The Nation Newspaper

Category: Comments

  • Time for new national paradigm 

    Since the March 28 and April 14 General Elections, our nation has recorded about 23 trekkers and bikers, the young and the old alike, traversing the nation, doing unimaginable distances with glee, some in support of Buhari, some Goodluck Jonathan for his presumed love for peace, ditto the concession of defeat at the polls. In all of this, the score is manifest; democracy is the winner and Nigeria the victor. By this Nigerians have said in no uncertain terms that we want to remain together and make our fatherland great.

    The profound euphoria that inundates the public space makes the template for a better Nigeria less tenuous; it leaves our nation with great faith in the oneness or so of our people. The truth is that we have more reasons to stay united than the scores that disunite us. We have shown an unrivalled bond for national affinity and consanguinity than we have of our differences. Yes we can make the best of this halcyon moment; we can like the Phoenix recreate Nigeria.

    A new national orientation paradigm must seek inclusivity and genuine brotherhood predicated on no less a margin than the development of the human capital, excellence must be the watch word. We must cease to permit and pardon mediocrity on the altar of the federal character normative. We must begin a rework of our morals and mores such that all Nigerians will embrace patriotic proclivities and enable a progressive redefinition of citizenship. We must sediment values that confer pride in this collective constituency knowing that we have got no other but Nigeria.

    The zoning and power-sharing normative are only stop-gap measures, they are values that appear conciliatory and inclusive but in actuality they divide us and deepen our differences. The defeat of the PDP at the last general polls and the fact that for the first time since the Nigerian Civil War, we saw an ethnically divided and polarised polity is a lucid manifestation of the failure of the zoning, power-sharing cum Federal Character ordinance and normative. It is a copious minus for debaters who insist on zoning and power sharing as the path to effective national integration.

    Thankfully with a change driven regime, I’m confident that we shall begin the excavation of the needed pebbles that must unite us as one great people. I’m convinced that when we make the development of the human capital the major thrust of governance every other thing will follow. With sound education and technological growth comes the realisation of a universe without bounds, and by Jove a nation with fewer dichotomies, bias and variegation, and such is the minimum template.

    When we begin to see Nigeria as our major collective; when we begin a collective overhaul of our morality in and out of power; when service to nation becomes the narrowest permissible margin for leadership; when East, West, North and South or if you like our six geo-political zones make dedicated service to the people the governmental minimum; when making real the promises of democracy becomes the summum bonum; when creed and clan regresses to personal loyalties rather national mantra; and when change deals with all Nigerians as equals, then the profound voyage to our Isles of Good Hope shall have commenced.

    As a people we have reached that turn in history where quick-fixes and stop-gap measures at enhancing national cohesion must be jettisoned. We cannot afford the luxury of un-researched response to serious national questions. The greatest threat to our nationhood is not in our differences but in the politics thereto, it is in corruption and in the corruptive demolition of our values, it is in the egocentric invocation of ethnic prejudices, it is in the devaluation of the allowable leadership minimum, and it is in the deficiency of organisational quid pro quo such that mediocrity and compromise have become the benchmark for a successful climb on the ladder of power.

    We must begin a rework of the values on which we predicate our National Honours. We must remove our National Honours from the platform of political freebies. We must deepen the measure of value and price the Green-White-Green as our grandest prize. We must not only insist on political appointments that adhere to the ‘round peg in a round hole or square peg in a square hole’ normative but on appointees whose love and passion for nation is manifest and profound.

    The urgency of the now is hinged on the vote for change which the Nigerian people made when a new order was thumb-printed into time, we cannot overlook or undermine this reality, Nigerians are congregated at the mount of great hope where it will no longer be business as usual, anything short of this will fuel a national angst that may just fritter away the pervasive goodwill that the GMB magic enjoys. The leaders of the APC may well take heed of this profound urgency; we must hit the ground running and rightly so.

    I have chosen faith over despair; I have elected change over business as usual; I have studied the Nigerian resilience and the Nigerian brotherhood; I have more than enough reason to conclude that it may not yet be Uhuru, but we are getting there.  It was said that incumbents scarcely lose elections in Africa but Goodluck Jonathan lost. It was said that only a moneybag can win a Presidential election in Nigeria but GMB isn’t a moneybag. In all of this none of the chief gladiators is the winner or the loser, Nigeria is definitely the winner, so I cannot be more hopeful.

    We must take the National Orientation Agency and its message to the streets; we must encourage the emergence of national corps and volunteers to whom our national flag and memorabilia will count hugely. We must raise our National Anthem and the pledge to the status of our national prayer such that the Christian, and or the Muslim opening and closing prayer normative will cease to occupy our socio-political stage; creed should be treated as personal and denied its national vehemence, that way we can diminish all political allegiance to faith, and that way our politico-social allegiance will be to country first.

    Countrymen and women, we cannot continue to trade blames, we cannot overlook the fact that every region has its share of guilt in the national drift. We cannot excuse the collateral damage that un-studied policies and un-researched cum emotive programmatic has brought Nigeria, what Nigeria needs is responsible and responsive leadership not ethnic jingoists and religious fundamentalists. What Nigeria needs are good men who must redefine our values and deepen our morals.  What Nigeria needs are leaders who will kill corruption and give life to committed service to fatherland. And what Nigeria needs is a new regime of rectitude and patriotism.

    ‘What Nigeria needs are leaders who will kill corruption and give life to committed service to fatherland. And what Nigeria needs is a new regime of rectitude and patriotism’

     

    • Prof. Nwaokobia Jnr writes from Lagos.

  • Understanding the sacred status of nature

    Nature is so important in the existence of man that nobody lives without depending on it for survival. In fact, nothing can exist outside of nature. Human beings live in houses, towns and cities and depend on sunshine, rain, clothes and food for survival and growth. In a sense, nature is the platform on which living creatures ride to live and from which they derive all they require for survival, including their respiration. Nature is ever kind, gentle, patient, honest and helpful to all creatures, showing much understanding and respect for their survival instincts and making adjustment for their incursions.

    Unfortunately, the greed of man and his avaricious tendencies has always made him attempt to wipe out nature or twist its course of operation for his own selfish gains.  From the very beginning of his existence, and with increasing intensity, human society has adapted nature and made all kinds of incursions into it. An enormous amount of human labour has been spent on transforming nature. Humanity converts nature’s wealth into the means of the cultural, historical life of society. Man has subdued and disciplined electricity and compelled it to serve the interests of society. Not only has man transferred various species of plants and animals to different climatic conditions, he has also changed the shape and climate of his habitation and transformed plants and animals. If we were to strip the geographical environment of the properties created by the labour of many generations, contemporary society would be unable to exist in such primeval conditions.

    Man is constantly aware of the influence of nature in the form of the air he breathes, the water he drinks, the food he eats, and the flow of energy and information. And many of man’s troubles are a response to the natural processes and changes in the weather, intensified irradiation of cosmic energy, and the magnetic storms that rage around the earth. In short, we are so connected with nature that we cannot live outside it. During their temporary departures from Earth, spacemen take with them a bit of the biosphere. Nowhere does nature affect humanity in exactly the same way. Its influence varies. Depending on where human beings happen to be on the earth’s surface, it assigns them varying quantities of light, warmth, water, precipitation, flora and fauna.

    Man and nature interact dialectically in such a way that, as society develops, man tends to become less dependent on nature directly, while indirectly his dependence grows. This is understandable because while he is getting to know more and more about nature, and in the process transforming it, man’s power over nature progressively increases, but in the same process, man comes into more and more extensive and profound contact with nature, bringing into the sphere of his activity growing quantities of matter, energy and information.

    However, man’s technological and scientific breakthroughs over the decades have had certain negative impact on the natural landscape of the earth. Forests, for example, have been destroyed for arable land to increase; the land has been over-grazed, thus exposing it to abnormal conditions. This was all done in the name of civilization. But as time passed, the interaction between man and nature became characterized by accelerated subjugation of nature and the taming of its elemental forces. Mankind became increasingly concerned with the question of where and how to obtain irreplaceable natural resources for the needs of production. Science and man’s practical transforming activity made humanity aware of the enormous geological role played by the industrial transformation of earth. Consistently and continually, man discovered and devised new pattern of coping with the daily challenges of life.

    Modern industrial activity has embraced ruthless ways of crushing global natural systems. Indeed, the prevailing trend of the modern world is the pursuit of activities that portend great danger for the future existence of the earth. In finding solutions to the complex world’s challenges, man unconsciously creates other problems that are often too difficult to manage. Climate change, overpopulation, loss of topsoil and fresh water, increasing rates of species extinction, deforestation, imperiled coral reefs, unstoppable invasive species, toxic chemicals that remain for eons in the environment, persistent human poverty and hunger, and an increasingly inflated and unstable world financial system are some of the results that unwholesome human induced activities have brought upon the world.

    The problem of eliminating industrial waste is also becoming increasingly complex. The threat of a global ecological crisis hangs over humanity like the sword of Damocles. His keen awareness of this fact has led man to pose the question of switching from the irresponsible destructive and polluting subjugation of nature to a reasonable harmonious interaction in the “technology-man-biosphere” system. Whereas nature once frightened us and made us tremble with her mysterious vastness and the uncontrollable energy of its elemental forces, it now frightens us with its limitations and a new-found fragility, the delicacy of its plastic mechanisms. We are faced quite uncompromisingly, with the problem of how to stop, or at least moderate, the destructive effect of technology on nature.

    Human activity at various times has involved a good deal of irrational behaviour. Labour, which started as a specifically human means of rational survival in the environment, now damages the biosphere on an increasing scale and on the boomerang principle—affecting man himself, his bodily and mental organisation. Under the influence of uncoordinated production processes affecting the biosphere, the chemical properties of water, air, the soil, flora and fauna have acquired a negative shift. Experts maintain that 60 per cent of the pollution in the atmosphere, and the most toxic, comes from motor transport, 20 per cent from power stations, and 20 per cent from other types of industry.

    Many people seem not to understand that the quality of our lives as human beings is substantially a reflection of the quality of the environment which we inhabit. Many still seem not to comprehend that the environment which we inhabit, like kola in Igbo culture, is life in itself. It is whatever we give to the environment that it gives back to us. No more, no less. Most cities of the world experience environmental abuse as a result of the ignorance of the people when it comes to environmental matters. It is from this perspective that one really takes exception to various habits and activities of Lagos residents that portend great danger to the environment. How, for instance, does one explain such despicable attitudes as defecating or urinating in public places, indiscriminate refuse dumping, drainage blockage, construction on waterways, drainage alignments, throwing  of refuse into canals and such unauthorised places, turning garden and parks into arena for environmentally unfriendly activities among others ?

    As a people, we need to really come to terms with the significance of an improved environmental habit. When we deliberately choose to act in manners that endanger the environment, we are the ones that would certainly bear the consequences of such actions. Hence, preserving the sanctity of nature should be everybody’s responsibility because when nature fights back, no one could cope with its rage.

    • Ibirogba is Honourable Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Lagos State 

  • Orji: An alternative viewpoint

    With a regrettable connivance or even collaboration with a section of the Nigerian media, an ugly precedence is being created wherein the performance of top government functionaries, especially state chief executives, is being based entirely on the mood of proprietors of media houses. I would, without mincing words, state that the good people of Abia State are victims of a clear blackmail that has made it impossible for them to properly place their outgoing governor, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, in history.

    This is most unfortunate. My honest view is that if the blackmail succeeds, Abians may never again see a ‘good’ governor, at least not in the foreseeable future. The reason is simply that those responsible for the media siege on the state are most unlikely to relent, having failed to get their cronies into the Government House, Umuahia through the last general election. Already, the incoming governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, was served notice to this effect when a newspaper in a recent front page commentary referred to him as “part of the infamous Orji administration”.

    I sympathize with the good people of Abia State because theirs is the only state in Nigeria that has two national newspapers unleashed on it and to the extent that today, only just a few of the citizens, including those who have distinguished themselves in their career and in service to the nation, have any integrity left of them. As things stand, no set of citizens in Nigeria have had their lives so scrutinized by the media as Abia citizens of late.

    Recently, I was forced to join in the fray to discuss the notion that Igbo political leaders are all buffoons for not leading their people into the Buhari/APC train. One after the other, visible newspaper columnists from a particular section of the country took time to deride the Igbo and their leaders for voting (unwisely) for President Goodluck Jonathan.

    They described Igbo leaders as lacking in vision and that Nigeria has taken off without the Igbo. One even turned his column into an award giving platform from where he handed out garlands to ‘deserving’ Igbo politicians, that is, those who were ‘wise’ enough to join the APC/Buhari train.

    This is a digression but it probably illustrates my position that it is double tragedy for the Igbo for their sons and daughters who overcame the initial reluctance of delving into newspaper business to use their new-found trade to heighten the vulnerability of their people in the media. The outgoing governor, Chief T.A. Orji, has borne the brunt of that perfidy so far but now that he is going, who next? As we have seen above, the in-coming governor, Ikpeazu, has been put on notice.

    I have decided to raise this issue because it is becoming evident that Abians have allowed a certain clique in the national media to pass a verdict on their behalf on their outgoing governor. As noted above, media observatory is necessary for democracy but there is everything wrong in a people allowing the machinery of appraising their leaders to be hijacked by one or two individuals who have a grip on a section of the media. Abians seem to have either abnegated the responsibility of overseeing and monitoring their state or have caved in under the intimidation of a certain cabal from the state which has access to the media.

    It strikes me that the siege laid on the state for eight years is yet to abate even a few days to the exit of Governor Orji. A few days ago, I came across an article by the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, where he was again ‘apologizing’ for choosing T.A. Orji as his successor. I thought Abians have heard this so often that it has become trite. Now that T.A. Orji is leaving, the regret for making him governor is no longer necessary and mouthing it is, in fact, an inadvertent way of telling Abians that they were foolish enough not to have removed Chief Orji in eight years. But something tells me that Abians are no fools to have left the governor to pilot their affairs even if there was a mistake in throwing him up. And I know I am not alone on this but it is left for the good people of Abia state to say so.

    To be sure, Governor Orji could not have pleased everybody in the state; or could he have posted a superlative performance but what I am completely against is the claim that he did so badly that, to use the words of a certain newspaper, the people now have “a chance to shoo Orji out of Abia State Government House, Umuahia and earnestly pray that the shadow of such a pretender democrat never darkens its hall-ways again”. In all honesty, that is too uncharitable not just to the governor but to the entire citizenry of the state. Things couldn’t have been so bad for Abians that a fellow who had their mandate for eight years could be so disdainfully described.

    But more importantly, I think the language in the above passage cheapens the essence of what the write up was meant to achieve. As far as I am concerned, it is the final outcome of a mindset that has lingered for years and which the operatives in that outfit profess not out of their individual convictions but in awe of an over-bearing proprietorship.

    With due respect, I think ex-Governor Kalu ought not to have repeated some of the issue he raised in his recent article on his successor, at least for the simple reason that after eight years of repeating the same thing over and over again, the impression Nigerians would finally go away with is that he, Kalu, has no fresh ideas on how to continue with the fight with his erstwhile friend.

    Differently put, some observers would say that he has lost out. While it shouldn’t really be a matter of victor and vanquished, I ask, will Orji Kalu still do articles or T.A. Orji after May 29? I had thought that the expiration of Governor Orji’s tenure would make the fight between the two friends die a natural death. Last October while we were at Igbere for the burial of the late Dimgba Igwe, I had told Kalu, who hosted us in his country home, Camp Neya, that I wasn’t happy that his quarrel with the governor had lingered that long. Before he made a comment, he pointed at Governor Orji’s official portrait hung at the back of his desk and said, “he remains my governor”. Thereafter, Kalu went ahead to say that he was ready to make up with the governor as soon as the opportunity comes.

    Well, between October 2014 and now is not a long time but the tone of his recent article does not show that willingness. Well, I have now come to the conclusion that so long as Chief Theodore Orji remains at the Government House, Umuahia, that opportunity envisaged by Kalu may never come. So, let’s hope that now that Governor Orji will soon be out, it will come.

    Back to Abians in general, I think that a fellow who brought back the political elite together to work for their collective good deserves a place in the state’s Hall of Fame. In my view, it is wrong for Abians to allow the type of precedence being created by recent newspapers commentaries on the outgoing governor. After all, it is said in our native parlance that he whose dog is being abused is also being indirectly abused. I salute Governor T.A. Orji who came, saw and delivered.

  • Africa: Once upon a continent

    You can’t hate the roots of a tree and not hate the tree. You can’t hate Africa and not hate yourself – Malcolm X

    Today, Monday May 25 is Africa Day! What then about it when a billion Africans worldwide in 2015 muddle through without African consciousness? We have all the structures: Africa Union, (AU), African parliament ad ifinitum but we lack the real thing that would drive the African institutions, African consciousness. How many Africans remember Africa (Liberation) day? It’s time we reinvented pan-Africanism with a demand for a continent-wide obligatory observance of Africa Day. We must promote the education and consciousness about African Renaissance! On May 8, every year, Europeans in unison pause (with public holidays!) to mark the Victory over Nazi Germany’s aggression and oppression in Europe during the Second World War. Sixty million people (including thousands of Africans) reportedly died during the Hitler’s war of attrition. But lest we forget; as many as some 100 million African lives were lost to 19th century European brutal colonial terrorism and

    300 years of the transatlantic slave trade earlier! Younger Africans must be aware of the enormous sacrifices of the founding fathers who through resistance and nationalism fought for African liberation. Otherwise we lose them permanently to complacency and complicity that may nourish a repeat of the tragic history of enslavement and colonization. No thanks to loss of memory, Africa is sliding back into primitive tribal wars (witness South-Sudan), xenophobia, crude and violent tribalism (ala South Africa), ethno- religious wars (Nigeria’s Boko Haram and Central Africa Republic). These mutually destructive war-types in the past undermined African communities before the colonial predators came calling. Modern-day visa lotteries and serial Mediterranean tragedies with boats carrying thousands of African migrant workers sinking underscore the truism that lack of memory ruins a continent.

    Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the chairperson of the African Union Commission must bring some renewed energy and pro-active activism into the Africa Union (AU) secretariat if Africa must matter in a globalized world. I searched in vain for the 2015 theme of an anniversary of the Africa Day. One recalls an OAU of Togo’s Edem Kodjo (1978 – 1983), Nigeria’s Dr. Peter U. Onu (1983 – 19 85) and Tanzania’s Dr Salim Ahmed Salim (1989 – 2001). OAU commendably offered Africa the needed leadership in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and last vestiges of colonialism in Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola. Nigeria is better positioned by its chequered history in the struggle for African liberation to lead a renewed pan-Africanism. But that is if its outgoing leaders halt the last minute reported criminal scramble for “take away” of the commonwealth.  Or better still, if the incoming ruling party officials stop agonizing over sharing (as distinct from

    production) formula based on their zones, regions, villages and clans. On assumption of office this weekend, President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari must definitely act local to re-fix Nigeria. He must however with equal energy think and act African and indeed global. General Murtala Muhammed almost single-handedly roused Africa to action over southern African liberation with the famous Africa-has-come-of-age speech. Africa today begs for quotable leaders! We need self-reliance. If poorer Africa built OAU Secretariat independently, why would Africa with triple figure GDP rely on China to remodel AU secretariat years after? Contemporary Africa parades big chieftains, with their wives, wealth and power but little vision, idealism and love of the continent. Africa Day raises the nostalgia of eminent great African statesmen like Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, Tafawa Balewa, Sekou Toure, Murtala Muhammed, Samora Machel, Amilcal Cabral, Thomas Sankara,

    Nelson Mandela  and non-state pan Africanists like Mariam Makeba, Ngugi Ngig) wa Thiong’o, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, my late dear friend and pan-Africanist, Dr Tajudeen Abdulraheem who died on Africa Day in a tragic accident in Nairobi six years ago.

    At the founding of Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, Nkrumah rightly observed that independence “is only the prelude to a new and more involved struggle for the right to conduct our own economic and social affairs”. IMF and World Bank taunt Africa as an emerging market with alluring growth rate of seven per cent. But market for whose goods?  In the 70s, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang and enjoined us to “Buy Africa”.  Apart from South Africa, which accounts for 27.3 percent of the subcontinent’s total Manufacturing Value Added, the whole continent is littered with smuggled, second hand and imported goods from Europe and China. Nigeria scandalously exports crude and imports refined petroleum products. It’s time to Make-in-Africa, add value to the abundant raw materials, and create jobs for the youths. Africa should be the value addition and beneficiation/job destinations – impossible without electric power. In 1963, Nkrumah had noted that “Our continent ….exceeds all the (other continents)  in potential hydroelectric power, which some experts assess as 42% of the world’s total”. Fifty years after, Africa economy groans under the weight of power poverty.. We cannot drive industrialization with power outages in Accra, Lagos or Johannesburg!

    Fifty-four heads of government Africa are almost thrice heads of government that make up the Euro zone of 19 countries. European Union, (EU) remains unapologetically insular, tightening immigration laws by the day. Recently its leaders said they would “destroy boats used by smugglers to bring migrants across the Mediterranean”. Indeed the EU is set to present a resolution to the UN Security Council to that effect. No voice so far is heard from the continent whose territorial waters are now an arena of gun-boat diplomacy. Who then speaks for Africa?  Some 29 billionaires in Africa are distributed almost between Nigeria and South Africa. Yet the two countries harbour as many as 100 million poor! We must urgently compliment the well-being of the few with the total well-being of all Africans. The challenges of production and distribution in Africa call for bigger economy of scale which is only possible with economic integration and United States of Africa!

    Again Nkrumah saw it all earlier: “Our objective is African union now. There is no time to waste. We must unite now or perish”. The Maastricht Treaty which established European Union was signed on November 1, 1993, 30 years after OAU was formed by far sighted philosopher-leaders – kings of Africa. EU today exhibits robust common big market and common citizenship. What is good for Europe has long been envisioned by African founding fathers. Let’s realise the vision. Happy Africa Day.

     

    • Aremu, mni, is Secertary-General, Alumni Association of the National Institute, AANI, Kuru Jos.

  • Fuel scarcity and the agony of Nigerians

    It started like a trivial development that would soon fizzle out with time. Most government officials that spoke about it gave glimpse of hope that all will soon be well. We were told that within a couple of days the market would be flooded with petroleum products and that the pains of Nigerians would soon be over.

    But quite surprisingly, the fuel scarcity being experienced across the country lingers on. After almost about two weeks of waiting in vain to get this all important product Nigerians are becoming agitated because of the ensuing agonies and frustrations associated with the scarcity of petroleum product. Most filling stations in major cities across the country have become a beehive of activities with multitudes of people waiting endlessly for the scarce commodity. In the few places where the product is available, it is being sold in very exorbitant prices which make it to be beyond the reach of the ordinary folks.

    In Lagos, motorists and commuters are groaning under the heavy yoke of fuel scarcity. From all indications, this particular occurrence might take a bit longer before it subsides. Feelers from experts in the sector have revealed that this current shortage might last for sometime bearing in mind the fact that fuel marketers are not really sure about the likely attitude of the incoming Buhari administration towards fuel subsidy and other related matters. According to experts, the major marketers might want to be very careful with regards to fuel importation until they are certain about Buhari’s policy direction for the industry.

    A major by product of crude oil, the availability of petroleum is crucial to the continuous survival of the country’s economy. Factories, companies, industries and, indeed, homes hugely rely on accessibility to this product, on a daily basis, for optimal performance. In essence, its non availability could disrupt economic activities considering the un- reliable state of public electricity. For some time now, Fuel scarcity is one plague, like corruption, that we are yet to find a lasting solution to in the country. Successive governments in the country have had to contend with this problem without achieving much success. At some point, especially when the fuel refineries in the country were no longer functioning at best possible capacity, the crisis became so alarming that Nigerians were spending days at filling stations just to get access to this all important product.

    Characteristically, the few filling stations and ‘black market’ operatives that are selling the product are ripping off Nigerians by selling at cut-throat prices in spite of the stress that people have to pass through to obtain the product. Consequently, civil servants, lecturers, students, health workers among others, are presently battling with the adverse effects of the lingering scarcity. As it is customary, transport fares to various locations in the metropolis have sharply increased, with commercial bus drivers readily fingering inability to access the product as justification for the increase. Similarly, security at various homes, in the state, is being threatened as most people could no longer get the fuel to ‘power’ their generating sets. The implication is that Nigerians could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.

    It is sad that Nigerians have to suffer so much to get a product that nature has endowed the land with. Those that actually benefit from the oil wealth of the country are the few political and economic elites who get engrossed in many dubious oily deals. What the masses often get is incessant increase in the pump price of the product. Of course, Nigerians are not new to such as succeeding administrations in the country have had to increase fuel prices on various occasions. A chronicle of increase in the prices of petroleum products in Nigeria reveal that every regime since Gowon has, at one time or the other, tampered with fuel prices for one reason or the other.

     The Gowon regime that administered the oil boom era in the country increased fuel price from six kobo to nine and a half kobo.  Obasanjo, in his first coming as a military leader, jerked the price from nine and a half kobo to fifteen kobo while the General Ibrahim Babangida led military junta moved it up from15 to 70k .  the interim government of Chief Earnest Shonekan also increased fuel price from 70k to N5. The Sani Abacha led military regime moved it from N5 to N11 while the General Abdusalam administration took it up to N20. Obasanjo, in his second advent, increased it to N70 while the administration of late President Yaradua reduced it to N65. His successor, President Goodluck Jonathan, moved it to N141 before slashing it to N97 having met with stiff opposition from Nigerians.

    In recent time, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has come under heavy criticisms in view of its gross ineptitude and lack of accountability and transparency. It is rather shameful for a country reputed as the sixth oil exporting nation, in the world, to continually subject its citizens to the annual agony of fuel scarcity.    The question, of course, is for how long Nigerians would continue to bear the burden of the incompetency of those who rule us? It is bad enough that our lives are being endangered as a result of security challenges. It is bad enough that public electricity supply has remained epileptic, in spite of several reforms and fund committed into the sector. It is, however, undesirable that Nigerians should continue to suffer before they could get access to fuel, a product that providence has blessed the country with.

    It is hoped that the incoming Buhari administration would look into the various allegations of incompetence, lack of transparency and accountability being levied against NNPC. Let the change that Buhari and his party clamoured for begin with the country’s oil sector. This is the time to sanitise the sector to ensure that probity and transparency become the order of the day.  Nigerians do not deserve this continuous suffering in the midst of plenty.

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

  • How to increase enrolment in Nigerian Universities

    One of the seemingly intractable problems facing the education sector in Nigeria is the relatively small proportion of students offered university admission each year compared to those eligible.

    Of the roughly 1.67 million candidates that sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination each year for 2013 and 2014, less than 20% was offered admission.

    This is not acceptable for a country in a hurry to develop. Besides, it portends great danger for the socioeconomic well-being of the nation. Having served as a lecturer in the Nigerian University System for nearly four decades before retiring recently, I believe I have some knowledge of its workings to make a few suggestions towards solving this problem. In any case, more people should speak out as what is at stake here is the future of our youths which is intricately linked to the future prosperity of our dear country.

    The benefits to be derived from a successful implementation of these proposals include qualitative and quantitative enhancement of national literacy level and the socio-economic enhancements resulting therefrom, reduction in social costs of idle youths, typified by armed robbery, drug abuse, prostitution, electronic fraud, teenage pregnancies, cultism and hooliganism, etc.

    There is a need to delve deeper into some of the underlying factors responsible for the problem being discussed. First of all, the carrying capacity of the existing Nigerian Universities is obviously far below requirement.

    Furthermore there is a serious shortfall in the number and quality of University Lecturers, with just about 50% having PhD degrees. Also worthy of note is the fact that the high fees being charged by Private Universities puts them beyond the reach of most students. The major strategy currently being employed by the Federal Government to tackle the problem under discussed is the establishment of more Universities. Nigeria currently has about 150 Federal, State and Private Universities.

    However, due to the high cost and long gestation interval required to get a University properly established, it might take about ten years or more for the impact to be felt. Another strategy is the expanding activities of the National Open University of Nigeria. This institution is beginning to make an impact but its general acceptability is being hampered by the discriminatory attitudes of some professional groups and employers towards its graduates.

    This needs to be quickly addressed at the highest level. The National Universities Commission also needs to adopt a more liberal attitude towards part-time programmes, especially those being run by the older Universities.

    A rather interesting but significant outcome of the country’s highly constricted university admission space is the increasingly large number of Nigerian Students studying abroad. Currently, it is estimated that about 71,000 Nigerian Students are studying in universities in Ghana, 30,000 in Great Britain and 7,000 in the US.

     This exercise of the democratic option open to Nigerian Students who can afford it could be consciously boosted by offering scholarships and bursaries, until the situation at home improves. Some further suggestions aimed at solving the problem of inadequate university admission spaces for Nigerian Students include: Operation of 24-hour Campuses (Night Study).

    Virtually all Nigerian Universities at present operate for only eight to ten hours daily. The facilities remain idle for the rest of each day. The introduction of night study on these campuses has the potential of increasing enrollment by 50 to 100%, with minimal additional investment in solar panels or diesel generators, pending improvement in power supply through the national grid.

    There should be a reduction in unnecessarily long Course Durations. For example, reducing the duration of a Bachelor of Agriculture Programme from five to four years would enable admission quota for Agriculture to be increased by 20%.

    Also, there should be a conscious effort to promote On-line Study Programmes in affiliation with some National and International Universities. With smart phones and adequate bandwidth, many students are already availing themselves of this opportunity provided by some highly reputable foreign universities.

    Finally, Private Universities should be given access to Tertiary Education Trust Fund, provided they would be willing to cap their tuition fees to provide greater access to students from lower income brackets. That way, they truly become partners in progress.

    Professor Osinowo, is the CEO of Sophie Academic Services Ltd based, Abeokuta

  • Between Obafemi Awolowo and Afe Babalola

    Just like the Bible, in the Book of 1 Corinthians 15:45, referred to Jesus Christ as the second Adam, a Nigerian Academic, Prof. Raimi A. Olaoye, has described the Elder Statesman and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Are Afe Babalola, SAN as the second and modern day Obafemi Awolowo on account of his (Babalola’s) exploits in the realm of education through which he is putting the smiles on the faces of many and receiving accolades nationally and internationally.

    The setting was the personality lecture in honour of late sage and first Premier of the Western Region, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, SAN and Aare Emmanuel Afe Babalola, SAN, titled “Connecting the past with the present for a rewarding future of Nigeria education system”, organized by the University of Ilorin Chapter the Nigerian University Education Students Association (NUESA)

    Even though Olaoye, Professor of History and International Relations at the University of Ilorin, laboured assiduously to convince his audience that it was an Herculean task to deliver a personality lecture in honour of the duo of Awolowo and Babalola whom he described as fathers, role models, foremost educationists, courageous nationalists and great Nigerians, he held them in rapt attention for the duration of the lecture.

    His words: “To write in honour of these great Nigerians is a task uphill. These are great men whose shoes are too big for (an) ordinary person like me to unlace. I got to know our guests many years ago through their intellectual works and nationalist dispositions. The only time I physically came into contact with Chief Obafemi Awolowo was in the early ‘80s, during the political campaign of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

    “My physical contact with Aare Afe Babalola in the ‘70s was through my uncle, Chief J. A. Aderibigbe, who was his contemporary in a College at Ibadan. But more importantly is the fact that I have the knowledge of these great personalities through their positions in the society, meritorious services to the humanity and invaluable contributions to national development”.

    After taking a cursory look at the past, Olaoye affirmed without any fear of contradiction, that every individual on planet earth is educated bearing in mind that all human beings, at one point or the other, must have benefitted from one or more of the three broad categories of education: Traditional Education, Oriental (Islamic/ Arabic) Education and Occidental/ Western Education.

    According to him, in Nigeria, before the advent of colonialism, the precursor of other types of education was traditional education which was largely built on local customs and traditions as a result of which it emphasized the culture, value, norms and mores of the Nigerian communities. And because moral value was the epicentre of the traditional education then, the prevalence of anti-social vices such as larceny, armed robbery, rape, kidnapping, human trafficking, drug abuse, gay marriage, sexual abuse and other horrendous vices of today was minimal. This enabled the Nigerian communities to be relatively peaceful and stable, while the issues of economy and socio-political growth and development taking their course.

    This was the situation, when the British colonialists came to impose their values on the Nigerian societies.

    At some point later, the Missionaries of different denominations such as the Church Missionary Society, the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and the Roman Catholic as well as the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) among others took over to provide Western education with emphasis on three ‘Rs’, that is, Reading, (W)Riting and ‘Rithmetic which emphasized the inculcation of moral value with the overriding philosophy of the missionary education based on European culture, value, orientation, customs and traditions.

    This was the system of education inherited by the Nigerian nation at independence. But because Awolowo and Babalola, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and Alumni of the famous University of London and others in their mould who had been bitten by the bug of seeing their people beyond mere interpreters, cleaners, messengers and catechists among others in their mould rose up to the challenge to break the barrier in western education which was beyond the reach of the poor.

    Of particular importance in this respect was the introduction of Free Primary Education in the old Western Region by Awolowo way back in 1955 and the deployment of as much as 52% of the Region’s resources on education to make total men and women out of the indigenes of the Region then. This paid off with the monumental development of the region ahead of others, even till today.

    He commended the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation for its cardinal philosophy of preserving and nurturing the legacy of education of the late sage to fruition, a development which gives verve and vigour to the hope of a rewarding education system in future.

    Governments at all levels must be awake to their responsibility as far as education is concerned. They must appreciate that sound education constitute a potent weapon to fight ignorance, lack, poverty and disease and so, they must accord education a prime of place in the scheme of things.

    It is a notorious fact that Awolowo has played his part and has gone to join the saints triumphant, but his re-incarnate, Babalola, has stepped into his shoes by virtue of the gigantic strides he took by establishing ABUAD which commenced academic works on January 4, 2010 to change the face of education in Nigeria and bring back its lost glory in education and for which he had been commended nationally and internationally by education stakeholders including UNESCO.

    According to Olaoye, “Aare Afe Babalola’s efforts are an indication that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Although, I have not been to the University, but what I have been seeing on the television and reading from the newspapers are symptomatic of “Renaissance” that promises a re-birth of glorious period of education in Nigeria.

    Based on Awolowo’s and Babalola’s vision for education and general development of Nigeria, they, in concert with a few others like them, have always been seen in the mould of Nationalists and Pan-Africalists such as Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikwe, Kwame Nkrumah, Leopold Cedar Senghor, Houphouet Boign, Dauda Jawara, Nassingbe Eyadema, Marcus Garvey, E.W. Blyden and W.B. Dubois.

    “In point of truth, Aare Afe Babalola, just like the late sage, is strongly passionate about how to reform our education system in Nigeria.  His popular column on Thursdays in the Nigerian Tribune has always addressed variety of issues on education such as the need for quality education, good remuneration for teachers, review of school curriculum and education which is responsive to the needs of the country. His strong passion for the future of education in Nigeria is not misguided, knowing him as foremost educationist, erudite lawyer (SAN) and someone who hails from home of Professors, Ekiti-Kete”.

    The world is now a global village and new trends in education and other facets of life keep on emerging by the day.  In the world of today, the emphasis is on Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The world is also in the direction of knowledge-based economy. In all of these, the use of computer and other ICT facilities would rule the future world of education not only in Nigeria but elsewhere in the world. And so,  Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.

    Nigeria should therefore go back to the roots, pick up the pieces and review the policy for a rewarding system of education in Nigeria for the labour of our heroes, past and living, to endure and stand the test of times.

     

    • Olofintila, a public commentator sent this piece from Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

  • Comments

    For Olatunji Dare

    That was a beautiful public relations article for Chief Segun Osoba – your professional colleague – but he cannot reap where he did not sow. It is a pity that he became ‘weary and fainted’ at the doorstep of success! Anonymous

    ACN came to government in Ogun State in 2011. Osoba plight commenced with the post- 2003 leadership squabble among Southwest progressives, and might have been accentuated by the landlord-tenant syndrome between old AD and decampees that formed ACN. Anyway, Osoba remains an icon. – Anonymous

    Re: Osoba: The veteran politician at bay. Prof, say, use, write all embellished words, prose in defence of Segun Osoba to promote him, it will not fly. He has earned the wages of crass opportunism that have worked for him since Jose made him. Arogance is an attribute as against a back stabber fit to describe him. Who will send such a person as High Commissioner to UK? – From Siji Adelugba, Osogbo

    Re: GEJ: Wrong on de Klerk.Thank you for the prompt observation  and correction . One wonders if a Nigerian Head of State does not grasp with recent African history.The more reason we should re-introduce History subject to our JSS students. Charity begins from home. Some of us met European History in the West African Examinations Council’s (WAEC’s) syllabus. – From L. O. David, Gwagwalada.

    Oga Olatunji, may the Almighty increase your wisdom, knowledge and understanding to discharge your humongous talent and superlative genetic-endowment more and more.To me, Chief Olusegun Osoba shouldn’t have left the party he was one of the pioneer and think-thank member for any reason, be it oppression or intimidation to form another party, despite the intervention and contribution of big wigs of the party. Because good things come to those who wait patiently. – From Amidu Saheed Olowo, Ifo.

    I read your piece titled: ‘GEJ: Wrong on de Klerk’ in The Nation of May 16, this year. I also read the president’s statement the day before in The Nation. I hope you are not saying that the president is a bad historian. Perhaps it is misinformation as this has mired his administration and made it difficult to identify any positive impact it has made on the polity. Thank you for the timely correction. – Anonymous

    Sir, Please, organise a reconciliation for Uncle Segun Osoba to come back to APC. I understand his feelings; let us see how Asiwaju Tinubu can find a placement for him at the national level. Governor Ibikunle Amosun will be brought into the reconciliation. The problem almost cost APC Ogun State. I am from Osun State but live in Lagos. I am not happy when I remember that Osoba, Asiwaju’s comrade in the struggle, is out of this victory dance. Our victory is not complete without him. Please I want to be  allowed to come with you to the reconciliation; ditto the Amosun group. – From Michael A. B. Awojide, Magodo GRA, Lagos. 

    Re: Osoba: The veteran politician at bay. What Chief Osoba failed to understand was that, the ‘era of ordinary name usage’ to win an election was gone. Since Governor Amosun is satisfying the Ogun citizens with the dividends of democracy, the people will always save him from persecution! It is a great lesson for those who believe so much in ‘a tree would make a forest’. Ride on Governor Amosun.- From Lanre Oseni.

    I have read your column a few times and May 12, this year’s edition was one of them. In the piece, you erroneously wrote that Senator Ibikunle Amosun rode on the back of ACN in 2007 governorship election. No. In 2007, it was the assassinated Dipo Dina that was candidate in that election. Amosun ran on the platform of ANPP in 2007 and ran on the canopy of ACN in 2011 and was re-elected in the year on the platform of APC. – From Dr. Francis Agbo

    Re: Osoba:the veteran politician at bay. A politician who dumps a house he has built simply because he “could not get his nominees appointed to the state cabinet” is certainly not worth the encomium you poured on him and will never be an ”excellent High commissioner”. – From Comrade Ogbale Ogah, Benue State

     

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    Re: Statism, Regionalism and nationalism.  Regionalism will complement national development if both (Regions and Federal) follow the ‘path to development’ with open minds and without bias. The region(s) should not flout the national laws as if they are autonomous while the Federal should not deny the region(s) their entitlements. – From Lanre Oseni.

    Segun, your postulations on regionalism are fantastic, but we have come a long way from the 50s and 60s. Moreover, your regionalism is synonymous with parliamentary system contrary to our system. Let’s patriotically give Statism a chance. – From Ebere Egbuna

    Sir, I agree with you on your article titled: ‘Statism, regionalism and nationalism’. I believe it will go a long way in bringing about regional development vis-as-vis national growth. I hope the Buhari government will think towards that line. – From Salamatu Gawu

     

    For Gbenga Omotoso

    Wonderful article in The Nation. Quite ingenious. – From Offiong Okon, Calabar.

    The Buhari government should not leave any stone unturn in probing the outgoing government of President Goodluck Jonathan because corruption is rooted in that government. Before Nigeria would move forward, we should recover all the stolen money  from the politicians. – From Gordon Chika Nnorom

    Nice one Gbenga in The Coming Persecution. A lot of questions need urgent answers. We should also revisit Soludo’s allegations. The guilty are afraid. – Anonymous

    Don’t mind them, the snake and what it swallowed shall soon lay bare. Thanks. – Anonymous

    We have written much on the impending battle against corruption by the incoming administration. This is a task that must be done, not only in the federal ministries and agencies, but also in the states, particularly in the Southsouth. By the time some governors are exposed, former governors Ibori and Alamesiegha’s cases will be a child’s play. Anonymous

    Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and her Petroleum counterpart Mrs Allison-Madueke are shameless and without conscience. I am not a politician, just an ardent reader of your column, and I would advise them to go into exile if they don’t want to rot in jail in the General Buhari government. Well done, sir; keep up the good work. – From Mr. Ajibolu Afolabi,

    Mr Omotoso, your last back page was refreshing. When last did our military get modern weapons? Lest we forget, the military lack modern weapons. This is because its high command or better the government refused to equip it for fear of coups. Why did our allies refuse to help us in time of need? Thanks to China and Russia for helping out. All that happened during the year of the locust was a covert and overt operation. To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be accomplished. – Anonymous

    I just Love This Editorial Notebook so funny. It’s part of Change o. – Anonymous 

    Good day, just read your persuasive piece on the Coming Persecution. Let me say that Buhari has a huge task ahead. Extra care and humility will help him. Those around Buhari will spoil the soup, I am afraid. – Anonymous

    Nigerians are very merciful people.They are not going to prosecute (or persecute) anybody provided they return the loot. Jonathan should know better if truly he is a man of honour. – From Femi Johnson.

    Gbenga, well done for the last Editorial note- book. Kindly help  to inform the public about our pensions and gratuities. Many others and I retired in October, last year from the Nigeria Police, after 35 years. Each time we met at Leadway Pension Office, the officials would  be preaching peace till date. – Anonymous

    President Jonathan and his team need not be afraid of the day of reckoning; it must come whether they like it or not. The day of reckoning is here; therefore, they must face the consequences of their action for running the entire system of governance aground. President-elect Buhari should not allow them weep up any sentiment.The future of our children is bleak; therefore, we demand justice and l think this is the expectation of Nigerians from the incoming administration. – Anonymous

    Egbon Gbenga, I read your article, are you saying Jonathan’s administration was not corrupt? From Akin Oreoluwa

    What an excellent article. Please keep it up. – From Mukhtar Zakari, Suleja.

    Re:The coming persecution. Sir, congratulations on your sincere, emotional and well-balanced article. But while would anyone,  including some of your media colleagues,  describe Jonathan’s administration as the most corrupt and inefficient and must pay for its sins? For me, this administration has recorded some achievements which must be appreciated. Rather, Nigerians are researching on how to down the president and his good ministers. If this trend does not change, Nigerians in the Diaspora and the rest of us may develop cold feet in serving our fatherland. – From Abraham Okorodudu.

    I cherish your article and enjoy every bit of it. My people in Kogi say: “Only people who display AYO under the sun to dry it will look out if rain is about falling”. – From Idris Lawal, Lokoja.

    Gbenga, after reading through your column of last Thursday, I am of the view that a public office holder should be ready to give account of his/her stewardship. To me, this not persecution. From Prince Wale ADdedran, Suleja. 

    Re: The coming pesecution. Thank you for this apt article. The President’s fear and cry over the impending “persecution” for him and his ministers is based on the fact that he knows the wrong things that have been going on all the while. Why did he not think that a day of reckoning MUST come? If not before men, then before God. He probably thought the latter would apply to him. The converse is his case. Why will questions NOT be asked when public funds were ‘invested’ in public but privately-owned concerns for private benefits? Where lies were told with relish? Where the desired ends of government’s actions were self-serving etc? He forgot that the common man mattered, except as tools to manufacture figures at elections. I wish to remind him that the right word to use is “PROSECUTION” and NOT “persecution” as he probably made a mistake. The day of reckoning has come. – Anonymous.

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

    Re: Jonathan’s Freudian slip. President Jonathan met power problem and is leaving it same way. President Jonathan could not coerce the governors who met a fat Sovereign Wealth Fund, hence all of them blew it. Steep fall of exchange rate has been a consequence of sharp fall in oil prices and failure to diversify our economy/fix other products. All of them in governance – FG and states – should be blamed. How many of them set up industries? Is it not only town roads and salary payments they were doing? Where was/is the National Assembly that would legislate compulsorily to revive our refineries? All of them in governance in all the political parties should take blame for our underdevelopment. The president did not convince us of having fought corruption. Let Mr. President and his aides be prosecuted if there are genuine evidence, otherwise, let sleeping dogs lie. From Lanre Oseni.    

    You believe you can speak better than President Jonathan. Ask yourself; am I the best in my field? You talk about someone as if you would have done better than him if given the chance. Anonymous.

    Why won’ they face prosecution if they stole our money? Those who do not want to be prosecuted should surrender all they stole before handing over on May 29; after all, Nigerians clamoured for change before they emptied our treasury, which has already come. They must return the money they stole so that Buhari can have money to address our challenges, the power problem, for example. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    It is a glaring fact that GEJ’s administrative ship eventually capsized because he was not well groomed for the exalted office of presidency. While in charge, he was just like a bad engine that was repaired ‘tokunbowise’ and was working in fits and starts. To the discerning, our president is a weakling, surreptitiously vindictive, rash and irascible in all his decisions. Consequently, his ubiquitous aides capitalised on his inanities to sweep Nigerians dry in all ramifications, especially via financial alchemy. Whether GEJ mounts all Pentecostal churches to seek undue divine protection or not, he cannot escape being prosecuted when the chips are down. As for our unduly pretentious minister, she should be de-robed from her Godelian heights for viciously impoverishing the country via her useless economic transformation (sorry) disorganisation . Nigerians and the international community may be praising GEJ for accepting electoral defeat, but from his recent utterances, it is glaring that by then, he had no choice. Like the Yoruba idiom  ‘a ti ka ogbigbo mo ori igi, a mo ibi eye ti a fo’ (which literally means that he surrendered because he knew the game was up). The game changed when Orubebe overdramatised the message he was sent to deliver to the whole world when INEC was at the verge of pronouncing GMB the victor. Finally, the loquacious Femi Fani-Kayode must be made to account for his money laundering charges; ditto Madueke, for her tenure as oil minister. From Ch. Soji Oloketuyi, Ijabo street, Igbemo- Ekiti.

    I always look forward to reading you on Sundays. A very brilliant piece as usual. Please don’t keep quiet. God bless you sir. Anonymous.

    Since President Jonathan is close to the church and does not lack the company of pastors, he should know by now that the Almighty God is not against the principle of accountability. He should also by now have come across that portion of the Holy writ that says our mind would be at rest if our conscience is clear. President Jonathan should rejoice that he’ll have his day to defend his policies and programmes if his conscience is clear that he treated Nigerians fairly. Equating stewardship accountability with persecution is sending the signal that he has some skeletons in his cupboard. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

    Jonathan and his government have murdered sleep and shall sleep no more. From Valentine Ojo.

    Nice, incisive article as usual. As a Yoruba, I can relate with your proverbs, viz the leaves/soap and prayer/curse. However, a non-Yoruba would need further explanation to be on the same page with you. The governor in reference (who met the treasury empty and left it empty) is Brig-Gen Atom Kpera of Benue State. Keep up the good work. From Tony Esho.  

    ‘Since President Jonathan is close to the church and does not lack the company of pastors, he should know by now that the Almighty God is not against the principle of accountability. He should also by now have come across that portion of the Holy writ that says our mind would be at rest if our conscience is clear. President Jonathan should rejoice that he’ll have his day to defend his policies and programmes if his conscience is clear that he treated Nigerians fairly. Equating stewardship accountability with persecution is sending the signal that he has some skeletons in his cupboard. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso’    

     

     

  • State Salaries brouhaha

    Last year December, the Vice-President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu raised an alarm that twenty-two states of the federation had not paid workers’ salaries for some months. Then came an avalanche of excuses from the helmsmen of the various states. Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola blamed the inability of the state to pay its workers for five months now on the dwindling revenue from the federation account which has been reduced by 40% since 2013.

    He claimed to have depleted the resources of the largely civil service run state to pay the workers and had exhausted all means of borrowing as the banks wouldn’t give him any more money. Gabriel Suswam of Benue state resorted to illegally deducting from the civil servants salaries and still owes them a backlog citing the same lame excuse of dwindling revenue from the federation account.

     Bauchi state owes its teachers for 11 months while workers in Plateau state haven’t received salary alerts for some months now. The same sorry situation holds sway in Abia, Oyo and even in oil rich Rivers state. The same buck passing is a recurrent decimal among the governors that the problem is with the falling revenues from the centre.

    Why should the governors be overtly dependent on the centre for the running of their states? Why can’t there be creative ideas generation on ways to shore up their internal revenue base in the true spirit of federalism? They were elected to solve the problems of their states and not to whine like babies as to the overwhelming challenges.

    The nation cannot continue depending solely on the revenues from crude oil that is fast becoming a topic of study for students of archaeology in the nearest future. We are in the epoch of a knowledge driven economy with the highest premium placed on human capital development.

    The Singapore miracle didn’t come about with natural resources; it was made possible through the total development of the human person. Most states in the country are far larger and more populous than Singapore. What then is their excuse? It is a shame that these chief executives have outsourced their thinking caps and have demeaned themselves to running to Abuja cap in hand to beg for handouts while using their governed as hapless baits.

    They need to be more responsible and alive to their daunting responsibilities and realize that the only constant thing in life is change. If the revenues drop due to no fault of the centre as they have no control over the oil prices in the global market, they must come up with winning solutions. True leaders emerge through crisis which they do not run away from.

    We won’t be talking about Sir Winston Churchill if he didn’t stand up to Adolf Hitler, Abraham Lincoln would have paled into a mere footnote if he had not found a solution to the Confederate General, Robert Lee in Ulysses Grant who later emerged as America’s President. Von Giap ensured Vietnam made the all-powerful United States pull out of the mountainous country through the effective use of guerilla tactics. He also used that same strategy to frustrate the French out of the country.

    Ademiluyi wrote from Lagos.

  • Issues Buhari must attend to

    Our Dear President-Elect, accept our hearty congratulations on your resounding victory at the Presidential election. One reason for our hope in your success as President is the uncommon resilience you have shown in contesting the Presidential election on four (4) occasions. This is a trait of character you have shared with some great leaders in history. It also shows the strength of character that would be required to cope with the enormity of problems facing an ever tottering Nigeria that has virtually been written off as a doomed country. The second reasons for our hope in your success are your well-known frugal life-style, your abhorrence of extravagant living, unbridled acquisition of wealth and corruption.

    Maybe you are unaware that for some years now, some Nigerians, including this writer, have expressed publicly, there yearnings for the advent of 4 or 6 desperate  and God-sent men; 2 or 3 from the North and 2 or 3 from the South, who like the great history maker, John Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, will bring an hurricane of change known as revolution to our helpless country, put an end to Nigeria’s free fall into an abyss and clear the monumental mess, confusion, lawlessness, excessive greed, which unfortunately have all turned Nigeria, black man’s most thickly populated country into an object of ridicule and pity world-wide. Also note that some people have been praying fervently for this drastic possibility. But there is a ray of hope that you may succeed in drastically changing our helpless and almost hopeless situation. It is indeed a very arduous task. The only hope is that the outstanding men within your party and the massively mobilized Nigerian citizens will stoutly rally round you to ensure that you will not fail, as you embark on measures that must shake our country to its foundation. One of those whose total support you will seriously need include Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has sacrificed so much in different ways and even withstood the threats of assassination to ensure the achievement of your victory and that of his party. Remembering his great sacrifices, he should stand by you in demanding the far-reaching changes that our country needs to survive. Others whose support you will need to make Nigerians willy-nilly accept you as their much needed benevolent dictator in this hour are Chief John Oyegun, Chief Bisi Akande, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, Gov. Rochas Okorocha, Gov. Babatunde Fashola, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi, Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Gov. Kashim Shettima, Governor-Elect Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, as well as others. Crucially important is the support of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who has been my very close friend since my active journalism days. In your desperate need for Nigerians of acute intelligence who are highly gifted and are experts and very knowledgeable in their own right, Chief Obasanjo, who has served Nigeria in the highest capacity for many years, will be helpful in recommending this outstanding men and women from different parts of the country to you. You will also need the total mobilization of patriotic Nigerian elites and the masses for the unprecedented crusade you should embark upon. They include Nigerian Bar Association, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigerian Medical Association, Students of all Tertiary Institutions, Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industries, all women associations, Human right groups and the generality of the citizens. Please note that this task of total mobilization must be given to experts.

    General Buhari, one of the grave issues and unbelievable absurdities of which Nigeria has been well known is the outrageous and sickening salaries and allowances which all categories of political office holders in Nigeria earn. These emoluments which have made us a laughing stock in the world have led to Nigeria spending about 75% to 80% on recurrent expenditure, while 25% is left for capital expenditure which is even grudgingly and half-heartedly executed, resulting in abandoned projects. Unfortunately, during the time of our founding fathers, Sir Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, capital expenditure was 70% while recurrent expenditure was 30% or less throughout the country. One will weep for Nigeria, which contains 40% of the world’s black population, when it is realized that a senator in the Federal Republic of Nigeria earns about 5 times the $400,000 which Barack Obama, the President of the richest country on earth earns per annum. It is a tragedy too deep for tears that a Nigerian Senator earns #29,479,749 per month, which makes a total of #353,756,988 per year. The earnings of each House of Representative Member is just a little less than that of each Senator. This is a serious crime against humanity, moreso, when it was revealed recently by an International organisation that over 100 million Nigerians are living like destitute. That our rulers are sick and they need to be quickly rescued from themselves before they put us in total peril and danger is revealed by the facts made available to the public a few months ago by a former Senator, Chief Olabiyi Durojaye, who was a Senator from 1999 to 2003, that he earned #6 million a year, that is #500,000 a month, out of which he paid his staff during his tenure as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Considering Senator Durojaye’s disclosure, what is the basis of the present self appropriated fortunes which Senators and House of Representative members pay themselves? In Ghana, members of their Unicameral Legislature earn a small percentage of what our National Assembly members earn. An attempt a few years ago by Ghanian Legislators to increase their pay was resisted by Ghanians who trooped to the streets and the increment decision was dropped. Please note that there will be riots all over the country if Nigerians know the salaries and allowances of our Senate President and other National Assembly principal officers.

    For you to succeed in your Herculian task, salaries and allowances of the President, National Assembly members, Governors, Ministers and other Political office holders should be reduced by about 60% to 70%. This is why politics has become the most lucrative business in our helpless country, Nigeria, far more profitable than drug peddling, and this is the reason for the desperation of Nigerian Politicians. Severance gratuities and post tenure pensions, whether approved or contemplated, should be reduced or cancelled out rightly, after thorough check of what the situation is in advanced and far richer countries of the world, for the President, National Assembly members, Governors and other political office holders.

    General Buhari, please note that to be able to tackle this problem, you must be able to personally create a strong moral authority that will be obvious to all Nigerians. The only way you can do this is to issue a Presidential directive to the Salaries and Wages Review Commission on assumption of office that all the basic salaries and allowances paid to you as President of Nigeria must be lower than that of President Barack Obama, which is $400,000 a year. It will shock you to know that President Barack Obama buys his own food from his salary and he only eats government food during State functions. Also, his wife and immediate family take care of his laundry. You will also be shocked to know of a startling public revelation some months ago, when public outcry against National Assembly’s jumbo pay was raging, by the Chairman of the Salaries and Wages Commission that all the salaries and allowances which the members of the National assembly pay themselves were self appropriated and unknown to his Commission.

    The second most difficult problem that you must tackle head-on is monumental corruption. With your uncompromising integrity and exemplary courage, we hope you will destroy the hydra-headed monster known as corruption in Nigeria.

    As you are fully aware, we are one of the most corrupt countries in the world and all pervading corruption in all areas of our National lives, most especially among different arms of government have ruined our economy and made us one of the most under developed countries in the world. It is well known to everyone that for many years, public men and officials had stolen billions of naira, dollars, pounds and other foreign currencies, part of which they have callously kept in developed nations where their citizens enjoy very high standard of living. While part of the stolen wealth is used to entrench themselves and their stooges in governance.

    Our President-Elect, please note that if you succeed in eliminating corruption in Nigeria and if you have the courage to drastically reduce the present outrageous salaries and allowances and wastefulness in governance, you will be rated as one of Africa’s magnificent heroes. You will be in the company of Nelson Mandella, Kwame Nkruma, Nwalimu Julius Nyerere and SekouToure.

    Another grave issue you must tackle is the pressing need for spectacular economic transformation of Nigeria. This requires a leader who is visionary, focused and ready to use the most talented and knowledgeable human beings. Economically, Nigeria must remove the stigma of being a semi-colonial appendage of the western world. This means you must ignore International Monetary Fund’s neo-colonial recommendations by adopting a coherent, original, deep-rooted and forward looking economic philosophy that can turn Nigeria, with its awesome endowment by Providence, into one of the most prosperous nations in the world in record time. Within your two terms in office, relying on Nigerians with research, knowledge, depth of thought and serious exposure, you can be half of the way in making Nigeria a medium world power economically.

    All told, Nigerian farmers would become so prosperous through export-oriented farm production and massive production for now moribund but vigorously revitalized local industries. Our farmers and all those involved in the processed farm products for exports, whose lives will be greatly enriched, will beg you throughout the country to stay for another term in office as President. Be assured that ordinary Nigerians appreciate outstanding leaders and they do not really care where they come from.

    With your set goals, you can make this country earn enormous fortune from solid minerals, and the huge funds you will make from agriculture and solid minerals will be enough to effect your carefully planned set goals on infrastructure like roads, railways, water and electricity and hospitals. You will be able to more than meet UNESCO’s stipulated budgetary allocation on Education. The role of bureaucracy will be minimal, but you will rely more on Nigerians with proven and outstanding ability and uncompromising integrity from the public/private sectors with or without party affiliations, through task forces that you will personally monitor from the Presidency. As a visionary leader, you will find out from experts what is making it impossible for Nigeria to generate more than 40,000 megawatts of electricity being generated by South Africa which has a quarter of our population, and directly tackle the problem by giving your task force a target to make power failure a thing of the past within 15months.

    Give yourself a target that fuel shortage, fuel importation, moribund refineries, and unbridled theft of our crude oil will be a thing of the past in Nigeria. Also give yourself the task of day to day monitoring of development in these areas.

    Another serious anomaly that should receive your prompt attention and positive action is our skewed and lob-sided Federation which the Military, through their long period of rule have turned into a unitary government. In fact, one of the absurdities of Nigeria is that the present constitution was arranged and fashioned by the most brutal, corrupt, and tyrannical Military ruler in Nigerian history, the late General Sani Abacha, who even aspired to become a life President. This means that any constitutional amendment based on Abacha’s constitution especially resulting from the recent National Conference, can never meet the genuine yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. The constitutional report inaugurated by the outgoing President should therefore not be implemented; rather, a Sovereign National Conference should be convoked, with full participation of all the nationalities and with its decisions and recommendations subject to a referendum. That will result in the people’s constitution which recognises that Sovereignty, the ultimate power in Nigeria, belongs to the people.

    The other option is for Nigeria to return to the Parliamentary system of government, in which highly qualified professionals and successful self – employed people contested and served as parliamentarians on part-time basis, with modest sitting and other allowances. The military rulers who introduced the very expensive and wasteful Presidential system of government to Nigeria will today will be full of regret that they have made a very serious mistake in plunging our country into an extravagant and wasteful system that it could not afford. The less expensive Parliamentary system which rose up outstanding leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Sir TafawaBalewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Sir Francis Ibiam, was and is still good for us.

     

    •Chief  Oyebola is a renowned editor, publisher and author of 26 books, including the timeless publication – Black Man’s Dilemma; initiator, in 1993, and Chairman, Movement for Nigeria’s Total Transformation (MNTT).