children decent education and take their leisure.

    But when they run they do so in style – travelling business or first class or by private jets. Their subjects who are fleeing the mess which these elite created back home cannot afford economy class tickets, and so will scrounge to get a seat on the sort of creaky craft that went down near Lampedusa.

    These shameful African leaders who didn’t fix their countries, and are still not doing so, are primarily responsible for putting their devastated people to flight. They should be held to account for creating conditions driving droves away from their homes.

    A leader whose incompetence and callousness drove 300 hapless souls into a watery grave on the borders of Europe is no better than his colleagues facing trials for war crimes at The Hague. Many African leaders are daily committing economic crimes against humanity in their domains. Ultimately their victims pay the supreme price in places like Lampedusa.

  • Open memo to Dialogue Committee

    PresidentGoodluck Jonathan has inaugurated a 13-member Advisory Committee headed by Professor Femi Okurounmu to establish modalities for the National Conference which the President had promised Nigerians during his nationwide broadcast that marked our country’s 53rd Independence Anniversary on 1st October2013. The Committee has since commenced its preliminary consultations and other activities within its mandate.

    Nigerians have already started discussing the merits and demerits of this offering by President Jonathan. The Deputy Senate President and Chairman, Senate Committee on the review of 1999 Constitution, Ike Ekweremadu, has been quoted to state that he believes a National Conference must have a legal framework for it to deserve the appellation of a ‘Sovereign’ National Conference. He may be right. Mr. Ameh Comrade Godwin quotes the Deputy Senate President as insinuating that a call for a sovereign national conference that is not backed by a suitable legal framework might lead to anarchy. He may be right too.

    The All Progressives Congress APC has announced it will boycott the conference. The party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohamed, was also reported to have described the conference as diversionary. He may be right too.

    Some Nigerians have welcomed the President’s offer as long overdue. To such groups, Nigerians need to come together and discuss the way forward for Nigeria. They may be right too.

    The country’s Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, is taking great pains to explain to Nigerians and others that the President meant well. He may be right too.

    Every Nigerian has an opinion on this national confab, whatever it may end up being called, sovereign or not. However, one reality continues to stare us all in the face in all the discourse and pronouncements concerning our affairs as Nigerians. We need a confab like this one. It is indeed long overdue. Without prejudice to the integrity of all those who have ever ruled this country, I believe that we could have fared better as a nation and as individuals given our huge human and material resources. We should have done better socially and economically. A GDP at $400b is not where we ought to be in 2013.The current 4,500 megawatt electricity capacity is definitely not where this great country should be at. Dysfunctional systems and myopic choices in public administration of schools, hospitals, infrastructure and utilities do not speak well of our country in 2013. Insecurity at all levels, kidnappings, assassinations, bomb blasts, unbridled vituperations and viperous altercations by champions of ethnic self-determinationhave not helped the matter in any way. In the meantime, well-meaning Nigerians and other friends of our nation are befuddled by the parallax positioning of our country’s great potential and the crass mediocrity in public governance. It defies all sane imaginations, to say the least. What have we done wrong as a nation?

    It is true that we are 371 identifiable tribes in Nigeria. This actually came as a surprise to me. For those who may not know and for the purpose of my treatise, I will mention us all here state by state: Igbo (Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers); Bachama, Banso, Batta, Baya, Bilei, Bille, Botlere, Bura, Bwatiye, Bwazza, Daba, Daka, Palli, Ga’anda, Gira, Gizigz, Gombi, Gude, Gudu, Gwa, Gwamba, Holma, Hona, Ichen, Jibu, Jirai, Kaka, Kambu, Kilba, Kurdul, Lakka, Lala, Ubbo, Mambilla, Matakarn, Mbol, Mbula, Muchaila, Mundang, Njayi, Pire, Sukur, Teme, Tigon, Tur, Vemgo, Verre, Wagga, Wula, Wurbo, Yungur (Adamawa); Longuda (Adamawa, Bauchi); Margi (Adamawa, Borno); Babur (Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Yobe); Kanakuru (Adamawa, Borno); Ngweshe (Adamawa, Borno); Shuwa (Adamawa, Borno); Eket, Anang, Ibeno, Ibibio, Okobo, Oron (Akwa Ibom); Andoni (Akwa Ibom, Rivers).

    Zul, Bambora, Banka, Bara, Barke, Bele, Boma, Bomboro, Buli, Burak, Buta, Chama, Chamo, Dadiya, Daza, Deno, Ouguri, Duma, Galambi, Geji, Gera, Geruma, Gingwak, Gubi, Gururntum, Gyem, Jaku, Jara, Jimbin, Kamo, Kariya, Kirfi, Kubi, Kudachano, Kushi, Kwami, Miya, Ningi, Pa’a, Pero, Polchi Habe, Rebina, Sanga, Saya, Segidi, Siri, Tangale, Tula, Waja, Warji, Zaranda, and Zayam (Bauchi).

    Jukun (Bauchi, Benue, Taraba, Plateau); Tera (Bauchi, Borno); Pulani (Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, etc.); Hausa (Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, etc.); Angas (Bauchi, Jigawa, Plateau); Jere (Bauchi, Plateau); Kwanka (Bauchi, Plateau); Limono (Bauchi, Plateau); Bole (Bauchi, Yobe); Karekare (Bauchi, Yobe); Ngamo (Bauchi, Yobe).

    Izondjo (Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers); Akweya-Yachi, Egede, Etolu, Ufia, Utokong, Yalla (Benue); Tiv (Benue, Plateau, Taraba); Idoma (Benue, Taraba); Dghwede, Gamergu-Mulgwa, Gwoza, Kanembu; Mobber, Mandara, Chinine, Gavako (Borno); Higi (Borno, Adamawa); Buduma (Borno, Niger); Abayon, Adim, Adun, Agbo, Akaju-Ndem, Anyima, Bachere, Bahumono, Bekwarra, Bette, Boki, Efik, Ejagham, Ekajuk, Ekoi, Etung, Ikom, Iyala, Mbube, Nkim, Nkum, Ododop, Olulumo, Qua, Ukelle, Uyanga, Yache, Yakurr (Cross River); Mbembe (Cross River, Enugu).

    Isoko, Isekiri, Ukwani, Urhobo (Delta); Bini, Esan, Etsako, Etuno, Okpamheri, Owan, Uneme (Edo); Ebu (Edo, Kogi); Ebirra (Edo, Kogi, Ondo); Auyoka, Warja (Jigawa); Kurama (Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau); Attakar, Ayu, Bina, Gure, Jaba, Kafanchan, Kagoro, Kaje, Kajuru, Kanikon, Katab, Kiballo, Manchok, Moruwa, Rishuwa, Rumada, Rumaya, Srubu (Kaduna); Kanufi (Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Kano, Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe); Kamaku (Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger); Uncinda (Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto); Bassa (Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau).

    Koro (Kaduna, Niger); Gwandara (Kaduna, Niger, Plateau); Gwari (Kaduna, Niger, Plateau); Mada, Ninzam, Nunku (Kaduna, Plateau); Shira, Teshena (Kano); Achipa, Danda, Duka, Zarma (Kebbi); Kambari, Reshe (Kebbi, Niger); Bunu, Gbedde,Igalla, Ijumu (Kogi); Ogori, Owe, Oworo, Yagba (Kwara); Yoruba (Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi); Awori, Egun (Lagos, Ogun); Baruba, Bauchi, Boko, Gade, Gurmana, Laaru, Lopa, Nupe, Pongo, Rubu, Ura, Yumu, Zabara (Niger).

    Dakarkari (Niger, Kebbi); Alago, Ron, Afizere, Afo, Amo, Anaguta, Ankwei, Bada, Bashiri, Birom, Bkkos, Buji, Burma, Bwali, Challa, Chip, Chokobo, Doemak, Eggon, Fyam, Fyer, Qanawuri, Geruma, Goernai, Gusu, Irigwe, Jidda-Abu, Kantana, Kenem, Kulere, Kwalla, Kwaro, Kwato, Mabo, Mama, Memyang, Miango, Miligili, Montol, Munga, Mushere, Mwahavul, Nakere, Pai, Pyapun, Rindire, Rukuba, Shangawa, Shan-Shan, Sikdi, Sura, Yergan, Yuom (Plateau); Tarok (Plateau, Taraba).

    Abua, Degema, Ebana, Egbema, Engenni, Epie, Etche, Gokana (Rivers); Kyenga, Shanga (Sokoto); Bakulung, Bali, Bambuko, Banda, Betso, Bobua, Chamba, Chukkol, Dangsa, Diba, Gengle, Gornun, Gonia, Gwom, Jahuna, Jero, Jonjo, Kaba, Kadara, Karimjo, Kenton, Koma, Kona, Kugama, Kunini, Kuteb, Kutin, Kwanchi, Lama, Lamja, Lau, Mbum, Mumuye, Ndoro, Nyandang, Panyam, Pkanzom, Poll, Potopo, Sakbe, Sate, Shomo, Tikar, Vommi, Waka, Wurkun, Yandang, Yott (Taraba). Finally, Affade, Bade, Buru, Chibok, Manga and Ngizim (Yobe).

    These are the exciting 371 tribes that make up Nigeria. Let me thank you for reading thus far. The geographical location of these tribes in and across state boundaries is very instructive in my humble estimation. This historical and geographical fact cannot be lost to our political attempts to set up administrative convenience or glorify champions of self-determination.We fought a bitter civil war based on self-determination. I also daresay that we created 774 local government areas based on self-determination. In spite of all these attempts at miniaturizing Nigeria, the cry for a sovereign national conference has not abated. We have now received an offer from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of an opportunity to discuss openly the way forward for Nigeria. We cannot afford to refuse this golden scepter extended to us as a free people.

    So, what should we talk about in this national confab? Let me start by positing what must not be discussed. The break-up of Nigeria should not be broached because it is negative, divisive and destructive. The confab must be about addressing the wrongs in our national life and creating a sense of belonging in every Nigerian irrespective of language, tribe, culture, religion, social status, age, gender or physical condition. We should discuss the rights, privileges and responsibilities of every Nigerian at all levels of governance and social interaction whether at federal, state or local government levels. These are unifying, edifying and positive.

    The 1979 and 1999 constitutions of this great country spoke great things about the fundamental rights of every Nigerian in all spheres of our corporate and individual existence. Every right and responsibility was well articulated. The 34-year old 1979 constitutional promises of free mobility, secure full residence rights, feeling of belonging, eradication of corrupt practices and abuse of power, efficient functioning of government services, national prosperity, self-reliant economy, equitable and judicious harnessing and distribution of the country’s resources for the common good of Nigerians, suitable and adequate shelter, food, water supply, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care, unemployment and sick benefits, welfare for the disabled, and equal rights, obligations and opportunities have all gone up in smoke despite their reinforcement in the 14-year old 1999 constitution. Is 34 years too short a time to offer, implement and enforce these rights for all Nigerians? Other failed constitutional promises include the sanctity of the human person, zero discrimination of any kind, adequate medical and health care facilities for all Nigerians.

    Do Nigerians deserve any less? Why enshrine constitutional rights when we have no will to uphold them? Rather than speak about these real issues, we are distracted by fools who are seeking to enthrone self-determination over fundamental rights. In my humble opinion, enemies of the people of Nigeria are already touting self-determination as the panacea for the troubles of our beloved country. They posit that political minimization of Nigeria into clannish, tribal and religion-based balkanization would create better economic, political and social emancipation for the people they purport to represent. What a fallacy! The three regions of Nigeria were first divided into 12 states, then 19, then 22 (plus Abuja), then 30 and now 36 states. Some politicians are still crying and calling for more states. Have we fared better? Has the leadership culture changed to substantiate the gains of our multiplication?

    Leadership that does not recognize, hallow, respect and painstakingly seek to respect the fundamental rights of every Nigerian no matter where they may reside cannot claim to represent the democratic yearnings and aspirations of the people for a better and improving life. This is the real issue that we must come to terms with. It must be a contract between the rulers and the ruled; the leader and the led; and the governors and the governed. If this is not so, even states as small as 5 persons cannot satisfy its constituents.

    A free national forum, by whatever name it may be called, is the light in our very dark tunnel. Let us take this road and dispassionately discuss the rights, privileges and responsibilities of any person who qualifies as a Nigerian and fashion out credible ways and means to hold each Nigerian accountable for each single breach of our national contract.

     

    Robert Okechukwu OBIKUDU wrote from African Development Bank, Tunis

  • Tribute to Bisi Fayemi at 50

    Tribute to Bisi Fayemi at 50

    She has many traditional titles and cognomens such as the Ochiora of Enugu, Erelu of Isan kingdom, Mother

    General, Erelu Bambam, Bisi yato si Bisi etc, but she is popularly called Erelu Bisi Fayemi. She is the wife of the Governor of Ekiti State and an internationally acclaimed feminist social crusader. My first essay about this enigma was in April 2008 when she was honoured with the traditional title of Ochiora which means the leader of the people, the second was in July 2011 after she launched the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF), a fund with which she has improved the lives of Ekiti women tremendously. This is the third article on the occasion of her 50th birthday celebration which she postponed till this October (she actually turned 50 in June 2013) because of the painful death of her close friend and sister, the late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka, who passed away on April 6, 2013 and was buried on April 26, 2013.

    My first encounter with her was on January 1, 2007 at Ibadan when on my way to Lagos, I visited Dr. Fayemi at home, the first time I would see him after we left the university almost 21 years after. When he saw me and my brother, Mojeed Jamiu, he stood up and hugged us one after the other and immediately called his wife and said: “Bisi, meet Hakeem, my school mate. He will be working with the rest of the campaign team.” Mrs Fayemi greeted us warmly and I noticed she was a pleasant person. We discussed for about 30 minutes and we proceeded on our journey to Lagos. I saw Mrs Fayemi after that encounter at the campaign office in Ajilosun a few weeks after five of us (Biodun Akin Fasae, Yemi Adaramodu, Fola Afolalu, Tai Oguntayo and I) had been inaugurated in February 2007 as members of the media committee of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation. She would come to the campaign office with bag loads of gift items from Ghana for us with words of encouragement about the impending elections in April. After we were robbed by the PDP of the gubernatorial mandate on April 14, 2007, she became more frequent in Ekiti and she virtually relocated from her Accra base, shuttling between Isan and the campaign office at Ado-Ekiti, mobilising, encouraging and empowering the women through her organisation at the time, the African Women Development Fund (AWDF).

    We really got close in April 2008 when we accompanied her to Imezi Owa, Enugu where she was honoured with the title of Ochiora. We went together with Yemi Adaramodu (now Chief of Staff), Kunle Dada (Hagler) and Mrs Ronke Okusanya who led a delegation of other Ekiti women. Mrs Funmi Olayinka (of blessed memory) joined us by air in Enugu from Lagos and we were lodged at Robban Hotel. The night of the coronation was very interesting. Mrs Fayemi invited Adaramodu and I to her room where the late Mrs Olayinka joined us.

    We didn’t know it was a ploy to prevent us from going out that night as the plan was leaked to her. Mrs Fayemi told us, “so Hakeem and Yemi, let us start gisting  joo!” Unknowingly, we entered the trap. We thought it was going to be a short gist, but we were wrong! Mrs Fayemi chose her best topic, Women Emancipation and the Beijing Conference. We discussed and debated that for more than one hour with drinks, meat and grilled fish flowing with it. The refrigerator was loaded and that was where I started suspecting that we had been “captured”. By the time we said we were going after about 2 hours, they both said: “What else do you want to go and do outside again? If it is drink, you cannot finish the ones here except you people have another agenda!” So we capitulated and stayed. Her friends and colleagues who came with her from Ghana joined us in the room and the gist became a mini party. I told them the story of how at the age of 10, I indulged in one of the pranks of young boys when we erroneously believed that you could charm a girl with a juju ring buried inside a lizard for seven days. One day, the ring was given to me to try on a girl we had all admired in our neighbourhood, but whom none of us had courage to talk to. So I was given the charm by my mates. I smacked the buttocks of the girl with the charm and instead of her to follow me as expected by the charm, she dealt me a dirty slap, and as I looked back for encouragement from my friends, they had disappeared. I was left alone to face the disgrace.

    My story was very funny to them that all the women in the room laughed their hearts out! They said in unison, “it served you right!” We finally left the women about 1.00am for our rooms.

    Mrs Fayemi was at the tribunal anytime she was in Ekiti and after the serial judicial losses at the various tribunals, she was a pillar of support for the struggle and she never wavered. She comforted the women, she gave them hope and she strengthened their courage and determination to remain steadfast in the struggle, assuring them we would triumph at the end, and this came to pass when victory was achieved on October 16, 2010. Her husband, Dr. Fayemi, was sworn in as Governor of Ekiti State and she officially became wife of the Governor. Before this, she had changed the lives of many African women, especially widows and the less-privileged through her organisation, the AWDF.

    This is why she was honoured in Enugu where she has brought hope and smiles to widows, many of those who expressed their gratitude to her. On getting to government, she resigned as the President of the AWDF, and in 2011, launched the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF) through which she has tremendously empowered Ekiti women. She has visited the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State more than thrice giving loans to women to improve their businesses, giving foodstuffs to widows and tools to artisans. She has paid medical bills of many indigent patients, both male and female; she inaugurated the Multiple Birth Trust Fund through which those who gave birth to twins and triplets were given financial support and future endowment funds. She is behind the food bank project and soup kitchen with a Non-Governmental Organisation whereby elderly and indigent Ekiti citizens were provided with foodstuffs, both raw and cooked.

    She was recently on tour of markets in the state where she interacted with the market women, bought food items, provided them with measuring bowls, wallets and other souvenirs. She donated a bus for each market head in the 16 local government areas. She also listened to their plights and promised to communicate same to the governor, while she solved those she could immediately.  She is at home with all segments of women organisations in Ekiti State many of which chose her as their patron.

    In government, she has remained her amiable and likeable self. In fact, it is glaring even to critics that Bisi Fayemi is not a run-of-the-mill First Lady who engages in frivolities. She is focused and levelheaded though sociable. In government, she is a problem solver and hates to see anybody short-changed or sad. She is an avowed and committed crusader of equity and social justice. It is a common saying in Ekiti that in Erelu Bisi Fayemi and her husband, we have two for the price of one because Ekiti people are enjoying the benefits of good governance from husband and wife who are passionate about their welfare. She does not only defend women, she is also a defender and lover of children, and no wonder, she was the brain behind the gender based violence law and the Child Right Act in Ekiti State. She has a pure heart and she is a cheerful giver and kind to a fault. I cannot remember the number of thank-you messages I have sent to her for one gift or the other during festivities and this she has been doing for many people before she got to government. Even though she is not infallible and has her own shortcomings which are human foibles like every other mortal, there is no iota of doubt that she is one of those human beings who will not willingly do wrong.

    Her credential is intimidating yet. She is very humble and as gentle as a dove. She is in the league of world female leaders such as President Hellen Sirleaf of Liberia and former South African First Lady, Mrs. Graca Mandela who had on many occasions graced the events of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) which she headed until she resigned. Bisi Fayemi had received standing ovation on the floor of the General Assembly (UNO) for her efforts through the AWDF to make life better for African women. She narrowly missed the African Leadership Hunger Prize Award in 2008 when she was nominated.  On April 5, 2011, she was presented with the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the field of philanthropy. With this award, Mrs. Fayemi joined the rank of past winners such as former South African President, Nelson Mandela, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Sheela Pattel, Fazle Hasan and Queen Rania. In 2011, she was appointed as the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) by the Federal Government. She was listed in March 2012 as one of the 100 personalities working for the advancement of women and girls in the world. Her contribution to important national discourse was very key such that President Goodluck Jonathan noticed her absence during a discussion about HIV/AIDS in Abuja when the President asked: “Where is the wife of Ekiti State Governor? I enjoyed her contribution the last time she was here.”

    As we celebrate this woman of substance, we in Ekiti are proud to call her our own and we thank God for sparing her life till this day. We wish her Happy Birthday and many more prosperous years of service to humanity.