The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Youths need paradigm shift

    IR: The thin line between the old and new is not just the age, looks or taste; it is a clear departure from those features that stunted the growth and wellbeing of the old. Youths of today must take their destinies in their hands and decide to have a future or be damned by their elders. This has become a recurrent decimal as the youths are perennially neglected by successive leadership perpetuated and dominated by gerontocrats.

    In this fight, one must be able to distinguish between the venial and the venal, ordinary and outsized wrongdoing. Make no mistake; hardship brings out the best in no one. The elders have created monsters out of the youths of today and they can no longer sleep or enjoy their privileged access to the commanding height of power.

    The visionless youths being used today by those selfish ruling class in control of power are no doubt hampered by filial or blind loyalty. They pretend blind loyalty, though intelligent loyalty is an admirable quality, but sometimes loyalty could blind you to the truth.

    The January 2011 subsidy protest and the place of Nigerian youths marked a turning point in the history of mass protest in Nigeria. This declaration is incontestable given the active participation (covert or overt) of the Nigerian youths especially the Lagos axis. When in future such mass action is sustained nationwide, then the revolution may have begun.

    In retrospect, we should with knowledge of hindsight analyze the benefits and lesson inherent in that momentous action; the government was put on its toe, forced to be more accountable, responsive to the yearnings of the people and respect the will of the people. The invaluable lessons embedded in the mass action will remain indelible in our memories. The Nigerian people have solidarity, that common pains unite a people across the divide. That social media is a catalyst in mass action. That synergy between organized labour, civil society coalition and well-organized masses is a bulwark that can bring any unpopular government down.

    Furthermore, that sovereignty is truly in the hands of the people when they believe and accept it. The mass action also generated topical debates on national issues that hitherto were latent and suppressed by prolonged military regime, subsequently exacerbated by recalcitrant and irresponsible governments over time.

    Finally, that corruption has been unanimously identified as the bane of the Nigerian state. That singular epochal mass action has been the redeeming feature of the Nigerian youths from untimely systemic extinction by a state where youths are not leaders of tomorrow.

    • Comrade Ogbu Ameh Alex

    Abuja

  • NOUN is frustrating us

    SIR: Why is National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) deceiving us and putting our future in gloom?

    As graduates of NOUN, we have wasted a year sitting at home all in the guise of waiting for NYSC. NYSC Batch ‘B’ 2013 eluded us now batch ‘C’ is passing us by with no information from NOUN management. We can’t apply for higher degrees or job opportunity simply because we don’t possess NYSC discharge certificate or letter of exclusion from service. NOUN management should know that we are tired, aggrieved and frustrated as this is demoralizing. They should tell us the way forward and not put our future in jeopardy.

    • Abiodun M.A

    Lagos.

  • To Chief Charles Adebiyi @70

    Today, October 12, Chief Charles Olumide Adebiyi, B.Sc. (Hons), FRICS, FNIVS, PPNIVS, MNIM, CRA, God willing, would be ushered into the distinguished club of septuagenarians, as he marks his 70th birthday. A highly talented, multi-skilled, detribalised, humane and humble personality, I met Chief Adebiyi, as he is fondly called, sometime in 1996, when I joined the law firm of Sam Azuara and Company. Chief Adebiyi, the founder and Chief Executive of Charles Adebiyi and Company (1978), Chartered Estate Surveyors and Real Estate Consultants, was the life-wire of my late colleague, Sam Azuara’s chambers. But he was more than a very important client; he was our mentor-in-chief.

    Chief Adebiyi, who trained as an Economist at the University of Lagos, rose to become one of the most revered Estate Surveyor in the country. From my vintage position as one of his external Solicitors, I was privileged to learn that nearly all the big names in the Real Estate business in Nigeria, trained directly under him. And what a teacher Chief Adebiyi is! I remember vividly many of them that passed through his mill, since I met him. For any of them to be summoned to present an account of an assignment to the chief, was like being summoned to the shrine (Marian shrine, I know chief will prefer). Many of them who were my friends will rehearse their presentations several times; for chief was too deep to be easily satisfied. Indeed there are few compatriots in the profession that can match the professional and intellectual fecundity of Chief Adebiyi.

    Chief is multi-talented. In the public sector, he was elected President, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (2004-2006); Governor, Rotary International District 9110, Nigeria, (2001-2002). Appointed, Member Land Use and Allocation Committee, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (2000-2004); Member Court of Governors, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, (2008 – to date). Within the private sector, Chief Adebiyi, apart from excelling in his profession, was the chief promoter and Vice Chairman of Midas Merchant Bank, and its affiliates. He is presently a Director, Alarab Properties Limited; Director, Medilag Ventures Limited; and Executive Chairman NIGCHIN Global Trading Company Limited. Chief Adebiyi’s firm was among the pioneer in Securitization of Properties and also Geographic Information Services (GIS). A workaholic, Chief was a marvel at any Board meeting, or any in any fora, where a sagacious application of the intellect was in contention.

    A humanist; the chief regales in service to mankind, whether in the church or in Rotary. As a devout Roman Catholic, he is a member of the Catholic Church of Presentation, G.R.A Ikeja, Lagos; and is the Vice Chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council. He also serves his faith as a member, Archdiocesan Land and Building Commission. In Rotary, a faithless but humane group of professional persons, Chief Adebiyi has served meritoriously in various capacities, culminating in his being elected the Governor, District 9110, Nigeria in 2001. In that position, he exercised the onerous responsibility of supervising all the Rotary clubs and fostering the work of Rotary in Lagos and Ogun states. Chief is inherently kind, and would not hesitate to share his time, talent and treasure, even when the resource available is scarce.

    During his tenure as District Governor, perhaps part of the golden era of District 9110, the international theme for that year was ‘Mankind is Our Business’. And that fitted into the essential Chief Adebiyi. As a non-rotarian in 2001 (I joined Rotary in 2002), I was amazed at the level of sacrifice, that Chief Adebiyi made for Rotary as Governor, a not-for-interest and a non-paying vocation, that nearly consumed his professional practice. Because our office was in the same building as his, and were virtually in-charge of his lawyers work, I was usually astounded as day-in-day-out, Chief Adebiyi kept away from burning office matters, to serve the District. To further astound, each time I went to see chief at home to deal with issues begging for attention, he was charmingly happy at his vocation, which for me was completely destabilising several expansion programs that chief was undertaking with us in tow. I have since found out, that chief was making the best investment – service to humanity.

    Chief Adebiyi also has the exciting trait of being detribalized. Of course I am not talking about the empty gabble of politicians seeking votes, across tribes. But I refer to a man who will not discriminate against another because of the circumstances of birth. In his office back in the days, you had persons of all tribes and religions, learning and having equal opportunity to the bargain under his tutelage. At the time I met him in 2006, Sam Azuara, an Igbo, was perhaps his closest solicitor, and the relationship which subsequently extended to me, was more of mentoring. Since I knew Chief, I have never caught him, whether privately or officially disparaging another person based on tribe, religion or such other fixations that most times have no relationship with capacity and competence.

    Chief also has a fascinating intellect, and is an incomparable original thinker and pioneer. Even when the matter is one of a different professional matter than his area of core competence, he will critically offer suggestions and insights. At several Board meetings that I was privileged to attend with him, his usual performance can be likened to that of a field marshal, with uncanny perception of problems and prospects, often proffering the winning ideas and solutions, at such a speed that beguiles any observer. Yet even with such capacity, he remains charmingly humble, and ever ready to sacrifice his personal interests and positional advantage for a less qualified colleague. Of course chief has paid huge prices for that trait.

    As his hoary years draw near, chief can conveniently look back with contentment, in appreciation of the grace of God, and for a wonderful wife, Chief (Mrs) Funlola Angela Adebiyi, and their lovely children. Not to talk of his numerous friends, both in high and low places. Also for his service to God and humanity, and the several pet projects that he had expended his classical intellect to accomplish. Chief has deservedly been severally honoured, with many chieftaincy titles. He is the Otun Baale of Wasimi, Ikeja; Gbobaro of Orile Agege, Lagos State; Bobaseye of Oke-Ona Egba, Ogun State and the Borokin of Ikeja land, among other deserving honours. Chief Adebiyi deserves all the honour. So here is toasting 70 hearty cheers to Chief Charles Olumide Adebiyi. May I also wish him many happy returns of his birthday, longer life, more prosperity and unqualified good health.

    • Barrister Amalu is columnist and visiting member of The Nation Editorial Board.

  • Princess Oduah and the ‘bar room drunks’

    Princess Oduah and the ‘bar room drunks’

    Hardball knows that trick too well, it’s an old trick deployed by wayward Nigerian husbands. Here it goes: Mr. Husband has been home-weary and recently he hangs out more with the ‘boys’, he stays out late, perhaps having found new pleasures in new ‘pastimes’. Of course madam won’t be making jokes about hussy’s new ways. In the manner of every reasonable woman, she would fight to reclaim her man. She would start by gentle pleas and complaints about late nights and hussy’s odious breath. If the irritation persists, she would rant, rave and even attempt physical enforcement of her rights. But Mr. Man who would have strayed very deep into the ‘forest’ of perdition would simply devise an ingenious defence mechanism. He would start by calling madam ‘too possessive’ ‘nagging wife’ or ‘night watch’. If this does not ‘wash’ with madam, he would raise his game by deploying attack as the best form of defence. As he lumbers home late one of those nights, he would have rehearsed his lines and a mere ‘welcome’ from madam would elicit an explosion from hussy, like: “Welcome what, madam sentry? Next, you would issue me a query on my whereabouts, then you would lecture me and nag and on and on… please I can do without any ‘welcoming’ when I return, just allow me some space. I beg you in the name of everything you cherish,” he would feign uncontrollable anger.

    This long-winded introduction concerns our dear Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah. Last Monday, she played the wayward husband card when she chose to oblige us earthlings the reason why Dana Airlines had to be grounded. Recall that last Thursday, October 4, Nigeria suffered yet another air blight with the fall of an Associated Airlines craft in Lagos perishing about 21 passengers and crew. Another near mishap followed a day after and in quick succession, by Monday, October 7, Dana Air was unceremoniously shut down, leaving both management and customers in disarray.

    But when Nigerians wondered why the sector is in such a spin, the minister was so riled she railed at them: “…When you hear bar comments from drunks and addicts… making comments that have zero bearing on reality, it is very annoying. What I will advise the public really is to recognise the fact that aviation is a very professional area…” She also said such things as accidents being inevitable and an act of God. In her fish wife umbrage she uttered so much illogic but let us just point out a few.

    Hardball always knew Oduah to be a trader (ok, we concede that petroleum trading is a notch above frozen fish), but when did she become an aeronautic engineer or the more recondite avionics specialist? To think that just two moons ago she was made Aviation minister and we were afraid for her because she knew not much difference between an airport and a tank farm. Today, she calls the rest of us ‘drunks and addicts’ just because we ask questions about basic issues of aviation safety and regulation. But we insist that if the last mishap had not occurred, Dana would still be flying today. It stands to reason therefore to infer that if the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), under her watch had been upfront with its duties, may be that crash would not have happened.

    Recall that about one year ago, when a Dana craft crashed, killing over 150, Oduah hurriedly returned the airline to the air as if the life of the nation was at stake. This was in spite of protestations from Nigerians and families of accident victims still largely left in the lurch as to their insurance claims.

    We will overlook Madam Oduah’s uncouth language and arrogance and just note that she is sounding like a wayward Nigerian husband.

  • Fayemi, thanks for new dawn in Omuoke Ekiti

    SIR: I wish to express the gratitude of Omuooke Ekiti people to our forthright governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi for bringing justice to the people of Omuooke.

    On September 21, history was made and it was a celebration galore in Omuooke Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State when our amiable   governor presented the staff of office to His Royal Highness, Oba Valentine Adebayo Otitoju, the Olomuooke of Omuooke Ekiti.

    The prelude to this special and historical event was the pronouncement made by the Ekiti State Government early this year granting autonomy to Omuooke Ekiti and few other communities in the state. The decision was reached by the state government after intense consultations, deliberations, and careful evaluation of the historical facts available, which indeed proved Omuooke Ekiti case beyond any doubt.

    Perhaps the sincere and courageous action taken by the Fayemi administration on the issue was not done without some hindrances and barricades, along the way, but for the forthrightness nature of the governor and his unique approach in identifying and sorting out all manners of problems, proactively, which has been the bedrock of his administration since its inception.

    Otherwise, the freedom being enjoyed in Omuooke Ekiti now would have been a forlorn hope and remain an elusive one.

    Fayemi’s breadth of new life to Omuooke has brought joy and happiness that knows no bounds for the people and no wonder the whole community was agog and the good feelings so palpable among the people.  Omuooke Ekiti is known to be the commercial nerve centre in Ekiti East Local Government and no doubt the new status would bring about a quantum leap in many ways to the community, local government and Ekiti Sate at large.

    The Olomuooke should now take his rightful place in the local government and in the state as the case may be.  I would like to implore Governor Fayemi to see to the changes required in all government registers, Ekiti State official website as it affect the status of Olomuooke and Omuooke Ekiti through directives to the apparatus of government  in charge.

    To the joyous and good people of Omuooke Ekiti, there is no better way to show profound appreciation to this noble, courageous and kind-hearted man who has done such a great thing for our beloved community other than to overwhelmingly support him and his government on his re-election bid in 2014.

    • Lanre Atere

    Glasgow, Scotland

  • In support of Fashola on tobacco

    SIR: In a recently published report in The Nation of September 25, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) requested Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to distance his administration from the activities of tobacco industry. This call is not only repulsive, it is also disrespectful. It also shows a lack of understanding or a very low understanding of public policy and governance. The request is essentially paternalistic. The writers were trying to impose their values by assuming that what is good for them is good for the whole society.

    By extant laws, tobacco is a legal product. Despite the several anti-tobacco sentiments based on several emotional arguments and reasoning, it is obvious to reasonable individuals that banning a product like tobacco will not stop its circulation. The recent activities of the anti-tobacco campaigners suggest clearly that they believe that the only way to stop people from smoking is to ban tobacco production completely. This belief is illusionary. It is illusionary because it will lead to the exact opposite of what they have in mind.

    There are presently two bills at various stages of passage in the National Assembly. These bills seek to regulate tobacco by creating more restrictions to the distribution and smoking of cigarette. This is in addition to the proposed ban on any form of advertisement and promotions.

    The ultimate trajectory is to eradicate cigarette production. What the bills and anti-tobacco campaigners fail to understand is that laws cannot really kill demand for a product; it will only lead to market distortions in terms of its impact on the supply-side. The distortions that would arise from this bill would create a premium for black market to exist and thrive. While the legal tobacco industry in Nigeria will suffer, an illegal market will rise to fill the demand-supply gap.  In fact, the market losses that will arise from the numerous laws and ban will be gained by smugglers and bandits.

    The Environmental Rights Action and other anti-tobacco groups should understand what they advocate would result in pushing tobacco out of the legal and regulated market to an illegal and black market. Black market is generally bad but for a product like tobacco, it is dangerous. It is dangerous because the high profit margin that will come from smuggled and unregulated tobacco will be used to create and fund activities of criminal gangs and cartels. Many developed nations with drug problems have learnt this lesson and that is why there are global moves to de-fund the drug cartels by legalising cannabis and other drugs.

    Smuggled tobacco should be more worrisome to policymakers. This is because they are not amenable to regulation. They are often of less quality since you cannot trace the manufacturer and the distribution ring is mostly nocturnal. If you say regulated and legal tobacco has health risks, what would you now say of unregulated and smuggled cigarette?

    For several years now, the face of tobacco advertisements and promotions have changed considerably.   In the 80s, one is likely to see colourful cigarette packages, and there are many massively promoted publicly held musical shows. This is not the case in the present time.

    Governor Fashola should be commended and shouldn’t be seen to be partial on any legal investment. Like he said at the reception, life is about choices and preferences. It is improper for some people to arbitrarily impose their non-smoking preferences on others. We ought to speak up because this stigmatization on BAT may soon be extended to non-smokers and of course other products not related, choices and preferences.

    • Adedayo Thomas

    Lagos

  • Time to confront economy’s ‘cabal’

    As the country’s political and economic circumstances continue to deteriorate, nobody seems to have the courage to suggest or demand action against those who lead us into the escalating misery of Nigerians. There appears to be a strange kind of timidity that keeps us silent and passive in the face of obvious abuse from which the majority of our countrymen and women suffer. The question is, what makes us so timid? Why have we chosen to be passive in this situation of reckless rape of our well-being by the ruling elite?

    We may never find answers to these questions until we stand up to our rights and be prepared to defend them through peaceful but dynamic engagement with the forces of evil that burden us with misery. Now is the time to awaken from resignation and insist that things should be done differently. The docile nature of the Nigerian masses is adding fuel to the rampage of our leadership elite who are becoming ever more brazen in actions that lead Nigeria down the drain.

    We are particularly concerned about Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi both of who have direct responsibility for the economy, but under whose watch we are experiencing escalating misery in spite of increased earnings from oil. The case against these economic managers is simply that they are pursuing policies which are detrimental to economic growth and public welfare.

    Okonjo-Iweala’s presence on the economic stage in Nigeria is tragic. When she first surfaced in the Obasanjo cabinet, we were told she was the best thing to happen to Nigeria’s economy. But the facts on the ground speak to the contrary. She depleted our dollar reserves to exit the debt trap when she could have done the same thing with oil swap and saved us over $30 billion that she handed over to her principals at the Breton Woods Institution. Now the woman is here again through the roof and is piling up debt and saving our dollar earnings to once again give her IMF/World Bank masters while our people are dying for funds to develop the real sector and do other desperate things to exit poverty, unemployment and the education system collapse calamity we are in.

    The case of Sanusi is just as tragic. Since he swept into power to curb misdeeds in the banking system, our Central Bank governance has never been as erratic. Against rational advice, the CBN chief has continued to place the naira in hopeless difficulties with his never-ending mopping up of naira in circulation in an economy where the real sector is desperate for funds which the banks will hardly give.

    The government has persisted in its bizarre economic approach because of the complacency of the Nigerian masses. They suffer a degree of poverty that is amongst the worst type in the world, and yet they keep not only quiet but they go about like a mesmerized people sleep-walking. And because of this timidity, the government believes that it has the support of Nigerian masses to do what it is doing. At least the minister of information has expressed that disgusting sentiment recently.

    Those of us who are not mesmerized or sleep-walking have a grave responsibility to awaken our people from their lethargy and get them to insist on peaceful change just the same way the Rev. (Dr) Martin Luther King of the USA did for the black peoples of America. One man who has been in the forefront of a similar gigantic battle in Nigeria is Henry Boyo of the Lesleba fame. For over a decade now, this man has been fighting relentlessly for Nigerians to appreciate that their economic problem lies with a devalued currency.

    In a manner similar to Martin Luther King, Boyo has been fighting on the pages of newspapers, in seminars and talks, trying to persuade Nigeria that any country that allows its currency to be devalued, has in effect allowed the life of its citizens to be devalued. He therefore launched a spirited campaign tagged, “Save the Naira, Save Nigeria”. But as is usual with our country, he was ridiculed by those whose complicity in the criminal devaluation of the naira has brought them enormous wealth, while the masses have become impoverished over the decades since the naira was devalued.

    Boyo has been speaking in the last decade with prophetic accuracy that for as long as we do not save the naira from the catastrophe of devaluation, for so long will our economy remain comatose. He has been right and his critics have been wrong. The more this economic expert prescribes solutions to our economic problems – especially in the areas of finance, money management and the growth of the real sector of the economy, the less government and the people in charge care to listen. The situation has become so bad that the country appears to be living in an illusion of progress whilst the masses of its citizens wallow in abject poverty, and practically all its infrastructure and institutions are in varying stages of collapse.

    If those who have been in charge of our economy since 1999 have failed to move Nigeria forward with their policy prescriptions, for God’s sake, why should we continue with those policies, when alternative prescription – which remain credible is ignored while the country and its people suffer? In whose interest is this economic prescription of Okonjo-Iweala and Sanusi designed? Certainly, the political and business leadership elite of the country are feeding fat on it. The Breton Woods Institution – which by the way is entrenched in government in Abuja – has more than an ordinary interest in keeping Nigerian resources within its orbit of control to exploit, regardless of the effect on our citizens. They post growth figures in the economy, which only translate to suffering and misery in despicable poverty for the Nigerian masses.

    Nigerians have no choice but to fight their way out of the satanic misery imposed on them by a financial system that continues to impoverish them in spite of the enormous wealth of the country which the leadership elites in business and politics have appropriated to themselves in one of Africa’s (if not the world’s) most tragic manifestation of misery in the midst of wealth.

    There is a limit to which any human being should endure enslavement. Increasingly we are being enslaved by the ruling elites and their collaborators in our financial institutions. What belongs to all of us has been appropriated by them and our people are in painful poverty in the midst of wealth. Our silence and docility are now being construed by the heartless leadership as a sign of approval and satisfaction. Yes, in their sadism, they could be right. We are the ones who should prove them wrong.

    • Obafemi and Ojewale promoters of Leadership Search Initiative sent this mail from thelsinitiative@gmail.com

     

  • To restructure the Nigerian federation

    India is similar to Nigeria in many ways. Like Nigeria, it is a country of many linguistic nationalities. Like Nigeria, it is a former British colony. Like Nigeria, India inherited from the British at independence a chaotic federation – a federation that ignored the country’s many nations, and in which the nations were split and spliced for British purposes, and for administrative convenience. The only difference is that India is very much larger than Nigeria. In population and land area, India is about seven times the size of Nigeria. Whereas Nigeria has about 300 linguistic nations, India has about 2000.

    Like Nigeria, the Indian federation was very unstable after independence. Within three years, the far northern peoples seceded from India and formed the new countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Even then, what remained of India continued to be unstable. To stabilize the country, many Indians began to propose that the Indian federation should be restructured – in such a way that its states would be based on the linguistic nations and would respect the boundaries of the nations. The similarities with Nigeria in these respects are also clear. The Nigerian federation plunged into big troubles almost immediately after independence. Attempts by the eastern parts of Nigeria to secede led to a civil war. The victory over secession did not end Nigeria’s instability. In fact, inter-ethnic hostilities have been escalating and bloody inter-ethnic and religious conflicts growing. To stabilize Nigeria, many Nigerians then began to advocate that the Nigerian federation should be restructured –and that the linguistic nations be used as basis of its states.

    The details proposed (and ultimately adopted) in India are very similar to the details being proposed in Nigeria now. What the Indians proposed was that India should respect its linguistic nations (or the principle of “linguistic homogeneity”), use them as the basis for states of the Indian federation, preserve “linguistic homogeneity”,and eliminate the practice of splitting and splicing up the linguistic nations. What many Nigerians are suggesting now is identical. They are suggesting that we should stop splitting and splicing up our linguistic nations; that each of our large linguistic nations (Hausa-Fulani in the North, Yoruba in the South-west plus the Yoruba of Kwara and Kogi, and the Igbo of the South-east plus the Igbo of Agbor and Asaba) should constitute a state; and that the small linguistic nations of the North-east, Middle Belt and South-south should negotiate to form states – probably one in the North-east, two in the Middle Belt, and two in the South-south. This is precisely the kind of solution that the Indians finally adopted, resulting in a total of 28 states in the Indian Union. In Nigeria it will result in about eight states.

    But the above represents only the first half of the task of restructuring our federation. The second half concerns the sharing of powers, responsibilities, and resources, between the Federal Government and the state governments. The principles behind this have been spelt out again and again by some of the highest and best of our lawyers. Here is how one of them, Professor ItseSagay, sums it up:

    In a federation, each government – – – exists, not as an appendage of another government (e.g. the federal or central government) but as an autonomous entity in the sense of being able to exercise its own will on the conduct of its affairs free from direction by any government. Thus, the Central Government on the one hand and the State Governments on the other hand are autonomous in their respective spheres.

    As Wheare put it, “the fundamental and distinguishing characteristic of a federal system is that neither the central nor the regional governments are subordinate to each other, but rather, the two are co-ordinate and independent.”

    Nwabueze has identified the following additional characteristics in a federal system:

    • The power sharing arrangement should not place such a preponderance of power in the hands of either the national or regional government to make it so powerful that it is able to bend the will of the others to its own.

    • Federalism presupposes that the national and regional governments should stand to each other in a relation of meaningful independence resting upon a balanced division of powers and resources. Each must have powers and resources sufficient to support the structure of a functioning government, able to stand on its own – – -.

    • From the separate and autonomous existence of each government and the plenary character of its powers within the sphere assigned to it by the constitution flows the doctrine that the exercise of these powers is not to be impeded, obstructed or otherwise interfered with by the other government, acting within its powers.

    The architects of the restructuring of the Indian federation were very powerfully motivated by only one thing, namely the objective of making their country orderly, stable and prosperous. Therefore, they followed the above principles of federalism very conscientiously. They set out the following list of “exclusive” powers for the states: public order; police; education; local government; roads and transport; agriculture; land and land revenue; forests; fisheries; industry and trade (limited); state Public Service Commissions; and Courts (except the Supreme Court of India). They also laid down another list of subjects, the Concurrent List, on which the states and the centre can make laws. This list includes criminal laws and their administration; economic and social planning; commercial and industrial monopolies; shipping and navigation on the inland waterways; drugs; ports; courts and civil procedures.

    According to Prof.Sagay, “ A Federal Government should exercise powers exclusively only in the following areas: National Defence, Foreign Relations, Currency, Exchange Control, Telecommunications, Immigration, Customs & Excise, Copyright, Patents and Designs, Citizenship and Naturalisation, Shipping in external waters”.

    In the matter of allocation of funds, Indians have from time to time reviewed the situation.In 1988, the share of the states was raised to 85% and the share of the Union was set at 15% – apart from the fact that each state can legislate and raise taxes of its own.

    By thus respecting their country’s various linguistic nations, India’s political leaders guided their country onto the paths of stability and progress. According to one of India’s most respected scholars, S.D. Muni, the “elaborate structure of power devolution has combined with the linguistic basis of federal unity to facilitate the management of cultural diversity in India and help mitigate pulls towards separatism and disintegration”. Muni adds that both at the central and state levels, Indians are dedicated to “a consciously followed approach to preserve and promote the cultural specificities of diverse groups”, and that that “has helped such groups identify with the national mainstream”. In addition, Indians have generally strengthened their country by consciously upholding the integrity of their democratic institutions and democratic politics.

    It is interesting that Nigerian leaders, particularly our northern political leaders, are fond of often pointing out that though India, like Nigeria, comprises many different nations, yet India is much more stable than Nigeria. But they never point out that Indian leaders took statesmanlike steps to structure their federation rationally, and to make their different nations reasonably happy to belong to India. The bottom-line is obvious: we can only have stability in Nigeria if we sincerely respect our different nations and make them feel respected and belonging.

  • (REV) Father goes to court

    Ah, the world has grown old and weary; her walls are coming down. The dog grows horns and the lion now eats yam. Just in the same manner a Catholic bishop is in a mortal combat with one of his priests. As you read this, the reverend gentleman is probably still in detention without bail; as reported, he forcibly removed from the pulpit, stripped naked and bundled away along with most of his congregation – would the Catholic Church desecrate itself? This, as we learnt, was after attempts to kidnap him failed. Another bid to defame him by branding him insane and make it seem he set his own parsonage ablaze also failed. It has been an all or nothing fight between bishop and priest since 2009. Now His Eminence has succeeded in putting Father in the dock in a court presided over by a judge of ‘the world’.

    He accuses his priest of – would you believe it – armed robbery and kidnapping, attempted murder and conspiracy! Ah, how our walls come crashing down; how the pillars buckle under the weight of a remorselessly wanton world!

    Hardball puts it upfront that he is not a Catholic; but when you have attained middle age as Hardball has, you are bound to begin to appreciate Catholicism and all the good it stands for. Apart from the glorious Christian teachings and the church’s rich doctrine, the Catholic Church has grown to become the world’s alternate government and in fact, in some climes, it is the de facto government.

    Of course, this enclave of the Pontiff will never fail to represent an object of immense fascination to all discerning minds – its great traditions, its vast tome of intellectual offerings and archives; its centuries old institutions of great learning and teachings; ancient monasteries in far-flung corners of the world, havens for spiritual renewal and rediscovery. Not to forget the corps of deeply educated clergymen, perhaps the most enlightened people to be found anywhere extending light to even the most extreme corners of the universe.

    Consider the comforting presence of the denomination- both physically and spiritually – across the surface of the earth; the magnitude and magnificence of its monuments, community by community. Consider its impact on education and learning, from cradle to the grave for millions of people. No other denomination or extra-governmental body has such deep reach. What about its 1.2 billion population present in every corner of the world?

    This old lady, the wizened body of the Lamb has been through good and bad times in the manner of all things of flesh and spirit – from the age of licentious Popes through Reformation to this digital age, the Catholic Church has been buffeted as of violent storm against a ship. The current being horrific matters of paedophilia and child abuse among the Catholic clergy which may have prompted the Pope to begin to contemplate the revocation of the oath of celibacy.

    However, the matter between Rt. Rev. John Okoye, Catholic bishop of Awgu Diocese in Enugu State and one of his priests, Rev. Father James Ede of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Mmaku, may well open a new, unsavoury vista for the church especially in Nigeria. Apart from further debasing the Catholic establishment in the eye of the people, it may initiate a spiral of feuding and bad blood in the fold across the country. This matter has festered into a dirty, stinking wound for over four years that one wonders whether the church has lost grip in Nigeria. Whatever happened to her conflict resolution and disciplinary processes? The matter brims with so much sordid details that even the tussle for leadership in motor parks pales beside it. Do this bishop and his poor priest still administer the holy sacraments and hear confessions? Hardball was used to seeing clergymen in ‘husband and wife’ churches fight dirty and seek for resolution from the worldly police and court, never in the Catholic Church; the walls are indeed, tumbling.

     

  • From the cell phone

    For Olatunji Dare

     

    In the absence of transparency in every action, things will not be normal. Untill we get it right and stop politicising every issue, things will not be as it is supposed to be. A nation that does things with impunity always thrives in trouble. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos

    Sir, statistics is like a bikini; what it reveals is suggestive, but what it conceals is vital. The collective refusal by the larger society to stay away from a course that proved disastrous in the past is the direct reason for our failing state. If not, why is it that 53 years after independence, a country like ours, blessed with gifted citizens thriving in other coners of the globe, is being led by inept rulers? Our civil societies should please wake up. From O. O. Adegoke, Ikhin, Edo State

    Sir, thanks a lot for highlighting the fraud in Nigeria’s cencus! How on earth can Nigeria alone be equal to the combined populations of ancient nations of Egypt and Ethiopia, and less than half the land area? Areas within latitudinal belt often share similar population distribution. Nigeria can not be more than Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda combined! Our census is programmed inflation. We are far less than 100 million! The rest are ghost. From Engr. Idowu Ogedengbe, Abuja

    Re: Still planning and polling without facts. It is a disgrace and a faulty pillar-foundation when a nation either lacks statistics or swims in a faulty data. That is essentially the component of Nigeria’s underdevelopment. Again, an example: the national identification management centres are so far, situated in a place in only state capitals. Where do the Oyos, Okeoguns, Ojokus, Offas, Warris, Pankhsins, Epes, Sapeles, etc do their registrations? State capitals, as if they are undergoing pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem! However, enumerators see things you and I do not see on census. From Lanre Oseni

    Dare, thanks for your elucidation in “still planning and polling” on lies. Nigeria’s census problem came with her birth because the North demanded a favouring census as a pre-condition to be part of the country at Independence and Brittain granted it. So, why would Kano not have more people when a quarter of it is carved as a state? It is the normal weapon of neo-colonialisation of the South by the North. Jonathan’s increased performance rating is true particularly in infrastructural facilities which serve as bed rock of future improvements in other areas of the economy. The unsual rendering of his performance data gives credence to the facts on his positive thrust in governance. Leave politicians with their usual blindness to a performing opponent. On a closing stanza, North’s plan to hold others to political subjugation must be fought to a stand still or we might have USA’s forecast hold. From Lai Ashadele

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    Nigeria labour congress is not living up to the expectation of Nigerians over the citizen’s plight in the hand of our leaders. From Gordon Chika Nnorom

    Thank you so much for putting it to them (labour leaders) albeit mildly. It clearly shows whose interest they represent. Can we allow a Ghanian who is Black or an American or Indian who are Whites to come and even buy form not to talk of contesting? Please less talk. From Joseph Itse, Jos

    It is very unfortunate that the integrety of NLC has been compromised. During the subsidy saga, we all thought NLC was fighting for the whole masses, but it turned out to be contrary. A nation where the masses’ intrest is not protected that nation is doomed. Masses are now left at the mercy of government nobody is fighting to protect the masses’ intrest. The leadership of NLC has been compromised by those who feel threatened about their action. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos

    Sir, I read your piece “NLC vs the people”. I am disturbed by the statements credited to the Vice President of the NLC. It shows that he has not been following the trends of things in the country. I have some posers for Mr. Isaa Aremu: is he so pleased with the bad leadership style in the country? Can he go to sleep with his two eyes closed given the security situation in the land? Is he also so pleased with the level of poverty in the country? Anyway what I know is that Mr. Aremu is only speaking for himself but not the NLC. He is still living in the past. From Ojo A. Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

    The NLC, as presently constituted, is not a serious organization. Upon hearing about the jumbo pay of NASS, it should have called out workers whose minimum wage of N18,000 is still debated. From Uche Lawson, Aba

    Re: NLC vs the people. Before now, I had been an opponent of Sovereign National Conference or National Conference because it is both unnecessary and time-wasting. Whatever is agitating any citizen’s mind should be passed on to his or her Representative or Senate member to be discussed in the Houses. Although constitution is made for man, and not the reverse, there is need to respect that existing constitution rather than toying with it with SNC. SNC will be a resource-leakage, regional power-show and unreasonable demands from one another. NLC is correct by rejecting SNC. From Lanre Oseni

    This Omar lost contact with his contituency long ago. Imagine him campaigning on the podium for Mimiko during last election. Yes, he has the right to do so even when decorum forbids him. But, when this same governor refuses to pay teachers for five months, relegates health workers for no cause, sacks three quarters of government workers, impliments a non-existing constitution to sack every worker who left primary school at age nine, and more, where is Omar and his colaborators? Do not waist your time and energy on someone who already had failed in his dormain. From Demola Olaseinde, Ilaramokin

    Hello sir, Re: NLC vs the people. Sovereign National Conference is the key to addressing the systemic defect of our federated republic. That is what the proponents are agitating for: a new system that allows for developments according to the ability of each of the federating unit in a level playing field without any unit feeling being left out within an indivisible entity called Nigeria. From Olumide Soyemi, Bariga

    SNC is the answer to usurpation of power, land and oil resources shared among politicians and selfish NLC leaders excluding citizenry. From Edmund

    What a nice write-up from you sir on “NLC vs the people”! The move by the National Assembly to remove generation and distribution of electricity from the exclusive list is a means to enrich the Nigerian millionaires who have stolen our treasuries. Government regulatory agencies are ineffective hence, the poor bears the burden. From Eleshin, LASU quarters, Badagry

    Mr. Isa Aremu is living in ‘yesterday’. For people like him with unbridled conservative tendencies to be in NLC spells doom for the Nation. He lacks the global foresight, the openness and the dialogue oriented mentality that qualifies people for leadership positions in the NLC. No wonder the NLC under his leadership has lost its relevance and vibrancy in the scheme of happenings in the Nation. National Conference will signal a way forward. From Mr. Ezeokoli Agha Joekin, Lagos

    There must be a peace security in Nigeria in order to have peace. Anonymous

     

    For Gbenga Omotoso

     

    I pray the Almighty God of heaven, the Revealer of secret things to those who fear Him will expose and scatter and destroy the wicked camps. Please let us put the sentiments of politics aside and pray for heavenly intervention, we are in the darker age (evil) of the world. Nigerians should rise and pray North, South, East and West. Thanks! From Adegboyega

    To me, lack of quality statistics to identify socio-economic challenges in the country is the creation or manipulation of the operators who must have so constructed the distorted scenario, or purposely kept the valid data (if any) away from us to avoid being monitored by the general public. Covering confidential infomation meant for the public is a form of bad governance trying to shield people from knowing how their affairs are being managed. That there is no reliable pattern of population distribution or that nobody knows the quantity of oil produced and consumed in the country should not deceive anybody. The authorities and their agents know what they are doing. From Emmanuel Egwu

    Dear Omotoso, I always appreciate your Eìditorial Notebook.You make The Nation thick. Please, with reference to Education page of today, those pupils of Cardinal School should be reminded that NigeriÌa’s flag carries no logo. That one is a motor park’s flag. Please enlighten the general public. Thank you! From L. O. David, Abuja

    My dear brother Gbenga, it was a bloody birthday indeed. Blood! Blood! And indeed blood everywhere. Nowhere is safe except maybe prison. Jonathan is helpless and I pity him that he watches helplessly while this carnage is going on unabated. I only hope this evil thing called Boko Haram will not consume all one day as there is no solution right away. May God save Nigeria! From Chief Ayo Apelogun, Ilesha

    Killing has come to stay. There seems to be nothing anyone can do to stop it because those that Satan handed over to us as leaders are arrow-heads of murder; they do not see wanton waste of lives as anything out of the ordinary. In fact, they are not bothered about what is happening in the country. Maybe blood must continue to flow so as to ensure their stay in power, who knows. This is Nigeria where one cannot put anything above a politician. It is only in a lawless state that things go this bad without anyone being punished. Let us face it: since Boko Haram has been wrecking havoc, has any of their sponsors been arrested and prosecuted? Who are the patrons of Ombatse cult? Is it possible that no one has adequate information on the activities of these devilish groups and who their sponsors are? From Ifeanyi O. Ifeanyi

    For NCAA to sanction Arik for unruly behaviour of its passengers is an act of uncivilised management. How will you feel if you were to be one of the passengers? Whose fault? Who was the VIP? As the life of the president is important to his relations so is that of palmwine dealer. Until we come to terms with truth and honest we must always get issues amiss. Passengers that had been infuriated with anger and fear was supposed to be calmed rather than being provoked by VIP or PIP. From Peter N. Chukwudum, Aba, Abia State

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

     

    RE: ‘Independence and an air crash’. Apart from occasional success stories in football, it had been stories of calamitous events in our dear country, Nigeria. Perhaps if our rulers listen to suggestions and implement, we would have been ‘high up’ now. All said, and done, the accused and the accusers are guilty of our underdevelopment – the rulers, the journalists, technocrats and the politicians – conservatives and acclaimed progressives. From Lanre Oseni.

    When some elders accused the President of running the country as a kindergarten president, the scavengers around him started shouting like a hungry lion. Let them tell us how best we should describe him when all we are celebrating is spilling of blood and crashing of planes. The President and his cohorts have abandoned their civic responsibilities for what I will call self-serving agenda. The minister of aviation should be removed because of her incompetence in handling the ministry. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    What was a good man doing in the company of bad men? That question would remain resonant as long as it takes the people of Ondo State to come to terms with the air tragedy, while struggling to define the true legacy of Agagu. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. From Kuteyi, R.R.,Ondo.

    Nigerians should believe that what we have in our airspace are flying coffins, not aircraft. Anyone flying here should pray hard because aircraft in Nigeria are not airworthy, compared with the foreign aircraft. The plane crash in Lagos is very unfortunate and sad. May the souls of the victims rest in perfect peace. (Amen). Investigation should however be carried out to ascertain the remote cause of the crash and find a lasting solution to the problem of constant plane crashes here. The regulatory agencies should sit up to stop all these flying coffins called aircraft to avoid tragedies in future. Cutting corners should stop in our aviation sector so that we don’t continue to send innocent souls to untimely graves. Why are such disasters occurring during our Independence anniversary? God bless Nigeria. From Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia state.

    Your column of September 29, titled ‘The one man, one term brouhaha’r refers. Jonathan would have broken the law if he should take the third oath of office just as the constitution does not recognise elected president or governor to spend above eight years in office, no matter the circumstances. The ‘doctrine of necessity’ was irrelevant at the time Yar’Adua died and Jonathan who had a joint mandate with him was sworn in. If Yar’Adua had died seven days after he took the oath of office in 2007, would Jonathan be qualified to run in 2015 after taking the second oath in 2011, to make 12 years in office as against the maximum of eight years in our constitution? My conclusion is that the judgment of the high court was got in haste or procured to test our senses. Our constitution is not a Father Christmas, I hope. From Akin Malaolu.

    My own concern is how Abati made a U-Turn now, even against his media colleagues. It is despicable of him to have done that. Have a nice day. Anonymous.

    Pretty late in the day! Just read your piece in The Nation on Sunday of September 22 titled ‘Like father, like son’. Apparently you missed the substance of Mr. President’s appeal to the people. Regards. From Mikayah.