The Nation Newspaper

Category: Opinion

  • From the cell phone

    For Olatunji Dare

     

    Governor Chime is a cat with nine lives. He will outlive his detractors. Dare, keep shooting. Eko oni baje. From Nelson Egere, Owerri

    If I were Dr. Chime, I would not join issues with those who wished him dead because only God knows best about who will live and those whose time have come to an end. These people do not have political pedigree in the state. Rather, they are political liabilities who always look for the downfall of their leader. Obasanjo had the same experience on many occasions but today he is still waxing stronger and laughing at them. Chime, they can not remove a strand of hair from your head not to talk of killing you. Only God will decide your exit not human. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Docyard Apapa, Lagos

    Your piece “A morbid obsession” is a master piece . I cannot blame the originator of the rumour. The ball is now in Governor Chime’s court. He should now come out in the open to dispel this rumour. Afterall, a lie frequently told becomes a truth. From Ojo A. Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

    Re: A morbid obsession. Jokes aside, you now see the freedom of information in action albeit its repercussions. How do we fault such hot news being hourly-specific, death-specific, place-specific, personality-specific and standby-specific! It is not all the persistent rumour. I calls for someone’s death prolongs his/her life; other times, such rumoured death calls the death for that person. For Governor Sullivan Chime, his persistent rumoured death shall quicken his recovery, prolong his life and consequently shame his detractors in God’s name. Amen. From Lanre Oseni

    It is unfortunate, this is the country where public officers go on four/five months accumulated vacation without any explanation to those paying their bills. Even when all can see the sickness, maybe they think a state burial is more honourable. His five-minute state broadcast will solve all the rumour. Anonymous

    Chime has enemies in his cabinet because a man from Oyo cannot know his movenment to India. He must be careful and prayerful. From Baba Shola, Okada, Edo State

    Re: A morbid obsession: Sometimes I wonder which of the sectors ( media, power, oil or aviation) is more sick than the other. I believe there are international ethics for publishing news, though I am not a jounalist. But such unfathomal stories go a long way to tell how decayed our national system of operation is From Pastor John Benson Okpe

    Whatever one prays for others will surely come back to one. I cannot see the reason some people would be having sleepless night thinking of evil for Chime or trying to set him back for all tthe good things he plans for the people of Enugu. Anonymous

    From the circumstantial evidence, it is hard to conclude that those media that reported Governor Chime’s death were wrong or right in the first place. For example, what of if Chime had actualy died and was later revived when the news of his death had already gone to town? No nomal person can wish a fellow human being dead, no matter what. But when the death has actually occured, (especialy that of such a public figure), it is still proper the curious public be told of it accordingly. Afterall, death being an inevitable end of all of us comes when it must come. But when what should be ordinarily made public in the interest of all is rather shrouded in mystery, the fallible reporter as the watch-dog of the society should be entitled to draw his own conclusions based on the evidence without being liable to prosecution or penalty. Hence, the public is entitled to be informed. From Emmanuel Egwu, Enugu.

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    Segun, in one sentence, l tell you this in spite of all your indefensible averments that APC can only succeed if PDP stalwarts decamp and take over APC. Yet, APC cannot make them new humans! Anonymous

    I do not know why Nigerians are joining issues with the likes of Okupe and Dokubo who lack moral ground. Okupe knows that he has no political pedigree in his home town and in Nigeria in general. He promised to change his name or people should stop calling him Okupe if APC did not crumble within one year. He is still living in the past. He worked as an attacked dog for for the former president and later dumped like a remnant food. Dokubo has a very short memory who talk yesterday and forgot what he said. He has reduced himself to a common jester because of his unguarded utterances. He will praise you today and tomorrow he will attack you. Whether the duo like it or not, APC has come to stay. They will swallow their words when the time comes. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos.

    Asari thought that his stupid languages will help Jonathan in 2015. We voted him in, we are ready to vote him out. From Joe, Kaduna.

    I am one of your admirers who, indeed, sees you as a role model, but I am sorry to let you know that Asari is very right on this issue. Anonymous

    Though your article on ‘scaremonger and APC’ is interesting, I am more concerned about a rejoinder from Mike Adeyinka, who is unhappy about readers’, reaction to the 45-jail term for a fraudster. Please tell Adeyinka that people are unappeased for the following reasons: the belief, rightly or wrongly, that most of the victims are themselves not honest. (2) Justice in our country is for the rich and powerful. (3) The amount he duped those victims pales significantly, from what people like Maina have pillaged and for which they have been jailed three months or at most two years. God bless you for publishing my rejoinder to a rejoinder. Anonymous

    It seems Okupe and his co-travellers still do not understand the politics of this our great nation. He said we should stop calling him his name if after one year APC is not dead. He and Dokubo have forgotten when the youth of Abacha era stood up and said, Youth Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA). When the APC is eventually registered, they will realise that they have been living in fools paradise. The duo are political jobbers who do not have the interest of the nation at heart but theirs. They are still living in the past when people with integrity are compromised. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Docyard Lagos.

    Segun, it looks as if you have an exalted opinion of the abilities of the emerging APC. The truth is that some leaders of the merger will hardly give up vested interests without a fight. The pretentious resolute strength in attitudes of these leaders is deceptive for they carry failure on their faces. They do not harbour tempers that win political battles. From Micah J. Gomwen

    Uncle Sege, l do not think you need to waste your time and energy writing about Okupe and Asari Dokubo who beat drums of war as if they will not be consumed by it. Tell Okupe to get back to his trade before it is too late. Yoruba have never been lazy people and Asari can return to the creek to continue his trade. Anonymous

    The so called political merger of the three parties is a mere political gambling by a set of frustrated politicians with inordinate ambition. There is nothin interesting or fasinating about it. It is a mere pursuit of selfish political relevance by Buhari from regional to a national mission of vendetta, when he loses out again. I pity the fatal loss of AD/ACN political identity. From Dr. H. O. Ohuei, Kaduna

    APC you are ‘too much’, Nigerians are solidly behind you jare. Anonymous.

     

    For Gbenga Omotoso

     

    Just finished reading your article, sir, I enjoy the piece. God bless you. From Biyi Olanibi, Akure

    Thank you for your piece. You have not ceased to interest me as a commentator.

    Isn’t there a Saka in all of us? What a question! Anonymous

    I was happy with you the way you married a light issue with a topical issue and you still maintain cordiality with your point of view. I plead gratitude for making me laugh after reading. From Folarin Olaniyi Duro, Lagos

    What a great article I never knew you to be such a humorous /comedic person. Your article reminds me of a great Afro beat musician, Fela Anikulakpo Kuti of blessed memory, who in one of his tracks “surfing and smiling” even amid hardship Nigerians still smile but “an induced smile” that does not last more than a minute. What Nigerians need at this hard time is not all these adverts cum endless promotions but good service whereby calls are not marred by bad networks. Where calls are made without hearing the person at the other end cannot get voicing from the other end but charges made for no fault of the subscribers. Please let us forget all these gimmicks of all the service providers and treat realities. From Kent Agoha, Umuahia

    Our leaders have been reduced to common jesters, their inability to make Nigerians laugh. All the comedians should try to do what they know best to keep Nigerians laughing. I did not even remember when I laughed last because we are always frowning. I am not expected to be laughing because our country is also not laughing. They say he who laughs last laughs best. May we be the best in this country. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Docyard, Lagos

    I just laughed now to answer your question. Why? Because I read Saka ported, Etizalat paid Saka meagre thousands like a clown but Saka ported to MTN for millions, smart ass. I cannot remember how long our political looters have been porting parties to make millions. From Oladimeji Lawal

    When I collected my admission letter, that was the only time Nigeria made me laugh. From Mr. White, Ondo

    Only you could beat Saka in life’s real comedy. Thank you for your witty essay that has surplus humour flavoured with your power of huge intellect. Anonymous

    I try to laugh sometimes, most of the times I only succeed in releasing ‘polluted gas’. I do not know who can make me laugh, until yesterday when I noticed the horrified look on Saka as he turned and screamed I don port o. it seemed he was undergoing some distress, or even terrified. I said, “na by force to port?” First time reading you, now I am hooked. From Count of Monte Cristo

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

    Re: Jonathan for life! (Your column of Sunday, May 12, 2013 refers). The more rubbish we condone in Nigeria, the more corruption grows; the more unsettled and insecure we become. I have no respect for those who claim to be ethnic activists. Is it Dokubo’s fault? But, if the short is unwise, what of the tall? And Frederick Fasheun as well as Gani Adams are happy partaking and sharing the loot on securing the fuel pipelines instead of kicking against such a leakage! There can’t be a life presidency in Nigeria. Quite unfortunate the drift of Nigeria is multi-faceted. None has sent Dokubo, Kuku, Fasheun and Adams those messages. From Lanre Oseni.

    Asari Dokubo should show Nigerians where it is written in the constitution that the presidency shall be ‘turn-by-turn’ and once elected, the President must be re-elected for a second term, or that he must spend two terms or eight years. Let him do that before we begin to take him serious. From Tunde Adeniji, Old Ife Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    Tunji, your article “Jonathan for ife!” was satirical. It assured educated Nigerians that a serious message can be given on the pages of newspapers and the uninitiated (like Asari Dokubo) may not decode it. We are lucky to have writers like you. Keep it up. From Hassan, Gboko, Benue State.

    Your piece on” Jonathan for life” explains why our president deserves another term. Dokubo is enjoying, not minding millions of Nigerians in abject poverty. From Biyi Olalemi, Akute, Ogun State.

    Tunji, those who live in glass houses should never throw stones. Without the wealth of Niger Delta, Nigeria would be a church rat of a nation. No history of ancient Yoruba nation can produce a pint of petroleum oil for Nigeria today. Niger Delta is larger than Togo, Sierra Leone, and Dahomey. Respect the small man. Human life has equal value. Keep fit. From Prof Agustine.

    Brother, don’t blame those loud speakers, the duo of Kuku and Dokubo, blame the kingmaker that gave us the President now controlling 180million people. Anyway, I support your suggestion ‘Jona oko Dame for life’ (Jonathan, Dame’s husband for life!) 2015 is around the corner. From Pastor Sam Ayo, Oke Aro, Ogun State.

    Why must the government engage OPC and other groups to monitor the pipelines? Does it mean our security agencies are not up and doing in their job? Why are they paying them since they cannot do their primary assignment of guarding the petroleum pipelines to avoid vandalism? From Gordon Chika Nnorom.

    I read your inspiring column always. You sound like Steve on Fridays. Keep talking truth; “the walls”, they say, “have ears”. From Mrs. Gift, Port Harcourt.

    You have almost unveiled greedy Nigerians for us to see. Keep it up and God bless you. From Lanre- Elyon Fagbolagun, Ile-Ife.

    Your comment and analysis on page 17 of The Nation on Sunday May 12 is food for thought. What is your opinion on similar threats by two Fulani, Muhammadu Buhari and Lawal Kaita? Or is it not necessary, even though Dokubo’s came later? Yoruba ronu (Yoruba, think). Anonymous.

    Re: Champagne champions (your column of May 5). Perhaps the printer’s devil! Paragraph 5, line 2 ‘taking’ was mistaken for ‘taken’. But if France takes first position as highest consumers of champagne in the world, they are worth that because they would think with it. They will invent with it. They will innovate with it and they would solve problems with it. They have clinched the IMF presidency. They have resolved and stabilised Mali’s instability. They are a world power. Nigeria’s second position in champagne consumption in the globe does not toe the above development indices. Ours portrays underdevelopment, ostentation and bandwagon effect. We copy worse than owners! Unfortunate! From Lanre Oseni.

     

  • Dokubo, Kuku et al

    Dokubo, Kuku et al

    Outrage over statements by two key personages from the Niger Delta on the likely outcome of the 2015 elections should President Goodluck Jonathan fail to make it, is to be expected. The duo of Asari Dokubo, a repentant militant and Kingsley Kuku, special adviser to the president had at different occasions threatened dire repercussions for the country if Jonathan is not returned to power come 2015.

    They were reported to have said that the country will know no peace if Jonathan is not returned as president of the country. Even with the denial by Kuku that he did not say there will be a return to violence in the Niger Delta if Jonathan did not make it, not many are persuaded that he did not author the statement credited to him. This is more so as Dokubo has not denied his own version.

    There is the feeling that coming the way they did, those statements should not be dismissed with a wave of the hand. That perhaps accounts for the condemnations that have trailed them. Even then, such inciting statements are neither entirely new nor limited to the Niger Delta region.

    Before now, two northern leaders Adamu Ciroma and Lawal Kaita had issued threats insisting that the north must produce the president in 2015 else there will be dire consequences. Apart from these, there have equally been inciting statements from some other quarters on the 2015 elections and their possible outcome should things not go the way expected.

    Coming on the heels of earlier predictions that the Nigerian state might fail by 2015, these recurring threats must be a serious cause for worry. It is only hoped that we are not walking the path of self-fulfilling prophesy. But more importantly, the threats expose the nature of desperate politics we play in this country. They speak volumes on what progress or lack of it has been made in our quest for national integration in the last 52 years of our independence. Above all, we are being exposed to the motivational and propelling reasons for our pattern of political competition. And central to all is prebendalism-the quest for political power for the sole aim of satisfying ones immediate families and primordial interests. That is why the South-south is threatening fire and brimstone should their kinsman Jonathan fail to make it again. That is why the north is laying strident claims to power in 2015. And it is for the same reason other sections that have not taken a shot at the presidency are equally fighting for it.

    Implicit in all these struggles, is the feeling that it is by electing one of yours into strategic national offices that the interests of that section can be adequately protected. It also exposes the fact that we are yet unable to build national leaders and national institutions. Our people are yet to repose confidence in the capacity of our political leaders to rise above sectional, ethnic and primordial predilections despite pontifications to the contrary. By the same token, they are yet to come to terms with the reality that the resources of the country will not be disproportionately deployed to service sectional interests.

    So how do we expect this country to make any meaningful progress with such a ruinous political culture? How can meaningful development take place with the subsisting suspicion, mistrust and in-fighting among the component units? These are the issues to ponder especially when it is recalled that the spate of insecurity in the country is directly tied to events of the last presidential primaries of the ruling party.

    Is it not surprising that the credentials being bandied by all those threatening the country should their region fail to produce the next president are predicated on ethnic interests? Both Dokubo and Kuku are flaunting their Niger Delta credentials while Ciroma and Kaita are talking of northern interests. So where do we locate the Nigerian interest within this cacophony in sectional voices? That is the question to ponder. The issue is not just that sectional considerations dominate our perception of the power equation in this country but they now constitute serious threat to its continued survival.

    It is even more pondering that the feeling is permeating that political power can be cornered through threats by the component units. Ironically too, these threats are not limited to the political front. The dreaded Boko Haram religious sect that has been levying war on the country in the past two years had issued such threats. In its case, it is championing the institution of an Islamic state in the country for which it asked southerners to leave the north. The attacks on churches and southerners before now were predicated on its commitment to have its warped agenda come through. Even as we condemn the Niger Delta chieftains for threatening hell if Jonathan does not return for a second term, such inciting statements are not new in our political chessboard. As a matter of fact, they are fast assuming the necessary and sufficient conditions for groups within the country to seek accommodation and relevance from those who hitherto dominated its leadership. It is also very interesting that northern chieftains have also fallen for the same tactics. What matters now it would seem, is no longer merit or competence but the geo-political zone which the leader comes from. This is where this country has just found itself and that is very unfortunate. Perhaps, what all these underscore is the point that has been severally canvassed on the need for us to take another look at the basis for our continued stay as a country. Before now, several well meaning Nigerians have rooted for a national conference or its sovereign variant to determine Nigeria’s future. Those who make these calls hinge them on the imperative to resolve once and for all, the contentious issues of our federal structure so that the country can progress in an atmosphere devoid of their disruptive influences. But each time these issues are raised, those who purport to be the conscience of this country stridently oppose the idea. However, the issues that give rise to such calls refuse to disappear. Is it not time we face reality and save this country the distractions it faces on account of our inability or outright refusal to square up to our nagging problems? Or why do we delude ourselves to the effect that all is well when in all actuality, the component units live in mutual distrust and utter suspicion. Why do we oppose fresh negotiations on how we can live in harmony and achieve faster development when each day, issues arising from this continue to stare us in the face? Is it not confounding that sectarian and primordial cleavages are now at an all time high despite our touted unity over the past 52 years?

    Perhaps, if we had addressed some of these problems through the conference, the Niger Delta militancy and the Boko Haram insurgency which are serious threats to our nationhood would have been taken care of. Perhaps also, there would have been no need to resort to ad hoc amnesty palliatives for issues that would have been holistically tackled.

    It is therefore not enough to brood over threats from Niger Delta, Boko Haram, Arewa Forum, Oodua Peoples Congress and Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra. That is how bad our inability to address issues of our collective being has taken us to.

  • Diverting the nation to final bus stop

    Nigeria of today is in perceptible disarray. There is so much confusion and discouragement indicating that the nation is being dragged to the end of its journey. The desperation to retain power at all cost is diverting the essence of fulfilling the promise of transforming the nation. As goal posts keep shifting, developments keep degenerating. It is as if the only things being transformed rapidly are the private pockets with looted funds from the national treasury, leaving the masses to perish in penury.

    The problem afflicting the nation is the non-commitment of the chosen few in leadership who tend to be holding the electorates in hostage. Concentrating on nation building has become pettiness while ambition and corruption are prioritized. When on May Day the labour leaders requested the President to fight corruption harder, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s response was the current trend counter-attack as he told the workers to advise their colleagues to stop stealing. He might have forgotten that those stealing downstairs are following the pattern at the top.

    An article by Dutch journalist and writer Femke van Zeiji, titled “Mediocrity overtakes corruption to wreck Nigeria” published in The Guardian few weeks ago recapitulated the factual situation of the nation. “Nigeria is the opposite of meritocracy: you do not earn by achieving,” she wrote. “You get to be who and where you are by knowing the right people. Whether you work in an office, for an enterprise or an NGO, at a construction site or in government, your abilities hardly ever are the reason you got there. Performing well, let alone with excellence, is not a requirement, in fact, it is discouraged.”

    The lady who lives and works in Nigeria must have experienced the trauma stalling the country from moving forward. To her, “it would be too threatening: showing you are more intelligent, capable or competent than the ‘oga’ at the top (who as a rule, is not an over-achiever either) is career suicide.” She could see the drift of the nation’s failure from “an attitude that trickles down from the very top, its symptoms eventually showing up in all of society, from bad governance to bad service.” Her conclusion was that frustration of unrewarded excellence is making Nigeria to become a “pretty cumbersome place for anyone striving for perfection.”

    Not long ago, President Jonathan acknowledged openly that corruption in Nigeria is not a serious issue, daringly certifying that a good 80 per cent of what Nigerians consider to be corruption are actually not corruption cases. Perhaps, he said so to denounce the critics in self-defence. Yet, hardly could any impactful development be seen of the enormous budgets that are annually approved for execution since he assumed office.

    Indeed, those in power might be defending their ineptitude, cluelessness and disloyalty to those whose votes were manipulated to get into office by lambasting their critics as colleagues in despotism and fraud. The reality of the state of the nation today is unhidden as corruption is crushing depressingly on the life of the underprivileged, lowly and poor majority.

    Only last week, a report of Save the Children International, a non-governmental organization disclosed that among 176 nations, Nigeria is rated 169th worst place to be born. It also stated that being the 12th highest country where babies die on their first day after birth, Nigeria has become one of the riskiest place to be born on earth. The conclusion was that the agonizing story is based on the poor health circumstances of mothers. Many more Nigerians are today being confronted with early death due to hunger and diseases.

    Of course, the colossal corruption in Nigeria at all levels as alleged by United States of America’s Department of State last month cannot but strengthen destitution in the land of abundance. Documenting major financial scandals of 2012, the department’s report presented to the US Congress by Secretary of State John Kerry estimated official money lost to “endemic corruption and entrenched inefficiency” at $6.8billion (N1.067trillion). Among others, the world was also reminded of the stealing of N32.8billion Police Pension Fund, fraudulent contracts, embezzlement and laundering of N75billion by a former Minister and the many ex-governors arrested and charged for fraud committed while in office.

    It is not strange declaring that though Nigerian law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, the fact that the law is not being implemented devotedly, fraudulent practices are being engaged with impunity across the land. Supposed anti-corruption institutions have proved to be tools in the hands of the authority to deal with fellow corrupt officials they disagree with on personal issues.

    Even when the commissions and the judiciary arraign criminals, there is hardly confidence in concluding the cases justifiably. The consequence has been a criminal nation begetting criminal citizenry. Today, there are multitude criminal cases inconclusive in trial: oil thieves, fuel subsidy scammers, and much more. After boisterous arrests, followed by few days of detention, if at all there is arraignment, bail would be granted and that might just be the end as adjournments would be mounting upon deferments. Were the cases of ex-Delta State Governor James Ibori who pleaded guilty abroad after escaping from home and militant leader Henry Okah convicted for bomb blasting in Abuja handled here at home, penalties of their criminalities would not have manifested as it was. Afterall, many of the ruling party’s former governors like Ayo Fayose, Adebayo Alao-Akala and Aliyu Akwe Doma who were once arraigned for fraud are walking free today upon inconclusive trials.

    It is pitiable that the crops of Nigerians who have now morphed into the leadership class are more interested in personal attainments than rendering faithful services to the people. The nation is under untrustworthy political class who make promises that are never fulfilled. Million jobs are assured, but more million people are remaining jobless – rendering enormous talented human resources wasted and discarding them to criminality.

    Resolving power challenges keeps dragging with government propagandists defending electricity output of 4,500 MW for use by 160 million Nigerians as remarkable achievement. Pledges are made to build more cash reserves, but such reserves are reportedly being pocketed by the very few privileged, leaving the nation in mounting indebtedness. Let’s recollect how Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili’s disclosure was turned to battle of personalities.

    The way the country is being administered is as if the political elites are essentially telling the masses that they are ordinary Nigerians deluded about the nation’s state of affairs. They relegated the masses as the foolish and elevate themselves as the sane.

    The reality is that Nigeria is being detracted from moving forward through terrorism, kidnapping and fraud – all resulting from embedded corruption. Disasters keep crawling across the land. People in poverty are being used as tools in the hands of the wicked.

    The fatal challenges of Boko Haram disparaging the nation today are being faked as religious when in actuality it is largely more about power tussle. Last week, detachment of riot policemen and security officers heading to dislodge the shrine of Ombatse, a deity of Eggon people in Nasarawa State were murdered. Same time, many casualties emerged in Agatu Local government Area of Benue State after attacks. This was happening when the issues of the many lives lost in Baga, Bama/Banki and Marte were still unresolved.

    Yet, life cannot continue the unpleasant way it is. The failing leaders should know that their time will soon be over. The haven of rogues undermining the economic development of the country will soon be forced to vomit all the swallowed good of the land. This is because people are anticipating for change.

    For Nigeria not be extricated as a nation, this time of wasteful challenges is surely for meaningful change in governance. This is why the wise who love the people should not allow the craving for 2015 elections to detract since it will not just be about voting for change of personalities or about tribalism. It will be about reformation of a decaying nation. Now then should be the time to focus more about change in attitude, in character and in conducting sincere and purified business of government.

  • Achieving robust power transmission network

    Achieving robust power transmission network

    I watched with zeal and enthusiasm the recent Presidential Power Reform Transaction Signing Summit at the State House Abuja. At that summit, the preferred bidders for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor generating and distribution companies that have paid the initial 25% of the bid prices were handed over their 25% payment certificates. The balance of 75% is expected to be settled within six months. That event to me was indeed a major step forward in the

    implementation of the power sector reform. The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo in his speech at the event described the summit as a “further boost to the reform momentum and investment confidence.”

    The minister is n right because the critics of the ongoing privatization efforts in the power sector do not agree that the process would reach the present stage of its journey. Their scepticisms were initially hinged on the believe that privatization of the power sector was not an answer to Nigeria’s quest for uninterrupted power supply and therefore concluded that the project would not work.

    Today, we have gone beyond the unbundling of the PHCN to the sale of the successor companies. It is also becoming increasingly clear that the solution to the interrupted power supply in the country lies in the hands of private investors given the enormity of the financial investments that are required to revitalize and transform the sector for efficiency and result.

    For instance to achieve the projected 40,000 MW in the country by the year 2020, it requires an annual US$10 billion investment in the power sector for the next 10 years. This means that a whopping US$100 billion is required urgently with generation alone, accounting for 35 percent of the fund injection. Obviously, this huge capital outlay is not available to the federal government now or in the near future.

    The interest shown by investors in the privatization of the power sector is unimaginable. Impressed with the investors market confidence in the power sector, President Goodluck Jonathan during the Power Reform Transaction Signing Summit stated that he was encouraged by the sustained interest in the sector and the meaningful investments that had been prompted in gas processing, power generation, power distribution and transmission. The President is not alone on this impressive note. Major industry players present at the event as well as senior government officials, friends and partners of Nigeria gave their endorsement and expressed confidence in the implementation and progress so far recorded in the privatization process of the sector.

    In no distant time, the generation and the distribution companies would be handed over to the preferred bidders to be fully managed by them. The only component of the power sector that will remain in the hands of the government is the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). Already a management contract between Manitoba Hydro of Canada and the federal government has been put in place for TCN, to bring global best practices to bear in the expansion and management of the Nation’s grid. The TCN Board has also been inaugurated and the Schedule of Delegated Authority (SODA) has been issued to Manitoba Hydro.

    What this means is expected massive increase in the quantum of power generation and distribution in the country. But can this expectation be sustained in view of the state of the transmission network available in the country and the huge financial investment required to strengthen it?

    The Minister of Power, Professor Nebo, recently revealed for instance that a total capital outlay of US$3.4 billion is required up to 2016 to fix the country’s transmission grid to be able to evacuate all generated power estimated at 20,000MW. At present, the transmission network in the country remains weak and cannot wheel a power load greater than 5,000 MW. What government needs to do at this moment is to urgently put in place a robust transmission expansion master plan to cope with the expected massive increase in generation.

    It is on record that the gap between the power production profile and the effective wheeling capacity of the country’s grid is in excess of an average of 1,200MW per day of stranded generation. This development is unhealthy and cannot be tolerated in this expected new dawn of increased power generation, especially when the private investors take over. Efforts should therefore be intensified by the government to address the issue of the present radial network and dominant single- circuit network which industry experts said were responsible for grid fragility. There is also the issue of accumulated maintenance neglect throughout the network which the government should also look into, to avoid the increasingly weak handshake at the TX/DX interface, causing frequent feeder-line tripping and declining efficiency of transmission-level fault detection and protection systems.

    As noted earlier, government alone may not be able to achieve this robust transmission network. It therefore becomes expedient to tinker with the idea of declaring a Transmission Emergency in the sector in recognition of the threats this weakness poses to the development of a sustainable power market. In the same direction, government can as well create an enabling frame work for private- sector participation in transmission project development as well as promote an agenda to attract investors to partake in project development.

    It is however, gratifying to note that some positive steps have been taken by the government to strengthen the nation’s transmission line capacities. Already government is working out the funding of the TCN long term expansion plan from a mix which will include the Transmission Development Fund, international banks and multilateral agencies. Work is also currently on going in the refurbishing,

    rehabilitation and expansion of existing plants, for electricity development in the country.

    There are also faults clearing in the transmission network across the nation, upgrading and modernizing many aspects. Many of the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) already have transmission components embedded in the project. For example, 118 transmission projects by NIPP are ongoing now in 43 lots. These transmission projects which cover over 274km of lines and transmission capacity of 2,370 MW will soon be completed.

    While commending the present conscious efforts of government to achieve a robust transmission network, it is also pertinent to say that the application of speed in the completion of these critical projects is important to quickly enhance the TCN wheeling capacity and to maintain stability in the entire electricity value chain during and after the privatization of the power sector.

    • Aneke is an Abuja based public affairs analyst.

  • IBB on Adenuga, OBJ and allied issues

    IBB on Adenuga, OBJ and allied issues

    Consequent upon the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election won by the late Alhaji M.K.O. Abiola, Nigeria headed for the precipice. It took the fleeting emergence of Chief Ernest Shonekan for some fragile stability and graveyard peace to be achieved.

    Shortly thereafter, the late Gen. Sani Abacha came on the scene by dismissing the interim government headed by Chief Shonekan through a coup. The bespectacled General clamped a lot of people into jail and routinely made the prison yards nationwide the habitation of real and imaginary ‘troublemakers’, particularly the advocates for the restoration of democracy to Nigeria on the vociferous and popular NADECO platform.

    On the heels of the revalidation of democracy by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who assumed the reigns of leadership following Abacha’s death, it took massive persuasion to get Obasanjo to return to power as a civilian head of state. One of the dignitaries that visited the Ota farm settlement of Obasanjo immediately after his release from incarceration was former head of state, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), GCFR. The mission was to encourage OBJ to accept the responsibility circumstance had thrust on him with Abiola’s controversial transition.

    That trip was long before OBJ eventually became the country’s president and began to drive rough thereafter, forgetting where he was coming from, God’s intervention in his rescue from Abacha’s gulag and his antecedents generally. Astonishingly, almost all the people who played key roles in the enthronement of OBJ as Nigeria’s president gradually became his targets for witch-hunt, assault and needless embarrassment.

    It must be underscored that OBJ is a very amnesic, vindictive and pretentious human being—all traits resoundingly confirmed by events before, during and even after his wasted eight-year presidency!

    While in office, OBJ established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) with its first chairman as Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu. At the outset of this laudable agency there were dispassionate efforts at rooting out corruption and other criminalities from this clime. Along the line, the agency derailed and became OBJ’s instrument for humiliation, intimidation, oppression, subjugation, suppression and witch-hunt of all manner of ‘enemies’ and their perceived friends.

    So, without recollecting the roles IBB and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, among others, played pursuant to his disastrous presidency in terms of political strategy and moral backing, he covertly unleashed the EFCC on them, including the ACN leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ribadu graciously confirmed this at the presentation of a book in honour of the late Abiola by Dr. Olatunji Dare not long ago and further made a testament to futile pressures on him to criminalize Tinubu at all costs!

    The relationship between IBB, Adenuga and OBJ informed this essay in the light of IBB’s congratulatory message to Adenuga on his diamond anniversary a fortnight ago, as published in major Nigerian newspapers, including this racy medium, naturally (extracts below).

    Shortly before the end of his tenure as third-time president of this country, OBJ reopened the missing $2.8 billion Gulf War accruals (windfall) and declared that all those involved in the looting of the money will be tried in obvious reference to IBB whose government was in power when the incident happened. In fact, there were talks that IBB may be arrested to explain the alleged misappropriation! That never happened apparently because of the backlash such jaundiced inquisition will elicit.

    The next victim of OBJ was the chairman and principal owner of Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga, Jr. (GCON). As usual, the EFFC was let loose on ‘Mr. Glo.’ What were his offences? His enduring friendship with IBB and parleying with Atiku instead of supporting his third-term fiasco! Not surprisingly, the EFFC furiously went after Adenuga. What were the additional charges? ‘The Bull’ was allegedly fronting for IBB in the ownership of Globacom! When that script was torn to shreds, the EFCC and its principal (OBJ) could not understand why and how ‘The Guru’ should be the core stakeholder in the multi-billion telecoms project (forgetting that he is one of the world’s 258 richest men, according to Forbes magazine). So, the next thing was to get to the root of the suspicions through the invasion of Adenuga’s home and offices on Victoria Island in a Gestapo way in search of implicative documents, unsuccessfully. At a point in the ensuing drama, the EFCC made a volte-face and said it was IBB’s son and next governor of Niger State, Muhammed, who held his father’s purported equity in Globacom! The victimization got to a point that when Adenuga travelled to Paris during the EFCC siege, the combative agency issued a vitriolic statement that he had fled the country to foreclose arrest and the misinformation spread like a hurricane and people were calling me to find out the truth and the multi-billionaire’s whereabouts as a corporate affairs strategist in one of his companies then! Overall, the EFCC brouhaha ended in a fiasco as there was no iota of truth in its principal’s weird imagination and despotic machination.

    The point must be noted that Adenuga was vindicated at the end of the day. It took the courageous, unquestionable, unimpeachable and trustworthy intervention and royal guarantee of Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa, Oba (Dr.) S. K. Adetona, CFR., when Adenuga returned from France shortly after the unwarranted invasion of his person and institutions to broker a final resolution and emancipation of ‘Mr. Glo’ from the unnecessarily vindictive and jealous clutches of OBJ when he was in power for the last time! Never again!

    Now the vintage message from IBB to Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jnr., GCON, on his 60th Birthday, which, I am sure, most people did not flag! It is instructive and partly goes thus: “…The fact that you treasure the virtue of true friendship and loyalty to any cause you believe in gives you the cutting edge. I am eternally grateful for all the troubles you had to go through because of me in the hands of a regime that tried to derail our friendship and relationship.

    “Even when you came under severe pressure by that same regime which I helped to nurture (emphasis mine), to blackmail me in order to hang me, you remained eternally loyal and steadfast. Only a businessman of character, sound upbringing and virtue could choose friendship instead of his economic empire. Only a man of delectable poise, with an open mind and fear of God, would choose to sustain an age-long relationship instead of sacrificing same at the altar of avarice, greed and economic interest.

    “Such tribulations are prices we have to pay for true friendship…I remain grateful for being a true friend indeed.”

    The foregoing extracts speak volumes of the uncanny character of the Ota farmer! Who can name the symbol of devilishness for me? I already have an exemplar in the person of…as if you didn’t know! Do I need to add that the instructive anniversary message from IBB for The Bull—and to the bully from Ota—made my day? I read it voraciously and internalized the import of it all. I implore those who did not read it to get a copy and digest it for personal edification.

    •Wabara is a perception manager based in Lagos.

  • Akpabio versus Etok: Matters arising

    Akpabio versus Etok: Matters arising

    The closer we get to 2015, the more theatrical our politics will become as great desperation sets in amongst key players seeking public office. We are already being served something of a foretaste of the drama in Akwa Ibom where state governor, Godswill Akpabio, has been locked in a very public spat with the senator representing Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, Aloysius Etok.

    The whole row broke out after the governor – whose two-term tenure expires in two years – made known his intention to run for the seat presently being occupied by Etok as part of his career projection.

    The speculation has been on for a while, but Akpabio finally removed all doubt about his ambition during the 20th year remembrance of former Southeastern State Governor, the late Brig.-Gen. Udoakaha Esuene, in Eket earlier this year.

    Perhaps in a bid to soften the punch with a bit of levity, newspapers quoted the governor as saying, “This is the first time the senators are going to know that Senator Aloysius will be my campaign manager during the senatorial election in the state in 2015.”

    But if it was a joke, the incumbent senator was not amused – and that is putting it mildly. In reaction, he has been firing on all cylinders ever since. In a chat on AKBC Radio 90.5 FM, Uyo, Etuk declared: “Akpabio must respect my office if he does not respect me like I respect his office of the governor which also covers me”.

    Some have criticised – even vilified him – for the way and manner he has gone about his senate bid. They are entitled to their views. But they must also concede that the governor has not committed any crime in aspiring. He certainly would not be the first person to seek to go to the legislature after serving in the executive branch – that is why in the Senate today you will find several ex-governors.

    Of course, you may quarrel with his style – but then everyone to his own methods. He has chosen to be upfront about the sort of thing that some other person will be scheming about behind the scenes. In that sense Akpabio’s only offence is being brutally frank about his intentions. But, again, in Nigerian politics truth-telling is a crime of sorts.

    It would have been great if this whole matter ended here and the two men were left to pursue their interests in ways they saw fit. Unfortunately, we have since seen things descend to the theatre of the absurd with the allegations that Akpabio was behind an attempt to kill the senator.

    At the press conference where he aired the very grave allegations, Etok accused Akpabio of despatching a “hit squad” after him, with threatening text messages advising him to renounce his ambition for another for a third term in the upper legislative chamber, or face the consequence of being targeted within seven days.

    He said: “I want the governor to tell Nigerians and the international community if there is anything wrong in any man aspiring to contest for an office.”

    “Is that enough for the governor to instruct the council chairmen to say that if I don’t withdraw from the contest, that they will recall me? He asked the state of assembly to pass resolution that they will recall me, to the extent that members of the house of assembly came on television to insult and malign me.”

    “Not only that, the governor has now loosed his hit squad, including what I have on this phone some text messages that if I don’t retract the statement that I will contest election, after seven days, I will see what they will do.”

    He further claimed that the governor instructed “different groups that if I don’t retract the statement within seven days, I will either be dead to stop me or alive to retract the statement.” Very weighty allegations indeed!

    Following up on his charges, the senator wrote to the State Security Service (SSS) asking for an investigation. They duly obliged and set up a sting operation which netted one Adelola Olaore aka General Africa who thought he could make quick money out of the public quarrel between erstwhile political allies.

    The SSS probe has since established that there was no truth whatsoever in claims by Olaore that he had been contracted by so-called associates of Akpabio to eliminate Etok. His was simply a phantom assassination plot to exhort money, and based on that the senator had been crying wolf.

    When he was paraded before the media, Adelola Tamunotonye Olaore, who is a 29 years old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, disclosed that he comes from Oyo State, but had lived all his life in Rivers State.

    He admitted to attempting to dupe the senator by “lying to him”. But he denied telling Etok he was contracted by Akpabio loyalists to assassinate him. “I never told the senator anything like that. How would I tell a senator such a thing and come to Abuja to collect money,” he asked.

    It is often said that all is fair in politics and war. However, there must come a point at which the line should be drawn. It is one thing exchange words because one’s ego has been bruised; it is an entirely different matter when a man’s integrity and name are being tarnished with accusations that he was planning murder. This is the same allegation that the SSS has debunked.

    What would be the fair and reasonable thing to do? In one word: apologise to the one you have unfairly accused, and whose reputation you have impugned. Unfortunately, Etok does not seem to be in a hurry to rectify his error.

    We must not allow emotions to cloud our reasoning. What is going on between the senator and governor is pure politics – including ongoing attempts by stakeholders in his senatorial zone to initiate his recall. As long as this is done legally there’s nothing wrong with it.

    Of course, some commentators have tried to cast this political battle in light of a struggle between top dog and underdog. Romantics tend to side with anyone they perceive to be at a disadvantage in this kind of contest. But that should not mean we strip the so-called top dog of all his constitutional rights to fair hearing.

    Everything goes in Nigerian politics but accusing your opponent of being an assassin just to win public sympathy is simply beyond the pale. Let the senator do the honourable thing by apologising to the governor. He can then continue with his challenge for a third term in 2015 and let the people decide who they want.

    · Ibok writes from Lagos.

     

  • David Laoye: Uncelebrated hero of Edeland

    David Laoye: Uncelebrated hero of Edeland

    Edeland, a major town in Nigeria, was thrown into a mourning mood on March 14, 2013, with the untimely transition of one of its illustrious sons, late Colonel David Alamu Bankole Laoye, a charming prince of Ajeniju extraction at the age of sixty-nine (69). A prince who never let off airs, despite being born into royalty.

    For late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye, it was a life well lived. It was a life of adventure and one that was well coped with despite various challenges that came on his way. Prince Bankole Laoye was an enigma. A totally detribalised Nigerian, who ensured that human beings are well accorded their rights and recognition, no matter how lowly placed they are. He abhorred cheating.

    Born into the Royal Ajeniju House by late Oba (Dr.) John Adetoyese Laoye (the Drummer King, who took Ede on international excursion during his reign) and Olori Flora Ebun Laoye, he started adolescent life at Baptist Boy’s High School Abeokuta, Ogun State where he made his marks with distinction.

    This top-brass military officer knew what he wanted out of life early enough, as he got enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1964 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular I Cadets Officers course. He had as his mates at the NDA Regular I course, the likes of Lt. General Oladipo Diya (rtd), Lt. General Salihu Ibrahim, a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Gusau, a former National Security Adviser, Major General Rabiu Aliyu – one time military Secretary and many others. Before he enlisted in the Nigerian Army, he worked briefly at Western Nigeria Housing Corporation after he left Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta. This was a common feature in those days to have a taste of the civil service.

    Late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye had a distinguished career in the military. He was Commander, 132 Battalion Obosi, 2nd Mechanised Division during the Civil War under late General Muritala Mohammed. Late Colonel Bankole Laoye was at the heat of the 30-month civil war between 1967 and 1970. He gave a good account of himself as a career military officer and came out of the war unscratched. He was an officer and a gentleman.

    After the Civil War, he served as a Brigade Major under 33 Infantry Brigade, Maiduguri and proceeded to become Colonel-General staff at the Directorate of Infantry in Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos, under Major-General Adedayo. Late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye was a Chief Instructor at Command and Staff College Jaji. Among his trainees, as a Company Commander at Nigerian Defence Academy were four-star Generals, like retired Air Marshall Petirin. He was the acting Military Governor of Western State in 1975, when the substantive Military Governor, Major-General David Medayese Jemibewon, went on vacation. He held the front well without any hitch.

    Having carved a niche for himself in the military, late Colonel David Bankole Alamu Laoye decided to serve his immediate community of Ede in different callings. He passionately loved Ede and gave it the best he could, not only as a prince, but as a humble leader, who mixed freely with the less-privileged in the society. He was an incontrovertible study in humility, doggedness and silent achievements. He was incorruptible. He carried himself with elegance and candour. He was magisterial in his disposition.

    As an acting Military Governor of Western State in 1975, he gave his Ede home town a peculiar identity for vehicle registration number of OY- B. The town’s people jubilated. Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye was so full of love for Edeland that he influenced, as a member of old Western State Executive Council, the citing of the Cocoa Products Industry at Ede and also, on behalf of the late Oba John Adetoyese Laoye, donated the land where the industry was built as the Administrator of the family land. When moves were surreptiously made to relocate the Cocoa Industry from Ede, late Colonel Bankole Laoye was instrumental to its non-removal. He stood like the Rock of Gibraltar behind Ede and the Cocoa Industry.

    The repositioning of Ede railway line as a terminus of the then Bendel line was through the silent moves of late Colonel Bankole Laoye. As a lover of tourism and hospitality industry, he established the first major hotel in Ede, known as FLORA MOTEL, in memory of his late sweet mother. It was years later that he established a branch of the hotel at Bodija, Ibadan. That showed the patriotism in the late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye; that home is first.

    As a member of CONFAB in 1994, during the Abacha regime, where he actively participated, late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye used his enormous influence, in cooperation with other members of the CONFAB, to create Ede South Local Government Area, which thus brought additional local government area into Edeland, even though his election into the said CONFAB did not enjoy the votes of his Ede people. To Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye, that was no issue. He is a prince of Ede, and believed very rightly that he should give his community the best, whether or not he was appreciated.

    In 1991, he ventured into the murky waters of politics, when he contested to become a Senator under the defunct National Republican Convention, but lost to Senator Omilani of Social Democratic Party. He enjoyed the greatest support of the likes of Alhaj Umaru Shinkafi, Alhaj Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao and late Dr. Hammed Kusamotu in his bid to become a senator in the 1991 contest. The rest, as they say, is history. He felt no bad blood. No malice, no grudge.

    In the last few months of his sojourn on earth, late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye was a member of Ede Trust Intervention Committee, where he served as the coordinator of the home branch. The committee was set up to ensure that a local council development area was given to Ede in the course of the last exercise by Ogbeni Aregbesola government to create more local council areas for Osun.

    Late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye was always at meetings held at the Cameron Road, Ikoyi residence of Alhaj S. O. Babalola, who is the Grand Patron of the Committee, among other eminent Ede indigenes. He served the Intervention Trust Committee so diligently and ensured that the briefs of the committee were duly transmitted.

    An elder of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter, late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye gave his best to the service of the party till he breathed his last. But posterity did not allow him to reap the fruits of his labour. It is only hopeful that the party will not allow his labour to go in vain.

    That is the man, Colonel David Bankole Laoye, a charming, elegant prince. An erudite military tactician who gave all of his best to serve his country, humanity and, indeed, his Ede community. It will be eternally on record that late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye remains an uncelebrated true hero of Edeland, going by his splendid contributions to the town, where he was somehow unappreciated and misunderstood for reasons best known to some members of the community.

    Perhaps, the greatest secret of the success profile of late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye was that he did not believe in pleasing everyone, particularly the so-called elites. He did also not care about what hypocrites think of him. He was himself. His life was a lesson for us all at Ede to appreciate those who, at the background, are contributing to the development of our land without making noise. Let us de-emphasise the trend of hero-worshipping emergency-millionaires, people of shady characters, women of easy virtue and do-no-gooders generally, who are mere pretenders amongst us.

    And here goes a man we shall forever cherish and adore. An eminent Ede citizen of candour, patriotism, carriage and courage, whose “infectious”, disarming smile, we shall miss forever. He was there for Ede, but were we there for him? Sweet is your memory, David Bankole Alamu Laoye. Goodbye and goodnight.

     

    Lawal writes from Ede

  • Pini Jason, Aloy Aguwa: Tributes

    Although the entire nation weeps over the most unexpected death of the late Dr. Aloysious Aguwa and the late Pini Jason Onyegbadue, not many Nigerians know that the two late icons were kinsmen who hailed from the great Mbaise clan in Imo state. Not many Nigerians also know that between 2007 and 2011, the two were members of the Imo state executive council in which, by the grace of God Almighty, I was privileged to serve as governor.

    While, the death of the two gentlemen at the same time (within a space of four days) is doubtlessly devastating, I am certain that it brings fond memories of that era which every well meaning Imolite acknowledges as one in which the state saw the biggest manifestation of its potentials. Needless to say, the involvement of Aloysious Aguwa, Ph.D., an academic and environmentalist of international repute and Pini Jason Onyegbadue, ace journalist and easily one of the most brilliant newspaper columnists Nigeria has ever produced, in that administration drew the attention of many, both within and outside Nigeria, to Imo.

    To be sure, that administration boasted of other very brilliant men and women who had distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavour, but I can say without any fear of contradiction that I count myself particularly fortunate to have been able to bring those two fellows, not only to be part of it, but to have remained with us throughout the period.

    As a public affairs commentator, Pini Jason had established a reputation as a fearless, bold and courageous fellow who would render his views no matter whose ox is gored. To be quite candid, I initially had to contend with a few friends who expressed some anxieties over the fact that I invited such a fiery critic, indeed, a radical, to serve with me. But I had no difficulty with that because my idea of governance was, and still is, that the people being governed should be given the benefit of having inputs from their best brains and hands, irrespective of the personal idiosyncrasies of the fellow who calls the shots as chief executive.

    Given his background, the late Pini Jason came in mostly as a member of my media team but his designation was that of Special Adviser on Special Projects. To be quite candid, I merely hid under that appellation to tap from his very fecund mind, after I had discovered that Pini was very vast on several other issues outside core media related matters.

    There was no topic the late Pini Jason would not give a sound opinion on (which you may disagree with) based on a thorough analytical expose. From politics to economics, from religion to culture, from diplomacy to folklores, Pini would treat you to fine details of both historical and contemporary perspectives that, if you had the patience to listen, you would wonder why you never knew all that before.

    Perhaps his most significant input in our administration was his insistence that we must accommodate criticism while, of course, abhorring the use of thugs. Looking back, I greatly appreciate that because that singular attitude shaped the character of our administration, an aspect that is being today remembered with nostalgia by the great people of Imo state who have since seen the difference.

    While we were in Owerri, even casual observers noticed that the late Chief Pini Jason Onyegbadue was one of the closest appointees to me. It was not for nothing. He shuttled between his office and mine several times and in most cases, he would return after close of work and together we looked at issues far into the night. When we completed the new Governor’s Office Complex, Pini got an office directly opposite mine. In fact, he was the only Special Adviser who shared the third floor with me. And unknown to many, the late Chief Pini Jason Onyegbadue until his death shared the same office complex with me in Abuja.

    I was with him when the news of the death of Dr. Aguwa came. We were both very shocked but he managed the devastation that arose from losing such a young and illustrious kinsman of his; to be able to continually tell me: “Take it easy”. Pini took off to Lagos to take advantage of the May Day public holiday to be with his family. Before he left for the airport, he passed through my place to see how I was faring. I bade him farewell but little did I know that that was the last time I would see him.

    Even before he suddenly took ill in Lagos, he had called and the major discussion was on the late Aguwa. Aguwa was of late in constant touch with me. We spoke almost every day especially in connection with the new book he was about to release on the environmental protection programmes of our administration. The late Aguwa was the Commissioner for Petroleum and Environment and had come up with a very fine account of what we did to make Imo state a model as far as cleanliness is concerned. The late Aguwa it was who presided over our programme that earned Owerri the sobriquet of the cleanest state capital in Nigeria.

    Once, I was elected governor, one of the first things I did was to begin to ask for the best Imo brains on environmental issues wherever they might reside. The search took us to Michigan in the United States of America where the late Aguwa was presiding over an organization known as Altech Environmental Services Inc. U.S.A. It took weeks of persuasion from well meaning citizens of the state, especially members of the highly respected Aguwa clan, for Alloy to accept to return home to serve the country. It is unfortunate that the nation is losing him at a time his wealth of experience and expertise is mostly needed.

    But in spite of the tragedy, part of my consolation is that it pleased God to let us come close to one fellow that combined intellect with a mien that almost set him aside as an enigma. Could a fellow of such academic standing and professional exposure be as humble as the late Aguwa? That must have been the question most of his colleagues were asking.

    If Aloy Aguwa were to be alive and I lost two members of my cabinet at a go, it is to him I would have run to for comfort and wise counsel. Just as Pini Jason kept on telling me when the news of his (Aguwa’s) death reached both of us: “What can we do?” Indeed what can we do? The demise of these two great men reminds all of us of the futility of life. In fact, the late Pini Jason preached that we should do things today as if there will be no opportunity to do them tomorrow. That was why he was himself a stickler to excellence. He believed that you should leave no stone unturned today.

    Did Pini Jason have a premonition of death? I have been asking myself this question because in death, Pini achieved what he would himself: Have his wife, to whom he was very close, watch him die. And that was precisely what happened. Was it destiny that took him back to Lagos where his family resides? Pini was so proud of his family and would seize every opportunity to tell you: “God gave me a wonderful family”. Was his manner of death a wish that came true? Why did it happen that way, so fast? Why did it please God to take away these two great fellows the same time?

    Adieu great ones.

    • Ohakim is ex-governor of Imo State

  • From the cell phone

    For Olatunji Dare

     

    Each time l see her picture in the papers, my heart speaks…and say…Haaa! An angel has left us in our evil ways… Anonymous

    The President is playing, toying with the lives of Nigerians in the name of politics. He does not give a damn whether the people who voted him in are in danger or not. Insecurity is spreading accros the country but he seems not to worry about it; all he is busy doing is muzzling those he sees as his enemies. Let all Nigerians wake up from their slumber and challenge our leaders to tackle insecurity. If not, we shall one day wake up and see the country being consumed by insecurity. The lives of Nigerians which the President swore to protect are in danger. But he does not care. He should remember that, no matter how long he stays in office, one day he will leave and become like every other citizen of this country. Let him know that whatever he does to Nigerians now, either good or bad, will definitely come to him when he leaves. He cannot take water as his enemy why preparing to wash his clothes; he would be put to shame by his dirty clothes. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Dockyard, Apapa, Lagos.

    Everyday and every moment reassures us of the endless circle of existence and the limitless mercy of God, that is why as long as heaven and earth endure, the supreme Being will never step aside for the ultimate triumph of evil. Anonymous

    The good things Funmilayo has done would live after her. May God Almighty choose somebody like her, somebody with the fear of God as the next Deputy Governor of Ekiti State. Fayemi, God will give you the strength and wisdom to pilot the affairs of Ekiti State. Mummy, sleep well. And may God strengthen your chilldren in whatever decision they take in life. Mr. Olayinka take heart! God will replace sorrrow with joy in your life. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Dockyard, Apapa, Lagos.

    Re: Anarchy at the gate. I disagree with all the people who adduced unemployment as the cause of crimes, thefts and kidnappings in Nigeria. We all have unemployed brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. We use substantial part of our income to maintain and sustain them, until they get a job. Must they take to crimes against the middle and low classes? Why did they not focus on policy makers? A leopard will never change its skin. The criminals are unfair to the poor and middle classes they rob and kidnap! However, ethnicism and corruption remain the bane of Nigeria’s underdevelopment. From Lanre Oseni.

    Re: For Funmilayo Olayinka: a postscript. Her exit at 52 years was untimely but eventful and glorious. It was very moving and painful when the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was silently discussing with the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that: ‘She was my co-pilot and never a spare tyre’. The pain of her death was visible on his face. May her soul rest in peace, ameen. From Lanre Oseni.

    Despite that Fashola is doing well in infrastructural development, let him look inward at security lapses — kiddnapping and other vices — in Lagos. From Gordon Chika

    The problem with our leaders is that they have refused to see the realities of the difficult life the citizens are facing. They wished the problems away, but it is not so. Instead of facing the myriad of problems head long, they are busy scheming for 2015, forgetting that God is watching them and will soon judge everyone by his deeds. From Ojo A. Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

     

    For Gbenga Omotoso

     

    Re: A battle plan for 2015: This is apt, direct and a graphic account of what goes on in the country called Nigeria. From D. Tella Attoni Esq.

    Are Nigerians still living in a fool’s paradise? Listening to a leader who promised to rebrand Nigeria but abandoned it for 2015? Our roads have become death traps, insecurity is everywhere, unemployment has become a nightmare to every youth in this country; still, the man is strangulating his opponents. Governance is all about persuasion not intimidating people. The President has forgotten that, those who do not keep what they have properly before looking for another one are bound to loose it all. The ruling party heated up the polity, when it said it would capture 32 states in 2015. Maybe they are under the influence of ‘Sapele water’’, em! sorry, ‘Delta water’. Last week, a faded politician who has no base in his home town said they would do what they know best. Let the ruling party try what I will call unholy attitude in 2015, and see our red eyes. From Hamza Ozi Momoh

    We are waiting for PDP mechanic to come and do what he knows best to do. The ealier we get it right the better for us. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Dockyard, Apapa Lagos.

    Re: A battle plan for 2015: It is a true reflection of Nigeria’s leadership. Some of us are saddened; an obvious case of the failure to reconcile ambition with reality. It looks more like a journey to a disaster than an election. Can the actors and the spectators survive? Nigerians are greater than all these feebleness. A trump card vs a joker! From James, Jos.

    The battle plan for 2015 looks like an updated manual. Well, it is a practical guide indeed, for murky politicians. It is a nice and workable plan for the 2015 poll. From Stanley Uchegbu, Unical

    Babangida once said: “Those who quarrel about how to share the rooms of a house, the foundation of which is about to collapse, can only, with extreme charity, be condemned for lack of wisdom.” Jonathan’s army of advisers should tell him that things are getting out of hand; taking Nigerians for a ride this time around could be a fatal mistake that no sensible person should make. I cannot see Nigeria surviving the heat of another fraudulent election. Quote me, God is about to mock Nigeria’s tribe of criminal leaders who take Him for granted. 2015 is pay-back time. From Ifeanyi.O. Ifeanyichukwu, Abuja

    Gbenga, you are good. A battle plan for 2015 was really nice! Keep it up! Well done! Please, write something on the chances of APC winning in 2015. From Sulaiman.

    Funny, but that is the reality in the naijacracy we practise in this 21st century. Our leaders by selection do not seem to have learnt anything from the past. From John Yakubu

    Your article says it all. It is for real, and those who will not adhere must be crushed. But Edo tactics will not be ruled out completely, too. We are watching and waiting. From Omeru Chinda, PH.D

    Gbenga, kudos for your article. If the efforts wasted in chasing imaginary enemies are put into good governance, getting the masses to vote for them will be as easy as what Adams did in Edo State instead of the unwarranted dirty fight. May God help us. From Tersoo Orbunde, Gwarinpa Abuja

    Our leaders are without a vision for the ordinary man on the street. All they care about is their foreign accounts. They are at the top for selfish reasons. A day to account for their stewardship is near; a day to take stock. From Jacob Uzoigwe. Ore, Ondo State

    Sir, your A battle plan for 2015 is one of the best I have read in this column. But, to me, you should have called a spade a spade and hit the nail on the head because it shows the attitude of the PDP government in Rivers State, APC case and others. More power to your elbow, Mr. Omotoso. You will live to excel in your career. Love you for your maturity. From Esan Ogunjobi, Ekiti State.

    Sir, you made my day with your last Editorial Notebook. Keep it up. From Dr. Dennis

    Mr. Omotoso, I cannot stop marvelling at your rare ingenuity. A battle plan for 2015 tells the story as it is. These people, according to Fela Anikulapo, are vagabonds in power. Anonymous

    Mr. Omotoso, God bless you for your indepth account and analysis on the injustices going on in our country, especially the current situation in Rivers State. From Enyinna Brown, Port Harcourt.

    You will be shocked that our “Oga at the top” will actually read your piece and, indeed, attempt to implement the strategies. That is who we have given ourselves. I weep no more! Anonymous

    A battle plan? Get serious and get us a winning plan. No Nigerian can stand a change we are not used to. Imagine Nigeria with good roads and stable electricity, people will start dying of shock. I beg, give us a crushing plan so Uncle Jona and his pindipi can sustain our collective madness. From Demola, Ikole.

    I read your satirical piece – A battle plan for 2015. I found it hilarious! You, however, forgot three crucial strategies: Let the “Oga at the top” import container loads of shoes and distribute to all shoeless voters in the Niger Delta. Shoeless voters in other regions can continue shoeless. All he needs to win are those of the Niger Delta. Second, in addition to the kidnap of NNPC, he should also arrange the hijack of Chevron, Mobil, Total and Agip and, if he is resisted, he should order that they be localised to Bayelsa State Government ministries and permanent secretaries appointed to head them! Third, as a way of getting the votes of widows in the country, he should promise them that their fellow widows will be appointed minister for Petroleum Resources in addition to Perm. Sec position. Anonymous

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    Why other choose to remember Baga, I choose to remember the devastation of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, United Nations building, Force Headquaters and other victims of terror. God bless Nigeria. (EHI)

    Opposition mentality of the average Yoruba journalist often distorts his sense of reality. For God’s sake, The Nation newspaper should send a team of journalists to Baga for a better investigation and to contradict the military report. There should be a limit to politicts. From Amadi, Port Harcourt

    In fact, I really thank you for being there for us talakawas unlike your good friend Opalaba. Year 2015 political battle is around. Southwest integration: Olu Falae is planning a mega political party; Dr. Fredrick Faseun is bringing back the dead UPN and at the same time looking for a contract from the Federal Government. Gani Adams and his faction, too, wanted to share in the contract with Faseun. Where is Opalaba? Has he no comments on all these? Is he a coward? From Pastor Esan Ajibola JP, Ibadan Oyo State.

    The only reason I believe that Nigeria will not break up is the neutrality of the army. The military neutrality must be protected religiously if we are to remain a nation. Over the past few years, there have been allegations of complicity or unlawful taking of sides by the military task force in Plateau State. Recently in Benue, similar allegations have come up against the military as well. As a Middle Beltan, I think the core Northern Press should learn from the neutrality and fairness with which the Southern Press has covered the Baga situation. This they should exercise when minorities are the ones at the receiving end of alleged unfair treatments. Anonymous

    What happened to the innocent civilians in Baga would have been averted if the victims of the mindless killings by the sadistic Nigerian Armed Forces had joined other victims in the past to condemn similar primitive and demonic killings of defenceless Nigerians in other parts of the country. What we fail to realise is that what goes around comes around. The atrocious members of the Nigerian Armed Forces should be reminded that after a maximum of 35 years of Godless and satanic acts under the protection of man- made uniform, they too will become bloody civilians one day. Who knows the next victim of the rampaging army? Anonymous

    Re: Why Baga matters: It is very unfortunate lives were lost callously at Baga. However, who will talk if they cannot talk to the Boko Haramists who are the cause of the confusions and destructions in the last three years. For how long will we witness avoidable death? I am a civilian but a situation where militants, no matter whatever name they are called, would be bold to confront the army, then the civilians are not safe! May God intervene and resolve the confusions, miraculously, amen. Baga matters because of the catastrophe involved. From Lanre Oseni.

    The President displayed his power in Baga to prove to his distractors that he is not a weak leader. But he should remember that the world is watching him. Where are the movers and shakers of yesterday? They are still alive but their tentacles have been cut to size. If the President thinks he can kill innocent cilvilians with impunity, I think he must be ready to face a revolution. He should be taken to ICC to serve as a deterrent to others. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Docyard Apapa Lagos.

    Good day, Mr. Gbadegesin! It is good to write, especially for the opposition. But, I must warn you, there is Heaven to go to, after all your so-called commentaries. Men, especially your bosses, will clap for you but what other rewards will follow, you cannot determine. I send this warning as a Christain brother. From Hábil Sarki

    Re: Why Baga matters: The Nigerian Armed Forces erred seriously in their handling of the Boko Haram sect in Baga community. There are rules that govern military engagement. Though the death of the military officer and injury suffered by soldiers on patrol are regrettable, shooting innocent residents of Baga (and using them as human shields by the Boko Haram sect) was highly uncalled for. The innocent residents of Baga never fired any shot. From Olumide Soyemi, Bariga.

    When I see people disputing the accurate number of people brutally murdered at Baga, I pinch myself to ensure I am not dreaming. Do we realise we are talking about human beings like ourselves, our children, parents and other relations? Sir, please, what is wrong with Nigeria? Again,why is the country’s democracy full of extreme wickedness, hypocrisy, deceit, manipulation and massive looting of public treasury? Is this the type of democracy that built the United States and other paradise-on-earth societies we see today? Are we not fooling ourselves in this country? From Ifeanyi O. Ifeanyichukwu, Abuja

     

  • Scarcity amidst plenty in Nigerian tertiary education sector

    Scarcity amidst plenty in Nigerian tertiary education sector

    I have been involved in the administration of mass examinations since 2007 when the Committee of Deans of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU) saddled me with the responsibility of organising the first Post-UME examinations in that university for almost 40,000 students. The experience I gathered from this exercise as well as those I had gathered on admission process a few years earlier as the Dean of my faculty were eye openers which had broadened my views on mass examinations and admission process to universities in a country where each year, more than a million young people experience undeserved frustration as they are thrown into the streets as a result of inability to secure admission into tertiary institutions of their choice.

    Unlike the results of WASCE, GCE, NECO and other similar examination bodies, JAMB results are not valid beyond the session they are meant for. Young people who have the so called O/Level pre-requisites are compelled to do UME/UTME as well as POST UME/UTME in the universities of their choice every year until they gain admission. If the statement recently credited to the minister of education that this year alone, 1.2million young people will not gain admission into tertiary institutions is anything to go by, then one could imagine the quantum of young people that have been roaming the streets for many years back due to the fact that they belong to a country that cannot provide tertiary education to all qualified citizens. The truth is that Nigeria has been throwing potential undergraduates into the streets every year since God knows when.

    Every qualified candidate thrown into the streets either due to low JAMB score or inability to score above cut-off mark for the chosen course has the chance to write JAMB the following year. As Dean of my faculty in OAU, I saw people who had written JAMB up to four times and had passed but scored below the cut-off mark for their chosen course, frantically looking for admission. As vice-chancellor in a private university, I have seen these group of candidates expressing interest in my university (and other private universities) but unable to honour the admission because their parents could not pay tuition fees.

    Until recently, students in tertiary institutions owned by government (federal or state) hardly pay tuition fees because of the lip service claim by our hypocritical governments to “Free Education”. Many vice-chancellors, provosts and rectors had to look for ingenious ways of introducing ‘fees’ to enable them run academic programmes. I know a university where it is called “Departmental Charges” but this was not after the vice-chancellor had been brutally and physically assaulted by unruly students.

    On September 22, 2010 a newspaper publication revealed the amount NUC disburses to federal government-owned universities every month. It is easy for one who knows the population of students in each of these universities to know what the federal government was spending on every student every session. My calculation reveals that it spends not less than N500,000.00 on every student in these universities for payment of staff salaries alone. If other recurrent expenditure and capital expenses are added, the figure may jump up to N1m. Therefore, it does not take special reasoning to realise that any privately owned university that is not charging up to N1m in this country is getting subsidy on tuition and infrastructural development from the proprietors.

    The next logical question to ask is: Why is the federal government not subsidizing tertiary education in privately owned institutions? Are students of private tertiary institutions not Nigerians? As I write this piece, no private tertiary institution has benefited from this fund in any form whatsoever since it was established in 1993.

    The target of this write-up is to suggest ways by which every qualified Nigerian gets placement on one of our 128 Universities. There are constraints which are based on our socio-cultural situations that may not make a candidate prefer not more than a few of these universities. Take for example, the new federal universities in Otu-Oke in Bayelsa and Wukari in Taraba. How many Nigerians in the South-west will like to send their children to these geographical locations given the prevailing circumstances in the country? How many candidates from the South-east will like to send their teenage children to Bayero University in Kano after the bomb attack of Monday March 18? Even indigenes of Maiduguri who can afford private university education will rather send their children to the American University in Yola than the federal government-owned University of Maiduguri for security reasons. The truth is that the choice of most young Nigerians out of the 128 universities may not be up to 10. Reasoning further, those 10 will be from their catchment area where they can easily escape to their parents when hell is let loose by political hoodlums, insurgents and area boys as the case may be.

    For the Nigerian state to survive, it is not only the problems posed by militants, insurgents and area boys that were created by the ineptitude of successive governments that should be addressed; many other problems which include providing adequate education for young Nigerians should also be addressed. A situation where every qualified applicant gains admission is the least we desire. If facilities in existing government-owned universities cannot be expanded due to reasons I have already stated, let government empower her citizens to attend the private universities approved by government. Only a handful of the private Universities in this country have up to the number of students that their facilities can cater for. My university has enough facilities for thrice the number of students on enrolment, and so is the situation in majority of private universities. Those who pass UTME out of the 1.2million young Nigerians who the minister has given up on due to lack of facilities in Nigerian universities should be empowered by government through a well organised “Revolving Students Loan Scheme”. There is enough money in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to fund a Revolving Loan Scheme that every Nigerian student should have access to.

    For the avoidance of doubt, every Nigerian deserves to know that TETFund which was established as an intervention agency under the TETFUND ACT in 2011 and charged with the responsibility of managing, disbursing and monitoring the Education Tax to public tertiary education institutions in Nigeria automatically supersedes the Education Trust Fund (ETF) which was established as Education Tax Fund under Act No. 7 of 1993 and was eventually amended by the Act No. 40 of 1999 with the sole aim of improving the quality of Education in Nigeria (not in Public Institutions only). The vision of ETF was “To be a World-class Public Sector Interventionist Agency in the Education Sector in Nigeria”. All the Acts (1993, 1999 and 2011) imposed a two percent Education Tax on the assessable profit of all registered companies in Nigeria. The Federal Inland Revenue Service is empowered by all the Acts to assess and collect this Education Tax. The Decree which authorized the establishment of private universities by individuals or organisations (Decree No 9 of 1993) came a few months after the establishment of ETF in 1993. Private universities have on various occasions made a case for the need to extend the operations of ETF to private universities on the basis of lack of categorization on the distribution of the fund at federal, state and Local Government levels along the lines of public and private operators. The 2011 Act is obviously an attempt to exclude private universities from benefiting from tax imposed on the private sector. This discrimination in the level and magnitude of attention that the Federal Government is paying to innocent and young Nigerians in tertiary institutions in this country defies all logic. This issue deserves to be addressed by aspiring political office holders in 2015.

    •Prof Badejo is Vice-Chancellor, Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo (WUSTO).