The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Back to the trenches

    Back to the trenches

    I apologise profusely and most sincerely to those who have turned to this column for the third part of our discussion on Land. I crave your indigence for a postponement in favour of a subject of deep personal interest, that is the situation in our universities. It is now fourteen years since the Federal government of Nigeria of her own free will and volition signed an agreement with ASUU, the representative body of Nigerian lecturers. Successive governments have through their refusal to move into the area of implementation have trashed an agreement which had the potential of elevating our universities to their rightful place. The time left for members of my generation to derive any benefits from this agreement is running out and if at this time, a government, any government does not do the needful, we would have waited in vain for what we have worked for. It would be an act of rascality were the government to continue to behave like a deranged bull in a china shop and continue to repudiate the extant agreement with ASUU.  This issue is particularly pressing because the 2009 agreement was to have been renegotiated in 2011 and several times since then. There is an issue of honesty and trust before us and these are currently weighier issues than my musing on land, something which all this rascality has driven beyond the reach of most Nigerian university lecturers.

    ASUU, as she has had to do at distressingly frequent intervals since 1992, has recently gone back to banging the drums of war. As is usual, nobody with even a modicum of government authority has so far, pretended to have had their ear drums disturbed by the thumping sounds of those drums. Going by established form, we are on the threshold of another ASUU strike which will bring all academic activities to a grinding halt in all our public universities. This will be accompanied by the usual rigmarole of apparent government indifference, followed by half hearted discussions, issuance of threats, appeals by all sorts of self-appointed interested parties to the striking lecturers to call off their strike ‘in the interest of their children and the future of the nation.’ Thoroughly and most effectively blackmailed, the lecturers will call off their strike before achieving anything remotely tangible and begin to agitate for the payment of their withheld salaries which they get after several months of sabre rattling by the government amidst threats by the lecturers to resume their strike which they insist they had only suspended. In the meantime, nothing tangible or sensible is achieved and the situation within our universities continues to deteriorate at an increasingly alarming rate . Given that this situation has existed for more than thirty years, one can only wonder if there is anything left to rescue from our university system which furthermore, has had to cope with an explosion of student number without a concurrent improvement in provided facilities, including competent lecturers. In addition to the mess on ground, the number of public universities increases almost by the day in the imitation of the witch  making a bad thing worse by producing an endless succession of daughters. The government which has not provided for the maintenance of existing universities thinks nothing of conjuring any number of new universities from thin air at the slightest hint of provocation or, of even none at all. The number of witches is enhanced alarmingly.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: Govt agencies for disconnection over electricity debt

    There is no need to gaze into a crystal ball to know that another ASUU strike is only round the corner. All the objective signs are there.  It is now only a matter of when the next strike will start.

    It is really frustrating that lecturers have presented the same catalogue of demands to successive governments since 1992 and that alone puts the problem in proper perspective. The stark reality is that our lecturers are disgracefully poorly paid. I know that very well since I was a professor within the system for all of thirty-one years, the last fifteen and more of which my take home pay stubbornly remained the same. It really does not matter how much I was paid but something is grievously wrong if my employer pays me the same amount in salary every month for more than fifteen years. Even within that system, I am entitled to an annual increase in salary as long as I remain in my post but I am denied that increase because there is a bar above which I am not able to rise unless there is a general review of salary. Surely, that cannot be right, if only because of pressure from the forces of inflation which dictates that if my salary increase is below the rate of inflation, what I have to deal with in real terms is a reduction in salary year after year. And that is what happened. How did I cope with that nonsense? The truth is, I did not and could not and I need to apologise to my nearest and dearest for exposing them to brutality of  penury in a country where money does all the talking for you. This is what happened to my colleagues except for those of them who found refuge in other establishments in and out of government control. It is not difficult to imagine that this route was open to only a few people in academia.

    The situation in which Academics have found themselves was, or beg your pardon, is truly appalling. This is especially so because when in my early twenties I hung the noose of academia around my neck, I was offered arguably the most attractive set of career prospects going. Not many of us were called and much fewer were chosen but the tacit understanding was that once you signed on those proverbial dotted lines, you were made for life. And, at least for me, there did not seem to be any obstacles on my career path, at least for the first fifteen years or so.

    One year after graduation my university admitted me to her excellent staff development scheme under which I was sent off for postgraduate training abroad. That went for a cohort of us who had graduated around 1972. Most, if not all of us promptly returned home after the completion of our studies, eager to take up the responsibility of contributing our quota to the development of our university. We were bursting with current ideas for university administration and development to complement what already existed in a university which was well placed to take the next step forward towards attaining world class status. The amount of money available to the university was adequate to take care of her needs to the extent that research grants were available to all members of staff who could generate viable research proposals. This was of critical importance because the rate at which you climbed up the ladder to attain the terminal post of professor depended on the quality and quantity of your research as seniority counts for nothing in the university. Some professors arrive at the top faster than those that taught them at the undergraduate level. In such a place, you are only in competition with yourself and the earlier you settled down to work, the better for your prospects of promotion and other forms of recognition.

    Lecturers are supposedly promoted on the bases of  their contribution to teaching, research and service, first to the university and then to the community. In reality however, research carried the greatest burden of the weight. A lecturer that carries a heavy load of teaching cannot be an effective teacher if he is not involved in meaningful research because his lectures will only be validated by his research activities. The more you carry out research, the more you will be able to teach on the current boundaries of your area .of academic interest. The first sign that things were falling apart in our universities was the drastic fall in the value of available research grants following the drastic devaluation of the Naira in those smoky Babangida days when university research took a back seat to every other activity on our various campuses destroying the orderliness of academic transactions.

    With the virtual disappearance of money for research came the problem of money to buy the materials necessary to teach the students. Laboratory materials could not be found for love or money and stationery became unavailable. True story, when my promotion to professor was finally communicated to me, I received an accompanying memo from the registrar asking me to send so many sheets of full scrap paper so that the registry could inform all relevant departments of the change in my status. I promptly wrote back, with a copy to the Vice Chancellor saying that I had no intention of complying with that request adding that I considered the request an egregious insult. The Vice Chancellor being a professor, graciously intervened decisively in the matter and resolved it in my favour.

    From not having paper for running the university, it was one short step to paying lecturers derisory salaries which left them gasping for more. That was in 1992 and today with crushing inflationary pressures, the situation is much worse. Lecturers at all levels have now been pushed to the wall and they have nowhere else to turn.

    In the early seventies, lecturers had the best of everything and there was no shortage of young men and women who were keen on becoming university lecturers. The best students were creamed off by academia, to the envy of their peers. True, some companies in the private sector offered more remuneration than the universities, the difference was not decisive and there were even some who abandoned jobs in oil companies for university employment. Today, there is nothing attractive about an academic career and it is not surprising that our best students, those who should be pushing the limits of academic boundaries are instead pushing files in some bank or oil company even to the detriment of their own interests as capable human beings.

    We have been having this corrosive conversation for far too long and the current government has no excuse if like its far from illustrious predecessors, it continues in the policy of ignoring the legitimate demands of a crucial sector of the nation’s productive sector. There are many things wrong with our university system and there is nothing left to talk about. Now is the time to move forward by implementing the terms of the 2009 ASUU – Government agreement as a basis for bringing our universities in from the cold. Anything less is betrayal of a sacred trust.

  • Here’s who Trump should blame: his lawyers

    Here’s who Trump should blame: his lawyers

    • By Shan Wu

    By the time the jury reached its verdict finding former President Donald J. Trump guilty on all 34 counts of the charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, there was little doubt there would be no acquittal forthcoming for the former president. Deliberating for less than two days, the jury’s speed in reaching a decision was noteworthy and likely due to the strength of the case.

    While it is not true that fast verdicts are always pro-defense or pro-prosecution, they do indicate that the evidence has been powerful for one side or the other, because it is not easy for twelve people to agree on the guilt of a defendant.

    There was little doubt that there would be an acquittal because acquittals happen when either the prosecution makes a misstep, such as having a problem with a witness, or chooses to bring a case where the direct evidence is weak and where the defense is able to present a coherent powerful counter-narrative. As the trial progressed it was obvious that neither of those scenarios were likely.

    Starting with the opening statement of Trump lead defense counsel, Todd Blanche, who managed to draw objections that were sustained by Judge Juan Merchan, the defense stumbled out of the gate and kept stumbling. It’s rare for there to be objections during an opening statement due in equal parts to professional courtesy and because it is actually hard to say something outside the bounds given that the opening is merely a promise of what the jury will see.

    Blanche managed to blunder into this unusual problem only because he apparently tried to raise points such as an advice-of-counsel defense which the judge had already rejected. The cross-examination by both defense counsel. Blanche and Susan Necheles, then only worsened matters as each in their own way managed to bolster the prosecution rather than weaken it.

    Necheles cross-examined actor/director Stormy Daniels in a bullying, shaming style that utterly undermined any advantage to having a female cross-examine another female to avoid the optics of a man being harsh towards a female witness. Such a strategy is often used in sex crimes cases, which this was not. But Necheles managed to give it the feel of one with Daniels being the brave victim in the face of a sexist, misogynistic attack that essentially tried to imply that Daniels’ work in the adult film industry made her morally unfit to be believed.

    The offensive nature of Necheles’ tactics was itself enough to turn the jury against Trump’s team, but Daniels made it even easier by shining during cross-examination, and repeatedly slam-dunking Necheles’ questions in the experienced lawyer’s face.

    Daniels was arguably a witness that had little material to say about the main elements of the charges—falsification of business records in order to interfere with an election—given that she had no knowledge of those facts. But, perhaps, at the insistence of Trump, Necheles turned what could have been a very minor part of the case into a bright display of Trump’s misogyny and arrogance.

    Blanche continued this pattern of failed cross-examination in his efforts at attacking the testimony of Michael Cohen—Trump’s former fixer-attorney—who was a central witness in the prosecution’s case. Cohen, who carried the baggage of having been convicted for lying to Congress about many of the very facts of this case as well as being convicted for tax fraud and campaign finance violations, was a good target for cross-examination.

    But instead of using these questions about his credibility to surgically raise doubt about particular aspects of his testimony, Blanche chose to apparently channel his inner Trump by literally yelling at Cohen that he was a “liar.” Such displays by a lawyer during cross-examination are seldom effective and proved particularly humiliating for Blanche given that he made Cohen—known to be volatile—look calm and reasonable in comparison to Blanche himself.

    Blanche’s closing continued his ranting about Cohen’s honesty, coming up with terms like Cohen being the “G.L.O.A.T”—greatest liar of all time. In short, Blanche relied on the idea that a person who has been dishonest in the past is always dishonest, instead of showing how and where he was being dishonest in this case.

    Read Also: National Assembly halts amendment of CBN Act

    In contrast, the prosecution presented an overwhelming case in methodical fashion. Their presentation of Cohen—with his potential vulnerabilities—was prefaced by a slew of corroborating testimony from witnesses and paper trails that followed the money. In so doing, they armored Cohen from Blanche’s attacks because the jury did not have to take Cohen’s word alone. They had receipts. Lots of them.

    Lead prosecutor Joshua Steinglass presented a masterly summation that lasted some four hours. Tirelessly and clearly weaving together the weeks of testimony for the jury, Steinglass even rhetorically asked the jury if they could hang in there with him as his closing argument went into the evening. That last touch helped him establish a rapport that Blanche failed so badly to do with the jury.

    Many critics of this case have disparaged it as being the “weakest” case against Trump; in my view much of that criticism is rooted in misogyny and privileged views of what kind of case is “worthy” of bringing against a rich, powerful man. The way justice should work is that prosecutions take place or don’t take place because of the facts surrounding the criminal acts, not the power or gender of the defendant.

    There will of course be appeals of Trump’s historic conviction and we do not yet know the outcomes of those. But what we do know is that the prosecution, trial, and conviction of Donald J. Trump was one example of justice being brought against the powerful. It is a scenario that is too infrequent in the world and in our country. But the fact that it did happen is a testament to the strength of American democracy and the integrity and skill of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

    •This article was first published in www.thedailybeast.com

  • Tinubu’s tightrope: The economy after one year

    Tinubu’s tightrope: The economy after one year

    Sir: Since taking office on May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu has faced numerous challenges in trying to stabilize the economy and set it on a path to sustainable growth. Yet, Nigerian economy continues to wobble with increasing hardship.

    One of the key areas of concern for the Tinubu administration is inflation and exchange rate stability. Inflation has been on the rise, eroding the purchasing power of Nigerians and making it difficult for businesses to plan and invest. The exchange rate has also been volatile, leading to uncertainty in the business environment. Addressing these issues will be crucial in restoring confidence in the economy. A change of policy or a change of guard could be considered.

    Another major challenge facing the economy is the high level of unemployment. Despite the government’s efforts to create jobs through various initiatives, the unemployment rate remains stubbornly high, particularly among young people. This has hindered economic growth, as a large segment of the population is unable to contribute positively to the economy.

    Read Also: Tinubu’s policies yielding positive results, say Akume, Ganduje

    Nigeria’s economy has also been hampered by a lack of infrastructure development. The country’s roads, ports, and power supply are in dire need of investment and improvement, which has slowed down economic activities and deterred foreign investors from setting up businesses in the country.

    Over the years, Nigeria’s economy has been heavily reliant on oil, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices and local factors.

    If the current administration will ever get the economy right, the Tinubu administration must, as a matter of urgency, do more towards implementing policies that promote economic diversification and industrialization. The heavy reliant on oil exports over the decades has increasingly made Nigeria’s economy very vulnerable, which has worsened with reports indicating that Nigeria’s oil has been sold in advance for unspecified period.

    Fiscal discipline and debt management are crucial for ensuring the sustainability of Nigeria’s economy. Implementing reforms to improve revenue generation, without over burdening poverty-stricken Nigerians, reduction of wasteful spending by government officials and appointees will be essential in achieving fiscal stability.

    Corruption remains a major impediment to Nigeria’s economic development. Strengthening institutions, enhancing transparency, and holding corrupt officials accountable will be crucial in restoring trust in the government and attracting investment. President Tinubu’s government should prioritize social welfare programme and poverty alleviation initiatives to improve the living standards of Nigerians.

    By focusing on the above key areas, his government can reposition the economy for sustainable growth and development.

    •Comrade James Ezema,jamesezema@gmail.com

  • Banex Plaza and burst of brazen illegalities

    Banex Plaza and burst of brazen illegalities

    Sir: Two soldiers beat up not exactly to a pulp but in the full glare of onlookers and bystanders, some terrified and others not quite, and then in the global glare of the social media.

    Too much humiliation in a day, and within months, and signs of considerable danger for a regimented institution known for its discipline and indelible institutional memory especially with the attack in Okuama, Delta State where about sixteen military personnel lost their lives in the most brutal manner.

    True to form, the Nigeria Army had shut down Banex plaza, a behemoth commercial hub that sits like a boulder in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory, where the assault occurred, reopening it after more than a week. If the army’s loss of face in the unfortunate situation is well imponderable, the losses of those who do business there have simply been incalculable.

    A pressing question Is why? Why should a relatively trivial commercial transaction descend into a fracas that has now generated more losses than imagined? Are Nigerians now shred of all dignity so as to  easily eschew the simplest dictates of civility?

    It should worry the few sensible Nigerians left that may of their fellow citizens have lost all regards for constituted authority.

    Read Also: UN, Nigeria unveil Northeast action plan against internal displacements

    It Is a good thing that the Nigerian Army has  recalled its men from the Plaza. They are not security men there and Nigeria is too  pressed for security personnel presently to have extra uniformed hands to push to gateposts as gatekeepers of a commercial plaza. Now that the resumption of commercial activities at the plaza has been allowed, it will surely not militate against the identification of the culprits who must be made to account for their crimes in laying leprous fingers on men whom the law considers defenders of Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty.

    What transpired at Banex was yet another episode in the open-air assault on the law which some Nigerians favour more than the strained dignity of judicial proceedings. This kind of assault often comes unannounced and is capable of springing up anywhere. It is a habit born presumably of the heady days of military regimes,  when the army gave an  especially short shrift to the law in Nigeria. It was ironic then to see men in uniform at the receiving end of this brand of cruel and crude justice.

    However, throwing in hands and stones or contributing fuel and match sticks to such gruesome expeditions is terrible advertisement for a country that aspires to become a model democracy.

    Nigerians must discipline themselves to refrain from taking the law into their hands. No one deserves to be punished except in accordance with law. Not the vagrant accused of stealing at the market or even  suspected one-chance robbers commonplace in Abuja nowadays.

    In a democracy such as Nigeria’s, acting in accordance with the law is a strength not a weakness. If Nigeria ever hopes to heal from the deep wounds of its military past, Nigerians must see obedience to laws and respect for constituted authorities as key.

    There is no love lost between Nigerians and the army as an institution. A historic animosity long preceded by the military coups which truncated Nigeria’s democracy in the 60s through the 80s. This animosity is rooted in the colonial era, when force was used to by the colonialists to achieve their aims. Though the Nigerian Army was not what it is now, residual hostility for those who bear arms in the name of the law became a part of many Nigerian lives.

    Many Nigerians blame the army for frustrating democracy in the country for so long and allowing corruption to fester. This memory carried over from the days when the institution was used to defeat the aims of democracy has done enough to shroud the heroic job Nigerian soldiers have done to keep the country from falling into the hands of terrorists.

    To strengthen the country’s security and fortify its democracy, Nigerians, and the personnel of the Nigeria Army must close ranks and work together instead of working at cross-purposes. This is necessary in the grander scheme of things, for any divisions would surely be pounced upon by Nigeria’s many enemies.

    •Ike Willie-Nwobu, Ikewilly9@gmail.com

  • Protecting children and youths from tobacco use

    Protecting children and youths from tobacco use

    Sir: In 1987 by member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated May 31 as World No Tobacco Day with the aim of drawing the global attention to the health hazards of tobacco products consumption on the human race while advocating effective policies and measures for minimising its use worldwide. The theme of this year is, “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference”.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco smoking kills more than eight million people each year across the world, including an estimated 1.3 million people who are exposed to second-hand smoke. Additionally, according to 2022 data, worldwide, at least 37 million young people aged 13–15 years use some form of tobacco.

    A cardinal question here is why the tobacco industries are targeting children and youth? The answer is obvious: to replace the millions of customers who lose their lives and those who quit tobacco consumption globally to keep their billions flowing. This is why they use social media and streaming platforms as a means to advertise their products.

    Medical scientists have been raising the alarm for decades that tobacco consumption breeds life-threatening diseases that include cancer, Type-2 diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke, asthma, reproductive health issues in women, aortic aneurysm, erectile dysfunction, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It has been revealed that one in every five deaths from heart disease is linked directly to tobacco consumption.

    Read Also: Emirship: Police assures adequate security in Kano

    The most painful thing today is how marketing campaigns of tobacco industries push children and youths into smoking and making them addicted through their captivating advertisements on television, print media, outdoor billboards), sport events, movies, public entertainment and others.

    The grave threat to tobacco control and the lives of children, youths and adolescents is the emergence of the Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette). This embellished tobacco products are being spread among young men and women in many countries around the world.

    Few days ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Stopping Tobacco Organisations launched, “Hooking the next generation”. In the report they highlighted how the tobacco and nicotine industries design products, implement marketing campaigns and work to shape policy environments to assist them to make children and youths addicted around the world. The WHO is calling on governments to safeguard children and youths from falling into tobacco and nicotine companies’ traps.

    Last week, the Director-General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “History is repeating, as the tobacco industry tries to sell the same nicotine to our children in different packaging. These industries are actively targeting schools, children and young people with new products that are essentially a candy-flavoured trap. How can they talk about harm reduction when they are marketing these dangerous, highly-addictive products to children?”

    Besides, the Director of Health Promotion of the WHO, Dr Ruediger Krech said, “These industries are intentionally designing products and utilizing marketing strategies that appeal directly to children. The use of child-friendly flavours like cotton candy and bubble gum, combined with sleek and colourful designs that resemble toys, is a blatant attempt to addict young people to these harmful products”.

    On the occasion of the 2023 World Tobacco No Day, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti said, “The emergence of new products, such as electronic nicotine and tobacco products are also proving attractive to youths, compounding the concerns”.

    The increase of tobacco consumption amongst children and youths requires passionate attention and immediate action from governments and relevant stakeholders worldwide so as to save the future of our younger and unborn generations from being infected by life-threatening diseases culminating in their sudden deaths. They should help work together to implement effective measures in order to protect the young people from the harmful effects of cigarette smoking and promote a healthier future for generations to come.

    •Mustapha Baba, Azare, Bauchi State.

  • Old anthem, new woes

    Old anthem, new woes

    On the same day, the two chambers of the National Assembly (NASS) last week moved towards substituting the national anthem, ‘Arise, O Compatriots,’ with the discarded old anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee.’ The House of Representatives, on Thursday, gave accelerated hearing to the proposed enabling bill and, within minutes, passed it for the first, second, and third readings; while the Senate passed the bill for the first and second readings before committing it to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative work.

    Reports last Tuesday said the Senate had passed the bill on the panel’s recommendation, with the panel having disagreed with Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi’s advice that the process be subjected to wider consultation.

    ‘Arise, O Compatriots’ was adopted in 1978 under the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo to replace ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ that was handed down by British colonial power at Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

    Leading the debate on “A Bill for an Act to provide for National Anthem of Nigeria and for Related Matters, 2024,” Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who is the sponsor, reportedly argued the merits and demerits of reverting to the old anthem, saying: “The new (i.e. discarded) anthem – ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ – will inspire in us the zeal to build a fully integrated and indivisible nation, whereby all citizens will live in unity and harmony.” Other senators spoke in support of the bill, arguing that the lyrics of the current anthem are vague and do not evoke the desired emotion or reflect Nigerians’ aspirations. According to them, the old anthem will promote unity and progress in the country.

    Read Also: Why we rejected FG’s fresh ₦60,000 minimum wage offer, by TUC president

    In the green chamber, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere led the debate, arguing on the need for Nigerians to see the anthem as a national symbol and a sign of authority that does not deny their realities. Although Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda argued otherwise, saying the old anthem had a colonial background, which necessitated the adoption of a new anthem in the first place, the representatives gavae the bill accelerated consideration and passed it.

    The lawmakers apparently envisage the lyrics of the old anthem assuaging harsh realities of the Nigerian nationhood the way the current anthem has not been able to. But it is doubtful they themselves are not disjointed from reality. A nation’s anthem is ideally a product of the citizenry’s collective mood and vision – not the producer of that mood and vision as the lawmakers seem to assume. It is Nigeria’s realities that will inspire an appropriate item, otherwise any imposed anthem will be an echo of idle fantasy that the anthems have been till date. To be blunt, the preoccupation in NASS is a voyage in nostalgic inanity.

  • On illicit drugs destroyed by NDLEA

    On illicit drugs destroyed by NDLEA

    • By Tosin Damola

    Sir: On April 16, NDLEA, in its routine drug supply reduction effort, destroyed a large volume of illicit drugs at its Lagos area office in Ibereko, along the Badagry Expressway. The 304,436 kg and 40, 042 litres of illicit drugs, comprising cocaine, heroin, cannabis and tramadol, were seized in 2022.This simply means that the two states of Lagos and Ogun generated that quantity of drugs.

    That ought to be a wake-up call to the public and the government on the need to act fast, decisively and effectively to curb the menace of drug trafficking in the country.

    For discerning minds, the development called for sober reflection. This is even more worrisome because the quantity of drugs seized in Nigeria by NDLEA in the past three years far outweighs the known seizures in other African countries. Globally, there are rising concerns over the surge in the quantities of illicit drugs seized.

    That is why there are even more concerted and coordinated efforts among anti-narcotics bodies across the world. In the case of NDLEA, the agency, in the past three years, seems to have found its mojo, and has been up and doing, as evidenced by its successful interdictions.

    Read Also: EFCC secures 3,175 convictions, recovers N156b in one year

    However, the growing volume of seizures by NDLEA triggers concern about public safety and potential effects of illicit drugs on communities, such as addiction rates, increased violence and criminalities.

    The chairman and chief executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) while speaking during the burning of the illicit drugs in Badagry, also expressed concern that the quantity of the drug haul speaks volumes about the extent of the nefarious activities of the drug underworld.

    It is commendable that NDLEA is living up to its mandate by destroying all drug exhibits after successful prosecution. This action will prevent the recycling of illicit substances back into the street.

    Those who understand the dynamics of the illicit drug problem will know that the volume of drugs seized by NDLEA calls for a societal action to combat trafficking in illicit substances. NDLEA needs to do more; it needs to be more proactive.

    The federal government needs to support the agency with more funding to squarely tackle this drug problem. The general public needs to collaborate with NDLEA. And of course, the court of law needs to get tough with drug trafficking cases.

    The country and its people will benefit immensely if all concerned continue to do their best towards tackling trafficking in illicit substances.

    •Tosin Damola,

    Lokoja, Kogi State.

  • Missing link in our 25 years of democracy

    Missing link in our 25 years of democracy

    • By Nurudeen Dauda

    Sir: May 29 year is now our “handover” day or “swearing” in day as against being our Democracy Day. From 2000 to 2018, May 29, was marked as Democracy Day. Now, June 12 of every year is Democracy Day.

    It is sad to note that, 25 years of our journey into democracy, our political parties have neither Ideology nor clear cut differences. Our political parties are more or less platforms for capturing political power. Their funding mechanisms are still largely from the state resources instead of individual membership contributions and other activities as done in other climes. Our political parties do not have a clear cut dichotomy in terms of socio-economic outlooks or programmes.

    The absence of political party formations based on Ideology is a major setback in our democracy. In advance democracies, political parties are ideologically based. People with similar ideology often team up to form a political party in order to promote their politico-economic ideology. They often seek for like minds as their members and or supporters. Members of a political party are supposed to be people who share similar political and or economic ideology.

    In simple term, a political ideology could be defined as a set of doctrines or beliefs that are shared by members of a social group which forms the basis for political or economic views. More so, a political ideology is a coherent set of views on politics and what should be the role of government in the state.

    Right wing political parties favour liberal socio-economic policies with capitalist economic model. On the other hand, the left wing parties favour centrally planned socio-economic policies with socialist economic model. You can never divorce or detach politics from the economy. You have to stabilize the economy for you to stabilize the polity.

    Read Also: Fed Govt, Labour to resume minimum wage talks Friday

    Part of the reason for widespread defections from one political party to another among our politicians, especially, from the main opposition PDP to the ruling APC and vice versa is lack of political ideology. Politicians only seek for platforms to pursue their political ambitions. In Nigeria, one can safely say politicians only join parties in order to have political platforms for contesting elective offices not because they share similar political or economic Ideology. After all, the parties have no clear cut differences ideologically. As long as the situation remains, defections from one political party to another will remain a permanent feature in our political system.

    We need political parties formation based on certain politico-economic ideology. Having political parties and their support based on ideology will lead to having members with principles, discipline, commitment, hard- work, sacrifice, and focus where changing parties like changing clothes will be practically impossible or drastically reduce.

     For us to get it right, we should and or must discourage politicians from seeking for political power by all means and or through political parties defections. Our politicians should and or must build their parties’ support based on certain political ideology.

    For us to get it right, our parties must be ideologically based and our political parties should and or must begin to galvanize their support based through the promotion of a particular politico-economic ideology not regional or ethnic consideration. Our electorate should and or must be educated towards supporting political leaders based on their ideologies not regional or ethnic consideration.

    •Nurudeen Dauda,

    Kaduna.

  • Nigeria’s economic struggles and international trap

    Nigeria’s economic struggles and international trap

    • By Matthew Alugbin

    Sir: Most third-world countries have, with open eyes, walked into the trap set by international bodies, and it seems it is now obvious that it is Nigeria’s turn. Since the days of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP) in Nigeria, the hope of economic freedom has been at the mercy of international bodies. And only a wise and courageous leader will see the affliction of his people and lead them out of this economic slavery, departing from the oppressive tendencies of the past and guiding them towards true economic independence. Failure to identify and address key developmental problems is a major challenge for most of these countries. This is not just about Nigeria, but Africa at large.

    Africa bears the weight of a disproportionate share of global poverty, with 30 of the world’s 40 poorest countries residing on its soil. This reality reduces most African nations to mere recipients of international aid, perpetually reliant on external assistance to address their development challenges. Nigeria, the supposed giant of Africa, is not immune to this phenomenon, despite its vast natural resources and economic potential.

    Nigeria’s alarming debt profile, which is rising every quarter based on the data by the Debt Management Office, threatens to suffocate the nation’s economy. A significant portion of the country’s revenue is being drained away by debt servicing, and this leaves precious little or nothing for vital public services and development projects. This debt trap is a clever tool wielded by creditors to drain the continent’s resources. As the debt situation tightens, Nigeria will be forced to surrender to the dictates of its creditors and cede control over its economic destiny. The nation’s future is being mortgaged to service debts rather than investing in its people and their prosperity. Such a trajectory must be stopped to prevent Nigeria from becoming a state permanently at the mercy of international donors. Despite the alarming debt profile and economic challenges, Nigeria continues to embark on a borrowing spree. It has become an integral part of the country’s political economy, with foreign aid becoming an indispensable crutch.

    Read Also: EFCC secures 3,175 convictions, recovers N156b in one year

    Nigeria, despite being one of the world’s largest oil producers, has struggled with domestic fuel scarcity and high pump prices. The IMF has repeatedly pushed for the removal of fuel subsidies, arguing that they are a drain on public resources and encourage inefficiency. However, the removal of these subsidies often leads to a sharp increase in fuel prices, which has a cascading effect on the economy. Higher fuel prices translate into increased transportation costs, which in turn drive up the prices of goods and services, exacerbating inflation.

    When President Bola Tinubu promised to widen the tax net and reduce the purchasing power of the people, he was essentially echoing the sentiments of Western economic ideologies. This approach aligns with the neoliberal agenda, which prioritizes market fundamentalism and fiscal austerity over social welfare and economic equality. Austerity measures, such as removing subsidies and increasing taxes, affect the poor and middle class the most. As it even stands in Nigeria, it is doubtful if the ‘middle class’ still exists.

    The IMF advocates for widening the tax base and increasing tax revenues as a means of improving public finances. While this seems to be a valid strategy in developed economies with substantial formal sectors, it is a big challenge in Nigeria, where the informal sector dominates. Efforts to increase taxation often lead to higher taxes on small businesses and individuals, who are already struggling to make ends meet. This can stifle entrepreneurial activity and discourage investments, further hindering economic growth.

    Nigeria must break free from these neo-liberal policies. The country must redirect its steps in making economic policies that will transform to better living for the people. This should from redirecting the economic orientation that is obviously failing. Let Nigerians breathe!

    •Matthew Alugbin,

    Edo State University, Uzairue.

  • Five years of accountability, purposeful leadership in Ogun

    Five years of accountability, purposeful leadership in Ogun

    “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” —John Quincy Adams

    Today, for millions of ordinary Nigerians whose experiences about political leadership in the country over the years had been traumatizing due to dashed expectations, opening any discourse about the polity either through debates or this type of editorial piece is distractive, wasteful and has nothing to offer them in terms of socio-economic benefits.

    To many observers of the increasingly uninspiring turf of the polity, this apathy or total lack of interest of the masses in such issues is not misplaced in view of the current economic situation, which has accentuated the high level of poverty among the people.

    But then, as terribly cloudy as the political firmament and its associated seeming hopelessness appears to be, there are still some few leaders who, by virtue of their innate virtues and futuristic approach in leadership, are championing the cause of a silver lining in the firmament. By their policies and actions, they are still demonstrating to the governed, especially the youths, that there is hope for their future in Nigeria, a land adequately blessed for regeneration and prosperity for the inhabitants.

    Read Also: Nigerian youths empowered with free tech boot camps to combat cybercrime

    Among this genre of the few people-oriented, value-driven, and grassroots-focused political leaders beaming the torchlight of hope is the Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    A cursory appraisal of the governor’s developmental initiatives anchored on his “ISEYA” mantra over the past five years clearly showed that he is redefining governance through inclusive strategy by taking real dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of ordinary people across the three senatorial zones of the state, in line with his avowed promise not to leave any part of the state untouched and undeveloped.

    On assumption of office for his first tenure in 2019, Governor Abiodun unveiled a five-point agenda with specific thrusts in Infrastructure, Social Welfare and well-being, Education, Youth Empowerment and Agriculture (ISEYA) as the developmental focus of his administration. Even though the political environment in the first few months of his coming to power was not really supportive as his opponents embarked on frivolous campaigns of calumny and invidious blackmails on his election due to undue envy and frustration. In spite of these distractions ,the governor remained focused, unperturbed and has since silenced his detractors with evidence-based sterling performances through innovative and transformational policies and programmes.

    Propelled by the zeal of an irrepressible crusader for positive change, Abiodun has today manifested the Midas touch to all sectors of the state’s political economy, thereby demonstrating to the citizens his determination to change their past narrative of abject poverty to a new song of progressive prosperity.

    On his promise for improved infrastructure, which is the first in the “ISEYA” mantra to ensure broad-based development in the state, the governor has completed over 500 kilometres of roads across the state and is currently constructing several others for the purposes of linking the cities and rural communities for a holistic socio-economic integration of the Gateway State for sustainable growth.

    Some of the roads already completed, which cut across the state, include Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway; Obantoko Road (Fajol-American Junction-Unity Estate-Gbonagun); Idi-Aba-Elite-Oke Lantoro; Ikoritameje-Adenrele (Olose Titun Vespa); Panseke-Adigbe; City Gate Monument Development Flyover Bridge, Kuto; Arepo road, Somorin-Kemta-Idi Aba; Olusegun Osoba-Toyin Agbado, Yakoyo Bridge to Mr. Biggs section along Akute; Owode-Siun.

    There are also the Oru-Awa-Ilaporu-Ibadan expressway; Molipa-Asafa Isale-Ayegu-Ojofa; Asafa Oke-Fusigboye-Ojofa Street; Oba Erinwole road, Sagamu; Awujale road, Ejinrin-Idowa-Awa-Ibefun-Itoikin; Ijebu Ode-Epe-Sagamu-Benin Interchange Flyover Bridge; Esure-Ijebu Mushin road; Ogbagba Street, Ijebu Ode; Molusi College road, Ijebu Igbo; Ilishan Market road; Iperu Roundabout-Ode; Sagamu Junction-Iperu Roundabout.

    Also, Ibooro-Imasayi-Igan Okoto-Ayetoro road (Phase 1) in Yewa North Local Government Area was reconstructed after several years of neglect. Others, such as Ikola-Navy-Osi Ikola; Raypower; Joju, Sango; Ilashe-Koko-Alari; Oke Ola, Imeko; Tollgate-Singer GRA, Ota; Ilaro-Iwoye (Phase 1); Iwoye-Owode Yewa Secondary School road, (Phase2); Owode Yewa Secondary School-Owode Yewa Junction road (Phase 3) have also been rehabilitated.

    The governor has also directed the immediate reconstruction of the 21-km Ita-Oshin-Ayetoro road. Some of the other ongoing projects by the government include Lafenwa Rounder-Ayetoro road; Adatan-Gbonagun; Akute-Denro-Ishasi; Sango-Ota-Ijoko-Agbado-Oke Aro-Lambe-Akute-Alagbole-Ojodu Abiodun; Adesanolu, Mowe; Mowe-Ofada; Obafemi Awolowo Way-Mada-Takete; Ejinrin-Oluwalogbon-Ijebu Ode; Orile Oko; Hospital Road, Ogijo; Ado Odo- Idogo (Phase 2); Atan-Lusada-Agbara-Marogbo-Tollgate road; Oke Erinja-Erinja Ilobi (Phase 1)

    The governor requested each local government in the state to name three most critical roads requiring upgrades and immediately commenced work on the road networks, which have since been completed.

    The Dapo Abiodun-led administration is also doing so much to develop the agricultural sector through sundry farming, food processing, and marketing initiatives in the past few years.

    With the implementation of the Ogun State Agricultural Policy and Ogun State Livestock Development Policy, the Abiodun-led administration has created thousands of jobs in the sector. Similarly, the N50 million Ijebu Development Initiative for Poverty Reduction (Eriwe) introduced to develop the fish subsector in the state and the empowerment of over 40,000 agripreneurs in cassava cultivation, or the distribution of motorcycles to extension agents to reach farmers in remote areas have remarkably transformed agriculture and agribusiness endeavours of farmers and agripreneurs across the state. The governor recently unveiled plans for a 20,000-hectare rice farmland in the Yewa axis to be operated by private agribusiness investors.

    Also, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) Anchor Borrowers Programme, the trail-blazing Prince has encouraged the youth in agriculture with the creation of the Ogun State Investment Promotion Agency (OGUNIPA) and the establishment of the Ogun State Business Executive Council (OGUNBEC) to make the state the preferred choice for agribusiness investors.

    The multibillion naira Gateway International Airport, an agro-cargo facility, which many investors are already expressing their interest in view of its invaluable socio-economic benefits, including bright prospects for return on investments, is another giant strides recorded by the Governor Abiodun-led administration in the agricultural sector. The project is designed to create about 50,000 direct and indirect jobs when it becomes operational. Apparently encouraged by the remarkable strides the governor is making to transform the Gateway State to agro export hub in the country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently approved the Special Agro-Cargo Processing Zone, created to serve the airport as a Free Trade Zone (FTZ), located very close to airport.

    Beaming the performance assessment torchlight to other sectors reflected that Governor Abiodun had surpassed analysts’ expectations. For instance, in the education sector, the administration has abolished all levies in primary schools and also adopted a school per ward for development as a model school in furtherance of its agenda towards ‘zero illiteracy level’ in the state. To enhance teaching and improve teacher/student ratio, the government launched the Ogun State Teaching Experience Acquisition Channel (Ogun TREACH) with the employment of 5000 interns, with 1000 interns transitioned to permanent teachers under the scheme. To encourage the sector’s workforce, the administration has promoted teachers and non-teachers as a way of encouraging them for more work. Extensive construction and rehabilitation of secondary and tertiary institutions have been carried out with the provision of technologies to upgrade their standards and position the students for global competition. 

    Still under the education sector, the Dapo Abiodun-led administration recently disbursed over N3.5 billion through the EDUCASH initiative to lessen the impact of the current economic crunch on students and their parents, with 150, 000 students and pupils from tertiary institutions and secondary and primary schools benefitting.

    In the health sector, the governor is championing the ‘health for all’ drive at primary and secondary levels with all resources at the government’s disposal since his assumption of office in 2019. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration was the first that inaugurated State Emergency Medical Treatment Committee to enhance the Ambulance and Emergency Service delivery for which the Federal Government commended the state’s exemplary approach in combating the pandemic then.

    Specifically, in area of primary healthcare, the Abiodun-led administration has consistently conducted training for health workers on comprehensive screening for new born babies to tackle sickle cell disease, and for the first time in 45 years, secured the full accreditation and upgrade of the Ogun State Schools of Nursing and Midwifery to collegiate status and inaugurated Sexual Therapy and Assaults Referral Centre in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), the Family Planning Centre at the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, and distributed over 25 tricycle ambulances to rural areas, among other commendable initiatives. More than 2000 people have benefitted from the Ogun Free Surgical Intervention Programme since it was launched in March.

    A cursory appraisal of the administration’s efforts to provide affordable housing in the state shows clearly that Governor Abiodun is a transformative leader. A few weeks ago, the administration apart from its modest achievements in the sector during the first tenure of the governor, flagged off the construction of 200 housing units with the site for the project being cleared in Iperu, Ikenne Local Government. By its design, the project will provide housing for residents in the emerging Remo Zone Economic Hub, with the expected influx of workers to the area and complement the state government’s investment in the Gateway Agro-Cargo Airport.

    This is even as the governor recently visited the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate, a flagship housing project (named after former President Mohammadu Buhari)in the state, promising that between 200 to 250 units of housing units, with the complementary landscape and all other pieces of furniture that are required to make the place an ideal place to live in, will soon be completed. Over 1000 housing units have been delivered, while an additional 1000 units are under construction across the state. The administration is promising to deliver 10,000 housing units by 2027.

    Another commendable trail-blazing initiative of the Abiodun-led administration in Ogun State is in the transportation sector. Just a few months ago, the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ashok Layland, an Indian auto company, for the supply of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mass transit buses for transportation system in the state, thus becoming the first state in Nigeria to run CNG powered buses.

    The MoU is in line with the “ISEYA” agenda of the administration aimed at operationlization of the approved multi-modal transport master plan for the state connecting air, road, sea, and rail systems.

    In addition to the deal’s potential to reduce transportation fares for commuters, the project will also support the government in creating a more environmental-friendly transportation system with the attendant implications for improved health for lives and fauna in the state.

    Governor Abiodun has also demonstrated clearly that he is a man of rich cultural heritage in his leadership style in the Gateway State. Despite his drive to leverage the socioeconomic competitiveness of Ogun State on technology and innovation, he can be regarded as the most culture-oriented governor in Nigeria, given his very strong relationship with the royal fathers. He is, as the Yoruba will say, ‘Omoluabi’ indeed!

    No wonder this indefatigable governor who, based on his unassailable and outstanding performances in office, is being commended by those who value purposeful leadership in governance. The governor has so far been honoured by local and international organizations with many awards of commendation in most areas of governance, with more of such awards waiting in the wings.

    Governor Abiodun, as the foremost torch bearer in transformational governance in the country, has, no doubt, moved beyond the ‘Renewed Hope’ line to the ‘Restored Hope’ altitude in his irrepressible desire to surpass the expectations of the Ogun State indigenes and residents in terms of democratic dividends for all.

    •Adeniran is chief Press secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun.