The Nation Newspaper

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  • Founding universities and running them effectively

    The world over and across all cultures, the establishment of universities has been an expensive and non-rewarding enterprise where their Founders/Proprietors would continually be spending on salaries, infrastructure and equipment among several other shades and shapes of overheads. No wonder, private universities abroad rely on Gifts, Research Grants and Donations as well as Endowments to survive and thrive above their publicly owned counterparts. Stanford University, United States of America, which in 2015 had an Endowment and Donation of $368,147,895,000, much more than the total budget of Federal Government of Nigeria for all its higher institutions, is a typical example in that genre.

    But the joy of it all is that those who make a foray into this rather altruistic venture globally are often happy to be raising a new generation of leaders thereby leaving the society better than they had met it and etching their names in letters of gold. Enthused

    Deriving from the non-rewarding nature of establishing universities and to make their universities sure-footed, the legal colossus and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has therefore cautioned prospective promoters of universities in Nigeria to be ready to face and fight the challenges of incessant strike actions by different unions on the campus which wittingly or unwittingly paralyze Academic activities and ultimately lead to disruption of Academic calendars which has forced students in public universities to spend as many as seven/eight years for four/five-year programmes.

    Speaking at the 2nd Founder’s Day Lecture of the University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo, yesterday, the former Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, opined that no Nigerian university would be accorded the accolade of a world class university for as long as most of them lack modern curricula, excellence in Research and quality teaching and when their teachers continue to use the old notes they scribbled when they were students eons ago to teach their students in contemporary times.

    Speaking on the topic “The Secrets of Founding”, Babalola said: “All over the world and across all cultures, the quest by human beings to make lives more fulfilling and productive has been the concern of such disciplines like Psychology, Biology, Religion and Philosophy as well as mysticism with various degrees of successes and failures”.

    He added: “This desire to fulfill a purpose in our lives has to do with the workings of human mind and mental processes which are still comprehended poorly in these fields of human endeavor. Yet it is this mental quest to make lives more fulfilling and productive that distinguishes humankind from all animal species on planet Earth. This mental drive to fulfill a purpose and make life worthwhile is a product of basic human instincts such as curiosity, imagination and creativity which propel individuals, and in effect the human race, from the use of primitive tools and primitive existence to an advanced civilization with modern technologies”.

    The frontline legal icon underscored the place and import of such psychological variables of motivation, curiosity, love, inspiration, bravery, fearlessness and humility as well as prudence (in money, energy and time) in the art of founding institutions and ensuring enduring legacies.

    According to him, “Highly motivated people go the extra mile without looking back, thus the saying:  ‘when the going gets tough the tough gets going’.  The commitment of highly motivated individuals to their profession or job goes beyond immediate gratification. Their motivation is not measured by their present rewards but by their desire for a level of success that is best for their professional calling, their establishment and humanity. They enjoy selfless service. They do not work within routine hours but work hard at all times, day and night. They shun the pleasures of the moment in the process of creating time to fulfill their own expectations.

    On curiosity, he said: “No one spurred Pythagoras to discover the laws of Geometry. Neither did anybody compel Albert Einstein to discover the laws of Quantum Physics and Relativity Theory. It was their personal curiosity of mind that propelled them to ask questions that their contented or docile contemporaries dared not ask”.

    Delving into fearlessness and bravery, he said: “Outstanding individuals are not often supported by the establishment and/ or friends around them. Until they achieve their excellent or outstanding results many people scorn or abuse them for being too hardworking or aloof or unfriendly in the process of confronting their most pressing interest which is to break records or new grounds. Confronted with this censorship, they have to exhibit determination, fearlessness and boldness to get the support they need”.

    Emphasizing the place of humility in the art of founding, Babalola added: “Outstanding people are humble possibly because the larger picture of reality they see and which others do not see overwhelms their passion. Since they can only bring a fraction of this larger than life reality to manifestation in one lifetime, the reality humbles them.

    “For great Founders, time is never enough to accomplish their dreams. Hence the use of every second, minute and hour of the day must be judicious as man cannot retrieve any of the past minute of his life”.

    Good enough, the human race had been blessed and continues to be blessed with a plethora of great Founders or Achievers who are the true drivers of human civilization. Trailblazers or great Achievers such as Nicholas Copernicus, Albert Einstein, Buckminster Fuller, Henry Ford, Bill Gates and Mark Zukerberg the inventor of Facebook, Aliko Dangote of Nigeria and Aare Afe Babalola among others cover all fields of human endeavor. After achieving fame, most of the Founders of these great ideas and projects even set of Foundations to promote their dreams as legacies for humanity.

    The world certainly needs more of such Trailblazers to tackle the numerous challenges facing humanity such as poor governance in many countries of the world, poverty, inequality is the distribution of wealth among nations, widespread ignorance and lack of access to good education, lack of food, lack of good housing, poor health care and short life expectancy in poor countries of the world, the challenges posed by climate change and the challenges posed by emerging technologies to humanity’s future survival among others.

    If the more advanced countries are providing the necessary enabling environment for Trailblazers to realize their dreams, developing countries even need to do more to identify, support and provide the enabling environment for great Achievers and Founders who are the Trailblazers that drive the progress of nations and human civilizations.

    Babalola therefore urged University Administrators in Nigeria to combat the menace of paucity of leadership and move with the trend of modern technology to be able to raise Trailblazers that will change the Nigerian environment for the better.

    He commended the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, whom he described as “a dynamic, intelligent, able, fearless, thoughtful and progressive governor” for establishing the University in December 2014 and charged his successor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, whom he described as a “forthright and gifted successor” to continue to support UNIMED with the hope that the university will sooner than later become a shining star among world class universities.

     

    • Olofintila wrote from Lagos

  • Appreciate people as human beings

    What makes us human? ‘One of the key characteristics that makes us human appears to be that we can think about alternative futures and make deliberate choices accordingly’…. Thomas Suddendorf, a professor of psychology. This statement resonates with my train of thought. The ability to think and also make choices are exceptional features that differentiates us from animals. Every individual on earth has  willpower and can therefore make choices that will ultimately shape his/her future. Therefore, your attitude at any point in time is your choice. One of the measures of how worthwhile your life has been, is how many people you have made happy or unhappy. I advocate positive attitude as a winning strategy of life.

    Appreciating people as human beings is a second element of empathy. Treating someone as less than a human being means that you view them as less than. It means you do not see any good in them, you consider them as worthless and useless but when you appreciate people as human beings, you will respect and acknowledge their presence and essence. Do great things for people simply because they are great(the seed of greatness is in everyone). Expect nothing in return and you’ll be surprised what actually comes back to you. I remember vividly an experience I had with a teenage boy who had sores all over his right leg. He usually begs for alms on a major road close to my office. The first time I saw him, I was terrified and could not summon courage to look at the swollen leg. I actually ran and was talking to myself..…this boy needs care..doesn’t he have a family? Who are his parents? I told some of my colleagues and they confirmed that he had been sitting at that spot for the past one week. Haa!!! My heart bled. The following morning, I took that route deliberately and resolved to engage him in a conversation. The boy was rudely shocked when I greeted him and so I asked him why he was sitting down begging alms with sores all over his leg. He started his story, I must confess at first I thought it was the usual rhetoric of beggars but I chose to listen to him (….his parents are poor and living in the village. His elder brother brought him to Lagos. He started his primary education but had to stop because his brother could not afford his education. He usually sells fruits until he observed the sores on his leg… hmmm!) What touched my heart was that he was quite articulate and intelligent. As the conversation progressed, I realised I was not the only listener, many passersby stood to listen to him and after his story a crowd had converged. ‘This boy really needs help! Someone shouted from the crowd, ‘the government should assist him..’’ hahaa.. must government do everything? Let’s do the bit we can’ people were making several comments and just like a film, they started giving him money…I was flabbergasted. At the end of this drama, I waited till the crowd dispersed and told him to take the money and quickly go to the general hospital close by for his treatment. To my greatest surprise this boy’s countenance changed and he started singing praises to God. I watched him as he took his steps slowly  into the hospital. There he registered and went into the ward to see the doctor. He had no phone so I could not communicate with him afterwards. I was very surprised two weeks after when I wanted to buy some oranges, I saw a boy sitting down the major road. Lo and behold it was my dear friend…he was full of joy and was quick to show me the leg. Obviously, I could see the sores were dry and the skin gradually healing. He called his brother and we exchanged pleasantries and contacts. All doubts dispelled and I was convinced that Ezeh is truly a good boy. Much more, he is now a petty trader. He told me he used part of the money given to him to start his business. What a wisdom! I proudly bought some oranges from him and even left the change..there’s no point bargaining prices with such a child who needs help. I don’t need to blow my trumpet, Ezeh is back to school. Thanks to the Lagos State government for making education affordable to all. I am so proud of Ezeh and I know his future is unfolding gloriously.

     

    • Continued online
  • PDP’s failure to learn from past blunders

    PDP’s failure to learn from past blunders

    The Anambra State gubernatorial election of November 18 may have come and gone but the sad memories still linger. It is no longer news that Governor Willie Obiano won the election comfortably in all 21 local government areas in Anambra State including the local government area of the candidate of the PDP, Oseloka Henry Obaze and the local government area of ex-Governor Peter Obi, Obaze’s godfather.

    One major factor in the resounding defeat of the PDP was the internal wrangling within the party following the disputed outcome of the party’s governorship primary. Those who felt that they lost the primary to intrigues and manipulations by powerful party members were not listened to. Rather, they were characterized as sore losers. The PDP bigwigs and kingmakers boasted that they would route the governance of the APGA and Obiano in Anambra State. Aspirants of the party felt aggrieved. They complained but the party claimed they were irrelevant. What followed was a gale of suspensions and threats of expulsions. They refused to work for the party’s candidate, Obaze. They played the spoilers’ roles during the election. PDP lost.

    In the 2015 general elections, many PDP bigwigs and political gladiators worked against the PDP’s candidates because of perceived injustice and unfair treatment by the party in the primaries for various elective offices. Genuine grievances were not properly handled by the leadership of the party. PDP lost the elections to PDP members who worked against the party.

    Then came Ali Modu Sheriff. The party suffered over 14 months of crisis until the Supreme Court came to the rescue. PDP was at a crossroads.

    Many members contemplated abandoning the party if the Supreme Court ruling favoured Modu Sheriff. A new political party APDA was even floated in case.

    In order to regenerate, the PDP leadership constituted various committees especially the Ekweremadu 17-man committee and the Jerry Gana 205-man committee to restructure, reorganize and reposition the party to face the challenges of the future. From the findings, two casual factors, impunity and indiscipline were responsible for the degeneration of the party. Way forward? Instil party discipline, enforce party supremacy and stop impunity.

    From Anambra’s governorship failure and indications of the forthcoming national convention, have we learnt any lessons? I am afraid; the signs are not too good. Like a recurring decimal, party members are grumbling. They are crying hidden agenda. They are crying manipulation. They are crying impunity. Yet the leadership of the party is discountenancing them as rantings of ants. From all indications, we have not learnt any lessons from PDP’s inglorious past. The sad tones of the past “money bags are hijacking the party, he who pays the piper dictates the tune, self-interests rather than party interests appear to command the mind-sets of party members”. Sadly, unfortunately, this is catching traction with many party members. Very, very sadly, the PDP is going to once more fail this litmus, final test to regenerate and survive. The game changer? Money!

    It is very sad that the zoning principle inserted in the PDP Constitution to ensure fairness, equity and justice is fast becoming the albatross of the December 9-10 National Convention. Narrow and private interests of party members appear to be guiding party actions.

    Those who are pushing for these narrow selfish interests to impose an unpopular not generally accepted leadership are guilty of the inglorious impunity syndrome of the past.

    The current leadership of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) must rise up to this leadership challenge. Members must take all necessary measures to protect the interest of the PDP and resist the temptation of trying to foist on the party a leadership that is perceived to be procured to serve their narrow and selfish political ambitions. They would be failing in their sacred duty to the party if they fail to correct the errors of the past. The leadership of the NCC must not be seen to conspire or collude with any person(s) to short-change the national convention process especially as it concerns the election of party officials. Today, from all indications, the narrow and selfish interests of the so called godfathers and stakeholders constitute grave dangers or threat to the survival of the PDP as a formidable political party in opposition.

    The challenge before the current leadership of the party is to resist the subterfuge of the powerful gladiators masquerading as critical stakeholders who are literally holding the party to ransom at the moment. The leadership of the NCC must rise to challenge of protecting the interest of the party. If this leadership of the party cannot get it right at the national convention but rather pander to the selfish interests of the so called powerful stakeholders, then we must all forget about a brand new PDP capable to wrest power from the ruling APC. A failure to elect a credible party leadership through a transparent, just and fair convention will signpost the beginning of the end of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, the PDP.

    Nigeria is watching!

     

    • Moro, is the immediate past Minister of Interior.
  • ‘Road accidents, demons and realities

    ‘Road accidents, demons and realities

    Many people have written articles on road accidents in Nigeria using such outlets as newspapers, magazines and journals. These articles address the causes and consequences of the ugly scenario within the context of the overall development of the country. Certainly, much more papers will still follow, until there is at least, a semblance of normalcy or sanity in the system.  It is against this reality, that this article gains its relevance. Road accidents are a societal problem with a monstrous status. It is neither Eastern nor Western. In other words, road accidents are a global phenomenon. As a result of this, they (road accidents) still occur in developed geo-polities like Britain, United States of America and Germany. This is in addition to such Asian countries as India and China.

    Thus, for example, over 37000 people die in road accidents yearly in the U.S, with a population of over 325 million. Similarly, more than 130000 persons perish on a yearly basis due to road accidents in India. That is to say, that 377 people die daily in the country (India). However, the political leadership of each of the above countries continues to improve on the situation, through the lens of appropriate policies coupled with implementation.  Their roads are being regularly maintained and/or paved. Although the entirety of the human species is in jeopardy due to modernity, every serious segment of the global village has to craft its own strategies for survival and progress. Nigeria cannot be an exception.

    According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, 11363 road accidents occurred in 2016. In the process, 5053 people were killed, out of a total of 30105 that sustained injuries. Commercial vehicles had the highest percentage (53.8), followed by private vehicles (44.5) and government vehicles (1.65) as well as diplomatic cars (0.1). Indeed, between January and June this year, at least 2673 people were involved in road accidents in Nigeria. This country lost an average of 15 people daily during the first half of the year. This should be a source of great concern for all well-meaning Nigerians and their friends. Nigeria has a huge landmass of over 923000 square kilometres, with road networks of 193000 kilometres, out of which only 28980 kilometres are paved.

    There is no doubt, that Nigeria has the largest road networks in West Africa. But given the low level of Nigeria’s social and technological sophistication including the primitive culture of looting public treasury by the political class, a separate ministry of transport is urgently needed. This becomes a bit more manageable than the current architecture, with three sensitive issues and activities- Works, Power and Housing lumped together. In fact, this is a huge joke!  It leads to inefficiencies arising basically from excessive bureaucracies and of course, endemic corruption. The price of this anomaly (in a country where blatant thieving of people’s common wealth, is becoming a way of life), is the increasing rate of carnage on our roads or glorified death traps. Most of these roads have no drainage systems including culverts. The foreign contractors handling these projects pretend not to know the right thing to do. This is what can never happen in their countries where accountability level is much higher. In Nigeria anything goes because unalloyed patriotism has been put to sleep by those who govern us.

    Anybody with the faintest idea of fairness and/or sound judgement would not deny the fact that the Buhari administration inherited this monumental mess. Successive governments failed woefully to show sufficient commitment and willpower to build good roads and/or properly maintain the existing ones. Nigerian political leadership generally lacks patriotism. Arithmetic of power and avarice or primitive accumulation of wealth, have become their fetish. This explains the reason why the country is crisscrossed with totally damaged roads, most unbecoming of the “Giant of Africa.” No foreigner enters Nigeria without willy-nilly becoming a prayer warrior. Having made very close to half a trillion dollars from crude oil in less than 60 years – a figure that is higher than that of international aid ($300 billion) to the entirety of Africa, the Nigerian political leaders at different time-periods must  apologise to all Nigerians for impoverishing them by mismanaging the collective resources in a blatant manner. With due respect to these political leaders, Nigerians need their unreserved apologies otherwise posterity would condemn them.

    But surprisingly, most of these leaders are still being celebrated by the same people who have been thoroughly abused. Does it mean that many Nigerians have memories like a sieve? Personal aggrandizement and insatiable longing after materialism have combined to dwarf their (political leaders) humanity. The followership cannot afford to gloss over this fact. Our docile, sycophantic mentality which cannot be separated from facets of the age-old Nigerian culture and tradition encourages perpetuation of bad, people-insensitive governance by the Nigerian political class. The abysmal situation, with the attendant problem of dire poverty on an unprecedented scale, underscores the reason why many religious or near-complete business centres litter everywhere in the country. There is fire on the mountain! We cannot run away because this is the country where God has planted us. We are not here by accident! Therefore, the flames have to be quenched as quickly as possible, before the fire consumes our todays and by the same token, tomorrows.

    Apart from bad roads, there are other factors that militate against sanity with respect to transportation in this country. One of them is the superstitious belief that demons live, wine and dine on most Nigerian roads, and that they can cause accidents any time they like. They love such dilapidated expressways as the Lagos-Ibadan; Ibadan-Ilesa and Lagos-Ore-Onitsha. Human blood and flesh are their culinary delights. Nigerians are very good in glossing over fundamental issues and unknowingly, turning God into a triviality through the platform of endless praying without taking practical steps when the need to do so arises. Man is a mini-creator or put succinctly, a producer/consumer.  Most Nigerians today erroneously believe that God must do everything for Nigeria while they shirk their own responsibilities. However, a few courageous religious leaders are not keeping quiet in the face of injustice, religious bigotry, ethnic insularity and administrative cluelessness that characterize the Nigerian political space.

    Apart from the imaginary demons, many drivers still believe that “juju”- African magical force, is capable of protecting them anytime accidents occur. Consequently, they engage in all kinds of road indiscipline like over-speeding and drunk-driving. This is more common among commercial drivers, who often have the challenge of fatigue among other things to grapple with. Rickety vehicles dot the Nigerian landscape largely because of chronic material poverty that makes it difficult for owners of these vehicles to change spare parts as of when due. Although the Federal Road Safety Commission, founded in 1988 is trying hard to reduce road crash deaths to the barest minimum, it needs to do much more. More road signs are needed. Non-adherence to lane driving, in the absence of road/traffic signs, has sent many Nigerians to their early graves. The Ibadan-Ilesa expressway in the south-west is a good illustration of this. Sections of this expressway are often easily (and suddenly too) turned into a single carriage way, without any warning signs. This situation has led to many accidents there. The careless Nigerian road users and government (that does not provide good roads) are in fact, the demons. The Federal Road Safety Corps members should do more patrolling of these roads. There should be heavier penalties for offenders. It is lamentable that two separate, serious road accidents occurred in the Kara axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, within one week in November. Lives were lost. Similarly, on November 27, another multiple accident occurred on the Ochadamu-Ayingba road in Kogi State. In this case, three persons died.

    All the Nigerian roads can be fixed, despite the current poor state of the economy. This is if the federal government is sincerely ready to fight corruption- the age-old monster staring Nigeria in the face. The Nigerian political space both historically and systemically, remains a web of confusion, visionlessness, mediocrity and maximum deceit. Who will save us from ourselves?  Giving specialist assignments to people on the basis of political patronage is an invitation to failure. Some of the best persons from within and without Nigeria must be engaged, if indeed, we want to move forward as a country. Our Ministry of Works has to be managed by engineers, and transport geographers among other specialists. They have to be men and women of proven financial integrity and not a bunch of clever rogues. This should apply to other sectors of the economy. In sum, the perceived demonization of the Nigerian roads would certainly begin to disappear in the face of good education, transparency, probity and unalloyed patriotism including self-less political leadership.

     

    • Prof Ogundele is of Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan.
  • Ogun and the Amosun phenomenon

    Ogun and the Amosun phenomenon

    Simplicity, discipline and steadfastness are perhaps some of the adjectives required in describing Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the governor of Ogun State.

    Amosun, who is also the apostle of prudence, transparency and accountability in governance, has left no one in doubt as to his mission in Government House.

    Very modest, articulate and principled, Amosun is a silent performer who has warmed himself to the hearts of the people with his populist programmes as well as his well-designed policy of developing an industrial and commercial economy that has provided wealth and abundant opportunities for his people.

    The administration of Governor Amosun has not only restored confidence of the people to government but has boldly embarked on far-reaching socio-economic reforms and programmes that have touched positively, the people of the state.

    On December 1, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) figures for states of the federation for the third quarter of this year, with 19 states generating total revenue of N149.45 billion.

    The bureau in the report stated that 17 states had yet to submit their IGR reports for the period.

    The report stated that Lagos State recorded the highest IGR, with N73.74 billion; while Ogun State followed with N16.9 billion.

    Delta recorded N13 billion in IGR; Kaduna, N6.3 billion; Oyo, N5.6 billion; Enugu, N4.7 billion; Bayelsa, N4.3 billion; Akwa Ibom, N3.3 billion; Cross River, N2.83 billion; and Ondo, N2.7 billion; and Plateau, N2.5 billion.

    Others are Osun, N2.4 billion; Benue, N2.3 billion; Imo, N1.6 billion; Jigawa N1.6 billion; Taraba, N1.5 billion; Ekiti N1.3 billion; Zamfara, N1.2 billion; and Yobe, N1.1 billion.

    The report read in part, “A total of N149.45 billion was generated by states in third quarter of 2017. This excludes Rivers, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Gombe, Edo, Borno, Bauchi, Adamawa, Abia, Ebonyi and Anambra states, which have not yet reported their IGR figures for Q3 2017.”

    The acting chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Shettima Abba-Gana, had said the decline in allocation from the Federation Account by over 30 per cent had made it imperative for the commission to assist states to increase their IGR.

    He said while some states had made efforts to increase their IGR to a level that was up to the amount they were getting from the Federation Account, others had yet to make such efforts.

    In the wake of unprecedented economic challenges in Nigeria, which have resulted in trying times for both the federal and the state governments, Ogun State has navigated these troubled economic times with relative success.

    Tough times have a way of prompting introspection and the Amosun administration has undertaken necessary operational review over the past six years and has continued to do the very best in pursuit of its ‘Mission to Rebuild’ agenda, despite the difficult economic times.

    The vast potential of Ogun State cannot be denied. The geographical diversity and attractive location of the state means that it has the potential to build economic strength through agriculture, solid minerals, trade, tourism, services as well as commerce and industry. These have been vigorously pursued and translated into opportunities, productivity and wealth for the people of the state.

    Amosun has continued to draw strength from Ogun State’s proud heritage. He has resolved to look beyond these challenging times and kept his eyes fixed on the ball.

    He remains convinced that Ogun State is an emerging economic powerhouse that is central to Nigeria’s economic diversification effort and cannot afford to be deterred in the midst of current difficulties.

    Governor Amosun has not underestimated the enormity of the task of turning around the prosperity of Ogun State.  Since he assumed power in 2011, he has prioritised the attraction of private capital to Ogun State to spur the ‘Mission to Rebuild’ agenda.

    Ogun State had languished near the bottom of the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index in the 2010 report but was ranked as one of the five most-improved states in the country in 2014 report of the global financial institution.

    Due to prudent husbandry of the scarce resources of the state and his less reliance on the monthly federal allocation, Governor Amosun has not defaulted in the payment of salaries.

    It is worth noting that the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which the Amosun administration introduced in 2011, has now got nation-wide acceptance and enabled the state to block leakages in the system.

    To increase the revenue of the state, Governor Amosun had constituted a revenue committee chaired by the governor himself where issues on businesses and internally generated revenue are sorted out.

    The establishment of One-Stop Shop domiciled in the state Ministry of Commerce and Industry as well as synergy that exists among all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) has removed the usual bottlenecks that impede investors’ access to lands, building approval, environmental impact analysis and these have enhanced the ease of doing business in Ogun State.

    The usual bottlenecks which government removed from its relationship and partnership with private sector, coupled with massive investment in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, pipe-borne water, education, health and electricity is the magic behind the increased internally generated revenue.

    The migration of investors and industries to the state has really helped to develop the economy of the state in terms of wealth creation, employment opportunities, tax remittance, and corporate social responsibilities, among others.

    Governor Amosun has tackled the economy of Ogun State with a single-minded dedication and abundant courage. The restructuring of the economy is not something that can be accomplished in six short years even if it does not require eternity to do it. But on a balance, even the most unfair critics would not deny the fact that he has been able to put the state back on the path of progress and prosperity.

     

    • Durojaiye is Special Adviser on Information & Strategy to Governor Amosun.
  • Trump, strongman of America!

    Trump, strongman of America!

    Before Donald Trump was sworn in as US president in January this year, the phrase “American strongman” would have seemed utterly ludicrous, if not downright oxymoronic. Why? Americans have for so long prided themselves in the sophistication of their liberal democratic system of government, on the assumed integrity of their elected leaders to always conform to established time-tested democratic norms, and on the strength and vitality of their state institutions to impartially and objectively coax their leaders to exhibit civilized conduct. These are the veritable assumptions that have been sold to the rest of the world and it explains why the US is often held up as the exemplar or archetypal liberal democracy. Americans have carefully cultivated this image and patented it so well that their public officials often arrogantly lecture and even chastise the rest of the world on the basis that their democratic system is the perfect example to be emulated. And for decades, people of the developing nations have had to endure lectures, insults, harangues and condescending treatment by US political and diplomatic officials who swagger all over the continents delivering elementary lectures on democratic governance.

    What exactly is the point in all this? Am I implying that democracy is not good? Of course not! It is just that we have all been so starry-eyed, possibly deceived, by all the stated qualities of American democracy to the point that we accept American government as the veritable yardstick for measuring liberal democratic performance. That’s not necessarily bad. However, we ought to be more skeptical of received knowledge, be more nuanced and critical in our acceptance of received wisdom. Democracy is good, and I align myself with the late Professor Claude Ake’s submission that that though democracy may not necessarily solve all our national problems but none of our problems can begin to be solved without democracy. So democracy must stay. My point here is that, as a system of governing society, democracy has to be adapted suitably to the local conditions in each place, not adopted without the necessary modifications. Anyway, this piece is not a discourse on the tenets of democracy but about what I think is the assumed resiliency and capacity of US state institutions to checkmate their presidents from becoming imperious strongmen.

    Let’s face it, hardly any American president is a saint when it comes to behaving badly and against established norms, but none, perhaps with the exception of Richard Nixon, has been as whimsical, willful and deliberate in subverting the institutions of the state for personal reasons as much as Donald J. Trump. In less than one year in office, he has twisted American governance system out of shape, serially attacked the military and security establishment, derided the US Congress and unleashed vitriolic verbal and Twitter assaults on legislators, insulted the judiciary, and harangued the mass media as purveyors of fake news. Many are perplexed at how one man can so egregiously subvert the essence of democratic governance virtually unchecked. He is a serial liar, egomaniac, and wantonly disrespectful of protocol and civilized behaviour. Now Americans are having a taste of one-man dictatorship, or what I here call “democratic despotism” that we in Africa have endured for decades since most of our countries gained independence in the 1960s. Donald Trump was democratically elected and is therefore expected to govern also democratically, but he is without question a despot at heart, hence the appropriateness of the phrase.

    The oxymoron, “democratic despotism,” is intended. Truly, there are democrats and there are despots, but when a democrat rules like a despot, he becomes a democratic despot! This is the only way I can characterize President Trump’s conduct since January. Though a democratically elected as leader of the world’s most powerful democracy, his conduct thus far generally exemplifies the characteristics of an autocrat, a veritable third world ‘strong man.’ He has deliberately and methodically tried to weaken and subvert every institution that he does not like or cannot yet bend to his will. This is not as strange as it seems. Instead, it is vintage Donald Trump: ruthless business mogul, egomaniacal host of a reality television show. An exasperated David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, calling Trump’s election “An American Tragedy” wrote on November 9, 2016, the day after the US presidential election:

    “The election of Donald Trump to the Presidency is nothing less than a tragedy for the American republic, a tragedy for the Constitution, and a triumph for the forces, at home and abroad, of nativism, authoritarianism, misogyny, and racism. Trump’s shocking victory, his ascension to the Presidency is a sickening event in the history of the United States and liberal democracy.”

    Almost one year into his tenure, I fail to see that anything can be taken away from Remnick’s graphically unflattering portrayal of an American tragedy. In less than one year, Trump has single-handedly taught the world more about the hidden hypocrisies of liberal democracy, about how democracy is actually despotism in disguise, about how easy it is for democratically elected but autocratically-inclined individuals to systematically subvert its theoretical and practical essences by routine demagoguery and by casually ignoring so-called established institutions, or simply rendering them irrelevant and toothless. Is there any major US institution left that he has not yet ridiculed or subverted…the judiciary, individual judges, the national security and intelligence community, the Congress, the GOP on which ticket he climbed to power, name it! And what about the mass media! He calls the mainstream media “fake media” and at one time advocated jailing of journalists.

    Donald Trump has proven to be a compulsive liar, an egomaniac who routinely discountenances inconvenient truths and relies on what his aides casually refer to as ‘alternative facts’, casually snubs foreign leaders that he doesn’t like, treats others with condescension as if they are mere employees of Trump Towers who must genuflect before him, acts whimsically and eccentrically without requisite knowledge or deep understanding of critical issues, and luxuriates in his self-delusion of imperial grandeur and power. This guy is simply uncouth and ill-mannered, celebrates fellow ‘democratic autocrats’ like Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Fatah el-Sisi of Egypt and Rodrigo Duterte of Philippines as ‘great’ leaders. He daily exudes intellectual shallowness and a lack of the elementary finesse and political sophistication usually associated with American presidents. It is difficult to disagree with those who have written him off as profoundly bereft of the most rudimentary gravitas for high public office.

    All these remind one of some of Europe’s infamous 20th century despots like Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Josef Stalin, Antonio de Oliveira Salazar in their eerie resemblance to today’s Donald Trump. In reality, he is the very exemplar of what the late eminent Professor Gabriel Olusanya would have called an “Area Boy Diplomat”! One should not be surprised if Americans who voted him into office as their president are already secretly regretting their bad judgement. I can wager that by the time he completes his first four years, America’s liberal democratic system would have been so comprehensively bent out of shape it would hardly be recognizable any more. As I once asserted in an earlier piece in this newspaper, Americans may deserve Donald Trump because they elected him, but the rest of the world could certainly do without this monstrosity of a modern-day Nebuchadnezzar.

    The good thing about this sordid development in modern American governance, as Professor Bolaji Akinyemi once pointed out, is that it will temper the arrogance of American diplomats who enjoy lecturing the rest of the world on democratic behaviour. President Donald Trump is such a bad advertisement for democratic leadership that even veritable African despots are beginning to look like tame.

     

    • Prof Fawole writes from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
  • Appraising Aregbesola’s performance

    Appraising Aregbesola’s performance

    Less than a year from today, Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure as governor of Osun State will come to a close. A time like this therefore presents an opportunity to review his performance in office, vis-à-vis, his administration’s Six Point Integral Action Plan.

    Though it has become fashionable for the opposition to look for partners in its dubious search for raw materials to power its odious charades, a closer assessment of the specific swill lead Nigerians to draw appropriate conclusions on the success or otherwise of Aregbesola’s government. For instance, if the governor’s desire was to move the state from a public service economy to its rightful place as an agrarian state, how has he fared in activating market-driven value chain? If his vision and mission found solace in setting Osun on a genuine path to socio-economic development, hasn’t he done well in plucking a coin out of the mouth of the fish? What was the state of our roads before Aregbesola’s inauguration and why has his desire to make Osun the food hub of the South-west been misconstrued for avenues to siphon funds out of the state by a misguided and disgruntled clique? How has he been able to provide a soft landing for the salary bug, which no doubt has also caught up with Abuja?

    Again, has Ogbeni betrayed the trust of his people or is it a case of his traducers woefully failing to purge their dirty excesses before coming to the table to seek equity? Is it an issue of the achiever, unsuspectingly shifting away from blowing his own trumpet loud enough to wake even the dead or that of the audience provably imprisoned by mute indifference? Perhaps more importantly; is it one of unreconstructable spinners notoriously trying to destroy the threads of communal togetherness woven together over a long period of time?

    With a motivation to rapidly develop the state in all ramifications as well as enhance the capacity of the people, Aregbesola’s government has in the last seven years delivered “all round” development to at least 75% improvement on what it met in 2010. While the administration has been consistent in its investment in infrastructure without undermining welfare, lives of children, youths, adults, aged and the weak have also been positively impacted in line with its Social Protection programmes. In addition to ‘Opon Imo’ (Tablet of Knowledge), this administration’s ‘O’ Series have not gone without bearing positive fruits.

    As we all know, Aregbesola’s intervention in the education sector is not limited to provision of infrastructure as government has so far been training a third of teachers in its public schools on a yearly basis. Besides, the state’s sterling performance in the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) is better understood from the context of where we are coming from. As at 2010, the performance level of students in WASCE was 15.7%. Within the last seven years, Osun has recorded as high as 46.3%, which is quite a huge jump in the number of students with credit passes in English Language and Mathematics. The state’s position (between 1st and 3rd, since 2013) in the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) eligible students in Nigeria has rubbished the premise that WAEC rankings of states alone should be the basis for judging performance.

    That Aregbesola has succeeded to a very large extent in all the critical indices is already settled. For example, within the last seven years, Osun has ranked second on Human Capital Index and has maintained the position in four years in a roll in the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). Besides, it is now the fifth largest economy in Nigeria with its GDP growing at 7.3% per annum. And, as we speak, Osun is the second richest and the 13th crime-free state in Nigeria.

    Enrolment rate for the state’s children in primary school hovers between 70% and 80% – about the highest in the country – while its performance ratings in NECO have also been in the units. In broiler production, Osun is now second only to Oyo State. It also came ninth in the recently-concluded National Youth Games, a feat that has for a long while eluded the state.

    Lest we forget, Aregbesola’s civil servants-friendly disposition could also be seen in his commitment of more than N200 billion to salaries and pension allowances, compared to less than N60bn spent on infrastructure. It is also worth mentioning that, under its O’MEAL programme, government has so far committed more than N10 billion to providing over-200 million plates of highly nutritious meals to students in its elementary schools across the state.

    Pre-2011, Osun could not boast of a recreation spot anywhere in the state. Now, Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo has added flavour to more than 80 tourist centres scattered all over the nooks and crannies of the state for fun-seekers to make merry. And, with more than 200 hotels, some of which can compete favourably in the comity of hospitality business, the state’s revenue base is assured of a huge boost. The cargo airport project and the signing of a N216 billion investment in Industrial Park with a Chinese firm, Jiangsu Wuxi Taihu Cocoa Food Company Limited, also point to a ”fresh deal” for transforming the state’s ”industrial base.”  

    The governor deserves commendation for leading a new understanding in parliamentary local government administration in Nigeria. When fully operational in the first quarter of 2018, facts are that it will, among other advantages, help in expanding the potentials for accountability, transparency and societal capacity building.

    Well, this is where Aregbesola’s accusers deserve some tutorials on the politics and the complexities of capital city centres. As an illustration, though Obafemi Awolowo hailed from Ikenne, he chose Ibadan as capital of the then Western Nigeria to concentrate the greater part of his development efforts. Gawain Bell who served as governor of the old Northern Region between 1957 and 1962 was a South African while Ahmadu Bello, his premier, was from Rabbah in Sokoto. But that never deprived Kaduna its privilege as the administrative capital of the Northern Region. Ditto for Enugu under Michael Okpara whose source was Umuegwu in the present-day Abia State.

     

    • Komolafe writes in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State.

  • The moral undertones of restructuring

    The call to restructure the Nigerian federation has in recent times gained a momentum unprecedented in Nigeria’s history. The call has become so popular and important that it has refused to disappear from daily national public and private discourse. Notable politicians, academicians, socio-political and economic analysts and many others across the country have spoken and or written, for or against this important national issue in recent times. At another level, there have been increasing agitations by different ethnic-based groups most of them calling for a restructuring of Nigeria, for devolution of powers to the states and for fiscal federalism.

    Protagonists of restructuring have laid claims among other things, to the verifiable and convincing developments and growth recorded in the different regions during the First Republic when true federalism was in practice. To them, the extant or current insecurity, economic downturn, under-development, high rate of unemployment, ethnic distrust, the various ethnic agitations, threat and counter threats, dictate and make restructuring of the nation expedient. Their conclusion is that the present national structure is not working; neither will it work in the best interest of all Nigerians in the nearest future. They posit that it is high time a new approach to nationhood be sought for and applied.

    In the quest for the restructuring of the nation, it will not be out of place to look at other dimensions and undertones. One of such dimensions is the moral undertones. For long, Nigeria and Nigerians have been plagued with high moral failures at all levels and in every facets of our national life. These moral failures are manifested in political deceit, high level looting and corruption in both high and low places, scandalous jumbo pay pack and monetary allowances for lawmakers, fictitious contract awards, misappropriation of collective resources, bloated administrative cost and wastage at nearly every conceivable institutions, reward and celebration of mediocrity instead of merit, flaunting and celebration of ill-gotten wealth, status and positions, application of different standards in admissions to schools/Institutions and in appointment to offices. Records of moral failures abound in the judiciary and in the security outfits, in educational, health institutions, and the financial, manufacturing and marketing world. The religious and traditional Institutions are also not free from this malaise of moral failures.

    At the national, state and local government levels, there are embarrassing leadership moral failures in terms of their lackadaisical responses to the increasing poverty, penury, underdevelopment, stunted growth, increasing crime, unrest, cultism, unemployment and lack of social amenities in many places. Many of our leaders, without qualms, continue to display and flaunt their ill-acquired wealth, live a life of self-aggrandizement and flamboyant life style, even in the face of imminent national crises.  The led (populace) are not left out in the moral malady. Many, like the Biblical Esau, have not only sold their birth-right (civic rights) for a pot of porridge, but have made themselves cannon fodder for those who in a gluttony fashion, feed fat on their sweat and on God-given collective resources. Indeed, every facet of our society has been inherently infested with moral failures, not only in decision-making, implementation and in accountability, but also in moral living.  In our moral failures, we have wrongly come to see leadership as means of acquiring wealth, power and undue status rather than service to mankind. We have also failed to see followership as being good citizens. Unfortunately the emerging generation has imbibed these maladies of greed, corruption, wrong work ethics, immoral shortcut to whatever they want and a rat-race for wealth, positions and power for selfish purposes. There seems to be nothing immoral which we cannot do to achieve whatever selfish and immoral things we desire.  It is these moral failures that have brought the nation to this dangerous precipice in which we are today. The story is one of moral failures by all and in the national structures, to the detriment of all; yet, these failures themselves have wrongly become platitude among Nigerians.

    It is obvious to all, if we care to look and discern the situation in the nation today, that, the moral failures have served in part, even if remotely, as catalyst for the increasing armed insurgencies and militancy in the nation today. It has served as impetus for the continued agitations for restructuring the nation. The unemployed, the marginalized and the hungry, have in certain cases, become ready tools in the hands of scandalous individuals who claim to speak for the people asking for national restructuring.  Unfortunately again, the restructuring has become another source of immoral selfish-enrichment for some. The truth is that, so far these moral failures and depravity persist in the land, agitations of all forms, either for selfish individual or group purposes or for the good of all, will also persist.

    We cannot and must not continue to stand in self-denial about these cancerous moral problems confronting the nation. It is a time bomb, which if not diffused on time, will swallow all. The nation cannot be truly restructured without first a reorientation of the wrong mind-set of the populace (leaders and the led) for love of and acquisition of money, affluence, positions and selfish ambitions instead of selfless service, good leadership and humility. To restructure the nation without first, a moral values re-orientation (restructuring) of the mind-set of the people is to restructure and build on air, deceit and muddy foundation. It would be discovered at the end, that such restructuring has been an exercise in futility, mockery and cosmetic at that, because what has been, (the endemic moral failures) will continue to be. The wisdom in the Holy Bible has said it all, it is only “righteousness that can exalt a nation” (Proverb 14:34).Similarly, Jesus Christ advised that, we should “first make the inside clean and the whole would be clean” (Matt 23:26).

    In our quest for restructuring the nation, it must be echoed loud and clear that there must be concerted efforts by all, but especially, the authorities in the land, to re-orientate the mind-set of Nigerians (leaders and the led). Moral value such as honesty, truth, justice for all, equitable distribution of national resources, reward and celebration of merit, freedom, citizen’s rights, equal opportunities regardless of race or creed, positive work ethics, right use of power, transparency, accountability  and the likes must be well entrenched and celebrated as national values. They will without doubt, go a long way in bringing about peace, unity, development, trust, goodwill, progress, stability and all that makes for nationhood.  It will also help to reduce ethic mistrust, agitations, militancy and insurgency. Concerted effort must be made in a restructured Nigeria to make, nepotism, mediocrity, corruption, abuse of power and all injustices by any one or groups of persons or institutions, serious offences which regarded and treated as anathema and also met with stiff penalties.

    For sure, the nation needs a restructuring before it can move forward. Perhaps we need to revisit the Independence national charter (constitution) and begin there. Nevertheless, any restructuring must firmly and highly entrench national moral values in the scheme of things. Restructuring Nigeria is like purging her of her laissez-faire approach to issues, systems, institutions and structures. Along with that purge, the citizens (leaders and the led) must also be purged from our moral laissez-faire. Until then, the utopia that we all long for may still be far away.

     

    • Ven. Dr. Adeloye is a Priest of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

  • Varsity unions and earned allowances’ strike

    On December 4, the Non-Teaching Staff Unions (National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT); Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU); and Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU)) in public universities resumed their suspended strike. This time, it is about the failure of the federal government to explain how and why it ‘shared’ the N23billion disbursed earned allowances disproportionately. Rationally so, it may be strange to have heard as Nigerians that out of the said amount, academic staff’s earned allowances for 22 verified varsities’ by the federal government was allocated N18,389,698,674.04 while non-teaching earned allowances for 24 varsities was N4, 610,301, 325.96. To some in this line of thought, since the number of non-teaching who are support staff are more than the academic staff, they ought to receive more while to others, it is simply an explanation of the ‘why’ that is required. But these are not ‘free-for-all’ type of monies; they must be earned, meaning that if you do not fall into the specified type of jobs entitled to earn it, you can only hear of it. This is why it is necessary that union leaders make available to their members the 2009 agreements reached with federal government in order not to mislead them or cause cross union acrimonies. Union members, including ASUU members, must go beyond passive membership to knowing what their leaderships are negotiating for them beyond reading about it in the newspapers. A line in the University of Ibadan anthem says “A mind that knows is a mind that is truly free”. How was the N23billion allowances arrived at? To what extent are union leadership culpable? Is the disbursed monies arrived at from the computation/entries made by unions themselves?

    The Federal Ministry of Education through the Director of ICT, Ifegwu. K Oji on behalf of the Permanent Secretary had written a letter to the Accountant General of the Federation on October 30 on the payment of ‘verified’ submissions from universities on earned allowances. It was based on the verification of the claims made by universities through a five-man committee in the education ministry that it recommended that the amount quoted in the preceding paragraph be made. Note that the submissions were principally coordinated by the unions at the varsity level which were then taken to the negotiation table by the leadership of unions (I am sure of that of ASUU). However, it was on the basis of non-submission of entries/claims that academic staff at University of Ilorin and University of Nigeria Nsukka got no disbursement while their non-teaching staff got N207.5million and N447.1million respectively. A few examples of those who got for both ‘ASUU’ and non-teaching as the monies were labelled would suffice here: ABU, Zaria (ASUU: N2.075,440,687.64; Non-Teaching: N331, 087,210.45); University of Ibadan (ASUU: N1.626,117,386.20; Non-Teaching: N105,709,758.33); OAU (ASUU: N1.571,133,153.50; Non-Teaching: N168, 272, 921.18); UNIPORT (ASUU: N863,729,534.11; Non-Teaching: N326, 130,552.69); UNILAG (ASUU: N935,033,419.92: N23,220,355.15). But does staff membership qualify a person to receive these allowances? NO. There are ‘hearers’ and ‘takers’. In the former category are those who wish they receive the allowances but were not employed as at the period being captured or are out of the captured jobs that are entitled to the allowances. The ‘takers’ meet these criteria.

    It is important to state here that the N23billion being paid is to offset earned academic allowances for the year 2009 and 2010. Recall that part of the Memorandum of Action (MoA) leading to the suspension of last ASUU strike was the promise by federal government to pay N23billion out of the N128billion owed as earned academic allowances. The federal government still owes allowances for 2011 through to 2017. To drive home my points, a quick review of 2009 ASUU and SSANU agreements as it relates to allowances is necessary. In the 2009 agreement between ASUU/FG, it was agreed that ‘entitled academic staff’ shall be paid earned allowances for undertaking the following assignments: postgraduate supervision allowance (Lecturer 1: N15,000; Senior Lecturer: N20,000; Reader and Professor: N25,000 per annum for a maximum of five students); Industrial supervision/teaching practice (Assistant Lecturer to Lecturer 1: N60,000 ; Senior Lecturer: N80,000; Reader and Professor: N100,000 per annum); External Examiner postgraduate thesis (Master: N80,000; Doctorate N105,000 per thesis) Internal (Master: N45,000; Doctorate: N65,000 per thesis); postgraduate study grants (Science based: Master degree N350,000; Doctorate: N500,000 per session) Non science based: Master: N250,000; Doctorate: N350,000 per session. Other items in ASUU earned allowances agreement with monies attached are Honoraria for undergraduate and postgraduate examinations; External assessment of Readers/Professors (N200,000), responsibility allowances for Deputy Vice Chancellor/Librarian (N750,000), Provosts/Deans/Directors (N500,000), their Deputies (N350,000), Head of Department/Sub-Dean (N250,000), Exam officer (N150,000), Hall warden (N150,000);and Excess workload (Graduate Assistant to Lecturer I: N2,000; Senior Lecturer to Professor: N3,500 per hour).

    For SSANU, the 2009 contract with federal government states “both teams agreed that earned allowances demanded by SSANU and the rates applicable should be left at the discretion of the individual University Governing Councils but paid to qualified staff at rates specified by way of the benchmark”. Captured are responsibility allowance (Registrars and Bursars: N750, 000 per annum; other Heads of Departments/Units: N300,000 per annum); shift duty, overtime and duty tour to some workers “would be paid allowances at prevailing government rates”; Excess Workload Allowance shall “be paid to officers on CONTISS 13 at a rate of N3,500 per hour”. On Sabbatical Leave it was agreed that SSANU members on CONTISS 09 and above shall be entitled subject to University Governing Council regulation while Laboratory/workshop/Studio/Clinical/Hazard allowance was to be paid only to staff “regularly and routinely exposed” to hazard at the rate of N180, 000 per annum. Also, Technical to Chief Technical Officers are to be paid between N60, 000-N100,000 as may be determined by the University Governing Councils.

    What these two cases imply is that not all staff have entitlements to earn allowances except she/he performs the stipulated assignments not minding whether they are ASUU, SSANU, NASU or NAAT and in some cases leaving the final decision in the hands of University Governing Councils. As such no member of SSANU, NASU, or NAAT should accuse ASUU of scheming them out of the allowances or issue threat to their lives. ASUU leadership needs to be commended for agreeing (with federal government) to sacrifice part of their N23billion to offset allowances of the non-teaching staff based on the promise that they will receive their balance when next tranche is paid. As a duty, ASUU negotiates for the revitalisation of public varsities through funding and ONLY for her members’ welfare and not for other unions. Therefore members of other unions must hold their leadership responsible if they have been negotiated out of agreements. They must hold them responsible for telling them half-truths or total falsehood or denying them the right to know what their stakes are. Federal government is to blame partly for the strike. Had it acknowledged the letter written by the non-teaching unions and made little explanations, the unions would not have felt totally disregarded. The point is, the unions’ leadership cannot absolve itself of complicity in the ongoing strike perhaps owing to the complacency of their members. It will amount to an injustice for a registrar to work but be asked to ‘share’ his earned allowance with his office clerk. You can only ‘share’ in what you are entitled to and not what you are not ‘contractually’ captured. Nigerians know that our enemies are the principalities and powers in high places and our grievances must be properly channelled.

     

    • Dr Tade, a sociologist wrote this piece via dotad2003@yahoo.com

  • Reflections on Akwa Ibom LG election

    Conducting   successful local government election in Nigeria can no longer be taken for granted. Even though election of local government officials is a constitutional requirement, this has been breached over and over again in this country.  Section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution clearly states that: “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the government of every state shall, subject to section 8 of this constitution, ensure their existence under law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.” But as simple and straightforward as this provision is, many state governments all over the country would rather set up caretaker committees to oversee the affairs of local governments than allow the provision of the constitution to prevail.

    This anomaly has so much gained wide acceptability that even the citizenry, who are expected to be beneficiaries of well-run and structured local government system, are seldom worried about local governments elections not holding as at when due. That is the level of apathy of Nigerians towards local governments. While it is easy to conclude that this is happening because of lack of political awareness, the reaction of the electorate to other political matters will make such conclusions simplistic. For instance, is it possible for Nigerians to accept caretaker committees to oversee the affairs of the state government or the federal government when the terms of either the governor or the president elapses without any form of public outcry? But this is what obtains all over the country in the case of local government elections. When the tenure of local government chairmen ends, there are usually different excuses why election of new officers could not be possible. Nigerians are used to the usual songs of lack of money; need to update existing voter’s register and many other excuses that are cited for lack of election into local governments. Unfortunately, these are excuses no one dare give to elongate the tenure of any governor or president. Agreed that Nigerians are docile and because of this, take many rubbish from their leaders, but be that as it may, it is doubtful if they would allow caretaker committees to administer their states or the entire country under any guise in a supposedly democratic dispensation.

    This forms the background to the importance attached to the just concluded local government election in Akwa Ibom State. For many years, the people of the state like many others in Nigeria have been ruled at the local government level by caretaker committees. No wonder their joy knew no bounds as they trooped out to cast their votes in the last council election. The massive turnout of the electorate suggests that the people are politically enlightened and would like to take their destiny into their hands if allowed to do so. Last Saturday offered the people of Akwa Ibom the privilege of electing their own local government chairmen and councilors – something that   has become rare these days. Twelve political parties were said to have participated in the election into 31 local governments and 329 wards in the state. The Peoples Democratic Party won in all the local governments in the state. Of course, the main opposition party has kicked against the result of the poll but independent observers that monitored the election said the election was generally peaceful. For instance, the Inter Party Advisory Council in a statement after the election said the elections were peaceful, free and   met credible standards of democratic tenets.  While congratulating winners, it implored them to see their victory as victory for the people of the state. It equally commended the governor, Udom Emmanuel,  for his commitment  to participatory democracy at the grass roots, which  it said, has placed Akwa Ibom among the few states in Nigeria that have successfully conducted  local government election.

    Indeed, the governor, many believe, truly deserves some commendation,   for being able to pull this through, especially in less than three years into his tenure.  The governor too was equally elated that the election was hitch free as reflected in his speech after casting his vote. He had said the election was exceptionally peaceful. “The massive turn out of voters in the exercise has confirmed the desire of the people to put in place a democratically elected government at the grass root and we are optimistic that election being a contest of numbers would see the best candidates emerge victorious.”

    Perhaps in response to complaints of few hitches here and there, he had said it was very rare to have a hitch free election anywhere in the world. For him, conducting local government elections without experiencing a spill of blood could only be a divine blessing. Truly, that may not be an exaggeration.  Elections in Nigeria especially at that local level can be bloody. Politicians bring in all their arsenals to dislodge the opposition. In one of the states where local government election was conducted recently, the daughter of one of the aspirants was kidnapped to force the father to pull out of contesting in the election.

    Local governments are part and parcel of democratic organs in Nigeria’s constitution and we must as a nation work towards preserving the rule of law at all times. This is what makes for development in every civilised part of the world.  It is important to harp on the need for our leaders to strictly adhere to constitutional provisions on local government election. And that is why governors like Udom Emmanuel should be applauded for taking the bull by the horn and doing what is right in spite of daunting financial challenges bedevilling the state.

    In many civilized parts of the world, local governments, called by different names, foster developments and bring governance closer to the people. Here, we don’t even know the functions of local governments. Some have alleged that local governments don’t do more than share federal allocations every month and that they are pocketed by the states because the executives want to have free access to the money from the federation account. We need to change this mindset and return our local governments to the original reasons for creating them. Counties are responsible for many road construction projects in countries like the United States of America. If the local governments function as they ought to, the pressure on the state and the federal government will drastically reduce.  Why should it be the business of any state to construct inner roads when we have functional local governments? That is an anomaly.

     

    • Aniekan writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.