The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • FROM THE CELL PHONE

    FROM THE CELL PHONE

    For Gbenga Omotoso

     

    Nice write-up on Suntai and his hobby -flying. Please, is piloting an hobby? Anonymous.

    Re: A governor and his hobby: President Jonathan should realise that Governor Suntai’s life is not more precious than other victims’ lives. They all deserve to be well treated. From Kola

    Do you really think that if the others could not be treated here, they would not be flown abroad? The State can afford it. But I believe they were lucky to receive lesser injuries than the governor. Let us pray for their quick recovery instead of causing more pain to their families. From Barr. Bisi Idaomi, Abuja

    The ultimate measure of any man or woman is where he or she stands in times of conflict and controversy, not in times of comfort. Get well, come out and tell us where you stand, Suntai. From Alison, Nyanya Abuja.

    All are the children of God. All should be treated equally by the State. All of them made their allegiance to the State; and it is the duty of the State to protect life, property and ensure the fundamental rights of its citizens. In this, there is no difference between the leader and the led; and the rich and the poor. Let us not say they are equal but should be treated separately. Treat them all equally, without segregation because they are all the children of God. From DrYahaya Abubakar Muhammad, Abuja

    The government should listen to the distress call from well meaning Nigerians. I wish Governor Suntai quick recovery. From Ogwuegbu Augustine, Umuahia

    The Northerners who criticise and villify Niger Delta governors for being fiscally irresponsible are the same who maintain luxury aircraft to the detriment of their ailing state economies. It is a pity! From Ebiotu Samuel, Warri

    I enjoyed your article A governor and his hobby. Kudos, sir. From Alex Bolaji Omorodion

    As I sympathise with the Suntai over his health, I also wonder what he thought about his former deputy. Permit me to ask, can this be a reward? From Comrade Raphael O.

    It is only a jobless man that will abandon his duty post as governor in a near-moribund Taraba State to engage in flying. Our leaders live in a cave cocooned from the debilitating problems of the citizenry – hunger, disease, unemployment because they buy votes to win election. It is a pity for Nigeria! Anonymous

    I wish Suntai quick recovery, in Jesus name. From Obe Okafor, Port Harcourt

    Thanks for your article of November 1, 2012. It was too pungent as it is a clear case of man’s inhumanity to man. It is only in Nigeria that you have two types of grave yards – one for the rich and the other for the poor, forgeting that whether you are rich or poor we are all going to die and become manure. Since it is public funds that is going to be used for their treatment abroad, the authorities should not hesitate to fly Suntai’s aides abroad, for what is ‘good for the goose is also good for the gender.’ From Shehu Audu

    What is good for Governor Suntai is good for his five passengers. They should be flown overseas too because no life is more or less important than another. From Adoks .G. Akams. Abonnema.

    I wish him quick recovery but he was not elected to be a pilot. Let our leaders be more serious. A busy governor could not have cherished flying in the air. From Tayo Ogunremi, Emure, Ekiti State

     

    For Olatunji Dare

     

    Thank you for your write-up on Cardinal Onaiyekan. I am from Kabba, too. Tunji Cole is my name. It always gladdens my heart when people like you are from my home town. Thanks. Anonymous.

    Dear Dr Dare, your column today is vintage as usual. But I am texting you on some ‘biographical’ points. First, you mentioned the two secondary schools, Keffi and Okene, that I happened to have attended. When I was in Okene for Higher School Certificate (HSC), there was a junior boy who was Oniayekan, and who also happened to have been a goalkeeper! The boy, of course, is not the Cardinal, but here is my problem: I always thought our papers got the spelling of the Cardinal’s name wrong, for ‘Onaiyekan’ makes no meaning to me in Yoruba whereas ‘Oniayekan’ does, the name by which we knew that boy. Please, enlighten me. From Wole Ogundele.

    Your write up on Cardinal Onaiyekan was great. It was clear; no one can contest it. Do take care, sir. From Dr Megbelayin.

    Politicians who failed to become governors in their states are the ones agitating for more states and not the people. From Funsho Lagos.

    Good and beautiful write up on Cardinal Onaiyekan. He is, indeed, Eniti aiyekan. From Kunle James Dukiya

    I loved reading your write up on Cardinal Onaiyekan. From Ajiro Diden, Portharcourt

    Prof, thanks for the beautiful piece you did on one of my few Nigerian heroes, Dr. John Onaiyekan. Though, I dare say, i should thank the Cardinal for giving you a subject on which you could honestly write a positive comment. Dr Onaiyekan is a biographer’s delight anyday. Do have a blessed day, Sir. Best regards. From Femi Ajayi.

    Dear Dr Dare, I have just read your splendid tribute to my Catholic brother-in-Christ Cardinal Onaiyekan. I know him slightly – he expressed readiness a few years ago to write the Foreword to my book, but I did not press him knowing how busy he was. I may have written to you before now to say that you are one of the greatest journalists whose writings I have read since I first came to Nigeria in 1963. As Nigerian English says, more grease to your elbow! And best wishes. From Prof David Jowitt, UNIJOS.

    Your writ-up on Cardinal Onaiyekun is the most beautiful piece you have ever written. Uncle, God bless you. Better still, you should come for inaugural blessing by the Cardinal. Anonymous.

    Thank you for that excellent, illuminating piece on Archbishop John Onaiyekan, our Cardinal. Anonymous.

    Indeed, he is a man of God. Dear Dr Dare, neither you nor His Lordship Dr Onaiyekan knows me. I first met the Cardinal when he was invited to NIPSS to deliver a lecture by the late General Garba. Since then, I have been admiring this Man of God. The first time I met him, I saw humility and decency. After the lecture, I concluded that he is not only a Nigerian per excellent but, indeed, a patriotic one. Please, convey my best wishes to him. From Hon Takori mni.

    Cardinal Onaiyekan was predicted by TIME Magazine in 2002 to join the College of Cardinals. The publication cost him the elevation. You’ve vindicated him. Thanks for the concise expose on him. Anonymous.

    Thank you for your captivating treatise on Cardinal Onaiyekan. Indeed, he is a man of God and a peace maker. I pray the Almighty God to elevate him to the top echelon of the Catholic Church. He has endeared himself to both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. From Shuaibu Ibrahim.

    Your write up on Cardinal Onaiyekan is indepth yet brilliantly brief. Kudos, sir! He’s a rare gem in the clerical circle; a gift not only to the Catholic Church but the entire Black race. He’s my type of a gentleman, a scholar and a saint. AVE IOHANNES. From Emmanuel Ekundayo, a product of Oro Grammar Schoool

    Your treatise on Cardinal Onaiyekun is super. I enjoyed your prose. The Cardinal – he belongs to the lost tribe of sane men that left this nation long time ago. What we have left are demons! May he end up a Pope. From Olanegan Taiwo Akure.

    Sir, Isanlu is now in Kogi State, Yagba East Local Government, some people may confuse it with Isanlu-Isin of Kwara Sstate. St Kizito is in Isanlu, Kogi State. From Dr Ekundayo

    I loved your on Cardinal Onaiyekun and I not only agree with him but corroborate his succinct description of the man, the new Cardinal. ‘Like father like son’ would aptly apply to this amiable genius. His father was a God-fearing man of impeccable character. He raised his children in the fear of God and dedicated each one to serve God in whatever human endeavour they chose. I congratulate the new Cardinal and pray that he will continue to faithfully serve the sovereign God until his life’s end. From Yetunde, Kabba

    Here in Nigeria, we have many archbishops of outstanding vocation and brilliance who would have made very good Cardinals. However, for reasons best known to the Papacy, they are not recognised until age disqualifies them. Nigeria deserves more Cardinals. I congratulate Cardinal Onaiyeikan for passing through the eyes of the needle. AD MULTOS ANNOS. From Dr Charles Uka.Owerri.

    Why not do a biography on Cardinal Onaiyekan? It will be vintage,’At Home Abroad’. Thank you, for Ave Iohannes, Cardinal Onaiyekan. From lchie Emma Ezeh,FCE,Eha-Amufu,Enugu State

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

     

    Your write-up of November 4 titled ‘The teacher in Governor Wamakko’ refers: Frankly, Tunji, I have no stomach for your argument against the flogging of some PHCN staff in Sokoto State. Believe me, the Sokoto State PHCN staff can hold the state to ransom only because those in power today are themselves clueless. The level of corruption and wastage in public office now requires much more than the 1984 tactics of Buhari/Idiagbon to whip Nigerians back into line. Anonymous.

    Tunji your piece on the flogging of Mr Osigwe of the PHCN by His Excellency, Governor Wamakko is to me a drama of the century which looks like a fiction in movies. Honestly, two wrongs do not make a right. Many people will attest to it that he deserves the punishment meted to him. I was a victim of PHCN ineptitude; I lost so much money without anything to show for it. Other sanctions would have been preferably applied. I sympathise with Mr Osigwe. This may make him sit up next time … Anonymous.

    Haba, Governor Wamakko! A little patience would have solved the problem than flogging a mature man like that. Wamakko should know that there could be a role reversal tomorrow. His action has opened the doors to the public to do anything to PHCN officials, who then protects them? From Junaid K. Kreni.

    Tunji, I love your style, you are always hilarious the way you say the truth. His Excellency should have spared the rod and allowed the already spoilt child to get rotten. God will help us. Anonymous.

    As I am talking to you, I have not had light for three days, yet I pay a fixed amount of N4,500 every month as electricity bill. I sometimes go without light for one week; I do not support your view that Gov Wamakko should apologise to PHCN. If I had the opportunity, I would flog PHCN staff, they are very wicked people who will collect money from you and still keep you in darkness. Is that not robbery? From Charles, Abuja.

    Thanks for a thorough piece in your column of October 28. Indeed, ‘Okada’ is a menace to any civil society. The Japanese and Chinese manufacturers do not abuse them as some people do in our land where there is no rule. For me, ‘Okada’ should be banned at all levels. And politicians should stop such evil gifts as youth empowerment or death programme. Thank you. From Gift, Port Harcourt.

    Thanks for your write-up on the ‘Okada’ issue, you’ve fully aired the point I have been making to my southern brothers. From Eias.

    The ‘Okada’ wahala affects all Nigerians and that is evidence of failure of leadership/governance. May God help us. From Oduah, Ibadan.

  • Flood: No time for emergency millionaires

    Flood: No time for emergency millionaires

    SIR: The floods threatening many parts of Nigeria, killing a lot of people and making many homeless and hence refugee in their own country is threatening Nigeria’s environment and the economy. The impacts include loss of agricultural produce, fish, and abandonment of fishing grounds and associated livelihood pursuits, degradation of aquatic resources and other ecological damages. Others include emigration of wild life and consequent decline in hunting, loss of drinking and industrial water and its importation or derivation at extra costs. There is also the impact of destruction or reduction of agricultural and related activities as well as cleansing, population resettlement and other aspects of rehabilitation. Impairment of human health, forced population migration, worsened rural development and embitterment of the affected individuals and communities.

    However, permit me to commend the efforts of the federal government under Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR for prompt intervention and visit to many communities where the floods rendered most people homeless and also killed many. As part of efforts to cushion the effect in the interim, the federal government constituted a committee and released funds for the assistance of the flood victims. Some states, like Delta State released funds, donated relief materials including Hilux vehicles to take care of the flood victims. This is highly commendable.

    For the committee constituted at different levels for disbursing basic items for the survival of the victims, let integrity, honour, patriotism, selfless service, distinction and fear of God be the hallmarks and watch words of those charged with the funds and relief materials for the flood victims so as to ensure transparency, probity, accountability and honesty at the end of the whole exercise. Let mergency millionaires among members of the committee or other NGO’s who are currently assisting not emerge.

    It should be noted that the core of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government. We, the followers must contribute appropriately, genuinely and sincerely to this task. One can boldly say without mincing words that many Nigerians are morally vacuous and would do anything for money. The members of the committee have historical opportunity dropped on their laps by God to distinguish themselves and demonstrate that they are not going to be anybody’s stooge but with high level of discipline, where necessary step on toes for the betterment of flood victims.

    • Charles Ikedikwa Soeze,

    Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.

     

  • The trouble with state police

    The trouble with state police

    SIR: Founded in London by Sir Robert Peel three centuries ago, the state police was first named Metropolitan Police. The men employed by the force were called “Peelers” or “Bobbies” after the founder. Working full time and wearing a special uniforms, with prevention of crimes as their primary function, England set the example, and other countries who virtually share similarities began to establish the formal or modern policing, though those who differ, developed it to centralised policing system.

    In its effort to establish a police force in Nigerian colony, the British had two options; either to adopt its own system or to develop the local African means of maintaining law and order. The former was adopted in the East, while the latter for the West and Northern Nigeria.

    The name pillars “peelers” was called yandoka in the North and they did everything but just!

    In Kano, a man was arrested when he visited a friend who was in a police custody, just because he belonged to opposition party. Fifty women were shot dead, when they revolted against special taxes in Aba, just to mentioned a few.

    To allow the state to have its own police means only those from the state would be recruited, and needless to add, justice would surely be denied to non indigenes, considering how ethnicity and religion bigotry have become the order of the day.

    Its undisputed fact, the some states will also use it to have an easy way of arming their supporters during elections, since politics is now a “do or die affair”.

    Moreover, in a situation where majority of states depend on monthly allocation from federal coffers, and yet not enough is available to cater for other social amenities, funding would also be a major problem.

    Despite being tagged as one of the most corrupt institutions, the constitutional review committee, should look for way forward to make the Nigeria Police corruption free, and more citizen-friendly as against relying on excessive force. Police entitlements should be paid promptly, and training should be top priority, to curb extra judicial killings, which is to be blamed on the aggravation of the crises in the northern states.

     

    • Auwal A. Dankano,

    Kano.

     

     

  • Superstitions Republic of Superstitions

    Superstitions Republic of Superstitions

    For nearly eight weeks, local government workers under the aegis of the Ekiti State chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have been on strike over wage disagreements with the state government. The workers are asking for the payment of the new minimum wage of N19,300 and the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Scale (CONHESS)/Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS), which they said other civil servants had been enjoying since April. After much bickering, the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Wole Adewumi, eventually announced on Saturday that the workers had called off the strike and were expected to resume work on Monday. But the workers countered by announcing through their spokesman, Mr Oludare Famoofo, that the strike was not called off. It was this stalemate that led to the startling discovery of how still deeply attached Nigerians are to their embroidered and even entertaining past.

    On Monday morning, according to newspaper reports, the public, including some few returning LG workers, discovered charms and fetish objects (juju) of all sorts hung on the gates of the local government secretariats. Some reports said all the 16 LGs in the state had the fetish objects hung on their gates. The juju objects were apparently placed at the secretariat entrances to frighten and discourage workers who might be disposed to returning to their duty posts. The gambit worked far beyond expectation. Workers who resumed work were reported to have fled back to their homes, and others who heard about the juju story never bothered to show up. It is not clear whether the newspapers exaggerated; but at least workers were, by Monday, still staying away from work.

    It is entirely up to the state and its LG workers to find an accommodation on the wage matter. But it must come as a huge surprise to many Nigerians that in the 21st Century, a group of people, let alone educated workers, could resort to using juju to scare their compatriots. Ekiti is rated as probably the most educated state in the country, with more graduates per capita than any other state. It is also said of the state that there is hardly any family in those hilly redoubts which does not boast of a graduate. So, it can be safely speculated that among those who hung fetish objects on LG secretariat gates were graduates, perhaps of philosophy, biology, sociology and religious studies, among other disciplines. Could it be that the juju enthusiasts didn’t believe in juju but trusted that it would scare others?

    But let’s cut the sophistry. The fact is that more Nigerians than not believe in juju and continue to be deeply superstitious. They have encountered enough science in their studies to disprove the nonsense about charms and fetish, but they have stuck to the anthropomorphism of their youthful fancies, and like soldiers of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda, would as soon wear charms to repel bullets as rely on the efficacy of magun to secure the connubial rectitude of their wives. Many a man had been killed by bullets in spite of wearing the so-called local bulletproof, and many a husband had been made a cuckold notwithstanding the elaborate placement of magun on their wives, but they’ll continue nonetheless to place their boyish fate and dreams, like Asterix, in the hands of local druids.

    If it is true, as newspapers reported, that charms were hung on the gates of all the 16 local government headquarters in Ekiti, then we must begin to doubt just how efficacious modern education really is. Perhaps we should all give up on the proven powers of science and return to our atavistic past. And it would of course not matter that juju did not stop white men from defeating our forefathers and colonising us; nor that every time science met juju, the latter was defeated. We were still grappling with being described as the Federal Republic of Lynchers on account of the recent murder of four University of Port Harcourt students by a mob; now we must also contend with transiting regressively into the Federal Republic of Superstitions, alas, without the amenity of a time machine.

     

     

  • Open letter to the President

    Open letter to the President

    SIR: In the spirit of citizenship, patriotism, love and faithfulness and in the words of a renowned American President who said “think of what you can do for America and not what America can do for you”, I am writing to you from the secret place of the most High God where wisdom and revelation emanates and disseminates.

    In view of the present ethno-religious, socio-political and economic crises ravaging our great country, there is urgent need to employ and utilize strategies that will settle the spate of terror attacks, political agitations, kidnappings and corruption among other numerous ills bedeviling our nation.

    I am a patriotic and service-oriented Nigerian who absolutely believes in the oneness and unity of our country. I believe that Nigeria is a great country and can only remain great if we are undivided and united. For this to be achieved, we must have a clear and common philosophy, ideology, ethics and values transferred and ingrained into the mentality of every Nigerian.

    The crises we hear and see in Nigeria today stems mainly from ignorance, prejudice and mindsets. This calls for a conscious campaign, education, orientation and enlightenment of the Nigerian people and nothing can be more important now!

    While the security agencies are doing their work in quelling insurgences, crime and criminality, it behoves of us to swing into action by transversing the length and breadth of our great country to establish our values, spread love, propagate right living, understanding and compromise in our polity.

    If the Nigerian people are orientated to do what is right from our families to our places of work and service, Nigeria will regain his place and good reputation in the comity of Nations. No institution can do this better than the already established National Orientation Agency.

    The National Orientation Agency must lead the campaign for peace, unity and corporate existence of our nation. The agency should be pragmatic and not just attend functions to make speeches. They should be mass recruitment of citizens in the 36 states of the federation who should be trained to carry out the campaign of religious harmony, political consensus, fairness and fair-play. Let us take this campaign to our schools, churches, mosques, market places and shops. Like the popular campaign banner goes, it should be door-to-door and neighbour to neighbour. As our dear President, Gen. Yakubu Gowon said before, “to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done”. Lets do this not by violence or force but by negotiation, discourse and education.

     

    • Monfum Ebine,

    Nfom, Ogoja, CRS

     

  • Paul Kurtz: A tribute

    Paul Kurtz: A tribute

    SIR: I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of American philosopher Paul Kurtz, the father of secular humanism, on October 20. Kurtz was my friend and mentor.

    I saw Paul Kurtz for the first time in 1999 at the World Humanist Congress in Mumbai, India. In spite of his very busy schedule, he created time to discuss the situation of humanism in Africa with me. At the end of our talk, he encouraged me by quoting a philosopher who said: “Whatever is difficult is important.” I have always drawn strength from this maxim, particularly in the following years, as I have grappled with growing the humanist movement in the region.

    In 2001, Paul Kurtz, through his Council for Secular Humanism, sponsored the first international humanist conference in Sub-Saharan Africa, of which I was the main organizer. He later established the Center for Inquiry (CFI) in Nigeria—the first in Sub-Saharan Africa—which I directed until 2010.

    He was a great visionary and motivator. I enjoyed working with him because he gave me the opportunity to test and try my own ideas and initiatives for organizing humanism. He never imposed his own organizational ideas on me. This is one of the reasons why, under his leadership, CFI established contacts, centres and a presence in many countries, in Africa for example, where contacts were unknown and unthinkable. In Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Egypt, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Swaziland, etc.,

    II hope the contemporary humanist and free thought movement could learn or draw insights from his success stories and best practices. We humanists and skeptics in Africa will miss him a lot. However, we will continue to draw strength and inspiration from Kurtz’s writings and publications, from the institutions he founded, and other legacies he left behind for humanists/skeptics, and for humanity at large.

    • Adieu, Paul Kurtz.

    Leo Igwe

    Lagos

     

  • Boko Haram’s clarifications

    Boko Haram’s clarifications

    Last week, the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, unexpectedly called for dialogue with the Goodluck Jonathan government to resolve the insurgency that has led to the killing of hundreds of people and large-scale destruction of public and private properties in the Northeast. The Federal Government had all along been amenable to dialogue; it will now get its wish. But the sect, until now, had been ambivalent. If grey areas in the proposal could be ironed out, however, both groups would be prepared to enter into more valuable discussions expected to lead to a truce and possibly a peace deal. Last Thursday, the sect had through teleconference with newsmen in Maiduguri named its terms for peace and offered two lists of negotiators to represent both the sect and the government. On the side of the sect were Abu Abdulazeez, who claimed to be the deputy leader of Boko Haram and head negotiator, Abu Abbas, Sheikh Ibrahim Yusuf, Sheikh Kontagora and Mamman Nur.

    Either because the sect’s ad hoc spokesman was imprecise in language use or he was misunderstood by reporters, the impression he created last Thursday was that the six eminent gentlemen listed as mediators were actually the audacious suggestions of the Boko Haram leadership on behalf of the government. The audacious team was to be led by a former head of state, Gen Muhammadu Buhari. On Sunday, however, the sect clarified that the so-called Federal Government team was actually meant to serve as witnesses, not negotiators, during the anticipated dialogue. The reason they needed witnesses, argued Boko Haram leaders, was that the government was too duplicitous to be trusted. In other words, apart from naming its terms, the sect was also pertinently concerned with the composition of its negotiating team and witnesses. The government is expected to come up with its own list of negotiators.

    It seems quite clear already that the Federal Government has passed the stage of grappling with its conscience over whether it is proper to negotiate with Boko Haram, an organisation it has inscrutably refused to designate as terrorist, or to fight it to the bitter end, assuming an end is really foreseeable in this seemingly interminable and increasingly complex insurgency. On its own part, the sect has said little about why it suddenly appeared interested in dialogue. Perhaps it had to do with pressures from well-meaning people in the North. It, however, warned that though it found it agreeable to enter into dialogue, it still retained enough ordnance and fighting spirit to sustain the insurgency. It is unlikely the Federal Government, which already has its back to the wall, will scorn the sect’s adamantine resolve. Indeed, how the Jonathan government will balance its frenzied desire for peace – with all the ethical minefield of compensating aggrieved Boko Haram members – with the equally more important moral necessity of compensating innocent victims of Boko Haram violence remains to be seen.

    Boko Haram leaders may have clarified their demands and proposals; yet, if the dialogue begins, the negotiators will still find it extremely laborious to set the parameters for negotiation, let alone adhere to them. Much worse will be how, after coming to some form of agreement, both the government and the sect will tackle the uncontrollable freelance gunmen roaming the Northeast with small but potent grudges and causing upheavals far more disproportionate to their sizes.

     

     

  • A case for gender equality

    A case for gender equality

    SIR: Nigeria has the highest population of any African country. With a population of over 162 million, Nigeria is ranked the world’s seventh most populated country. Of this magnitude, 49 percent are female; some 80.2 million girls and women. Comparatively, 38 percent of women in Nigeria lack formal education as against 25 for men and only four percent of women have higher education against the seven percent of their male counterpart.

    Nigeria ranks 118 of 134 countries in the Gender Equality Index.

    Undoubtedly, Nigeria and the World at large has in the last decade witnessed an unprecedented expansion of women’s rights, being one of the most profound social revolutions the world has ever seen. Couple of decades back, only two countries allowed women to vote. Today, that right is virtually universal. Millions of men and women around the world now support the call for gender equality although there is much to be done especially in developing countries like Nigeria.

    In Nigeria, only 25 out of the 360 members of the Nigerian House of Representatives being women and only about four percent of local government councillors are women. This could perhaps be an explanation for Nigeria’s low investment in sections that are crucial to human development outcomes such as health and education.

    It is pertinent to note that the quality of our democracy, the strength of our economies, the health of our societies and the sustainability of peace —are all undermined when we fail to fully tap half of the world’s talent and potential. Where women have access to secondary education, good jobs, land and other assets, national growth and stability are enhanced, and we see lower maternal mortality, improved child nutrition, greater food security, and less risk of HIV and AIDS.

    Achieving gender equality and women’s rights in Nigeria and the world at large is crucial to establishing and sustaining developments as specifically addressed by three Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Gender inequality has a much greater impact than the explicit MDGs. Gender dynamics underpin all of the MDGs and to make progress, we need specific gender-sensitive policies and action across the entire project.

    In promoting women’s livelihood, the 2012 DFID Gender Report in Nigeria, recommends that “Government policy should prioritise agriculture and rural development, because 54 million of Nigeria’s 80.2 million women live and work in rural areas where they constitute 60-70% of the rural work force”. It also advocates the formulation and implementation of laws that will assist the female gender in actualising her mandate.

    The report also advise on the creation of incentives for all girls to complete primary and secondary education, whilst delivering free education to girls and better funding for the educational sector both at the state and national levels.

    This fight for gender equality can only be successful with citizens making concerted efforts towards successful women’s leadership; strengthening women’s economic empowerment; ending violence against women; promoting women’s participation in peace and security processes; and ensuring that public planning and budgeting responds to the needs and rights of women. Together-we can make it happen!

     

    • Tayo Elegbede Jet

    Lagos.

     

  • Achebe and the facts of the civil war

    Achebe and the facts of the civil war

    SIR: Every Yoruba man or woman living has reason to be angry at anything that is capable of portraying late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in bad light, no matter how factual. Awo as he was popularly called was a hero to the Yoruba race. His matchless achievements in various fields of human endeavours especially in the field of education ensured that the children of the poor got educated in the West. Awo was a Yoruba before being a Nigerian and he made no pretence about it while alive. As a war time federal commissioner of finance in the regime of General Yakubu Gowon, he presided over the war budgets. He was seen as a powerful voice in that administration. Gowon used him to get the support of the Yoruba on his side during that war. Therefore the reactions of so many Oduduwa sons and daughters over the historical analysis stated by Prof. Achebe in his recent book ‘’There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra’’ is expected.

    What Achebe wrote in his book is not new as so many Nigerians especially Ndigbo have known this before now. Why it is raising much dust now could be because it is written by a literary giant of Achebe’s calibre. Many Ndigbo believed and still do, that Awolowo hated them and are quick to make references to what Achebe wrote and other issues.

    Take for example, in 1979 Chief Awolowo as presidential candidate of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) came to Aba in one of his electioneering campaigns and told his audience that if he became president, he will ban the importation of stockfish and second hand clothes. Hardly had he finished the statement when stones began to fly from various corners of Etche Road Primary School field venue of the campaign. Ndigbo saw Awo’s statement as another economic blockade coming if he wins that election.

    For a race that was just recovering from the devastating effects of civil war, and considering the fact that many Ndigbo have embraced buying and selling these stuffs as a means of sustenance, Awo’s statement was viewed with all seriousness. I recall late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo’s reaction that “it is callous for anybody to think of banning items that are apropos to Ndigbo”.

    Recall also that the indigenization decree of 1973 was primarily targeted at Ndigbo to ensure that they did not rise again. Or how else can one explain the giving of twenty pounds to any account holder of Igbo extraction after the war no matter how much he or she has in account before the war broke out? With that paltry sum, Ndigbo could not participate in the indigenization programme and a large chunk of the companies were bought by a section of the country.

    The time has come for the true account of the civil war. Nigerians need to know who did what and it is idiotic for anybody to ask that an apology be tendered when such facts come to the open. What Achebe has done is a tip of the iceberg. Others should emulate him so that those who do evil will know that a day will come when everything will be brought to the public domain.

     

    • Ijoma M. Okey.

    Bompai Kano.

     

  • Rising incidence of rape

    Rising incidence of rape

    SIR: Uncontrolled rape incidences all over Nigeria have become a daily occurrence and a fundamental issue affecting women and girl child development in the country. Today, of all women’s fears, that of being raped is the darkest. Though a global phenomenon, appalling side to our experience of its menace here have to do with impunity of the perpetrators, lackluster response of justice administrators and absence of institutional supportive system to help the victims.

    The big question, of course, is why do men rape? Most experts believe the primary cause of rape is an aggressive desire to dominate the victim rather than an attempt to achieve sexual fulfillment. They consider rape an act of violence rather than principally a sexual encounter. This is the opinion of experts. But one is of the opinion that beside the desire to dominate, rape, can also be situated in the state of minds of perpetrators.

    The brazenly manner rape is often committed indicated that perpetrators still have a stone-age view of women as chattels who are to be used without independent thoughts. It also portrays some as pure lunatics. Or what do we think of such reported cases of one Mr. Temitope Alo who raped eight kids, whose ages range from eight to 15 years, at Koloba area of Ayobo in Lagos? The pedophile lured the children to his apartment where he defiled and threatened to kill them if they reported the matter. Nothing is more horrible than the terror, the suffering, and the revulsion of the poor girls, ignorant of facts of life, who find themselves raped by a brute.

    Most Nigerians would not have forgotten an incident that occurred last year when a woman, repeatedly asked her attackers to kill her as they take turns to rape her at a university dormitory at Abia state University in Abia State. Cases of security men especially police men‘re-raping’ rape victims have not lost in our memory either. Most often Police Officers ask rape victims irrational and discouraging questions.

    The voice against rape is criminally silent, the law against rape is ineffective, the institutions to render support is sick and culpable of the act and our leaders are helpless. We tend to reduce the problem to issue of indecent dressing as if the kids that”beasts” violated also attract them with indecent dress. Though one is against indecent dressing, but it could not be a justification for raping. Come to think of; is indecent dressing a ‘rapable’ offence?

    Dramatic changes have to take place in public attitudes toward rape if we are ready to stem the tide. Steps toward this direction are the public enlightenment and education campaign as well as institutional support being offered by Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Ministry of Justice through Office of Public Defenders (OPD) in Lagos State. Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), recently trained health workers drawn from primary and secondary health facilities in the state on Women’s Rights, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and the management of GBV survivors.

    Documentation by health facilities can be useful as evidence to get a no contest order in criminal proceedings against perpetrators.

    Speedy dispensation of justice is also vital to the drastic reduction in cases of rape. It is important to commend the activities of some Non-Government Organisations, NGOs, in addressing gender violence such as rape. Project Alert, Constitutional Right Project (CRP) BAOBAB for women’s Human Rights and other similar groups are doing much in creating awareness and practically getting involved in ensuring justice for women where their rights are violated.

     

    • Rasak Musbau

    Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.