The Nation Newspaper

Category: Opinion

  • Campbell and Nigeria’s democracy

    John Campbell’s piece in The Nation on Friday, May 17, titled “Escaping a Cycle of Violence” was an attempt by a foreigner to shed more light on Nigeria’s dreaded terrorist organization known as “Boko Haram” with the hope, I suppose, that Nigerians in general and her government in particular may know what formidable religious insurgents they’re up against. Campbell is no ordinary foreigner, he probably knows Nigeria inside out, which is primarily due to his position as a high ranking US diplomat. He was a former US ambassador to Nigeria, to be specific. Therefore, it can be said that Campbell is an authority especially when events occurring in Nigeria has significant bearing on international politics, global security or more specifically US interests.

    While there is no doubt that his piece in the op-ed page of The Nation was illuminating and instructive, a careful analysis of his commentary in relation to Nigeria’s presidential election in 2015 and the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency on Nigeria’s domestic politics vis-à-vis the country’s military, reveals a disturbing undercurrent. While some readers of this article may not see anything to it, one can only appreciate the weight and importance that ought to be attached to the piece as a former diplomat who attained the highest position of US foreign mission in Nigeria. He is one of those that the US government will likely listen to in formulating its policy on Nigeria. And this is why.

    Campbell is currently the Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York. He served twice in Nigeria, first as political counselor from 1988 to 1990, and as ambassador from 2004 to 2007, with a stint in South Africa. Of another particular importance is a book titled “Nigeria Dancing on the Brink” whose author is none other than Campbell. This book, I should say, is a must read for Nigerians interested in how they are being governed, who the major players that shapes their lives are, and why the country may never aspire to much, if anything, because of the entrenched “patron-client networks” in attaining political power, a relationship that has very little, if not completely devoid of the needs and aspirations of the vast majority of Nigerians.

    This is just one of the startling revelations from the book about the Nigerian state.

    From the aforesaid, Campbell is an extremely important person to pay attention to when the subject is Nigeria, nay Africa as well as the institutions his likes are attached to practice their crafts after retirement. By virtue of his position before or even after retirement, one may also say without any fear of contradiction that he will tend to know more than even the Nigerian authorities about the country because of his implicit affiliation with, if not an integral part of the US intelligence community. Therefore, failure or the unwillingness by the political class and/or those with interests in Nigeria to pay attention to his opinions on such a pathetic weakling like the Nigerian state may be regrettable later.

    The piece, just as in his book, was illuminating and instructive because of the glaring contradictions that Campbell pointed out about the country’s political and economic conditions that continue to set the nation on reverse rather than advance it. Calling into question the effectiveness of the emergency declaration when “the security services are already doing what the state of emergency would permit them to do” and where Jonathan will find “more troops for the three states as the military is already overstretched” as confirmed by the country’s Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ihejirika was on point. Campbell’s assertion, based on the Centre for Foreign Relations’ Nigeria Security Tracker (NST) that “the insurgents’ tactics are evolving toward the style of internationalist jihadism” should seriously worry the Nigerian president.

    But it’s extremely doubtful whether President Jonathan has the leadership quality or intellectual acuity required to appreciate the enormity of the national security powder keg sitting on his lap. He would rather pay attention to petty state politics and hunt down perceived political enemies wherever they are. Campbell’s advice that “the federal government should reform the security services, including better pay and training, and end their impunity from legal prosecution” as well as the “decentralization of government authority, outlined in the country’s constitution but never really implemented would be a step in the right direction” is likely to fall on the deaf ears. It won’t happen anytime soon, if it ever happens in the future.

    But Campbell’s tripod opinions about another possible Jonathan presidency come 2015, his insinuation that the military may not have been permanently excommunicated from the country’s chaotic struggle for power and what he believes the US should do about the current Nigerian situation are quite disturbing. His assertion that formal politics in Nigeria is almost detached from reality may be an indictment of the political class. But his postulation that even though “Goodluck Jonathan is widely regarded as feckless…but is still favoured to win in the national elections scheduled for late next year” should no doubt leave the discerning to wonder if this is not a subtle and indirect endorsement of Jonathan for 2015 and, by extension, a tacit support of the US government despite the recent declaration by the current US ambassador to Nigeria that the United States is not interested in who becomes Nigeria’s president in 2015. Although it’s what is expected of the ambassador to say, but reality and history has always pointed to a different direction.

    The second leg of Campbell’s tripartite argument is that “there is some sentiment in favour of a military takeover” while he says almost in the same breathe that “…but there is little evidence that the upper reaches of the military have the stomach for a return to power.” This is a diplomatic double-speak. It is disturbing that Campbell still sees the military as an option in solving Nigeria’s seemingly perennial political quagmire. The military must never be encouraged under any guise in any national discourse especially from an expert like Campbell as an alternative to solving Africa, let alone Nigerian political problem in light of the devastations in material and psychological terms that this institution wrought on the continent and its people. It is said and there is a truism to it that the worst civilian administration is better than the best military government. One hopes that this is not a coded signal for junior military officers to think about a takeover since the upper echelon does not seem to have the stomach for a return to power.

    United States and other advanced democracies have the responsibility to nurture and encourage the democratic experiments of fragile countries like Nigeria. The US government must continue to engage the Nigerian government to do the right thing by way of free, fair and transparent elections, and upholding the rule of law.

    • Odere is a media practitioner. He can be reached at femiodere@gmail.com

  • From the cell phone

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    PDP covers every member no matter what he or she does as long as it is in the interest of the party. PDP members are like vultures that are eating the carcass of a dead animal. Nigerians are the carcass on which PDP eats and whose bone it cracks without minding the consequence. Now PDP is at it again by endorsing the Jonathan for a second term in office, not minding the suffering of the poor Nigerians who have been suffering insecurity, poverty, and power supply since the inception of the party. Take for instance, fortnight ago NGF election was held and the president that we are all looking up to for direction said 16 is bigger than 19 and the governor who scored the least number, Jang started ‘Janging’ according to Oshimhole. From H. Ozi Momoh

    They destroyed their party’s constitution in order to actualise their selfish political objectives, we did not speak out because we were not PDP members. Then, they invaded the NGF and tore it to shred, we did not speak out because we did not belong to that association. When they would set the country on fire by their rampaging desperation and anti-democratic practices, it would have become too late for us to speak out. Those who see nothing wrong in this orchestrated infamy should realise that injustice does not begin and end with one individual; it spreads like wild fire. From Ifeanyi O.Ifeanyichukwu

    Re: Echoes of Babel. Most Politicians in Nigeria today are our societal headaches. Only just a few of them are considerate to the mass populace. The intrigues in NGF, the styled tactical declaration for second term on governorship, senatorial repeat is common to them all in all the political parties. The Echoes of Babel is shared by them all! Even the so-called progressives could not challenge those running House of Reps, Senate, House of Assemblies thrice! No other family party member. As for ex-Governor Akala, let us see his joker for success on his new target. From Lanre Oseni

    Your piece ‘Echoes of Babel’ is a master piece. It aptly captures a true picture of the party that has prided itself as the biggest party in Africa . To me, the party is nothing but a house of commotion, a bad manager of internal crises whose leaders are clueless and bereft of ideas. 2015 is around the corner and with the emergence of APC as a formidable party, we will see what becomes of the PDP and the rest of her leaders. From Ojo A. Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

    Segun, you are just too much. Your piece of advice to the president was at the right time. You are a bridge to the unity of this Nation. Please keep the good work. From J. K. Usman

    For Olatunji Dare

     

    Did Tinubu hear what Tofa said? Asiwaju should be very careful the way he romances with the Northerners. Upon all Awo did for the North; won the civil war for them, the only consolation we have is the anullement of June12 elecetion. Make we shine our eyes oh. Anonymous

    Tofa would have remained in his shell rather than commenting on June 12. If he had won the election, he would have been tagged a regional president. It is only a naive who will say remembering June 12 was a colossal waste of time. The like of Tofa should by now try to emulate Sardauna of Sokoto whose legacies are still very alive to emulate. He should know that, the role he played in that election is still very fresh in the memory of Nigerians. He should talk as elderly stateman not as a novice. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos

    If Tofa is still bitter about losing to MKO, I think he is a civilian with soldier’s ideology. A true democrat will not even raise an eye brow to say negative things about June 12. He should know that the politics he played 20 years ago was a politics of ‘only we can rule’, which, if played now will be resisted by all. Take note Tofa, you did not win. Abiola won. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos

    Congratulations on your piece on Tofa. You said it all especially when talked about the quality of his mind. I only want to say in addition that the dead are better than some who are still living. From Pastor Ugwa Pius

    It was beter Abiola die than Tofa becoming president. Let him contest election again because when you fail in a exam, you will repeat as my mentor, Buhari is doing now. Anonymous

    I have just read your piece at the back page of The Nation. I enjoyed especially your last paragraph. I always admire courage. From K. I. Oleh, Aba

    In my opinion, Bashir Tofa is not a man of strong character. The evil he had done will continue to haunt him as long as he remains defiant to truth. Anonymous

    Olatunji, thanks for your write-up on Bashir Tofa: What manner of man? In my opinion, Gov Jang of Plateau State has just graduated from “Bashir Tofa’s Political School of Embarrassment”, otherwise, how can Tofa and Jang face Nigerians that they won the Presidential election (1993) and Chairmanship of NGF (2013 ) respectively? A very “big thanks” to IBB and Jonathan for their unquantifiable support in promoting anarchy. Whether they like it or not, we are no fools. Anonymous

    The June 12 presidential election has exposed Tofa for what he is. Nigeria was lucky for not having his kind of person as president then. I wonder how he would have ruled Nigeria successfully without grinding the ship of state to a halt. From Ojo A. Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

    What a master piece, you have captured very well, not only the person of Tofa, but more importantly the reasoning of a click of power brokers of our country. June 12 was annuled, but definetely, no one can ignore its significance and consequences. Anonymous

    Re: Bashir Tofa: What manner of a man? Bashir Tofa had learnt nothing and remembers rubbish! It was painful witnessing June 12 election result annulment, it was nevertheless better than seeing Tofa won that, or win any election in Nigeria. Islam thought us not to tell lies, never to be joyous at another’s pain and be honest at all times. Tofa broke all those commandments. May MKO Abiola of blessed memory, continue to have his soul rest in peace and rest well in Al-janah firdauz, ameen. Who knows tomorrow? None except God-Allah. From Lanre Oseni

    Your write-up on Bashir Tofa refers. This man was one of those that put this country in this mess we find ourselves now. I knew he will be unhappy whenever he recalls his role in the annulment of the June 12 1993 eletion even to the grave. Anonymous

    What do you expect from a man whose name was not in register, who cannot win his constituency to say? Allow him to warm his mouth. Thank you. From Kenneth Lagos

    June 12 has been turned into an ethnic or tribal affair, which has lost its meaning. As far as you are concerned, everybody must share your opinion, I think that makes you very little in mind and thought. Bashir Tofa is entitled to his opinion as you are entitled to your opinion. Anonymous

    Sir, your article on Tuesday was well written, kudos! Tofa was indeed part of the mischief to frustrate the electoral process. From Dan, Kaduna

    Indomitable Dare, if June 12 has not become a watershed in the history of Nigeria it is a thorn in the flesh of the establishment and those who murdered sleep will sleep no more and it will continue to dangle on their neck like a sword of damocle. You are a gift to this generation. From Ifreke Okon Edet, Port Harcourt

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

     

    Re: “Doing it gay or straight” (your column of Sunday, June 23 refers). It’s Nigerians, not the British PM that should respect themselves by stopping to beg for any form of the so-called aids. If the British PM has no leverage over Nigerians, his statements should have been regarded as empty threats. From Kunle O.

    Burundi rejected this nonsensical interference in 2009; though a country slightly bigger than Lagos State and its budget is 70 percent sponsored by donor countries. Cameron should advise the British royal to practise same-sex marriage. Anonymous.

    David Cameron should go to hell with his help to Nigeria. History will not take it kindly with anybody who supports the evil offer that the British government is offering Nigeria. I have never seen, not even in the holy books that man to man, woman to woman should marry. Let him come to Nigeria and stand in the open place and say it; whether he will not be pelted with pure water. Insecurity, poverty, political instability are all threatening the existence of Nigeria and he cannot talk about these ones; he is threatening to stop his help to Nigeria. We don’t need Cameron’s help. He should keep his evil plan within his country. From Hamza Ozi Mommoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    This gay thing has become a national problem, particularly amongst educated youths. Check the profile pictures on the Facebook to see how bad this thing has spread in the nation. Anyway, your article is timely and point blank. Thanks. Anonymous.

    Tunji, may the Almighty God bless you for making my Sunday a fulfilling one. As I read your piece titled “Doing it gay or straight’ in The Nation on Sunday newspaper, I received the assurance that Nigeria, my country, is a nation of high moral values. What will the British derive from legalising homosexuality and gay marriage in Nigeria? Homosexuality is so demeaning and dirty that it is not a practice in the animal kingdom. If leaders of the so-called civilised world are looking for new fields to plant their moral decadence, they try it in Siberia with the Russians. As for Nigeria, we are already bent on implementing our economic and moral transformation. From Benjamin.

    Just finished reading your script on same-sex marriage. You made very useful points. We are Africans, we have social norms and values. Part of the reason why we are where we are today is that we compromised some of these norms. Never again! Nice piece. From Eng. Emeka Ikom, Cross River State.

    Tell me, Tunji, how long have you been struggling with the fact that you are a latent homosexual? Because I’ve never seen anyone spew so much vitriol over something that doesn’t affect him in any way. If you wish to hide your preference for men, please do so. But please, leave openly gay people alone to live their lives. Only God has the right to judge anyone. Anonymous.

    This piece is scintillating. Mr Cameron wants Nigeria to adopt same-sex marriage. The truth is that the ruling class has sold this country to Europe and closed the way to indigenous capitalism. The people must wrest Nigeria from the Camerons. Thanks,. From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna.

    Cameron should first reverse the gay marriage they introduced before Nigerians would listen to his consultations. We are mature to know the good from the bad and the ugly. So, his consultations would be meaningless if he failed to give us hope on how to solve our problems of insecurity and social vices that are threatening our democracy. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    Thanks a great deal for giving a clarion call on the need to live ‘straight’. God bless you. From Ade, Lafia, Nasarawa State.

    Re: ‘Uncommon fraternity’ (The Nation, June 16). Glory be to Almighty God. Success shall continue to be yours who took it upon yourself to help him (Faleye) and his family through your column; same to donors and myself with good intention. You mean no senator, House of Reps, state house of assembly members read that request? Na wa o! Presidency via the Minister of Education and state governors too did not read the request? Nigeria! From Lanre Oseni.

    Thank God. Thank you. Thank DHL and thank the DHL staff for this beautiful act. From A.T. Mozie, Nsukka.

  • Understanding Fashola’s cable bridge

    The excitement written on the faces of the crowd that trooped out to witness the unveiling of the road was euphoric. That indeed was one of the hallmarks of the ingenuity of the current Lagos State government headed by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). His total commitment to the comfort of Lagosians has never been in doubt. This is why the new Lekki-Ikoyi link Bridge while it was being declared open last week excited motorists and residents alike. People stood in clusters of groups, staring at the awesomeness of the bridge. To them, it was a huge phenomenal developmental stride for the state.

    Governor Fashola last Wednesday formally opened the bridge with the primary objective that it would help to decongest traffic on the Victoria Island – Ikoyi axis of the Lagos metropolis. What impressed people most was the innovative idea behind the link bridge. Its modernity in terms of concept also surprised many people who could not as yet understand its workability.

    Until Governor Fashola introduced this idea of a cable bridge, no one in Lagos or Nigeria as a whole had the faintest idea that it could work here. The bridge, besides being a link to decongest a busy highway, has something like a rope that helps to move a car or vehicle faster. This way, there is no room for a traffic jam or traffic build-up that will in anyway affect or hinder vehicular movement on the road.

    In it, the cars are attached to an endless moving cable by means of adjustable grip. This grip usually passes through a slot or leeway on the roadway, helping a car to move faster and easier. It is a perceptive concept to help ease traffic, more so where many other modern and innovative ideas had failed in the past. And so considering the fast growing population of people on the Lekki-Ikoyi-Victoria Island – Ajah axis, what the state government has done has proved how fast it can think and work to meet the yearnings of the people.

    Although it will take a little while for motorists to come to terms with this noble idea, it remains to be seen how people can even circumvent this laudable project.

    A cable bridge works like a locomotive train in many ways. It is the rope that grips a car to make it increase its speed. Since there is the tendency to have traffic gridlock on such a link bridge or junction, the application of the cable adds more value to the system.

    The governor even made it clear while opening the road. Not only that he promised that it would help to save more travel time for motorist, going into Lekki now will become a delightful drive. For the avoidance of doubts, the Ozumba Mbadiwe axis of Victoria Island will now be decongested. Any one who follows that route to Ajah or Lekki or thereabout, does so out of choice.

    The beauty of it all is that traffic will be lighter henceforth. It will even be much better when the state government completes the Third Roundabout through the Admiralty way to provide another choice and access to commuters from Ajah into the Mainland area of the city. In other words, with functional large network of modern roads and the proper application by road users, Fashola is telling Lagosians that it is time to sit up and be counted among modern and civilized people.

    This is a fast growing world in terms of technology. And cable bridges which are often linked to congested cities have been in use in technologically – advanced societies long before now. And because Fashola has seen it all, he has been to many cities akin to Lagos, it is easier for him to replicate the good examples he has seen in those places.

    Remarkably, link bridges abhor heavy trucks. It does not function well when big lorries disturb it too often. Its beauty lies in free flow of traffic where traffic laws are not in abeyance.

    Owing to this and more, the governor has promptly banned Okada, commercial buses, tricycles and others from the road. This is to avoid a mess of the new experiment which is geared towards the lofty benefits of a civilized environment. This banning of Okada and their ilk is in line with the ideals and concept of a link cable bridge.

    While Governor Fashola has been commended by a couple of people for his foresight in doing this, it is also advisable for him to shift attention to some other knotty traffic-prone places in the state. For example, the Amuwo-Odofin axis of the state needs such a lift. The state government can also facilitate another project in that line to ease vehicular congestion on those roads.

    The 1.358 kilometre link bridge built by Julius Berger, obviously serves as an eye-opener to people who never saw anything good in the state. A cable bridge in many ways shows an automated form of vehicular movement. Typical examples can be found in many parts of Mexico and Brazil, especially Sao Paolo which is one of the most developed cities in South America.

    It shows a government in action; a place where action also speaks louder than words. No one can take it away from Fashola. Here is a governor who knows how and where to apply tax payers’ money for the proper transformation of the state. And he knows that when more of such of link and cable bridges go round the state, people will no longer spend more productive hours on the road everyday.

     

    • Okeke writes from Lagos

  • Why India trails China: Lessons for emerging economies

    MODERN India is, in many ways, a success. Its claim to be the world’s largest democracy is not hollow. Its media is vibrant and free; Indians buy more newspapers every day than any other nation. Since independence in 1947, life expectancy at birth has more than doubled, to 66 years from 32, and per-capita income (adjusted for inflation) has grown fivefold

    In recent decades, reforms pushed up the country’s once sluggish growth rate to around eight percent per year, before it fell back a couple of percentage points over the last two years. For years, India’s economic growth rate ranked second among the world’s large economies, after China, which it has consistently trailed by at least one percentage point.

    The hope that India might overtake China one day in economic growth now seems a distant one. But that comparison is not what should worry Indians most. The far greater gap between India and China is in the provision of essential public services — a failing that depresses living standards and is a persistent drag on growth.

    Inequality is high in both countries, but China has done far more than India to raise life expectancy, expand general education and secure health care for its people. India has elite schools of varying degrees of excellence for the privileged, but among all Indians seven or older, nearly one in every five males and one in every three females are illiterate. And most schools are of low quality; less than half the children can divide 20 by 5, even after four years of schooling.

    India may be the world’s largest producer of generic medicine, but its health care system is an unregulated mess. The poor have to rely on low-quality — and sometimes exploitative — private medical care, because there isn’t enough decent public care. While China devotes 2.7 percent of its gross domestic product to government spending on health care, India allots 1.2 percent.

    India’s underperformance can be traced to a failure to learn from the examples of so-called Asian economic development, in which rapid expansion of human capability is both a goal in itself and an integral element in achieving rapid growth. Japan pioneered that approach, starting after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, when it resolved to achieve a fully literate society within a few decades. As Kido Takayoshi, a leader of that reform, explained: “Our people are no different from the Americans or Europeans of today; it is all a matter of education or lack of education.” Through investments in education and health care, Japan simultaneously enhanced living standards and labor productivity — the government collaborating with the market.

    Despite the catastrophe of Japan’s war years, the lessons of its development experience remained and were followed, in the postwar period, by South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and other economies in East Asia. China, which during the Mao era made advances in land reform and basic education and health care, embarked on market reforms in the early 1980s; its huge success changed the shape of the world economy. India has paid inadequate attention to these lessons. -2-

    Is there a conundrum here that democratic India has done worse than China in educating its citizens and improving their health? Perhaps, but the puzzle need not be a brainteaser. Democratic participation, free expression and rule of law are largely realities in India, and still largely aspirations in China. India has not had a famine since independence, while China had the largest famine in recorded history, from 1958 to 1961, when Mao’s disastrous Great Leap Forward killed some 30 million people. Nevertheless, using democratic means to remedy endemic problems — chronic undernourishment, a disorganized medical system or dysfunctional school systems — demands sustained deliberation, political engagement, media coverage, popular pressure. In short, more democratic process, not less.

    In China, decision making takes place at the top. The country’s leaders are skeptical, if not hostile, with regard to the value of multiparty democracy, but they have been strongly committed to eliminating hunger, illiteracy and medical neglect, and that is enormously to their credit.

    There are inevitable fragilities in a nondemocratic system because mistakes are hard to correct. Dissent is dangerous. There is little recourse for victims of injustice. Edicts like the one-child policy can be very harsh. Still, China’s present leaders have used the basic approach of accelerating development by expanding human capability with great decisiveness and skill.

    The case for combating debilitating inequality in India is not only a matter of social justice. Unlike India, China did not miss the huge lesson of Asian economic development, about the economic returns that come from bettering human lives, especially at the bottom of the socioeconomic pyramid. India’s growth and its earnings from exports have tended to depend narrowly on a few sectors, like information technology, pharmaceuticals and specialized auto parts, many of which rely on the role of highly trained personnel from the well-educated classes. For India to match China in its range of manufacturing capacity — its ability to produce gadgets of almost every kind, with increasing use of technology and better quality control — it needs a better-educated and healthier labor force at all levels of society. What it needs most is more knowledge and public discussion about the nature and the huge extent of inequality and its damaging consequences, including for economic growth.

    •Culled from The New York Times. July 19, 2013.

    Amartya Sen, a Nobel laureate, is a professor of economics and philosophy at Harvard. He is the author, with Jean Drèze, of “An Uncertain Glory: India and its Contradictions.”

     

  • Nigerian presidency and the northern death spell

    Nigerian presidency and the northern death spell

    The eagle had no immunity against the intensity of cosmic light, being unknown to the cosmic sun rising from the East. In the intensely luminous year 2009, when the sun ran its course and peaked in the North before journeying to set in the West, it was expected that the eagle’s head will be scorched and its crown dissolved.

    The peaking point of luminous year 2009 was the eleventh month of November. Doom of the living principal Northern Icon was sealed at the closure of the evolutionary triangle of cosmic illumination in the following evolutionary order of days: Wednesday, November 11, 2009; Friday, November 20, 2009; Sunday, November 29, 2009. The numerological order of this sequence is 33, 42 and 51 derived from the calculation of 11 (number of November) + 11 (of the day) + 11 (of year 2+0+0+9), 11 (number of November) + 20 (of the day 2+0) + 11 (of year 2+0+0+9), and 11 (number of November) + 29 (of the day 2+9) + 11 (of year 2+0+0+9). All these numbers, digit summed in numerology, revolve to figure 6, the number of the Sun and intensely expressive illumination.

    In Yoruba cosmology derivable from the Odu-Ifa mythology, Wednesday, Ojoru, is a day in which all evils berthed on earth, and on which those who perform the necessary sacrifices are expected to avoid the evils. In the utilitarian philosophic sense, sacrifice here is really not the material sacrifice of anthropological interpretations of traditional religious culture, but of the essences propounded in the fourth noble truth of Buddhist philosophical tradition which enunciates an eightfold path to peace which are as follows: Right mindedness, right concentration, right intention, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right speech, right views.

    In the spirituality of days in Ifa tradition, Friday, called Ojo Eti, is the day of evolution of trouble and spiritual siege. Sunday, Ojo Aiku, is the day of immortality. Of the aforementioned triangle, at the time of manifestation of Orunmila (that is, Open-Heavens of Fate), the first determination was the evil day (Wednesday) by agreement of emanations from Nigerian Coat of Arms which operate in the form of what the Yoruba call aba, i.e, wishful decree to the powers of Heaven. Instead of experiencing the good fortune of number 33—a master number vibration of healing derivable from the Sun, the Presidency Icon was exposed to a manifestation of terminal infirmity by aarun ojise iku (spirit of disease, the messenger of death). In cosmic evolution, at the formation of the first point of the triangular base in the Eastern cosmic space on Friday, 2oth of November, the Presidential Icon came under the full spiritual siege of terminal infirmity. At the triangle closure in the Western cosmic space by Sunday, November 29, 2009, the advantage of immortality was non-existent, and the Presidential Icon’s mortality by terminal infirmity was sealed at sunset.

    The metaphysical abstraction stated posits that the cosmos of nature as determined by the Coat of Arms never favored a Northern leadership in Nigeria, even though the cosmic evolution of the effect of the said Coat of Arms placed a Northerner on the Presidential seat—to face a ruthless and invincible cosmic revolt and opposition. The natural revolt was expected to be most intense if the Northern Presidency emanated from the 90 degrees range of the Northwest direction where the eagle faces, and which also represents the crown of the head. Incidentally, the degree range is the space occupied by the State of Katsina (which was Yar Adua’s state of Origin) on the Nigerian map. The scorching effect of the sun drained up the water contents of the eagle like it will drain water completely from earth devoid of spring, thus creating the emaciated cadaverous image (i.e., extremely thin and pale). In reality, this manifested physically in the fate of late President Yar’Adua in the year 2009.

    The Northern decline and Jonathan’s ascension

    The Northern decline began at the turn of the century and millennium. Turn of every millennium is an indicator of cosmic re-arrangement and crossover. It is a potential cause of the rise and fall of civilizations and empires largely determined by the influence of civic icons. As for Nigeria, although the Red Eagle and Horses on the Coat of Arms still appear to be in a fixed state, in metaphysical evolution and history, at the turn of the century and millennium in 1999, all theese astral images naturally repositioned in a state of rest and chaos. The horses have since let go of the shield that elevates the distressed eagle which has since crashed with the shield and is buried in the devastation of Nigeria’s cosmic earth and waters through the wreath space, leaving its evil ghost to haunt the Presidency. In the plunge, the eagle drew upon itself and the South-South destination some elements of the treacherous spirit of the Horse (which, by vibrations of Odu-Ifa Obara Owonrin, is imported into the sub-consciousness of Eastern and Western Nigerian political class the spirit of treachery—in view of contest, akin to the Ifa legend in which the horse entered into a conspiracy to kill the beautiful deer before a scheduled dance contest in which the deer was favorite). Most unfortunately for the Red Eagle, it was without energy to flee from the cataclysm unlike the Horses which experience some cosmic earth-slide and struggle to find their feet on natural cosmic earth.

    By the millennial turn that caused the Horses to let go of the shield on which the eagle perched uncomfortably on a wavy band, the Red Eagle’s plunge headed towards the down-south direction of the Nigerian Coat of Arms. The plunge created a vacuum in the cosmic space of leadership and terminated the Eagle’s ill cosmic fortune in the national space of subconscious direction. As a rule of causal science, nature abhors vacuum, and therefore, there was bound to be a cosmic exchange of position. In the Eagle’s down-south plunge through the wreath, advantages of leadership position and the cosmic fortune which crowned the North spattered over the Down-South of the Coat of Arms, bringing a burden of crisis upon the space of the Down South axis where the fortune roosts to fill the empty space of national leadership. A physical manifestation of this metaphysical historical evolution is the ascension of President Goodluck Jonathan, of the Down-South axis of the Coat of Arms, to the position of Nigeria’s Head of State.

    Bayelsa’s inheritance of the Northern death spell

    By the creation of the proposed Coat of Arms for Bayelsa, the principal evil immediately incarnated from the Nigerian Coat of Arms Red Eagle into the Bayelsan and National space was the death spell which overcame late president Yar’Adua and which still saturates the Northern space in a different dimension. It was expected by presumption that the spell of death was predestined to primarily haunt Mr. President’s space by incarnation, which means that death will occur within it, but the manner and targets cannot be precisely predicted, just as the Presidents’ space may refer to those directly connected to him. His wife was expected to be the first target of the vibration of death emanating from the eagle, because she is a principal officer in the government of Bayelsa State (as Permanent Secretary) and co sharer of the National Coat of Arms seal as the first lady by virtue of office. By this, she takes precedence over the President and the Governor in death choice; for, like a maxim in the law of equity posits: “when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails”.

    Dame Patience Jonathan was reported very ill around the time of the inauguration of the Bayelsan Coat of Arms, but she escaped death by whiskers. Somehow, the death which lurked around Mr. President’s space however struck against his brother on Mr. President’s 55th birthday in November 2012. A coincidence it may seem to be, but the order of astral program of peculiar arts emanating powerful ether vibrations will always run its course. Assuming the first lady of Nigeria was not a part of the Bayelsa State Government, the death would expectedly have manifested in the space of the State Governor without any hope of an escape. Having roosted on the Mr. President’s brother, it was presumed in prognosis that the death had concluded its first dimensional manifestation in the Presidential space, and that the next space of manifestation was expected to be that of the co-sharer of the Nigerian Coat of Arms seal in the hierarchy of government, i.e., the Vice Presidential space.

    Perhaps the Vice President’s wife does not have an official position in the government of her husband’s state of origin, therefore, the equity rule is presumably not expected to arise, and the deathly vibration of the eagle emanating from the Bayelsan contaminated space was speculatively expected to manifest against the Governor of the Vice President’s State of origin, i.e., Kaduna State. It was not precisely known how this was to manifest, but could be traced to any other astral icon on the proposed Bayelsan Coat of Arms. It was presumed that the deathly essence of the Red Eagle on the proposed version seals the deathly art vibrations of the unintelligent image of the ‘fishes out of water’. The two fishes are identified as shark and dolphin. Dolphins are aquatic icons of military intelligence—of Naval Command in particular. The configuration is very bad for the Nigerian Navy and this is most probably the metaphysical historical cause of the death of a former Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, in a Nigerian Navy helicopter crash in Bayelsan territory.

    The worst imaginable situation may be sealed in Nigeria by month of November of the expressively luminous year 2013, (2+0+1+3 = 6), on the normalcy platform of a cosmic triangle beginning from Thursday, November 7 through Saturday November 16 and Monday, November 25. Thursday, in the cosmic essence of days derivable from Odu-Ifa, is a new beginning of cosmic course when Sun returns to its normal course. It is within the powers of Governments to check the art forces unsuspectingly dealing devastating blows on Nigeria’s fate. To save Nigerian Presidency (as an office and institution) now and in the future, irrespective of which geo-political zone or political party occupies the position of Head of State, the National Coat of Arms (alongside the first Stanza of the National anthem and the pledge) must cease to exist by the force of legislation. Reasons stated are the most easily explainable so far for public knowledge. The Nigerian Coat of Arms is a common enemy to every Nigerian and the world. In its potential to permeate the global space, the gate of evil cosmic influence will be open through Nigeria’s mother—Britain. As a rule of practical metaphysical science, it is much easier to effect good changes from the astral plane in physical existence than using all the forces in the world to put things right on earth. It is written in Ecclesiastes 10 verse 10 that ‘Wisdom is profitable to direct’.

    Every nation has a right to adopt a Coat of Arms. In doing so, there must be an understanding of what it is. A Coat of Arms is an armorial achievement or bearing. Its use by countries is known as civic heraldry. It originates from European culture and is a symbolic code and sign post of family or fraternal history and aspirations. Its use in Nigeria constitutes an improper and miscalculated adoption of foreign culture, thus constituting a colossal cultural and spiritual catastrophe. In Nigeria, it is the seal of the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the Vice President in both the Military and Civilian regimes of government. As a matter of necessity, it is also used by the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial arms of government. It is the principal astral base of evolutions of indigenous cultures and national will.

  • Spectacle at MKO’s graveside

    Spectacle at MKO’s graveside

    Memory was an evident casualty even as those who chose to remember marked the 20th anniversary of June 12, 1993, the historic date when the fangs of military dictatorship poisoned the purity of a popular democratic election. General Ibrahim Babangida’s bizarre and inscrutable annulment of the presidential poll that endorsed Chief MKO Abiola, undoubtedly, remains relevant till this day, particularly on account of the devastation it wreaked on the collective psyche, the still-active fallout and the irretrievable loss of what might have been.

    It was, however, an interesting irony that among those who exhibited an appalling lack of a sense of occasion was no other than Mubashiru Abiola, MKO’s sibling. His choice of setting made it doubly incongruous. At a public ceremony to commemorate the dark episode that ultimately took his older brother’s life, Mubashiru made utterances which suggested that he was probably memory challenged.

    Speaking at Abiola’s Oja-Agbo family house in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mubashiru, who is the head of the Abiola family, reportedly said, “I hail the support of former President Ibrahim Badamasi  Babangida to the Abiola family over the years. I pray that the Almighty God will continue to guard and guide him. Gen Babangida’s administration remains the best in the nation’s history.”

    It must be conceded that his statement had a trace of news, although it also grossly misstated reality. Isn’t it food for thought, this information that Babangida had provided “support” for the Abiola family, “over the years?”  This revelation bespeaks the impermanence of interests as well as the potency of conscience. Clearly, whatever interests motivated Babangida’s assault on popular democracy and his rigid rejection of MKO’s victorious emergence, these must differ from the interests behind his latter-day embrace of the family.  The former context was about power play, likely megalomania, unfriendly friendship and possible ethnic-based calculations. The succeeding situation is probably about tormented conscience and self-redemption.  It   is uncertain whether Mubashiru’s expressed gratitude accurately represented the feelings of the entire Abiola family. Also unsure is the coverage of Babangida’s stated “support” and its nature. Indeed, it is enlightening that Mubashiru’s glorification of Babangida has been questioned by members of his family, who described their relative as “a traitor.” There can be no doubt that whatever liberality the former strongman has shown toward the family after Abiola’s mysterious 1998 demise in detention is corrupted by reasonable suspicion. It is akin to a destroyer shedding crocodile tears over the ruins he caused.

    Strangely, however, displaying a rather narrow and simplistic perspective, Mubashiru washed Babangida clean, saying, “I don’t believe that Babangida was the one that killed MKO, no. Everybody knew that Babangida was not in the government when MKO died. How could you say that somebody who was not there did something? It is not possible. Babangida does not know anything about the death of MKO.”  This is crude revisionism. Has Mubashiru ever pondered on what course events could have taken had MKO not been violently denied the presidency, a denial initiated by Babangida’s regime and perfected by his military successor, General Sani Abacha?

    Oddly enough, in a perplexing double-speak which, perhaps unwittingly, deservedly discredited Babangida, Mubashiru also said, “I implore our leaders to embrace the vision of June 12 by ensuring that Nigerians get food on their tables and shelter on their heads. All employable youths should be given jobs, while everybody should enjoy basic amenities.” It is on record that Babangida blocked the actualization of MKO’s ambitious vision for the country, which puts a question mark on Mubashiru’s hyperbolic assessment of his administration as “the best in the nation’s history.” What is his yardstick?

    Possibly worse and more disturbing  than Mubashiru’s revisionist tendencies was the redefinition of June 12 by no other than Alhaji Bashir Tofa, MKO’s rival in the electoral contest which  Babangida  unfairly and inexcusably aborted. He reportedly described June 12 as “fiction.” Were it not for the serious fundamental issues arising from this absurd labelling, Tofa’s uninformed borrowing from the vocabulary of Literature could well have passed for a banal joke. However, it is tickling all the same, if only as a faultless example of wrong word usage.

    Is Tofa, by his descriptive licence, suggesting that the country should suspend disbelief over the enormity of Babangida’s atrocity, and accept it as normal in the context of a supposed fictive universe? Does he imply that the June 12 poll was never a real-life event, but was rather imagined and, consequently, imaginary? His fantasy, in case he didn’t realize it, also makes him a fictitious character.

    Following his reasoning, he would need to provide concrete proof of his own real existence in spatiotemporal terms, beyond fiction’s make-believe world. There are significant questions here: What if Tofa, rather than MKO, had won that election? Would Babangida have annulled it just the same?  Would such action have made a difference to Tofa’s fictional angle?

    Tofa was quoted as saying, “I sincerely believe that it is an episode that we need to get over with and look forward to a better electoral process and, therefore, a better democracy.” Here we go again, with repulsive revisionism rearing its head. Two decades after an election widely acknowledged for its unprecedented transparency, and an acceptable model of voter sovereignty, Tofa seeks the invention of “a better electoral process” without highlighting the demerits, if any, of the option that worked. His notion of “a better democracy” can only be imagined, considering that the democracy which was supposed to have been delivered by the June 12 election never materialized because of Babangida’s negative intervention.

    Not surprisingly, the ghost of June 12 continues to haunt the land. It is a measure of the depth of the damage done by Babangida and his ilk that MKO’s convincing win remains a front-burner issue even today. It is a tribute to the late charismatic and ebullient politician that his spirit is an inspiration to pro-democratic forces battling for the soul of the country. Of course, there are opposite forces still at work, contrary spirits that must be defeated to achieve the desired flowering of democratic beauty.

    Perhaps the most fitting way to immortalize MKO is the assertion of voter sovereignty, which will hopefully result in the crowning of the people’s choice. It is an inescapable challenge waiting for the people to rise to the occasion. Remember MKO’s immortal wisdom, “Democracy is the question. Democracy is the answer.”

    • Macaulay is on the editorial board of The Nation

  • Assessing Delta’s healthcare system

    Over time a number of opinions and impressions have been formed about the Uduaghan administration’s programmes, particularly its efforts to assuage the sufferings of the weak segments of the society.  I have read conflicting comments that the administration is pro-poor, while another holds as being pro-PDP and pro-establishment. Whatever is being said, being either a member of PDP, or the administration, I will not join the debate. It is needless.

    However, I am impressed by some developments in Delta State under the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. I see the focus on mega project and liberal policy of his government of improving the welfare of the citizens through so many subsidized and free social programmes that is helping the poor and weak especially, as commendable.

    One such programme is the free healthcare for under-five children and free maternal health for expectant mothers. Both programmes are a strong response of the Uduaghan administration to the dire data of the frightening rates of infant and maternal mortality. Since their institution, the mortality rates have whittled.

    For instance, many Deltans are aware of this and the growing impact it is making. In penning this article, I was encouraged by comments of the Anglican Bishop of Asaba dioceses, Rt. Rev. Justus Mogekwu, the other day in his sermon that Delta state government has done well in improving the health policy with special mention of free health care for under-five children and free maternal healthcare for expectant mothers.

    His words: “I am happy to say that since Emmanuel Uduaghan came to office, his policies, projects and programs speak for him. On the health sector, he is determined to leave lasting legacy. The maternal healthcare is one of the legacies”.

    He said Deltans are relieved and elated that the government has relieved them of the financial burden of such medical care (including caesarean section, laboratory/ diagnosis fees). By some coincidence I was in some discussion with a friend,. John Okiripki who is a usually a critic I guess influenced by his background as a statistician. He commented that based on experience of many people, he is tempted to believe statistics from Delta government that a drop in mortality rate of 48.8 percent of 456 deaths per 100,000, to a December 2011 figure of 221 per 100,000 may have been achieved. He told me that if this is true then it is a significant change in statistical terms.

    A human interest report in a community newspaper featured a Mrs. Charity Emeka, who was reported to have recently given birth to a male child through a caesarian section at the General Hospital Umunede, Ika North East Local Government, wondering; “who would have given me   N 200,000 for the operation?” a huge cost lifted off this family and also the survival of mother and child through the ordeal.

    The young mother understandably was thus full of praises for the government health policy which she observed has benefited pregnant mothers and the new born in Delta State.

    Aside the free healthcare for children under-five and free ante-natal care for expectant mothers, which many homes are still relishing, the Uduaghan administration has a free rural health care program, which affords Deltans of ages viz: children, adult male and females to access free medical care in, or near their residential places. Under this program, medical experts are assembled by the government to pay itinerant  visit to all rural communities were they administer first class medical care to everyone, akin to the Second Republic era type medical programme of  hospitals on wheel program of the late Prof. Ambrose Alli, then governor of Bendel State. But the Delta free rural healthcare is a motorized service module.

    Since the program began, tens of thousands of persons have called, with varieties of ailment covered under its umbrella. For instance, I was informed that in the first round of the 2012/2013 cyclic tour alone, more than 60 surgeries were handled with 38 of them relating to cataract. Testimonies from beneficiaries who appeared on local television showed that treatments covered hernia, appendicitis, hemorrhage (pile) and lymphoma.

    For instance, a Mrs. Tina Smart and Angela Chidi, had fibroid removed from them. According to the duo of Tina and Angela without the free surgery the condition would have remained

    Another area in the administration’s Uduaghan’s health policy development is the completion and provision of medical facilities to Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, DELSUTH, unarguably the best teaching hospital in the country, with a staff complement in many core areas of cardio-vascular challenges.

    I understand that part of the reason the hospital receives so much attention is because, the administration wants to position it to tap into medical tourism, which Nigerians have become noted for. It makes sense. One can imagine how much will be saved if patients visit Oghara than go abroad.

    There is no debate on this yet, but it can be said that had Uduaghan not being a medical doctor himself, he might not have been able to give as much attention as he has to healthcare. If you ask the man he may not even agree; well it does not matter. The most important thing today is that Deltans have a better healthcare system than before.

     • Ejiro Idama lives in Delta state

  • The lesson of Alhaja Mogaji’s transition

    The lesson of Alhaja Mogaji’s transition

    Few days ago, death struck. Like a splash of hot pap on the surface of human body, we all had a pang of the pains of its sting. It took away Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the pillar behind the years of struggle of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a political phenomenon and active player in the politics of our nation. Natural of every mortal, her death brought low moment not only to me but to others in the progressive clan.

    When I heard the news of her departure, I thought of the vacuum her death would have created. I am also engulfed in the thought of the distraction it might bring to the new struggle. It is certainly a slide of event I would have loved it happened not. But the reality is, Alhaja Mogaji, the Iyaloja with a heart of service had gone to the great beyond.

    The significance of her death was laid bare by the shocking testimonies of her good deed told by the people. I heard shocking story of a life full of activism and activities, a life of peace making. She dared the oppressors for the comfort of the needy, yet she brokered peace and flied in morals in leadership. She dwelled in the midst of the commoners and earned her title from their conviction and sustained her leadership in constant service.

    From our dried eyes, the numerous accounts of her sterling qualities squeezed out a torrent of ball of tears rolling down our eyes. This particular encounter seized my attention as I watched her remains lowered to the grave. It was an account of how she resolved a waiting crisis between the student body and Governor Ahmed Tinubu.

    The young man, now a lawyer and a staunch member of the progressive clan was a member of the Student Union body then in Lagos State University during the military era and the wake of democracy in Nigeria.

    Before the coming into office of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration in Lagos, the union had some unfulfilled promises (buses) and uncompleted projects (SUG building renovation) by the Marwa led government. When the Tinubu administration came into government, he said the union attempted to see the governor to get assurances that the promises will be fulfilled and to also make other demands

    Every effort made by the executive committee of the union to see the Governor seemed to be hitting brick walls. They resolved that it was a deliberate attempt to undermine their administration; hence the necessary step to take was to confront the governor and prove to him that they are “greatest Lasuites”

    And they did! They barricaded roads, blocked the entrance and caused commotion at the state secretariat and set for a big fight against the son of Alhaja Mogaji. Just as they set for the big battle, a suggestion came: “let us meet his mother. After some needful arguments, we approved of it”

    “We were with Alhaja for about two hours wherein we ventilated our anger on her son. Some of us abused him and called him unprintable names. She did not show any anger neither did she stop us from saying whatever that made us do what we did. In her response, she told us she has so many children and our parents are her children too and we are also her grandchildren.

    “She said Tinubu was only older than us and became our governor that it could have been any of us in Alausa and we would still be her child. She said, when two children quarrel it is the duty of a good parent to settle and make peace between them so that the family can continue to remain one. She said she had listened to us that she would call our “egbon” and that soon we would be sitting together discussing. She said our “egbon” has no reason not to see us or sit down to discuss family issues with us.

    We left Alausa that night not knowing how we feel. We were disarmed, unsure whether we had made any progress or not. All I knew was that our anger and frustration were gone. All we were looking toward was to wait for the meeting with our “egbon”.

    “The waiting did not last long as we were summoned to the governor’s office about 72 hours latter to be in the presence of the man popularly referred to as “Omo iyaloja”. That day, we got a lesson in leadership and human management. The success of that meeting was due to Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji a mother to a man who has become a reference point in leadership and cadre development.

    “After this meeting we got more than we asked for from our governor our “egbon”. Hence, when the period of his trial came, we supported him and were not found wanting.”

    Many market women recalled with great gratitude how her leadership restored and sustained the downtrodden, they treasured her courage, her steadfastness, and her resolve to accomplish what she believed to be right for the common good.

    They remembered the values by which she lived, the ideals she embraced, her dignity, her diligence, her courtesy, and her personal concern for the well-being of individuals. She earned leadership through her commitment to the welfare of her constituency, which she held in high esteem and never allowed other interest, not even when her son was the governor, to override that of her highly cherished fellow market women.

    This is a great lesson in leadership for us all and most importantly, for those of us that hold office in trust for our people.

    Good night mama rere.

    • Senator Boroffice represents Ondo North Senatorial District in the Senate.

  • Corruption and Nigeria’s moral landscape

    The continuing shrinkage of viable business models, along with the fragility of Nigeria’s private sector, have meant that the only safe havens in the land are public offices. In truth however, even public offices do not guarantee eternal bliss! Yes, these offices have huge discretions and often contain significant windows for offering patronage. But the competition for public offices is not only heartless; additionally, the winner of the prize is often expected to cope with the animosities of fallen opponents, until the incumbent himself falls from grace.

    The public office environment in Nigeria is therefore a universe of agony. Not surprisingly, a great amount of public office careers often end in controversy, litigation, humiliation and outright disgrace. This trend is beginning to establish itself as a tradition and the Nigerian public appears to have developed a malignant appetite for feeding off the flesh of disgraced officials. The greatest challenge faced by public officials in Nigeria is of course that of corruption, and allegations around this theme have often provided a basis for bringing their careers to grief. In many instances, the corruption smear tends to hold and several incumbents have been tragically undermined by them.

    One unflattering consequence of all this, is that public offices in Nigeria have become a byword for corruption. This itself, cloaks a lot of the idealism and integrity, which the Nigerian service inevitably retains. And equally important, is the reflection, that in spite of our residual goodness, opportunistic allegations of corruption are sometimes invoked in damaging otherwise sterling careers.

    Most narratives about corruption in Nigeria often create the impression that the worst forms of this phenomenon became extant only in modern times. And yet sleaze in public offices has a fairly long history in our country. Perhaps the volume and intensity of our current experience of this social ulcer, encourages the belief that it did not exist before now. Indeed sometimes it creates the extreme determination, that the past was a golden age, in which public servants operated in a sinless world.

    Nothing can be further from the truth. Any attempt to romanticize the past will collapse under scrutiny. The First Republic In spite of all the hopes and optimism it inspired, had its own blemishes. Corruption and it’s traveling companion called nepotism were an important feature of the First Republic. And frequently they provoked public outrage. The regions made steady progress, and competed and sought to outpace each other in the provision of social infrastructure. There was Liberty Stadium, the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, the Niger Dam, the Niger Bridge and others. This notwithstanding, society was riven by clamor and dissension. A sense of crisis was pervasive and between 1964 and the first coup in 1966 there were over 200 strike actions. But on top of all this, was a growing sense of outrage produced by corruption and public sleaze.

    One of the very instances was the case which involved the purchase of equity by Zik’s firm in a bank, the African Continental Bank. In 1962 also, Adegoke Adelabu was forced to resign as Council Head over charges of inclement conduct, while Chief Obafemi Awolowo seemed to have been indicted by the Coker Commission. These were important failures but the stridency of the anti corruption vanguard, often gave the impression that the phenomenon was more corrosive than it actually was. We may note here, a similarity between the current outcry and the outrage expressed during the First Republic. I once discussed corruption with Peter Enahoro, an influential writer, who at 26 edited the reputable Daily Times in the 60s. He recalled that Lagos and Nigeria were at one time scandalized by the news that our Prime Minuster Alhaji Tafewa Balewa had built a palatial house in his hometown Bauchi. Everybody was sure that government money had been siphoned to produce this piece of vanity. Not until Peter Enahoro himself visited Bauchi only to be humbled by the fact that the palatial house was a simple home. In many ways, talk of corruption though not always idle, is often overstated. And it’s invocation is an important feature in the armoury of opposition parties or coup makers. Not surprisingly Major Nzeogwu’s coup speech dwelt on the corruption theme “The aim of the Revolutionary Council” he said, “is to establish a strong united nation free from CORRUPTION”.

    The need to wipe out corruption has remained an enduring dream not only for coup vendors but also for settled governments which truly wish to endear themselves o their citizens. So all through our history most of our governments have sought to challenge this cankerworm with varying amounts of success.

    The Third Republic has had its fair share of public scandals and there has been no shortage of efforts to fight the evil of corruption. As always, the anti-corruption vanguard is on overdrive and the EFCC and ICPC have their hands full. Whatever our anxieties, we must admit that the process for apprehending public office offenders is firing on all cylinders. As at the last count, over 50 public officers are facing legal action because of infractions committed when they served.

    Corruption is a huge problem in Nigeria and it’s impact may account for a huge part of our underdevelopment. It is important that government continues to take decisive action against those who abuse public trust. The process requires to be properly vetted so as to avoid legal malingering. It seems that many of the cases that have been taken to court are allowed to fester with no prospect of a rapid determination. Nigeria may well be populated by several self-servers. But there must be some people who are capable of expressing idealism through their conduct and public service.

    One of the tragic consequences of the attack on public service in Nigeria is the evolving dearth of idealism and the rise of cynicism. Public service is now mixed interchangeably with corruption and corrupt conduct. And nowhere in our calculation, do we create any room for men and women of service. So as more and more accused are docked by the conveyor belt of the anti-corruption agencies, the public has learnt to applaud in accustomed glee. Yet in a more service driven environment, people are bound to express dismay at the ease with which people in high offices soil their hands.

    The moral landscape in Nigeria appears to have been considerably fouled up and confused. The transition from hero to villain, and back to hero, is a well known trajectory. Nuhu Ribadu for example, was dragged through this tortured route. He became famous when he was posted to head our anticorruption agency- the EFCC. He procured high- profile convictions and was distinguished for the passion with which he conducted his obligation. Yet the same Ribadu was hounded out of office.

    Sunday Ehindero, fomer Insopector General of the Nigerian Police has also had an intriguing experience. Privileged to be among the first set of graduates recruited into the force, he was the last man standing. He became Inspector General of Police, and before then, cornered the distinction of being the first Nigeria Policeman to prosecute and convict a fraudster under the 419 provision, long before this section became infamous in Nigeria. As Inspector General of Police, Ehindero, was twice given tenure extension by the President.

    And yet, as a whole, is anybody carrying a magnifying glass around, looking for something in the wood work?

    Watching the big man fall from high office has come close to being a spectator sport in Nigeria. Each time we scan the news, what many hanker after, is knowledge of which political or public office incumbent has been decapitated. This also turn ready servants into faint hearts. We must arrest this trend and in order to do this , we ought to ensure that the screening process as well as the benchmarks for scrutiny, punish only the guilty.

    • Dele Olowu, writes from Abuja

  • From the cell phone

    For Olatunji Dare

    Sir, you have, through your colomn, shown that the most potent response to injustice and suffering is not militant retaliation, but a calm and confident witness to the truth, regardless of the consequences. I think the time is ripe to give a little thought to the phenomenon of boastful resistance by those who annulled June 12 election. Those of them still alive should apologise publicly. Afterall, a great concentration of former sinners wrote for the Bible. From Adegoke O. O., Ikhin, Edo State

    June 12…A calendar of infamy’ was compelling and fascinating! Honestly, I had forgotten that things were so bad! We all need a mental jolt such as thiat in these dreary times! Thanks. From Ade Kukoyi

    The annulment of June 12 election by the then military government of General Ibrahim Babangida through the infamous ABN, was the worst democratic mistake of our time. All who ganged up against the people’s mandate will definitely pay for their evil act here or in the hereafter. From P. O. P. Inyamah, Port Harcourt

    Annulling June 12 election was a mistake by the then Military President, Ibrahim Babangida. All the stakeholders in that regime are to be blamed, even the civilians that were close to the corridor of power then. The deed had been done, all we should remember about June 12 is the lesson we learned from the annulment. We should not heat up the polity by our utterances. If a man is running and he is looking behind, he is bound to fall. We should forget what has happened and let us forge ahead and build our country. Nursing grudges against ourselves will only promote deceit not peace. United we stand and divided we fall. So, let us unite against evil forces within. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos

    Re: June 12…A calendar of infamy. A very coincise reminder. It is even good that Chief MKO Abiola is no more around to be embarrassed; and it is better that Gen. Ibrahim Babangida is witnessing the consequences of that ignoble, myopic, unthoughtful, selfish and unpatriotic decision. From Jimo Akeran.

    Re: June 12 annulment…A calendar of infamy. If Nigeria is truly a democratic and a custodian of law, all those involved in the annulment of the June 12 ought to have been in jail. All elections since then have been based on rigging. The power-drunk party has never won any election in this country, specifically presidential elections. Abiola deserves national honour by all standards as a pillar of sports and his political actvities. All the ACN-governed states must imbibe the true spirit of democracy and allow justice to reign. All forthcoming national elections must be policed against rigging. The misuse of all agencies by the presidency must be halted. From Odunmbaku

    Your write-up of June 11 makes me so sad, as if the events are just unfolding. Anonymous

    I really appreciate the fact that there are still some Nigerians who remind others the truth about past events. So, those in public offices should change. It is quite a pity that some in positions still want to drag the nation backwards. Please, do not relent in your effort to let the world know the truth. From Elaye Oputa, Yenagoa

    Re: June 12 annulment…A calendar of infamy. What comment do you expect again on that write-up on June 12, 1993 other than the synopsis of the details of those occurrences you gave us. May such annulment and kangaroo judicial interventions and decisions never occur in Nigeria again! The story and attestation on that episode that bulletted Nigeria from 1993 through 1998 was more than Professors Soyinka’s and Achebe’s (late) published books!. From Lanre Oseni

    The June 12, 1993 episode is a sad reminder of the truncation of what would have been the best democratic rule in Nigeria. I know history will not forgive the perpetrators of the ugly debacle. Though they tried to bring Nigeria down, God did not allow them. They will go down in history as traitors, betrayers and ne’er-do-wells. History beckons on them. From Ojo A. Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

    Re: June 12…A calendar of infamy. The piece is a sad reminder of the murder of democracy and justice in Nigeria. No wonder, 20 years after, we are yet to find our bearing as a nation. They killed our collective dream, assasinated the custodian of our democracy. The bleeding cannot stop untill justice is done. From Sidney Adeola

    Thanks for your comment on June 12. No matter how they may hide the truth, it will surface in the long run. God help Nigeria. From Akin Taiwo

    Where is Professor Nwosu? He owes Nigerians, indeed, the democratic community, tons and tons of explanation. He needs to come out to clear his name for posterity. If he was a coward and feared for his life then, he is much older now and death is inevitable, except, of course, if he was settled then to remain quiet. MKO Abiola had to pay the supreme price for winning a free and fair election. If that election was allowed, Nigeria would not have been this messed up. Is the Prof. happy with the situation in Nigeria now? Prosterity will judge him; he should make amendments now rather than dribbling Nigerians. The write-up is vintage. Eku ise ilu. From Mrs. Mariam Oyeleke

    Southwest talk too much that is why we lost June 12. It is high time we talked objectively so that history will not repeat itself. Anonymous

    Sir, as I enjoy reading your ever-interesting and incisive articles. I just read through your article in The Nation newspaper of Tuesday, June 11, on the June 12 annulment. Please, sir, how can I place order for the book? Anonymous

    ‘June 12…A calendar of infamy’ made an interesting reading. I commend the author- for his very good, accurate and resounding presentation. For the so-called ABN, posterity will judge them. The Federal Government should now put the necessary legislation before the National Assembly and make June 12 Nigeria Democracy Day and name the National Assembly Building – MKO Abiola Democracy Building. MKO Abiola remains the most important, undisputable and most formidable hero of our fledgling democracy. From Chief Faseesin Ilesanmi (a.k.a.Westerner) Ire-Ekiti, Ekiti State

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    ‘Between then and now’ nothing really has changed, and something really may not change with the type of politicians we have in Nigeria. From Alhaj ADEYCorsim, Oshodi, Lagos

    We regretted the annulment of June 12 election. Cancelling the election is what makes us what we are now. To hell with millitary dictatorship. From Usman Malumfashi, Katsina State

    May I start by giving you kudos as a man of great knowlege as it affects the body politics in Nigeria. Your write-up titled ‘Between then and now’ is a must read and a collector’s item. From M. C. Agbamu

    Re: Between then and now. I doubt if they, the Nigerian politicians and others have learnt anything, despite the slap of June 12, 1993 on the people of Southwestern Nigeria, specifically and Nigerians in general. The cohorts championed then by IBB could not have done that annulment against any Northern winner. Up till today, Nigerian politicians are still very corrupt and selfish, the so-called progressives inclusive. I do not understand why Governor Oshiomhole would not be in Labour Party if he is not leading it! Corruption, greed, and ethnicism remain the clog. From Lanre Oseni

    The action is still on, but new actors are on board. The truth is that we are moving in circles. For instance, yesterday was militant, today Boko Haram, tomorrow may be Oduduwa Haram. From Mike

    The problem with Nigeria are the so called commoners themselves. Until the common Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, South/South and Middle Belt men, women and youths realise that all Nigerian commoners have common enemies in these hegemonic tyrants, die-hard sardists and daredevil looters, we all shall continue to be in perpetual bondage. Thanks! From Samson Abubu, Sapele, Delta State

    We have no other country than our lovely Nigeria. Let us pray fervently that what happened on June 12 would not repeat itself. Those that are causing disunity in the country will run away when the heat is on. We should not allow disgruntled elements in government to cause crisis because, when they do, we the underprivileged will suffer for the sin we did not commit. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos

     

    For Gbenga Omotoso

     

    The NGF election is a manifestation of what has always been with us as elections. We have passed the stage where a political party would misinterpret its own constitution to favour an individual. Where we are now is the stage where a man would win an election and he would not be allowed to exercise the mandate given to him because some people do not like his face. Soon, we shall get to a point of no-return, where everybody will resort to self-help by interpreting the rule of law according to their own narrow understanding of the concept. Who says we are not making progress? From Ifeanyi O. Ifeanyichukwu.

    The five jobs are not being managed by the managers very well; that is why it is so difficult for the president and his men to perform well. The president has introduced politics of hatred and ethnicity in the system. He has forgotten that hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life, love harmonises it; hatred darkens life, love illuminates it. It pains me that the president we all voted for has become a sectional leader. The governors who said 16 are bigger than 19 are Jonathan’s toy who did not learn from history. Obasanjo knelt down for Atiku in 2003 when he wanted to contest again for second term. Jang and his followers would be humbled by the president. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos

    In a government of the thieves, run by the thieves, and for the thieves, nothing good will ever emerge. You are lucky not to be part of this unproductive, clueless, shoeless leaders. From Oladimeji Lawal, Ibadan

    Joseph Campbell said the cave you most fear to enter contains the greatest treasure. The president and his cohorts are not managing the affairs of the country very well. The five jobs we are afraid of are where the treasures of this country is, if well managed. The president will be the most celebrated president if he stops playing ethnic politics. The governors should know that they are the ambassadors of people, so they should not allow themselves to be used by those whose interests are limited to their pockets. Our policemen are not well trained, and also corruption has eaten deep into the Ministry of Police. The Power minister would be frustrated because those that are gaining from the power outage are mostly in government. The committee headed by Tanimu was parochially constituted. It did not reflect the true minds of those in the committee. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos

    ‘Five jobs I won’t take’ is marvelous and an excellent peice. The message was quite understood even to a deaf and dumb man. To add to it, we should all pray on 2015 elections as the signs are omnious. Next time, please include that you do not want to be a judge as well. From Chief Aiyeoribe, Ilorin.

    Kindly note that a government that can ground an aircraft, if annoyed further can bring it down by whatever means. If I were to be a governor, an APC will be my vehicle. God save my fatherland. Anonymous

    For pointing at the truth, may God protect and guide you in your job. From P. Uduma CAL CRS

    ‘Five jobs I won’t take’ further reiterates my concern for an almost total misconception of leadership in Nigeria. To be a leader is not a job; it is a service. The best leaders are selfless. That’s what we teach in MLFDN. We focus on developing political leaders on how to earn and utilise social currency called integrity. Well done! From Uba Saidu Malami, Chairman MLFDN

    ‘Five jobs I won’t take’ is a fantastic acticle. I read it and digested it also. More ink to your pen, sir. From Azeez Musiliu, Ogolonto, Ikorodu, Lagos

    You cannot do four jobs not five in your last paragraph. Let me ask, can you be a farmer? You have spoken the truth about them all; they are not leaders but rulers with evil minds. Thank you. From John Moye

    ‘Five jobs l won’t take’. This is great but l pray the oga at the top and all his surbudinates read it. All the mess will come to a stop one day. Thanks. Anonymous

    Re: Five jobs I won’t take. As long as President Jonathan Goodluck is known to be a gentleman, I detest anyone taking him for a ride and mocking him. In as much as he has not met our expectations, he should be given his respect; make useful suggestions for development to him. There is no job we should not take, provided we criticise objectively and constructively rather than politically. From Lanre Oseni