The Nation Newspaper

Category: Opinion

  • From the Cell Phone

    For Gbenga Omotoso

     

    Corrigendum: it was actually soldiers who were killed in Odi and not policemen. Thank you! Anonymous

    The landmark judgment of Odi genocide is a victory for democracy. No matter how provoked, nobody has an inalienable right to take away the life of another. I pray that cases such as the Ogoni massacre and Jos’ should also be visited. Obasanjo should be tried for committing crimes against humanity. From Henry Kobo, Port Harcourt

    “After AFCON” remains our perculiarity of corruption, oil doom, Boko Haram, presidential wastages, turn-coat voice of masses, among other characteristics of a perculiar nation with perculiar people and perculiar happenstances. From Alhaji ADEYCorsim, Oshodi, Lagos

    Obasanjo should have let the matter die down because policemen are lambs kept for daily sacrifice in Nigeria. May God deliver them from the claws of the blood-thirsty ritualists. Anonymous

    It is a big disgrace to Nigerians for our leaders to lack manners and understanding to resolve issues among them. What legacy are they leaving when venomous words are exchanged? They should learn how to check their utterances as many Nigerians are looking up to them in the country. From Gideon Lama Kallah

    Please, add minister of almanjiries and beggars so that Professor Rufai and Wike can face education. Also, minister of potholes; minister of combating darkness through importation of generators to assist minister of Please Hold Candle Now (PHCN); minister of health (abroad) to cater for government officials who cannot go to our hospitals; minister of implementation to ensure government policies are actually implemented; minister of uniforms to ensure all students wear the same uniform (Osun style). Kudos! Anonymous

    Good day, Sir. Writing you this time is a pleasure. If and only if the High Court verdict on Odi massacre would have been the final judgment then, it could have saved costs instead of appealing and appealing. In other words, justice is on the way, whether the devil likes it or not. Furthermore, Odi, Zaki Biam or Benue and Biafrans massacre were all done by the same person. Does it mean that these people were cows or flies? “kakaka-kokoko and BOMB BOMB” everywhere is a proof of genocide. Hence, the third law of motion, according to Newton, is that action equals to reaction. So, Obasanjo’s acts should be condemned in totallity and he should tender an unreserved apology to the people and Nigeria at large. Finally, the security men should be properly cautioned because they were the ones who incited the community before they reacted just like what some policemen at Eneka in Port Harcourt are doing. From Sunny lgiri, Port Harcourt

    The Zaki Biam people in Benue State should also go to court to seek redress. Obasanjo should be sent to The Hague to face trial for genocide, it is overdue. From Nnamdi O.

    What are you talking about? Obasanjo deserves praise and respect from Nigerians, always! Now, it was when Baba called for a positive coherent nation that President Goodluck Jonathan could wake up from his slumber. Obasanjo will leave long to advise future leaders. Amen. Regards. From C-Samanja Awodi, Ilorin, Kwara State

    My brother, you will never cease to amuse me. Your thoughts on the new cabinet is a master piece. Let me quickly add that you will be appointed one day for optimal efficiency. From Ayo Apelogun, Ilesha

    To me, Obasanjo acted promptly on the Odi issue unlike the President. Compare the disgrace Boko Haram gave Nigeria in the comity of nations to the Odi episode. You know Nigerian economy is down because of insecurity. The President ought to resign. From Tunde Joe Kalamu

    Re: Thoughts on a new cabinet. The cabinet members and Mr. President are doing their best because they are only going at a slow pace. You journalists dislike hard and harsh leaders. Are you not blaming Obasanjo for Odi killings now? Are you not sad about Boko Haram destructions? Let us all embrace cassava bread to avert foreign exchange leakage! The recent N37.6 billion judgment, to me, was sentimental of Justice Akanbi. We need to be honest, period! From Lanre Oseni

    I am happy to be a Nigerian because of the everyday drama I see and hear. A fortnight ago, Boko Haram declared ceasefire, only for the sect to turn around, after some days, to kill some health workers in Kano. Where is our President and his cabinet members? Actually, to reduce terrorism in this country, there should be a minister of defence and also a minister of terrorism so that the minister of defence can have time for other things. Like what the President did by bringing Doyin Okupe to assist Abati in attacking anyone they believe is not loyal to the President. The following ministers and their portfolios: Ita Okon Bassey, minister of Science and Technology and a minister of Research to assist her; Zainab I. Kuchi, minister of Power and a minister of Mega Watt to assist her; Musa Muhammed Saada, minister of Mines and Steel. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Dockyard, Apapa, Lagos

    The Odi verdict is excellent and perfect; it will serve as a major signal to those of them in power to begin to have respect for the sanctity of human life and to be civil in all their actions against the people. Anonymous

    Indeed, the court’s verdict on Odi killing is an eye opener to our leaders who have arrogated powers to themselves and have no respect for human beings. Obasanjo must be probed if we have a conscience. In fact, the judgment is a sign of new and better things to come. Thanks! From Charles

    Obasanjo, Jonathan and the Odi verdict. What are the people of Zaki Biam of Benue waiting for? Go to court, demand for N100 billion, too. Anonymous

    This will surely sound nice to the poor natives who lost their loved ones and properties in the Odi military operation. Also, the case of Zaki Biam in Benue State in which Dr. Alexander Gaadi took the Federal Government to court and won should be revisited with the hope that the Federal Government will begin to respect court orders. From Ahembe Enoch, Makurdi

    Thoughts on a new cabinet seems a deliberate attempt to make a jest at the former shoe-less boy’s effort to find jobs for the boys. I hope they are intimidated by your exposure, and not go ahead with a bogus executive council. Many readers will surely fail the poser in the last paragraph of your article. I could not get any right. From Alhaji ADEYCorsim, Oshodi, Lagos

    The late Mohammed Yusuf and members of his Islamist sect murdered 38 police officers, countless civilians and burnt dozens of churches before he was killed. He who goes to equity should do so with clean hands. From Patrick Oguejiofor, Abuja

    Boko Haram believes in the archaic wisdom that ‘might is right’ because its leadership is populated by half-educated people. The Odis are incomparable as, to them, wisdom is superior to might. Perhaps Boko Haram will now take their cue from Odi people. Anonymous

    For Olatunji Dare

    Sir, history repeats itself. The fact is a testimony to human stupidity. All past administrations in the country left office in disgrace as a result of treasury looting. Again, the PDP, today, is a house of excesses; each latest fraudulent act must out-do the one before. Why? Nigerian politicians should not find it impossible to learn from the age-old recorded experiences of the past. Or are they impervious to doing good? From Adegoke O. O., Ikhin, Edo State

    Stephen Keshi and his coaching crew achieved success in the just-concluded AFCON 20l3, where the bookmakers wrote them off. Thereafter, can the success be sustained in future competition? The largesse from the President to the players and coaching crew is well deserved and appreciable. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia Abia State

    Thanks, for your well-concieved write-up. My fear is that the gift splash has now exposed the boys to the risk of kidnapping. The home-based are now sure targets. This goes to show how empty our so-called leaders are. May God help us. Anonymous

    The idea of a merger by political parties is good if they will allow it to work; personal interest must not come in. We don’t want Igbo or Yoruba or Hausa or Nupe president. What we want is President of Nigeria, who will shape Nigeria, a marketable candidate. The people that are troubling us in Nigeria are not up to one million. We should be able to put ourselves together and fight them to a stand still before we think of sharing any positions or else…. A more strategic planning will give us easy ride in 2015. From Prince Ade Ademeso

    A progressive agenda. APC should be cautious or else PDP will infiltrate and disorganise it. The masses should be courageous enough to make a change by voting in another party. One who knows one road does not know road. Unless one tastes different dishes he cannot tell the tasty one. PDP cannot fight corruption. The masses should try to understand and vote in APC. Their governors have shown sufficient evidence in their states that they are well informed to uplift Nigeria. Thank you, for your write-up. From Peter Chukwudum

    Re: After AFCON: Getting back to the basics. The team had won the Nations Cup for Nigeria, no doubt. It has done Nigeria proud. It has enlivened our hope in sports. However, I see the boys doing their own aspect of Nigeria. To me, they were over-pampered, with those pecuniary and materialistic rewards! What do we give the CBN Governor, his team and his staff, who brought the general price level to nine per cent from 12 per cent? What do we give a policeman who was able to apprehend a thief, a criminal? A little pat on the back. The awards/rewards showered on Super Eagles would in future spoil them. Anonymous

    If we must keep winning, corruption must end at all levels. Infrastructure in stadia must be developed, maintained and renovated. Power must be constant and freedom of the coach must be guaranteed. Finally, irrelevant superstructure such as the N4 billion for African first ladies peace mission, must be protested. Enough of squandermania! From Lanre Oseni

    Is it possible for this goverment to do anything right? Olatunji Dare should be given the opportunity to rule this country. Actually, he is the messiah Nigeria has been waiting for. Anonymous

    I have been trying to find the right words to describe the skill, the intelligence, the mastery of thought employed in crafting, After AFCON: Getting back to basics by one of the most brilliant minds Africa has ever produced – veteran journalist and sage Professor Olatunji Dare, a unique material for the building of a new Nigerian nation. But, alas, Nigeria has become a pleasure palace of incomparable banality and things have fallen apart before our eyes and the centre can no longer hold. Without doubt, he has said the minds of millions of oppressed Nigerians put in the cooler not only by the political elite, but, also, by their docility due to illiteracy. Their literacy spells trouble for their elite oppressors. To be literate would mean they will know their rights, demand for it, and become too hot for their oppressors to handle. From John Jimoh, Ijebu-Ode

    Great writing, doctor. I had resisted sending you a well-deserved commendation these years. For me, this week’s column is a masterpiece and mother of every opinion article in recent times. Thanks for your robust weekly engagement. From Sylvester

    Sir, no amount of cash gift is enough to thank the Super Eagles players for doing Nigerians proud in South Africa. Though I have reservation on Keshi’s selection process; a good coach no doubt, we would have had many Mbas if more domestic players, such as Reuben, Egwueke, Henry Uche, Papa Idris and others had featured in AFCON 2013. Keshi is a good coach but, he can improve in the areas aforesaid, just like President Jonathan must improve in goverance in the areas of transparency, cabinet selection, welfare package and the building of critical institutions for the triumph of his people- driven transformative agenda. Anonymous

    After AFCON: Getting back to basics. Thank you for the brilliant piece. Our leaders love chasing shadows. Why are they not talking about revamping Ajaokuta Steel? building more dams to generate more power? building more refineries? overhauling our health system and agriculture? In a nation where the life expectancy has been reduced to the lowest ebb, leaders cannot afford to be insensitive. Our leaders will be shocked the day Nigeria catches fire. Anonymous

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    Sir,you should help us to tell APC to give us a formidable and vibrant opposition party. From Feyi Akeeb Kareem

    “An Olu Omo at 6”’ is surely a historical perspective of a man who was in the genuine struggle that led to the exit of military rule. Sir, you cannot retire now and allow the wrong representation of the Yoruba nation. Given, your age, the likes of Mr Otubusin and others are urgently needed at the National Assembly to make things really work for Nigeria. From Alhaji ADEYCorsim, Oshodi, Lagos

    Sir, permit me to say you are simply special; a rare jewel and, indeed, the one that this pervasive generation can look up to as a role model. Though I have been reading your columns but, sincerely, I am captivated by this particular one “An Olu Omo @ 60”. The choice of words fit perfectly, the language is simple, the style is a free style with an indepth description. Truly, I am impressed. Wishing you the very best life offers. From Saliu David Kasim, 400 level Mass Comm, Kogi State University, Anyigba

    I commend your write-up on my cousin, Olu Otubusin as he turns 60. God bless you. From Dr. Omolaraeni Awokoya-Adadevoh

    Re: An Olu Omo @ 60. I join you in congratulating Olu Omo Olu Otubusin on his 60th birthday. I do not know him but the encomiums you poured on him showed that he is worth his salt. Whoever does good would one day get the reward. That is a lesson for us all. Many happy returns to Otubusin. From Lanre Oseni.

  • Eko Atlantic: Lessons in visionary leadership

    History, it is said will have no mercy on leaders who are timid or simply fail to take critical decisions whether they turn out to be right or wrong. Being able to take the right decision as a leader never happens in a vacuum. It is a product of experience, intellectual training, political sagacity and economic wizardry in the face of many odds. For having the vision, for seeing beyond the present and a willingness to confront the future, Asiwaju Tinubu the former governor of Lagos State was called out for accolades and praise on Thursday when the Eko Atlantic Project was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan, Bill Clinton and Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    The unending praise Tinubu received for visionary leadership on that day is no way misplaced. It was earned. Here is why.

    Tinubu, while governor of Lagos state saw how the fury of the Atlantic stole away precious land from Lagos. How it wrecked havoc on the residents. How it mercilessly swallowed their homes up in raging water. He never prevaricated. He acted in the nick of time by leading a crack team to seek a permanent solution to the Atlantic waves. He wanted to reclaim what the waters forcefully took away from Lagos. He wanted to subdue nature through the use of modern human technology. He wanted to turn despair into hope and erect a modern engineering monument from the devastation left behind by the raging waves.

    He acted swiftly. He sought for ideas. He knocked on doors for solution. He tapped into his network of professional friends and international financiers. He invested time, resources and knowledge in this pursuit. He was undeterred even when many saw it as a gambit too many by a man who simply wanted to conquer every territory he chanced upon. But they were wrong. Tinubu was on a noble cause. He had a vision to rescue the coast line of Lagos and employed courage to pursue it. No only that, he tapped a most capable hand to continue with the vision of the project after he left power. Governor Fashola took off where Tinubu left off and never once looked back.

    On Thursday, February 21, it all came together. The pieces of a dream, the realization of a vision, the rebirth of another city within a city and the victory of vision over mediocrity all came together to give Lagos another new Lagos. The Eko Atlantic City.

    From 2005 to 2013 when what seemed impossible became reality. Two governors, many top civil servants, bankers and international financiers, key professionals, engineers and of course the Chagoury brothers who put together the funds and expertise for the project all worked together tirelessly to make the story of the victory of the human will over nature possible.

    Like Bill Clinton said at the launch, Eko Atlantic will remain one of the engineering wonders of the world and very soon, peoples from around the world will flock here to look at the careful mix of rocks of different shapes and sizes pilled together in special patterns to force back the raging Atlantic waves. He said the effort that has gone into reclaiming five million square meters of Atlantic land is a monumental and commendable one.

    The reclaimed area, almost the size of Victoria Island sits pretty well by and in the Atlantic ocean and professes proudly the undying power of man to subdue is environment and turn it to advantage. Lagos has again put Nigeria on the global map. Lagos has written a new chapter yet in the history of Nigeria and put Nigeria back into reckoning when it comes to ideas and leadership quality.

    And because one man had the idea, vision, the courage and the determination to push through what he believed in, all we celebrate in Eko Atlantic is possible today. As governor, Tinubu was full of ideas. Most of it out of the box, yet practicable. He never let pass by an opportunity to change the face of Lagos in road construction, in health infrastructure, in power generation, in revenue generation and resource management, in job creation and a tapestry of administrative initiatives that have since laid the solid foundation for the future of Lagos. He trampled on areas where others were too timid to thread. And from the tribe of his lieutenants he tapped on Fashola to achieve all that he could not achieve and move Lagos forward.

    From Lagos goes out the lesson of true leadership to all of Nigeria. From Lagos, we see the kind of leadership Nigeria badly needs. We glean what is possible when a few men of goodwill and vision occupy positions of power. Lagos signposts a Nigeria that can be great. A nation that can earn respect and take its place in the world. That is and can only be possible if we have men of vision and courage in the mould of Tinubu and Fashola at the helm of affairs. The crop of leaders we now parade, especially at the centre will not get us there. They live insular lives and are isolated from reality. They suffer from the paucity of ideas and wallow in corrupt practices. Parochial in thinking and clueless about power because they only chanced on it, they make Nigeria slip gradually into a failed state. But there is yet hope because the day of the people cometh soon, but most importantly, because other leaders are now rising up to challenge and contest for power. That is the way. The only way. Eko Atlantic is a reminder that even that is possible.

  • The 2013 Appropriation Bill impasse

    An assortment of invigorated back and forth arguments and submissions have appeared on the current impasse of the non-passage of the 2013 Appropriation Bill.

    Lining up on one side is the group which submits that the President is not bound by the provisions of Section 58(4) of the Constitution, but rather by Section 59(4) and that flowing from that, the President does not come under the full command of the use of the word “shall”. In order words, they submit that the combined provisions of Sections 58(4) and 59(4), merely makes it discretionary for the President to sign the Appropriation Bill within 30days and that in any case, even if his assent fails to attend the Appropriation Bill within 30days, he can still conveniently sign thereafter, and such in their opinion will not amount to an illegality.

    Arrayed on the other side, is a second group which argues that the President is not only constitutionally but mandatorily bound by the provisions of Section 58(4) of the Constitution, particularly as it relates to the pre-eminence of the use of the word “shall” and that the plethora of case-law and retinue of judicial decisions particularly from the Supreme Court on the mandatory nature of the word “shall” gives no room for further argument on the matter.

    They submit rather stoically that where the President purports to assent to the Bill a day after the mandatory 30days, he would be seen to have committed an illegality. With profound respect to all shades of opinion, I adopt the latter position as mine. Section 58(4)provides “Where a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall within thirty days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent”.Section 58(5) provides “Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required”.Section 59(4) provides “Where the President, within thirty days after the presentation of the bill to him, fails to signify his assent or where he withholds assent, then the bill shall again be presented to the National Assembly sitting at a joint meeting, and if passed by two-thirds majority of members of both houses at such joint meeting, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required”.

    The considered view of this writer is that Section 58(4) & (5), has cited above is one that without equivocation caters for all kinds of bills that would come before the National Assembly, the Appropriation Bill inclusive (this emphasis is of importance). To that extent, no bill is excluded by the provision of Section 58(4) and (5). It is important to establish this.

    This section prescribes a mandatory 30days time-frame for presidential assent and it is deep-rooted legislative pronouncement anchored powerfully on the word “shall”. The unquestionable power vested in the use of the word “shall” has been settled by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    Thus, if the above provision where to be paraphrased, it would simply mean, without any shade of equivocation that all bills, no matter their nomenclature presented to the President shall be assented to within 30days.Section 59(4) now comes into the picture. In this instance, it does not stand on its own, rather it operates as a back-up provision, to buttress what had earlier be stated in Section 58(4), this time loudly pronouncing it as it principally relates to the Appropriation Bill.

    Given very nature of importance that an Appropriation Bill hold, it was necessarily important for the makers of the law to further strengthen its existence in Section 59(4) by holding that even as all bills shall be assented to by the President within 30days, which doesn’t leave out the Appropriation Bill, where that fails to happen so, so and so must necessarily follow.

    Thus, Section 58(4) is nothing but a fore-runner provision to Section 59(4). It is trite and salutary law that you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand, as there will be nothing to support the something. Section 58(4) is the something on which section 59(4) stands confidently.

    Given the core importance of the Appropriation Bill as the life-wire of the nation, more importantly as a document whose passage cannot be left in abeyance, the constitution goes ahead to provide in Section 59(4), that where the President, within 30 days fails to signify his assent, the bill is presented to a joint sitting of the National Assembly and thereafter passed into law.

    It is totally inconceivable that the spirit behind the phrase “where the President, within thirty-days fails to signify his assent”, would mean for it to be simplistically interpreted as giving the President the latitude to give his assent a day after, or perhaps so long after the mandatory 30 days. Thus, the logic rooted in Section 59(4) is a constitutional reassurance of the right of the legislature to the full exercise of its powers, where the President for whatever reason fails to signify its assent.

    If the constitution had not earlier mandated the President to assent to the Appropriation Bill within 30 days, why will it further give a direction where the President fails to do so within that time? The logic therein presupposes that the situation of failure to assent referred to in Section 59(4) can only arise because of the mandatory stipulation of time earlier provided.

    It amounts to nothing but standing logic on its head, to assume that it was the intention of the makers of the law from the outset to give any President in Office, “time infinitum” within which to assent to any Appropriation Bill, the contending issues notwithstanding. Obviously, the issues militating against the passage of the 2013 Appropriation Bill are clear; however this apparent clarity does not suggest that any solution is in the horizon.

    This is because there are simply too many imponderables involved to permit any easy conclusion, except that we can still sufficiently infer that there is just one thing central to the whole shenanigans – power. That is the burden our politicians have since become. As always, it is on the altar of the peoples’ livelihood and sustenance that they find it convenient to flex their muscles and massage their ego, which inordinately tells our national story upside down.

    Of course we are not the only country with a constitution, though we appear as one country whose rulers rejoice when that constitution is dragged in the mud. It is a significant fact, frequently not realised by the people, that again this new episode of legislative-executive recklessness once more underscores their seeming powerlessness (assuming, but not conceding it is so) as the real custodians of the collective destiny of our country in the midst of ruthless and indifferent power-mongers. Tragically, it is not anything preordained or celestial that now confronts us as the reason for our stunted national growth. It is the instrument of silence and apathy that the people have since fashioned. I make bold to say that in the ongoing Arab spring, the Egyptians have been very exemplary, taking their destiny in their hands and demanding for better governance on a daily basis.

    Now when Egypt turns out a better country tomorrow, Nigerians will be the first group of people to flood Egypt in search of greener pastures and then quickly lament when they are labelled as second class citizens. Chiefly, the ever-present threat to our democratic journey lies ominously in the vast and inscrutable forces in government, who are persons without a yard of love for their fatherland, concerned only with the safeguard of their political interest cum ambition, their growing heap of ill-gotten wealth and their primitive pursuit of vanity. Unarguably, no better time offers itself for us to question our apparent sense of abandonment to hopelessness than now, save that, we seem to have come to enjoy being taken for this ride as always.

    •Adegbite, Esq; a lawyer and writes from Abuja.

  • Issues in editorship and professionalism

    As members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors converge at Premier Hotel, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for their biennial conference from February 28 to March 2, there is need to ponder the state of the Nigerian media. It has to be admitted that the media enjoys the accolade of being one of Africa’s most vibrant. Editors have led the media posse, as people’s vanguard, on various occasions to confront authorities when policies are deemed to be anti-people, the most recent example being the media’s strategic role in opposition to increase in the price of petrol, that eventually exposed the fuel subsidy scandal.

    Yet, media performance can be much better. In this regard, the issues which demand attention include fairness and accuracy in the media; rabid political partisanship in editorial content as well as media credibility. There is the issue of poor quality control of editorial content, particularly news stories, which is the flagship product of the media. In all these, the ownership factor is crucial.

    However, as the professional leader, the editor is the pivot of any media establishment, in spite of competing forces seeking control of the media. A key competing force is the media owner – public or private. There is the widespread notion that the media owner, like the person who pays the piper, has the right to dictate the tune in editorial content. This is a fallacy, given the media’s primary mandate as a public trust.

    For the privately-owned media, it is a dual mandate – as a business and public trust. Hence, while the investor has a right to expect returns from a media company as a business, it is for the editor to determine the editorial content that strikes a balance between the investor’s expectations and what serves the public good. It is a responsibility that he should neither abdicate nor compromise. Where the owner is government, such media outfit should function mainly as public service, not business, as is currently the case with the commercialisation of news, particularly in radio and television stations owned by federal and state governments. To surrender publicly owned media to market forces is a repudiation of government’s fundamental service to the people and a denial of their rights to know and be heard as such policy shuts out a significant section of the polity. It is a policy the editors’ guild should contest.

    It is understandable that governments, private owners, special interest groups and even advertisers would seek to influence or control the media in their desire to sell a point of view, to be positively projected to the people through the media or to contain resistance by the masses. The editor is the bulwark against these assaults on the media by power blocs and he can only resist such assaults successfully by imbibing professional integrity. A prerequisite to acquiring professional integrity is to acquire professional training – being a trained journalist with a university degree in mass communication or journalism, a training that emphasizes the ethics of the profession. So, a major challenge for the Nigerian Guild of Editors is professionalising the position of editor and other editorial cadres and their equivalent positions in the broadcast media. A situation where just anybody can get into media establishment, parade himself or herself as a journalist and even aspire to be editor should not be allowed to continue. With over 100 universities, polytechnics and monotechnics offering courses in mass communication and journalism in Nigeria, there is a pool from which to build a class of professional journalists. A concession might, however be given to non-mass communications graduates in the media to undertake a post graduate diploma course in mass communication to upgrade their status. A professional journalist is expected to know the limitations of owners in terms of editorial content. There are studies which support this stand. Scholars, including Peter Golding, Noam Chomsky and James Curran, note that while governments and other media owners are inclined to determine the editorial line in newspapers and broadcast stations, “they exercise these powers within structures which impose limits”. They thus contend with regard to media control that “owners, advertisers and key political players cannot always do as they would wish”. Sadly, some editors, lacking professional integrity, by their obsequiousness give media proprietors the impression that they (owners) can always do as they wish. A trend where some editors tag along, as seeming bag-boys, on the entourage of their proprietors on local and foreign trips diminishes the position of editor.

    I often cite the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as an example of a credible government-owned media, largely due to the professionalism and integrity of its pioneer Editor-in-Chief, Femi Adefela, a tradition that has been sustained by NAN’s current managing director, Remi Oyo, a former NAN staff, even when she had served in the politically partisan position of media aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    An important issue with editorship is accountability. If editors hold officials of governments and other institutions accountable to the people, if they decry impunity, they also must be accountable to their audience – readers, listeners and viewers. Freedom of the press cannot be freedom to be irresponsible in their editorial content. In this regard, newspaper editors need to subject themselves to the arbitration of the Nigerian Press Council when aggrieved members of the public petition the council on alleged media excesses. Treating summons from NPC with levity does not accord with media ethics.

    A key function of the editor is quality control of media content to ensure fairness and accuracy. It would, however, seem that this function has been largely abandoned given the many embarrassing errors of fact, spelling and grammar in media fare, even on the front pages of newspapers ! In this regard, the media needs government intervention to assist with capacity building for the overall public good. I will end this piece by returning to the issues of professionalism, integrity and monetization in the media with a quote from the 1947 report of the U.S. Commission on Freedom of the Press, headed by Robert M. Hutchins: “Whatever may be thought of the conduct of individual members of the older, established professions, like law and medicine, each of these professions as a whole accepts responsibility for the service rendered by the profession as a whole, and there are some things which a truly professional man will not do for money”. The Nigerian Guild of Editors need to make a ‘truly professional man’ of editors and other cadres of journalists by initiating a peer review on qualifications and a mechanism to bring erring editors and other journalists to order. Editorship is a distinguished position whose prestige and authority can only be enhanced where ethics, professionalism and integrity rule.

    • Dr. Olawunmi, Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors lectures at Bowen University, Iwo,

  • Lent, springtime for centenary renewal

    Just as the seasons manifest the changing course of the earth’s life of soul, the Christian festivals meant to honour the coming of Christ are to be celebrated, essentially to witness the Passion and appropriation of the Risen Christ. The cycle of Christian festivals begins at Advent and passes through Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Ascension. These spiritual rhythms of the year are experienced and observed in and with sacred practices, which have their places in human and national life. Out of a spiritual and natural understanding, Christians have not failed to weave the web of their redemptive life on the loom of the year’s rhythm of time and the Passion of our Risen Saviour, especially the Easter celebration.

    The authentic purpose of Lent starts with Christ as a season of fasting, self-denial, spiritual growth, conversion, and simplicity. Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for ‘Springtime,’ can be viewed as a spiritual spring-cleaning: a time for taking our national inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships and service to God and others. It is fitting that the season of Lent begins with personal/national repentance; a yearning to do what is true and an openness to change as Nigeria will be 100 by January 1, 2014. Nigeria’s Centenary celebration (double Jubilee) without national renewal may amount to windows of looting, corruption and jamboree.

    The 40 days in Lent is a symbolic number in the Hebrew scriptures which signifies an irreversible event, outside the daily/weekly, religious, and national routines. Lent is a season of spring, renewing, soaring and emerging, a most promising period of Nigeria after 100 years of the British amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates. Lent as the ‘Springtime’ for Nigeria is more than the ‘Autumn of Nations,’ the revolutions of 1989 that swept through Eastern Europe or the ‘Arab Spring’ revolutionary waves of demonstrations, protests, and wars that began on Dec 18, 2010 in the Arab world. The ‘Arab Spring’ was the aftermath of the unannounced United State of America’s shift in foreign policy to the states of the Arab world. However, the amalgamation challenges including our democratic policy and other economic and religious problems in Nigeria, go beyond civil resistance bearing in mind that ‘Arab Spring’ demonstrations have meet violent responses from authorities, including pro-government/ethnic militias and counter-demonstrations. Lent 2013, as the ‘Springtime’ for Nigeria Centenary renewal must not just be an annual liturgical traditional chore, but a time of personal/national soul cleaning, a renewed sense of order and purposeful lifestyle of leadership and followership. It is a time to lift our nations’ spirit, sweep out the bad corrupt habits and create a holy space in our lives for God regardless of the hypocrisy and lies of today’s and yesterday’s men. Nothing will change in the fortunes of Nigeria unless we are first transformed by the renewing work of the Holy Spirit who renews everything.

    Just as in other biblical prophecies, God has foretold Nigeria’s amalgamation, leadership, religious, and democratic crisis, ‘her princes (political, traditional, and religious leaders) in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortal, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, thus says the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy; yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully’ (Ezekiel 22: 27-29). The latest reports by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU’s) naming Nigeria as the worst place for a baby to be born in 2013 points to excessive leadership not different from the colonial masters.

    Using the first idea of the letter of the word LENT, Lent is about proclaiming liberty to the amalgamated captives of a distress nation. The majority of Nigerians are captives to the 00.1% of its ‘Extractive Elite Class’ leader/prophets. Nigerians are captives to legalized robbery including ‘GSM networks,’ petrol marketers, and spiritual consultants. Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former Nigerian Minister for Mineral Resources and Education aptly explained that ‘the poor in our land (Nigeria) have paid the highest possible price for being born into the world’s best example of a paradox.’ Nigerians are groaning under intergenerational poverty based on what economists call the ‘resource curse.’

    According to Ezekwesili our ‘economic evidence shows that the answer which we must all ponder deeply is that oil wealth entrenched corruption and mismanagement of resources in government and warped the incentive for value added work, creativity and innovation in our public, private sectors and wider society.’

    Lack of an incentive for value added work puts people into the captivity of corruption. Nigeria is not just under a ‘resource curse’ but most importantly, a ‘spiritual curse’ entrenched by the violent and corrupt political amalgamation coupled with the ‘cycles of disastrous and destructive choices promoted by older generations.’ The solution goes beyond ‘arms of flesh’ bearing in mind our leadership wreckage and superficiality of the followership undisciplined lives and religiosity.

    Lent 2013 calls for a national sober repentance and social responsibility ‘to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound’ … ‘to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke’ (Isaiah 61:1, 58:6). Lent is a time to proclaim deliverance upon Nigeria from visible and invisible symptoms of corruption and leadership prodigality, mediocrity, and delusion.

    The greatest obstacle to Lent, as the springtime for Nigeria’s Centenary renewal is the problem of corruption, inordinate love of self, power, and wealth. This inordinate love of self has the potential to obstruct the love of God and the people and eventually often destroys. The power of self-love is turning Nigeria into individualistic empires, killing our community, and its spiritual, and cultural bonding. Self-love in the form of different political, religious and societal honours, and the care of one’s ‘good’ name/dignity has increasingly introduced its own disorder into most of our national, cultural and denominational acts, even to the highest order when directed towards natural satisfaction instead of toward God and people. The Lenten season offers a sober opportunity for repentance and responsibility to overcome these diseases that are spreading and bleeding throughout the whole of our national, religious and interior life. Love of God urges a soul to generosity, inordinate love of self, power, gratification, and pleasure urges a soul to avoid all inconvenience, self-denial, effort and weariness. Self-love is the window to self-idolatry that is destroying our soul/nation, a love of God and our neighbor because of mortal sin which follows from it. Lent is a call to overcome the dangerous deceit of self-love and idols that can easily be concealed even among Christians through a pride of life, concupiscence (lust of the eyes and flesh), anger, disunity, greed, and materialism. Lent 2013 provides a platform for Nigeria’s Centenary renewal.

    • Very Rev Dr Okegbile, is of Methodist Theological Institute, Sagamu, Ogun State.

  • From cell the phone

    From cell the phone

    For Dapo Fafowora

     

    Sir, I want to know whether Asaba and Lokoja can be regarded as former federal capital territories. From Ademola Adejumo, Ibadan

    Sir, your commentary about the centinary is biased and wrong. Will you suggest that a child born as a result of the gang rape of his mother should not celeberate his birthday? Even the kingdoms you said that existed before the advent of the British were established by wars and many tribes were forced to speak the dialet of their conquerors. Let us thank God for Nigeria. From Barango

    Dear Dapo, thank you on the brilliant piece, “Lord Lugard and the 1914 amalgamation of Nigerian”. But you have not said anything new irrespective of how Nigeria came into being. She is a country and her case is not unique. The Serbs celebrate their country’s conquest in 1365 by the Turks. Was the British policy in Nigeria different from her American policy pre-1775? What about in China, and others? Talking about nation states, what was it like in Oyo, Benin, Kano pre 1900? What gave rise to the Esans and the Urhobos from ancient Benin? You as a Yoruba man, have you forgotten “Yoruba ronu “? We should stop barking agaist the bad and chant the beauty of the good. From Omoweh

    Is there nobody to tell these clueless individuals in power that the amalgamation has expired and they should be thinking of another system that will benefit Nigerians? Anonymous

    As a student of history, you are very right sir, but Calabar equally played important role then. From Enang Enang, Uyo.

    The amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 was neither a historical accident nor a dubious event rather in my opinion it was good. The so called protectorates would not have been better separately than Nigeria today. From Abbe Jos

    Sir, I just read your salient commentary on the amalgamation project published in The Nation with so many historical facts to support its relevance to national development hence, I would like to find out when the concluding segment of the commentary would be published. I appreciate. From Moses Umanah, Uyo.

    Please develop this excellent piece into a book and your name would enter world record. Give us more on this that we may know the true history of Nigeria and please, advise them to develop new federal cities in some other regions including the rehabilitation of the old government house in Lagos. This will be an amazing way of celebrating our centenary. Thanks! From Rev. Sam, Port Harcourt.

    Dear, congratulations! You are a true historian. This piece is something to read, and I must follow it to its conclusion. Please, let the columnist of HARDBALL make his phone number available, many might want to comment on his post strengthen some truth and shun many lies and sentiments that can never do us good. You will agree with me that misinformations if not checkmated can turn this country into a sorry situation. Thanks once more for your piece. Anonymous

    Dear Dapo, your write-up captioned “The Summit” of 14th Feb. 2013 in The Nation newspaper is a perfect one that made tears roll down my cheeks as I read through. I am pained by the huge amount of money being wasted on irrelevant things in this country, and the centenary celebration is just another. This centenary period would have been fixed as a time of sober reflection of our past, present, and concern about the future of this country. Let us face the reality, this country is faced with grave situations that needs urgent solution. Convocation of a National Conference is the right step. A stitch in time saves nine. May God give us wisdom. Anonymous

    Please kindly forward same write-up to my e-mail: pipersgroup@gmail.com. I would like to keep it for my children to read. Our leaders do not understand our history. The only thing worth celebrating is our Independence Day on 1st October. From Major Ken.

    Dapo, really no need for celebration. It is just as a slave is celebrating the day he was captured. It can just remain in our historical books for record sake but not worthy of celebration. The big question is what did colonisation did to us as a nation? We have too many piority projects at hand beging for attention. From Basiomele, Auchi

     

    For Dare Olatunji

     

    Good use of “Discretion is better part of valour”. We decry our leader’s discretion on the rename of “Liberty Stadiun”, of UNILAG, N5000 note and Idiocy of BAKASSI! Now that Professor Wole Soyinka received Awo’s award, the question is: which dignifies the other? What gives ‘Independence’ its salt is the liberty of human mind, in freedom from shackles of ignorance, poverty and ill-health, so that people like Soyinka or Emegwali could go places! And Awo quite believed this. You see now? Anonymous

    Sir, who knew what apparently damning evidence some of the reporters who covered Governor S. Chime’s arrival might have contrived to concoct in order to gain their end? When a man is determined by his own inclination either to act or not to act in a particular manner, he invariably sets about devising an argument by which he may justify himself to himself for the line he is about to pursue. For now, we should believe the reports except the facts. From Adegoke O. O., Ikhin, Edo State

    Thank God he has returned hale and hearty and may God Almighty grant him more wisdom to pilot the affairs of Enugu State. And may the remaining ailing other governors return in peace. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Docyard Apapa Lagos.

    Your exciting write-up on family involvement in education especially the concluding part on building a new Coalition of Committed Family and Community Organisation for Children Education is good, let us work it out. From Pastor Caleb, Family Life Care

    What I have to say as regards to the various comments made by some disgruntled elements especially the so-called Save Enugu group is that they should appologise publicly to the governor while the person who originated the rumour that he died should go for confession. From Okibe, Lagos

    Chime is now back alive, what will be the feeling of his critics and enemies who wished him dead? Chime should just forgive them all. From Gordon Chika Nnorom

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    The Jonathan administration has failed Nigerians in many respects already. It should not go to the extent of distorting history as a basis for organizing useless jamborees. Anonymous

    I agree that no government wants its sins to be exposed to the world when its time is over. Yes, the APC will make a difference if it does not harbour elements that sinned against the people yesterday. Thanks! From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna

    Re: Lord Lugard and the 1914 amagamation of Nigeria. If Lugard made a mistake of amalgamating the Northern and Southern Protectorates nearly a century ago, rather than for us to keep referring to what had been done as a mistake, our emphasis should be on exploring and exploiting the diversity of our culture, ethnicity, climate, etc in making sure that this nation is able to actualise its potential as the giant of Africa. From Olumide Soyemi, Bariga.

    ‘A progressive agenda’ is surely the foundation of a new prosperous Nigeria. But the real fear is the connection between the military and the conservative class. Remember what happened to June 12,1993 election. May God save Nigeria and our politics. From Alhaji ADEYCorsim, Oshodi, Lagos

    All Progressive Congress party must have an agenda to reverse this pervasive decadence. Education is crucial on the agenda. The success would not be achieved by massive increase in public expenditure on education to beef up the percentage of GNI. Promotion of private investment on education would beef up the education percentage of GNP. The centralisation of economic power on the fedral government constitute temptation and absolute power that would corrupt even the Holiness. Those in PDP are not of different stocks and breeds from those that would constitute APC. They are all Nigerians. The curruption hitherto is not attributable to PDP members alone. They are Nigerians that got state control and would not withstand the corruptive influences. The agenda would distiguish APC and be the yardstick to measure their performance. PDP had no agenda and should not have been allowed to get power. With agenda as yardstick we may boot out a failure and a looter and deny them power. Let us empower and patronise private investments in education and in other sectors. Revert the economy to private management under public negotiated regulation. From Engr. Adewumi. Ilorin

    Re: A progressive agenda. Coming together, alone, of the oppositions to wrestle power from the PDP is on its own, progressive. One only hopes that sharing of ‘Who takes what’, will not disunite them. For once, this agendum by the opposition is democracy in democracy, hopefully, for the good of the citizens in particular, and the nation in general. Bravo! From Lanre Oseni

    Your piece “A progressive agenda” is quite interesting. The gladiators of the merger should abstain from selfish interest or individualistic tendencies, it is not impossible to wrest power from the ruling party; the interest of the people should be paramount in their hearts above all.

    I wish them well. From Ojo A. Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

    Oga Segun, you journalists should tell the National Universities Commission to quickly and decisively intervene in the ugly matter of lecturers forcing students to buy handouts/pamphlets. No university in the world practices this illicit trade. Thanks sir. Anonymous

    My prayer is for APC to consider pensioners first, and connect the six geo-political zones with modern railway. Thanks sir. Anonymous

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

     

    RE: “AFCON 2013, Keshi’s resignation, etc.” Notwithstanding Keshi and his team’s success, it was an act of cowardice that Keshi decided to throw in the towel, irrespective of what the NFF might have initially done to hurt him. Thanks that he has retraced his steps by withdrawing the resignation letter. We must show gratitude to God, Keshi and the team members, Nigerian supporters, Dangote, Adenuga, Uduaghan, Fashola, etc. All said and done, successive Nigerian governments must improve on stadia and sports infrastructure, grant coaches reasonable freedom to administer. Our 1985 and 2013 successes suffice. From Lanre Oseni.

    Continuity is the answer to the Super Eagles coaching crews for their brilliant performance in the just-ended AFCON 2013. From Gordon Chika Nnorom.

    Re:”The lost century” (February 10): All is not a loss when Nigeria is compared with other West African countries. I have been an incurable pessimist about Nigeria’s growth but when we all sit and ruminate honestly, we have every cause to count some blessings notwithstanding our need to kill indiscipline, corruption, indolence ethnicism and religious extremism. To me, nothing is wrong with commemoration of our century of amalgamation; it is over-celebration under our present situation that is detested. From Lanre Oseni.

    Now that our leaders have spoken about mistakes made in the last century, what plans are they making to ensure that past mistakes didn’t repeat themselves? What structures are on ground to have a new bountiful century? If we are to make any headway in this century, let’s do away with corruption in our governance. From Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    Quite a nice combination; the duo of President Jonathan and Anyim are in charge in 2013/14 to mark 100 years of amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates. The look-alike understandably cannot be expected to seize the opportunity for any meaningful discourse on this matter. Nigeria never fails to miss opportunities. Pity! From Olatunde.

  • Beyond the AFCON triumph

    Beyond the AFCON triumph

    The credit for Nigeria’s first win of the Africa Nations Cup in nearly two decades is essentially Stephen Keshi’s. For riding a cloud of skepticism after his team stuttered in pre-tournament tune-ups and standing up to apparently meddlesome football officials to get a result, he is in the running for my Man of the Year, so soon. I watched, with interest, as all, from President Goodluck Jonathan to the man on the street, hopped on the feel-good bandwagon as the Super Eagles flapped tentatively before searing through the championship like some phantom unleashed from a dungeon of self-inflicted mediocrity. Progress by the Eagles tallied with his administration’s reform agenda, remarked the president. Many a citizen thought the cup as good as won.

    But I chose, and still choose, to look beyond the cup. While the party lasts, allow me, dear fan, to sour the mood a little – for the greater good. First, the victory, however deserved, came at rather average expense. Imagine the resistance Egypt sanspolitical revolution or Cameroon minus infighting and administrative malaise would have put up. While Nigeria ultimately avoided confrontation with West Coast rivals Ghana in the final, even the Black Stars reflected a shadow of the side that trounced the Eagles at the 2008 quarter-finals in Ghana and registered a derby drubbing on February 6, 2007 in London.

    Is it not possible that since great teams rise and fall, Nigeria could be on the ascendancy while major rivals are in decline? For evidence of dynamism in sports hegemony, compare Zambia’s success at the 2012 edition in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea with Nigeria’s in terms of weakened opposition. As they did last year, Ivory Coast and Ghana fell short this term while Egypt and Cameroon bowed to upstarts on the road.

    Nigeria also benefited from the fortune of having a‘son of the soil’ willing to soil his hands in the morass that typifies Nigerian football. With the national team failures of predecessor Samson Siasia probably ringing in his ears, Keshi rolled up his sleeves and went to work. Issues with accommodation and salary? Official car delayed? None was reason enough to stymie the project. Tellingly, players from the once derided domestic league shifted through a revolving door that shooed six on the train to South Africa. A few found tactical expression in South Africa, but more significantly, Keshi’s near-faultless selection squeezed out off-form captain, Joseph Yobo, for the plucky Godfrey Oboabona and promising Kenneth Omeruo.

    Hindered by poor officiating, the sandy Mbombela pitch on which Nigeria launched out and Keshi’s experimentation with the First Eleven, the Eagles laboured to prey until the Brown Ideye-Emmanuel Emenike spitfire attack worked by Victor Moses and Mikel Obi strafed all and sundry. Ivory Coast took unexpected flak in the quarter-finals as a more mature Elephants yielded to the eager young guns in green. Afterwards, Russia-based Ivorien striker Lancina Traore parried insinuation that his team lost because they underrated the Eagles. He said: “… once on the pitch, Mikel Obi and his mates quickly seized the midfield, cutting off the link to our front men,”adding that his team wondered whether Nigeria “was the same team that drew 1-1 against Burkina Faso in the group phase”.

    Whether Mali succumbed more to fatigue after an epic quarter-final shootout with host, South Africa, we may never know, but goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa thought his Eagles played against “Brazil”. “From my post I saw more than 15 green shirts pouring forth against us and not the usual 10 players. They were strong, slippery, focused and pacy.”

    And the mood portrayed by a Burkina Faso fan before the final could not have been more ominous. “…the Super Eagles now seem like a wild beast unchained. They are devouring and the general fear here now is that they could do the same to us like they did to Mali.”

    Such superlatives to make the head swim!

    In the event, the Nigeria attack blunted by Emenike’s absence through injury after his semi-final exertions in pursuit of the Golden Boot managed to douse the opponents’ patriotic flame with a goal from impressive local lad, Sunday Mba. It would have been more but for the forward line’s profligacy, a development that should task Keshi going forward.

    In South Africa, nonetheless, the Mikel we long sought emanated. Mikel, the tentative and mellow in green turned Mikel, leader and magician. Overall, he was the best player by any yard and certainly the best Nigerian by a mile. Why the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) differed, crowning the Burkinabe trickster Jonathan Pitroipa, is a mystery of political proportions as suggested by the referee’s admission of error and official rescind of the striker’s red card from the semi-final. In fulfilling all self-righteousness, CAF may have set a precedence to be cited again and again.

    Considering the rave reviews, Africa had thirsted for typical Nigerian flair for a while. Remarkably, the fear induced by the Eagles in South Africa evoked a bygone era. And in deference to the Eagles heyday, I propose a change in cognomen to reflect conquest and domination – something with ‘Lions’ in it, perhaps. No, that’s taken – by Cameroon and Senegal. How about ‘Devils’? Well, the Eagles bore that before ‘Green Eagles’. Besides that is also taken: it’s Manchester United’s world-famous epithet. So, ‘Green Devils’? ‘Predatory Eagles’? Anyway, you get the picture; a petrifying appellation wouldn’t hurt.

    But to the Brazil 2014 World Cup finals we must turn our heads in earnest. Nigeria top African Zone Group F with four points from a win and a draw, and the next qualifier comes up against Kenya next month. With the current squad, Nigeria should pick a spot, but is Keshi truly up to the bigger task? He triumphed by selecting his team on merit but what happens when the players earn greater exposure, with profiles expanding spheres of influence? How Keshi fares against swarming player agents is of consequence, for they have been known to ruin a promising coach or two by their machinations. While we might trust Keshi’s massive ego to supersede any player’s, the coach must be more tactful in dealing with super brats and the establishment. To do otherwise would suggest impetuosity and unprofessional conduct, both elements of a tragic career.

    The Mundial is a different ball game, more demanding and technical. In the event of qualification, can Keshi supervise the tactical annihilation of the elite teams of Europe and the Americas? On the basis of his substitutions and tactical discipline, I think not. But that is no reason to call for his sack. Should we tinker with the technical bench to improve technical input? Yes, of course. Do we bring a foreign technical expert, director or adviser to fill the chasm? Yes, with urgency. And how would it work? With Keshi as immediate assistant to an accomplished coach or as immediate boss, if the expat is less accomplished? Samson Siasia’s sustained association with Dutch match analyst Simon Kalika here refers.

    At any rate, let us not forget that Keshi succeeded because he thrived within a deficient system, experiencing the same factors that affected the players, leading to a synergy in mentality. He didn’t work out of Europe as Berti Vogts and Lars Lagerback were excused in unremarkable spells with the national team. The 2014 dream therefore begins with efficient administration from team welfare and discipline to kitting and logistics. Financial motivation should not be a challenge for a government adept at throwing money at problems, but if smaller countries achieve significantly more at less expense, then fatter bonuses do not necessarily translate to better results.

    In the end, Keshi’s record as the second man, after the late Mahmoud el-Gohary of Egypt, to triumph as coach following his Tunisia 1994 gold as captain is secured as is the prestigious ticket to the FIFA Confederations Cup in June following CAF’s selection of the 2013 and not 2012 champions. The Eagles would do well to exploit the subsequent window to continental domination and find eternal relevance in 160 million hearts.

  • Kano’s action plan against malaria

    Tackling malaria, which is a major public health problem in the country, needs action not rhetorics. Previously, the issue was handled with levity but Kano State government under Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso takes everything serious. From healthcare delivery, education, water supply, infrastructural development— down to sports, every issue affecting the people receives government’s utmost attention.

    According to Malaria Fact Sheet produced by the US embassy in Nigeria, “malaria accounts for more cases and deaths than any other country in the world”. With Kano’s leading position in terms of population, one wonders the percentage the state accounts in the cases and deaths.

    Matching words with action, Governor Kwankwaso therefore developed a multi-pronged approach that will tackle the root cause, destroy the parasite itself and ensure general supply of effective and affordable drugs in the hospitals.

    The long-abandoned vector control fumigation of yesteryears has now been revived in Kano. Enough vehicles, chemicals and equipment were bought, just as enough personnel were employed to go through every street and alley of the ancient city.

    Apart from that, major channels in the state will soon be encapsulated and tiled. The famous Jakara stream will no longer bear its name, nor wear its ugly look, nor breed the parasitic vectors it bred for ages. The dream of the governor is to see that open drainages in the state, which are the breeding grounds of mosquitoes, are covered, tiled and become pedestrian walkways as obtained in the developed world.

    Against this background, Governor Kwankwaso formed drainages committee which will identify the blockages and suggest ways of improving free flow of waste water in the state. With this, the perennial flood recorded in the state can be tackled. In a similar vein, another committee on interlocking is also working assiduously to make the state look neater.

    Last week, the governor launched his administration’s flagship Malaria Control Programme, a few months after directing the state Ministry of Health to exit from from the 27 million US dollar loan obtained from the World Bank for the project by the previous administration.

    Sourcing loans is not the trend of Kwankwaso administration, just as buffeting public funds in the name of “security vote” is outlawed by the government. The governor’s reason in abhorring loans is obvious as debt burden retards economic growth.

    Known for brutal frankness and point-blank approach, Gov. Kwankwaso once told a World Bank senior official that Kano is exiting from the malaria loan. “As a matter of policy,” he told the official, “the state government is not taking any loan. What government is getting from IGR and other sources presently is enough to manage our health challenges. But exiting from the loan does not mean discarding the programme warts and all”.

    Of course the government opted out of the loan without discarding the programme as it has enough resources in its kitty to execute the project. Aware of the perils of throwing the baby with bath water, the governor then developed a homegrown strategy and married it with the World Bank action plan.

    Speaking during the launching of the malaria programme last week, Governor Kwankwaso said the government decided to continue the programme because malaria remains a major health challenge in the state, accounting for an estimated 30 percent child mortality and 11 percent maternal mortality.

    “The disease has negative impact on the local and national economy by causing low productivity, absenteeism from school and work, resulting into economic loss of billions of naira annually. Because of the danger of malaria, we are putting in place our own Malaria Control Programme without any foreign loan. Action plan has been drafted and we welcome support from any well-meaning organization”, the governor stated.

    He revealed that the state government is working closely with metropolitan local government councils in the state to address the scourge of the disease, while the state refuse disposal agency, REMASAB has been provided with adequate funds to enable it discharge its responsibility of keeping the environment clean and mosquito-free. While 80 dumpsites were purchased recently by the government, thousands of dustbins, as obtained in cities across the world, have dotted the city of Kano.

    The governor therefore told the gathering that the state government recently awarded contract for channelling the Jakara River, which runs through five of the eight metropolitan local government areas, as part of deliberate strategies to address the menace of malaria, pointing out that a road would be constructed over the channel to improve transportation in Kano city. Contract worth N8.7 billion has been awarded for the Jakara river project.

    He also appealed to people of the state to ensure that refuse is disposed the way it should be done to prevent malaria and other killer diseases, saying it is also necessary for them to make good use of health facilities provided by the government, as well as to patronize its reintroduced “Lafiya Jari”pharmacies for quality and affordable drugs.

    Kwankwaso’s campaign promise of providing quality and affordable healthcare service to the people of Kano is steadily taking shape as not only those living in the urban areas but also the rural dwellers are benefiting. New urban and rural health centers are built, while the dilapidated ones are equipped and restructured. Government’s ambulances for the state’s Mobile Clinic Programme tagged “Kwankwasiyya Medical Outreach” are criss-crossing the state, covering major routes and strategic referral centres to reduce trauma associated with accidents and other emergencies.

    While Kano doctors are now fully equipped to carry out surgeries, the dilapidated health infrastructures in the state are undergoing reconstructive surgeries by Gov. Kwankwaso, the surgeon-general of modern Kano. Apart from general overhaul of the structures and equipment, there is now constant supply of electricity in the hospitals. The Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are also standardized and qualified anesthesiologists/intensivists are recruited to man the units.

    The government has also established a buoyant drug revolving fund to ensure steady supply of quality and affordable drugs to health facilities besides waging a war against prohibited and counterfeit drugs.

    In view of our competing demands in the state, Kwankwaso devised a way of tackling the paucity of equipment in our hospitals. Some of the hospitals are now equipped with medical equipment and consumables worth millions of naira obtained free of charge from MedShare, a US based NGO, during the governor’s visit to their headquarters last year.

    Of the 21 training institutes established by the present administration, three of them are health related. Additionally, government will establish two medical schools for Northwest University and Kano University of Science and Technology.

    The achievements of the present administration in the health sector are as myriads as the vectors themselves. Now that the no-nonsense leader has waged a war against malaria, the mosquitos are surely on their mark…

  • Uba Ahmed (1939-2012)

    In December 1983, my chummy with Alhaji Uba Ahmed (April 28, 1939 to December 17, 2012), prompted him to invite me to travel with him on a global tour.

    He was the national secretary of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and I was the National Assembly Editor for The Punch at that time.

    Goodwill and amity between politicians and reporters, is an old tradition. Reporters’ duty is to cover events and people while politicians have a duty to take decisions that affect lives.

    We have been friends for long – a relationship that began in 1975 when he was the Manager of Nigerian Tobacco Company in Jos and I briefly reported for the Kwara state-government owned Nigeria Herald at that time in Jos. I was in Jos to relieve a colleague who was on leave following an order from my then Editor, Peter Ajayi who asked me to proceed to Jos from Ibadan and report on a top Civil Servant who murdered his wife.

    Uba Ahmed was staying in a house near Tilley Gyado Place in Jos. The relationship blossomed when he was elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1977 to represent Tangale Waja constituency in the old Bauchi State and I covered the proceedings of the assembly.

    He was always a delight, a good friend indeed. I followed his political career till he was elected Senator in 1978 and in 1979 the then Senate President Dr. Joseph Wayas appointed him chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation.

    Through that journey, he courted the friendship of notable and reputable reporters who covered the National Assembly in the Second Republic. They include late Tunde Lisboa, Jimi Aderinokun, Labake Adebiyi now Labake Fawehinmi, Raymond Okiti, Yinka Guedon now in London, Alli Zubair, Idiat Abari, Demola Osinubi, Nduka Irabor, Eddy Ekpo, Gboyega Amoboye, Ronke Akinsete, Adebolu Clinton Oni, Ruffi Oladipo, Joke Sanyaolu, Nduka Obaigbena, Richard Amayo, Tony Idigo, Nkem Agetua, Frank Olize, Bayo Adewusi, Chris Anyanwu, Clement Iranola Akintomide alias CIA, James Bello, Gbenga Onayinga, Dupe Ajayi, Clement Eluaka, Anene Ugoani, Wale Oshodi, Moni Adebayo, Yomi Ajetumobi, Bolaji Macaulay, Isaac Oleleye, Chief Olugbayo Ogunleye, Dipo Akinsiku, and even state house correspondents like Toye Akiode, Wole Odunaike, and the Public Relations Manager of the Nigeria Airways at that time, Femi Ogunleye who is now the Towulade of Akinale in Ogun State.

    His devotion to his friends is unwearied and indefatigable. When Senator Joseph Sarwuan Tarka (1932-1980) was sick in London, Uba Ahmed travelled to see him six times. When he died eventually on March 30, 1980, Uba Ahmed was at his bed side. I was with him in London at that time and we brought Senator Tarka’s corpse in a Nigerian Air Force Hercules jet on April 7, 1980, to Lagos. He was a consummate politician who understood gamesmanship.

    In the Senate, he served competently introducing bills and motions. I remember he submitted a strong memorandum to the Abubakar Tuggar’s committee on creation of state in 1982, demanding for the creation of Gombe State from the former Bauchi State. He wanted Akko, Tangale Waja, Dukku and Gombe to be independent of Shira, Kantagum, Gamowa, Nissau and Jamari districts.

    Following the appointment of the national secretary of the NPN, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma as Minister of Agriculture in 1979 and that of his deputy, Dr. Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo (1941-2003) as special adviser by President Shehu Aliyu Shagari, the post of the secretary became vacant.

    The lot fell on the spokesman of the party Alhaji Suleiman Takuma (1934-2001), the Sarkin Malamai Nupe in Bida, the man with the golden voice to run the secretariat of the party in the absence of a national convention.

    An open convention was summoned by the party in 1982 to elect and re-confirm all the posts including the chairmanship of the party and the secretary. Alhaji Uba Ahmed came out to challenge Alhaji Takuma- the famous broadcaster. In an open election held at the National Theatre, Alhaji Uba Ahmed defeated Alhaji Takuma to become the national secretary. He later resigned from the Senate and his seat was won by his friend, Ambassador Ajuju Waziri, the spouse of Farida Waziri, the former EFCC chairman.

    As national secretary of the NPN, Alhaji Uba Ahmed became an automatic member of the Monday caucus presided over by President Shagari, which was the highest decision making body at that time.

    Our global tour in December 1983 took us to Las Vegas, New York, Houston in U.S.A., Peking and Shanghai in China, Hong Kong and Bahrain. By the time we landed on December 30, 1983 we were all home sick and very anxious to come back to Nigeria having been away for 24 days. Moreover we wanted to escape the freezing London weather.

    Upon the insistence of his faithful and loyal aide Chief Fab Uche and much to our delight too, Alhaji Uba arranged for us to travel back to Nigeria. The schedule was for us to land in Lagos on December 31 and then to fly to Jos in the afternoon for the New Year celebrations. Jos was the second hometown of Uba Ahmed.

    But that was not to be.

    We headed for the Heathrow airport around 7.00 p.m. and tagged our entire luggage UBA AHMED so as to enjoy ‘executive clearance’. The WTO Nigerian Airways flight took off around 10.00 p.m. It was a smooth flight. We were given royal treatment aboard the flight. Drinks and food were served in excess. We dropped the Kano passengers around 4.00 p.m. and headed for the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. I sat next to Alhaji Uba Ahmed in the first class compartment. We joked and discussed; we even fantasised on our scheduled trip to Jos later in the day.

    As were about to land, I became curious for I noticed that other airlines were fully packed; none took off and none on the runaway. Being first class passengers, we were the first to disembark. I looked through the window and saw soldiers surrounding our plane. I became uncomfortable. I immediately alerted Alhaji Uba Ahmed who was having discussion with the famous Ibadan trained unionist Alhaji Kola Balogun who was also disembarking too. He then directed me to find out what was happening.

    I rushed to the ground floor and saw the junior brother of a close friend who works for the security services. He shouted my name with respect and wondered what I was doing at the odd place and at that odd time. I asked him why he was asking and I informed that I was coming from London.

    ‘Are you not aware there is coup’, he asked? I became dumb. He said the voice of Brigadier Sanni Abacha was on the air, and advised me to get my luggage and flee the airport. I raced back to third floor to inform Uba Ahmed that there was a military coup and that the voice of Brigadier Sanni Abacha was on air.

    He was mute, rattled, confused and abashed. He just sat down and shook his head intermittently. By this time other passengers were murmuring about the coup and pointing at our direction. It was an embarrassing moment for us both. Ten minutes later, he regained his composure and looked directly into my eyes and asked “You mean Brigadier Bako not Abacha?” I insisted Abacha to which he then declared “I must escape; if this chap seizes me they will kill me. I must go, kajiko, I must go”.

    His escape was later designed and executed.

    I got back to the arrival lounge of the airport to collect my three luggages only to meet wild soldiers carting away all luggage including mine, tagged UBA AHMED. Wisdom dictated to me not to move near those wild soldiers, more so that they have just taken over power in less than five hours.

    I left the airport dejected that day, missing a friend and losing my luggage- a bad way to begin a new year, 1984.

    Six days later the security personnel came to The Punch premises at Onipetesi in Ikeja and asked me to report myself at their office at Alagbon in Ikoyi where I was detained for 27 days.

    That was where my ulcer became worse.

    My then boss Dr. Haruna Adamu, Managing Director of The Punch came to release me on bail, only for Dr. Adamu himself to be detained for 12 months by Major General Buhari’s government.

    In disguised voices, Alhaji Uba used to phone me from abroad. He came home in 1994 and lived with Adekunle Agunbiade alias LAKO in his Ikoyi Lagos residence.

    I did not see Uba Ahmed again until he was appointed Minister of Labour by General Sanni Abacha and shortly after I was engaged in the Presidency. We met often at the villa either for official assignments or during federal executive meetings.

    In February 2005, he was a member of the National Political Reform Conference headed by Justice Niki Tobi. A noble prince in Bida, Senator Dangana Ndayako, a common friend of ours phoned me of Uba’s demise in Germany on Christmas day December 25, 2012. Alhaji Uba Ahmed was a very friendly person. Very neighbourly. Very steadfast.

    My condolence is to his family and friends, for he was a good man.

    • Teniola, former Director in the Presidency lives in Lagos

  • From the cell phone

    From the cell phone

    For Gbenga Omotoso

     

    Sir, just as you said concerning the Super Eagles, I am happy and I decree 2 – 1 in favour of Nigeria in Jesus name – Amen. Anonymous

    Dear Mr. Omotoso, I just read ‘A guide to legal battles’, as published in The Nation. It is a master piece though tragic. I think it is time our National Assembly passed the law against plea bargain. From Pastor Pat Chuka, Asaba

    Nigeria will surely win. The boys are determined, dedicated and focused. From Pastor Bren, Umuahia

    Super Eagles have the capability to rule Africa even for a longer period. Super Eagles will win. From Ogar, J. M. O. Umuahia, Abia State

    Re: A guide to legal battles. Your formular for escape from justice for stolen money is 100 per cent correct. The new approach is ‘the more you steal, the lesser your punishment’. This is the more reason corruption can never be prosecuted judiciously. All agencies are compromised hence the country is stagnant on all fronts. Only democratic revolution can change the mess in the country. From Pastor Odunmbaku

    May God Almighty deliver us from the hands of corrupt judges in this country. Our leaders are no longer worried on who will judge them if they want to steal because somebody is arround the corner waiting to be paid for the case. How on earth can a man steal the sum of N32b pension money and said the money is just only N30b, and was given N75,0000 bail? Are they promoting corruption or fighting it? Our judiciary is in a mess, our politiicians have become shameless, stealing is no longer anything to them; when they steal, they will be boasting because another thief that call him or herself judge will shield them. A man stole N100b some years ago and was sentenced to two years imprisoment and came back with rousing welcome. What do they teach their children? How do they expect their subject to behave? From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Dockyard Apapa Lagos

    I wish Super Eagles all the best but my advice is if we want Super Eagles to lift the cup, President Goodluck must not attend AFCON final as he promised or else…. Anonymous

    “A guide to legal battles”. What a funny way to laugh off our insincerity in Nigeria! You are too much sir. From Michael Afolayan

    Gratitude is a burden. Let all those failed national coaches that predicted failures for the miracle man of Steven Keshi bury their heads in shame. From Solokito

    Teachers teach students. Teaching is a profession and as such more strictly defined than a vocation, career and occupation. Students learn from teachers and teachers facilitate learning by students. Learning and the facilitation of learning are common responsibilities. Professional teachers have the additional responsibility for efficent and effective utilisation of resources for teaching and learning. Teachers are the best professional managers of our national education. The American AFT is like Nigerian Medical Association and the Bar Association which are more of professionalism than unionism.Unions bargain against their employers and professions promote the status,contribution and acceptance of the service provided. The unions may consider transforming into professions in the national interest. This would be more persuasive as governments are seen less as the major employer of labour in education. I would not aggree with you that the governments have prerogative to promotes standard of education more than the private sector of the economy. Good education promote economy that would be dominated by the private sector,rather than by government. In the public-private partnership, the private should lead. Professions and professional teachers are private spirit driven and may only be so sustainable. They work for payment and gain. NUTwould remain unified against a virtual unification of the governments as their major employer.Hence standards of teachers, teaching and education suffer. From Engr. Adewumi, Ilorin

    AFCON 2013 has been interesting especially as The Super Eagles sent the highly rated Ivorians home. From Aly B., Kaduna.

    You are on point. The special grace of Satguru Maharaj Ji has touched Nigeria to lift the AFCON trophy this time come what may. Congrats in advance! Anonymous

    The Super Eagles need to tighten their belt against Burkina Faso. We are diamond and Super Eagles will win the match with 3-1. From Sylvanus, Edo State

    Please help contact coach Keshi that the Super Eagles should appear in blue jersey which always favours us and brings goodluck to Nigeria always. Thanks! From Dr. Nwosu, PortHarcout

    On Super Eagles’. . . .so super, you have said nothing but the whole truth. To add words to your complete but concise write-up, the atittude of the big boss is overwhemingly patrotic. Our players are wonderful. I simply say that God is a Nigerian. I can smell the trophy already. From Pastor Ugwa Pius.

     

     

    For Olatunji Dare

     

    I will support Soludo for Governor anyday! And, yes, he has the qualities mentioned before your first sarcastic question about a second term at the CBN. Anonymous

    Your story on Soludo is revealing and shows you expensively researched to produce such a thorough job. You failed to mention his pending alleged huge bribery case. Regards. From Chuma Mbaise, Imo State

    Your piece, ‘Soludo: A quest renewed’, was incisive and educative. More inks to your pen and more strength to your hand. And to the cerebral cortex too. However, Peter Obi is of the APGA and not ANPP as stated by you in the said piece. Anonymous

    Sir, I believe the printer’s devil struck in the last paragraph of your piece on Soludo (Feb. 5): ‘cannot’ or ‘can now’? From Jide Jimohm, LASU, Lagos

    I totally agree we need good and effective government under a disciplined and committed leadership, not endless political conferences that serve no purpose. From Wisdom Baiye

    One may do some time-serving but when one’s hour has come, one must not miss it. Professor Soludo should quickly retire his ambition to rule govern Anambra State under PDP because there is no knowing to what they may be led by circumstance. Relatedly, intellectual originality does not make for popularity in Nigerian politics. What the average voter likes is ordinary ideas supported by brains and character stronger than the ordinary. From Adegoke O. O., Ikhin, Edo State

    Soludo was denied a second term as CBN governor because he is good for the Igbo but not good enough for Nigeria! Anonymous

    I cherish your column always but you can digress a little, write about common people in the society, not always about big people. Common people offend you? Anonymous

    Re: Soludo: A quest renewed. I least expected an intelligent man like Chukwuma Soludo to have been tricked by the powers-that-be into the then Anambra murky water of governorship contest. He should by now realise the Yoruba phrase that says ‘Keep dancing, we are behind you’. Whereas the reality is ‘You are on your own!’ Today, you cannot toy with Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Anambra and Kano electioneering results anyhow. Let us learn to swim well, before jumping into a deep ocean. By now, Charles Soludo would know when and how to compete politically in Nigeria. From Lanre Oseni

     

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    Sir,’Teacher quality and student outcome’ are two sides of a coin. NUT may be a professional body but it is purely a trade union, whose main object is to defend members compared to NBA or NMA which operates basically as a professional body that even expels erring members. NUT has never recommended any member for expulsion or serious disciplinary action. There is need for ASUU and NUT to come together to save the teaching profession. When lawyers are called barristers, doctors as doctors (prefix to name). Therefore, teachers should be educators. From Alhaji Hon. ADEYCorsim, Osodi, Lagos

    I read your today column in The Nation, very interesting. Please more of it, being an Oke Ogun indigene sir, please we need your likemind in liberating our people. We may contact you soon for advice on the way forward. From Sholagbade Adeshina, Lagos based Iganna indigene

    Dear Sir, compliments! Your piece “Family involvement in education” as published in The Nation newspaper of Friday February 8, is indeed, a well thought out and well written piece! May God bless you for advocating a complete return to our rich African values. As a young parent, I have learnt a lot from the column and promise to uphold the morals enumerated! From Barr. P. Akila Kasham, Jos

    Gud day Prof., your thoughts on family involvement in education is both thorough and enlightening. The problem is that, you should have noted the real cause of today’s decay or dysfunctionality, just in passing. That is, the issue of ‘urban-centered individualism’. I can assure you that most of the villages in the Southwest, which I know, still cherish the communality of old in everything, including raising the child. The crisis is in the over-populated urban areas where even parents barely have enough time to sleep because of work. So, all they do is struggle to pay school fees and ‘the deal is done’. Until we have a government which cherishes education, we may be in for a long haul. Regards. From Olu

    You titled your article with family involvement and ended with the community responsibility for education. All be it that the village is needed for all the education. The world is becoming our globalised village. The difference is in the commercialisation of our values and virtues. It is unrealistic to expect that the family and community in this modernised village would contribute to education without monetary considerations, governments should allow the private interests to make contributions to education. The families are now private interests. Money governs the world now, and education is dictated by money, and not by old values. Let us talk on how to manage education for our personal, private and national economic interests. Education needs money and someone must pay for it. The families pay directly or indirectly. From Engr. A. I. Adewumi. Ilorin

    ‘A guide to legal battles’ is really refreshing. Sir, when are you going to practicalise this theory. Hope you are not waiting to be appointed into government before you do what your other colleaques have been doing. From ADEYCorsim, Oshodi, Lagos

    Dear Elder Gbadegesin, indeed, education is not only about classwork but equally about character building. Africans believe in good formal and informal education. Your voice is a voice of wisdom as an experienced elder. I wish every parent, leaders of communities, custodians of children, etc., will reason with your comment and come together again in order to build a better education framework for our children. From Dare Kayode, Abuja

    I do not agree that the education system and the family are different entities and not the products of the economic foundation of Nigeria. What about the foundation? It is neo-colonial capitalism that divided the country into haves and haves-not. It is hostile to peace and unity and love. It breeds self-seekers. Thanks. From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna