The Nation Newspaper

Category: Opinion

  • Where were Aba lawyers during Osisikanku era ?

    Where were Aba lawyers during Osisikanku era ?

    One of the most common types of bill boards along highways in the United States of America is that of lawyers soliciting for clients. Things like: “Got injury at work? Call now…”; “Your spouse a bully? Help is here. Call this number now”, etc etc. On a recent visit there, I was so fascinated by one of such ads that I soon saw myself reflecting over the plight of lawyers at home, I mean in Nigeria: Why are they not allowed to advertise their services in Nigeria. Although they (lawyers) are not the only professionals affected (doctors, accountants, architects etc are also affected by it), I believe that the time has come for the law so prohibiting them to be reviewed.

    Not being in any of the affected professions, I have never bothered to search the relevant law(s) for details but methinks that it is high time lawyers in particular are allowed to advertise their services in Nigeria. It will serve at least two major purposes. It will, while widening the ambience of human rights enforcement, create more opportunities for more lawyers to practice their trade; beyond the current situation where majority are clientless and have to resort to politics and journalism. But a lay fellow like me recently explained that allowing lawyers to advertise their services in Nigeria will be too chaotic because, according to him, a typical Nigerian lawyer is so brilliant and restless that he could conjure even the most ordinary issue as actionable.

    That was a few days before I came across a newspaper report on the recent public protest by lawyers living in Aba, Abia state over the state of roads in the city and my mind quickly went back to that friend’s description of the Nigerian lawyer: “… brilliant and restless”. Of course, to be both brilliant and restless is a rare and desirable attribute but it is doubtful if such qualities lend themselves to the type of thing the Aba lawyers did.

    One, street protests are too ordinary to be an attractive option for a group of professionals who are held in such awe. Being “brilliant” and “restless” means to be able to think so fast ahead of others and come up with uncommon ideas on how to get about issues. Street protests by lawyers certainly do not show that the Aba lawyers gave a thought over the matter for which they resorted to physical agitation.

    Aba is a place generally known for being populated chiefly by traders and artisans. This description is not in a derogatory sense (after all, Aba used to be the “Japan of Africa”) but there is no doubt that an “Aba lawyer” would command a lot of respect in a city where majority of the inhabitants are believed to be too busy to think. The market stalls and workshops are obviously too noisy for the operatives in them to think. To be sure, a lot of gist take place in the markets but they are what they are: market place talks; very cacophonic and with the present state of things in Nigeria, talks in market places are laced entirely with angry vituperations especially against those in authority.

    It is for this reasons that some of us argue that it would be tragic for our society if everybody becomes an angry placard – carrying street protester. Agreed, the anger in the land is justified, the grievances are legitimate but there are those who can afford to remain emotionally stable or at least pretend to be so while the collective search for solutions to the myriad of problems continues.

    In my view, men of the wig and gown, whether they reside in Aba, Asokoro or Ajegunle, belong to this category of citizens. My view on the Aba lawyers’ street protest over the conditions of roads in Aba is that the lawyers ended up trivialising a rather serious matter. The mere fact that lawyers, dressed in their professional regalia, were on the streets protesting would immediately create the impression that it was a road show which idea most probably did not originate from among the lawyers themselves. True or false, the effect of such a perception is to make the incident appear politically motivated. And with that, the lawyers failed woefully to make an impression.

    Interestingly, one of the placards had by the lawyers read: “Lawyers Are Asking For Good Governance”. Really? How can lawyers be asking for “good governance” through street protest? If men of the wig and gown with all the privileges and prerogatives available to them resort to mere street protests in a bid to secure “good governance”, what would the traders in Ariara Market do? Yes, “good governance” but how would a road-show that lasted for less than hour bring about “good governance”?

    In my younger days, we used to be fond of this aphorism of the pregnant sheep which usually goes into labour the moment she sights another giving birth and end up giving birth to a pre-mature baby: (Aturu hu na ibe ya na amu nwa, omuo nke n’akaghi aka). Where were the Aba lawyers when their counterparts in Lagos literally brought the entire Nigeria to its knees with its “occupy Nigeria” rally last January? The protest was led mostly by lawyers and we saw the result. Igbos living in the South East geopolitical zone similarly expect lawyers living among them to spearhead agitations for good governance but certainly not through such half-hearted shows as we witnessed in Aba recently.

    Elsewhere, lawyers call press conferences during which they articulate views on what they expect those in authority should do to serve the people well. In the South East, lawyers carry placards like first year university students and Okada riders. In the South East, “brilliant” lawyers are becoming extinct because majority have abandoned their Chambers to seek for offices in political parties. As a matter of fact, it was the timing of the (Aba lawyers) protest that made it even more ridiculous. It makes no sense to protest over roads during the rainy season because that is when the roads are most susceptible to damage by the elements; more so in a year when the climate has been exceedingly inclement.

    But even more puzzling is the seeming mix up in the targeted authorities. According to the solo (only one newspaper in the country reported the incident) newspaper report, the chairman of the Aba branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), one Barrister Charles Eduzor had, during the protest “…called on the federal and state governments to repair the Roads in Aba”. According to the report, the protest “started from Aba High Court through Aba-Owerri road to Port-Harcourt-Enugu Expressway”. Every Nigerian, including those living outside Aba, know that the Aba-Owerri Road and the Port-Harcourt – Enugu Expressway are federal roads. Yet, the same report had that, “as they marched, the lawyers sang anti Governor Theodore Orji songs…” Down the report, another official of the NBA was quoted as follows: “We need a responsive government in Abia which knows the needs of the people and come to their aid…”.

    We can see how apt the parable of the pregnant sheep is here. Who was their main target: the federal government or the state government? While nobody can, of course, argue that the learned gentlemen cannot tackle the Abia State government over the issue, my view is that mixing up a representation to both the federal and the state governments is a sign of unseriousness.

    I have nothing against challenging Governor T.A. Orji on this particular issue or any other one for that matter but I believe that there are enough evidence of “criminal” federal neglect in the area that a group of people as privileged as lawyers should have used that occasion to a maximum effect: To lend their big voices to the perfidy of the federal authorities against the people of the area. That is why I expressed the view earlier in this article that the resort by lawyers to mere street protests trivialises the matter. The comments made by some of the officials of the Aba NBA are too ordinary to come from lawyers who are supposed to be fire brands. If Aba lawyers could not articulate a vehement and punchy response to the incredible conditions of the “Abia part of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway”, then it is most unfortunate.

    It is not the traders in Ariaria Market that will do that. Which means that the learned gentlemen failed the people of Abia State in general and residents of Aba in particular in using their privileged position to draw the attention of the authorities to their plight. And I am aware that that has not been the standard among the people of Abia State.

    As I noted earlier, it is quite legitimate to talk about good governance but I believe that such a privileged group as lawyers cannot afford to look at the issue (of good governance) from such a narrow perspective as the Aba lawyers did during their ‘famous’ protest. Time was when the entire Aba was overtaken by kidnappers. Where were the Aba lawyers then? How many protests did they stage on the streets of Abia? The mere fact that Governor T.A. Orji was able to route the criminals in the state, thereby creating a safe atmosphere for people to come out to protest over their rights is, for me, a rare incidence of “good governance.”

  • Why governor should come from Anambra North

    Why governor should come from Anambra North

    Not a few readers of The Nation on Sunday, September 9, 2012 must have been thoroughly appalled at the interview granted by Senator Chris Ngige and his response to the question of the agitation for the next governor to be of Anambra North extraction.

    This interview was a follow-up to one he granted the NTA Onitsha station where the same question was raised and he gave the same answer. The import of these interviews coming on the heel of the other and the same question being asked is not lost on any well intentioned reader as a self serving view on Anambra politics, as the state inches towards another gubernatorial election, come 2014.

    At best it was the inevitable product of an inevitable cause. And the cause: Induced sentimentality, of course.

    To begin with, it is doubtful that Senator Ngige actually understands the agitation of Ndi Anambra North senatorial zone he seemed to be succinctly condemning and impugning on the good intention of Governor Peter Obi.

    When asked if he agreed with “Anambra North’s call for the next governor to come from their zone,”Senator Ngige retorted that “Anambra people should be free to choose whoever they want,” alluded to the fact that the crisis in APGA was as a result of Governor Peter Obi’s campaign that the governorship should shift to Anambra North, and concluded by asking when and where politicians “sat” to agree to rotate the governorship.

    The irony from the interview was Senator Ngige’s inference that Gov. Peter Obi and others agitating for the election of a governor from Anambra North extraction were deceitful. Permit me ask Senator Ngige why he will suggest that politicians should be called to a meeting where zoning shall be agreed upon and yet state that Anambra people should be free to choose whoever they want?

    The world clearly understands that agitations most often arise from perceived injustice and marginalisation against groups.

    We would want to remind Ngige that our zone has always been the decisive battle ground for any party that will win the governorship election, and this was not different in 2003 when the zone delivered more than 37 percent of the total votes cast for PDP for which Ngige was the party flag-bearer.

    One of the many promises Obi made during his campaign in 2010 was that he would support the election of a governor of Anambra North extraction in 2014. We want to remind Ngige that this issue was top priority amongst our requests from all governorship candidates that visited the Anambra North zone in the course of their campaigns, and which he (Ngige) was wavering in his response as to when he will support the agitation.

    The outcome was that Peter Obi got the overwhelming vote from our zone, and we are most grateful that he has elected to keep to one of his electoral promises as otherwise is the case amongst many politicians.

    Governor Obi is not canvassing for a stooge to replace him as he has been quoted praying that whoever shall replace him shall be someone who shall improve on what he(Peter Obi) has done. The only addendum that seems to be offensive to the senator is that he canvassed that such a person be from Anambra North extraction.

    It is a common democratic belief that from robust debates grow a better understanding of issues confronting a nation. Common sense dictates that for a nation to prosper and achieve its purpose, a good leader must govern it. It is our belief that leaders abound in the three senatorial zones in the state to lead Anambra State. We wish to remind Ngige that he had no experience in government to signpost his ability to lead well until he became governor of Ndi Anambra, yet embedded amongst us are many who have held public offices and discharged them honorably and efficiently.

    Democracy is clearly associated with two principles: equality and freedom. Equality of men before the law and God, and their freedom to make a choice are the two pillars. We all know and understand clearly the need to engender internal democracy in political parties. We are not demanding that candidates of Anambra North extraction be foisted on the political parties. Rather, we are lobbying, appealling and urging good nurtured and well meaning Anambrarians in the spirit of oneness, co habitation to support the agitation to elect a governor of Anambra North extraction.

    Our appeal follows the same pattern of agitation for Igbo Presidency and it is an integral part of our cherished Igbo culture that “Charity begins at home”.

    Okeke is the Chairman, Anambra North Peoples Assemply

  • Understanding the Lagos Traffic Law

    Understanding the Lagos Traffic Law

    Expectedly, the Lagos Traffic Law, signed into law on August 2, 2012 by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has generated lots of controversies.  While many see it as essential for the cleansing of the Transport sector, others see it as phony, un-implementable and high- handed. From the several debates on the law, it is obvious that the major reservation over it is its execution.

    The recent ‘arrest’ of two military personnel,  by the  Lagos State governor, for plying lanes dedicated to the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, once again brought into the open  the issue of gross disregard for traffic rules and regulations in the state. It is not a mere coincidence that on same day that the governor, nabbed the two soldiers, a commercial bus driver running against  traffic killed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA. Similarly, Mustapha Adeleke, a LASTMA official, was recently crushed to death at his duty post in Oke- Afa, Ejigbo, by a commercial bus driver, who was driving against traffic.

    Recent information from the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, reveals a 20 percent increase in road accidents in the country with Lagos accounting for the largest proportion. Sadly, human factor accounts for a greater percentage of road accidents in the country. In Lagos, for instance, motorists flout traffic laws at will as ‘Danfo’ ‘Molue’ and ‘Okada’drivers are notorious for contravening traffic laws. They drive against traffic, carry more than the required number of passengers, stop to pick passengers at un-designated places, over speed among many others appalling acts.

    It is, therefore, vital that every effort by the government to sanitize the sector should be encouraged by all stakeholders. This is why it is essential that the people give the traffic law a chance. Nevertheless, it is important to examine some aspects of the law that have been subjected to unending public scrutiny. To start with, let us consider the aspect that recommends a test for the alcohol level of wayward motorists. Taking into consideration the way many commercial drivers operate, it might be true that some of them function under the influence of  alcohol, and perhaps other harder stuffs. This is partly responsible for the reckless manner they drive, putting the lives of commuters and others in avoidable danger. Hence, it is hard to fault this aspect of the law since its primary aim is to ensure that only sane men sit behind the wheels on our roads.  For the effectiveness of this law, an aspect of the law has placed a restriction on the open sale of alcoholic drinks in traffic and in motor parks.

    Another part of the law that needs appropriate analysis is the one that outlaws smoking, eating and phone calls while driving. It is difficult to see the rationale behind any opposition against this particular portion of the law. For one, driving is a matter of life and death. It is, therefore, a matter of necessity that those who engage in it give it utmost concentration. It is important that motorists desist, as much as possible, from getting involved in actions that could distract them while driving. A moment loss of concentration, while driving, could lead to un-imaginable losses. Evidence abounds of road accidents that were sparked off by motorists’ lack of concentration.

    Another section of the new law that requires accurate analysis is the one that deals with driving against traffic popularly known as ‘one-way’ driving. Considering the level of havoc that driving against traffic has caused in the state, this section of the law is definitely spot on. It will be recalled that a LASTMA officer was recently crushed to death by a motorist driving against traffic along the Lekki-Epe expressway. Sadly, the culprit revealed, upon interrogation, that most of those that stay along the axis drive against traffic.  Consequently, the law against ‘one way’ driving is a welcome development. However, there is need to ensure that uniformed men, government officials and other VIPs who indulge in this practice  are dealt with in accordance to the spirit of the law. Interestingly, the state governor doesn’t drive against traffic.

    Critics of the law have equally insinuated that it was inspired by the drive to generate revenue. However, in the words of the state governor “no amount of fines that we get can deliver on the economic prosperity that is possible if the Lagos traffic works’. Indeed, government makes more money when sanity prevails on the road. Ordinarily, the fear of paying the required fines should be enough for motorists to abide by the law.

    Perhaps, one issue that has been of major concern to most critics of the law is enforcement. Many fear that enforcing officers may turn it into a money making enterprise. Given the fact that there will always be bad eggs in any organization, there is fear that the powers conferred on LASTMA may be abused by some of its corrupt and overzealous officials. However, this is not enough justification to condemn the law in its entirety. Must the society be turned into a lawless jungle because we don’t have the ‘right’ men to enforce our laws? There is hardly any institution in the country that is wholly filled with the supposed ‘right’ men. Interestingly, the state government has demonstrated sufficient resolve to deal accordingly with erring government officials. It has dismissed and suspended some while it has instituted judicial procedure leading to the incarceration of others.

    Nevertheless, the competence of traffic personnel to enforce the law need to be improved upon continuously  while appropriate use of technology should be incorporated into  enforcing the law. It is cheering to note that LASTMA officials are currently tapping into technology while discharging their duties. An example is the use of Auto Inspector- hand-held devices which enable traffic officers to track information about any car registered in Lagos and its owner.

    On its part, government has been unrelenting in its effort to transform the transport sector. It has expanded and rehabilitated more roads while more inner roads are being opened up across the state. These are going alongside the provision of street lights, lane markings and provision of more bus terminals as well as the expansion of BRT operation. Presently, it has completed the design of  the expansion of  the Mile 12-Ikorodu road while contractors have been mobilized to continue work on the ambitious Lagos- Badagry expressway’s redevelopment incorporating 10 lanes on either side of the road, light rail, BRT lanes among others .

    Equally, water transportation is also progressing as the dredging and signalization of the 32km water route from Badore to Ijede has been completed. Similarly, the Badore and Ikorodu terminals have virtually been completed except for minor finishing works . Today, from one operation route in 2007,  water transport is running on 12 routes (Ikorodu-Marina/CMS; Marina – Mile 2; Ikorodu – Addax/Falomo; Ikorodu-Ebute Ero; Marina-Ijegun Egba-Ebute-Ojo; Mile 2 – Marina/CMS-Mekwen-Falomo; Badore – Ijede; Badore – Five Cowries; Marina – Oworonshonki; Ebute Ojo – Ijegun Egba; Oworonshonki – Five Cowries and Baiyeku – Langbasa) under the supervision of Lagos State Waterways Authority while passenger traffic has grown to over 1 million passengers per month and it is increasing.

    Put alongside the laudable Lagos Traffic Radio innovation, introduction of BRT as well as other modern taxi schemes, establishment of Lagos Drivers’ Institute (with offices across the state’s five divisions), the sanitation of Oshodi and Apapa axis, junctions improvement programme, continuous clean-up of highways, continuous rehabilitation of roads, massive redevelopment of Business Districts among others, it will be unfair to accuse the state government of  inactivity in respect of the transport sector.

    The primary goal of government’s massive investment in the sector is to ensure free flow of traffic, road safety and social – economic development.  Therefore, the urgent task before everyone is to give the new law a chance since it is mainly enacted to protect the people.

     

    Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

     

  • 2015: Where Kalu got it wrong

    Former Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has carved a niche for himself in the world of business, media, sports and of course politics which thrust him to national limelight at a relatively young age. For him to have completed two terms as governor before the age of 50 and capped it with the election of a preferred successor from prison on an opposition political platform speak volume of the man’s strength of character and vision.

    Unfortunately, Kalu has often made mistakes in the course of translating his vision to reality, especially in his fight for the political liberation of Ndigbo. While some of us believe in diplomatic, pragmatic and systematic pursuit of Igbo’s ascendency to the presidency, Kalu prefers to be aggressive, abrasive and often times rash in his altercations which infuriate and push enemies of Ndigbo into entrenching their mindset against the aspirations of our people. In other words, such confrontation ends being totally counterproductive.

    After months of political hibernation occasioned by serial betrayal from erstwhile trusted protégés, Kalu has suddenly joined the fray on the debate of which geo-political zone produces the president in 2015.

    Characteristic of him, he has gone on the offensive with the declaration that it is the Igbos for the president in 2015 or nothing. On the surface, Kalu’s argument is plausible and in fact a reflection of the frustration of a people denied of the presidency when other geopolitical zones have had their turns. But is the demand realistic given the circumstances at play and the antecedents of the chief promoter of this legitimate aspiration?

    As almost everybody in Nigeria agrees, it is the turn of Igbos to produce the president in 2015 given the injustices meted out to them and the need to strengthen our democracy based on equity and justice. Kalu’s argument is predicated on the assumption that the issue of rotational presidency is a settled one. The argument is also premised on the assumption that both parties to the agreement had been keeping to its tenets and letters. In other words, there had not been any breach in the agreement.

    But the truth is that Kalu is one of those who, through their acts of omission and commission, have violated this arrangement of orderly transfer of power from one region to the other. Between 2003 and 2007, Kalu openly challenged President Olusegun Obasanjo’s re-election and went ahead to contest against Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua when it was clear that the North should produce the president after the South had done eight straight years. Because not everything that is good is also expedient, the strategy of running against the current crippled a just and legitimate aspiration.

    As it were, that misfiring from Kalu robbed him of the moral justification to be an advocate of rotational presidency since he lacked the patience, discipline and belief to worship in the altar of that political concept. This is not a question of accepting the message and ignoring the warts of the messenger. It is a truth about the messenger being a liability and hindrance to the purpose of his message.

    I remember vividly how the same Kalu in 2005 tore into shred my persuasive argument on the need for Igbos to devise and implement a strategic plan for our ascendency to the presidency in 2015 by supporting President Obasanjo and helping to work for the North to also complete their eight years after which it will naturally be the turn of Igbos in 2015. But Kalu, with the power of the media, branded me a traitor. But far be it from me that I should gloat over our present predicament.

    As it is today, two issues stand clear concerning the aspiration of Ndigbo to occupy the highest seat of the land. It is gratifying that Kalu has become a convert to the rotational ideology. He owes me an apology on that even though it took him eight good years to come around. The first issue which is a truth that is self evident is that justice and fair play demand that Igbos be president in 2015. It is their inalienable right as full citizens of Nigeria . The second issue is the workability of the aspiration given that we have a sitting president who is constitutionally entitled to another term of four years.

    Closely linked to the second issue is the platform under which the president of Igbo extraction is to emerge. The South East alone cannot produce the votes and spread to produce a president. The political pendulum and reality on ground today favour the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to produce the next president of the country. The idea by Kalu that Hausas, Igbos and Yorubas will go to Abuja to negotiate after the election is not tenable given that scenario therefore, it is evident that President Jonathan will be the preferred choice for the PDP if he decides to run. This is in line with all known democracies all over the world where the incumbent is offered the privilege of “first refusal”.

    It was in furtherance of that tradition that the Democrats rallied round President Barrack Obama. As soon as he indicated interest to run for a second tenure, those with presumed ambitions dropped them. It is acknowledged that nobody is foreclosed from contesting against the incumbent in a primary. But if a ruling political party does not have confidence in the incumbent, what then do they have sell to the country? What this means therefore is that unless President Jonathan declines to run in 2015 or in the most unlikely event that PDP refused to endorse him, the chances of an Igboman emerging President in 2015 would be very slim.

    So, if like in the past we ignore these glaring signs and still grope in the dark in the name of fighting for our rights, we will again end up losers with psychological defeat and deflated egos. Political power is never won by mere sloganeering or outdated strategy of handing down ultimatum. Grabbling power involves deep seated conspiracies chief of which is reading the political barometer and knowing when to strike.

    In this instance, while it is the turn of Igbos to produce the President in 2015 it can only be achievable if President Jonathan is not re-contesting. If he is, and PDP endorses him, the bargaining chip left for the Igbos would be to insist on succeeding him after his tenure. These are facts that my brother Kalu should have in mind so that we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.

    • Mbadiwe, lawyer and economist is former Ambassador to Congo .

  • FROM THE CELL PHONE

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    I read your article National consciousness as camouflage. I was impressed. The major problem we have as a nation is that we all go to mosque or church for physical presence but, we do not worship God with sincerity. If we are truly serving God, be Christian or Muslim, we would not be killing ourselves the way we are doing in Nigeria. We would not be exploiting ourselves the way we are doing. The way out is to truly serve God. True service to God will enable one to love fellow human beings. Even if they are not one’s tribe. Anonymous

    Re: National consciousness as camouflage Ethnic politics and regional politics have disallowed development because we have buried merit. ‘It is our turn’ is another malaise that is burying Nigeria. There’s sufficient justification for your assertion which, by inference, is personal interest, self-interest and ethno-regional interest rather than state/national interest. To de-camouflage our national consciousness, serious re-orientation must embarked on. As at now, many proponents of national consciousness are fake. From Lanre Oseni

    It is misleading to say that Yoruba nation or any other nation exists in Nigeria when the truth is that, the ruling class is made up of Nigerians. The big problem is neo-colonialism and the vacillation of members of the bourgeois class who are making it difficult for the oppressed to understand what is happening in the world. From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna

    Very scholarly article. It is very difficult to replicate Awo’s legacies in other regions or the nation at large. I am afraid the Southwest itself has lost the tempo. All that is left are rhetorics and lamentations. So, Prof, what next? Anonymous

    Is good for our leaders to emphasise on national consciousness to re-unite Nigerians for one Nigeria. From Salmanu Mohammed Gyallesu, Zaria Kaduna State

    I was not keen and never believed that removing fuel subsidy will improve the economy or our lives which are getting worse by the day. Fuel (PMS) is not available and if found it is sold at N140 instead of N97 per litre! Where are the promised refineries, or lower prices? Jonathan is a failure, and a big one at that! From Omah, Calabar.

     

     

    For Olatunji Dare

     

    Dear Dare, may the Almighty God continue to protect and assist you in all you do. Keep up the good work.On judgement day, the Almighty will tell them: Dare reminded you but you ignored him, taste therefore the fruit of your deeds. From Mukhtar, Abuja

    There was a time in the distant past when I bought the papers just to read your column. The leopard seems to have lost its spots with age. These days you no longer inspire as you only abuse our President. I do not want to believe someone is sponsoring that. Anonymous

    Prof, the President’s remarks about the January demonstrators given bottled water, expensive food and so on is a reflection of the thinking of our leaders that the masses do not deserve the good things of life, including good roads, hospitals, schools and others. From Barr. Moronkeji.

    Sir, The truth is the hardest missile one can be pelted with. Why should the President denounce and demonise harmless protesters? If a man goes into public service, he must be prepared for the consequences. Those who are intensely intolerant of others’ views should not be expected to make any difference in a state of chaotic frustration, massive corruption, deepening poverty, widening inequality and institutional decay. It is so sad. From Adegoke O. O. Ikhin, Edo state.

    Your write-up is a classic. My comment is that what do you expect of our so-called leaders whose plundering of our treasury is legendry? Whose consciense is dead? Jonathan has exposed himself that he is a shylock who does not want the poor to drink bottled water. Can you believe it, that this is the same Jonathan who said he was without shoes? Now that he has plenty of shoes, bread and pepper soup, to hell with the masses of Nigeria. From Pastor J. P. Gyang.

    Mr Jonathan, through his unguarded utterances, poor understanding of the dynamics of power and lack of appreciation of his responsibilities as a president, reminds Nigerians daily that his choice is an error of spectacular proportions! I want this President to know that many of us who were daily in Ojota, freely gave up our substances without any prompting whatsoever! No doubt, Mr Jonathan surely needs help to understand the country and her people who he claims to lead! I am struggling to be civil in my assessment of him and his manner of (mis)governance. From Dokun Adedeji, Ikeja Lagos.

    That is great stuff Prof. At least, we now know that we are being ruled by those who have more breeze than matter in their heads. So, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, whose book launch he attended in Lagos after his (President’s) police tear-gassed him during the protest, Prof Nwabueze, topmost lawyers, top menbers of professional bodies, including NBA and NMA, who participated in the protest, also cannot afford bottled water? And from all the nauseating facts that came out of the House probe, some warped minds are still talking of ‘manipulation’? Pity! Have a good day, Prof. From Olu

    Do not blame GEJ for either his actions or inactions because he is neither properly schooled, matured nor prepared politically to ascend to the throne that is not only intellectually demanding but requires high level of personal integrity, probity, sterness, seriousness and self discipline. Note that he is ever being propelled by goodluck. Lack of these essential ingredents of leadership is responsible for most of his unguarded public statements. If not, how could a President be so sentimental to say that the crowd at Gani Centre came there for food in the presence of a fomer Head of State . The implication is that his citizens are hungry and they are also beggers. Is he giving a good impression of the state of the nation to the visitor? From Muhammed Jamiu Shuaibu, Lokoja

    Our President said it all. The oil markers with their loots sponsored the protest. Is the present fuel scarcity not exposing the ‘evils’ of that January protest? Hope, you were not settled too? From Mda Abi

    If I were Jonathan, I would invest my Yoruba phobia into reading history but not the ancient monarchy history that catches his fancy. He would realise the exploits of the breeders of “rascals” even in the colonial days if the Abacha era is not convincing enough. From Mike Aiyemo, Abuja

    Re: In lieu of cassava bread and fish peppersoup An objectively informative piece. If Dr Jonathan believes in his polemical pontifications, let him take the fuel price back to N140 and we will all be sure of where we stand! Often times, people blame bad advisers for bad policies but, the truth is, only a sound mind attracts sound advisers and a sick mind attracts lunatics! I think the man’s cassava bread contains a contagious virus that eats up people’s brains! See how the President of a country of 160 million people reasons. I will never touch it and I advise Nigerians not to! From Kayode A., Abeokuta.

    l want to salute your courage on your write-up In lieu of cassava bread and fish peppersoup. We need more people like you. From E. O. Oladele, Ogbomoso

    Re: In lieu of cassava bread and fish pepper-soup. Your write-up will be a pointer and check on banters thrown at opponents by the concerned ruling governments either at LG, state or federal levels. We must listen to each other in order to move forward rather than throwing banters or quashing protesters subjectively. Till now, the transformation cassava bread is yet to be on display. Time is running out. Let us take objective criticisms and protest. From Lanre Oseni.

    Prof Dare, I am not suprised about the dismal performance of the shoe-less fellow from Otueke. He was promoted beyond his competence by some indviduals for selfish reason. My question is: Do we need to be goaded by anyone before we protest about his unpopular acts? or are we not directly affected by the fuel price increase? From Alh. Adeboye Lawal.

    Remove fuel subsidy and fuel will flow in. Stop deceiving the gullible masses. I agree with my President – hired crowd by the enemies of good governance. Please, stop future evil protests in this country. From Best Onwa

    Please, tell our President through your writings that he should undertake a personal undercover inquiry and investigate how people feel about him and his governance. He should not be afraid to know the truth about people’s perception and the true position, first hand. It will help him a lot in decision making. From Sesan, Otukpo

    Thank you, Mr Olatunji Dare, for that beautiful analysis of my President’s speech at the Independence lecture. Each time I listen to or read the President’s speech I feel sad that I lost my vote at his election. What a shame! From Segun

    Leaders of that January protest lack economic sense or what is the reward of the protest to Nigeria in the month of September? Anonymous

    Dare, I really enjoyed and appreciated your write-up in The Nation of September 25. We need prolific and fearless writers like you. Please, more of it. I will never miss your culumn till I die. From Ben B.

    Again, another excellent narrative from your stable, The Nation. But, can there be a performance (or attainment) without a dream? Jonathan had no dream (and still has none) for Nigeria. But he was ‘lucky’ to be supplanted upon the Nigerian dream, without shoes. Any surprise therefore? From Chegwe Asuai-Chegwe, Yola.

    It is unfortunate that President Jonathan does not know how disappointed Nigerians are. I always wonder who writes his speeches and whether he goes through such speeches before public presentation. God help us. From James Jared, Yola

    Advice for Mr. Presdent. That was a good piece. Great one, indeed. Jonathan should re-examine himself to rediscover himself, then tell himself the truth, that he was not qualified ab initio to be on that seat. Nigerians were not fooled by his school without sandals and New Breath Slogan, but only gave him the benefit of doubt. Until he realises and purges out the Banana Peels, Sycophants and AGIPS surounding him, he may be heading for a doom because they do not mean well for him. I, therefore, say to him, Vox Populi,Vox Dei. A word is reasonably enough for the wise. From Dr.Silba I.Uzochukwu, Enugu.

    I felt good when I read my reaction to your piece Ideas that live. You have been one of my mentors in The Nation Newspaper since 2009 and, with the help of this paper, I am now a mad and fast reader of any article with a current record of 170 pages of a book in two hours, 46 seconds per sitting. God bless you and your colleagues in The Nation as you continue the good works.Thanks. From Ahamefula Okpara, Ahoada, Rivers State.

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

     

    Re: ‘Robbers and the tragedy of modernity’. Tunji, I give glory to Almighty God who made all things possible. If one of the robbers that raided Lagos of some N50m on 9/9/12 got that small amount (N100,000), then who took the lion’s share of the loot? Indeed, there are kingpins; the police should look for and arrest them for us to have peace. Independent anniversary without celebrations? Congratulations. From Ade Adesiyan, Warri.

    One question you should be asking is where were the Customs when these dangerous weapons were being imported into the country? It is the Customs that have actually put the police at a disadvantage against the armed robbers. Some Customs men will take bribes from any Joe Blogg to bring in anything into the country. The Immigration service is equally bad with regard to the supposed Boko Haram insurgents from across the borders. The spate of armed robberies is also the offshoot of corruption. Anonymous.

    Hmm, those thieves are just a patent problem of an egregious economic condition and growing unemployment. I am a graduate; and ever since I was laid off alongside others, my life has been subjected to untold hardship. My brother, what sort of citizens do you expect us to be while our leaders remain uncaring? Anonymous.

    Hope Lagos SARS team has a post-Abba Kyari plan in the event of promotion, ill-health or other eventualities? Ask the CP for us (Lagosians). From Femi Fadairo.

    My dear, I am just reading your write-up in The Nation newspaper captioned ‘Honoured today, dishonoured tomorrow’ and I don’t know if I should cry or laugh, but I just saw myself laughing now. My brother, very soon, Lawrence Anini, the notorious robber and his brother Monday Osunbor will soon be given post-humous awards. Anonymous.

    Re: Honoured today, dishonoured tomorrow’. The struggle continues as we continue to air our opinions/views on issues objectively. Honestly speaking, not more than 30 per cent of the recipients actually merited the awards. One only hopes that the CVs of all intending recipients will be vetted by honourable committee members in future to forestall ‘arrangee awards. From Lanre Oseni.

     

  • Nigeria @52: Myths and realities of leadership, development and pluralism

    Nigeria @52: Myths and realities of leadership, development and pluralism

    It is pertinent to remind ourselves at the outset that Nigeria is the prime product of British colonial adventure in Africa. It was constituted to abstract natural resources for the benefit of the British economy. As Sir Olanihun Ajayi has reminded us

    “As at 7 January 1897 there was no place or area or country called Nigeria. The country known and called Nigeria came into being in 1897 as a result of an article in the Times of 8 January 1897 by Flora Shaw pressing that the aggregate of all the towns and villages or the protectorate consisting of many ethnic nationalities should be called Nigeria. That aggregation of several empires, kingdoms, various nations and tribes constituted what is now known as Nigeria….”

    That the seeds of economic disabilities and structural deformities between the regions carried over from the colonial to the present have proved a major constraint to the efforts at building a modern nation-state can be illustrated from different episodes of our national history. This is not to say that the evident imbalances could not be redressed, given a patriotic, visionary and national leadership. But this has been lacking. In any case given over 50 years of co-evolution and co-existence of the nationalities new centres of equilibrium could have emerged to mould and drive new social forces in the direction of integration and harmonious coexistence. That this has not happened is the modern day dilemma that Nigerians and their friends must face.

    Contemporary Nigeria is poised on a knife-edge. On the one hand are arrayed the forces of retrogression such as Boko Haram ready to drive the nation into the abyss never to rise again-sectarian conflicts with their attendant violence, divisiveness propelled by ethnic, religious or social inequalities and inequities. On the other hand are progressive forces pushing for economic and desirable social reforms. Indeed, the progressive institutionalisation of some of these reforms has led many outside observers such as Goldmann Sachs and the rating agencies to regard Nigeria as one of the emerging economic forces of the age of globalisation. If all goes well and Nigeria holds out, it has been said that the country may be unrecognisable in 5-7 years when compared with her dismal present. How can these contradictory visions of the Nigerian future emerge and co-exist from the same reality?

    There is among the youth a sense of alienation, anomie and a brooding angst at what they regard as their betrayal by the post-independence generation of leaders particularly the military when they held sway in governance. Nasir el Rufai has given a graphic account of this leadership and its failures. Given the unacceptably high unemployment rates, the sense of deprivation amongst the youth is to be expected but this comes at a time that there is a total collapse of our values. High rate of corruption in both the public and private sectors as recently sign-posted by both the pension and petroleum subsidy scams are prevalent. The 419 scam is, as they would say, old hat. The collapse of the educational system has been facilitated by the high rates of examination malpractices often encouraged and facilitated by parents, teachers and those who would normally have passed off as role models. The total discount of merit and scant regard for excellence are emblems of the new order. The worship of money and materialism is in contradistinction to the apparently high level of religious zealotry and showmanship. We are now in the era of wealth without work. Hypocrisy, insincerity and pretentious display of phoney values is the order of the day. So where will national redemption come from and how did we get here?

    It has often been said by some of our leaders that there are settled issues in the Nigerian political economy. The truth is that there are no such settled issues for we have not sincerely and dispassionately looked at the problems of Nigerian nationhood except from the vantage point of how we can take advantage of one another to advance our personal or sectional interests. Nevertheless, it is fair to state that given the state of the global environment, breaking up Nigeria into whatever number of constituent sovereignties is not an option. Globalisation enforces mutual interaction in an interlinked matrix of economic entities. Nations separate only to cooperate in new economic formations. That is the reality of our new world. Moving forward into the harmonious peaceful and united nation of our dreams enforces on us the duty to get rid of some shibboleths from the past that have dogged our every step in the journey to nationhood.

    First and foremost we must re-establish and embrace the values of truth and justice as the unchanging foundations in the management of human affairs. There are some historical untruths that we as a nation must confront if we are to move forward together. In the documents British Documents at the End of Empire (BDEE) (ed. Martin Lynn) that I referred to earlier, there is irrefutable evidence that both the pre-independence census and elections were manipulated to produce a pre-determined result favourable to a section. The demands of truth enforce on us the obligation to rectify these anomalies. Justice, however, enforces on us a corollary obligation – we owe the duty of care and fairness to all Nigerians. No part of Nigeria can be allowed to wallow in poverty even as some revel in affluence. It is the obligation of the Nigerian state to ensure fairness in the management and distribution of the resources of the nation to all parts and to all citizens. It is also the obligation of the nation to ensure fair rewards and incentives to honest labour, enterprise innovation and creativity and to create the environment that promotes these conditions. These are necessary conditions for peace and unity.

    Secondly, we must re-admit merit and the pursuit of excellence as part of our national objectives. In a merit-driven national endeavour ideally recruitment to national leadership cannot be on the basis of a roster or quota but on the basis of knowledge, competence and overall national interest. In societies that embrace these values, the recruitment of leadership and training of leaders in a common environment where they can compete even as they share visions of the future.

    In Nigeria, there is the anomalous presumption that Nigerian leadership must emerge from particular sections of the country. This position discounts the position that localised leadership can only project a local rather that a national vision of leadership. Nigeria, and particularly the North, has paid a heavy price for this anomaly. In the 52 years of Nigeria’s independent existence, the North has produced nine of the 13 leaders and they have been in charge of the government for nearly 40 years. In much of that time development in the North has markedly regressed. Indeed, the post-election violence of 2011 had indications that it was an uprising against the leadership. Thus, the dominance of the north in the politics of Nigeria has contributed markedly to the under-development of the North and by extension of Nigeria. In other words sectionally-driven leadership recruitment has not enhanced Nigerian development, has conferred no obvious advantage to the section of the leader except to individual benefactors.

    In the effort to rebuild Nigeria, there is a need for drastic restructuring and redesign of the architecture of the nation. We also need to reorganise the priorities of the nation such that the eradication of poverty and the creation of wealth will be pursued as necessary conditions for the rebuilding of the nation in an atmosphere of peace and unity. Towards this objective we need to focus on the immediate and/or expeditious solution of four problems-

    • reconstituting leadership with a Pan-Nigerian vision

    • reconciling and managing our diversities

    • guaranteeing citizenship and citizen rights and

    • restoring and realigning our value system

    In the pursuit of these goals it is evident that we will need to cultivate a new mind set in tackling our problems. The challenge to put Nigeria on a fast track development needs priority attention being given to the hardware of infrastructure (power, transportation etc.) but also the software of our vanishing value system anchored on integrity, hard-work, entrepreneurship, thrift and sincerity. We must do away with the culture of impunity in governance and the entitlement complex that has put a wedge between different segments of our people. We must return compassion to one another and passion with vision to our leadership. The c-word corruption must be extirpated from our body politics.

    We must not forget the challenge of our youth and women – by far the vast majority of our people. We must remember that over 60% of our population is under 30 while the gender parity between male and females suggest that releasing this explosive pent-up energy of our youths and women can guarantee us a quantum leap in our development trajectory. But the key is education. Given the release of this vast human capital, trained and skilled, the Chinese miracle that took precisely eleven short years can be upstaged. The missing link is leadership – a leadership that is well-educated, passionate and visionary. We must as a people pursue

    wealth with equity

    truth with compassion

    justice with fairness

    reconciliation with empathy

     

    • Excerpts of a paper delivered by Professor Anya, FAS, OFR, NNOM at the Cosmopolitan Women’s Club at 52 Independence lecture in Lagos.

  • Aren’t we tired?

    Aren’t we tired?

    Today, as Nigeria celebrates her 52nd Independence Day anniversary, the question I’d like to put to us as citizens of this dear country Nigeria is, “Aren’t we tired?”

    Aren’t we tired of the tick tock frequency with which bombs are going off in our country? Aren’t we tired of seeing fellow Nigerians being killed for religious and political purposes? Aren’t we tired of the perpetual fuel shortages? Aren’t we tired of the continuous threat of fuel subsidy removal? Aren’t we tired of the politics being played with the fuel subsidy report? Aren’t we tired of the brazen corruption in the oil sector? Aren’t we tired of over 40,000 people (i.e. over 100 people daily) dying on our roads every year? Aren’t we tired of the litany of air crashes? Aren’t we tired?

    Aren’t we tired, fed up, exasperated with the Nigerian situation? How can things so simple become so complicated? How can things so basic become so complex? And how can things so easy become so ridiculously hard?

    Aren’t we tired of always complaining, criticizing, and grumbling about our country and doing basically nothing about it? Aren’t we tired of consistently blaming government for anything and everything that is wrong with our country? Aren’t we tried of forgetting that we, the people of Nigeria, are the government and are therefore responsible for the present situation?

    Aren’t we tired of our children and youths not being able to get the quality education they deserve? Aren’t we tired of the mass failure of our students in their WAEC/NECO/GCE? Aren’t we tired of graduates of many years being unemployed for many more years, roaming the streets? Aren’t we tired of the fact that some of our children do not know what it is to have water flow from the taps in their homes? Aren’t we tired of parents panicking (every school year) for fear of not being able to pay their children’s school fees?

    Aren’t we tired of the stock market scams? Aren’t we tired of the free fall of the naira over the years into the dungeon of despair? Aren’t we tired of the strangulating effects of IMF and World Bank policies? Aren’t we tired of the crushing burden of the foreign debts we are now accumulating?

    Aren’t we tired of the chaos, confusion and catastrophe? Aren’t we tired of all the crises – ethnic, religious, political – and the high price we pay for each one of them? Aren’t we tired of playing the blame game; of blaming the colonialist, the West, the military, our past leaders, the present government, the politicians etc., etc. – everybody but ourselves?

    Aren’t we tired of the agents of today’s superpowers becoming prophets of doom by predicting the disintegration of Nigeria by 2015? Aren’t we tired of not taking responsibility for our destiny? Aren’t we tired of our bad image in the international community?

    Aren’t we tired of hearing worn-out excuses as the reasons for our country’s stagnation? Aren’t we tired of treading water and being reluctant to launch out into the deep sea of greatness? Aren’t we tired of a nation with great potential and nothing to show for it?

    Aren’t we tired of people dying in our hospitals because they did not even have N1000 for treatment? Aren’t we tired of being stressed up and stressed out from spending untold hours in traffic especially in Lagos? Aren’t we tired of seeing mountains of refuse all over our urban centres?

    Aren’t we tired of the scams and scandals in the pension funds? Aren’t we tired of pensioners dying because they had not been paid their pensions for months and years on end? Aren’t we tired of seeing people who served this land being made to look like fools because they didn’t steal our money? Aren’t we tired of people working hard to make a living in the heat of the day only to have little or nothing to show for it?

    Aren’t we tired of PHCN not providing sufficient electricity? Aren’t we tired of the noise and air pollution of our generators? Aren’t we tired of the high price we pay to fuel our generators because PHCN struck?

    Aren’t we tired of the number dropped calls we have daily on our GSM lines? Aren’t we tired of the bad network we experience almost every day? Aren’t we tired of the paying one of the highest tariff for making calls (and sending SMS) in the world?

    Aren’t we tired of wearing second –hand clothes and shoes? Aren’t we tired of driving tokunbo (secondhand) cars? Aren’t we tired of hearing stories of untold misery, hopelessness, doom and gloom?

    Aren’t we tired of the irresponsibility in high and low places? Aren’t we tired of the frivolity of men and women of ill-will and the irresponsiveness of men of goodwill? Aren’t we tired of evil men in our society playing Russian roulette with our destiny while the good men play safe, not wanting to get involved?

    Aren’t we tired of our country being described as one of the most corrupt in the world? Aren’t we tired of the unscrupulous men being extremists in their deeds? Aren’t we tired of the spirit of moderation in the few good deeds of the noble men? Aren’t we tired of seeing the passion and the zeal of corrupt men as they embezzle our billions?

    Aren’t we tired of the passivity and the apathy of men of integrity as they remain mute in times of moral crisis? Aren’t we tired of the bad men coming together aggressively to form the critical mass needed to allow evil to triumph in our society? Aren’t we tired of the good men trying timidly to come together to form the needed critical mass that could give birth to a positive change?

    Aren’t we tired of the wicked men’s well-established power blocs of oppression, repression and suppression? Aren’t we tired of looking for where the upright men hid their power blocs of liberty, freedom and emancipation?

    Aren’t we tired of evil men violently perpetrating evil? Aren’t we tired of good men sparingly sowing seeds of goodness? Aren’t we tired of us as a people not taking responsibility for our people, our country and our future? Aren’t we tired of not doing anything because we could only do so little? Aren’t we tired of groping in the dark without any clear-cut vision?

    Aren’t we tired of travelling all over the world – London, Paris, New York, Dubai – but not for one minute conceiving in our minds the possibility of having cities of greater status in our own country? Aren’t we tired of the special treatment we receive as citizens of this great country at international airports in other countries?

    Aren’t we tired of waiting for Nigeria’s Messiah when, collectively, men of goodwill ought to be the Messiahs unto our people?

    Aren’t we tired of not wanting to pay the price for a great new nation? Because whether we like it or not, sooner or later we will have to pay that price, and the later the higher; it’s just a question of time. Aren’t we tired of having our cup of endurance spilling over and not doing anything about it?

    Aren’t we tired of everybody waiting for someone else to do something even though anyone could do it but no one has been willing to?

    Aren’t we tired of the status quo and don’t we want to change it? Don’t we?

    I sure hope you are tired, simply tired and ready to change the status quo! I dare to believe that together, we can CHANGE the status quo! I dare to believe in a GREAT NEW NIGERIA!

    Change only occurs when the cost of remaining the same is higher than the cost of CHANGE!

    Is the cost of remaining the same now higher than the cost of CHANGE? Is the cost of maintaining the status quo higher than the cost of CHANGING the status quo? Is the cost of you remaining an old Nigerian higher than the cost of becoming a NEW NIGERIAN? Is the cost of holding on to the old Nigeria higher than the cost of building the NEW NIGERIA of our dreams? Is it?

    These are the questions we must NOW answer as individual Nigerian citizens and collectively as a nation. I end this by asking once more; “Aren’t we tired?”

    • Simoyan, an author and activist writes from Lagos

  • Anambra 2014 and Okeke’s hallucinations

    Recently, one J.E Okeke wrote an offensive article titled “Why governor should come from Anambra North”. Offensive, not because it contains the intellectual barbs one expects from a serious writer; nay it rather offends because it offers no serious appeal to the truth nor facts about the matter

    raised.

    Nevertheless as a firm believer in the libertarian theory of the press, which notes that the sole method of arriving at the truth in the long run is by free competition of opinion in the opinion market

    and that the one that seems most rational will emerge and be generally accepted. This tenet thus necessitated this response.

    Okeke who claims to head the Anambra North Peoples Assembly, unfortunately hindered his own article via his opening statements which ran as thus “Not a few readers of The Nation on Sunday September 9, must have been thoroughly appalled at the interview granted by Senator Chris

    Ngige and his response to the question of agitation for the next governor to be of Anambra extraction.”

    Now even a year one student undertaking a general study course in philosophy and logic would

    obviously agree that Okekes scraggy opening comments is nothing but a fallacy of hasty generalization. True Mr. Okeke may have been appalled by the Ngige interview, in fact he is allowed to be appalled and has the freedom to be appalled, he may even lead a one-man protest and picket The Nation newspapers or NTA Onitsha, God knows that I do not have a problem with that, but if that is the case then he should have spoken for himself alone and not resort to numbers or a crowd he doesn’t have.

    Rambling further, he accused Senator Ngige of not understanding the agitation of Ndi Anambra North and of doublespeak since Ngige as a democrat candidly called for Ndi Anambra to collectively decide who would govern them come 2014 and at the same time questioned the notion or assumption that come 2014 it was the turn of the people of Anambra North since at no point in time did the people of the state collectively agree to zone the office of the governor to any zone.

    An unbiased fellow can obviously decode that there is no distinction between Ngige’s call for the people to choose their governor and the fact that Ndi Anambra at any level had never agreed to a zoning formula. In all spheres of our society the people have leaders who naturally represent

    their views or interests. These leaders act as a go-between their own people and other leaders from time to time. Most local governments and the senatorial zones have a coterie of able leaders, leaders who have the confidence of their people, but such leaders would agree that at no time has there been a discussion nor an agreement on the principle of zoning, had there been such an agreement then the likes of Joy Emodi and Chudi Nwike would have allowed Mbadinuju and contestants from Anambra South to jockey for the position of governor in 1999; no this was not the case as both aspirants on the platform of the All Peoples Party and the Alliance for Democracy contested and lost out to Dr.Chinwoke Mbadinuju.

    Again in 2003, 2007 and 2010, several aspirants from Anambra North filed out keenly to contest the primaries of their various parties and the elections proper. Amongst these aspirants were the likes of Okey Odunze, Alex Obiogbolu, Joy Emodi, Tony Nwoye, Emma Anosike, Benjamin Obidigbo and a host of others who slugged it out with the eventual winners of such elections. My question to Okeke is that if such an accord actually does exist, then the aforementioned aspirants should never have joined the fray to contest the position of governor. Surely, they would have held their peace and allowed for their turn as prescribed by the accord. Let’s assume that one of these candidates

    mentioned had won, would they have been stopped from taking the oath of office simply because a fictitious accord existed only in the minds of Okeke?

    Okeke’s assertion that the zone made a pact with the incumbent, Peter Obi and is a reason why the incumbent was declared winner in 2010 is in error and another shade of falsehood attempted, one

    emanating from his hallucinations, which naturally tends to backfire as it removes from the article whatever remained of its credibility. It is on this note that I advise Okeke to allow sleeping dogs to

    lie. Even if Governor Obi and the likes of Okeke had any agreements concerning 2014 after the robbery of 2010, pray how it is binding on me or other persons from Anambra state, since neither I nor my leaders were privy or party to such an agreement?

    Again Okeke entangles himself in his own labyrinth when he advocates “that from debates grow a better understanding of issues confronting a nation”. One is then forced to wonder why he is then against Ngige’s call for an agreement by leaders of the state concerning the issue of zoning, or is Okeke trying to be clever by half?

    Finally why is Ngige central in all of these arguments? Surely he is yet to declare for the office as he is presently rather concerned with his present mandate as a senator representing the people of Anambra Central. Again, he is not the only politician to have spoken on the zoning matter; others like Soludo, Ukachukwu, Andy Uba, Ifeanyi Ubah, Victor Umeh and Obinna Uzor have also aired their views on the issue. Okeke seems to have been blinded, deafened and dumb to the statements credited to those mentioned above but it seems that there is a “His name is John” effect when Ngige is involved. Perhaps there is then more to this than being about it being the turn of the people of Anambra North, a script driven by the fear of Ngige designed by self-seeking politicians with the purpose to deny Anambra the best in leadership.

    This we must resist in its entirety as it is nothing but undemocratic in all ramifications. The 2014 elections should be left for Ndi Anambra to decide. Let us allow the people to lead!

    • Igboeli Arinze writes from Awka

  • Delta: What Uduaghan got right

    Delta: What Uduaghan got right

    He may not have performed to the utmost satisfaction of critics who, based on the spate of recent kidnappings in the state, had to draw hasty conclusions that Delta under Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has not only collapsed in terms of security of lives and property, but also on infrastructures.

    Although, these cynics are entitled to their own opinions, but the truth strongly lies in the fact that such arm-chair criticism cannot take one laudable achievement from Dr. Uduaghan, and this is the fact that Delta is at pace!

    From casual discussions to formal ones, I have actually made attempts to administering questionnaires on one project Dr. Uduaghan, the Governor of Delta State has got right since he became the executive governor of the state.

    Responses were not encouraging as most people spoken to, generally, have become cynical about government and nihilistic that nothing good can come from it whether in Delta State or anywhere in the country.

    Severally too, I have discarded the assessment project until I met an old woman whom I offered a ride from Ughelli to Oleh. Mama Rukome was angry that her customers didn’t pay for her commodity on time, hence she was stranded at the point I met her.

    When I probed further, Mama made me understand that she had not for any reason, in the past two years she has been plying the Oleh /Ughelli route trading in “tapioka or kpokpogari” missed the Uduaghan bus. Meaning Mama has been patronising the Uduaghan transit bus because it provides comfort, it is reliable and above all, it is affordable. Mama Rukome does not bask in this euphoria alone.

    There are other Deltans who couldn’t hide their joy for the relief the Uduaghan’s mass transit has brought. If not for the fact that the Delta mass transit was not extended to the riverine areas of the State, the Delta mass transit would have dwarfed other projects as one project Dr. Uduaghan has got right.

    Tellingly, security of lives and property has been an enormous challenge to the leadership of this country. It became monstrous soon after the civil war when arms found their ways into the hands of people who, ordinarily, were not supposed to have custody of such weapons.

    The smiles brought about by a return to democracy after what seemed to have been an endless wait for it was short-lived.

    Again, the despicable level of insecurity in the country got out of control when the nation’s economy took a dive down the precipice.

    Some sophistication was injected into robbery and other related crimes. The militant activities of Niger Delta youths and their commercial romance with Lebanese and Russians crude oil merchants gave crime a fillip in the coast of South- South Nigeria.

    The present Delta State government has demonstrated that it is learning very fast from past security pitfalls. It was an ingenious Dr. Uduaghan who realised quite on time that collaboration with the military would bring about the much deserved safety of lives and property in the state.

    Deltans living outside the state can attest to the fact that the security situation in the state has improved. To be fair to Dr. Uduaghan, I think there couldn’t have been anything Deltans had wished for more than peace and security.

    If you ask an Itsekiri man, or an Urhobo man or an Ijaw man, what he would like to have in place of peace and security, without hesitation, he will tell you peace and security cannot be traded for anything. This is no thanks to the avoidable communal crises that further worsened the level of underdevelopment in the area.

    The Uduaghan security initiative has made it possible to drive through Sapele/Warri road and Sapele/Abraka road on one hand, and the other Ughelli/Kwale/Asaba road without encountering a bloody clash.

    We should not whip up sentiments and take undue advantage of the fact that infrastructures in the state are decaying. Also we were all witnesses to the prolonged court case over who was the duly elected governor of the state. That alone was enough distraction.

    Quite regretfully though, Deltans had at a time lived in feverish fear. Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, Oleh, to mention but a few, were towns in the state that were notorious for dare-devil robbery attacks.

    Last year, August to be precise, Kwale (Utagba-Ogbe) witnessed one of the fiercest robbery attacks on a new generational bank in the whole of Ndukwa nation. Same last year, a youth corp member serving at Oleh was shot dead outside Emore Secondary School where he was attached to for the 12 months compulsory primary assignment.

    Understandably, kidnap cases were even more dreaded than robbery. Both the mighty and the not too high in Delta State were in awe of kidnappers. In some cases, their victims were murdered in cold blood before ransom was paid.

    My neighbour and the Managing Director of DeltanLine, Elder Eyone Isaiah, was picked up from his country home one drizzling night in October, 2011. He didn’t regain his freedom until an undisclosed amount of money was paid. But the good thing is that he was released and those behind the crime are presently in police custody awaiting prosecution.

    There have been so many kidnap cases that were foiled by the JTF team in the state. Before this time, it was reminiscent of a “Nightfall in Soweto”.

    But Dr. Uduaghan has stepped up to these challenges. Men of JTF are common sights on highways and street corners. Robbers and kidnapers now know that it is no longer safe in to carry out their criminal trade in Delta State.

    Whichever way it is looked at, Delta has made some considerable progress in the safety of lives and property. Come to think of it, development can only thrive in an environment that is safe. True, investors cannot invest in an environment deep in crisis. The return of oil servicing companies to Warri is a sure sign that things are getting better in our Delta.

    Ubaka a social critic, wrote from Koko in Warri-North LGA

     

  • Road map to Nigeria’s greatness and glory days

    Road map to Nigeria’s greatness and glory days

    For well over two decades, there has been a growing concern about the deplorable social and economic state of the Nigerian nation. Successive governments in Nigeria have been condemned and variously described as corrupt, inept, incompetent, negligent, reckless, inefficient and unresponsive to the yearnings and welfare of the people. Because these governments appear ill-founded and the major actors seemingly bereft of ideas, they were unable to steer the ship of the Nigerian state out of murky waters of retrogression and move it forward. A lot of Nigerians lost faith or are rapidly losing faith in their country. A host of them migrate daily to other lands and contribute meaningfully to their host countries what they should have given to Nigeria on a platter.

    Good governance cannot be taken for granted or undermined in the life of any nation. It is a major determinant of a country’s progress and most especially a determinant of a country’s success rating in the comity of nations. It therefore behoves any serious- minded government, authority and people to take it seriously. Everyone we have asked how Nigeria’s problem can be solved has promptly replied that we need focused people in leadership positions. Interestingly, Nigeria is blessed with achievers, persons who are patriotic and love Nigeria dearly. Persons who will work tirelessly for her without asking for any reward or recompense; Persons of integrity not of doubtful character, civil, conscientious and trustworthy. Unfortunately, most of them are often frustrated and obstructed from participating in government. Government College products easily and definitely fall into this category of people because of their enduring legacies of solid educational foundation, sound moral values and quality service delivery. In addition to possessing most of these virtues, they have been well-groomed through their top quality training to assume positions of responsibility in a credible society. They have been found to be reliable, dependable, altruistic, focused, hardworking, result-oriented and are most unlikely to yield to influences for evil or bad practices.

    A few questions are germane here: Is the existence of this category of people known? Are they an endangered species? Can they be easily and readily identified? Are their tribes being properly utilised? Are they themselves readily available and accessible? Are they proactive, publicise or market themselves properly and sufficiently? Are they being well- branded and packaged to attract positive response? Questions, questions, questions.

    It has also been observed that the pre-1980 Government College Ibadan Old Boys as indeed like-minded Old Students from other Government Secondary Schools of that era up and down the country have a lot to show for the education they received and they are eager to do so. Many of their qualities have remained untapped by the Nigerian society. However the authorities and the society have repeatedly and consistently exploited their good nature, dedication to work, modesty and candour without commensurable reward. Values other than edifying, deification of money, corruption, fraud and moral decadence rule the Nigerian waves. The Nigerian space is dangerously polluted in every facet and this unfortunately is in the public domain. Rumours of disruption, corruption and looting of the commonwealth, destruction of our psyche and humanness, ethnic jingoism and political jobbery and brigandage are rife and the authorities seem powerless to handle or halt their escalation.

    Beyond 1980, after the cataclysmic disruption and overturn of the status quo, Government College Ibadan entrants have been drawn from a small geographical area (called catchment area) and it has had serious and telling effect on the standard of the school. It has also progressively eroded and limited the percentage of talents available at each year of entry. The boarding system, which was the adamantine bedrock of the great school tradition, mores and high values, has been virulently attacked, stiffed strangulated and finally scrapped. The real magic that once moulded and formed the boys’ character has disappeared. In its wake, a near death affliction on the College. The aftermath, confusion rudderlessness, ill-conceived and inconsistent policies from one administration to the other.

    Today, many challenges knaw and strike repeatedly at the conscience of the college, its old boys and the education sector, namely: how to redeem the battered image of the school; rapidly halt and reverse falling standards in education and scholarship; overcome the glorification of mediocre leadership and enshrine meritocracy in all spheres of our endeavour. The race is starting with the Ideas Group.

    As these challenges multiply and grow, our thinking and attitude must radically change to confront them. We have to react positively and meaningfully. Even in this hostile Nigerian environment which hardly recognises merits and rewards industry, hardwork and productivity, some GCI Old Boys have managed to excel and distinguish themselves attaining the pinnacle of their career wherever they have found themselves by dint of self determination and effort against daunting odds. Getting to the top would certainly have cost less if they operated from a well organized group equipped to support, encourage, succor, advise and mentor them. Such a group whatever name it carries is long overdue – a group that would constantly give a solid backing, pressure and IDEAS for nation building. Churches speak out, so do the mosques as indeed professional bodies, Labour Unions, Student Unions, Lecturers, Market Women, Artisans. The list is endless. They all speak out vociferously on matters that impinge on their welfare, lives, livelihood and national affairs. Should products of Government College and other responsible institutions remain docile for God knows how long? The time is now for them to wake up and speak out and chart a course for our nation. Speaking out requires a re-orientation dynamics and re-jiggling of a modus operandi in order to attain clearer objectives.

    Public relations and regular commentaries will form the thrust. It is expected that this will gain recognition within the Nigerian society – its political and economic space. Its scope will cover and forge ahead with re-engineering, reconnection, networking and breaking the jinx of individualism and parochialism.

    We have the new information order and the unhalting progress in the IT world to thank for rapid communication and networking. We hope to relaunch a bid for societal relevance.

    To achieve this, the IDEAS GROUP will interact with like minds and other progressive bodies in the country at different levels. Additionally, men and women of integrity and high moral values will be wooed and encouraged for a good working relationship – to think along the same lines and achieve the same goals for the good of all our citizenry. The ultimate aim is to channel these activities to dovetail into creating an enduring legacy for all.

    We strongly believe that our country Nigeria can and should be salvaged. Capable men and women abound – men of integrity, honesty and sincerity. When a level playing ground is created, this indomitable breed of Nigerians will emerge to extricate Nigeria from its quagmire and move it forward leveraging on purposeful leadership and informed and discerning followership

     

    Oni, a Medical practitioner wrote from Ibadan