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  • NASS: Rule bearers without rules

    NASS: Rule bearers without rules

    Across boundaries and ages, the legislative arm of government has evolved as a most fundamental pillar of democratic rule, to the extent that the history of democratic development across the globe cannot be rightly situated without an elaborate mention of the stabilizing role of the parliament in nation-building. Indeed, the representative nature of the legislature is symbolic of democracy itself, such that in an ideal setting where the votes of the electorates really count, the composition of the parliament becomes a true reflection of the sovereign will and choices of the people.  In other words, legislators are custodians of the culture and tradition of governance which are usually expressed in the rules, laws, regulations, ethics, precepts and ordinances set by the people themselves, notwithstanding whether or not such rules are documented or unwritten, even as democratic culture and attributes sometimes vary from clime to clime.

    However, the conduct of these revered occupiers of the ‘hallowed chambers’ becomes a burden to the people when they, who should jealously protect and promote the law and the rules, are the prime defaulters. The situation is even more worrisome when the lawmakers from whom much is expected to be of higher standards and above board in safe-guarding the tenets of the rule of law are now the ones throwing the rules to the dustbin. What a disservice to duty! Unfortunately, the pervading erosion of values and tradition as demonstrated by some actions and inactions of our lawmakers in the recent time has far-reaching implications on the survival and growth of democracy and good governance in our nation. For instance, how on earth can lawmakers be effective in checking the excesses of the executive, judiciary and other agencies of government when they fail out rightly to purge themselves of the urge to break the rules by which they operate and maintain peace and decorum among themselves?

    To start with, more penetrating and compelling criticisms, by the day, have continued to trail the recent appointments into the Standing Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives by the Senate President and the House Speaker respectively. For instance, the Senate is said to have largely deviated from the age-long rules and tradition which guide the composition of standing committees in the sense that while some of the senators emerged as chairmen of some ‘juicy committees’, some of these committee chairmen were also named deputy chairmen of other committees whereas a considerable number of their colleagues are to only serve as ordinary committee members for the next four years. To this second category of senators, the unwarranted breach of the rules guiding the composition of standing committees is a grave injustice and a travesty of order and decorum. It is widely argued that never was it in the history of the hallowed red chamber that a senator would simultaneously be appointed as chairman and deputy chairman of committees while there are other senators without a chairmanship or deputy chairmanship position. This brings to the fore the question of whether Saraki’s mindset was preoccupied with the intent to reward some people for political and pecuniary interests or for some other reasons best known to him.

    However, compared to the parliamentary ‘faux pas’ of Speaker Yakubu Dogara with respect to the committee appointment palaver, Senator Bukola Saraki’s offence is of less misdemeanour. This flows from the simple fact that while Saraki was said to have worked closely with other principal officers of the Senate before arriving at the 65 committees, Dogara did the exact opposite. Few days ago, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the House Majority Leader, candidly dissociated himself from the composition of 96 House standing committees, claiming that Dogara flouted the House rules relating to this exercise. According to him, Order 7, Rule 10, paragragh (a) of the House rules states that the Speaker ‘’shall in consultation with the principal officers, appoint the chairmen and deputy chairmen from among the members of the committees’’. The anomaly which conditioned Dogara’s conduct in this regard was further seen from the historical perspective regarding the allocation of committees to members from opposition parties relative to the majority party. During the Dimeji Bankole’s era as Speaker of the House, barely 11 chairmanship slots were shared among the opposition parties while the ruling party (PDP) took the large chunk of the committees including the so-called juicy ones for that matter. Again, despite the indisputable roles of the opposition parties such as the defunct ACN in the rather unusual emergence of Aminu Tambuwal against the wishes of his party leadership, only 22 committee chairmanship positions were allotted to all the opposition parties as a whole. In the bid to compensate his allies and make real his promise for their roles in his ‘controversial emergence’ as Speaker during the inauguration imbroglio in June this year, Dogara totally threw caution to the wind, ignored other principal officers and single-handedly distributed chairmanship and deputy chairmanship slots for the 96 standing committees. In defiance of the usual tradition of allotting very large number of the ‘strategic’ committees chairmanship to members of the ruling party to which the Speaker ordinarily belong, Dogara almost tied the ratio; he gave APC 48 slots while the PDP was given 45. It is more disheartening that PDP stole the show going by the ‘juicy’ committees given to its members such as committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Gas Resources, Aviation, Foreign Affairs, Power, Works, NDDC, Niger Delta as well as Airforce. This invariably was the justification for the attempt by some APC committee chairmen to tender their resignation letters en masse to Dogara given the unfair and relegating treatment of the APC in the sharing game.

    Moreover, the leadership of the 8th National Assembly seems to have orchestrated its ordeal by its own intrigues, such that in the rat race to wade off the ripple effects of its undoing in connection with the ‘politics of inauguration’, and maintain a balance disposition between its nocturnal co-travellers and its original family members, it has recorded a monumental failure in the discharge of its constitutional and historical duties to the people of Nigeria. The unending permutation spree and gale of crises management sessions and holidays that the National Assembly leadership has enmeshed itself since that fateful day of reckoning eventually threw it off balance. Consequently, instead of looking forward to set laudable developmental agenda for the government and to further strengthen its capacity to perform its oversight functions as stipulated by law, with a view to ensuring effective budgetary performance, higher productivity and efficiency of government Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), the leadership of the two ‘hallowed chambers’ has continued to put up the appearance of an unprepared  and uncultured rule bearer noted for perpetually flouting its own rules both in conduct and in duty.

    How do we explain a situation in which the Senate, an institution which equals the British House of Lords, is shut down just because its presiding officer is showing up in a court trial to which the Senate as an institution is not in any way a party? What does the law say should happen in the occasion that Senate President is absent? Does it actually mean that other principal officers are incapable of presiding and ensuring decorum in the Senate plenary? These and other burning questions have occupied the minds of Nigerians who voted massively for change in the last general elections, hoping that all stakeholders in the APC-led administration will not only live up to popular expectations but essentially that they go extra mile to justify the peoples’ preference for APC as against the PDP. We can only achieve this through conscientious hard work, sincerity of purpose, unwavering commitment to fighting corruption and all manners of misconducts in the public place, the re-orientation of the people around a common philosophy for national integrity, patriotism, unity, peaceful co-existence and national security. It is by so doing that we can compensate for the confidence reposed in us by the mass of Nigerian people and restore hope back to their apparently hopeless situation.

    In our political trajectory to the re-birth of a New Nigeria that we all can be proud of, institutions and individuals whose placement is critical to  democratic sustainability and the growth and development of the nation must ensure to not only stand firm to protect the tenets of the law but, more importantly, they must be the shining examples of compliance and integrity among the people, to be able to command respect and instil in the citizens that public integrity, nobility and honesty is possible and yet sacrosanct in the building of a new nation. All lovers of democracy, social justice and good governance in the country must therefore rise above primordial cleavages and move beyond ethnic and political boundaries to salvage our democracy and to ensure that we provide Nigerians with the kind of leadership that will offer them a better livelihood and dignity as a people. This is a collective task, the abdication of which can only be to the peril of all.

    Let there be decorum in the hallowed chambers and let our National Assembly leadership stop portraying members of that sacred institution as rule bearers without rules.

    • Dr Omoruyi is a public affairs analyst.
  • Comment

    Comment

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    The second part of your article Zones of disaff ection refers. Blame our traditional title holders and their political friends who are ready to devalue their titles in the presence of rotten money. Let stranger elements in Yorubaland do their title-holding wthout any input from our traditional chiefs or obas. See ezes or what as functionaries of social clubs. It is demeaning for traditional rulers to have a hand in Igbo society affairs. Thank you. From Adeoye

    Re: “Zones of disaffection”. You have said it all. It is said that when you want to test a man’s character, give him power; this is why I am not amazed at the ugly incident that occurred between the Eze Ndigbo Akure and the Deji in his palace that caused unnecessary frictions recently. Anyway, if such an incident did not occur, we would not know that it is time to put a stop to the craze for strange titles in any town in Nigeria. So, it is a good omen and development that such an incident occurred and had generated so much controversy that also drew serious attention nationally; otherwise, the Eze Ndigbo Akure, would still be parading himself as traditional ruler in a Yoruba town. Is it not a known fact, that the Igbo themselves abhorred anybody referring to himself as king? Perhaps, this is why they have a saying that “Igbos have no kings and that everybody is king in his own house”. If that is the case, why do they behave differently now in another town where cultures and traditions are in contrast with their own, or is Akure now also a no man’s land, like they used to say arrogantly that Lagos is a no man’s land, before they were curbed?  Pride goes before a fall you know? From Prince Adewumi Oyeromade Agunloye.

    I quite agree with your piece of Friday November 6.To stop this mad quest for glory and lust for greed which is destroying our sacred traditions and also causing unwarranted unrest, state governments should pass laws prohibiting unrecognized traditional rulers in their states.From Finecountry Imebuogu, Umuahia. 

     

    For Olatunji Dare

    The truth is that Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) will never ever support any honest investigation into how and why late Dele Giwa was killed. Because his logic cannot bear the weight of its own illogic, he has resorted to sophomoric tricks to win a point that objective reason said he lost. On that account, he has made himself one of the few people in Nigerian history whose body has begun to stink before it died. Pity of pities! From Adegoke O. O. Bako, Ibadan.

    We now know that some people are above the laws of this country. I not, President Buhari should make a difference by subjecting Babangida and his co-travellers in the murder of late Dele Giwa to judicial trials. From Miofeyeye O. O. Bako, Ibadan.  

    Re-what happened to Dele Giwa?  You wrote and analysed well. It was the second month of my national youth service and we were all shocked that such a negative intelligence existed then in Nigeria. Summary of that tragedy remains that the perpetrators and killers of Dele Giwa know themselves. The earlier they publicly repent ( for heaven/paradise/hell sake), the better.   From Lanre Oseni.  

    Re: Dele Giwa-  God has watching angels for every soul. God is watching us all from where He is! Accountability and nemesis is a promise by Allah! Nobody admits it here, but surely they would in the hereafter. Its drags, but not endless! Giwa would have the upper hand on the day of reckoning. IBB or not, God knows. From BZ, Kaduna.

    What happened to Dele Giwa? What goes around comes around. Those who used a lethal weapon to terminate the life of a citizen have procured the culture of violence for the whole country- Boko Haram and all other forms of banditry. From Owen- Browne

    Re: What happened to Dele Giwa? My take: You can circumvent the judgement of men, but the judgement of God is inescapable. And it is certain at the end it all, for men are mortal being. Anonymous

    What happened to Dele Giwa may not be known to the public, but it is known to Almighty God,the perpetrators of his murder, and some few privileged others. Thanks for this effort on his rememberance. From Alhaj Hon. Adey Corsim, Oshodi, Lagos 

    Nigerians may never know who killed Dele Giwa,except that the circumstantial evidence of his murder points more convincingly towards one obvious direction – Babangida government.That Gani Fawehinmi didn’t succeed to enter a private prosecution in the Giwa murder does by no means mean that he was pursuing the wrong persons as could be insinuated in some quarters. He was simply blocked by those who knew the unpleasant consequences of his action to them should the fiery lawyer be allowed to sail through. That the killers of Giwa would rather kill more Nigerians to cover their tracks instead of coming open to own up and ask God for forgiveness doesn’t make the matter better for them. As long as “whatever a man sow he reaps” remains, they are not and can never be free. That is, if God hasn’t already visited them and their families with the same death and destructions more mysterious than they visited on the late avant-garde journalist.   From Emmanuel Egwu.

  • Ayade and C/River superhighway

    Ayade and C/River superhighway

    Recognizing the importance of a superhighway for a fast growing economy like Cross River State, a state endowed with enormous resources- great human intellect, vast biodiversity, large body of waters and immense mineral resources is something that requires deep thinking, good vision and great intellect.

    Right from the first day of inauguration of Senator Benedict Benyaushuye Ayade as governor of Cross River state, he unfolded an ambitious project of providing an alternative road and deep seaport comparable to anyone in the world, and these projects he nicknamed the “Signature Projects”.

    Despite the storm of scepticism and criticism he had had to ride on account of the audacity of his dream, the governor refused to allow the wind be taken out of the sails of his audacious vision of economically reengineering the state. For instance, a coterie of professional critics, in a bid to play petty politics, had gone to town trying to pooh-pooh the signature projects as unachievable.

    But refusing to be distracted, he stayed focused on his vision and mission and just when the thinking was that his dream was dead on arrival, he had the best laugh on October 21, when President Muhammadu Buhari, defied all the odds, especially the belting rain, to personally perform the epoch ground-breaking ceremony.

    Even those who believed Governor Ayade was chasing the wind with his signature projects struggled and snuggled up to the President, all to be seen, when he eventually came calling for the ceremony.

    The 260 kilometre superhighway beginning from the more than 14 meters Bakassi deep seaport which will serve as an evacuation route will not only link the northern part of Nigeria and the neighbouring landlocked countries of Chad and Niger republics, but will equally shorten the distance from Calabar to Gakem, the last Cross River State community and border town to Benue State by about 82 kilometres.

    When completed, the superhighway will become the first tunnel road in Nigeria with first-class satellite antenna, fibre optic cable that would guarantee unlimited internet access all the way.

    Equally, it will be the first of its kind designed to be built without hills and valleys, first with speed control cameras and 24-hour ambulance services, first with sub-highways linking all the local government headquarters in the state, and first with motels and filling stations reaching 10 kilometres on both sides of the way.

    To underscore the strategic importance of the superhighway and the Bakassi deep seaport to the state and the country in general, it could not have been any other person than President Muhammadu Buhari who came in person to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the official commencement of actual construction work.

    His glowing comments on the occasion about the projects depict the extent with which Buhari holds Governor Ayade for his vision and his acceptability of the project. The President stated on the occasion that – “When completed, this road, which starts from the seaport and terminates at the boundary between Cross River and Benue states will link the southern part of Nigeria to the North-central, the North-east and ultimately, Central Africa. This will undoubtedly expand the boundaries of our economy by providing countries such as Niger Republic and Chad access to the seaport”.

    He went further to commend the state governor and his team for their foresight in conceptualizing this project, and asserted that “given the multiplier effect these two laudable projects are expected to generate, in terms of aggregate spin-offs, I want to assure you of my determination and as well as the commitment of the Federal Government to ensuring that this road and indeed the seaport run to a quick completion”.

    If the presence of the President and the consequent performance of the ground-breaking was an endorsement of the mind-blowing projects, then the massive assemblage of who’s who in and outside the state, ranging from Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and Rochas Okorocha of Imo states, former governors Liyel Imoke and Donald Duke, the three senators from the state and eight House of Representatives members was an affirmation that this was a widely accepted project.

    The presence of the Obong of Calabar and other royal fathers from all the 18 local government areas led by the state chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, Etinyin Dr.

    As an environmentalist and one who has for long been involved in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for several multinational firms, Governor Ayade understands fully the importance of preserving the environment. A former environmental consultant with Shell Petroleum, chairman of the International Institute of Environmental Research in Rivers Sate, winner of multi-million Japanese Yen in research in global warming, in conceiving the superhighway, he was mindful of the pristine place of the Cross River National Park and the need to retain its pride.

    However, elsewhere, such superhighways are known to have been built criss-crossing various national parks, if anything, to create footfalls around such parks.

    For instance, the Plitvice Lakes National Park, located in Lika-senj County in Croatia at the border with Bosnia Herzegovina, lies North-South superhighway crossing the national park and connecting the Croatian inland with the Adrian coastal region.

    In Canada, there is the Mountain National Park and the Jasper National Park with a railway route passing through the latter, while the Yellow head passes through the former. Also in Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park has a major highway passing through it, with attendant economic spin-off around the park occasioned by the road passing crossing it.

    The Cross River superhighway passing through the National Park therefore would not have been anything new. Nevertheless, the highway had to be rerouted to avoid the National Park, with the closest distance between park and the road ýput at about 7 kilometres. Also, before embarking on the project, the governor had put in place necessary framework that would adequately protect the environment and the ecosystem.

    Accordingly, any one tree that would be cut down to pave way for the superhighway, two to three trees would be replanted.

    To this end, an environmental management expert, Francis Njeni is saddled with the task of painstakingly identifying that every specie of trees felled and to ensure that such trees are replanted as well as take accurate stock of the numbers of persons whose farms/crops are affected by the highway are compensated.   According to the expert, “We are taking stock of all the different species of trees that have been cleared and would be cleared to give way for the road and to ensure the replanting of such species in accordance with the policy of the state government under Senator Ayade. Every one tree that has been cleared or would be cleared, two or three trees would be planted to replace it. Portions of land would be gotten where the different species of trees would be replanted, and I have been able to identify the trees that have been felled. Government has put in place measures to take care of people whose crops have been and would be uprooted to give way to the road, and for the past three or four days now I have been taking statistics of farmers whose farm lands have been cleared, with their names, ages, state of origin, their community, the size of the farm and type of crop or crops they planted that were cleared.”

    With the ritual of the groundbreaking ultimately performed, incurable sceptics are gradually coming to terms with Ayade’s approach to Cross River’s economic renaissance that will take the state to the next level.

     

  • Kogi’s defining moment

    Kogi’s defining moment

    Barring any unforeseen development, the long-awaited first leg of the two-legged staggered governorship elections scheduled for this year will hold on Saturday, November 21, in Kogi State. The second and last leg of the two-legged governorship elections is slated for Bayelsa State on Saturday, December 5.

    From all indications, the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa are decisive while the way the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) handles the all-important exercise will, to a large extent, determine the willingness of the electoral body to ensure considerable improvement on its performances over the years.

    Put succinctly, the conduct of the gubernatorial election in Kogi will clearly show if INEC has indeed learnt anything from its past avoidable mistakes and whether it is ready to conduct free, fair, transparent, credible and acceptable election in Bayelsa State on December 5.

    For the people of Kogi, the governorship election is a defining moment in the political history of the state which was carved out of the present Kwara State several years ago. This is especially why the crucial election has been generating a lot of interest and controversy among the people of Kogi State, in particular, as well as the generality of Nigerians since INEC formally announced the date for the election.

    All roads will on November 21, literally lead to Kogi State as eligible voters are expected to troop out in large numbers to the polling centres across the state to cast their votes for their preferred candidates.

    It is noteworthy that being a staggered election, the electoral exercise involving 22 candidates representing different registered political parties in the state will attract the attention of millions of Nigerians both within and outside the country. It is also hoped that being a staggered election, the usual overwhelming pressure on INEC will not only reduce drastically but the monitoring of the entire electoral process by other relevant stakeholders will also be more effective and more satisfactory to ensure speedy, transparent and acceptable election.

    From all indications, the election will be keenly contested. The fact that the incumbent Governor, Idris Wada of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is among the 22 candidates, make the race a crucial and energy–sapping one.

    It is natural that Wada, being the sitting governor, would enjoy the advantages of incumbency, especially with his unhindered access to state security apparatus, finances, party machinery and other vital structures although these alone may not guarantee him clear victory at the poll that day. Wada’s victory will be determined largely by the extent to which he and his political party have been able to deliver on their promises to the people, particularly in the area of the   much-desired dividends of democracy, in the past four years.

    His PDP-led administration will have to contend with the raging controversy in the state over the backlog of unpaid salaries of civil servants, as well as the governor’s failure to reinstate sacked local government chairmen as ordered by the court. There is no doubt that if not carefully managed, these issues are capable of threatening the chances of Wada.

    Of the 21 other candidates battling to unseat Wada at the poll, Abubakar Audu poses the greatest threat. This is especially because he is highly endowed in all relevant departments in addition to the fact that he is a former governor of the state who after leaving office several years ago, still commands a lot of respect, admiration and influence among his people. The fact that he is the indisputable leader of the major opposition party in Kogi – the All Progressives Congress (APC), places him in comfortable stead to give Wada stiff competition.

    The mammoth crowds at campaign grounds may not exactly determine the type of support the people of Kogi will give Wada on the day of election. The main determinant will be his performance in office during the past four years. This is why he should not in any way under-rate Audu who from all indications, is his main challenger. While Wada is striving hard to ensure he is re-elected for another four years, Audu is working assiduously to return to the Kogi Government House where he left several years ago.

    Kogi 2015 is not only a defining moment for the people of Kogi but it is also a veritable defining moment for Wada and Audu, who when compared with the other 20 contestants seem to be the two serious candidates to watch.

    Already, with the duo of Wada and Audu, the boys are already separated from the men. Wada and Audu are the two political juggernauts that will make the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi to be lively, interesting and intriguing.

    However, it is in the interest of Audu not to take things for granted. The fact that he is a former governor of the state and that the people still admire him, especially for the laudable projects he executed among which is the state-owned university, should not make him rest on his oars. The situation has changed since he left office as governor several years ago and this will require him to change his tactics and strategy for him to be able to earn massive support of the electorate.

    All the 22 contestants in the election should not regard the exercise as a do-or-die affair as it is just an electoral process in which only one out of the 22 candidates will eventually emerge winner. Whoever is declared winner should accept victory with humility while the loser should also accept defeat with magnanimity. Instead of resorting to actions capable of threatening the stability of the country, the loser should seek redress in court.

    Naturally, the question that is seriously agitating the minds of watchers of the on-going political event in Kogi is: Who between Wada and Audu will emerge winner in Kogi on November 21?

    If Wada emerges winner, the PDP will remain in power in Kogi for the next four years. However, if Audu wins, Kogi will be added to the number of states under the control of the APC which is the current governing party at the federal level.

    To ensure free, fair and credible election in Kogi on November 21, INEC, under the new leadership, should provide the candidates, the political parties and other relevant stakeholders, level-playing field to operate.

     

     

    • Ajayi is a journalist and public affairs analyst.

  • Yakubu’s new song at INEC

    Few remembered him by his real name, Moshood Folorunso Abiola. He was simply known as Prof. Peller. However, this enigma born in 1941 at Iseyin, Oyo State, was so adept at his trade that he would easily get a stadium-capacity crowd into a frenzy by his simply mesmerising acts.

    He was a friend to renowned princes, kings, presidents and the influential in the society across the world and was a known face at banquets in palaces and at official and private government functions, just in the same manner he conjured ecstatic vibrations among the ordinary folks. Prof. Peller, the magician was simply magical.

    However, fate, that unseen, but powerful force known to control everything else, was to play the fastest trick on the man known for his tricks. He died on August 2, 1997, the same day death chose to take another legend, the Abamieda himself, the iconic Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

    That was how he left the stage, completely unsung. For very few people seemed to notice his exit despite the tragedy surrounding his end, having been shot in his Lagos residence by some gunmen. Newspapers, struggling to find a space to give all the perspectives of the late Afrobeat king, could only manage to tuck his story in one corner, while radio and television stations, simply mentioned the incident in passing, as they were all consumed by the Fela fever. Such a sad story.

    One couldn’t help but recall this event in the developments that played out a few days ago in Nigeria’s upper legislative chambers, the Senate and how they seem an apt replication of that episode, almost 14 years ago. On Thursday, October 29, the Senate cleared Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside five other national commissioners of the electoral body. However, it was the same day that it also ended the Rotimi Amaechi saga, by confirming the nomination of the former Governor of Rivers State.

    Perhaps, the jury is still out on which is more important – the issue of alleged corruption, which is the crux of the drama in the Senate over Amaechi and that of the decades-old unsavoury electoral system, which has remained a sore point in the making of a great nation out of Nigeria.

    Anybody would have thought that the two would not only have conjured equal importance, but be seen as parallel and complimentary. But it was clear from the media attention given to both incidents that the nation has failed to connect the deafening echo about corruption in the country, especially where politicians are involved, with the absence of a sound and robust electoral system, with special focus on those who ought to make it possible, which was what the screening of the INEC wise men was all about.

    How? One peep in the media the next morning after the exercise, gives all the answers. The very media that chose to give scant regard to the screening of the INEC commissioners, enthusiastically dedicated all the time and space in celebrating the Amaechi saga. While virtually all the newspapers splashed headlines on the walkout staged by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and how their All Progressives Party (APC), went ahead with the confirmation of the former governor, not a single radio or television station appeared convinced enough to invite guests to discuss the issues raised during the screening and, or even the quality of the INEC personnel.

    Even the social media, equally caught in the frenzy of the Amaechi affair, turned their eyes away from what, in many ways, could and indeed have become a matter of life and death to the country and its people.

    By so doing, they simply missed or glossed over the very critical content disclosures raised on the floor of the Senate chambers by the INEC men on how they intended to transform the agency into an institution of hope not only for the electoral emancipation of the country, but that which would create a pathway for the fast and steady movement to a dream Nigeria.

    Else, the declaration by Mahmood Yakubu, would not only have been reverberating across the country today like the echo of a church bell, but creating deep impressions in the hearts of all lovers of democracy with its eternal import.

    Hear the new INEC helmsman when asked about what he was bringing on the table: “I want to assure distinguished senators and Nigerians that no elections ever, under my watch, will be won and lost at INEC headquarters. If you want to win elections, go and canvass for the votes of the Nigerian people. We will protect the interest, integrity and sanctity of the decisions taken by the Nigerian people. Never again will elections be won and lost at INEC headquarters, at the headquarters of the state electoral commissions, and the EOs (Electoral Offices) at the local governments. This will be a thing of the past.”

    To any critical mind, these are not only words on the marble by the deep meanings they conjure, but words that ought to be engraved in the minds of all Nigerians with which to confront the INEC boss, should he deviate from them, because they speak directly to the heart of one of the cardinal issues in the Nigerian troublesome system. For no matter what anybody might say, INEC, still remains a very big barrier to elections in Nigeria.

    Yes, there are many people who would easily roll out the drums today to celebrate Mahmood’s predecessor, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for the handling of the 2015 general elections. But that can only serve the purpose of those professing the glass is half-full philosophy. A quick look at the judgements of the electoral tribunals today, certainly appears not to make Jega’s INEC smell roses.

    Incidentally, there is nothing in the stars that says that what the new INEC boss is saying is impossible within our shores. In the Ghanaian presidential election in 2008, what the ruling party needed to form a government, after winning the first ballot, was less than five per cent of the votes. It would have been a piece of cake to have just awarded it and ask the opposition to go to court. But the Electoral Commission of Ghana, under the watch of the inimitable Kwado Afari-Gyan, refused to grant it.

    Interestingly, the ruling party lost at the second round of balloting, leaving the opposition to go ahead to form government. What followed that act of one man, who refused to budge under pressure, was that the image of Ghana towered in democratic circles, such that it did not only leave many other African countries behind, it practically rubbed shoulders with even the giants of democracy across the world.

    What Mahmood is promising is that he would act in a similar manner, when so confronted. Of course, it could be argued that Jega achieved the same thing with the last election. But such a claim would fall flat in the face of critical examination. Even then, it was clear that Nigerians in their hysteria for change, simply glossed over a lot of things, as is becoming quite apparent now.

    The fact therefore, that Mahmood, instead of living in denial, has decided to do some introspection, by focusing his attention on INEC first, means a major departure from the past.

    This indeed is where the hope comes. Besides, it is not difficult to place the new INEC helmsman at the commanding heights of the nation’s intelligentsia, as a first class brain, who comes with a rich pedigree of performance in other positions.

    But, what becomes more enthralling is that he is also a professor of history. Therefore, he is not only supposed to be at home with historical antecedents, but is expected to be equally eager to create his own history. Here, perhaps, President Muhammadu Buhari might have hit the bull’s eyes with his change mantra. Obviously, the coming elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states, would be the first litmus test.

    Surely, as the various political gladiators plan their own strategies, towards becoming the chief executives of their states, Mahmood, must also be planning his own victory – how to win the hearts of Nigeria. And with all at his disposal, it is a victory only he could lose. The world waits.

    • Igboanugo, a journalist writes from Abuja

  • PMB, Bring Back our Roads!

    Of late, passing through the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has become a very excruciating experience. For those who work in Lagos but reside along the axis, journeying daily along the route is akin to sojourning through hell. With recent development along the road, one does not really need any prophet to conclude that hell is not really far from us. The failed portion of the road between Magboro, Arepo and Wawa communities have been subjecting commuters to harrowing and traumatic experiences.

    It is quite appalling that commuters and residents along the road have been thrown into unending trauma because of the criminal neglect by concerned authorities. Ordinarily, travelling along these three communities to Lagos shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes. But now, commuters spend distressing hours on same trip. The situation becomes more miserable when one realizes that what is responsible, for the agony being faced on the road, could at best be referred to as a routine issue. What makes commuters waste hours on the road could at best be addressed through creative palliative measures. In saner climes, such could have been routinely taken care of. But then, this is Nigeria and things do happen.

    Of course, hell is not only on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Hell is almost on every federal road in the country. Recently, thanks to Channels Television, one came face to face with the ugly reality of some of the federal roads across the country. One of such roads, the Jebba-Kaduna road, could at best fit for the Stone Age. It was in such a state of total collapse that journeying through it has become a dreadful experience for commuters. Some of the motorists who spoke on their experience on the road revealed that they spend hours on same spot by the bad portions of the road. A tanker driver disclosed that his truck has been submerged in the road for days.

    Worst hit are, perhaps, federal roads in the south-eastern part of the country. A recent visit on inspection of the highway by members of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Works to Anambra State, brought to fore the deplorable condition of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. The havoc being done to this road and other such federal roads in the region, especially by erosion, is quite appalling. In Owerri, the Imo State capital, the situation isn’t in anyway different as some of the federal roads have become death traps. Some of the roads include the Owerri-Umuahia road, the Okigwe–Owerri road, the Owerri-Elele road, Owerri-Aba road, Okpala-Igirita Road (Rivers State border) Ulakwo and the Umuohiagu-Obokwe-Alulu road, the Itu-Eziudo Road Ezinihitte and the Umuaka Amaigbo road.

    In Kaduna State, the Kaduna-Jos road remains a nightmare for commuters and motorists. Same goes for the Bauchi/Ninigsi-Kano road which has reportedly claimed many lives. The Bauchi-Kano road, a strategic link road between Bauchi and other adjoining states to Kano has also remained largely impassable. In Osun State, condition of federal roads equally remains pitiable. For instance, the deplorable portions of the Gbongan-Ipetumedu-Ile-Ife of the Ibadan-Ilesa road have continued to be horrendous for travellers along the route. Lots of vehicles have been damaged along the road, especially when driven by those who are unaware of the dreadful state of the road. Similarly, in Edo State, federal roads remain largely in pathetic state. Mostly affected are: the Benin–Auchi-Okene-Lokoja road, Benin-Abraka—Obiaruku road and Agbor-Ekpon–Uromi road and the Benin-Auchi-Okene-Lokoja road. Due to years of neglect and criminal abandonment by contractors, these roads have led many to untimely graves.

    Without a doubt, the awful state of federal roads across the country comes with dire consequences. For one, it leads to avoidable waste of human resources. No thanks to the disgraceful state of these roads, many of our compatriots have died prematurely in most gory circumstances. Recently, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC disclosed that Nigeria loses three per cent of her GDP which translated to 17 per cent of current national reserves through road traffic crashes. No nation that is desirous of economic development and growth will handle with levity a situation where its vibrant work force and other citizens are wantonly wasted through otherwise avoidable occurrences.

    Presently, our nation faces dire economic reality as a result of dwindling global price of crude oil which is the mainstay of our national economy. There have been talks on the need to diversify the economy by focusing on other sectors such as agriculture, small scale enterprises, and extractive industry among others. With the dearth of a well crafted intermodal transportation mode in the country, the road remains our major and most pragmatic means of transportation. With the sorry state of vital roads across the country, our desire for the diversification of the economy might be nothing but a mere hallucination.

    To put the Nigerian economy on the lane to speedy recovery and growth, the Federal Government would have to immediately commit itself to a result-driven programme that would make federal roads passable and investors’ friendly.  There must be a time-frame known and acceptable to Nigerians for the rehabilitation of these roads. While the Federal Government is fine-tuning efforts to redevelop and modernize the roads, one would like to implore the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to as a matter of necessity, mobilise its men and resources to address the failed portions of the roads in order to avert imminent disaster, reduce travelling time as well as lessen every trouble associated with travelling on the roads.

    In order to preserve life as well as put the Nigerian economy on the lane to speedy recovery and growth, authorities concerned would have to wake up and be alive to their responsibilities. This is the time to put an end to the pains and stress being experienced by commuters on some of the roads. It is enough that Nigerians are facing all sorts of economic and social issues. It is enough that there is little or no social security for our compatriots. It is enough that the commonwealth has, for long, been cornered by a few. Over the years, Nigerians have learned to live with all manners of anomalies. But then, will they be asking for too much if they demand that federal roads be fixed by government?

    But then, to ensure that the government is alive to its responsibilities, all stakeholders must not relent in bringing attention to the outrageous state of public infrastructure in the country. Democracy can only thrive when the citizenry ensure that government is accountable to the people. The civil society, the media, religious bodies, traditional institutions and other key stakeholders in the polity must keep asking questions of the government.  It will be suicidal for the people to go to sleep after electing a government. It is now that the government has been inaugurated that the real work begins. Democracy is endangered when the people tolerate and live with all manners of impunity. This is the time for everyone to rise and demand that the federal government bring back our roads!

    • Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja 

  • Alarming rise of cultism among Nigerian youths

    The pathetic rise of cultism in our country and its attendant destructive activities are a clear picture of the fact that things have indeed fallen apart. And the need to checkmate it is now more important than ever before it gets out of hand.

    Overtime, the activities of cult groups degenerated to all sorts of hellish acts that include robbery, political assassination, drugs, arms dealings, and kidnapping.

    To make the matter worse, the involvement of artisans, butchers, okada riders as well as underage pupils and secondary school children who lack moral upbringing at that tender age has put the society at a risk. I remember quite well that during my childhood days, late 80s and early 90s, many of the cults related stories that filter to our media nowadays were hardly heard. Then, this menace which government at all levels has consistently grappled with was limited to mostly students of tertiary institutions. Until recently, cult group membership was not a “two for penny” contrary to the cultists’ on-going dance of shame at the market square in broad daylight without any form of decency.

    Cultism in Nigeria dates back to pre-colonial era when a group of people with the main aim of seeking protection from their ancestors conducted rituals. Secret cults have always existed in many parts of the country. The Ogboni secret cult is notable among the Yoruba, Ekpe secret cult among the Efik, Ekine cult in the Delta region and Owegbe cult among the Edo. Almost everywhere in the world, different types of secret rituals groupings are manipulated in the articulation of organisation functions for a variety of social and political purposes. These societies differ in what is kept secret and what is made public. In some, membership is secret, but the rituals are not, while in some others, membership is made public but rituals are secret.

    According to Opaluwah A.B (2009), in his book, Cultism and Nigerian Campuses, “one positive thing about these societies is that they do not harm unless provoked and they could serve as an instrument for cleansing the society of any cultural debris.” The author argued that some even serve as socialization groups that initiate men and women into adulthood as in Poro and  Mende societies in Sierra Leone and the  Oviaosese in Ogoniland.

    Nigerian educational institutions were not associated with secret cults until 1952 when Prof. Wole Soyinka and six others, including Olumuyiwa Awe, Ralph Opara, Tunji Tubi, Daign Imokhuede, Pius Olegbe and Olu Agunloye, formed the Seadogs confraternity, popularly called Pyrates. The ideas behind the formation of the confraternity were both patriotic and altruistic as it was not imagined as a secret cult. Its objectives were basically to fight non-violently but intellectually and effectively against the imposition of foreign conventions as well as revive the age of chivalry and finding a lasting solution to the problems of tribalism and elitism.

    It is no news that Nigeria as a nation has too many nuts to crack. But things would have been much easier if cultism, which is the root of many social vices, had not eaten this deep into the fabrics of our young ones. The insurgents who are threatening our existence, under the guise of Boko Haram, are mostly youths. Not forgetting the Niger Delta militants who are clamouring for resource control in the name of Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), also predominantly young while the Igbo group, Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is struggling for secession.

    Without mincing words, if this unwholesome growth in cult activities is not put in check, I can aptly say that Nigeria has a bleak future. How do you expect a brighter tomorrow when today’s leaders are busy with destructive activities and tendencies? A Yoruba adage says, “to ensure that your eyes does not see evil, the whole body must be engaged.”

    Parents should endeavour to be committed to parenting. Many parents have abandoned the role of children upbringing to babysitters, nannies and teachers. Teaching of morals, manners and the fear of God should be given emphasis in the home. Unfortunately, children spend more time in school than they do at home when parents, who should be their primary models are far away at work or elsewhere. It is advisable that both parents should work hard to have a happy and stable marriage because children are always at the suffering end of any broken marriage.

    Educational institutions should as well not fail to always remember that they award certificate based on character and learning. There is, therefore, no need of tolerating acts that will put the school in bad light. It is also expedient that teachers who are supposed to be custodians of morals should not fail to do so as they inculcate virtues in the young ones.

    Our religious organisations should see this time as dangerous according to the Bible. Hence, the need to intensify preaching and teaching on topics that build the total man. Religious leaders should be focused. What God hates should be clearly stated to all and sundry without “economising” the truth for whatever reason.  And it is good “we catch them young” because dried fish can hardly bend.

    The place of the media in nation building is second to none. Gone are the days when television and radio programmes which were centered on building character in children were on air. Nigerian media should passionately set agenda for discourse on children and the reason they are tomorrow’s leaders.

    With the change mantra of President Muhammodu Buhari-led administration, government at all levels should be not take it calm in its attempt to curb the menace of cultism. There should be laws that will ban all forms of cult activities and use of weapons among young ones in both schools and larger society. And whoever is caught flouting should be made to face the wrath of the law.

     

    • Onasanya wrote from Abeokuta, Ogun State.

     

     

  • PDP’s umbrella and Saraki’s dilemma

    PDP’s umbrella and Saraki’s dilemma

    This write-up is not aimed at maligning any personality or political organization. Its aim is to enlighten the State and political class across all interested parties on the reality of national self-affliction and national self-destruction through ignorance of the power, utility, and astral divinity of symbols within the ambit of culture. What is more, it is aimed at hinting on a core duty of the State never to underestimate the institution of Culture-particularly the luminous non-material dimensions-as a matter of intelligence; for it is more strategic in the art of governance and human development than the State institutions of education and the military.

    In this piece, the symbol in focus is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) umbrella logo. It will be examined in relation to the scope of party symbols and sub-conscious frequency with regard to its influence on human consciousness and social order. In nature, there is an etheric order of civic symbols that determine the course of human consciousness, cultures, and destiny. Examples of such symbols are Logos and Coats of Arms which operate through the non-material gate of the sub-conscious mind. The gate of influence of the non-material order of nature on man is the human mind, which, for the purpose of this article, will be referred to as Ori inu eda.  Ori inu is the determinant of Iwa as a psychological dimension of human character.

    THE PDP LOGO

    The PDP’s umbrella is constituted by colours: green, white and red. It is placed in suspension. For this reason, its base is deemed to be the air. Therefore, the Logo’s frequency is to be examined as elemental and horticultural phenomena. The umbrella is a tool for temporary use as shield or shelter against rain and unbearable sunrays. It is born of mental creative energy which is evoked in the artistic imitation of the tree (and its function as a shelter), just like the aeroplane is an imitation of the fusion of birds and dolphins, robots as imitations of man, and the camera as an imitation of the human eye in relation to perception of images, blinks of eyes, and memory.

    In the cosmic frequency of the umbrella’s influence on human consciousness within the PDP and their social extension, the operation is bound to occur through the third (astral) and fourth (physical) planes of natural consciousness. Hence, in the ascendancy of reasoning, the PDP is expected to be limited to the dictates of astral frequency which, by the order of nature, is dependent on a horticultural frequency.

    The horticultural frequency essentially deals with relations of the umbrella to a tree and a consequent indication of a forest by extension. In its social sequence, primitive consciousness is indicated. In such primordial state of being, the early man’s primitive instinct is a related psychological potential characteristic of members of the forest society. The animal kingdom is therefore set to reflect the astral frequency, in effect, on the psychology of human members of such forest society. The principal animal frequencies are expected to be in accordance to hierarchy of species in physical association and mythologies.

    Although, man, by the order of nature, is positioned to be a principality; however, in the order of creation, he is the last creature created in available legends, and all other creatures precede him. This is a reason why he is vulnerable to astral conquest by animal images in his dream experiences, sorcery, and Iwa-i.e., general existence of man in mind-body relations-as exquisitely exemplified in the symbolism of serpent in the Garden of Eden according to biblical mythology.

    The animal principalities that are essential to understanding the destiny and culture of the PDP, and which directly relate to the present course of analysis, are the king of reptiles, beasts, birds, rodents and insects. However, in this piece, only the beasts will be discussed with necessary limitation. Of the beasts, reference is to be made to the lion and tiger as kings of the beasts and jungles respectively.

    The base of trees’ existence is the earth. Therefore, the umbrella and tree astral metaphor connotes a state of natural co-existence of humans with all ranges of lower animals. At the juncture of human relations to symbol, the tree’s nature with regard to the human society is to be examined from the socio-political philosophical perspectives of the ‘state of nature’ and ‘social contract’ that is reminiscent of Thomas Hobbes position on life being ‘nasty’ ‘brutish’ and ‘short’.

    PDP LOGO’S PROBLEMA-TIC EVOLUTION

    The biggest problems of the PDP are indicated in the umbrella’s horticultural and astral frequencies. In the PDP’s history, based on the culture of lions, insecurity of leadership within the organization is indicated and evident. Leadership within the party can never be stable, but expected to suffer the fate of heads of lion prides. In the kingdom of lions, once a male builds enough courage and back up, he leads conspiracies and ambushes to overthrow the heads of a pride he aspires to control.

    If successful, the predecessor’s legacy is destroyed to pave way for a new one before another challenger ousts the ruling lion. While the lion psychology prevails in the PDP cosmic factor, the tiger cannot be ignored because it belongs to the big cat family. It is also parallel in authority to, and potentially greater than, the lion. Where Zodiac Leos of the party are not in the frontline, the zodiac tigers play out the central lion energy in the current evolution. Under the spell of the umbrella, the tiger is the principal ally of the lion on a temporal basis of the ‘will to power’. Any course outside this, the tiger becomes a nightmare of the lions, thus making the tiger a dispensable ally by chance in time.

    As a dominant astral image, the lion essence determines the destiny of the PDP in time. The life span of the male lion is 12-16 years, while that of the female is 15 to 18 years. With regard to this write-up, analysis will be limited to the male essence; for an overwhelming majority of the party players are male. It is important to be cognizant of the fact that the PDP lost political authority at the presidency precisely at the close of sixteen years of national leadership. This historical fact is a strong case of probable determination of destiny by astral and numerological symbols!

    SARAKI’S DILEMMA

    As a metaphysical rule, every member of any society has a share of ‘lot’ within the karma of such society. After an exit from an organization that is characterized by strong cosmic ties, it takes time to be free from karmic lot. Where, for example, a person held an office of authority in a society, like Saraki as Governor under PDP, he shares a big lot of the party’s Karma and it will take time and cultivation of the higher self to subdue the negative vibration in a space of time. ‘Once upon a time’ PDP members whose ayanmo related astral signs fall within the categories of tree axis non-human inhabitants are bound to remain under the spell of the umbrella even after exiting the party. What is more, personal astral frequencies will seal the dimension of subconscious influence. Hence, the potentially most negative characteristic manifestation of ex-PDP members in other parties are to be found within the third Trine of Chinese zodiac signs of the ‘tiger’, ‘horse’ and ‘dog’ who have a high capacity for rebellion.

    By fate, aided by the external and personal astral frequencies, Dr. Bukola Saraki was  positioned to be driven by the lion instinct with regard to ambition and will to power. Under the spell of the umbrella, an inclination to Lordship in the spirit of the PDP forest lion is assumed to have moved him to apprehend his desired position by force of self will-to-power. In Ifa metaphysics, it is stated that ayanmo ko gboogun. This means natural determinism must inevitably take its course in nature. An important dimension of ayanmo in this regard is the human birth data which is naturally unchangeable. Dr. Saraki was born on December 19, 1962.  By this data, his Chinese zodiac sign is the tiger-king of the jungle. It is interesting to note that in the alleged conspiracy through which he emerged as Senate president, his Deputy, Senator Ekweremadu, who was born on May 12, 1962, is also a zodiac tiger. This phenomenon may appear to be a coincidence; however, it is a strong indication, and an affirmation of the presumption, of the PDP’s lion psychology and mastery of conspiracy and ambush.

    As a matter of destiny, ogun afomo (problem arising from magnetic attraction of PDP’s umbrella to the conscious mind) induced Dr. Saraki’s will to ogun afowofa (war staged against oneself) which is also caused by Akunleyan (choice) with regard to the fact that the use of logos and symbols in human culture precedes his existence as Adayeba (inherited culture). In this respect, the use of logos in culture is Adayese (culture); and Ori-human consciousness in spirit and of the mind-is the prescribed object of reliance to secure the best possible human destination.

    However, Ori’s security in this regard lies in the spirit of God’s Wisdom which, in anthropomorphic constructs of Yoruba mythology, is Orunmila-a tun ori ti ko suwon se (the redeemer of unfortunate destinies) through inspirational guidance towards making right choices. In order to save itself and Nigeria, it will be profitable for the PDP to extinguish its logo and set all individuals under its spells free from its art-error inspired cosmic and sub-conscious bondage of affliction and the lower self. Expectedly, this necessary transformation is bound to be a win-win for all: the APC, PDP, other political parties, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the international community.

    • Olumide Okunmakinde Esq

    Institute of Cultural Studies, O.A.U, Ile-Ife

    e-mail: okunmakinde@gmail.com

  • Financing development under Buhari: the role of Pan African DFIs

    Financing development under Buhari: the role of Pan African DFIs

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has prognosticated a possible economic recession in 2016. This possible worst outcome of the present slump is something I am sure President MuhammaduBuhari would do everything to prevent. No president wants to be known in history as a ‘Recession President.’ However, this undesirable economic situation can sometimes become a reality, even in spite of the best efforts of a well-meaning leadership.

    Exploring the worst case scenario, the following are the factors that, if they conspire together, a recession might become a reality. Of course, this discussion is meant to inspire concerted efforts, including, perhaps prayers, so that we avoid the likely ugly prospect.

    The most crucial factor is oil price. If the price of oil falls below $40 a barrel for a stretch of time in the coming months, we would have a very serious economic crisis. Some might say why should this be the case, if the economy is as diversified as the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed in 2013; and if oil constitutes just about 15% of the GDP? Therein lies the unfinished work of the diversification of the Nigerian economy. The diversification we have achieved so far is from the standpoint of a wider base of production, with some new sectors admitted into the GDP calculus for the first time in 2013. From the standpoint of government revenue, however, oil still accounts for 70 per cent of total receipts and over 90 per cent of external earnings.

    As a result, the price of oil still wields an outsized influence on overall economic fortunes of the country. At this stage of Nigeria’s economic development, low oil price will definitely depress asset values, non-oil sectors’ performance and overall production. A sharp decline in oil price will generally sap business confidence in Nigeria. The subsisting dependency, under our worst case scenario, would also erode liquidity and consumption. In fact, these are not just conjectures; they have been at play in recent months of lower oil prices.

    The second determining factor is located in the fact that the current weak price outlook of oil is in a loop involving weaker growth in China and weaknesses in economic data from the matured markets. Given that before the current slowdown, the global economy was only at a slow pace of recovery from the last financial crisis, a sharp upward inflection in the global economy is very unlikely in the next two years. Thus, the protraction of a slowdown would have adverse effects in developing economies, including Nigeria. It will take a miracle for this not to happen; but miracles do happen.

    The third factor is that President Buhari is fighting an insurgency. The insurgency may have all along been underrated because of its unconventional tactics and the need to project national security. Therefore, the value in the resolve of Mr. President to end this ugly, growth-sapping insurgency as quickly as possible is well-considered. So, defence will continue to receive a sizeable chunk of the budget until Boko Haram is thoroughly degraded. Until we achieve this success, some growth-spurring infrastructure would be alternatives forgone with high defence budgets. A facet to this argument is ongoing in the United States as well as other big defence spenders of the world. For Nigeria, defence spending will cease to be zero-sum for growth only as victory is attained against Boko Haram and post-insurgency reconstruction kicks in, or if the budget is spent on military hardware manufactured in the country.

    The sum of these is that, with ill-luck, Nigeria can indeed slip into a recession, even if briefly. While leadership may not be able to prevent it, leadership can definitely inspire an economic turnaround that will lift growth above the pre-recession level. Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy responded to a brief period of recession and high unemployment rate by expanding social security, unemployment benefits and cut taxes to bring the economy back on the growth track. Because Nigeria faces different economic dynamics, our strategies would be different. In the instance of tax cuts, our strategies need to be diametrically the opposite of the early 1960s U.S. reforms.

    So where should we start and what is the latitude we have in reversing the current negative trend of economic fortunes?

    Where we have to start is where President Buhari has started and maintained focus. We have to raise the level of efficiency in the system. We have to plug revenue leakages. And, of course, we have to rein in corruption. President Buhari’s holy indignation against corruption cannot but be applauded, and it has been widely acknowledged. These are critical measures that will help economic performance, especially if we assimilate the culture of high efficiency and integrity. But these measures require complementary strategies.

    One of the strategic accompaniments is provision of depth for the nascent sectors of Nigeria’s economic diversification. For Nigerian Export – Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), these sectors are Manufacturing, Agro-processing, Solid minerals and Services. If we disaggregate what NEXIM Bank has in the past five years promoted as the MASS Agenda, we see the strengthening of both manufacturing and agro-processing. The services sector, has literally exploded, while the solid minerals sector is the weakest of these four sectors that can help create jobs and non-oil export revenue.

    The multi-billion dollar question is where are we to source the financing for the various programmes? But equally important is how to channel the financing. I believe development finance institutions (DFIs) have the aces in providing workable answers to both the “where” and “how” questions.

    Over the next 15 years, global resources would be mobilised in funding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs will provide the focal points of global financial interventions. A total $500 billion of innovative financing will be needed every year to finance the SDGs between now and 2030. This effectively means we now have a new paradigm for development cooperation.

    Under SDGs framework, we will see more emphasis on governments’ collaboration with global and regional DFIs on one hand. On the other hand, DFIs are expected to ramp up cooperation with the private sector. This would be the pattern for mobilising resources to finance projects whose value would increasingly be seen in terms of poverty eradication, promoting inequality, mitigating environmental risks and supporting inclusive societies. This places DFIs at the forefront of finance in the years to come.

    Nigeria is in a unique position to tap into the emerging global finance that would increasingly promote sustainable development. Nigerians now lead the two frontline Pan African Development Finance Institutions. Erstwhile Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. AkinwumiAdesina assumed the leadership of African Development Bank (AfDB) on September 1. Later that month, another Nigerian, Dr. Benedict Oramah, became President of Africa Export – Import Bank (Afreximbank).

    These Nigerians were appointed to work for the entire continent. But their nationality provides Nigeria an opportunity for closer affinity with these institutions beyond being the biggest financial contributor to them. There are important values these institutions offer. The AfDB and Afreximbank – compared to their global or foreign cousins – are better placed to understand the local context to our development and support country-owned initiatives. This point is validated by Adesina’s pledge to focus the interventions of the AfDB on supporting power reform, agriculture, SMEs and youth empowerment in Africa. This is missile-accurate. Adesina, like his predecessor, Donald Kaberuka, is poised to making the AfDB catalytic for African growth and for solving Africa’s development challenges, based on deep knowledge of the local context. His work in reforming Nigeria’s agriculture tells how much help he can lend from his new vantage position.

    Another area of benefit is expansion of Nigeria’s network within the global community of Development Finance Institutions. I have seen first-hand the importance of this point since my ascension to the presidency of the Global Network of Exim Banks and Development Finance Institutions (G-NEXID) earlier this year. Nigeria needs to network better with the global development community.

    The AfDB and Afreximbank are important institutions in expanding capacity for the country’s national DFIs. This would naturally cover sharing project knowledge, joint project development and transfer of funding capacities by the regional DFIs to the national DFIs through establishment of lines of credit. This will help in channelling interventions more sharply to the areas of need and impact, as national DFIs even understand the local needs better.

    Afreximbank has a suite of products and services to help Nigeria facilitate international trade. Nigerian banks and corporates can benefit from the trade support facilities of the Bank. NEXIM Bank has been in collaboration with Afreximbank to unlock more resources in the critical area of growing Nigeria’s non-oil exports. A number of Nigerian export manufacturers have benefitted from this cooperation.

    Both the AfDB and Afreximbank are banks of not only the present but also of the future. Afreximbank grew its total assets by 25% in 2014 to $5.45 billion. A much-bigger bank, the AfDB has $100 billion capitalisation. Both institutions are able to leverage their balance sheets to evolve into much bigger institutions. The AfDB just raised nearly $1 billion in additional resources through its new Africa50 Fund, which has been set up to mobilise long-term savings within and outside Africa to finance infrastructure projects across the continent.

    In concluding, one of the greatest economic challenges Nigeria faces is how to economically empower the youth. The answer to this is support for entrepreneurship. Nigerian youths have been actively engaged in business creation. They control the entertainment industry and are expressing themselves in the technology sector. If we managed to unlock funding for these and other sectors, the doldrums that a recession symbolises would become a possibility farfetched for Nigeria. The good news is that the DFIs are well-focused and increasingly resourced to support the commercially viable enterprises of our vibrant youths to complement national efforts.

     

    • Roberts Orya is Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export – Import Bank.

  • For Nigeria’s economy to bounce back

    President Muhammadu Buhari told the nation recently that Nigeria is broke,  as a result, the nation may need the services of 36 ministers but all may not be substantive ministers. Those who were responsible for the present economic predicament of our country were the first set of people that made the greatest noise about the statement of Mr. President. For 16 years the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) ruled the nation and they came on board when the world oil price was at its zenith. The world oil price rose as far as $109 under the PDP administration. If luck was all it require to run a good government, Nigeria might have reached the eldorado.

    Good governance depends on good ideas, wisdom and strategic planning. Unfortunately, those in the helm of affairs then appeared to be short of all the aforesaid. The collectivity were group of men who were merely concerned about themselves at that period in history, without a thought for the future.

    An x-ray of Nigeria Gross Domestic Products (GDP)  revealed that it grows by 2.35 per cent in 2015. It is the lowest GDP growth rate since the quarterly data due to decline in oil production and prices. The oil sector shrank 6.79 percent to a 5.14 per cent growth a year earlier and 8.2 per cent contraction in the previous quarter. Oil production stood at 2.05 million barrels per day (mbpd), 0.13 mbpd lower than the preceding period, and 0.16 mbpd down from a year earlier.  Electricity,  gas,  steam and water supply dropped by 11.61 percent (-27.92in Q1).

    In contrast, construction grew 6.42 per cent (+11.17 in Q1). Services expanded at a slower 4.6 per cent compared with a 7.04 per cent rise in the previous period. Information and communications sector grew 6.26 percent, internal trade went up 5.07 per cent, finance and insurance grew 6.41 per cent and real estate increased 2.97 per cent. Agriculture expansion slide to 3.49 per cent

    It is imperative to note that oil accounts for nearly 70 per cent of Nigeria public revenue and 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings. The fall in oil prices has negatively impacted the nation finances and currency with the naira losing nearly 9 per cent to the USD. In 1961 the OPEC average oil price was $1.57, it rose to $17.44 in 1999, by 2010 world oil price was $109.45. Unfortunately, our leaders under the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) during the economic boom lost the opportunity to conserve the oil gains and reinvest such in order to boost our economy. Development according to President Barack Obama “depends upon good governance” and not upon strong men. The Excess crude oil funds in Saudi Arabia were kept for the development of health sector and infrastructural development. Algeria utilised the ECF, excess crude oil fund for road development and Angola do the same but Nigeria wasted the fund on acquisition of eleven presidential jets, over invoicing contractual agreement and launders over $159 billion dollars abroad.

    The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo declared in a newspaper that he left N287 billion recovered from the looted fund from late General Sanni Abacha when he left office in 2007. Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala confirmed that $500 million was recovered from Abacha. In addition 167 million euro to about $ 2.5 billion she claimed was recovered. Few months ago, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the Governor of Edo, claimed that $50 billion was found in the account of a former minister’ under President Goodluck Jonathan in an American bank.

    On power, the sum of N2.740 trillion has been expended in that sector in the last 16 years, this information was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igalu to the Senate adhoc committee recently.

    According to Transparency International Corruption Perception Index for 2014, Nigeria is up by 8 to 136 out of 175 countries. Large scale fraud was reported in NNPC to the extent that the whistle blower, the former CBN Governor Malam Lamido Sanusi was ridiculously suspended and retired from his post for dare to mention that a sum of $20million was missing. The Minister of Petroleum,  Mrs. Alison Madueke was summoned by the National Assembly over allegations concerning missing funds, and for chattering a private jet to the tune of N10 billion. The minister declined the invitation several times. Today, she is currently in the United Kingdom facing charges of money laundering and bribery. The oil subsidies suspected scammers have been charged to court for economic sabotage, but none of the suspects has been convicted.

    The former Aviation Minister Mrs. Odua was allegedly involved in inflation of purchase of new vehicles for the sector. She was charged to court but she obtained perpetual injunction against the trial. The Airport renovation nation wide was humongous, but the world survey of major standard airports found Nigeria unqualified among the best in the world. The same applies to the railway system, while the world has moved on to supersonic trains, Nigeria continues to drag behind. The Chinese loan obtained for the renovation of our rail system was said to have been diverted to other purpose. Yet we are bound to pay back the loan with interest.  The Adhoc Committee of House of Representatives headed by Hon. E.J Agbonayinma is currently looking into the contracts/projects in the Federal Ministry of Transport with particular interest on railway tracks, maintenance and procurement/rehabilitation of coaches and locomotives as records have it that a sum of N187.2 billion has been expended

    The road network is nothing but death traps that have been sending innocent lives into early grave on a daily basis. The Lagos-Ibadan express ways for instance has remained a sorry sight. The rehabilitation of the said road is grounded due to non-payment of the contractors. If the federal government is financially solvent, the project would have been completed by now. The Airlines services is sordid. It continue to be a “coffin” in the air. In all, there is no single sector one can point to as viable.

    The economic reality is an indication that the President is using to determine the numbers of ministers that the economy could sustain. History of the First Republic revealed that Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the premier of Western  Region (now 8 states) had only 13 ministers, and Ahmadu Bello government in the North had 12 ministers. In modern times, states like Califonia in United States of America with population of 38.8 million and a Gross Domestic Product of $1.95 trillion has 14 full cabinet members. In the United Kingdom the cabinet composed of the Prime Minister and 21 ministers. Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution gave power to the president to appoint minister from each of the 36 states . Noble as this suggest, but the reality of the economy cannot support 36 ministers.

    The way forward

    The economy is down but the solution lies not in lamentation, nor in apportioning blame, statesmen are made of tougher stuff to turn things around for the betterment of the society. The Buhari administration should therefore arm himself with the sound knowledge of economy and political sagacity that will turn the economic downturn to economic gains.  President Barack Obama came on board when the American economy was unstable, and today the economy is adjudged among the best in the world.

    It is a known fact that oil economy is no longer reliable in the world today, but ability to tap other resources such as mining of various minerals, resuscitation of Aladja and Ajaokuta Steel Mills in Delta and Itakpe in Kogi state, can bring hope to the hopeless economic  situation. Gas flaring, if well tapped can fetch the nation more revenue.

    Agriculture has remained an old occupation that we can always fall back on. Before we ban importation of rice, we can invest more on the plantation in commercial quantities. Local rice producers can be motivated with finances and agricultural equipment. Activities of rice smugglers will need to be curtailed. Other agricultural produces must also receive government attention so as to meet the domestic needs of the citizenry. Once hunger is conquered, the people will be fit to contribute their efforts to the country’s GDP.

    We can resurrect dead and aged cocoa trees. A lot of revenue can still be obtained from the production of cocoa. The coffee production is still relevant.  The cashew nuts and groundnuts remain a viable option for economic development.  Maize and beans productions must not be ignored. Fish farming is another source of revenue generation both for the states and the individuals. Billions of naira have been wasted on fish importation. If there is time to turn the money on fish importation, it is now.

    Poultry farming is growing daily, but government involvements are little or nothing. Instead of allowing the importation of poultry products, we must expand the local production and ban its importation totally. As we save money which would have been spent on the importation, so we are likely to save the lives of our peoples who are being exposed to dangerous poultry products.

    Cattle ranches should be vastly created in all locality in order to preserve cattle and diaries products. The time to make it compulsory for cattle rearers to maintain a healthy camp or farm has come. This will end communal clashes with herdsmen all over Nigeria. If we will do the needful now,  Nigeria’s economy is bound to bounce back soonest.

     

    • Obaditan, a public affairs analyst sent this piece from Osogbo, Osun State