The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • FROM THE CELL PHONE (part 2)

    FROM THE CELL PHONE (part 2)

    For Olatunji Dare

     

    The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and its partners in June 2012 announced a $12 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for a yam improvement project to enhance the incomes of three million yam farmers in West Africa. Its initial focus was on 200,000 smallholder farm families in Nigeria and Ghana, 90 percent of whom cultivate less than two acres-The Nation Friday, June 22, 2012 page 17. It is time to ask from the programme coordinators, the catchment areas in Nigeria this project will target and whether the project has taken off already and who are the beneficiaries, and how were they selected, and the information supplied to the public as well as the channel used. The word is “transparency”. The lesson the rampaging floods should teach us is that there will be lean years and prosperous years in the output of foodstuffs. Are our planners listening? From John Jimoh, Ijebu-Ode

    If the governors had been proactive in matters of channelisation of our water ways, the disasters we are witnessing would have been averted. In this regard, Governor Aregbesola of Osun State merits not only a credit but a distinction. From Barr. Moronkeji

    Re: A nation under water. I think whatever Vice President Sambo does must be taken as being done by Mr President. The public must be educated/enlightened. Sambo’s sympathy and empathy should be taken as the President’s! However, why did we have all these agencies for emergencies? The government should have a speedy emergency response arrangement and implementation. Water, fire, as good as they are, are too destructive, hence, faster response level. Those negatively affected should urgently be rehabilitated and given good livelihood. Neighbouring nations should cooperate. From Lanre Oseni.

    In addition to your write-up on the floods, what can non-governmental organisations and individuals do? Is there a central place to donate clothes, food items, money, and other things for the flood victims? From Nkiru

    The picture used in your article of 2/10/2012 is a scene in Makurdi. Anonymous

    Dare, you are such a thoughtful and wonderful writer! From Ihemeje, Abuja

    My name is Prince Hassan. I enjoy reading your piece and I thought it is wise to draw your attention to this; your piece entitled A nation under water had a photograph with a wrong caption. That area is in Makurdi and not Lokoja. Stay blessed. Anonymous

    What can political opportunists foraging for the next meal do to genuinely assist the “communities of the beleaguered across the nation”? Nothing reasonable, except to exploit the victims further. All the victims of flood should know that adversity is a great teacher. Men who travel on a smooth road all their lives do not develop strength. May God touch the hearts of our “leaders” for good. From Adegoke O. O. Ikhin, Edo State.

    Again, you have spoken my mind. Kudos, and read me in The Africa magazine every month. From Julius

    Thanks so much for your beautiful piece A nation under water. The flooding and its attendant loss of lives and property is a clear manifestation of how unprepared and insensitive our leaders are to the plight of their citizens; like all other problems they have been caught napping. From Ojo A. Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

    I read with trembling heart your piece A nation under water. Dr Jonathan needed a Godly direction and not manly direction. In years past, our president was usually being pushed around all because of second term. He knows what he is doing. Let us continue praying for a revolution and not a leader. Revolution will bring about a dynamic and sound leader and not a leader that will be dancing even to ant’s tune because he wants a second term. From Ms Elegbede, Lagos

    Still on Ideas that live: I wonder what kind of history the present generation of leaders read. Can’t they take a cue from past cruel events to right the present ones? Indeed, humanity will remain cruel to each other till eternity, especially the black race. I love your writings. From Olumuyiwa

    The present administration is made up of people that never take matters of the state seriously. Indeed, they are all sleeping ministers, legislatures, ministries and agencies. No little preparation for a disaster that was so clearly foretold. God help Nigeria. Anonymous

    Before Katrina, New Orleans had defensive levees; it is just that the levees which had worked well in the past failed. This means they had preventive measures in place. We on the other hand are only talking about contingency planning and clearing of drains without considering real defensive measures as well. It appears anything that starts in cosmopolitan Jos seems to spread. The large-scale ethno-religious crises started in Jos, this year flooding also started there. Bombing in states also started there. Someone has even suggested that world war three may start in Jos. The picture in the comment A nation under water is the golf club at the golf course at north bank, Makurdi in Benue State and not a flooded area in Lokoja. Anonymous

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    Sir, in Nigeria, politics and politicians are above the law. But what is the role of the NJC, NBA in this? Even the Senate and Reps fix their own law, contrary to law and reason. The press can only expose the evil in the society. The people will one day rise up to defend their constitution. From Remi, Ikorodu

    You inspire us with your incisive and prolific writing. Justice Salami’s continuous suspension has shown that the President is a pretender. Those who perpetrate injustice will sooner or later become victim of same. It is a question of time. From Onobhamioya, Abuja

    Re: Politicising justice. Please, I do not know the type of President we have in this country, Jonathan is the worst President we have ever had. May God Almighty save us from his hand! Anonymous

    Nigerians do not need (TI) to gauge whether Nigeria is fighting corruption or not. All we need is one high profile conviction, be it a plea bargain conviction or full sentence conviction. Just one. A situation where lesser sentences are earmarked for confirmed killers who are terrorists while armed robbers who may not have killed are given the death penalty, says a lot about our justice system. Very soon, robbers will start claiming they are terrorists. Anonymous

    Your write-up was very interesting. My question now is: what will happen to any judgment given by the impostor, at the end of the day? From Paul Imadoemu. Benin City

    Do you know the meaning of insubordination and its consequences? From Don Akagbusi, Ibadan.

    Thank you for your piece: Politicising justice. I do not know when discipline will return to our national life. From A.T. Mozie, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

    On Reps to probe Otedola: They are idle illiterates and have nothing to offer Nigerians. Farouk and Hembe are yet to clear themselves. Please, ignore them. From Ezenwa Onyire.

    Your article Politicising Justice is marvelous, well articulated and precise to the point. Is there any integrity left in this government? None. It is very sad and unfortunate that Jonathan all pleas and representations made to him to reinstate Justice Salami fell on deaf ears. One definite thing is that no condition is permanent and the only permanent thing is change. All the bad advisers and hypocrites surrounding him will have their nemesis waiting for them. From Ayo Apelogun, Ilesha.

    Re: Politicising justice: The case of Justice Salami is a monumental shame and a mockery of Nigeria’s judiciary! The acting PCA who himself knows his position is illegal cannot step down, the NJC that has the power to remove him and re-instate Justice Salami under the law, just cannot summon the courage to do what is right and the President just doesn’t give a damn! If this is happening in the hallowed chambers of justice to a respected and upright justice, it then means whoever goes to seek justice from these people must speak the ‘language’ they understand! As it is, I’m ashamed of people who cannot defend themselves in the face of unmerited provocation! They should all bury their heads in shame and await Karma. From Kayode A., Abeokuta.

    Re: Politicising justice. Many times, governments or institutions see what individual citizens do not see, to act! Other times, citizens see what governments do not see. Why don’t we wait and see the end of the whole drama. Is it not in this country that somebody would not win a primary of a political party yet he is declared the winner and becomes a tin god todate? Is it not in this country that an opponent won a local government area election and was upturned by the ruling party although, out of providence, he won it back after 11 months? Write on those issues. Your write-up is politicised. From Lanre O.

     

    For Gbenga Omotoso

     

    Sir, instead of tackling Niger problem of insecurity they want to pull down Otedola by all means. God is watching them for whatever a person or group sows they must reap, if not now then later. From Ita Basi, Uyo.

    Every time I read your article Of terrorism and terrorists, I come to one conclusion; that the President is protecting his political interest in the North at the expense of the wellbeing of Nigerians, including the northerners themselves. Running away from the truth will not make anyone more popular. By Biblical principle, any practice you support (in this case, defend), you are part of the proponents of that practice. Thanks. Anonymous

    I am shocked that the presidency did not verify the claim that Nigeria is the second most improved country in fighting corruption before blowing its trumpet on the roof top. Would the presidency have equally rushed to believe the report, if any news magazine, no matter how credible the magazine is, reports Nigeria as slowest in tackling corruption without proper verification? These are the problems with us: selecting which news to believe and which not to, which law to obey and which not. We sincerely need to grow beyond this level of reasoning. Long live Nigeria. From Mandy A. Abuja

    It is very important that Nigerians should know if Femi Otedola actually paid the said money or whether his friendship with the President is at work. It is equally good to know how he raised the money. From Dykecee

    Once again Gbenga the Nation man of the year. The President said he cannot change Nigeria alone that shows his incompetence, what does he expect from his subjects? An incompetent leader will automatically lead in a disorganised system. The presidential speech has raised a lot of dust. He said there are many Nehemiahs in the National Assembly, Judiciary, but he has forgotten that he is the Commander-in-Chief. The President has belittled himself and his office. Since he cannot do it alone, he should resign and allow competent hands who can lead the country to the promised land. From Hamza Ozi Momoh Dockyard, Apapa Lagos

    We are living in a country where men are beasts who feed on rots and maggots like hens. Anonymous

    You should have known where the ‘interest’ is pointing at! Help me ask them If ‘they’ want the money? Let our Reps do what we voted them for. Lives are gone. From Favour

    I wonder how some of these people think. They just want to give a dog a bad name, nothing more. From Awe, Osogbo

    Otedola is one of the rogues we have in this country. If he could afford to pay off his huge debt just like that, why did he wait this long before paying, if not for selfish reason? I am in support of the House probing the authenticity of his payment. Enough of using high connection to defraud the society. Thanks! From Comrade Suleiman Olusegun Adeterigbade, Kaduna

    I hope your idea on the proposed payment of Otedola’s debt is not founded on the “Parapo” syndrome. N140 billion cannot be procured in a jiffy by just anybody. Let the truth about the deal be known; whether it is for Farouk’s sake or not. Anonymous

    Re: When the President speaks. I think Nigerians are not patient enough to see the rapid transformation that has taken place in Aso Villa (A mini Nigeria) for those statistics are realistically logical only in Aso Rock! In the larger Nigeria, where we have majority of Nigerians domiciled, those statements are neither realistic nor logical which is why the President did all the celebrations in Aso Villa, even in an army general’s gear. The larger Nigeria should patiently await the transformation train. Until then, it is every man for himself and God for us all. From Kayode A., Abeokuta

    House of ‘Representathieves’, this is what the seventh house is, a house that has abandoned its primary assignment and is busy with oversight function, defrauding and extorting money from innocent Nigerians. The Speaker is DIG, all the committee chairmen are CPD. Anonymous.

     

  • The Mubi Polytechnic massacre

    The Mubi Polytechnic massacre

    SIR: This year’s independence celebration has come and gone, perhaps the memories may have gone for most of us but certainly not for the relatives of the over 40 students murdered in cold blood that Monday. According to reports, unknown gunmen went from room to room in Mubi, Adamawa State slaughtering students like goats while some others were sent to their early graves with gun shots. Asides the students, three other persons, including a retired soldier, a guard and father of a student, were reportedly killed as well.

    There has been outrage and condemnation since the tragic incident occurred. The executive roared in anger describing the act as barbaric, sad, tragic and shocking. From the Senate came a flurry of anger with some the members seeking to pass a vote of no confidence on the executive.

    It is not clear yet on the motives of the assailants or even who they are. One fact we must get correctly is that no reason is justifiable for this heinous crime. One of the leads being pointed at as to the possible cause of the butchery is the recently conducted student union election. Some officials believe that there were unresolved issues.

    If this case is a possibility, then it’s time we considered the dirty side of campus politics. Over the years, activities of students and sometimes managements of the institutions on campuses as regards student politics have been a source concern for many. Report of skirmishes and violent acts have trailed many elections in many campuses. Student-politicians as they are called go to any length to acquire power. Some kill, some maim while others soil their hands. In some instances, authorities of the institutions influence the elections.

    A begging question is – what did the authorities in the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi do when they learnt of a possible attack on the students? This question has become necessary as a report claimed that the management of the institution was fore-warned.

    What is the relationship between our institutions of higher learning and the security agencies? If indeed the authorities in the polytechnic were warned before the dastardly act, then we should expect answers.

    At a time the nation is facing grave security challenges, when people live in fear, security agencies must gear up and save us from further tragic stories. We cannot blame it all on the security agencies. It is a communal approach.

    The government must go beyond issuing statements. The lawmakers must also go beyond observing a one minute- silence. It’s time we reclaimed our land. We cannot continue to be at the mercy of men who do not value the sanctity of human lives. There should be a better understanding on the politicking on campuses. The level of relationship between higher institutions and security agencies must be raised.

    Perhaps what might be a little consolation is to bring the murderers to book and take adequate measures toward forestalling future occurrences. The government with the help of the students must cooperate in the area of security. These mindless killings no matter the reason must stop. We certainly cannot continue to watch while we are being reduced in numbers unjustifiably. Showing our indignation and anger aren’t enough. Let our actions match our tears; it’s our obligation to save lives.

     

    • Stanley Ibeku,

    Abuja.

     

  • National broadcast? Press release would have been sufficient

    National broadcast? Press release would have been sufficient

    Some five or so weeks after many communities across the country were overwhelmed by flood, President Goodluck Jonathan has finally taken what seems to his government urgent steps in ameliorating the effects of the unprecedented disaster. He had earlier sent a technical committee to assess the damage and to prepare an interim report. After deliberating on the report and having presented it to those he described as stakeholders, the president yesterday morning announced through a national broadcast the provision of N17.6 billion to tackle the problem. The money is to be shared among the 36 states and a few relevant federal agencies involved in disaster management. In the broadcast, the president sent word he would be visiting some of the affected communities, while a team of financial heavyweights has also been constituted to raise more money for the purpose.

    It is not exactly clear why the president felt a national broadcast was in order merely to announce the provision of N17.6bn to the 36 states. Was it to lend seriousness to the disaster or to give an impression that the problem required such attention that only a broadcast could convey? If the president thought the problem grave enough, should he not have visited a few of the ravaged communities immediately he returned from addressing the 67th General Assembly of the United Nations late September? The president is of course at liberty to apportion his time as he deems fit, but there are not many Nigerians who would have objected to their president visiting some of the flood-ravaged states. And judging from the enormity of the problem and its urgency, and the rather disproportionately niggardly sum the president has set aside for the task, a common press release announcing the federal government’s contribution would have been more than sufficient.

    In the 20 paragraphs broadcast, the president said virtually nothing about the even more frightening cataclysm of impending food shortages, nor of how it would be mitigated both in the medium run and in the next planting season. It is bad enough that weeks after the flood, he is still proposing a visit to affected communities. But his refusal to say something concrete about what he intends to do both to tackle a possible food crisis and to ensure the availability and distribution of seedlings for the next farming season, and his inability to acknowledge the threat food shortages could pose to national security at a time of sundry and ubiquitous terrorist threats, is truly befuddling.

    The president is probably unable to gauge when a national broadcast is appropriate. Yes, he was expected to let his countrymen know what he wanted to do on the flood problem, but if he must make a broadcast, they also expected him to talk stirringly about the October 1 massacre of some 40 students at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State, and to also visit the school and the host community. Nigerians also hoped he would say something quite deep about the University of Port Harcourt students who were lynched near their school, and then pay the four grieving families a visit and swear that such would never happen again under his watch.

    Instead, Dr Jonathan has offered us an unappealing and needless broadcast, and has found it difficult to correctly judge when to stir himself sufficiently to hit the road. He is a top politician, and he is president of the country upon whose shoulders all our troubles, hopes and disappointments rest. He should not be told how to discharge the responsibilities of that great office or when to mollify the pains and sorrows of his people.

     

     

  • Mimiko’s politics of mischief

    Mimiko’s politics of mischief

    SIR: The overwhelming Yoruba majority recognized and appreciated Pa (Chief) Obafemi Awolowo, but not all of the Yoruba people. Similarly, I am not surprised that the current Yoruba leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in spite of his efforts to unite the Yoruba race, has his own detractors.

    For a long time, the current Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, pretended to appreciate Tinubu and that he was a friend of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The text messages from the Labour Party (LP) during the 2011 elections, painting the ACN and Governor Babatunde Fashola in black and red colours suggests otherwise.

    Although, the text messages did not bear the name of Mimiko, his current approach to politicking is revealing. That is not surprising; what is surprising is the attempt of Mimiko to create a bad blood between Tinubu and Fashola, by saying to the whole world that Fashola is a better administrator than Tinubu. I think the unsuspecting Ondo people should now see Mimiko for who he is – a confusionist.

    I don’t know the criteria used by Mimiko, but even if Fashola were a better administrator than Tinubu, was it not Tinubu who nominated and supported Fashola to be where he is? Thus, the emergence and success of Fashola cannot be divorced from Tinubu’s leadership qualities and vision. Mimiko is as confused as those who attribute all the achievements of General Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to General Babatunde Idiagbon. I always ask whether, as the Head of State, Buhari could not have frustrated Idiagbon if he was not party to the policy and its exercise.

    Similarly, Tinubu has more than what it takes to frustrate Fashola if he is not party to what he is doing. Was it not Tinubu who created the new local government areas, opposed by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo on political grounds, and the money he (Obasanjo) seized, released by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and used by the Fashola administration to transform Lagos State?

    Beyond that, if Mimiko loves Fashola so much, why did he allow his LP to campaign against him so viciously in 2011, with the aim of blocking his re-election?

     

    • Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D,

    University of Ilorin.

     

  • Reflections on mental health day

    Reflections on mental health day

    SIR: Yesterday October 10, was World Mental Health Day. The Nigerian Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted between 2001 and 2003 found that about 12 percent of adults in the population have had at least one episode of mental illness in their lifetime, while about six percent have had it over the last one year. These are relatively low rates, reflecting the considerably high level of stigma-induced denial in these climes (The World Health Organization estimates that one in every four persons will be affected by a mental disorder at some stage of his or her life).

    Nevertheless the reported 12 percent rate corresponds to a whopping 20million Nigerians, and among those of them who had seriously disabling illness, only about eight percent had received treatment in the preceding year. Given that the majority of mental disorders (77% in the Nigerian survey) occur in mild forms, most cases go undetected for years. Millions are burdened by distressing anxiety, obsessions, mood disorders, paranoia and other internal difficulties, and they must devote considerable mental energy toward maintaining a semblance of normalcy while trying to cope with the pressures of everyday living.

    In a society like ours, “keeping it all together” becomes a compelling distraction on which affected persons must expend precious innate reserves of resilience, which insidiously takes its toll in the form of declining work performance, strained inter-personal relationships and compromised physical health.

    Eventually, one final misfortune like loss of a job, a divorce or maybe an armed robbery attack – all traumatic events from which most healthy people will get over–tips over an already crumbling psyche. Before they tear their clothes and run out naked into the streets, these troubled minds have expended great effort concealing internal distress. And unlike most physical illnesses for which a relatively brief period of medical or surgical treatment could restore the individual to normal functioning, mental illnesses tend to be chronic and run a protracted course that takes enormous toll on the emotional and socioeconomic well being of the both the sufferers and the family members caring for them. It’s a suffering that might have been prevented by timely recognition and intervention in the early stages of illness, instead we end up paying a costly price for denial and wilful ignorance.

    The federal government espouses a noble vision of Nigeria becoming one of the 20 leading global economies by the year 2020. Whether such a lofty target is achieved or not, continued economic growth will eventually see us make the transition to at least a middle income country. WHO estimates suggest that depressive illness will become the leading cause of disease burden at the time, exceeding Malaria, HIV/AIDS and the like. Already, mental illness is responsible for the most years of healthy living lost due to disease and premature mortality in the developed world.

    We must begin to face up to the reality of an increasing burden of mental illness in the populace. It tends to occur in varying shades and degrees, and already is far more prevalent than is immediately apparent. The milder forms though ubiquitous mostly go unrecognized, yet constitute fault-lines of the mind which compromise personal productivity and social harmony. Those moderately affected live and work amongst us all, perpetually labouring under a defect of reason. Alarmingly, a good number make it into political office and their distorted cognition is a mist that beclouds sane judgment. Call this deformation professionelle or what you will, but the jeopardized ability to love and to work is the elephant in the room whose inevitable growth may choke our forward march as a nation.

     

    • Dr. Walter Nzeakah

    Neuro Psychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta

  • Amosun and Ogun Labour House

    Amosun and Ogun Labour House

    SIR: I watched the news of the commissioning of the first ultra-modern secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ogun State chapter, on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) network news on October 1, by the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

    Upon further enquiries, I realised that the governor played a major role in the construction of that very first edifice of the labour movement in Ogun State.

    As an ex-labour leader, I felt particularly elated by the kind gesture of the governor. For me that was the only public event that made the National Day celebration worth its while.

    Not many actually understand that both Labour and government are partners in progress and that any investment by the latter on the former will only foster better employer-employees relationship, increase productivity of workers, all in the overall interest of the entire citizenry.

    Senator Amosun had reportedly said during the electioneering campaign in 2011 that he would help NLC with a new secretariat if its members gave their support to him in the election.

    The fulfilment of this promise is an eloquent testimony to the credibility of Governor Amosun.

    How often do many of our politicians renege on their promises after getting to power!

    I commend Amosun not just for supporting Labour with this very first modern edifice in Ogun State but his commitment to payment of salaries of workers as and when due since his inauguration in May, 2011.

    Finally, I appeal to the governor to clear the arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities owed workers by the immediate past administration.

    I know he inherited a lot of debt and has cleared some of the backlogs of salaries owed workers by Otunba Gbenga Daniel, but he should do more.

    •Alhaji Lateef Ogunlana,

    Ilaro, Ogun State

  • Kudos to Yuguda

    Kudos to Yuguda

    SIR: I wish to express my appreciation to His Excellency Governor (Dr.) Mallam Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State for the appointment of Maigari Khanna as the Sole Administrator and his subsequent posting to Shira Local Government. The appointment signifies the resolve of Governor Yuguda to work with serious people who will assist him in moving the state to greater heights. The appointment is one of the best that deserves a special mention and recommendation since the inception of the present administration in Bauchi State. This is because he possesses all the attributes that make a good public officeholder.

    He is generally considered as a man with purpose and foresight, a mentor of men and women, a man who has inspired youth and humanity, a dynamic Nigerian and advocate for justice, consummate administrator and revolutionary politician.

    Khanna is indeed the kind of person needed in any position of trust and leadership.

    The civic reception organized by the people of Shira Local Government to honour their worthy son shortly after he was sworn-in into office attested more about his leadership qualities, credibility and integrity; those who spoke about his character and attitude describe Khanna as hardworking, brave, transparent, honest, resourceful and flexible.

    Maigari Khana deserves much more than accolades; he deserves cooperation and support.

    • John Akevi

    Bauchi

  • Achebe: Let the sleeping dog lie

    Achebe: Let the sleeping dog lie

    SIR: If we don’t forget yesterday’s quarrel, we shall have nobody to play with.

    The book–There was a country that the respected and popular author-Chinua Achebe just released is uncalled for, unnecessary and ill-timed. As a respected Nigerian and an elder statesman, Chinua Achebe should not have released the book at all.

    The civil war has come and gone and I believe Nigeria as country has learnt her lessons. We know what happened then and even the youths do not pray for that to repeat itself again.

    I am happy that the Igbo have since recovered from the war. They have businesses that are doing well all over the country. There is no where you will not find Igbo people doing what they know how to do best.

    Contrary to Professor Achebe’s claim of Igbo backwardness after the civil war, Igbo people have occupied many top positions in Nigeria.

    For instance, Dr Alex Ekwueme was the Vice President between 1979 and 1983; late Evan Enwerem, late Chuba Okadigbo, Adolphus Wabara and Anyim Pius Ayim have all tasted the goodies as Senate President. Charles Soludo, an Igbo man also occupied the office of CBN governor.

    Ogbona Onovo once occupied the office of Inspector General of Police. Professor Maurice Iwu, former INEC chairman is a true son of Igbo.

    This is just to mention a few among many top positions that the Igbos have held.

    That is why I think it is unnecessary for Achebe to have released the controversial book now. The Awolowo he was blaming for Igbo predicament during and after the civil war is no more. The man who surrendered on behalf of Biafran nation, Lt. Col. Philip Effiong is no more. The Eze Igbo Gburugburu, the Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is no more.

    So, why blame those that are not around to defend themselves? Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) who is still alive is old and leads “Nigeria Prays” because he appreciates that Nigeria really need prayers.

    I call on Papa Achebe and other Igbo people to let their wounds heal. Instead or writing what will fuel enmity between Nigerians, I call on Pa Achebe and other Nigerians to write more on what will unite Nigerians.

    We must pull together to overcome our present challenge which is the Boko Haram. Let’s put civil war experience behind us because united we stand, divided we fall.

    As General Yakubu Gowon proclaimed after the civil war: “No victor No vanquished.

    •Ajiboye John Tosin

    Osogbo Osun State

  • Uniport killings: In the name of God, let this be the last

    Uniport killings: In the name of God, let this be the last

    No one who has watched the video clip of the lynching of three University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) students and a yet-to-be-identified fourth youth at Omuokiri village near the campus can fail to be truly and deeply horrified by the depth of barbarism we seem to be capable of plumbing in Nigeria. To describe the lynching as gruesome and stomach-churning is an understatement. Now, imagine that parents and relations of the victims also watched the video and saw how their loved ones were horrifically put to death, and you may begin to vicariously feel not only a sense of loss and hopelessness, but a sense of despair as to how alone and unprotected the Nigerian citizen truly is.

    The three Uniport students and the fourth youth were beaten to pulp and burnt to death last week by members of the Aluu community in Omuokiri. The students have been identified by the school authorities as Biringa Lordson, a 200-level theatre arts student; Ugonna Obuzor, a 200-level student of Geology; and Mike Toku, 200-evel civil engineering. The fourth victim, Tekena Erikena, had yet to be properly identified, said the university vice chancellor, Professor Joseph Ajienka.

    Nigerians have always suspected that such barbarism was commonplace in their country, what with the disturbing news of frequent extra-judicial killings and officially-sanctioned torture by security agents, as documented by international organisations and local civil society groups. Their suspicions have now been confirmed. But the Uniport video also brings it home graphically to everyone just how irresponsible we have become in putting up with such abhorrent practices over the years, whether they were committed officially by government agents or carried out by private entities such as vigilance groups and ethnic militias.

    The video of the lynching has gone viral on the Internet. It will confirm to the world the bestiality they always felt we were capable of. It will also diminish us in the estimation of the world. Coming barely a week after the cold-blooded murder of over 40 students in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigerians must be forgiven if they wonder whether their country is not much closer to the precipice than most people imagine. We must also wonder, as indeed this column asked after the Mubi massacre, how much more the country, particularly youths, can take.

    In the name of God, the federal government must seize this occasion of the Uniport killings to make it the last time extra-judicial killings and other bestial practices would be tolerated. It is not enough for the police to bring the perpetrators to book; the president must recognise that the Uniport killings have raised national revulsion to fever pitch deserving of his personal attention and strong policy initiative.

    Whether the murdered students actually stole laptops and phones as alleged by their tormentors, or they were robbers or cultists as some others claimed, is completely beside the point. The government must come up with firm initiatives to eradicate cultism from campuses, put a complete stop to extra-judicial killings by agents of the state, halt torture as a means of extracting confession from suspects, and put an end to the degrading treatment citizens publicly suffer at the hands of security agents, all of which have spurred the country’s rapid and seemingly inexorable descent to anarchy and barbarism.

     

     

  • Challenges of Nigerian Bar Association in 21st Century

    Challenges of Nigerian Bar Association in 21st Century

    Protocols

    It was with delight that I received the invitation to participate in this summit. Any occasion which would afford me the opportunity of sharing the company of members of this great profession is one that I always look forward to. However this leaders summit, the first of its type in this country gives me much joy than perhaps any other that I have attended under the auspices of the Nigerian Bar Association for a long time. Furthermore, the subject is designed to afford Legal Practitioners an opportunity of sharing ideas with the elders of the BAR on the challenges facing the Legal Profession in Nigeria in the 21st Century. I therefore congratulate our new president, Okey Wali, SAN and his executives for organizing this event not only for their thoughtfulness in formulating a concept like this but also for their doggedness in making it a reality.

    As I have been made to understand that each speaker has been allotted a period of 30 minutes to address the Topic of this summit, I will proceed immediately to highlight what I consider the main challenges with which the Legal Profession contends at the moment. However in order to place these challenges in their proper perspectives, it is necessary to firstly highlight a brief history of the Legal Profession.

    The legal profession

    The legal profession has an ancient history and predilection. The modern legal professional, earning his living by fee paid for legal services became clearly visible in the late Roman Empire. The practice later spread to Europe including England. It has always been the most respected and loved. Although, I read what Nathaniel Hawthorne said in 1804: “I don’t like to be a doctor and live by men’s diseases, nor a lawyer, to live by quarrels”; yet, it is an incontrovertible fact that every family wishes and prays to have a lawyer in the family. Generally, we pray to have a Doctor and a lawyer.

    Law – a utility subject

    Most people believe that once a person qualifies as a lawyer, he or she must engage in litigation and go to court. The view is not correct.

    Law is a utility subject. As a qualified lawyer, one does not have to engage in litigation at all. Most qualified lawyers go into Banking, Industry, Commerce, Teaching, Civil Service and Politics. The fact remains that wherever they are, they are the most respected and successful having regard to their deep learning and training in handling human affairs.

    Today most successful politicians, administrators, bankers, bureaucrats, businessmen all over the world are lawyers. In fact, history has shown us that great world leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Benazir Blutto to mention just a few were/are lawyers. In Nigeria at the moment, some of the Governors widely acclaimed to have delivered on the dividends of democracy are Lawyers.

    Role of lawyers

    It is therefore widely acknowledged that Lawyers have a great role to play in nation building. This is even particularly moreso in Nigeria. In 2003 when I delivered the keynote address at the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association at Enugu. I addressed this very issue. Permit me to quote from the said Lecture wherein I stated that:

    “The role of lawyers in the society

    Lawyers, it is often said, are influential agents of change having prominent roles as organisers and spokesmen of civic reform groups.

    It is submitted that the above represents the summary of the key enormous burden squarely placed on the shoulders of lawyers by the society. Being “influential agents of change” requires more than mere rhetoric. It involves action, determination, doggedness, grave risk, diligence and, above all, consistency. Changing the status quo in any society, anywhere in history, has never been an easy task. It is often achieved at great cost-sometimes with human blood. But when the change is finally effected, (positive change of course) the aroma of victory travels far and wide. Lawyers, by virtue of their calling, are looked upon by the larger society sometimes for rescue operation (figuratively speaking) especially when the society is in dire straits. A good example is when a nation is undergoing dictatorship (e.g. military) or civilian despotism.

    If Nigeria and indeed the world community must succeed in making the transition from traditional to modern society, persons of proven integrity who are endowed with requisite skills and social conscience must initiate reforms and manage the legal systems. Thus, the tasks of reformation and, by necessary implication, development call for lawyers who can effectively serve in the specialised roles of judges, government lawyer, law teacher, private practitioner and at the same time serve as guardians and therefore shapers of processes of law at sub-national (local), national and international levels for the good of all.

    The role of lawyers, especially in the area of costs of legal development, can not be overemphasised. This is more profound in developing nations of the world. Often, the assumption has been all too frequent in both developed and developing countries and international organisations that legal systems and institutions can take care of themselves while investments in development can safely by-pass the legal sector.

    It is common ground that many countries continue to invest a minimum and marginal fraction of their resources in the administration of justice, the implementation of legislated development programmes, and legal services to those participating in development and legal education. A fresh awareness of the relevance of these features has emerged only as increasing and chronic social violence, political instability and economic stagnation have unmasked the inadequacy of legal systems to cope with the dynamic problems of developing nations. It is therefore part of the role of lawyers – acting through a virile Bar Association like ours to ensure that the costs of the sustained reforms and competent management of a nation’s legal system in its substantive, institutional and cultural aspects be an integral part of any soundly conceived developmental plan, programme and budget.

    By the process of law making, a society can give legal personality to the institution; can help to articulate a new or modified role or tasks of an institution, thereby creating corresponding expectations in society and obligations among the members of the institution. Also, through law-making, the society can re-allocate resources to the institution to enable it to perform its new or modified role and carry out its tasks; establish guidelines and standards for the conduct of the institution and its members and of others towards the institution; and monitor the institution’s behaviour, with the prospects of corrective action or of subsequent revision of the law and further adaptation of the institution.”

    The bar and myraid of problems

    Regrettably, the Bar Association in Nigeria has historically been plagued with a myriad of problems which have prevented it from providing the proper platform for Lawyers to contribute meaningfully towards Nation building. I doubt if anyone can forget the years when the Nigerian Bar Association was comatose owing primarily to the events at its 1992 Annual Conference. It was only through the efforts of some personalities, of which special mention must be made of Chief Adegboyega Awomolo that concerned stakeholders could once again come together under the umbrella of the Nigerian Bar Association to forge a way forward. That we are all gathered here today is a testament to the success of that process.

    Life style of judges

    As stated earlier, one of the important roles or duties of Lawyers in Nation building is to entrench, strengthen and support the rule of law. One of the avenues through which this can be achieved the most is through Lawyers who get elevated to the Bench. But has the Bench in Nigeria been able to live up to the challenge? In times past Judges used to be highly respected. They were regarded with great awe. It was a rare sight to find Judges walking on the streets or even generally in public places. However things have changed. It is now a common sight to find Judges at social occasions. Due to the economic realities of the time which has affected even Judicial officers, it is not uncommon to find Magistrates riding in Taxis and other forms of public transportation. The point being made here is not that Judges and other Judicial Officers must live in a state of utopia irrespective of the realities of the day. The point is that these developments increasingly expose Judicial Officers to risks and temptations from Litigants and even accused persons standing trial before their courts. Little wonder then that claims of corruption, bias and judicial high-handedness which hitherto were virtually unknown or unheard of in the Country’s Judicial Service System are now a common phenomena.

    Quality of judges: appointment of san as judges

    Closely related to the above is the quality of persons appointed as Judges. In any clime, Judges should ordinarily be appointed from the best the bar can offer. Judges should be appointed from Lawyers who have had extensive practice before the Courts in Nigeria. But this is not the case in Nigeria. Persons who have had little or no serious practice of law have often been appointed judges. Appointments are not always made on merit but on extrinsic factors such as family and political ties or affiliation. As a result of this the Judiciary and ultimately the Judicial Service System have been the worse for it. Cases now get protracted not always because of the attitude of Lawyers as many have been made to believe, but because of the poor quality of some Judges. It is quite common to get to Court having travelled hundreds of kilometers only to be informed that the Court would not sit. As a way out I suggest a system whereby Judges are appointed from Senior Advocates of Nigeria. This system operates in the United Kingdom wherein Judges are appointed from the body of Queens Counsels (QCs).

    The adoption of this system will ensure that only the most experienced and knowledgeable practitioners of law are appointed to the Bench. Our Jurisprudence would surely be the better for it.

    Appointment of senior advocates

    The question that this proposal will necessarily attract is whether we have enough Senior Advocates of Nigeria to man our courts? This is quite understandable as the total number of Senior Advocates of Nigeria may not be sufficient to offer enough candidates to fill the vacancies which occasionally arise on the Bench of the High Courts of the States, the Federal High Court, High Court of the FCT and the National Industrial Court. The answer to this question is to be found in an overhaul of the current system of appointment of Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

    At the moment, the process of appointment of Senior Advocates of Nigeria is restrictive and selective. There is a need to make it more open and transparent. In order to ensure that applicants possess sufficient experience in legal practice, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee has put in place certain criteria including handling of a number of cases before the Courts of the land including the Supreme Court as well as other conditions. All applicants who meet these requirements are then shortlisted and subjected to a selective process using parameters which are not clearly defined and indeed have attracted criticism and controversy. In other words, the approach currently adopted is to enquire why someone who ordinarily merits conferment with the rank having satisfied all conditions laid down should be denied that right due only to restriction on the number that must be appointed in a year. This approach ipso facto leaves room for abuse as the factors which dictate who to pick out of qualified applicants is subjective and therefore prone to abuse and or manipulation. I am of the firm belief that all persons who meet the requirements laid down should be conferred with the rank. If 100 Legal Practitioners merit it in a year, let them be so conferred. This way there will be no backlog of applicants. Even if only one qualifies, so be it.

    This same view was canvassed by me in a paper presented to the Privileges Committee. In the paper, I quoted extensively the practice in England under which all qualified candidates in a year are conferred with the rank of Queens Counsel. There is no backlog. There are no complaints, no bickering.

    Members of privileges committee

    Furthermore there is little rationality in appointing Senior Advocates of Nigeria who have just themselves been conferred with the rank into the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee a year or two earlier. I believe that such newly appointed SANs may not be able to dispassionately discharge the duties of screening or determining which other persons will subsequently be conferred with the rank. Clearly the candidates will be applicants with whom they would have competed recently before being appointed. The possibility that this will affect their judgement cannot be ignored. A SAN who has just himself been conferred with the rank perhaps after 8 previous unsuccessful applications and then appointed into the LPPC may not be favourably disposed to a first time applicant being conferred with the rank even where it is clearly merited. This is just a fact of human nature. Thus it is better to appoint more experienced Senior Advocates of Nigeria into the Committee. I therefore recommend that Senior Advocates who would have served on the Privilege Committee must have had at least ten years experience as Senior Advocate.

    Role of lawyers at the bar

    Lawyers who choose to remain at the Bar invariably have the Bar as the platform to contribute whatever they can to the development of the country. However the Bar of late would appear to have derailed from this fundamental objective. In several instances, the affairs of the Bar were conducted much like a Political Party, Pressure Group or Trade Union. The Bar involved itself in matters which are clearly outside of its purviews. This opened the Bar to interested Politicians who were bent on making it an appendage of their political parties. Such was the extent of the damage done to the ideals of the Bar that some Lawyers doned their Professional Regalia to stage a protest march to the office of the Governor of Lagos State over a matter that was not connected to the practice of their profession!!!

    Furthermore, service on the Executive of the Bar at any level or indeed in any capacity is now regarded as a means to acquire quick popularity and the riches and affluence which many believe comes with it. People who hold such belief are always quick to refer to some of their colleagues who experienced tremendous change in fortune after election into office. The bar is not and should not be regarded as a Political Party or a means to acquire quick wealth. Such views clearly detract from the ability of the body to effectively discharge its duties.

    Payment of practising fee

    Lawyers on their part must be willing to fulfill their obligations to the Bar Association. Perhaps the most paramount obligation is that by which lawyers are required to pay their annual practice fees. It is however common knowledge that many lawyers fail to honour this sacred obligations. As way out, I suggest that each local branch of the Bar Association be empowered at the start of the second quarter of every year to compile a directory of all lawyers who have paid their practice fees for the year. Each lawyer should then be assigned a number the directory which itself will be circulated to judges within the jurisdiction of the branch. In court, after appearance of their name, the lawyers will be required to also indicate their numbers on the directory to the judge who will then quickly confirm that the name of the legal practitioner concerned is actually on the list. I am certain that this procedure will ensure that lawyers pay up their practice fees. No matter how broad base or wide spread the practice of a lawyer is, I believe he must occasionally make appearances in the jurisdiction in which his firm is based and in which he is well known.

    Office of the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice

    I am of the view that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation should be separated from that of the Minister of Justice. In most jurisdictions, the Attorney General who is the Chief Law Officer of the country is responsible only for matters related to law. On the other hand, the Minister of Justice is a technocrat responsible for the administration of the Judicial Institutions of the states. I believe the fusion of the two offices in Nigeria has prevented successful occupants of the highly exalted office from efficiently discharging their duties in a manner envisaged by the Constitution and required in nation building process.

    Structure of court – need for state to have appellate judiciary

    At the moment, all matters before all Courts in Nigeria have the chance to be lifted up to the Supreme Court. Therefore, a suit over a parcel of land in rural area in Oyo State can find its way up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. To compound matters, the recent amendment to constitution has conferred jurisdiction on the Supreme Court in gubernatorial election petitions which hitherto terminated at the Court of Appeal. The current system has put a lot a strain on the Supreme Court and even the Court of Appeal with the result that the appeal process from the High Court to the Supreme Court on the average take about 10 years. This is tasking on stakeholders including judges, lawyers and the litigants themselves. Convicted persons are most affected as they have to wait endlessly whilst languishing in jail to have their appeal heard and determined.

    I suggest therefore, that an amendment be made to the Constitution whereby states would have their own separate and distinct appellate court system. Under this system, all matters before a State High Court which do not have any connection or determination of which will not have any effect on federal laws on the constitution must as a matter of necessity terminate within the appellate court structure of each state. Therefore, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court will be left to handle matters which revolve round federal laws and the constitution. That was the position under the First Republican Constitution where Western Nigeria has a strong Court of Appeal. This is also the system that currently operates in the United States wherein the Supreme Court of the United State of America have the power to decide the matter it will or it will not entertain.

    Election petition matters

    I have always suggested that election petitions tribunals should be constituted mainly by retired judges or referred to the Institute of Arbitrators of Nigeria. I still hold this view. Retired judges will be less prone to temptations of considerations such as career advancement which may affect the judgment and reasoning of serving judges. Furthermore, appointing retired judges will ensure that the dispensation of justice in regular courts is not disrupted while serving judges are on national assignment sitting on nation election tribunal. In the case of arbitration, there will be virtually no need for an appeal.

    Sovereign national conference

    I am aware some of the suggestions I have proferred above will involve a critical overhaul or restructuring of the political and judicial structures and institutions of the country. The problems afflicting the Judiciary and the Bar cannot be divorced from the virus that has endangered the existence of Nigeria as a corporate body. Lawyers are Nigerians. They live among Nigerians and are affected in large measure by Nigerian factor. Therefore, it is quite necessary that a sovereign national conference be convened to address many of the issues raised in this paper. I have at several occasions advocated this view and I am still of the conviction that it is a view shared by many Nigerian irrespective of political or religious inclination.

    Conclusion

    Ours is a profession that is very unique in many respect. As I stated earlier, lawyers have a role in nation building. The credible discharge of this role is a topic that should concern all legal practitioners. Therefore, it is my hope that summit of this nature will be a regular occurrence in the activities of the Nigerian Bar Association. We must as a body of professionals remain alive to our duties. Once more, I pay tribute to our newly elected President, Okey Wali, SAN and his team who for the first time have brought about the innovative idea of Leaders Summit. May God bless him and his team. May God bless all of you.

    Thank you.