Category: Comments

The contrived deadlock of the Abia State governorship election, which is fast turning out to be one of the few black spots in the otherwise reasonably peaceful 2015 general elections, which took place on March 28 and April 11, is uncalled for and calculated to deny Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu and Abia people their victory, as the facts hereunder would show.

At the Umuahia collation centre, INEC had collated, declared and announced results based on the entry in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s EC8D form, which showed the PDP candidate, Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu to be the clear winner, having secured 248,459 votes. This is more than the required 25% of total valid votes cast in two-thirds of the 17 local governments. Dr. Ikpeazu’s closest rival was Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), who secured 165,406 votes, which is 83,053 less than Ikpeazu’s votes.

The official figures released by INEC and duly signed by Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, Abia State governorship election’s Returning Officer and all accredited agents of the political parties, including APGA’s Chief Ahmadi Nweke, shows that of the 1,217,632 registered voters in the state, 470,900 were accredited. Of this, there were 439,454 votes cast with 430,561 valid votes and 8,893 rejected votes. The unaccounted-for vote is 31,246. These votes could not be cast in areas where there were no elections materials, or as a result of violence.

Dr. Ikpeazu’s commanding lead by 83,053 votes are enough to return him elected because even if the runner-up, APGA’s Dr. Alex Otti wins the entire 31,246 unaccounted-for votes, his total votes would add up to 196,652, while the PDP candidate, Dr. Ikpeazu’s lead of 248,459 would still make him a clear winner, even though his 83,053 advantage over Otti would be reduced to 51,627.

Therefore, the unwarranted action by INEC to declare the election inconclusive is a travesty of justice. It should not stand. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, should intervene in this matter so that the hitherto credible work he has done is not rubbished.

This misapplication of justice runs contrary to the positive tones with which results have been received across the nation, because, aside of the party, (APGA’s) verbal query of the figure, there was no evidence put forward to remotely suggest that there was any anomaly or breach of electoral rules in the conduct of elections in the state.

The nation is reveling in the turnout for the elections, which is a departure from the gloomy picture that the pre-election campaigns painted, and the scattered displays of violence and misconduct. The REC and RO should not short-circuit the nation’s joy.

This is imperative because the contradicting position taken by the INEC in Abia State may set fire to the tinder-box of political insurgency in the state if the Commission allows the growing discontent that heralded the decision by Prof. Ozumba and Prof. Oko to declare the already concluded elections inconclusive, persist.

The calls for free and fair elections which were made across the nation and in the media does not end with the parties but includes the electoral agency which was itself a signatory to the Abuja Peace Accord. It cannot now engage in an act of partisan affiliations which seeks to deprive the winner of his victory in favor of an opponent in what may be seen as the electoral agency’s officials’ preferred candidate.

 

• Nwaguma is the National Coordinator of Vanguard for Abia Rebirth

As If our educationally retrogressive ‘dad’ is not enough of a challenge in itself, this is given further regressive impetus with the tri-lopsided nature of our economy – the LAP crew – Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt with each selectively playing their own non-developmental role.  How so? This is new!  Nothing new, if you open your eyes. They call Lagos the ‘centre of excellence’, nope, it is the gateway to consumption. According to Maersk Shipping Line, Nigeria’s import/export container ratio is currently running at 92% import and 8% export (Google this information). This paltry export is dominated by non-processed agricultural produce as we cannot even process the 8% produced. So all Apapa and Tin Can ports mostly contribute to Nigeria via Lagos, is to feed our insatiable consumption appetite for imported products which dominate the trading markets in Oshodi, Balogun, Yaba, Mile 2, Mile 12, Trade Fair, etc. Add the transportation sector, Lagos State revenue services, banking and telecom sectors and you get a feel for how all these interwoven dependants efficiently promote the distribution network for our imported feeding frenzy.   The second part of this tripod, being Abuja, is in our central geographical comfort zone ruled by the political consumption elite comprising the political class and their accompanying partners in consumption – the ministries, departments and agencies, being masters at perfecting the art of just taking and nothing much to give except laws, rules and regulations. It would be nice if they were followed through or implemented for progressive reasons rather than nothing that much substantial to show nationally for all they get.  Our propping up masters in Port Harcourt meanwhile, the third in the economic tripod, contributes the bulk of our foreign exchange, international vagaries of the oil market notwithstanding.  Where does propping up come into play here? Fact is, if the foreigners leave Port Harcourt today and they cart along their dredging, drilling, excavating, bulldozing and offshore equipment, we can hardly get that oil or gas – MEND guys excluded of course – at least they know how to bend and send the pipes’ products for their own pre-destined purposes, you have to at least give credit to them on that one.

So where to now? What should be the roadmap, blue print, white paper, policy initiative or whatever fancy pansy name we tend to come up with?

There is no local government in Nigeria without an agricultural product, mineral resource or abundant human resources. Take a staple product like yam with Ekiti farmers and Ekitians well noted for pounded yam and vegetable stew. What is wrong with organising them into cartels with better guaranteed access to agricultural bank loans via the Bank of Agriculture?  One yam processing silo built for farming cartels or cooperatives would create hundreds of jobs through the need for security guards, cooks, drivers, admin and accounting personnel, farm processing operatives, including preservation, storage, packaging, distribution, marketing and sales personnel.  By the time restaurants, guest houses, entertainment and leisure resorts, retail outlets and far flung markets are added, the impact on the local economy would be revolutionary mind-blowing.  Local governments would become proactive money earning establishments rather than reactive money-collection or distribution channels for ‘Abuja’ goodies.

This is where the agro-technical institutes come into play in researching, designing and producing improved devices, implements, instruments and machines that can be modernised to plant, cultivate, harvest, gather, or preserve agricultural produce for better yield. With a sure increase in employment, then it becomes relatively easy to track and tax citizens, ramp up internally generated revenue, IGR, spend on infrastructure and other social amenities earned from the sweat of the citizens. At this rate, states would be better placed to seek loans on the strength of their economies at better rates rather than laying the foundation for infrastructural development accompanied with state indebtedness. Without engaging its human capital productively, this provides the backdrop and ample reason(s) for citizens to exclaim – Na road we wan chop!

Now for industrialisation – It is in the application of physics that the black race, supposed to be led by Nigeria, has been disappointing and that’s why we would never be able to command respect from other races considering the unenviable situation of our techno-engineering sector. Borrowing from the opinion of Mr Chibuzor Asomugha, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics President, his call for reorienting the education budget allocation should be given meaningful attention. In The Source Magazine of July 2014, p 43, he analysed the 2012 education budget of N400 billion with universities getting around N188 billion (47%), polytechnics about N64 billion (16%) and the colleges of education handed close to N43 billion (11%). This outlined the lopsidedness of the education budget towards university-based education system. If we are serious about technical-vocational development, this should be turned the other way round.

But is it possible, to take steps to enable the environment? We have been saying this for decades – if you are waiting for the government that will be forever. I wish we could borrow a cue from Dr Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Motors, and learn that if there has not been an enabling environment in fifty years, then it is high time we learnt to enable the environment. The question is, which government – at the federal, state or local government level?  Take the textile ‘adire’ market in Abeokuta, the popular fabricating Panteka market in Kaduna, the acclaimed indigenous technology people in Aba and Onitsha, the cane weavers in Maryland, Lagos who are always complaining of lack of governmental support or harassment from government officials (http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/lack-fund-bane-cane-weavers/) – they are of more earning potential to Nigeria Plc., especially through the state and local governments, than the secondarily useful professionals we everlastingly roll out each year most of whom are aiming for immigration exercise recruitment in Abuja.

The answer to Nigeria’s advancement is at any place outside the LAP cities – the available land for all manner of agriculture and industrialisation.  Revolutionising and re-prioritising the educational budget allocation would be the first meaningful step in this direction. All that is needed is organisation – land is there, human resource in abundance, products already known, rudimentary technology available, markets aplenty – what in heaven’s name do we want more of? Simply just to allocate resources productively is our headache! Don’t worry we’ll get there. But how? Somehow…somehow, you know…

Now, do you think we are thinking?

 

•Owolowo, author, ‘Nigeria’s Odyssey…’, is an educationist, trainer and rural entrepreneur with widely travelled background. owolowo.dele@gmail.com,

Truly, we all agree that our country, Nigeria is mentally sick, and should not be allowed to die.Nigerians, especially our so called leaders are worshiping mindless accumulation of material wealth and money to the detriment of God and positive spiritual values.  Most of Nigeria’s problems, particularly the phenomenal corruption that has crippled the country and aborted the realization of her vast potentials can be traced to the Second Republic (1979-1983). This was the period when the seeds of wanton corruption in public life were sown, a problem that was to assume monstrous dimness during the dark years of military dictatorship.

Contemporary Nigerian  leaders are motivated by greed  for money rather than patriotic and selfless service to the people. The Christian scripture is quite right in the book of Timothy when it describes the love of money as the root of all evils. This is certainly true of Nigeria. The love of money is the root of the massive corruption responsible for the mass poverty, endemic unemployment, collapsed infrastructure, epileptic power supply, chronic insecurity, ever increasing inequality and other ills responsible for Nigeria’s persistent underdevelopment.

The huge money realized corruptly through holding public office is responsible for the fierce and vicious struggle to win elections at all costs and by all means in Nigeria. This is why election campaigns and actual elections in the country are characterized by desperate attempts to perpetrate various kinds of electoral malpractices as well as violence and bloodshed. The excessive quest for money by all  means no matter how diabolical is also responsible for crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, ritual killing, prostitution and  fraudulent 419 activities.

Medically, a well diagnosed disease is partially cured. If we have identified greed and excessive accumulation of I’ll gotten wealth as the root cause of Nigeria’s problems, then decisive steps must be taken to tackle this menace. For instance, the renumeration and allowances of public office holders at all levels should be drastically reviewed downwards to a more sustainable level that does not constitute a drain on national resources.  To address the problem of inequality between the vast majority of poor Nigerians and the minority of wealthy individuals, there should be a limit placed on the amount of money it is legally permissible for an individual to acquire while the war against corruption and all forms of illegitimate enrichment should be intensified.

Excess money realized and acquired from corrupt individuals should be diverted into the establishment of industries, firms, companies, factories and other business ventures where jobless people can be employed in the country.

Rich Nigerians should also be encouraged to engage in philanthropy and invest their money selflessly in improving the conditions of the poor masses. To uplift the poor and bring about rapid development in Nigeria, there must be massive investment in three key sectors – health, education and agriculture. These three sectors are today in a pathetic state.

The Health Sector is sick and ailing seriously. There is no true and realistic free health care again in the country. There are no cheap as well as  affordable drugs and medical materials.Terminal diseases like Kidney problems, Heart problems, Lungs problems and various body cancer problems, just to mention a few are very common and rampant among Nigerians (both in young and old people) nowadays.

The education sector does not fare any better. It is also sick and suffering as well. There is no true free education in the country. Right from Primary, Secondary to Tertiary institutions,  Pupils, students and undergraduates are undergoing a lot of stress while trying to acquire desired educational attachments. In Government primary schools for instance, there is no sufficient infrastructural materials for learning. No adequate chairs or benches for pupils to sit during classes. Most classrooms floors are riddled with pot-holes.

Also, at the Government Secondary Schools, there are no library facilities, talkless of free text books which students would have loved to read.

Moreover, majority of the Government Secondary Schools in the country are without science Laboratories facilities while the country itself is desiring and aspiring to be scientifically and technologically developing and progressing.

In the agricultural sector,many of our local farmers are facing numerous difficulties while attempting to meet the need of the common people in terms of food production. There is no serious and realistic encouragement from the government. No cheap modern agricultural equipment like Tractors, Planters, Harvesters and Caterpillars to use in producing Agricultural crops in large quantities for masses’ needs in the country. Consequently, high cost of food and living is prevalent everywhere in the country and millions of citizens are suffering silently.

A critical condition for addressing the problems of mass poverty, deprivation and underdevelopment in Nigeria is the provision of stable electricity supply to all homes in Nigeria as well as for commercial and industrial use. Nigeria is truly and terribly sick, but should NOT be allowed to die. It is thus of utmost importance that our political leadership urgently address these problems in the interest of the toiling masses.

 

“May God save Nigeria” (Amen).

 

• Owolabi a university teacher writes from Ibadan, Oyo State

For Segun Gbadegesin

Oh God! Restore the 16 years that the cankerworm and caterpillar alias -People Democratic Party (PDP) – have destroyed. Give us great grace to sweep them out with our brooms. Anonymous

Re: Closing argument.  So, you have the temerity to blame the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) saying: ‘including sabotage by corrupted INEC officials colluding with the locusts’. That is not fair a comment from you on INEC which did a great job on March 28, 2015.

Secondly, are you aware that Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, a progressive, is owing his workers about six months? Yet, the Federal Government is not owing him any monthly allocation! Be objective when you write and criticise. Remember, the horsewhip used for the elderly wife, is being kept for the brand new wife. It’s a matter of time by voters! You were highly elated in your article. I hope when your opponents win where it may pinch you, it won’t be called ‘rigging’. – From Lanre Oseni

Closing argument: On the outcome of the presidential election, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo must have turned in his grave because what he predicted many years before his demise has come to pass. Now my prediction is this, should the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government performs in a  such a way that Nigeria is removed from the comity of underdeveloped nations, the next generation of Nigerians will celebrate Bola Tinubu as the father of modern day Nigeria. – From Ayena Olugbega Ph. D 

Despite low turnout of voters, the counsel of commonsense will prevail. Kudos to you Segun. – From F. K. Gbadamosi.

To Mr Anele of Sunday Vanguard: “A man of material poverty like you, who obviously, has been settled by a clearly below average intelligent man like Jonathan; a man of  global ridicule for corruption and ineptitude, just can’t appreciate why the world is celebrating a new fresh air promised by the Buhari phenomenon. A character like you defending a woman who blew billions of public resources on private junketing and who refused to appear before House Committee is a disgrace to the world of academics. You will live to see the difference in governance of Nigeria. – From a retired career Ambassador

Jonathan’s phone call to Buhari: the dangers of hyperbole.” I think with you Nigerians can always learn something different and new from what they already knew in a given development in the country. At least from your own account, we are now able to understand better that Jonathan must have quickly conceded defeat or “anticipated the formal announcement of his defeat” in the hope that that was going to “atone for the enormous sins  the man, his lieutenants and his PDP have committed against Nigerians in the past 16 years”. And this you won’t accept but have to remind Buhari that to allow him such “cleverness” would mean to encourage the likes of Jonathan and Company to repeat same in future.OBJ must be a happy man for his own years of civilian rule to be so carefully excluded from indictment by you, or better still, are not required to be accounted for too. Perhaps his exit from PDP and flirting with APC of late may have atoned for that. God have mercy. From Emmanuel Egwu.

I have read through your article; it was clear and meaningful. Please advise the newly elected government to keep its promises to Nigerians. Anonymous

 

For Olatunji Dare

Whether Nigerians like it or not President Goodluck  Ebele Jonathan is one in a million. – Anonymous

Thank you Prof. Dare, but you can see that marginalisation of Igbo has started. What is Saraki or Akume doing with Senate presidency? Is that position not ours, one PDP senator from Igbo will defect to APC and take the post. – Anonymous

Dr Jonathan – a statesman, patriot and noble? I  would have agreed with you if he had made calls to relevant authorities when the court was desecrated at Ado Ekiti and souls were perishing in Port Hacourt. He capitulated because the ivory coast experience was still fresh in his memory. – Anonymous

Ref: Verdict 2015. According to the usual collaborators, it was ‘wrong’ for Jonathan. Prof Attahiru Jega has delivered on his promise. What some of you will be writing in the weeks ahead will determine the course of the peace accord. Can’t you be charitable enough to leave Jonathan alone? – Anonymous

Prof., good day and quite a long time. I just read your Column of today. Don’t you think your view that Jonathan’s concession of defeat has “transformed him to a statesman of the first rank, non-pareil patriot, and one of the finest and noblest persons of this age” smacks of excessive exaggeration? – From Bisi Olawunmi.

Dr Jonathan is one of the best president that Nigeria would ever have in history. He has never been desperate for power; he is a statesman of the first rank; he is a noble man. The problem of Jonathan is the bad people that are around him. – From James Adison, Makurdi.

Dear Prof, I cannot agree less that President Goodluck Jonathan has written his name in gold. I am not surprised, however, because he had repeatedly said that his ambition and the ambition of anyone for that matter was not worth the blood of any Nigeria. He actually saved Nigeria from the predicted and ominous doom. Apparently, I wish this patriot and hero of our time, Jonathan, the best in his future endeavours. I wish those desperate for governorship positions across the land will learn some lessons from the President’s act. God bless Nigeria. – From Temitope Vincent, Akure

Prof. Dare, what we are expecting President Jonathan to do? Refuse to accept the result of a free, fair and credible election? Stay put in Aso Rock Villa and risk the Laurent Gbagbo treatment? Mr. President has proven to us that he is truly a Doctor of Philosophy holder and not one of degrees awarded in a Hotel room. I salute our outgoing President and Commander-in-Chief and wish him well. – Ayo Olalere, Apete, Ibadan.

Re-verdict 2015: The weeks  after. Now, all doubting Thomases believe that the president was not interested in clinging to power at all cost with his submission! What else, after all the journalistic criticisms? His fall! What else? Be objective in life. Worse people even shouted ‘ Haleluya’.  – From Lanre Oseni.

While my congratulations must equally go to Gen Buhari; nevertheless, I am, particularly, happy with President Jonathan for accepting defeat. It was that exemplary act of superior patriotism that defused the highly tensed-up situation in the country, and consolidated the General’s victory in the minds of the people all over the country. Otherwise those who had voted for the president and had expected him to win landslide, wouldn’t have found it difficult converting the Buhari victory into a prelude to the disintegration of the nation by now, going by the already combustible situation in the country before, during and after the election. Jonathan saved us all that and deserves our commendation, no matter what.

Though a galant loser, the president will be better remembered as a consummate, patriot, a man of peace, a courageous politician and, of course, the golden thread with which the modern Nigeria was woven together and kept as one. – From Emmanuel Egwu.

PDP has never been under the sun nor rain before and the opposition has been there for 16 years. Now that APC has succeeded in throwing them out to the weather, they (APC) must be wary of many PDP members who now will want to rush back to the shade, instead of using their umbrella. For we the Igbo, APC’s leadership doesn’t need to be told that persons like Ngige, Okorocha and some very few trusted and committed others are the ones they should do business with on our behalf. – From Architect Eddie Ogbuefi, Lagos.

Please give credit to whom it’s due. Jonathan has done what all the Obasanjos, Babangidas, Abachas couldn’t do with all their donkey years in power and its corridors. He gave us free and fair elections, for me that surpass all the achievements in Obasanjo’s eight terrible years. – Anonymous

Citizens for Change: It is a year since over 200 girls – future leaders of our country were abducted from Chibok. Between then and now, President Goodluck has given two of his daughters out in marriage without visiting Chibok! I beg to ask: Is this right? Is it fair? – Anonymous

Much as  Obasanjo has by virtue of being a former military head of state, and later, president, becoming an elder statesman and has also contributed to the development of the country (and the destruction of it), I don’t think it is in the interest of the nation for him to start meeting secretly with Gen Buhari at this incubation stage of his in-coming administration.

Obasanjo is a problem to the country than he is a solution to it. He is more interested in being considered relevant at all times and in deciding what should go on in the government by proxy, than he is concerned about good governance and the welfare of the people. That he pretended pitching his tent with the APC at the 11th hour of the presidential race shouldn’t deceive anybody. He would still be the one to cast the first stone against Buhari and his government if he isn’t favoured with whatever he is looking for in the government. So, the earlier Buhari is wary of him, the better for him and the nation. – From Emmanuel Egwu.

 

For Tunji Adegboyega

“Fayose, for whom the bell tolls”, that was a masterpiece. The people of Ekiti State must realise that the beautiful colours of a snake do not make its venom harmless. Fayose should be taught how to rule within the ambit of the law. God bless Nigeria. – From Chris Ben, Shogunle, Lagos.

No hiding place for Ayo Fayose; the chief judge should constitute the panel to investigate his illegalities. He has chewed more than he can swallow. We should never condone the activities of never-do-well leaders again as we are expecting the dawn of a new era come May 29. – From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Nnorom, Umukabia.

If he (Fayose) likes, let him go to Okija Shrine or he should bathe himself with all the water in Osun Shrine, he will not escape. When he was boasting and blabbing as if he owns heaven and earth, he has forgotten that every day is for the thief and, definitely, a day is for the owner. The wages of sin is not death for him but punishment, to serve as a deterrent to others who might emulate him. Those who believe in illegalities to thrive should understand that no amount of justification can make it legal. – From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos.

Every day, the discerning in Ekiti do feel ashamed that Fayose has alienated them from their Yoruba kinsmen. Please do not blame the Ekiti elite for inaction except the so-called ‘kabiyesis’ who are behaving like gluttons. Why would any elite dare to face Fayose at great risk to his life? Fayose capitalised on the fact that Ekiti is homogenous and speaks only the same dialect unlike Ondo where we have the Ilajes, Owo Akoko, etc. Hence, there is no formidable area to boldly summon their arsenals to rise against him except via the law. There is no known responsible person that worked with him at his first outing that is still with him now. He is popular because he is surrounded by frustrated artisans, people from broken homes, etc. that he brainwashed with chicken fee to harass, intimidate and incite against the law-abiding people of Ekiti State. Fayose may only be important to outsiders; but those of us watching from the sidelines know that he is an irritant and highly disrespectful character.

He is surrounded by self-appointed local government caretaker committee members that he monthly dishes out stipend as he wishes from his heart. Certainly, his reign will soon eclipse like the proverbial tortoise who bade goodbye his wife that he was going out and when Yannibo (his wife) asked him when he would return; he said only after he had been thoroughly disgraced. – From Ch Tunji Ayena, Ikere-Ekiti.

Never in Yoruba land has anyone so uncouth and lacking finesse been thrown up to leadership position. I wonder if any decent Ekiti man/woman with a sense of propriety can stand anywhere and say they are proud to have Fayose as governor. He has simply crossed every line of decency. The man who ridiculed his own mother in the name of politics is on the threshold of history. The first impeached governor to be reelected and from the look of things, he will be the first person to be impeached twice as governor. I hope to see an advert that carries “no apology” when all these is over. – From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

I have never seen a newspaper like The Nation, so partisan. With The Nation’s management and reporters, the people in APC are saints. From page one to the end, APC is a party from heaven. Friends, balance your stories; be just. The same measure the creator measures unto men of injustice not only to those who ruleth over us. Change the name of your paper to APC, If Buhari probes Jonathan, what will Buhari do to Tinubu, Obasanjo? Have a good week ahead and write well. God surely looks into the affairs of men. – From Uwem Oku.

Not even the traditional rulers at the Ibadan rally cautioned him. Today, Fayose has blasphemed against his creator, the Almighty God. He told the APC legislators to impeach God first if they want to impeach him. Fayose has stripped himself naked; he’s now running for cover. Not even Femi Fani-Kayode or Doyin Okupe could cloth him back; he is dancing in the market square and people are wriggling their heads. Fayose should repent before it is too late. – From Abubakar Musa, Abuja.

Fayose broke his political spinal cord on March 28 and is on his way to the wheel chair where it would dawnion him that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men. Until then, we dey kampe. – From Ayoola Debby.

 

For Dapo Fafowora

“The Nation Decides” is vintage Dapo. How I wish at least 10 percent of normal readership read this piece. God bless you. Anonymous.

Thank God for true citizens in our country. Truth must be told. Thanks for your masterpiece. From Chima, Enugu.

Hello, Dapo, bravo for all your patriotic write-ups. May your ink never run dry (Amen). Keep writing and I am sure that one day, we the true patriots shall surely get to our Canaan land. Wonderful job. Keep putting them on their toes. – Anonymous.

I so much cherish your article. I wish all Nigerians can understand the kind of trouble PDP has put us through. God will not forgive them for the crime they committed against the nation. – Anonymous

You are very objective in your submissions on the back page of The Nation. You are a true Nigerian who knows what Nigeria is today. God bless you and bless our country Nigeria. – Anonymous.

 

 

 

All these policy formulations, blue print, roadmap, consultations, and what not, haven’t we been down all these roads before since independence – that’s about half a century ago now, isn’t it. Well that depends on which angle you are looking at issues from.  Exactly which angle does one look at the country from – socio-economic disparity between the regions and professional groups, insurmountable security challenges facing our military and security agencies, long standing educational retrogression than relevance, political logjams inimical to the country’s progress, medical travellers than practitioners now dominating the foreign health sector landscape or is it budgetary (mis)allocations on non-developmental ventures…etc?  This is now compounded by our revenue nosedives with our historically unreliable mono-cultural product being currently battered in the international markets, transportation morbidity, and still largely agricultural fallowness – present progressive attempts notwithstanding and snail paced industrialization progress still mostly at the policy or blue print level.

Methinks there is trouble brewing in the horizon! Oh…believe me we are just starting. You would assume the status of a joker if you think everybody is partaking in this suffering!  If you are part of the ‘elected’ (cough!) few, living in Maitama and similar posh parts of our lovely capital – Abuja, consuming the best the nation has to offer – productivity does not matter – and you are on countless recesses, elongated public holidays, vacations (not abroad? – now…that would be surprising), with countless retinues of assistants, special assistants, deputy special assistants and assistant deputy special assistants – don’t forget personal assistants – but of course, please add them on, and their security detail – how in heaven’s name are you suffering?  But they can take eons of years in passing the Petroleum Industry Bill. This is a legislation affecting the resource that is eighty percent of our foreign exchange but rather not deemed a priority.   With the recent southward projection of earnings from petroleum, any chance of leading by example and cutting back on their space-bound salaries? But I gather they just did that by twenty-five percent. In line with Nigeria’s level of development and revenue earnings, sixty-five percent would be more like it.  Hmmm…was that done out of the goodness of their immeasurably lovely hearts or reality on ground forced them to? – food for thought.

But these people only materialise during election periods. What! So you actually expect to see them after elections? Well, rather difficult for them to see me while driving their luxuriated jeeps.  You mean from their tinted-glass cars?! What on earth am I smoking?! Of course, they can’t see me and neither can I see them. Surely the day of reckoning is very well nigh.  Well you can be sure socio-economic disparity is really not top of their agenda.

But aren’t they now saying ‘boko’ is causing so much disturbance and is why we can’t progress in leaps and bounds? Well, India has had Kashmir issues with Pakistan for decades, Turkey has had the same security challenges with the Kurds for decades, everlastingly between Israel and Palestine, even Kenya in Africa which is far less wealthy than Nigeria – but hasn’t derailed them from making one steady progress or the other.  Even in our history, we went through a civil war but did not collapse economically. Now that we are supposed to be more modern in all fields of human endeavour – economically, scientifically, militarily and security-wise in technology, personnel, equipment – what exactly do we have? One form of excuse or the other on why it is a drag on our level of development.

This is now given further complexity with our retrogressive (DAD) dysfunctional and disjointed educational system. Instead of focusing on the sectors that can generate revenue for the nation, our educational policy makers keep on trolling out graduates and new universities for the post-industrial service sector – architects, bankers, teachers, economists, nurses, MBAs, journalists, sociologists, psychologists, lawyers, physiotherapists, etc.  These are the enabling professions that advise, guide, support, assist or help but none of them can make, do or grow any industrial or agricultural product. Endlessly, we keep on producing them. Shouldn’t we be asking ourselves – to work exactly where?

Serious countries that have turned the corner of economic advancement through history tend to pass through three phases of developmental growth – the pre-industrial to industrial and then the post-industrial phase.  The pre-industrial phase is usually agricultural. 160 million plus of us have ended up still being engaged in mostly hoes-and-cutlass subsistence farming with hundreds of miles of arable land lying fallow from Akwa Ibom to Oyo State.  We simply top that by importing rice from Thailand and palm oil from Malaysia to verify our unproductive means of existence.

Increasing our level of irrelevancy is the second phase of development but hardly touched upon yet – industrialisation. This sounds like a new lexicon. You aren’t far from the truth as we are still at policy making level with this one after more than half a century of independence. History can at least lend credence that the country actually tried building five steel rolling mills in the 70s and 80s – Ajaokuta, Aladja, Oshogbo, Jos and Katsina.  Thirty plus years on, none of them is operational and still, promises are being made with policy flip-flops and implementation hiatus.  How a country can industrialise without any iron and steel complex is simply something that can only be assigned to divine intervention since human interjections have really not been up to it.

These two sectors – agriculture and industrialization – employ people in the millions and earn for a nation in the billions – basically our main routes to El-Dorado. And where does our educational ‘dad’ fit into all these?  While we need agricultural scientists, agricultural researchers, agro-economists and agro-engineers with all manner of engineering professionals from all facets of the profession, what do we produce? Graduates of the TATANs fraternity. TATANs? Yes, ‘Thinkers and Talkers Association of Nigeria’. That would be just about right. They sure can talk and think and are in a way also useful to developmental growth.  That exactly is the problem, they are secondarily useful, because none of them in their wildest dreams can ever be able to produce, manufacture or grow anything.  In the meantime, our agric and engineering professionals who are supposed to be the ones pioneering our growth and economic diversification are cocooned and cushioned in the banks and ministries signing cheques and wallowing in the comfort of air-conditioned offices – none of which can be manufactured by them.  To borrow from one of the major electronic company adverts, life is good, no doubt.

And you think we are thinking?

 

To be continued…

There  was a euphoric feeling across the land as millions of jubilant Nigerians celebrated  the triumph of  Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded May 28, 2015 presidential election. The chant : Sai Buhari, sai Baba rented the air. The defeat of the much touted largest party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, was seen by many as offering Nigeria an opportunity for a new and wondrous beginning.

Given this scenario, the first 100 days in office of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are going to be critical days  – in fact the defining period of his Presidency.  The stakes are high, just as the high expectations of traumatized Nigerians. As the saying goes, morning shows the day, so the morning of the Buhari Presidency will indicate if it is going to be good day for Nigeria.  As a former Head of State and someone who had thrice doggedly fought for this trophy, it is expected that the General already has a blueprint  of public governance to be rolled out, at the go. It cannot be seen as misplaced high expectations. The challenge, therefore, for President-elect Buhari is being able to take off in a dead run – right from inauguration day on May 29, 2015.

I believe the President-elect has appropriately defined the arduous task ahead of him with that evocative caption of his acceptance speech – The Die is cast – on being presented with his certificate of return  by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral  Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.  The Nigerian people gave him their votes because they are frustrated with the under performing government of President Jonathan and were no longer willing to give the  ‘humble boy’  from Otuoke, Bayelsa  State, the benefit of the doubt for another term.  So, in line with philosopher John Locke’s ‘Doctrine of Social Contract’ between the people, as the popular sovereign authority in a democracy, and the agents they elect into government,  the electorate exercised its right by terminating the Social Contract with the Jonathan Presidency and awarding the governance contract to Gen. Buhari.  Apparently, the President-elect understood this  ‘Social Contract’  philosophy when in his acceptance speech, he declared :  “There shall be no ruling party again: APC will be your governing party. We shall faithfully serve you. We shall  never rule over the people  as if they were subservient to government”.  The practice had been that the agent becomes the Overlord of the people.

Gen. Buhari earned his reputation on LAW and Order, that has endured for 30 years since his first coming as military Head of State in December 1983. The day now beckons for him to go on ‘Action Station’ for a repeat performance. It is therefore no surprise that he identified the twin evils of corruption and insecurity/terrorism as the two major woes facing the country which he is resolved to battle, resolutely.  While pledging to demonstrate State Power in decisively tackling the Boko Haram insurgency,  he sees corruption as worse than terrorism and vowed : “We shall strongly battle the evil of corruption. ..Corruption attacks and seeks to destroy our national institutions and character…By misdirecting into selfish hands funds intended for public purpose, corruption distorts the economy (and) creates a class of unjustly-enriched people”. He noted that such filthy rich  will attempt to buy government and pledged his resolve : “We shall end this threat to our economic development and democratic survival… I repeat that corruption will not be tolerated by this administration”.

Strong words. Reassuring words.  Now, the die is truly cast for President-elect Buhari to translate words into action. He invites  us to make input, by way of suggestions – “I seek your voice and input as we tackle these problems”.  I take him up on the offer and suggests as follows :

WANTED – AN AGENCY FOR PUBLIC ORDER.  Protection of life and property is the primary obligation of government and deserves top priority attention. There has to be a unified, holistic approach to tackling endemic insecurity in the land that has created pervasive fear and shut down night economy, as people abandon the night hours to marauding, violent criminals. It got to a point that a police chief even advised people against night travel as robbers waylaid motorists during night journeys !! It was a police surrender to criminals. So, today, life is very cheap in Nigeria, as people get killed on daily basis, with impunity, even by police officers paid to protect lives. The prevalent  general disorder  and indiscipline throughout the country,  highlight the FAILURE of relevant REGULATORY AGENCIES.  Therefore,  a  Public Order  institution or  Commission, whatever name that may be appropriate, headed by a passionate individual and committed rank and file, has become imperative, to tackle the  pervasive lawlessness in the country. Such activist Public Order Agency, working in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) and Servicom, should have as its focus the activities of  The Nigeria Police and the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC) among others, the  two being institutions of government whose inefficiencies, compromises and connivance have contributed largely to lack of safety at home , at work and on the road. The Nigeria Police, an institution central to public order, has lost  credibility with people with tragic consequences for all.  This must be urgently reversed.  The government would be seen to be pro- people if one of its first acts is to announce that  heads of police jurisdictions, Divisional Police Officers, (DPOs)  et al, will henceforth be liable for  criminal activities in their jurisdictions and sanctioned appropriately and speedily,  where they fail to effectively  discharge their responsibilities. This is enforcing RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY, both of which have been lacking in many government agencies. Establishment of  a hotline, perhaps in The Presidency, where people can report  compromised police officers will be a measure of  performance monitoring by the public.  The impunity of police brutality, which alienates the public,  must be stopped as the first step to restore a much needed police-people friendly relations.  When the demons in the Nigeria Police are exorcised, the people would be more willing to volunteer information about criminals, a prerequisite for police effectiveness.  It is instructive that within the police leadership, there was a former reformist Inspector-General of Police who scrapped police road blocks,  where many people had been killed and maimed by police officers, with impunity. The cover up of such killer policemen, as documented by NHRC, should be reviewed with prosecution by  the proposed Public Order Agency or the Justice Ministry. These measures, which should attract saturation publicity,  will boost public confidence in The Presidency as people-oriented and strengthen reformists within the police.  When people fear, rather than have faith in, the Police, it can only be to the advantage of criminals.

With regard to the FRSC, it is saddening that succeeding  governments/leaders and  agencies have not shown any outrage about the horrendous killings on the roads where thousands have lost their lives.  The Buhari Presidency can begin to make a difference  here as part of security of life. The  establishment of FRSC is a recognition of the grave situation of road killings ( road accident is a misnomer)  by homicidal drivers, even in governors’ motorcades,  and  where thousands more are maimed for life and rendered economic liabilities. Killer drivers often go scot free to continue their homicidal rampage on the roads.  Unfortunately, the FRSC has turned out just another government employment agency with poor service delivery.  Vigorous  enforcement of  road safety regulations  will be a plus to the new administration. For instance, relevant laws can be reviewed such that reckless drivers, who caused death within built up communities, should not enjoy  bail while, as part of preventive measures, commuters can report reckless drivers who may have their licences withdrawn before they do harm.

For FRSC, its inability to ensure road discipline and safe motoring on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the main artery of Nigeria’s economic and social activities, thereby making motorists to suffer harrowing traffic gridlocks, and be prey to robbers, is a manifest instance of its incompetence. As a Columnist with Peoples Daily newspaper, I wrote a piece in  my February 28, 2011 column captioned  – Wanted : Road Accident Prosecution & Relief Agency (RAPRA) in which I indicted the FRSC for lacking passion in executing its core mandate where it lapses into civil service indolence, but  very enthusiastic when it comes to cornering  licensing revenue. The then Corps Marshall of FRSC, Osita Chidoka, now Minister of Aviation, had invited me to Abuja, from Iwo, where I am a teacher,  to see their operations, apparently to disabuse my mind. I was at FRSC headquarters, Abuja,  on June 1, 2011 and taken on a tour of its facilities by an assistant director. In fairness to Chidoka, the FRSC under his watch is a reservoir of data on various aspects of road management ranging from road fatalities, injuries, type and number of vehicles involved, driving licence approvals, speed limit violations and crashes by governors’ motorcades etc.  So, while FRSC may be  strong in terms of database, it is very poor in its practical responsibility of ensuring road safety. And that has to change.

 

•Olawunmi, Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun state, is former Washington Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria