The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Before the misadventure in Mali

    Before the misadventure in Mali

    SIR: There is no doubt, that it is in Nigeria’s strategic interest, as the most populous black nation, to continue to be a key player in the West African sub-region particularly in helping to ensure that peace and stability continues to prevail. However, the decision of the Nigerian government at this point in time, to participate in the regional force packaged by ECOWAS to dislodge the Islamists in northern Mali is a step in the wrong direction.

    The first rule of war is that one must know the enemy and understand his strategy and tactics, and the second is that one must adopt strategy and tactics suited to the circumstances of the war. The Islamists, having occupied northern Mali now will definitely be consolidating and solidifying their hold on the terrain of operation. This is clearly an advantage. And because of their knowledge of the terrain, the Islamists may supplement normal conventional military operation with guerilla tactics by infiltrating small units behind the invasion force to disrupt communications, lines of supplies and continually harass their opponents thereby weakening and demoralizing them.

    Northern Mali presently occupied by the Islamists is an expansive landscape and is mostly desert. And in a desert military operation that is usually characterized by a high rate of mobility, a force of 3500 as proposed by ECOWAS military planners will be so thinly spread on the expansive landscape of the north. Such a situation will definitely allow the Islamists a lot of flexibility and freedom of manoeuvre. Sooner than later the ECOWAS military force would start requesting for reinforcement from their home countries.

    Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces are currently engaged in internal security operations in almost three quarters of the states of the federation. With such a high degree of commitment at home, the Nigerian Army should have been excused from the war in Mali.

    Also of interest is a report in the media that Nigeria is planning to send 200 members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to Mali as part of the ECOWAS Intervention Force. This idea, if true should be totally discarded. Apart from the legal implication of sending non-combatant paramilitary men to a war front, in a foreign land, serious operational problems are also likely to araise on the mode of operations of the civil defenders vis-à-vis the military. Their presence in Mali would also create a logistic nightmare for the Nigerian contingent.

    Every solider worth his salt knows the importance of the element of surprise in war. Surprise apart from being a major principle of war, more often than not emanates from deception. Surprise is the psychological blow which if the deception is real, unbalances the enemy. It is however doubtiful if surprise can be achieved in Mali by the ECOWAS Force due to the likely infiltration of the force by the Islamists during the preparatory and training stage in Bamako.

     

    • Lt. Col. Oluwole Bright (rtd),

    Victoria Island, Lagos.

     

  • What was the President angry about?

    What was the President angry about?

    SIR: The Police College Ikeja is a mirror of our 52 years of absentee leadership and 13 years of the Fourth Republic democratic shenanigans. What is more to say?

    With utmost respect, I submit that the rot and decay the Police College evidences, is nothing compared to that which lie frighteningly in several other sectors, erected copiously as the stark reality of our national story in this time and age. Thus, we refuse to be carried away by the President’s reported anger; rather we assert that the President should have been angry a long time ago particularly since he came to power.

    If the President is just angry now after spending more than 13 years in the corridors of power, after about two years as President, then ours is a much more dangerous state of affairs.

    So now that the President has visited the Police College, shall we still not wonder if his reported anger will survive the period after the President sufficiently regains his composure and returns to the air-conditioning comfort and staggering opulence of the Presidential Villa?

    Time to ask the President the following questions, questions that must certainly evoke a wave of sadness, a burden perhaps too easily faraway from those in power: How will the Police College not be in decay, when about 70% of the country’s annual budget goes into furnishing the belly and attending to the needs and luxuries of those in government in an unpatriotic spending styled “Recurrent Expenditure”?

    How will the Police College not be in total rot when the annual budgetary allocation to the Nigeria Police, a body charged with the core responsibility of securing the country, is a lot less than that continuously wasted on unnecessary foreign travels by government officials that adds no value to the prosperity of the country? How will the Police College not be on its knees crying for help, when about N16 Billion is being budgeted to build the Vice-President’s official residence at the moment?

    That is why the question again lingers, what is it that the President was angry about? Is it that as President, he has led by example in pruning down government’s bogus transformation team, thereby checking hundreds of pipelines of wastages in government, and channelling the rescued funds to critical Institutions of the state? Is it that as President he has relentlessly fought for increased allocation to the Nigeria Police and several other very sensitive sectors of the country, so as to help turn around their infrastructural facilities, but all to no avail?

    With utmost respect I submit, and again ask that profound question, what exactly is it that the President was angry about?

    • Olusola Adegbite, Esq.

    Abuja.

     

  • Chime and his London visitors

    Chime and his London visitors

    After speculating for over three months and running the whole gamut of pathology, the media have suddenly come to a crushing anti-climax with the release by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) of a photograph showing a “great, very great,” but mildly pensive Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State in company with three other Nigerian governors in London. The visitors were Governors Gabriel Suswan of Benue, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom. And the visit was presumed to have taken place on Tuesday, though the photo caption did not indicate where in London Chime received his visitors. Apparently, the photograph was meant to convey a picture of general wellness than to answer the equally important question of where the picture was taken.

    The pointed message the news, which seems so affected, and photograph, which is so impersonal and yet familiar and puzzling, sought to convey is that the governor is as fit as a fiddle, is solidly on his feet, and will be back home very soon. The three visiting governors – they would gladly spend so much more of taxpayers’ money to show empathy – were quoted to have said a word or two underscoring Chime’s clean bill of health. One was reported to have said the Enugu governor had made full recovery; another said he was in good shape; and the third, before berating the public for ganging up to wish their leaders evil, claimed Chime had recovered tremendously.

    It is clear that neither Chime nor any of his three august visitors understood the issues involved, and indeed it is no surprise that most Nigerian governors are simply incapable of adapting to the governmental needs of the modern era. If Chime and his fanatical supporters had come clean on his health, regularly updated the public with news of the governor’s health condition, and not take the same electorate for granted, would there be speculations, let alone a wish for some hypothetical evil to befall him? The problem with Chime’s long absence is not whether the constitution had been breached or not; the problem is lack of good faith, disrespect for Enugu people, childish contrivances, and now additional verbal indiscretions from the visiting governors.

    But we have the three governors visiting Chime in London to thank for inspiring reports expected to dispel all rumours about the ailing or fully recovered governor’s health. It would have been unnecessary to look forward to any governor’s reports, not to talk of doubting them, had the state and its hospitalised governor done the commonsensical thing in the circumstance. It is truly dismaying that three governors believed to be incapable of exaggerations of any sort – Chime is no longer a reliable witness in his own health story – had to struggle to tell what they swore was the truth. Yet, the story is much simpler than they have made it.

    If, as they say, Chime has made “full and tremendous recovery, and is in good shape,” what on earth is he still doing in London? They say he’ll be home soon. This column wishes him safe journey. But it is a pity the constitution does not permit impeachment on the grounds of poor judgement, which Chime is exhibiting copiously. Nothing so degrades governance and retards progress as poor judgement, a vice most African governments, by their incompetence, haughtiness and insensitivity, revel in. And nothing has been so appallingly sentimentalised in Nigeria as when its leaders fall ill, as Chime, a few other governors, and at least two Nigerian presidents have shown.

  • Amosun’s many firsts in Ogun

    Amosun’s many firsts in Ogun

    SIR: What should I say about my governor at this important moment? I do not know how to praise-sing. Amosun does not like praise singers. That is why he has refused to take any chieftaincy title. “If I deserve one, let me be given after I leave office,” he says.

    But I should throw these questions to the public, especially the good people of Ogun State.

    What would have been the state of our state today if Amosun is not the one in power at this time?

    Why is it the government of Amosun that has built the first ever overhead bridge by any state government since the creation of Ogun in 1976?

    Why is it Senator Ibikunle Amosun (SIA) that introduced functional free education to school pupils after the era of Chief Olabisi Onabanjo in the Second Republic?

    Why is it Amosun that has constructed the first ever international standard road – complete with modern features such as drains, median, greenbelt, walkway, street light, pedestrian bridge with an air-conditioner and CCTV (the only component yet to be installed)?Why is it Amosun that distributed 500 transformers to bring back to life comatose Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Ogun in one, single iconic gesture? Has that ever happened anywhere in Nigeria?

    Why is it Governor Amosun that introduced for the very first time in Ogun modern luxury buses, under the Bus Mass Transit scheme (BMT)?

    Why is Ogun, under Amosun, the first state government in Nigeria to purchase the very latest technology of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and make the “maximum donation” of security equipment in at one fell swoop that the Inspector General of Police said he had never witnessed “since I have been serving as a Police officer”?

    Why is it under the roof of Amosun that the idea of taking the 2012 Best WAEC students from the 20 Local Governments in the state on “merit excursion” to the United Kingdom was conceived – and all the 20 pupils are from public schools? Said the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, “This is a laudable initiative that is worthy of emulation by other states in Nigeria. Let me state categorically that this is the first time ever that students are being brought to the United Kingdom on educational merits.”

    As Senator Ibikunle Amosun (FCA) attains the age of 55 tomorrow, January 25, I believe he can look back and thank God for a good life, robust health and for being associated with many firsts in the history of Ogun State.

    I wish him happy birthday in advance and all the pleasant returns of the day.

     

    • Soyombo Opeyemi

    Abeokuta

     

  • Bongos Ikwue, Sanusi right on religion, ethnicity

    Bongos Ikwue, Sanusi right on religion, ethnicity

    SIR: Twice in the New Year, Nigerians woke up only to be confronted with the dangling of two controversial issues required as panacea if Nigeria is to move forward as a nation in all ramifications. Music maestro, Bongos Ikwue fired the first salvo when he called for the banning of religion in Nigeria if the country is to make any progress.

    He bemoaned the situation where Nigerians often insult God when they ask for “daily bread” from Him. To him, he argued that God had already offered everyone daily bread by giving them the intellect to create ideas and work but that the people believe in “too much talking instead of working” and opined that this kind of mindset would get Nigeria nowhere. While suggesting that the first pronouncement of any serious government should be to ban religion, he further said that “I believe in God. But, I totally disbelieve in religion. I will like to play down religion. If I had my way, I would ban religion completely from Africa for the continent to make progress.”

    Bongos Ikwue added that “the banning of religion will not take God out of existence but it will take distractive people out of our lives. Can you imagine how many times people go to places of worship in a week? They go to listen and contribute nothing. They don’t even raise their hands to ask questions; it is a university you never graduate from for the rest of your life. The amount of waste in terms of human power is a lot, if you quantify it”.

    In the same vein, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Malam Lamido Sanusi Lamido, in his appraisal of ethno-religion groups in the country vis-à-vis insecurity in the country, called for the ban of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI), Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Afenifere and other ethnic groups.

    He accused the elite of fanning embers of insecurity through the use of religion just as he attributed the current insecurity in the northern parts of the country to the power struggle among the elite who use religion as a recourse in pursuant of their selfish interests.

    There is no doubt that religion and ethnicity in Nigeria have not been helping matters as far as the people’s reasoning and judgment on corruption-relation issues is concerned and it is in the in the light of this that due attention should be paid to the views of Bongos Ikwue and the Central Bank Governor on the nation’s progress and insecurity respectively. A bitter bill in form of a question that we also need to swallow is: Is our religion and ethnic groups doing much in ensuring that that the greatest legacy we leave for generations after us is the legacy of Truth, Integrity and Security in a country where the rich continues to get richer and the poor getting poorer and poorer?

     

    • Odunayo Joseph

    Lagos

     

  • From the cell phone

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    I just read your article on ‘Responsibilities of citizenship: The youth in focus(3)’. I stumbled on the second instalment today at work. I had to look for the third. I’m from Ogun State but born and bred in Oyo. How do I relay to you sir, the good ideas and intentions I have for Oyo State and Nigeria? Anonymous

    Re-The Nation and the education of the public. Both the traditional and city styles of getting the youth educated are very necessary. They are interdependent which is why the rural-traditional places crave for infrastructure to move on. The near -excessive infrastructure in cities cause migration, crimes and quicker civilisation. But of what benefits are rural areas with less infrastructure, less education but abundant peace as well as cities with amenities, good education but high rate of unemployment and crime? Anonymous

    Your piece Jonathan in the hot seat was quite interesting. It is true that President GEJ inherited some problems but things would be better if he can listen to the wise counsel of the patriots. Most of the problems are carefully analysed by these respected elders I think the President should not ignore these solutions From Ojo A Ayodele Emure Ekiti

    I agree that colonialism and neo-colonialism is at the root of our problems in all fields, including education. The way out is to jettison the existing neo-colonial state that strengthens underdevelopment. Thanks. From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna.

    Thank you so much for your concern about our country Nigeria. The state of education today gives me concern. And our leaders are not bothered. None of them have their children in public schools, from local government councilor to president. The painful one was recently, Mr President gave Bayelsa’s scholarship and took all of them to private schools. What is the future of those that don’t have money to take their children to private school? They should stop budgeting money for education, because I don’t see the need for it anymore. Thank once again, God bless you, sir. From Bello Abdulkareem, Karamajiji, off airport rd Abuja

    I always read your Back-Page column judiciously with commitment and attention. We really thank God for still leaving Nigeria with some patriotic people to check the excesses of a few privileged Nigerians. The conclusion of your “Jonathan in the hot seat” of January 17, was equally interesting.. I totally agree with you… If we must have a national conference, then it should be sponsored and financed by those calling for it, …”Anonymous

    Do you know that it will be easier for two heads of cattle to pass through the eye of a needle than for the PDP- led Fed Govt of President GEJ to fight corruption in Nigeria? “Sit down look” From Chief Barr GA Mohammed From Ekpoma, Edo State .

    The failure of public education in Nigeria is symptomatic of leadership deficit that has become the nation’s albatross in every aspect of its life. Our education system tells its own story everyday. An ill-defined system that jeopardises the quality of its graduates. How do we define a federal system where its the central government that should be concerned with policy, buys exercise books for schools in the states. What a joke! Regards. From Olu.

    Jonathan on the hot seat. It is perfect truth that presidential seat on which Jonathan sits is hot. But Jonathan would survive the heat of this seat subject to his attitude towards the following: fear of and closeness to God, fairness, justice and transparency in all his dealings. Thank you. From Ishaq Sanni, Lugbe F.H.A, Abuja.

    I commend your piece on The Nation and the education of the public. I agree with your views and nowhere is this monumental failure more glaring than in the core north with its failure to integrate Islamic ethics with the modern and thereby create a society so advanced in human endeavour and development that could have been the envy of all transition societies. Now, we trade our values for only God knows what and result is glaring us in the face; we are left running without focus, no goal, utterly in disarray to say the least! Anonymous

     

    For Olatunji Dare

    Just read your fine piece. I would say elsewhere the goddess of justice dispenses it while she’s blind folded. In Nigeria, she works wide-eyed so that she can count her cash correctly. From Makurdi.

    I painfully count down to the next election. At least for a better change. Anonymous

    Re-Unequal justice as state policy. pdp led government doesn’t believe in justice not to talk of equal justice on crimes being committed in this country. The oil subsidy scam is already a dead issue,oil bunkering is unstopable; and others. The culprits are big wigs thus untouchable; hence no justice. The government is interested in arresting small minds at the expense of big wigs who are party loyalists, The government is unserious hence unequal justice for criminals.this must stop-past Odunmbaku. anonymous

    Unequal justice as state policy: They broke the eleventh commandment’ thou shall steal enough to share or you’ll be caught’. From Bode, Abuja

    Sir, you are 100 percent right, the main oil thieves are very powerful and they do their business everyday without a problem. They have full protection of those in power. We are in a sick country. Only God can deliver us. Anonymous

    Sir, Inequality before the laws of the land is primarily responsible for the abnormal situation in the country today. Easy money had become possible for a great many and the ideal for most. Everyone knows that there is one sure way to being elected into a political office or being acquitted in a court of law and nobody cares. Must a person commit a crime to be somebody in Nigeria? Are our leaders too weak to stop doing what is wrong and too weak to start doing what is right? From Adegoke O O, Ikhin, Edo State.

    Dare, my worries are that Nigerians don’t read articles on burning national issues such as this (your column of January 15) Please, let not your pen run dry for your piece like the sword of the spirit recreates many a mind. Revolution is never planned, but when it comes by reason of corruption and injustice, those who will survive the tsunami in Nigeria will now live and never forget that injustice is neither good for the governor nor the governed.. From Ikenna P, Yola

    Re-Unequal justice as state policy. Sometimes, some judgements might look inequitable, however, crime is crime and criminals remain criminals! Let perpetrators of crime halt crime in whatever form first and allow peace to reign in our society; then, we can talk of Unequal justice as state policy. There is no little crime as any crime will affect individuals in the society, whether drug, heroine, steroid, petroleum theft, goat-theft or/and armed robbery, election-fraud and others. Punish! Punish!! From Lanre Oseni.

    I agree with the piece that Nigerians are not equal before the law. What is behind, it is the socio-economic structure. The question is, can it be changed?. From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna

    That the purported ‘amalgamation’ was purely for the administrative convenience of colonialists, especially to facilitate easy access to the ports for export commodities from the North. The aftermath of that insanity is what the nation is battling with till now with no end in sight. That, as Hardball pointed out, is the nonsense they want to celebrate! Regards. From Olu.

    Thank you for your constructive contribution to the National Debate. From J.D. Chinade.

    I agree that what the nation needs is a good government. I ask, is it possible to achieve it under the existing socio-economic structure that is based on crude individualism? Can the bourgeois class deliver a democracy that will erase oppression and exploitation? From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna

    When people say President Jonathan inherited problems, I fail to understand why anybody at should expect anybody in office not to inherit problem. The creation or existence of an office presupposes the existence of problems that office is to solve. So what we should echo is not the inheritance of existing problems but the creation of new problems or the exacerbation of existing problems by the new occupant of the office. To me writing about Jonathan, his presidency and pdp is a waste of time, energy, ink and paper. Come to think of it, if your writing will change someone and a system, you can be sure you are making a worthwhile contribution to nation building. But Jonathan and the PDP have demonstrated that they do not need the electorate to rule this country. If they don’t get the figures through the ballot box, they write it, and if they don’t write it with the hand, they declare the result and the PDP subsidiary endorses! How can Jonathan or anyone at all, operating in such a set up care about what is happening elsewhere? This is my summary of the Nigerian situation and the reason I say no need to write your piece. From. Sergeant T. A. Gov. Makurdi.

     

  • We don’t need new varsities now

    We don’t need new varsities now

    SIR: The recent approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the establishment of three new federal universities clearly shows how “creative” and “articulate” the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration can be when it comes to tackling the gross inadequacies in the number of admission spaces in higher institutions in the country. The universities are to be sited in Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State, Gusau in Zamfara State and that of Yobe State in Gashua.

    Justifying the establishment of the universities, Minister of Education Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai told newsmen that only 10 percent of applicants get admission into universities- an indication that the number of universities is not sufficient. But the minister later revealed the main motive of the approval. She said with the approval of the new universities, the federal government had succeeded in establishing a federal university in every state of the federation.

    In 2011, the federal government also approved the establishment of nine universities across the country. These new universities couldn’t take off at the anticipated time because of funds. Admission into the universities in Nigeria has become a big battle. Yearly, many admission-seekers struggle to get spaces. Out of over 1.5 million candidates seeking admission, only about 200,000 are admitted.

    Just like many have suggested, methinks there may not be need to establish more universities now. The government’s focus should be on expanding access through expanding facilities and other requirements in the existing universities. It is on record that no university in the country admits more than 6,500 candidates in a year. Truth is that almost all these universities can be made to admit more candidates if their facilities are expanded and more academics engaged.

    The government’s intervention in expanding access to university education is commendable but it must be done in such a way that the outcome will be felt the more and in record time too. Besides, expanding admission spaces in the existing universities will also help place the universities in good standings as facilities would have improved considerably which in turn will show in the products of the universities.

    The government’s approach to solving our challenges must be well articulated. It ought to look beyond federalism or balance in this regard, at least for now.

    • Stanley Ibeku

    University of Ibadan

     

  • Memo to Interior Minister

    Memo to Interior Minister

    SIR: I thank The Nation for permitting me the use of its medium to air my views in respect of some national issues especially the Immigration service. The recent sacking of the Comptroller of Immigration Service (CGIS) on Tuesday, January 15 and the subsequent setting up of a committee of inquiry to probe the activities of the erstwhile CGIS as carried by some national dailies including this paper on Saturday, January 20, is a vindication of my earlier write up of January 7, in The Nation. The said article was a tip of the iceberg of the horrendous happenings in the service. I have tried to exercise some restraints so as not to expose the service to public odium and ridicule. My intervention therefore is to help the service, the committee set up to probe to ministry and the minister himself.

    Even without the probe committee, the minister knows everything that is happening in the service. The minister himself has his own blames and weakness. It’s not his place to supervise the day to day running and activities of the service. Postings and deployments of officers from certain ranks should not be his concern either. Certainly, the CGIS is the accounting officer of the service and not the minister. This is the only way to obviate areas of conflict between the CGIS and the minister. Of course, the minister’s undue interference in the daily routine matters of the service did not start from the present one; it began from the time of his immediate predecessor in office. Because the former was her kinsman, the erstwhile CGIS didn’t raise an eyebrow then. It was therefore difficult for her now to wean the present minister away from the honey pot, so to say.

    The Federal Government should not stop at the sack of the CGIS; her activities in the past two years she held sway must be probed. There is the need to know how many young Nigerians were recruited into the service; it should uncover what she dubbed recruitment through “replacement “. Not only this, we should know the placements of those recruited on the basis of federal character and quota. It won’t be a bad thing if a searchlight is beamed on how the recruitment exercise of 2011 was carried out too.

    The veil on foreign postings must be removed so as to know those who are benefiting. Also related to this is the need to know how foreign postings on ad hoc duties are being carried out and how many officers have benefitted so far on federal character basis. The immigration board itself doesn’t live above board!

    As for the so called promotion exercise that was done last year, the less said about it the better. It was a big sham and a fraud. It was done without due regard for seniority and merit. The minister knows this and he did confirm that his office had been inundated with petitions from aggrieved officers who were affected. He should expect more. In many instances, the promotions were bought. It was learnt that the original promotion instrument approved by the board of immigration was jettisoned by the sacked CGIS and replaced with a doctored one. All the minister need do is to call for the promotion list as approved by the board. It’s as simple as that. Fortunately, the minister is the chairman of the board. I wish to counsel that this is done before rushing to conduct another phantom promotion interview for fairness, equity and justice to reign supreme.

    • Ogidi Martin,

    Asokoro, Abuja.

     

  • The floating bodies of Ezu River

    The floating bodies of Ezu River

    All it took to reenact the confusion often associated with Nigerian newspapers were some corpses floating down the Ezu River on Saturday morning. The river passes through about five communities in Enugu and Anambra States before emptying into the greater River Niger. First sighted in Amansea, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, some of the bloated corpses were said to have had their hands tied behind their backs, obviously an indication they were probably tortured to death. Thereafter the drama began, of course first provoked by the media, and then given added colour by the police, baffled community elders, the touchy-feely Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, and local tourists with bizarre tastes for the macabre.

    First, the newspapers. Not only did their headlines fail to agree on the number of floating corpses, their reports also showed clearly that they depended on unreliable eyewitnesses’ accounts for the scanty and conflicting details of the gory spectacle. Two newspapers, without proof, said the corpses numbered over 50; another, perhaps thinking it was exercising more reportorial restraint, said the corpses were about 40; and yet another dutifully reported 30. But the drama was just beginning. The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Musa Daura, was reported by one of the newspapers to have led a team of policemen to view the scene from the vantage position of the Amansea Bridge. He was mystified about the corpses, he told reporters, but would work with his Anambra State counterpart to unravel the murders. Hear, hear.

    Then, according to the same reports, the Anambra State governor weighed in with his own drama by cutting short his overseas trip to attend to the tragedy. Perhaps Hardball had, unknown to himself, become desensitised to all forms of tragedies; but for a governor to cut short a foreign trip over some floating corpses seems a little extravagant, not to put too fine a point on it. But perhaps the meticulous Mr Obi deserves this columnist’s apology. For if newspapers’ accounts, unlike their statistics, are to be believed, it was not until the governor returned home that he ordered the evacuation of the corpses, and announced a reward of N5m for information on the murders. The tragedy occurred somewhere within the jurisdictions of two state police commands, but it was not until Monday, a clear two days after the corpses were first sighted, that shaken security men began tackling the mess. It was then everyone, including perplexed policemen and community elders speaking in the grand manner, discovered that the corpses were about 18, not 30, not 40, and nothing near 50.

    On the same Saturday the corpses were discovered, they ought to have been evacuated, police should have opened multipronged investigations, the scenes of crime cordoned off and samples taken, and accurate information issued by relevant law enforcement agencies. But as usual, the authorities chose drama and slothfulness. If the shock and outrage exhibited by the public could drive the authorities to solve the crime, it would perhaps mitigate the initial official pussyfooting that accompanied the discovery of the floating corpses of Ezu River and end the farcical drama everyone concerned is enacting to our dismay.

     

  • Obama’s second term

    Obama’s second term

    In spite of his brilliance, composure, sound judgement, and historic re-election, President Barack Obama is unlikely to become a great American president of the first rank comparable to the three leading greats – George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. Under the three greats, the very existence of the United States was imperilled, but they rose to the challenge with a single-mindedness and vigour that admitted no possibility of failure. Washington not only birthed his nation, he led it for 25 years, and gave what historians describe as permanence to the American system. Lincoln preserved the Union and destroyed slavery; and Roosevelt saved his country from economic collapse, ensured the endurance of its political values and institutions, and won World War II. As former President Richard Nixon said of great leadership, it is not enough for a leader to be brilliant, charismatic and courageous; he also needs great issue(s) to put him in what Norse mythology calls Valhalla.

    Obama can be pardoned for being consumed by a desire to leave a notable legacy in his second term, or perhaps achieve much more. It is a legitimate aspiration. His inaugural speech of yesterday signposts that secret desire to be remembered for so much more than just being the first African American president, or the third Democrat after Andrew Jackson and Roosevelt to win two successive popular- vote majorities. Even though the details of his programmes will not be spelt out until February’s State of the Union address, he gave indications yesterday of recommitting himself to the ideals of the Founding Fathers, ideals he says have propelled the country into lofty hopes and achievements, and indeed served as the country’s raison d’etre.

    The speech was doubtless inspiring, but it was not his best ever, for there were not many memorable phrases in it comparable to the ones that have given lastingness to many American presidents’ speeches in their country’s moments of peril. Yet, it should serve as an example for the incomparably dull speeches Nigerian leaders have half-heartedly inflicted on their fellow countrymen. Hear Obama in one sheer moment of ecstasy after quoting the opening lines (second sentence) of the Declaration of Independence: “Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing; that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth. The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.”

    Obama has many unfinished businesses from his first term. He will do his utmost to give permanence to many of them in such a way that some sort of remarkability would hallmark his presidency. He will try not to be encumbered by partisan considerations, or be distracted by divisive issues that have plagued his country for decades. And he will, as he says succinctly, attempt to inspire his fellow Americans into believing in their own ability to transcend limitations imposed by time or circumstances. Again, hear him in his elegant simplicity: “This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic recovery has begun. America’s possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together.”

    Until his second term ends, it will be impossible to determine how well Obama had lived up to the promises he so eloquently orated. Indeed, as The Economist (London) magazine once put it, a leader’s legacy is not secured nor his reign scored until iconoclastic posterity has scoured through his achievements. Obama will have to wait until then, just as Lincoln’s Gettysburg address had to wait to become one of the most memorable ever, with its oft-quoted definition of democracy. Obama has shown what it means to be inspired by past greats. Would to God Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had read about Washington in order to rein in his natural predilection to subvert great principles, including constitutional provisions on term limitation. Nelson Mandela probably read Washington, and did better than exhaust his term limits. Indeed, Nigeria would have been an exceptional country today had its leaders opened themselves to the values and philosophies that ennobled the three American greats, values which Obama’s second term is giving us the opportunity to appreciate anew.