The Nation Newspaper

Category: Comments

  • Develop a healthy Self-concept

    Mike you must be crazy…you are very useless…you left your duty post since 10am to play Bet9ja, this is 3pm..eheen…you squandered all your money and had the guts to also use my money to play, now you are begging me to take it easy and not report you to oga. You are very useless…let’s go to the office..Oga is waiting for you oo’’. This was an outburst of anger from a security guard to his colleague, while I was waiting to withdraw from the ATM early this week. I listened with rapt attention to his ranting, frankly, I was bewildered by the actions of Mike. How on earth could one explain his behavior?…left his duty post at 10am to play Bet9ja till 3pm…squandered his money and also the money his colleague gave him to buy food for him…and also wasted five working hours! Could it be an addiction or simply lack of common sense or sheer laziness? Truth be told a lazy fellow is a pain to his employers. Honestly, we need to constantly re-engineer the mindsets of our youths. There is no shortcut to real success! I love the recent post on Instagram by the famous actress Joke Silva, her words are profound and timely “ ..let’s get our attitudes and choices right this year. If not you, then who? If not now, then when? Don’t just dream about success, work for it!”.  Hard work or smart work…the point is you need to work. Yes we are dealing with rising youth unemployment in Nigeria. However if the desirable is not yet available please make the available desirable..learn a trade but never stoop so low to the point of gambling away your precious time and life. No doubt, Wealth from gambling quickly disappears; but wealth from hard work grows into a tree that bears fruits for sustaining the present and future. A wise youth makes hay while sun shines, but what a shame to see a lad who bets away his hour of opportunity.

    Another likely explanation for Mike’s behavior is addiction. An addiction is a prison. Whether you are addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, food, negative thoughts or anything else you are a prisoner who needs to be set free. In fact your addiction is a symptom of a deeper mental condition that a healthy self-concept can heal. In other words how you see yourself matters a lot. Research reveals that a strong self-concept provides the inner security needed to withstand calamity, even rejection, and to overcome the fear of failure. In fact, a healthy self-concept helps you relax and improve at whatever you do. People with a healthy self-concept, generally have these outstanding characteristics- they are morally and ethically sensitive, and generous in giving, they are highly productive in their jobs and far from the abuse of chemicals and alcohol, they view success not in a materialistic way, but in terms of relationships, they are more actively involved in solving societal problems, they have stronger families and marriages, are more successful in interpersonal relationships…they handle stress more successfully and live healthier lives.

    It may interest you to know that success and a healthy self-concept are somewhat symbiotic: they feed each other. Not only does a healthy self concept contribute to success, but success enhances one’s self-concept. And nearly everyone wants to be successful. President Calvin Coolidge(30th United States President) once entertained some friends from Vermont in the White House. His friends were concerned that they display proper table manners to win the President’s respect, so they observed Coolidge very carefully and followed his example in detail. The meal passed smoothly. Then coffee was served. Coolidge poured his into his saucer. The guests did likewise. Then Coolidge added sugar and cream. The visitors did the same. Coolidge then leaned over and gave his coffee to the cat. I find this story humorous and insightful. It would seem advantageous not to be ruled by our desire for approval, but to be secure enough not to depend solely on the response of others for self-esteem. It is dangerous and unprofitable to solely depend on people or things to validate you, why? People, success, wealth, circumstances are fickle. I would challenge you to focus on developing a healthy/healthier self-concept.

    Human beings are composed of three dimensions: a physical dimension(the body); a psychological dimension(the mind: intellect, emotion, will); and a spiritual dimension(the spirit). More and more psychologists and psychiatrists are seeing the need to focus on all areas- the total person- to develop a positive self-concept. While I strongly believe in the importance of physical and psychological health, I opine that spiritual development is a vital key to the development of a healthy self-concept. I have found God not religion! I have joy and great peace through my daily walk with God. My faith has positively affected my life, relationships and career. I learned from my experiences that God could be the key to establishing a healthy self-concept, he could remove the barriers to a healthy self esteem; guilt, fear, problems in interpersonal relationships and lack of meaning. This year seek God, seek grace!

  • NIMASA NSDP: Harnessing today’s youth for future growth

    There is a thing with nurturing young people by lending a helping hand. It is the basis on which great societies are built. It is trite to say the youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow. However, it is pertinent to establish the quality of training young Nigerians are getting. Should they get a good training, they will be able to provide qualitative leadership. Should they get less-than good training, their stint at leadership would definitely be nightmarish. Of course, the nation desires the former.

    And while one person or organisation cannot make all the difference, one person or one organisation can still make a difference. Concerning ensuring there is no dearth in qualitative leadership and necessary manpower to drive Nigeria’s marine sector, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under the tenure of Dakuku Peterside has continued a sterling example.

    I’m talking about the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) which was initiated by NIMASA to train young Nigerians to be productive and relevant in Nigeria’s maritime sector. Given our importance on the continent, the conception and sustenance of such a programme is vital to continued growth. On this, NIMASA hit the bull’s eye.

    And recently, 59 beneficiaries of the scheme graduated from the Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom. It is particularly exciting that four of the graduates finished with a first class while 36 of them had a Second Class (Division 1) and others graduated with other grades. With this recent graduation, the total number of graduates of the scheme since its inception from the various institutions in United Kingdom, Egypt, Romania and Philippines has reached 1, 343.

    This transfer of knowledge is particularly commendable given that manpower can be locally sourced. Hence, it comes as little surprise that Dr. Peterside was full of pride and he expressed his delight at the students’ performance. According to him, they represent the future of Nigerian maritime. He also assured them of plans being in top gear to ensure they do their mandatory sea training to become qualified seafarers.

    And the DG who was represented by the Agency’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Ahmed Gambo enjoined the students to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and told them that very soon they will be expected back home to take over the Nigerian maritime space. It must have been a thing of pride watching the young graduates ready to take over affairs of the country’s maritime sector.

    “Let me congratulate you on this great feat of your graduation from this prestigious University,” Dr. Peterside said during the ceremony.

    “On our part as a government, we are committed to capacity building initiatives as it remains the only means the maritime industry can survive and compete favourably with its counterparts globally; we will ensure you all go through the mandatory sea time training, so that you can become better experts and professionals in the maritime sector both in Nigeria and internationally.”

    It must have been a thing of pride watching the two best graduating students – Augustine Ehiagwina and Ugedi Preye Jennifa – standing at the podium and beaming with pride. And Gambo and the Deputy Director, Maritime Labour Services (NIMASA) and Coordinator of the NSDP initiative of the Agency, Mr. Victor Egejuru, must have also felt the pride as they posed for pictures with the 59 graduates in UK.

    It was also noteworthy that two outstanding NSDP Cadets who had earlier graduated from the same University and thereafter obtained scholarships based on their performance from the university to pursue their Doctorate programme were also presented to the Nigerian delegation.

    The initiative by NIMASA is exemplary and must be commended. In many facets of Nigerian life, technical skills have become very scarce. The oil and gas sector since the discovery of oil in the country has suffered this fate whereby the majority of the crucial workforce needed in the industry has to be outsourced just because quality labour is not available locally. This disturbing trend has also entered the building and construction sector. Presently, artisans such as bricklayers, carpenters, tilers have had to be imported from neighbouring West African countries. For a country that prides itself as the ‘Giant of Africa’, this is surely a no-no. And it is for this reason that NIMASA’s NSDP initiative must be commended.

    In many developed parts of the world, training is given high priority because of its essence of gaining knowledge. They appreciate that without the right training, most outputs would only be mediocre at best. And such conditions do not support excellence or growth.

    By purposely drafting local talents into the scheme which NIMASA has entered into with various maritime institutions abroad, it is a win-win not only for the NIMASA but also for the entire country.

    While the country’s marine sector will gain by bridging the gap of the dearth of the seafaring profession in Nigeria, the citizens so trained would also get a sense of national pride as they would know the country has also invested in them. Such is the sort of pride that comes with national excellence. As the nation moves towards encompassing development, more of such initiatives like the NSDP must be embraced. For students who have enjoyed this training, they’ll remember not just NIMASA but Nigeria. They’ll also be more reflective in giving back to the country. It is these sorts of programs that breed patriotism.

     

    • Kudos NIMASA

  • The fox, tortoise and lion story: lesson for overtly ambitious politicians

    Ambition in any pursuit is a good attribute for anyone desirous of success in any endeavour – that is, if it is healthy and pursued within the modicum of decency.

    People like Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga and advertising czar, Biodun Sobanjo could not have attained their present heights in the business world if they did not possess the uncanny ability to succeed. Neither could Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have achieved his uncommon exploits in politics if he was not driven by vision, focus and ambition. No harm if people strive to emulate them.

    If however it transcends the bounds of normalcy and veers into inordinate and desperate levels, then the possessor of such negative trait had better watch it.

    Those possessed of inordinate ambition, helped to get into overdrive by greed, are to be found among those who practice the crude politics of do or die, who will maim or kill without blinking an eyelid or the women among them, who worship filthy lucre as god and regularly patronise the orthodox and unorthodox religious shrines to acquire the power of mesmerism with which they hypnotise their big-shot victims.

    I’m told of a particular woman for who an axe was used to have incisions all over her body and who, ever since, has been an habitue of one hospital or the other in search of cure for myriads of inexplicable ailments afflicting her. You now wonder if she’s, in good conscience, now enjoying the unearned wealth she has accumulated in the last couple of years.

    Sermoning to such men and women to strive as best and as decently as possible to earn just living without compromising their integrity, honour and humanity is like addressing the deaf; but lessons had been taught and are still being taught about the futility of their cut-corners and compromise-just-anything approach to political or business survival.

    Such people, driven by inordinate ambition, manufacture all manner of spurious reasons why the business or political or even religious bosses whose names they swore by when the goings were good, should now be jettisoned and maligned to utter destruction. If their causes were right and just, why don’t such people just move on and leave their erstwhile godfathers and mothers to their conscience and let the most Supreme of all judges, God, deliver appropriate judgements in such matters.

    History is replete with such people who messed themselves up irredeemably and ended their lives ignobly. If some of us write like this, it is because of experiences gathered over time, of people who tried to hurry the sunrise and fail to realise that with God, delay is no denial; and that patent wrong done to man, will be redressed even if not by man but by God, in his omnipotence.

    It is for this reason that the story of the fox, the tortoise and the lion needs be retold for those who have ears to hear; and for their unbridled and vaunting ambition to be moderated, for their own sake.

    The fox, according to the folklore, was set on a journey to the town on the other side of the divide but he had a problem to surmount. A lion was keeping ‘sentry guard’ at a border post where the fox was to pass, and he dared not attempt crossing, lest he becomes mincemeat for the king of the jungle.

    Just as he was moaning about his situation, the tortoise showed up and offered to help the fox get to the other side of the divide, without any harm to the fox. A sac was provided for the fox to hide himself in, while the tortoise volunteered to ferry the fox on his head across. Perfect escape strategy it seemed until the fox-carrying tortoise approached the gate where the lion was waiting to catch his prey.

    The lion roared and signalled that the tortoise should not attempt to move closer to him. Defiantly, the tortoise inched his way to the lion and the lion, warned the tortoise not to move nearer to where he was holding sway. To the approaching tortoise, he knew right away that he would need to be at his wit’s end to get his  friend through to the other side.

    The lion told the tortoise that he was putting himself in harm’s way if he dared come closer to him but the tortoise replied that he was himself in no danger but the load (fox) on his head.

    When the lion bared his fangs and launched at the tortoise, the latter fled, throwing the load on his head away; the lion eventually caught up with the tortoise but the hard shell made the tortoise impregnable for the lion and just as he backed off, in frustration, to return to his post, he noticed something wriggling in the sac and when he moved in to find what it was, he noticed a fox was in it; and instantly snubbed life out of the fox and preyed on it.

    Lesson: if one is counselled to have a rethink in the perilous path he has chosen to tread, it is for no other reason than to save that person from sure destruction.

  • Farmers/herdsmen clash: Lessons from Kano

    Last year I travelled to Kano. It was actually my second time and the circumstances were a bit different. In the first instance, I was passing through to another state in the north, and for anyone who has read T.S. Elliot’s Journey of the Magi, this journey was like a death: we had spent the whole of the day driving to Kano from Benin and only to arrive by dusk when the sights and sounds of this famous city were already being overtaken by the dark. My plan to get early to this famous city and perhaps to see something of the relics of this town: the dying cotton fields, the Kano city walls and all other monuments which I read about in school faded into the horizon. My friends had told me that Kano is to northerners what Lagos and Onitsha is to the Southwest and Southeast respectively.

    Apart from the fact that I was already in Abuja before I set forth, I was mindful that this journey could be another death for me if I did not set forth before dawn. And so that was what I did. As I rode on, I marvelled just as I did the first time I travelled up north, at the vast expanse of land Nigeria is blessed with, and which could translate to zillions and zillions of football fields. This time however, it was not the thought of football fields which took hold of me but the arable-ness of that vast landscape.

    The Kano city I saw is a clean city with a cosmopolitan muscle. And if I have any thoughts of going up north to live anytime soon, Kano it would be. But take it or leave it, the average northerner is a farmer, and a very good one at that. Very good evidence for this assertion is the disappeared cotton fields and the groundnut pyramids of the early 50s and late 60s.

    And at this point, I crave readers’ indulgence to relate my experience with my former principal in my place of primary assignment during my NYSC years. It was the beginning of the planting season and just about when anyone with any modicum of self-respect was already planting – tomatoes and beans, I was lazing around. As I took in this agrarian activity one morning, my principal sidled up to me to ask why I was not planting beans like everyone else. I told him that where I come from, yam, rather than beans was a man’s crop. I had cause to regret in three months when I found out that find my youth corps members who heeded that call to farm around the premises harvested about two to three bags of beans.

    I recall that as I got within the precincts of Kano, what was dry and very coarse landscape suddenly began to transform into fields and fields and fields of sorghum, maize, millet, rice and corn. The only other place where I’d seen anything of this nature was in 2008 in the North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. For the North Rhine-Westphalia, I know something of the processes which the Germans put in place to be able to cultivate their seeds all year round and then roll up the hay or alfalfa hay with maize, sorghum or millet to be used for feeding livestock – cows, sheep and what have you – all year round. I also know of a fact that that hay is a component of the mishmash of cow dung and genetically modified seeds fed into gigantic silos from where the gas residue sidles easily to most German homes.

    But where or what system sustains agricultural production in the north up till the harvest and harmattan season? As I looked around, the answer struck me in the face: forgive me but I cannot remember the actual name of the massive EU funded irrigation project which drives the agricultural economy of the north. But there is one as a matter of fact.  And this is actually the crux of this discussion. After 73 Benue citizens were mowed down about two weeks ago allegedly by Fulani herdsmen, I have tried to make any meaning for the reasons for the killings. It is said that Fulani herdsmen are unable to graze their cattle because of the dwindling mangroves vegetation in the north on which they graze their cattle.  Therefore, it is said that they have no choice but move to people’s farms and graze their cattle. But I find this theory to be specious and spurious and very difficult to accept and believe. Know why? If the cows in Europe are no different from the cows in Nigeria, I see no reason why they cannot be fed on hay like the cows in Europe. And as a matter of fact, fodder and roughage to feed cows is plenteous in the north from maize, millet, sorghum harvest residue to the extent that I believe that that chap asking us to import hay/grass to feed our cows is the most unserious Nigerian alive today.

    Two things stand out therefore: one, if the Kano government has over 17 dams in place with respect to its irrigation programme, I do not see why all the other governments in the north are not establishing dams and providing water and grazing fields for their cattle. If they are not doing so, it may therefore mean that certain aspects of the rumours making the rounds as to the true intent of the proposed grazing colonies may be true.

    Countries and peoples have fought wars over water holes and grazing fields. Yet, Nigeria does not need a war now or in the future and we do not need to be colonized a second time to know what to do. In a book I am reading now, The Anatomy of Resource Wars, Worldwatch Institute, 2002, the authors have said that many resource-rich countries like Australia and Botswana have not fallen prey to violence. Where conflict does break out, it is the result of a combination of factors – political, social, economic and military (note this last word), – that makes for weak, though typically repressive and undemocratic states and vulnerable economies. The cold-blooded murder of 73 persons in Benue State under the guise of grazing field or colonies therefore brings us to the question of climate change. It is real to the extent that we must now begin to realize that it is what is responsible for desert encroachment, desertification and droughts. If we have no plan in place to mitigate these climate change precursors, then we open ourselves up for unscrupulous individuals to cash in to prosecute a personal agenda and vendetta.

    • Etemiku is of Africa Network for Environment & Economic Justice, (ANEEJ), Benin City.

  • Omatseye and Biafra

    I’m certainly not a fan of Nnamdi Kanu or the method in which he had sometimes talked about securing his conviction. But introspection would help us understand that a line should be drawn between a man, his ideology and the method he seeks to achieve this ideology.

    History might not have spoken convivially of Nelson Mandela if he had instituted a guerrilla army and told the Black folks in Soweto to go about and hunt down white folks in a bid to secure the freedom of the black people in South Africa, which cause has been described as the Noblest of all. Another example is Ghandi whose peaceful political movement raved in India in the second quarter of the 20th century and eventually eased India into her independence. Conversely, the Niger Delta militants’ tactics in seeking for fair treatment in the Nigerian federal set-up is one which is condemnable by any civilized mind; however, their cause cannot be faulted if we choose to be true to ourselves.

    Yet, the agitation of the militants of the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria is no less noble than the agitations of Mandela or Ghandi; the difference only lies in the method employed in attainment of the cause. That difference notwithstanding, it would not accord with sound reasoning to dismiss the method employed in attaining such cause together with the ideology or cause.

    The ideology of and agitation for Biafra is one of the least problems of Nigeria, especially to a ‘’non-Igbo’’ since its attainment would hardly have any effect on them. In truth really, the Biafra ideology and agitation rather than a problem is a solution to the country’s problems because it asks fundamental questions of our foundation as a country and the workings of our federalism, which is probably the most topical issue in contemporary polity. If this ‘’Biafra issue’’ is legitimately addressed with a sincerity of purpose and not cowed into a coma or buried in a shallow grave with the force of firearms as was done between 1967-1970, we might just have solved a problem rather than created one.

    Closure, just like patriotism is not what a country foists on her citizens, but what by honest interaction/communication, altruistic and fair disposition towards the aggrieved/assaulted group, that group is made to see reasons to accept and abide by. The U.S.A, which is the paradigm of federalism the world over, at the end of their civil war did not pay lip service in their policy of assimilating the secessionist south but made honest efforts in that respect which ultimately led to a dissident-free U.S.A in which all the federating units, both North and South have worked in unison to create a country most of our leaders queue up to get their visa. Perhaps if this method were adopted by the Nigerian government at the end of the civil war, The Nation’s Sam Omatseye would probably have applied his ink towards a more problematic facet of our collective everyday lives rather than fervently and fervidly trying to convince us of the death of something that confronts and stares at us every day.

    Just like the MKO Abiola issue which successive administrations have repeatedly and earnestly tried to shut out from our consciousness, The Nation despite those cowardly attempts has consistently featured articles in which writers have tried to relive our consciousness of that unfortunate incident and I think it would be offensive to the Yoruba psyche and inappropriate for any person to tell the Yoruba people that that issue is dead and buried, more so if this ‘’insight’’ comes from a non-Yoruba.

    The Yoruba community even with the appeasements and propitiations that was made to them by the military administration at the wake of the fourth republic (which they have termed as a façade) to serve as atonement for scuttling the entitlement of their kinsman, they still do not feel assuaged and would become confrontational if you try to play down the effects of the ramifications of the June 12 debacle and rightly so.

    Now to the Biafra issue. I believe the fundamental question every person should ask first is this; have these people who are seeking for Biafra been treated fairly in this Nigerian union compared to the regions? If your honest answer is ‘’yes’’, then you can go ahead to criticize. But if your answer is no, then you can now without prejudice to the fundamental question criticize the methodology and the person behind it and maybe proffer an honest solution, as a person who is his brother’s keeper.

    Secondly, if a people say they want to go or do not seek to be part of a union, I don’t think wisdom backs the option of telling them ‘’No’’ you must remain part of us. I don’t think we should split our hairs about it. I don’t think it is the path trodden by reasonable men to oppose a people who would rather go in peace than remain in war or disunity, lest we forget what happened to Pharaoh and his people because of the Israelites.

    If any other tribe or part of Nigeria decides to quit the Nigerian union; a democratic union where the will of a geo-political zone dictates the fate of the remaining five geo-political zones, for whatever reason whether noble or bad and they don’t intend to kill or maim any person by their leaving, why would I oppose them? What is the essence of the right to self determination enshrined in the United Nations declarations? Is it just to decorate the pages of the treaty with unrealizable rights?

    If a people say they are going, why not let them go? If I think their venture is folly and I call myself a friend, I would only advise them on what I think best for them but not oppose them or write articles that are offensive to their psyche in a bid to stop them. I don’t think I would lose sleep because a section of the country says they want to go or start writing volumes of polemical pieces about the idea. Such disposition smacks of desperation and may suggest that the writer is not as altruistic as he wants us to believe he is.

    My idea is, if a part of Nigeria says it wants to go and seeks to adopt a civilized method of going, why would I try to stop them? As a writer, I would rather channel my energy, resource, time and talent in writing about more pressing issues gnawing at the country than trying to stop a people who have decided to assert a right internationally guaranteed.

    In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, William Faulkener said that a writer must leave ‘’ no room in his workshop for anything but the old verities and the truths of the heart, the old universal truth lacking which any story is ephemeral and doomed-love and honour and pity and pride and compassion and sacrifice. Until he does so he labours under a curse. He writes not of love but lust…not of the heart but of the glands. Until he relearns these things he will write as though he stood among and watched the end of man.’’

    I want to end this piece by re-echoing the words of the American revolutionist Patrick Henry when he said; ‘’…no man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as the abilities of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. But different men often see the same subject from different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful of those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve…it is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at the truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself guilty of treason toward my country and an act of disloyalty toward my conscience and the Majesty of Heaven, which revere above all earthly kings.’’

    It is in the light of the sentiment above expressed that I write.

    • Oluigbo writes from Onitsha, Anambra State.

     

     

  • On the handshake across the Niger

    I was not a little amused when I read in the papers of the cosmetic gesture of some old time politicians reaching out to each other at a forum in Enugu. It was a meeting of old timers as far as the self appointed representatives of the Yoruba nation are concerned. These are the remnants of the old Action Group of the 50’s and 60’s of the last century.  They have kept faith. On   the other side were leading Igbo leaders most of whom did not participate in the old time political gymnastics of the last century, although they are rightful inheritors of the ideals, convictions and ambitions of their worthy forbears.

    The theme of the meeting is very interesting as it reminds one of the political actors of that formative period.  Prominent were Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Sir Abubakar Balewa. These eminent Nigerians not only battled the British who hurriedly abdicated their positions and ran away in 1960, but also fought among themselves to the detriment of the Nigerian nation state.

    The rivalries between the West and the East, the West and the North, the North and East were enough to kill a nation and dismember its institutions. The leading characters, Awolowo, Azikwe and the Sardauna held different political views and targets. Perhaps the only thing they agreed on was that Nigeria, a geographical expression, would be free one day. The time, system of government and other essential parameters of nationhood were not agreed.

    Erroneously, Awolowo held the view that a grand combination of what was then East and West and splinters of ethnic groupings in the Middle Belt of the North could run a democratic government in Nigeria. He sold the idea to Azikwe who was in many cases smarter by liaising with the northern rulers while warming up to Awolowo. In this circumstance, there was neither coherence nor trust among the political gladiators as to how to wrestle power from the British or what form of government could ultimately emerge in Nigeria.

    It has been unfortunate that there was and perhaps is element of suspicion or mistrust between leaders of East and of the West. The problem is that there are certain elements whose business and material well-being have always been in the front burner of their political life. This policy of end justifies the means has been responsible for the incoherence and lack of unity between the two major regions of Nigeria.

    Going through the list of attendees from the West, the only new hands are Femi Fani-Kayode who is curiously representing the Ekiti State governor and Olusegun Mimiko the young political operator of our time. The others are hangouts from yesterday’s team. On the other hand and as has been noted elsewhere, those from the eastern side were not participants in yesteryears power game – No Njokus, no Azikwes, no Alvan Ikokus, no Michael Okparas etc. but can we say frankly that these new breed eastern politicians are different from what we had some 50, 60 years ago?.

    Today, most southern Nigerians are calling for restructuring which is a euphemism for resource control. What we all forget perhaps is the incidence of geography and especially climate change. Controlling our resources, being our political blueprint today, may result into economic challenges for our children tomorrow.

    The Nigerian federation is a delicate one. But once we have agreed or forced to agree to be together, we have no choice but to be accommodating. Unfortunately, there are many opportunists who do not think beyond their well-being and that of their family. This is the reason why many cannot keep their word, why their word is not their honour, and why they shift with the wind.

    We have to admit this fact. If past politicians had been as candid and honourable as Awolowo and Balewa, we would not be where we are now. An appropriate political philosophy should have been found to administer our country. Our quest for materialism has always overshadowed the national interest. This is why we are pulling our country in different directions. We went through an agonizing three years civil war fighting for causes that could be negotiated but because we put our ethnic interest above everything else, we have not yet learnt our lesson. The last administration brought into the open the illusion of our claim to be a nation. Leading functionaries of the federal government, especially the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Minister of Finance literarily shut out certain ethnic groups from certain positions in their spheres of influence. To some extent and until recently, the present federal government was pursuing that unwholesome policy. All these crude and primitive practices do not engender national coherence and harmony.

    I am certain some participants in the Enugu forum would be laughing knowing fully well that they were engaged in a big joke. Could anyone deny that this get-together could not have happened during the last Jonathan administration when the South-south and the Southeast got more than 70 percent of the national cake? Was there any hue and cry from those two regions or indeed from any part of Nigeria? The issue is when it comes to juicy political positions or big contracts, our ethnic jingoism comes to the open. Until we divorce ourselves of narrow ethnicity, of primitive exclusiveness, we cannot make it as a nation.

    Some have suggested that the present practicing politicians, especially those who have occupied our space for decades should now vacate the scene and let the ‘new generation’ take over. The fact is who are these new generation? They are the offshoot of narrow ethnicity, people of tribal fringes and other social misfits. What we need is a comprehensive overhaul of our attitude, our beliefs and our orientation. But can this happen in this generation??

    • Asiwaju Fasuan MON; JP writes from Ado-Ekiti.

  • Developing Nigeria’s maritime sector

    A major development capable of increasing the capacity of indigenous ship owners and other stakeholders in the maritime sector took root some days back at the NNPC Towers in Abuja. On Tuesday, stakeholders gathered to examine the Free On Board (FOB) trade term, which favours foreign ship owners in crude lifting and the Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF), which will enable indigenous ship owners to begin to lift Nigeria crude and ultimately boost indigenous capacity.

    This forum was organised by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety (NIMASA).

    Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who declared the event open, noted that the issue of trade term is an age-long challenge that has lingered too far and charged participants to come out with resounding resolutions that would be of National benefit.

    NIMASA Director-General Dr. Dakuku Peterside in his paper pointed out that the changing landscape of Nigeria’s maritime sector vis-à-vis its security architecture, capacity and other determinants has necessitated the change now than ever before.

    Dakuku stated further that the CIF if implemented will “encourage indigenous fleet expansion, lead to massive job creation for qualified Nigerian seafarers, create opportunities for mandatory sea time experience for Nigerian cadets and build expertise and competence in international shipping trade”

    According to him “Nigeria is one of the major exporters of oil and gas resource in the world, and she averages an output of 1.92 million barrels of crude oil per day so this volume generates huge freight for carriers. Regrettably, indigenous shipping operators have insignificant share of the freight earned from the carriage of Nigeria’s crude compared to foreign counterparts”, he lamented.

    OPEC nations such as Iran, Indonesia, Algeria, Kuwait, Angola, Venezuela, UAE and Libya allow indigenous operators to participate actively in shipment of the crude oil, stating that with the right policies in place Nigeria can build its own capacity and one of this is the change of terms of trade for Nigeria’s benefit.

    The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, stated that the corporation had no reason not to allow Nigerians lift crude that there were conditions which made NNPC opt for the FOB trade. He, however, noted that the NNPC also sees benefits in the CIF trade term but processes have to be followed which may include transition period before finally opting for the CIF trade term.

    A lawyer and former NIMASA chief, Temisan Omatseye, who is also a ship owner, pointed out that there is a lot of benefit in the CIF trade term. He stated further that that it would eliminate crude theft, create employment and ultimately compliment the diversification drive of the federal government.

    The CIF initiative is an adjunct of the blue economy campaign of the current NIMASA leadership. Nigeria, with a coastline of about 853km and about 10,000km of Inland Waterways, 12 Nautical Miles of Territorial Waters, 200 Nautical Miles of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), should have no business with poverty.

    This is even more so as Nigeria imports over l50 million metric tons of non-oil cargo and approximate 1,500,000 units of containers a year. These figures are for the formal trade alone.

    Total cargo throughput in 2015 stood at 195,969,200 metric tonnes showing a marginal increase of 0.8 per cent over the 2014 figure of 194,484,142 metric tonnes.

    The current aggregate of the cargo throughput exceeds $15,000,000,000 a year through formal import orders.

    Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa, the most populous nation in Africa and has more port complexes than any country in Africa, among others.

    At the moment, our gain from the blue economy is still minimal. To aid the sector, NIMASA has commenced 24 hour port operations towards ensuring access to business services at all time. It is improving on the development of critical infrastructure in the maritime sector, such as the construction of the largest floating dockyard in Africa. It is also establishing National Carriers and strengthening institutional frame work through ratification and domestication of IMO/ILO Conventions.

    It is also training over 2500 cadets. It plans to train more. NIMASA has also facilitated the draft of an anti-piracy Bill which is before the National Assembly. It has equally ensured the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code with over 85% compliance level.

    Along this line, it is also collaborating with armed forces for improved intelligence, surveillance and marine security. It maintains strategic partnerships with the Nigerian Navy, which led to the establishment of a Maritime Guard Command (MGC) in NIMASA to ensure compliance with extant maritime legislations, the Nigerian Airforce for the provision of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, Search and Rescue (SAR) operations at sea, just as tactical airlift operations and enforcement action has given birth to anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, illegal bunkering and illegal fishing activities.

    Part of the agency’s efforts to grow blue economy was to reduce its running cost and give government more money. It shocked not a few last year when it emerged that it within one year and one month contributed N9.975 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). Within this period, the agency has also paid $38,272,12.12 million (N21.805 billion) to the CRF.

    As the fastest growing sector in the world with enormous business potentials, coupled with the length of the nation’s coastline and the attendant volume of maritime trade, Nigeria obviously stands at a good advantage to develop its blue economy provided stakeholders actively participate to reap the benefits of the sector. Here, we can draw lessons from the economies of Singapore, Ukraine and South Korea which thrive on the activities of their maritime sector.

     

     

  • Between decamping and governance

    The other day Dele Agekameh continued the hype of Atiku’s decamping from the APC to the PDP. It is clear it has generated a spirit that has possessed Nigeria in recent times. The hullabaloo is buzzing, akin to Nigeria having successfully won the World Cup, or the Nigerian economy having overtaken that of the USA and China.

    More to that, it is being believed to be a criminal thing since words like “political prostitution” were used to describe this lawful and basic right of a public figure who has been a champion in the public service, business and politics. In a country where it is believed that most public office holders have skeletons in their cupboard, Atiku has thrown a challenge to the whole world for anyone who has evidence of any thievery by him to come forward with it.

    Since the advent of democracy, the Nigeria media has shown itself to be the best guardian of democracy. They had severally mobilized Nigerians to oppose obnoxious government actions. A classic example was the role they played on the occasion of bedridden late Yar’Adua. A major newspaper based in the north in collaboration with Obasanjo told Yar’Adua to give way for the necessary things to be done. Obasanjo said exactly what Nigerians wanted. That was the deadly blow that quashed the stalemate. Barrage of opinions ensued. And then death came calling and Nigeria moved forward. The rest is history.

    In virtually every sector in the country, the Nigeria media has performed creditably. On Goodluck Jonathan, they preferred a Buhari replacement even when they had to throw decorum overboard. Admittedly, while many worked behind the scenes for Buhari, a handful were objective, which automatically did not work in favour of Goodluck Jonathan.

    Coincidentally when Buhari came to power, executives of some popular media houses got appointed to ‘juicy’ positions. They are Nigerians. It is their right. They had been very critical of governance throughout the days of PDP. But we are lucky those that criticised the government came to power. Nigerians have never seen worse poverty like today. Bomb blasts have considerably been reduced with a great takeover by cattle herdsmen. There is increased insecurity on our roads. Nigerians are generally afraid to travel. Surprisingly, the media has gone to sleep on a general note. They are silent over practically everything that has gone wrong: joblessness, runaway unemployment, inflation and insecurity. They probably have decided to ‘siddon and look’ before they react.

    But how come they are now agitated about Atiku’s decamping when no doom statistics roused them? When foreign debt has attained a frightening position? Are they sold by the ‘righteousness’ of Buhari? How does righteous and austere living substitute for good governance? How can we trust austere character more than Nigeria’s future? Is it true that soon there will be an increase in pump price of petrol? Lest we forget, a section of the media, political parties and civil society had insisted there must not be increase in price of petrol during Goodluck Jonathan’s regime. But this administration doubled the price of petrol and wants to do so again. However, because our mumu never do, we saw nothing wrong with it. There is no need for a strike again because some people have crossed the bridge and are no longer sorrowful. They are however on guard against anyone who decamps and leaves their party for another to challenge them. They are sure of our gullibility to remind us of how staying in one party is morally right. But then they would have us forget that the political party they started with has gone into extinction. The government of the day has performed so creditably that some columnists have decided to partner with it to make sure Nigerians remain in the government party – apologies to Dele Agekameh. In fact, those who provided a platform to tell late Yar’Adua to resign are now commissioning already-made railway and dry port with no tangible start-up facilities in the face of poverty. That Nigeria would soon produce the highest population of the poor in 2018; what percentage would the north take under Buhari? All eyes on Atiku’s decamping rather, says the media.

    Recently, Rotimi Amaechi accused Goodluck Jonathan of squandering the Excess Crude Account. Everybody was stupefied by this crass falsehood. In fact, the fight to squander the ECA as propounded by Amaechi was his journey to stardom then in opposition circles. We have not forgotten how Amaechi and his co-travellers rushed to court and defeated the government to bring the ECA for sharing. The future did not matter at all. But few weeks ago, he had the temerity to tell Nigerians that he fought to protect the ECA.

    Sadly, Atiku’s decamping noise completely dwarfs that part. The government machinery redirected our attention to a mere moral bias that is even lawful instead of reprimanding Amaechi for peddling falsehood. The media did not find it fit to rebuke the government for Rotimi Amaechi’s action. Our children, future leaders, have been taught one lesson: if you are feeding fat, nothing matters again. This terrible silence by a section of the media has sown a seed and raised falsehood to statecraft. But can it be admitted that this government has degenerated to this extent?

    But let it be clear, this government is not really against decamping even if it happens a million times. What made Atiku’s decamping distasteful is that he decamped from APC to a party that would unseat them. Just steal all the money you can, you could even be the most sought after guy in the EFCC. But all you need is to decamp to APC then walk majestically; the chief host of the party would be at the gate welcoming you with a lot of hype and razzmatazz. Then the EFCC will eventually understand. Then the money you stole will have gone forever. Even the media does not see such commando decamping as anything. Truth is, they have crossed the bridge and feel no remorse.

    Nigerians, remember nobody knew who reinstated Abdulrasheed Maina. By the utterances of his lawyer, it shows the man is in the good books of the government and the last has not been heard about him. The latest frivolous application of the Attorney General of the Federation before the Federal High Court shows the silhouette position of the government in Maina’s case. Nigerians have moved on despite Buhari’s henchmen knowing and protecting him. The media and civil society that kept vigil in Abacha’s regime have been kowtowed. Emboldened by Nigerians pliability, the in-thing in town is that the dead and zombies are now on our pay roll! That is upping the stakes. Since some are preoccupied with Atiku’s decamping, ghost workers now hold sway. And if you complain too much, they will tell you it was a mistake.

    Atiku has decamped from the APC to the PDP. We know. But how does that surpass the inaccurate lies that have characterised the fuel crisis since December last year? For the sake of hapless Nigerians, Atiku needed to decamp. Some are decamping to save their loot while he decamped for good governance that he is obsessed with. He can decamp for the sake of the Nigerian state. Remember, even a section of the media and the civil society have decamped from vigilance.

    • Hon. Omekwe is a former member of Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

  • Of poor budget implementation

    The perennial gap between budgetary estimates and implementation is a growing concern and a contributory cause for poor economic development. Budget is variously regarded as a comprehensive document of estimates of government’s income and expenditure proposed for a specified period which is usually one year. In Nigeria, it is not unusual to hear of frequent low budget implementation, leaving one to wonder if our budgets are always designed to be partially implemented.

    Any student who scores less than average in exams cannot be deemed to have done well. If this universal measurement approach is applied to assess government performance on budget implementation, then citizens would objectively score their government based on how the budget performs. There is no how a government should feel it has performed well when it continues to score low on execution of its budgets.

    Both arms of government – the executive and legislature are to blame for delay and poor annual budget implementation. The late submission of budget proposals by the Presidency to the National Assembly and the unnecessary prolonged deliberations on the appropriation bill  by the legislators have been seen to be the major reasons for the ineffective implementation of the budget.

    Since the inception of this fourth republic, it has been observed that, it often takes successive governments an average of close to six months from presentation to the passage and the final presidential accent before a budget is ready for implementation sometimes close to the middle of the year. This delay in budgets’ approval and subsequent implementation also affects fiscal planning in private and non-formal sectors of the economy whose projections are usually predicated on federal government allocation to its ministries and agencies. Also, the recurring less than 45 percent capital component in budget implementation is quite worrisome.

    Experts have over the years continued to criticize extra-budgetary spending, poor revenue collection and remittance, defective procurement processes, poor administrative monitoring and weak  legislative oversight, all of which have accounted for a weak link within the budgetary processes with a corollary poor delivery by government in its key target development areas.

    It is not the ineptitude of the public sector planners but insincerity and propensity towards profligacy that make our budgets to be designed in a way that makes their effective implementation difficult. Even where objectives are carefully enumerated, corruption has a way of derailing such plans although most people have blamed the less than average performance of the budgets on our oil-sensitive economy, which places our budgets at the mercies of the vagary of dynamic international oil pricing.  However, we have seen in this country many times where oil pump prices become higher than their projected estimates by almost half, yet the budget still failed to perform optimally.

    Even if corruption is fought at all sectors of the economy without beaming its  search light on the budget planning office to unravel and carefully scrutinize inputs from various ministries, departments, commissions, agencies and parastatals, the nation would continue to experience unclear budgetary directions and minimal implementation of projects captured in such budgets.

    Lagos State for instance has been found to have an improved performance of its budget of nearly 90 percent with an improved trajectory for a continuous increase in its Internally Generated Revenue. The transparent budgetary processes of the state have no doubt demystified that system which many states and federal government are still struggling to grasp.

    When figures are unnecessarily tinkered with, many wonder what constitutes padding; others question who has the authority to decide which projects should be in the budget, we are indeed in a serious dilemma. The question we the citizens should ask is who do we hold responsible where our expectations are not met?  If the simple process of executive preparing and presenting the budget to the National Assembly for consideration becomes such a tedious process, then it is personal interest that has compounded otherwise seamless and simple process.

    In Nigeria, unlike the usual practice in other climes where legislators are respected based on the quality of their contributions on the floor of the parliaments. Here, it is how much one is able to spend that guarantees his re election. So the process of garnering what to spend for re-election is the reason for this orchestrated row during budget deliberations and considerations. And this also explains the energetic passion over constituency projects by lawmakers. Do not be deceived, it is not because of the needs of the constituents that would necessitate expressions of such strong emotions in defence of these projects. It is their pockets that they are eager to line, after all the funds for the so-called constituency projects virtually end up there.

    A survey was recently conducted in some parts of the country to see the impacts of the much touted constituency projects embarked upon by both past and serving legislators on the lives of the people. Your guess may be as good as mine; abandoned solar-powered boreholes with large overhead tanks, non-functional street lights, civic centres over-grown with weeds and many of such projects which were not designed to meet any particular needs were replete in most communities visited.

    The legislators may not likely approve clearly inflated proposed expenditures sent from the executive but they would not also be willing to part without the usual practice of padding the budgets. This cocktail of conflicting personal interests most often holds the entire nation’s economy to ransom.

    • Etim writes from Calabar.

  • Herdsmen crisis, insecurity and food security

    These, indeed, are strange times for our beloved nation. Harsh economic realities coupled with incessant fuel scarcity, unemployment, inflation, hunger and poverty have continued to make life tough for the people. To complicate things, insecurity has become a major source of anxiety.

    Until recently, terrorism is alien to our culture. But recent occurrences have since altered the equation. No thanks to the dastardly acts of the Boko Haram sect. In the first half of 2014, Boko Haram killed more than 2000 innocent and hapless civilians, in about 95 attacks. Sadly, as the war against Boko Haram makes appreciable progress, out of the blue came yet another menace of a different kind, but with an equally potent capability to coldheartedly waste human lives. Take the back seat Boko Haram; enters the vicious herdsmen!

    From Agatu in Benue State, Akure in Ondo State, Bukuru area in Plateau State, Oke Ogun area in Oyo State, Gassaka and Bali local government areas in Taraba State to Nimbo in Enugu State, rampaging herdsmen seem to be on a mission to draw blood. And blood they are getting. Everywhere they go, sorrow, tears and blood trail them. Curiously, they operate in such audacious fashion that makes mockery of our national security arrangement.

    Sadly, as it was the case at the onset of Boko Haram insurgence, the dastardly acts of  these reprehensible herdsmen have not really been accorded the requisite handling by appropriate authorities. This brings us to the thorny issue of modus operandi of Fulani herdsmen. The odd thing is the kind of riffles being reportedly used by rampaging herdsmen across the country. It becomes curious as to what they could be doing with such combat- purposed assault rifles.

    What could be the source of such dangerous ammunitions? If there is, indeed, a source, then, like Boko Haram, there would definitely be sponsors. If there are sponsors, the next puzzle is: what could be their motives? Could it be that purported skirmishes by herdsmen across the country are just clever ploys by some ‘evil genius’ to further throw the country into prolonged chaos? Could it be that recent upsurge in herdsmen atrocities is being orchestrated by some ‘powerful’ people with sinister intent to derail the country?

    The implication of the foregoing is that appropriate authorities need to methodically investigate recent increase in the reprehensible activities of herdsmen. It is vital to emphasise that military or police action alone might not suffice in thoroughly getting rid of the herdsmen’s challenge as it is with other such thorny security issues in the country. Sufficient intelligence must be gathered to really understand their motives, sponsors (if any) and grouses. It has been argued that the herdsmen’s ‘insurgence’ is being spearheaded by rascals from neighbouring countries. This claim must be properly verified and appropriate action taken if it is found to be real.

    If not quickly tackled, the implication of herdsman ‘insurgence’ on food security in the country could be calamitous.  Constant encroachment of farmlands by herds of cattle will no doubt affect the output of crops coming from the north; the region relied mainly upon for the provision of foodstuffs and fruits in the country.

    In Jigawa State alone, more than 70 cases of conflicts have been recorded since the beginning of the 2015 farming season. These cases bordered on encroachment into farms by cattle and farmers misuse of cattle routes. The situation is not different in Nassarawa and Benue States, the food baskets of the nation as herdsmen persistently engage farmers in feuds that often result in serious causalities on both sides. While farmers accuse the herdsmen of farm land encroachment, the latter blame the farmers and members of their communities for rustling of their cattle. Unfortunately, the friction, if not properly checked could have adverse effects on food security in the country.

    But as frightening as the issue appears, with the required political will, it could be logically addressed options to address them. To avert future bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers, the Federal Government should creatively strategize with relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problem. One thing that can be done to reduce the tension is to establish grazing zones across the country for the herdsmen. Once this is done, government should ensure that the herdsmen strictly comply with the grazing zone arrangement. This would, no doubt, greatly reduce friction over land resources. Equally, concerted efforts should be made to address the armed cattle rustling rings reportedly wreaking havoc in the northern part of the country.

    Considering the fact that this year will understandably witness an increase in political activities, we cannot afford to treat the herdsmen crisis and, indeed, other such complex security issues in the country with a kid glove. Costly goofs such as the unfortunate comment of the Inspector General of Police in the wake of the recent bloody herdsmen’s attack in Benue State must be circumspectly avoided. We already have enough troubles as a nation; compounding things won’t do anyone any good. Every logical step must be taken to ensure that this present crisis does not degenerate into a full blown ethnic affair. This must not be allowed to be the case.  In view of our multi ethnic and cultural composition, we must clinically tackle every tendency that could further threaten our fragile unity.

    Appropriate government channels must be used to disconnect the crisis form evolving into ethnic or religious interpretations. This is where effective public enlightenment strategies come in. Strategic dissemination of information is key because we live in a country where people thrive on taking rumour and half truth as the truth.  But then, universally, wherever the people could not access official information, they make do with whatever information that is at their disposal. This, of course, is dangerous to the well being of any nation.

    On a final note, before the herdsmen crisis transform into another Boko Haram menace, thereby complicating our peculiar socio-economic and political situation, now is the time to decisively deal with them. If Boko Haram had been effectively addressed from the outset, perhaps, it wouldn’t have metamorphosed into the monster that it is right now.

    According to Aristotle and Plato, what it takes for evil to triumph in a given society is for evil to continually go unpunished. Therefore, appropriate government agencies must rise up to the occasion by reprimanding naughty herdsmen and their promoters. We have had enough of impunity in the country. This is the time to act determinedly act against every group and sect that could further aggravate our country’s security situation. God bless Nigeria!

    • Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.