The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Ondo 2012: Before the voters decide

    Ondo 2012: Before the voters decide

    Less than three weeks from now, the governorship election in Ondo State will be history. Already preceding these are campaigns of different nature. Much as there had been attempts to narrow the campaigns to issues, the exercise had been shrouded in filthy politics, thus leaving the electorate more confused than they should have been in deciding their choice candidate in that election.

    But with the debate thrown up amongst the various candidates in the election, perhaps, the time is right to bring up constructive and issue-based engagement in lieu of the election. As one who is in government and understands the nuances as well as the complications that dot policy execution, it is only trite that the present Ondo State government is accorded some benefit of doubts in the posers that will be raised in this very engagement while hoping that in subsequent interface, some of the issues raised herein would have been laid to rest with facts and figures as it were.

    Thus, beyond façade of sterling performance being accorded the governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, are some of the issues I intend to bring up here with a view to genuinely igniting a gubernatorial debate.

    Sometime in early 2010, at one of the cabinet meetings, the executive council agreed to enhance agricultural produce by purchasing 100 units of 72HP Massey Ferguson Tractors. The then Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief J.A Akinnigbagbe, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Rotimi Adelola, and Commissioner for Finance, Yele Ogundipe, were consequently mandated to source for  viable banks that could purchase the items on lease finance loan for a good period of time before the expiration of the government’s first term in office.

    Also at the meeting, Dynamic Agrosol limited, was consulted to supply the tractors. The negotiation with Dynamic Agrosol Limited for the 100 units and the implements of the 72HP Massey Ferguson Tractors was negotiated and reported to cost N594,819,915.60 (five hundred and ninety-four million, eight hundred and nine thousand and nine hundred and fifteen naira sixty kobo) only.

    Adelola, therefore, reached out to First Bank Plc, in February 2010 for the deal. He wrote to the bank after his informal discussion with First Bank’s officials at their Alagbaka branch in Akure, Ondo State. Several other meetings were held after the bank headquarters had agreed to finance the project.

    However, at another meeting, the bank and the government officials agreed to reduce the 100 unit of Massey Ferguson Tractors to 62 units at the same cost of N594,819,915.60 kobo. Furtherance to actualising the deal and the willingness of First Bank to formalise financing of the 62 units of tractors, the bank sent a Product of Offer letter to the government through the office of Dr. Adelola. The letter dated April 12, 2012 with reference number Aku 121395/L/ was sent from the bank’s Alagbaka branch office. The bank agreed to provide finance lease with payment tenor spread across 33 months. It was billed to commence in April 2010 and expire this month, October.  The usual lease finance loan proposal and condition of terms were attached with the Product of Offer letter as well as the Acceptance of Offer sent to the office of Dr. Adelola. Thus, at the executive cabinet meeting of April 2010, the cabinet was pleased with the outcome of the interface with the First Bank on the deal. Subsequently, Dr. Adelola was assigned to finally seal the deal with the bank, while the fund was to be released to the Ministry of Finance, which in turn would liaise with the Ministry of Agriculture and the tractors’ supplier, Dynamic Agrosol Limited.

    Surprisingly, while negotiation with the First Bank was ongoing, another was initiated by the governor’s kitchen cabinet with another bank. The deal, with the same proposal of 100 units of same 72HP Massey Ferguson Tractors with the same implements, was being negotiated. The kitchen cabinet at a meeting in July 2010, mandated Akinnigbagbe and Ogundipe, the state Commissioners for Agriculture and Finance, to reach out to Fidelity Bank Plc and discuss the financing through the same process like the one Adelola had successfully struck with First Bank.

    For a certain period of time, the duo of Akinnigbagbe and Ogundipe was slow to act as directed until the governor allegedly reprimanded them at one of their meetings sometime in November, 2010. Following this, the two men met with Adelola who had advised them to go ahead as instructed by His Excellency.

    Thus, on November 19, 2010, the Agriculture ministry wrote another letter to Dynamic Agrosol Limited, giving the approval to supply Ondo State government the 100 of Massey Ferguson tractors with reference number AEH11851259. Having equipped themselves with information from Adelola, an erstwhile banker, Akingbagbe and Ogundipe subsequently wrote to Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director through the Ondo State Ministry of Finance letter headed, requesting the bank to finance purchase of 100 units of 72HP Massey Ferguson Tractors with the following set of implements; Ton Hydraulic Tipping Trailer, Disc Ridger, Disc Harrow and Disc plough.

    The response from Fidelity Bank Plc on the request was not, however, encouraging as evident in a letter the bank sent on November 25, 2010. Left with that situation, Akingbagbe and Ogundipe jointly wrote and signed another letter to Fidelity Bank on December 2, 2010 with reference number SCF 29/28, requesting the bank to now finance the same tractors and implements for N954,819,915.60 Kobo, however, for 62 units of the same 72HP Massey Ferguson Tractors with same sets of implements attached.

    The attention of one Dr. Musa was drawn in the reconfirmation letter, while the supplier, Dynamic Agrosol Limited, was copied that a full Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) was still required in the transaction.

    ONDO 2012: Let the debate begins ….

    With the fresh negotiation still ongoing, it is worthy of note that only seven units of tractors and equipment sets were supplied to the state government at the cost of N594,819,915.60Kobo, as against the 100 units proposed at inception with First Bank. And since April 2010, First Bank has been collecting repayment for the entire transaction from the government. Unfortunately for government, Fidelity Bank has discovered the trick being played on the banks.

    I can reliably inform that even the seven tractors supplied to government in 2011 were manufactured in 2009. The Seven tractors were supplied with implements’ set that included Alico-Disc plough 3 Discs, Alico-Disc Harrow-16Discs (Disc 2411) and Alico Rigger-3 Furrow through Mac Tonnel Nigeria Limited, Apapa, in Lagos State. All these were at the cost of N594,819,915.60kobo.

    This somewhat shoddy transaction soon took another turn, when the state government allegedly went ahead to insure the 100 units of the tractors with an insurance company (name withheld) at the cost of N25 million and yet, under-paid for the insurance.

    Coming from the analysis above, much as it appears more like a fraud being perpetrated by government, it is imperative to accord government some degree of response before conclusions are drawn. But the questions are: Why would government agree to buy 62 tractors for the initial negotiation of 100 at the same amount? Why does it have just seven since supplied despite the fact that repayment for full purchase is still ongoing? Of what basis was the need to involve Fidelity Bank when the deal had been signed, sealed and delivered with the First Bank arrangement? These and more, the Ondo State Government must answer as we engage it further in the ensuing debate.

    Without doubt, this is the kind of engagement that will enrich the voting power of the people as they file out on October 20 to either effect change or live with what presently obtains in the name of governance.

     

    •Raji is Special Adviser to the Lagos State government on information

  • Government must bring Mubi murderers to justice

    Government must bring Mubi murderers to justice

    Sir: We strongly condemn the wicked massacre of about 40 students at The Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State, on the wee hours of Tuesday, October 2. Indeed, this act was carefully plotted days before it was hatched and we do not completely agree that it has everything to do with the outcome of the Student’s Union Government election that was held few days before the killings.

    We call on the government and all the security agencies to do everything possible to unmask the killers of these promising youths. Perhaps, encouraging the female students to confide in any of the security agencies in identifying the killers may be of assistance. Again, it is also a wake-up call on the government and school authorities to provide enough hostels within the schools for the students, to discourage this private lodge springing up at every community hosting higher institutions of learning in Nigeria.

    It is also important that the Federal Government, states and local governments begin to take security in the country very serious; no doubt there are proliferation of arms and ammunitions in the hands of questionable characters. Those who are alleged to have committed heinous crimes must be arrested and dealt with to serve as deterrent to willing criminals. Allowing people with proving record of having committed heinous crimes free from punishment encourages others.

    Finally, we deeply feel for the families who lost their loved ones in this dastardly act. Once again, we call on Nigerians with useful information to give, to support the security agents in their investigations towards the arrest of these wicked killers for justice to take its cause.

    The barbarians must not go free!

     

    Uzodinma Nwaogbe

    Community Defence Law Foundation, CDLF, Abuja

  • On the race for Ibadan S/West Council chair

    On the race for Ibadan S/West Council chair

    SIR: The much awaited local government elections in Oyo State will soon be here. His Excellency, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi, and the erstwhile Governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina, are two political gladiators whose personalities will influence the choice of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidates in the 33 local governments in the state. While the incumbent governor will possibly exercise his power of incumbency, Alhaji Lam Adesina will exert his influence as a national leader of the party who is highly revered within and outside the state. However, the burning questions in the minds of party loyalists is: Will the choice of either of these two political gladiators reflect the wishes of the people at the local governments, or the choice of either of the two gladiators?

    There are three leading aspirants. They are Hon. Taoheed Bolaji Adeleke, Hon. Fatai Olanrewaju Abimbola, and Hon. Quadri Olayemi Ayuba.

    Hon. Adeleke is the chairman of Ibadan South-west Local Government caretaker committee. A graduate of Physical and Health Education, he has embarked on various poverty alleviation programmes. His long standing relationship with the Ajimobis appears to be his advantage. But his inter-personal relationship with the party leaders is not so rosy.

    Next is Hon. Abimbola. He is a Chartered Accountant and economic guru. Mogaji, as he is fondly called by admirers, is known to have listening ears. He is philanthropic, kind-hearted and articulate. He proffers solutions to the problems of his people, putting smiles unto their faces. Hon. Ayuba is also a Chartered Accountant of many years. He equally has arrays of other certificate in the world of accountancy. A fairly educated mind as one would call him, the aspirant has established a firm of consultancy outfit where he trains young accountants. He is involved in various humanitarian and philanthropic projects. He is intelligent and friendly. However, politically, he is considered to be a green horn who does not understand the dynamics of politics.

    What also worries the minds of party faithful is the speculation making the round that Ajimobi and Adesina would present one candidate each from the three major ones. This means we might have two candidates from one LGA. How will OSIEC resolve this? This obviously will not augur well for the party. An amicable solution is for the two political gladiators – Ajimobi and Adesina – to urgently resolve their differences. Both should allow objectivity, and the choice of the people to be their guiding principles in nominating candidates for each of the 33 LGs in the state. This will further strengthen the party in the entire South-west and project it as a party that is ready for the social, economic and political integration of the entire region as proposed by great leaders like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Babatunde Fashola and Kayode Fayemi.

     

    Akinade Alamu,

    Ibadan, Oyo State

  • Achebe’s tribal emotionalism

    Achebe’s tribal emotionalism

    Sir: The literary giant, Prof. Chinua Achebe, is at his best in “Things Fall Apart”; he is at his worse in his criticism of Pa Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory, over his role in the Nigerian Civil War. How can an intellectual in his right minds fault Pa Awo for saying that “all is fair in war, and starvation is one of the weapons of war. I don’t see why we should feed our enemies fat in order for them to fight harder.” How can a reasonable people allow their war counterparts access to food and weapons if they can block it? Achebe’s reference to genocide makes no difference in a war situation. That is why everything should be done to avert war in the first instance.

    Did Pa Awo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (an Igbo like Achebe), and many other well-meaning persons within and outside Nigeria not try to avert the war? Pa Awo warned that if the Igbo were allowed to break-away, the Yoruba would break-away, and Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu interpreted it to mean that Pa Awo was ready to lead the Yoruba in a secession war along with the Igbo. Hence there were many Igbo people who had it at the back of their minds that Pa Awo was not a man of his words! Yes, not all the Igbo people misunderstood Pa Awo, but the prejudice against him was massive. That is the residual that manifests in Achebe’s civil war memoir.

    Pa Awo’s sagacity must have contributed immensely to the defeat and surrender of the Biafran forces, but that meant termination of war and hostility, which ensued in gradual reunification. Pa Awo’s contribution to the latter endeavour was also immense. He and General Yakubu Gowon did nothing in the line of taking undue advantage of the defeated; everybody was happy the war ended as we prayed-for in Yorubaland. Note that the Yoruba people did not misappropriate the Igbo investments that were enormous in Yorubaland. Ojukwu himself has tremendous respect for Pa. Awo. When Baba died in 1987, he described him as “the best President that Nigeria never had.”

    Pa Chinua Achebe should also be reminded of the direction of the war. It left Benin City, and it was heading to Yoruba hinterland. Was it not around Ore a fierce battle was waged and the Biafran forces halted? And so, Achebe expected Pa Awo to be indifferent?

    Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D,

    University of Ilorin.

  • Obama/Romney: The sense and nonsense of polemics

    Obama/Romney: The sense and nonsense of polemics

    By popular acclamation, President Barack Obama of the United States lost the first round of the presidential debate to his Republican Party challenger, Mitt Romney. Two more rounds of the debate are outstanding before the November polls. In that first round, Obama was said to have debated like a bored university lecturer, while Romney went in like an aggressive bull ready to do battle. Both incumbent and challenger stretched their stories exceedingly tall and ladled out inaccuracies like confetti, but Romney disrespected facts and figures much more, in fact far worse than our own President Goodluck Jonathan did with the Transparency International (TI) figures. Democratic Party faithful expect Obama to be ruthless in the next two rounds of the debate, that is, assuming his genial nature will permit him to bite in the clinches.

    Romney’s performance has predictably revived his chances in the November poll, and he will seek to press home the advantage. If Obama is not to be buried alive, he must bring his talents as a law professor to bear, for now more than ever he needs them. But that precisely is where the problem lies. Polemics is by no means an easy art, as indeed many victims of unsparing polemical pugilism can testify. Victory in polemics does not always go to the most astute, most intelligent, most oratorical, for polemics consists of dangerous chemical and metaphysical elements with unpredictable properties. Even if it were listed on the periodic table, anyone who succumbs to polemical defeat would still be unable to fathom what hit him or what the properties of the elements are.

    The inimitable Mark Twain captures for posterity one such polemical disaster as contained in the story of Abelard and Heloise in Chapter XV of his book, Innocents Abroad. It is a love story between a cold-hearted and ungrateful priest, Abelard, and a trusting, warm and innocent nun, Heloise, whose passionate love was unrequited. In the end Abelard betrayed Heloise, and he in turn was vanquished by a skilful debater called St.Bernard at the debating ground – fittingly, said Mark Twain. Hear Twain: “Abelard, a man of splendid talents, and ranking as the first debater of his time, became timid, irresolute, and distrustful of his powers. He only needed a great misfortune to topple him from the high position he held in the world of intellectual excellence, and it came. Urged by kings and princes to meet the subtle St. Bernard in debate and crush him, he stood up in the presence of a royal and illustrious assemblage, and when his antagonist had finished he looked about him and stammered a commencement; but his courage failed him, the cunning of his tongue was gone: with his speech unspoken, he trembled and sat down, a disgraced and vanquished champion.”

    The effect polemical defeat has on the vanquished is akin to a crushing defeat suffered by a politician at the polls: both would rather die than live, for such defeats, having been publicly delivered, are impossible to live down. Obama probably did not experience a crushing blow to the medulla, but there is no doubt he knew he was thrashed, a fact that two-thirds of the 58 million people who watched the debate conceded. Too many people have had their reputations ruined on the debating ground. The sensible thing to do, therefore, is to avoid being pinned down to a formal debate. Nigerian politicians are adept at doing this. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo avoided the Yale-educated Chief Olu Falae of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the aborted 1999 presidential debate; Umaru Yar’Adua scorned Abubakar Atiku in 2007; and both Muhammadu Buhari and Dr Goodluck Jonathan simply ignored the Young Turks of the opposition in the 2011 debate.

    Romney may have outperformed Obama last week, but America would be the poorer with him as president, as indeed the country was under George W. Bush. And as many women whose chastity and reputations have been ruined by smooth-talking men can attest, the most oratorical is often the most avidly libertine. If Obama does not turn the table against Romney in the next rounds, he must pray that Americans become as sturdy as Nigerians who in the First and Second Republics relished the oratory of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe on the stump but still went ahead remorselessly to vote for their candidates and champions.

  • Nigeria and floods

    Nigeria and floods

    So, who do we blame, and really is it a blame game or the scary realisation that we are just a nation run on auto-pilot, one for which after 52 years, we are still plagued largely by the same problems?

    We are 52, part of the country is in water. We are deep in flood and equally flooded on all fronts by corruption, mismanagement, maladministration and poor governance.

    Two months ago when parts of the Shendam/Mikang axis and the southern part of Plateau were cut off from the north, it was just one of those rare occurrences. The city centre was next with scores of death; parts of Bauchi were not spared. But like all floods, all issues that have plagued us, with a wave of the hand, are confined to the bin of history.

    As said earlier, this is no blame game, NEMA has tried. In the face of tight budget, the agency resorted to big boats and canoes for the evacuation exercise, exhibiting ‘Nigerian promptness and expertise’ in the rescue efforts and relief distribution. But it smacks of selfishness that on the immediate, very little had been done as prevention, by a body responsible for combating these forces of nature.

    Lake Nyos is close to Nigeria, and sources say a 2005 UNDP report had predicted that the dam was at “a point of potential collapse”, in fact, within 10 years it may collapse. Yet, after seven years, nothing has been done.

    Based on the report, financial losses estimated in billions of naira, comprising crops, residential and commercial structures, utilities and infrastructure, including roads and bridges and other services will occur.

    Although Lake Nyos is yet to collapse, when it does, all these predictions and others not known will occur. We are not only just faced with a bad case of flood, but possible outbreak of epidemics, it is so strange that with the level of devastation, no national emergency was declared.

    Depending on whose figures, more than 30,000 people around the country are displaced, and stranded. Death toll now is over 500 people and it’s on the increase. No one really cares, and 52 years, no one cares.

    One cannot point to any very-quick-fix-it solution, drastic measure or long term plan. No one even understands how and why the dam was opened, causing the rise in water level in some states.

    I dare say government has failed.

     

    By Charles Dickson

  • Listen to the oracle called Kashim

    Listen to the oracle called Kashim

    There are some occasions in one’s life, one French philosopher once posited, “which neither time nor circumstances can change nor obliterate from one’s memory,” the administration of Borno State by Governor Kashim Shettima constitutes one of such occasions. Caught from the onset in the web of socio-economic hydra-headed problems compounded by serious security challenges, Kashim had to bolster through the debris of catastrophe. Poverty was staring its ugly face on the masses, unemployment surging, hunger looming and above all threat to lives and properties became manifest. If most governors who took the mantle of office on May 29, 2011 were jubilitating and dancing, Kashim couldn’t because his was a legacy of problems and blood stained banner. In short, he inherited a debit balance sheet interms of peace which is pivot and a hallmark of any meaningful development. Thus the assumption of Governor Kashim into office was indeed a watershed in the history of Borno as it was an era born into uncertainties to fend to certainties. The state was becoming a no go area due to Boko Haram onslaught and other security challenges resulting into deaths, arson and even assassination.. Borno was now begging for survival from downward precipice.

    However, not withstanding the enormity of challenges, Kashim chose to embark on this tortuous journey guided by the inspirational words of Edgar Guest who said “there are thousands to tell you it cannot be done; there are thousands to prophesy failure and there are thousands to point out to you one by one the dangers that lie ahead. Just take off your coat and go to it, just start to sing and you tackle the thing that cannot be done and you’ll do it.”

    Today, Kashim’s administration through various poverty alleviation programmes has put smile on the faces of many youths. While some of the dormant industries are getting lease of life employing new hands, issues of strikes by teachers of primary and tertiary institutions inherited have been resolved; students allowances increased, farming getting boost through provision of fertilizers and other equipment and victims of security onslaught gradually being rehabilitated and compensated. Inshort, in its relentless pursuit to good governance, Kashim’s administration has put in place interim and long term measures to address the socio-economic challenges facing the state. Some of the measures have yielded results, some are yielding and others expected.

    Inspite of the gains recorded so far, the security challenges are still very much around, though there have been some respite. Fully aware that peace is the cardinal point of all development, Kashim from the onset of his administration has been very outspoken and blunt in his address or meetings with the stakeholders in this regard. His persistent brutal frankness and disposition have endeared many to him and giving hope to the hopeless. Some are however not comfortable with this disposition of his while others are watching. For example, speaking at the Government House in Maiduguri recently when a delegation of the Military led by the Chief of Defense StaffAir Marshall Oluseyi Petirin called on him, Governor Kashim reiterated once more that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable. According to him it is not feasible to tell Christians in the north to leave just as it is not tenable to tell Muslims in the south to leave.

    In his major address titled “Islam and Peace in Borno” to the people of Borno on July 16th 2011, Kashim said, among others, “….. the current state of insecurity and deplorable state of affairs is not unconnected with the attempt to impose the opinion of a small group on a larger society, a situation which clearly abridges the freedom to freely hold and express one’s opinion which is fundamental and inalienable in any given society.”

    He went on “My fellow citizens, going by the present spate of things, how can a true Muslim explain let alone profoundly justify the current unfortunate cold blooded murders and bombings in the name of Islam? Islam means “peace and submission to the will of God” and should remain so, in both theory and practice. Islam never sanctioned the killings of non-Muslims and the destruction of their places of worship”.

    Governor Kashim then drew the attention of the people to history saying, “in the early phase of Islam, when Muslims were persecuted by the Makkan pagans, they sought refuge in the present day Ethiopia, under a Christian King Negus. The Muslims stayed in Ethiopia for 15years and all entreaties by the Makkan leaders for Negus to deport them were rebuffed.

    In the same address to the people, Kashim lamented, “ I am personally, deeply pained by the trend of events. I am a native of Maiduguri, born, bred and buttered right in the heart of Yerwa, from Nimeri Korongoso. Most of these insurgents are from the well known neighbourhood of Shehuri North, Shehuri South, Limanti, Lamisu, Gamboru, Fezzan and Hausari wards of the metropolis. I say unto you my brothers what Hamid Karzai, the Afghan President, said at the burial of his brother Wali Ahmed Karzai some few days back:

    “……. My message for them (Taliban) is that my countrymen, my brother, should stop killing their own people. It is easy to kill and everyone can do it, but the real man is the one who can save people’s lives.” At various fora, press interviews or meetings, Kashim has been consistent in calling stakeholders, especially, the governors and elite in the north to confront the security challenges in the north frontally before such confront them. To him, delay could be very dangerous. According to him, leadership failure is responsible for north’s poverty and its present predicament. In a press interview recently, Kashim made it clear that a problem in Borno, or any part of the federation if not properly handled, will certainly spread to other parts of the federation, adding, “right from the onset of this insurgency, I repeatedly said that if this is not contained, it has the capacity to snowball into bigger conflagration that might consume the whole north. Now I am afraid it is assuming a very wider dimension. But with the collective effort of all of us and with our prayers I believe we shall solve the problem. All those who are predicting doom for the country will not succeed.”

    Also speaking in Maiduguri during the presentation of “Excellence in Governance” award presented to him by the Nigerian Union of Journalists delegation led by its National President Alhaji Mohammed Garba, Kashim warned that those with vested interest in the perpetuation of the status quo and entrenched ills of the society will sooner than later discover their stand at best uncomfortable and at worst downright objectionable.

    In Kashim words, “Those of us who are privileged to be in higher positions may have saved as much as we can, build mansions in cities and sent our children to the most expensive schools in Abuja or outside the country, but I can assure you that the children of the poor who we have failed to provide employment for and give quality of life will one day turn against us.” Kashim pointed out that though he was not a prophet or apostle of doom but warned that if the extreme poverty presently plaguing the north is not fastly reversed, hell might be let loose. He predicted, “in the next five years the north may be in trouble because all our assets and infrastructure have collapsed”.

    It will, however be recalled that besides Kashim, some northern leaders including the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar, Alhaji Maitama Sule, the Dan Masanin Kano, General T.Y Danjuma (Rtd) have expressed utter displeasure at the deteriorating state of things in the north and called for urgent restoration. However, Kashim has been persistent and brutal in frankness in this regard. Let us listen to this blunt oracle from the Sahel so that we might not get to a point where the falcon will no longer hear the falconer.

    The present predicament of the north should inform its forward march. With collective will, dialogue, sincerity of purpose and prayers, the dark cloud will fizzle out and a shinning sun will emerge. This should be the ultimate. Let us remember the saying of Peter Marshall, “when we long for life without difficulties, remind us that Oaks grow strong in contrary winds as diamonds are made under pressure.” In the immortal words of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, “After rain comes sunshine; after darkness comes glorious dawn. There is no sorrow without its alloy of joy, there is no joy without admixture of sorrow. Behind the ugly terrible mask of misfortune lies the beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity. So tear the mask.”

  • Where were Aba lawyers during Osisikanku era ?

    Where were Aba lawyers during Osisikanku era ?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Bad governance is Nigeria’s problem

    The problem facing Nigeria as a nation and threatening its existence as one indivisible nation is nothing but greed and corruption. If I am saddled with the responsibility of drawing up an agenda for the country, I would list corruption as the only one.

    Asides from corruption, cultism is another big problem that has become worrisome to patriotic and well-meaning Nigerians owing to continued silence and pretence in the society.

    It is also high time all Nigerians both at home and abroad got hyped up to foresee the inherent dangers in allowing our society to continue to be a largely cult-driven one. There is no doubt that the forging of an egalitarian society will continue to be a day dream should concerted efforts not be made to say no to cultism in all ramifications in Nigeria. Now is the time for all Nigerians in positions of authority, especially the policy and decision makers, to come out openly to identify with the fight against cultism in the society by shunning membership of any secret cult.

    It is pertinent for all politicians irrespective of political affiliation to denounce their membership of any secret cult or association, as until this is done and addressed seriously, politics in our country will continue to be tagged, not only as a dirty game but a game where cultists are seen as movers and shakers in party politics.

    It is high time the issue of cultism was addressed as a bane to the emergence of an egalitarian society in Nigeria. There is no doubt the need for an attitudinal change, whereby religion in the country is being used as a smokescreen to promote corruption and cultism. The million dollar question is: For how long shall we continue to chase the shadow while leaving the substance of the problems facing us as a nation? Restructuring or balkanisation of Nigeria is not the problem but corruption and cultism. Time will tell.

     

    Odunayo Joseph

    Mopa

    Kogi State

     

  • Thoughts on Ethiopia’s Boeing 787-800

    Nigerians recently hailed the historic landing of Ethiopia’s Boeing 787-800 in Lagos. This shows the benefit of good leadership. The Ethiopian leaders want the best for their people, they are not selfish, and they are not the type of government which shares the common wealth of their people for their selfish interest.

    The late Prime Minister of the country, Mr Meles Zenawi, managed the wealth of the country well to the benefit of all citizens; the result is what is manifesting now.

    Going by the recent history of the country which was presumed to be the poorest in Africa; famine-infested, and now a land flowing with milk and honey through selfless service of good leaders.

    What can we say about Nigeria? Shameless giant of Africa. Our leaders, to borrow a biblical language are “prodigals”. All what our past leaders left behind has been destroyed by our present ones. Our common wealth is being mismanaged, with all the resources God in His infinite mercy bestowed on Nigeria as a country. We cannot make headway because of greed, corruption and selfish accumulation of unneeded properties.

    We find ourselves hiding our face in the comity of nations like someone with leprosy because of our many shortcomings.

    With all the wealth of Nigeria, we have no national carrier that we can call our own but Ethiopia which is not up to two states in Nigeria is performing a miracle of being the first country in Africa to purchase Boeing 787-800.

    Why are we blaming our sport men and women for claiming other countries as theirs when they can no longer bear the shame that is attached to the name of Nigeria? With all these problems, does any Nigerian have any sense of self esteem again?

     

    By Israel Oyegbile

    Sabo Tasha, Kaduna.