The Nation Newspaper

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  • The beginning of a new beginning

    The elections of last Saturday, particularly the presidential election won by the candidate of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, were a watershed in the annals of democratic elections in Nigeria.

    The election of Alhaji Buhari as president is the culmination of the struggle for the enthronement of a people-driven democratic governance in this country. It is also the fulfillment of the prophetic insight of Chief Obafemi Awolowo who in 1983 predicted that the progressive elements in the North and South would come together for the liberation of this country.

    Indeed, the progressives have always wanted to come together but their march had always been stopped by cruel fate. The coming together of the progressives under the United Progressives Grand Alliance (UPGA) in the First Republic was cut short by military rule in 1966. The Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) was also brought to an end by the military in 1983. The progressive tendency of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) produced the Chief Moshood Abiola presidential election of 1993. It was also brought to an abrupt end by the military after the election was annulled. The APC however, is an idea whose time has come and there can be no stopping the match of history. It is significant that Chief Awolowo was instrumental to the formation of UPGA and PPA. Awoists formed the bulk of SDP in the South West. Also, the dominant party in the South West that became a major partner in APC was an offshoot of Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). I congratulate you all for being part of the making of history.

    It is greatly significant how the election went in Osun. Your enthusiastic response, determination, orderly procession and conduct, peaceful disposition and commitment to the defence of democracy all shone through.

    We saw the various categories of people, young, old, men, women, the aged and the physically challenged, all trouped to the various polling stations to perform their civic duties. Because of vehicular restriction, many had to trek for long distances to get to their polling stations, in order to vote.

    You all willingly sacrificed a whole day to be able to cast your votes to elect the president and federal lawmakers, in order to help shape the direction of the governance of our nation in the next four years. You voted and stood by your votes until they were counted and defended the integrity of the election. Your enthusiasm did not wane, even where voting started late and continued till the next day.

    The pattern of the election was consistent with what obtained since our coming to office, first, during the 2011 general elections and secondly in last year’s governorship election. In 2011, you enthusiastically supported our candidates. Then, our presidential candidate won convincingly in Osun. You did the same this time again. This is in spite of the divisive campaign of ethnicity, religion and regionalism embarked upon by our opponents. You have demonstrated the same consistency in your support of the progressive cause since the days of the Action Group and have been passionate about us as you were about Chief Obafemi Awolowo. You have our profound gratitude for this uncommon love and support you have shown us.

    There were reports of pockets of violence and attempted manipulation of votes in some parts of the state. These are the handiwork of agents of destabilisation and political brigandage. The security agencies are looking into this and will stop at nothing in order to bring the perpetrators to book. Popular participation and freedom of choice are the essence of democracy and are guaranteed by the constitution and protected by our law. We affirm every man’s right to have these. However, criminality, disruption of voting, political violence and denial of other citizens their right to political choice will not be tolerated. You have my assurance that whoever wants to disrupt the peace of Osun will have the mighty force of the law to contend with. We shall defend democracy and the right of all to participate in politics and freely make a choice.

    In spite of the efforts of these outlaws, however, you refused to be provoked and you let peace reign. Local and international observers noted your commitment to peace and determination to deepen democracy. I am very proud of you.

    Indeed, we are well pleased with the exercise in Osun and especially the mammoth support we have received from voters all over the country that led to the election of our presidential candidate. Given what we witnessed on Saturday, we have a measure of assurance that political power is now returning to the people through the democratic process. We must build on this; defend and guide it jealously. We should now gird our loins and give total support to the government of the people in order to have the life more abundant that we all earnestly hope for.

    I must express my profound gratitude to all the people who voted for our candidates in the other elections into the National Assembly. The officers so elected will, in the best tradition of progressive leadership, provide the best representation to their constituencies.  We want to assure you all, however, that irrespective of the political party you voted for, our mandate to govern covers every inch of our soil and covers all the people, irrespective of ideological and political affiliation, ethnic and religious identity and colour of skin. We shall continue to serve to the best of our ability, to provide leadership, defend your interest with all our might and bring life more abundant to you all.

    I will like to thank all the people who made the elections a huge success in our state, beginning with all the political parties, women and their groups, market women, traders, artisans, workers, civil servants, teachers, students, transporters, drivers, commercial motorcyclists, employers of labour, organised private sector, the business community, non-governmental organisations, community based organisations, youth organisations, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, security agencies, the international community, Nigerians in the Diaspora, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all people of goodwill.

    I must not fail to commend the leadership of the legacy parties especially my mentor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the master-mind and chief strategist of this great victory of the progressives, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, my colleagues in the Progressive Governors Forum and a host of other leaders too numerous to mention. I thank you all.

     

    • Text of the broadcast by the Governor of the State of Osun and the South West Coordinator of Buhari-Oshibajo Presidential Campaign, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to the people of the state, on the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, on Wednesday April 1, 2015.

  • Nigeria: My heart bleeds

    As I woke up suddenly around midnight a couple of days ago, my mind painfully ran through the prevailing socio-economic and political circumstances and predicaments in Nigeria. I began to imagine what they portend for the future of this country. Once upon a time, there was a country that was the envy of all African nations; one that commanded respect internationally and among the comity of nations.

    My heart bleeds profusely when, I recall a country that was once peaceful, but now we ‘hear’ the drums of war being beaten by those who consider themselves greater or more Nigerian than all of us. Thank God that things have changed now with the president’s congratulatory call on the president-elect.

    War is a terrible thing! You only know the beginning but not the end. I witnessed the last Nigerian civil war and those who directly suffered the impacts of the war would never wish for another traumatic experience of a civil war.

    My heart bleeds when I notice that in the name of politics, those in authority have turned Nigeria upside down. For example, it is only in Nigeria that leaders would mathematically and selfishly consider nine as a greater numerical number than 19. Even the Nigerian Senate did not spare itself the ignominy of setting aside its own rule of procedure by confirming a candidate with serious political blemishes for a ministerial appointment.

    My heart bleeds when I observe the Judiciary, regarded as the hope of the common man, being stripped of the respect and the dignity that rightfully and constitutionally belong to it. The law courts have in recent time become the targets of bomb attacks and explosions. The most worrisome problem of the country as of now is the increasing threat to lives and property that has enveloped every Nigerian except the privileged.

    Today, every Nigerian is gripped with the fear of insecurity. Kidnappers operate with impunity and boldly cart away victims to unknown locations where they demand and negotiate for plumb ransom and sometimes with police connivance. Armed robbery incidents have escalated as armed robbers are now more daring with more sophisticated arms. The Boko Haram menace and the way we have handled it has become a national disgrace.

    There is no better evidence of the ineptitude, visionless and the failure of government than the growing influence and menace of Boko Haram, which is now belatedly being checked. Had the Federal Government risen with vigour, might and speed which is now belatedly being checked immediately after the invasion of the Chibok Community and in hot pursuit of the insurgents, the parents and the whole nation could have been saved the trauma and disgrace resulting from the incident. Rather, the Federal government waited helplessly and in disbelief for three weeks preferring to rely on its advisers’ assertion that the abduction was the handwork of the opposition parties. This ineptitude is no doubt a clear case of leadership deficiency. The girls have been away for close to 10 months as their parents continue to suffer untold agony and anxiety. My heart bleeds when I realize that the President’s re-election bid has become more important to him than the rescue of the Chibok girls. In a civilized country, the President would have, while the case of the Chibok girls lingers, covered his face in shame rather than ask the electorate for re-election.

    My heart bleeds when I see growing armies of unemployed graduates rooming the streets or resigning themselves to doing menial jobs, like commercial bicycle operators, drivers of motor tri-cycles or even scavenging on waste dumps in order to eke out a living for themselves. Government is neither creating nor encouraging the creation of jobs. In 2009, when I presented my inaugural lecture at the University of Lagos, on the state of our manufacturing sector, I sounded an ominous warning as I watched the Nigerian manufacturing sector crumbling. Year after year, the government rolled out budgets that failed to demonstrate serious commitment to the revival of the manufacturing sector. This sector is undoubtedly the engine of growth and a strong pillar for sustainable development in view of its potentials for wealth creation, employment generation and poverty alleviation.

    I warned against over-depending on oil and the danger that this mono-product malady can have on our economy. Our oil revenue at that time was at its peak and it seemed that our economy had never had it so good. I spoke about the prevailing infrastructural decay, non-availability of steady power supply that have crippled many businesses and bad roads that have become death traps. There was the problem of putting extra burden on manufacturers through double taxation and other spurious levies and charges. As at today, government has not taken any bold initiative to address these anomalies with a view to wooing back manufacturing companies like Dunlop, Michelin and a host of other potential investors that have left our shores. Rather, the government continues to indulge and deceive itself with the political propaganda of economic growth and transformation.

    My heart bleeds when I see the level of moral decadence hitherto unheard of that has now completely enveloped the country. The urge and surge for money and material wealth by Nigerians at all cost and by whatever means is bewildering. The passivity and helplessness of the law enforcement agents has further emboldened the kidnappers. Prostitution and other immoral dealings are becoming fashionable practices among our female youths. Female students’ hostels have become brothels in recent time where promiscuous girls engage young boys to hang around the entrances to their hostels with their pictures to solicit patronage for them as male visitors approach the hostels.

    My heart bleeds as I noticed the helplessness of the school authorities and parents in checking the malaise. Students cut corners to pass examination. Honestly of purpose and action has vamoosed from our society. Few people are honest. Corruption has permeated all strata of government. Pastors and men in cassock sacrilegiously take bribes or gifts from politicians for prayers in order to win elections. Even the royal fathers are not exempted as politicians roll in bales of dollars into the palaces of the monarchs in an attempt to seek political favours. I grew up knowing that it is morally wrong and unacceptable to wish a fellow human being dead. Today, the death wish for political opponents is not hidden but is advertised on pages of newspaper.

    More painfully is the recent outburst of the First Lady Patience Jonathan on General Buhari, a former military head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces. For Patience Jonathan to have made such a brazen, abusive and derogatory comment on General Buhari while Jonathan and PDP chieftains look on and shake their heads approvingly is, to me, the height of moral and politically decadence never experienced in the history of political electioneering.

    Four years ago, we took the money and the rice and thereby sold our mandate. It has been four years of excruciating experience with unbearable hardship and hopelessness, rising level of poverty and increasing joblessness among our youths. Can Nigerians endure and survive another four years under the prevailing situations?

    Fellow Nigerians, whatever becomes of this country now and in the next four years is in our hands. The survival and the social and economic wellbeing of this country are in our hands. It is in our hands to make it a greater, more prosperous, safe and secure country to live in. God save Nigeria.

     

    • Banjoko wrote in from Lagos.

  • 2015 Presidential Elections: Matters Arising

    For the first time, an incumbent president of this great country has stood and lost an election. And for the first time in our beleaguered history, a losing presidential candidate has graciously picked up the phone to congratulate the winner and concede defeat. This is, indeed, a watershed moment in our political journey. To be sure, this is the culmination of the yearnings and aspirations of a people that has been long over due. There are many lessons to be learned from this nation’s rebirthing experience.

    For President Jonathan, he is both a winner and loser. First, a winner because he picked up the phone and did the honourable thing – concede defeat. In this sense, he has probably written his name in gold as the father of a New Democratic Nigeria. By rising above the temptations of power, adhering to his better innermost judgments, and unshackling himself from the goading and firm grips of the sycophants around him – I am pretty sure those grovelers would have urged him not to concede defeat by misinforming him on the deceitful need to challenge the elections in some six states of the North. The incumbent president has set an example for others after him to follow. He has demonstrated an uncommon grace and nobility never before seen in the country.

    Yet, he is equally a loser. Here was a man who had the presidency handed down to him on a platter of gold after the death of former President Umaru Yar’Adua. In 2011, he was overwhelmingly re-elected. Then, he chose to ride the tiger’s political back and certainly ended up in its belly of defeat. By choosing to perennially run for re-election and forgetting to govern, Jonathan brought today’s defeat on himself. Has he deployed the same degree of commitment like he did in the past six weeks to fighting Boko Haram, it would have long been conquered long before the general elections, and certainly the Chibok girls saga was a stake to which he was inescapably tied to. Nor did his inability to tame those around him – from his domestic family to his political one – helped his cause. Albeit, too little too late and his defeat today has wide reaching repercussions for so many especially his South South peoples.

    President-elect Mohammadu Buhari is a winner along with his APC team. By sheer perseverance and shrewd political engineering, he has actualized his tall ambition of ruling the country a second time. He deserves a lot of kudos and commendation, but I will leave other analysts to dissect the factors and indices that galvanized this victory for him. But, I hope his second coming is for all the right reasons. I hope he can rise above the cocoon of ethnocentrism and sticky allegations of bigotry about him to bring all federating units together and forge a new frontier for the entire nation.  As a sign of seriousness to the electorate, he must demonstrate his willingness to tackle corruption and insecurity – his chief election promises – by laying the groundwork for the big picture.

    First, he must show willingness to fight corruption by caging the Tigers in his inner circle, demonstrably making certain that things cannot be business as usual anymore by for instance taking the cost of governance and slashing same significantly. Elected officials must be made to realize that public service is not a quick path to overnight riches. Second, he must take on big things, by for instance, laying the blue print to infrastructural development across the nation. He must fix power and road/train amongst other important needs of Nigerians. He should not resort to political vendetta as this may signal a giant failure path and collective dashing of hopes of the many inspired by this moment. He could, for instance, indicate to the South East that the vestiges and incidences of the civil war no longer imperil them by embracing and extending to them a fresh hand of fellowship. This last point is seminal because the general’s worst performance was in the South South and the South East. Understandably, the South South was not expected to vote against their favourite son. The president-elect had been known to have once asserted that the South East refuses to forgive him because of the civil war. All these ill wills ought to be buried if he wants to rise to the level of, say, a Mandela, the Madiba, instead of choosing the path of pettiness of Chief Obasanjo.

    For the reigning and defeated PDP, the reign of impunity and arrogant aura of invisibility has come to a meteoric end. If this serves a heavy dose of deterrence to the incoming APC, the Nation would be the primary beneficiary. The General and his APC must take notice that they are elected to serve, not to make the Nation desolate. In the event that they engage in the same abominations that made PDP desolate including gross corruption, dearth of empathy, political deafness, abuse of office/power, among many other vices. These abominations desecrated the most holy of places – the hallowed chambers of the judiciary, legislature, and executive quarters. The ruling party and turned apostate induced even the most revered of ‘prophets’. The General and his APC must learn from the ruling party’s ordeal or wait for a ready electorate to whip them out when the next general election comes.

    Finally, the Nigerian electorate is the biggest winner. For too long, we have stayed disenfranchised.  The electoral process was simply a ruse with politicians abusing the process and the mightiest installing themselves without fear of political reprisal. But maybe, just maybe, the power of the vote is beginning to be restored. The process is still far from perfect, but maybe this shining moment is a glimmer of hope for good things to come. Maybe, just maybe we can now vote and have a say in who truly governs us. Maybe, just maybe, we can now arm ourselves with voter card PVC that is capable of sounding a firm note of caution to any elected official; the voting axe is laid at every elected tree, he that fails to bear good fruits shall certainly be hewn down. That is the first principle of democracy; that is how the blueprint of a national rebirth is established. May God help and sustain Nigeria and the incoming government at the centre.

    • Phillip Okey Igwe, Esq is Managing Partner, Lagem Firma & Partners Victoria Island Lagos.

  • COMMENTS

    For  Segun Gbadegesin

    Jonathan must handover peacefully and sharply if he is not voted. There are many non-violent options of pushing them into historical oblivion. From Onyilo  Onyilo, Abuja.

    According to your article, there is no one that is free in Nigeria. You people should allow Jonathan to continue. Go to Edo State and Rivers, everybody has political interest. Anonymous

    I read your article “The responsibility to choose.” Brilliant piece as usual I must say. I’m certain Jonathan will lose. Anonymous

    It’s quite interesting to know from you that “there is more than enough to go round” in the verbal onslaught between the PDP and APC, leaving aside the subjective judgement of who “cast the first stone”. But recall that remarks were considered too indecent to be hauled on Jonathan by APC before the “semi-literate jackpot” attack on Buhari credited to Wale Oladipo of PDP. Again, APC also helps immensely in “spoiling Jonathan the more” by imagining all sort of tricks he had designed to rig the election, even those never contemplated by him, thereby opening his eyes and mind towards that direction. Of course, it remains a mystery to many Nigerians as to how the president would aim at rigging the election and still spent much time and energy  consulting with Nigerians all over the country. He could have sat and designed his rigging strategies in his office, and waited for the election day for their execution. From Emmanuel Egwu.

    You have now been vindicated. There were massive failures of the card readers and shortages of ballot papers. The incident forms were not enough in some wards. Radio Nigeria reported that in Ibeju -Lekki which is a PDP strong hold, area boys were causing trouble. Jega has exposed himself. Anonymous

    God bless you, sir. Interminable GBOSA to you for your marvelous, outlandish and fantastic article. No tricks, antics and fable displays by Jonathan would earn him people-vote, though he is full of gimmicks and mimics. With God on our side, a new lease of life is around the corner. Did he think because he begged, solicited and dollarised the kings and many groups, he will scale through? He is deceiving himself; chasing shadow. I am sure he’ll be ‘choked’ after the presidential election. I pray God to grant you new wisdom, education and understanding. From Amidu Saheed, Ifo’

    APC supporters are already posting results on facebook. They do not obey any laws. Anonymous

    Having Jonathan as President again is like putting fire on the roof, it might burn the house utterly. Who the citizenry needs now is who will bring peace into the country and not who will shrug his shoulder. Apart from that, he doesn’t deserve the saddle anymore because he would turn melody to malady; he must be jettisoned because he is too quarrelsome. From Olude Quadri, Keulere Ifo.

     

    For Olatunji Dare 

    Why is it that The Nation never sees anything good in Jonathan’s government. Would you say the same thing if Buhari did not deliver? Looking at things, Buhari has the upper hand. We are watching. Anonymous 

    Well-written. We are rather in a nation where majority are ill-informed and burdened with ethnic and religious sentiments. Otherwise, all of us will be in a single queue against Jonathan come Saturday. From Barrister Ngozi Ogbomor.

    Thank you for your article. As usual, it’s a masterpiece. A text message is in circulation intended to clone all Buhari supporters’ PVCs. I’m pretty sure you’ll get one soon. God bless and reward you abundantly. Anonymous

    You are a pride, with all sincerity, sir, to writing, language – not just English – and humanity. We love you and would ever be proud of you. From Barrister Lekan Oyerinde

    The only reason I feel Nigeria is still where it is today (at the dump) is due to sentiments. And I wonder, how could we be so educated and yet timid in the face of tribal sentiments. ‘So long as it hails from my mother’s kitchen, the insidious odour is good’. Anonymous

    Your article was concise and comprehensive. Kudos to you. God bless Nigeria. Anonymous

    Sir, a typical Nigerian leader does not care about history or posterity; it’s about the now. Anonymous

    Just wish to say well-done for your  articles I read in The  Nation. It gave me a lot of excitement. Please keep it up. Soonest, the PDP will face the reality of their misfortunes. May God bless Buhari as he climbs the ‘unseatable seat’ of  Jonathan, come May 29th. Insha Allah! God bless all Nigerians. From Fati, Kuje.

    God bless you for your article The Nation March 24, 2015: “The home stretch, finally” We need fearless journalists like you; God will always protect you from evil doers, amen. From Okosun a okosun

     

  • Traditional rulers as Jonathan’s salesmen

    I was quite appalled to recently read in the media the astonishing news that President Goodluck Jonathan, in his desperate bid for re-election in the last Saturday’s presidential election, recruited eleven teams of traditional rulers to woo the support of their colleagues across the country for his re-election campaign. Neither the presidency nor those traditional rulers mentioned has denied the report. Yet, the traditional rulers utilised for this purpose are communal leaders of no mean stature. Many of them are men of long standing good reputation that are unfortunately risking their hard earned reputations on a risky venture that may ultimately prove worthless.

    Some of those allegedly spearheading the president’s cause in this regard include His Royal Majesty, Major General Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd), Orodje of Okpe; Oba S.O. Oyediran, Onipetu of Ijeru; HRM Kevin Aliyu Danesi, Aidonogie of South Ibie, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Olu of Ilaro; His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi, Obong of Calabar, King Alfred Diete- Spiff; King Dr, Edmund M. Daukaru, Mingi XII of Nimbe; Emmanuel E. Sideso, Ovie of Uvwie; Eze C.I. Ilomuanya, Obi of Obinugwu; King Dandeson Douglas Jaja-Jeki, Amanyanabo of Opobo; Alhaji A.S. Momoh, Olukare of Ikare; Barrister Malla Sasime, Ebenibe Igwe and Oba Ayodele Adetunji Ajayi, Arinjale of Ise. Most of these names are unquestionably illustrious and accomplished Nigerians who had made their marks in diverse spheres of life before electing to preside over the traditional heritage and affairs of their people.

    This is, of course, only a partial list of the prominent traditional rulers reportedly engaged to carry the transformation gospel across the country to their various royal colleagues. Of course, traditional rulers are human beings even if they have blue blood running through their veins. They will, therefore, naturally have their political preferences. However, wisdom dictates that such preferences be kept subtle and private. This is because the traditional ruler is expected to be father of all. He represents an institution that transcends partisan, religious and other sectional divisions. The greater the distance between the traditional ruler and the partisan political fray, the muddy terrain of politics, the greater will be the confidence and support enjoyed by the traditional ruler among a broad cross-section of his people or subjects if you like.

    Should traditional rulers agree to be the points- men of any politician? This writer does not think so. Such a role can only diminish the traditional ruler and erode the royal mystique that is the unique hallmark of the traditional institution.

    However, we can only assume that traditional rulers who agree to lobby their colleagues to support President Jonathan’s re-election are already committed to the president’s cause. They are, therefore, presumably acting out of conviction and not for any selfish motives. But that is exactly where the problem lies. The media has been replete with stories of the Jonathan presidential campaign doling out astounding sums of money in dollars to various individuals and groups particularly during the period in which the elections were, ab initio, shifted forward by six weeks at the instance of the country’s security chiefs. Jonathan’s campaign team has not emphatically and credibly denied these reports. This raises serious questions as regards the moral integrity of the affected traditional rulers. Indeed, as a result of the widespread reports of ‘dollar rain’ on traditional rulers and other influential individuals and groups by the Jonathan campaign team, anybody, including traditional rulers, who seek to advocate support for his re-election risks being seen as only working to justify the largesse he or she has collected.

    The problem then is that the traditional rulers currently engaged to sell Jonathan’s candidacy to their colleagues nationwide may have serious difficulty convincing sceptical Nigerians that they are doing this only as an honest patriotic gesture. Their credibility and integrity are, therefore, at stake even if they are performing their role gratis. It is my view that the President has enough men and women in his party from across the country that can be his sales persons. They are in a better position to sell the merits of his candidacy beyond narrow circles of traditional rulers or religious clerics to the general populace that will constitute the bulk of the voting electorate. These aides of the President include his array of Ministers, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants in government and the countless others who are not formally in government but have benefitted from patronage, which they should now be willing to invest in the re-election of their benefactor.

    This writer agrees completely with the assertion by the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, that while traditional rulers can give any aspiring politician who visits them royal blessings, it is improper for them to campaign for the election of any candidate. Indeed, the Awujale ranks among the class of honourable, courageous and credible traditional rulers who have never hesitated to stand for the good and best interest of their people against all odds. We will recall that even under military dictatorship, the Awujale refused to hobnob with the military dictators of the day.

    It is difficult to decipher the merit of the Jonathan administration trying to reach the people through the medium of traditional rulers. There is hardly any traditional ruler that can convince his people to vote for an administration that has had little or no impact on the daily condition of their lives. This is particularly so in the Southwest where the Yoruba have cultivated a high degree of political consciousness, sophistication and discernment. The task of the traditional rulers spearheading Jonathan’s cause is made more onerous by the perception, rightly or wrongly, that the Jonathan campaign has been spending money as if the commodity is going out of fashion.

    These traditional rulers will have to convince their people that the Jonathan administration has performed and that the lot of their people is better today than it was before the advent of the Jonathan presidency. Any traditional ruler who canvasses this view is obviously out of touch with the existential living realities of his people. It is a gross error of judgment on the part of the Jonathan administration to believe that catering for traditional rulers, who will then convince their people to vote for his re-election, can substitute for pursuing the welfare of the people in fulfilment of its electoral social contract with the people. In this day and age no traditional ruler, not even in the most illiterate society, can simply order his people to vote for a party or candidate and expect them to comply unthinkingly.

    This writer urges all traditional rulers to leave politics to the politicians. They should bless all those who come to seek their royal blessings but leave the politicians to go and woo the electorate directly by showcasing their performance in office. A traditional ruler who openly canvasses support for a politician who eventually loses the election would have lost a substantial degree of prestige, respect and public confidence among his people. The moral authority that is the bedrock of the traditional institution would have been badly eroded. The traditional rulers should remain as fathers to all irrespective of the political camps they belong to. As for the Jonathan presidency, it should have sufficient substantial achievements to show for its four years in power. This is what it should be show casing to win electoral support rather than drawing clerics and traditional rulers into the murky terrain of politics. It is unfortunate that the Jonathan administration is likely to go down in history as one that has done the greatest damage to the integrity and efficacy of formal and informal institutions just because of its desperation to remain in power at all costs.

    • Olumide Dahunsi is a Lagos based public affairs analyst

     

  • Reflection on Afe Babalola’s attainments

    He was a farmer’s boy. The first 10 years of his life was spent on a cocoa plantation. He had several encounters with tigers and escaped narrowly. He was given a chase by angry and fast moving snakes during some of his hunting expeditions but survived. His childhood days had death strewn all over his paths, but some great benevolence, God’s grace and destiny, ensured that he survived. The bare floor of the farmhouse made of mud was his bed and banana leaves were his duvets. While on the farm, he neither wore clothes nor shoes. To him, “Life on the farm was the best”, more because there was plenty of food to eat.

    Young Afe was enjoying his life on the farm but his father, Babalola, had other plans. Even though he was his only son at the time and needed his support on the farm, he decided to send him to school. He never liked it at first. He ran away from school several times because of corporal punishments but his father would insist that he must go back. While in the Primary school, Afe was a very serious student having imbibed the culture of hard work on the farm where he would never sacrifice his farm work for any pastime.

    Afe was not flippant with his studies. Little wonder that he was one of the best in his graduating class in 1945 when he completed his primary school education in Emmanuel school, Ado Ekiti. He came second in the final examination. That was the end of his classroom education. Despite gaining admission to Christ School, Ado Ekiti, his father could not afford to pay his tuition fees. He sat at home and studied for School certificate examination. Something that was rare at the time, He passed his GCE ordinary level examination of University of London in 1952 and GCE advanced level in 1954, each at one seating. Babalola worked hard to break the yoke of poverty. He was a chip off the old bloc. His father worked from morning till evening for seven days a week. His father taught him that his palms were his best friends because they would never desert him.

    That was the very humble beginning of the “farmer’s boy”, Aare Afe Babalola who by dint of hard work and God’s favour has become the first African to be awarded the LLD honours of the University of London in the University’s 179-year history. The award has put the legal virtuoso in the league of former South African President, Nelson Mandela who received the honorary doctorate degree in Economics from the University in 1996 and Archbishop Desmond Tutu who was honoured seven years ago with the honorary doctorate degree in Divinity.

    The University of London honorary degrees is usually conferred on people of conspicuous merit, who are outstanding in their field, who command international recognition, and have given exceptional service to the community among others. Afe is no doubt a legal icon. After bagging the University of London degree in Economics through private studies in 1959, Afe enrolled as an external student of London University in 1960 for his law program where he was acclaimed as “the wonder man who specialises in private study” by the Secretary to the Senate of the University upon his arrival. He graduated in 1963, and has been in the legal profession ever since.

    In his over 50 years in the legal profession, Aare Afe Babalola was known as brilliant and very hardworking; a lover of legal analysis who usually saw through fine points which others did not see. Even though he started his private practice from a windowless garage, his desire to succeed was his driving force. He was a criminal law specialist who hardly lost any of the criminal cases he handled.  He handled over 200 criminal cases and about 150 divorce cases. He also handled many celebrated cases like the missing $2.8million NNPC money in 1982; the Alaafin vs. Ooni superiority battles in the 80s and 90s; the Ashipa vs. Alaafin case over M.K.O. Abiola’s Aare Ona Kakanfo chieftaincy title; Falae vs. Obasanjo and Buhari vs Obasanjo’s election petitions, among many others.

    Former president Obasanjo reposed so much confidence in his legal sagaciousness that he once said “I know when a person gives you (Afe Babalola) a case (to handle), he need not worry. I know you would handle it well”. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he is the only lawyer in Nigeria, dead or alive, who has produced over 15 senior advocates, the highest recognition that can be accorded a Nigerian lawyer.  On four occasions, he was offered the position of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, but he turned down all the offers because according to him, “I cannot cope with the slow pace of work in the civil service”.

    His contributions to the legal profession went beyond litigations. He has distinguished himself as a teacher and author. He taught law at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Centre for African Law Research and Development, Lagos as well as the Postgraduate School of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ibadan. He was also a newspaper columnist on legal issues. His column in the Nigerian tribune titled “You and the Law” is a must read for law practitioners and a reference material for law students in Nigeria and beyond. He has also authored many books including Injunctions and Enforcement of Orders, Law and Practice of Evidence in Nigeria, Electoral Law and Practice (Vols. 1 & 2), University Administration in Nigeria and over 500 lectures.

    The legal genius has exerted his astuteness in the educational sector as well.  Having worked tirelessly to build a polytechnic for his community in Ado-Ekiti in 1982, he served as the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos between 2000 and 2007. At the University of Lagos where he worked pro bono, he was transparency personified. He was named the Pro-Chancellor-of-the-year on two occasions by the National Universities Commission and the university became the “University of First Choice” for many Nigerian students.

    He founded Afe Babalola University six years ago and the University is now reputed as the fastest growing University in Africa and “a miracle model reference point and benchmark for other Universities” according to the National Universities Commission. A family man to the core, his children went to the best schools in the world and all of them hold at least a second degree. Just like him, three of his children studied law at the University of London. It would not be a waste to say a well-deserved kudos to this legal icon on his well-deserved LLD degree from the University of London. This is indeed another “impossibility made possible.”  Like the biblical Caleb, Aare Afe Babalola is still conquering mountains at 85.

    •Adeolu Durotoye PhD, FCIPM is a veteran journalist and political scientist. Email: adeolud@yahoo.com

  • Beware the ‘technicians’: Win the battle and lose country?

    Beware the ‘technicians’: Win the battle and lose country?

    President Goodluck Jonathan recently admitted in a Voice of America interview that foreign ‘technicians’ had been brought in for maintenance and instruction in the fight against Boko Haram. This has however been refuted by Nigerian soldiers who say that the technicians are participating in actual combat and are not working with them but rather on their own. All we have heard of these technicians is that they are likely from South Africa, Russia and Ukraine. In the past, these technicians would be referred to as mercenaries but a more modern term would be private armies, security contractors or now technicians as President Jonathan would have us believe.

    The political spin machinery has been working overtime with reports of gains made against Boko Haram. Although some might suggest these are good gains but we need to ask ourselves this question: At what cost have these gains come? By cost, I do not mean the millions of dollars that have likely been paid to these technicians (It is widely speculated that the average cost of hiring a private security contractor ranges from between $10,000 to as high as $40,000 a month), but rather the cost to our national integrity and future stability.

    My concern is that these gains may be short lived and ultimately, the country may live to regret them. We may be setting a dangerous precedent of using non-­ state actors in conflict resolution. If history teaches us anything, it is that we should beware of the ‘technicians’.

    We only have to look to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the use of “private contractors”, as they were popularly known, did not end the wars but rather, escalated them. Closer home on the African continent, we can look at the role private armies played in the Congo, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, and Uganda; and some of these countries have not yet recovered from the after effects.

    Even if the fight against Boko Haram is successful – some serious and burning questions still need to be answered:

    •What does this say about the once formidable Nigeria military?

    •What is in it for our regional friends – Chad, Niger and Cameroon?

    •What dangerdoes it portend for Nigeria? – In terms of prolonged political instability and the possible creation of new threats.

    •What are the implications under International Humanitarian Law? Can human rights abuses arise from the misconduct of these technicians?

    Historically, the Nigerian Army has generally been perceived as one of the better equipped fighting forces on the African continent and has been instrumental in ending regional conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan and most recently Mali. However, that reputation has been shaken to its core with its inability to proffer an effective strategy in tackling Boko Haram. Reports of corruption, mutiny, loss of territory, arms deals, increase in unchecked arms importation, low morale of soldiers and even rumours of a possible military coup have further blighted its strength. The question is why spend all these funds on short term gains, when the same amount could have been used to buy equipment, and to recruit, train and empower the military force? Our underbelly has been exposed and the sharks have come out to feed. Whatever bragging rights we once had may not exist anymore unless we have a rethink.

    According to a recent Global Fire Power (GFP) ranking used to determine a nations Power index; of the 30 African countries in their database, Nigeria ranks fourth; first to third being – Egypt, Algeria and South Africa. Others to note are those of our regional joint partners – Niger, Chad and Cameroon. An analysis using a few of the factors that were used to determine some countries rank – total population, land size, active frontline personnel, active reserve personnel, air power, naval power, defense budget is captured in the table above.

    From the data, Nigeria tops all countriesin population size, our land size is roughly about 920,000 sq km, our frontline personnel is at 130,000, reserve personnel at 32,000 and our defense budget at about $2.3 billion. Egypt is about the same land size but with a population of 86million, frontline personnel at 468,500, reserves at 800,000 and a budget of $4.4bn. Algeria has the biggest defense budget with about $10.5bn, a population size of 38 million, frontline personnel of 512,000 and reserves at 400,000. South Africa’s numbers pale in comparison to Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria but what they lack in personnel and reserves, they make up for in the size of land systems, air and naval power. The numbers that stick out are how low are frontline and reserve personnel are – For a country of 177 million people; our cumulative military strength is 162,000. Invariably there is one soldier to about 1000 people.

    This brings me to the role of our friends in Niger, Chad and Cameroon who were ranked according to this index in 10th, 12th and 23rd place respectively. Niger has only 5,300 frontline personnel and 0 reserves, a land size of over 1,200,000 sq km, a population of 17 million and a defense budget of $85 million. Chad has a similar land size to Niger, 30,350 frontline personnel and 0 reserves, a population of about 11 million and a defense budget of $120 million. Finally, Cameroon has a land size of roughly over 475,000 sq km, frontline personnel of 14,000, and reservespersonnel of 10,000 and a defense budget of $370 million.

    Cumulatively, Nigeria tops ALL its partner countries in EVERY index. The big question is, how then, are these 3 able to combat Boko Haram more effectively than Nigeria?  Surely, can it be simply standing in solidarity with its ‘giant’ neighbor? Some suggest the impact of internally displaced Nigerians and the loss of territory spurred these countries to action, perhaps, but have you considered the fact that military operations are expensive. Other theories, many of which suggest that money is the deciding factor also exist. No doubt, money and conflict will always be the visible and invisible face of evil. Throw in oil and any other resource and you have a war on your hands.

    Some popular reports speculate a deliberate sabotage by the Chadians against Nigeria mostly stemmed from the rights to the Lake Chad basin – which some say contains about 2.32 billion barrels of oil and 14.65 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Another theory is the threat of a food crisis in these countries; many of whom depend on food from Northern Nigeria. Supporting Nigeria in tackling Boko Haram will certainly open up access to food markets and distribution chains. Another theory is perhaps the lure of a huge payout from the Nigerian Government to the joint forces; one reported by PUNCH newspaper to total 146.2 million naira a month to troops from neighboring Chad and Niger. These armies reportedly don’t earn as much as they are currently being paid so supporting Nigeria is financially beneficial. All these are speculative theories and we should welcome their support. Perhaps this may give rise to calls for better funding of regional forces.

    When governments choose to use private contractors to solve conflicts, not only does this pose a real and serious threat to stability and conflict resolution, it also erodes the capacity of public institutions to ensure order. How prepared are we to deal with potential human rights abuses? Studies show that if the defense institutes of states fail to establish effective management structures to regulate the activities of these private contractors, there are higher chances of misconduct and committing of atrocities.

    The clamour for power and political positions has blinded many to this clear and present danger. Why win a battle only to lose the country? Is the desire to desperately hang on to power worth trading our future for?

    When all has been said and done, will there even be a country and are we not opening ourselves up to even greater problems after Boko Haram is gone? Boko Haram is a well-oiled machine; the Federal Government may claim to have made gains for now but what happens when it regroups and fights back? Or worse still, what happens when a new set of heavily armed splinter groups emerge? We’ve seen the group’s tactics evolve over 5 years and unless a more strategic solution is sought, they will evolve to a much larger beast.

    Too many interests want to see Nigeria fail and bring our almighty ego to its knees. Why play into their hands?

     

    •Akinmeji is a Public Policy Analyst. She is an alumnus of the prestigious Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Washington DC. She writes from Abuja

  • Moemeke, a legend

    it was William Shakespeare who said, “When beggars die,  there is no comet seen. But the heavens themselves blaze forth at the death of a prince.” I was out of town on assignment, when Mr. I S Moemeke, the Lintas boss joined his ancestors. I was therefore not privileged to observe how the heavens blazed in the coming home of one of their own. Shakespeare did not make any mistake, for such an honour is reserved for deserving citizens of our common humanity. Life is a stage.  Everyone is bound to come in and play and at the end of the short span exit. Death is a necessary end. It is a price, we mortals must pay, no matter how we may try to wish it away. One day, it is over! The glory of our existence here is this: some of us might play and on leaving, leave heavy foot prints on the sands of time.

    That of course is the true mark of our life on earth. Mr. I S Moemeke, our brother, uncle, father,  boss, friend, collegue and partner came to this our chequered world; saw and conquered. He came, saw and conquered! The battle is now for us, he left behind to consummate, in the light of truth. It was the ant who was telling her children, one cool evening, “Look sons, understand this: the moment truth is no longer plausible, anarchy is looming. “Here comes a man who in his life sojourn depended on truth. He was a dogged fighter and believer of truth. Nothing could sway him from the path of truth. He believed that nothing is worth fighting for, as long as truth is missing!

    As a young chap, our part crossed in my secondary school days.  As an aspiring writer,  the late business mogul, administrator par excellence, enigma, sage,  a man of peace, candour and ardour, saw a piece of my writing and provided the ladder, the anchor , for me to climb and continue climbing the literary space.  That encounter with the great man had produced great works in literature and added to the pool of human learning. During my senior secondary days, as a member of The Association Of Nigerian Authors, Delta State Chapter, I joined other literary minds in the State to produce a literary master piece; RUMBLING CREEKS OF NIGER DELTA,           which is being used today in some literary arts departments in Nigerian universities and Abroad. My humble self used it in my under graduate class. Imagine that! Again, my novel, THE MISSING GIRL,  is among the one hundred listed books in Australia.

    In the list, MISSING GIRL is third in Africa. THING FALL APART by Achebe is number one while HALF OF A YELLOW SUN by Adiche is number two.  In Indonesia, a typical moslem country, my name Sunday Igwebuike is listed among THE WORLD FAMOUS PERSONALITIES. Can you beat that? We may mourn at this juncture,  but every moment of his life here on earth is worthy of celebration. We hope and pray that the legacy he left behind lives on. We also pray for the children who are finding it hard to believe the passing on of their beloved dad to take heart. They should not rest on their oars. If there is any tree to climb,  a river to cross, a mountain to surmount, they should not be found wanting. Adieu baba! Sleep on in the bosom of your maker! Rest! BON VOYAGE!

    •Igwebuike writes from Lagos

  • A timely message to presidential candidates

    Now, fellow Nigerians, make sure you exercise your voting right. Go out there and vote. If you believe in transformation, take your PVC and vote. If it is change you believe in, it doesn’t matter one bit; just go and vote. There can be no transformation without change anyway. But neither will it ever happen if we refuse to vote, or if the turnout is so low that the scale of apathy casts a shadow on the credibility of the elections—Rev. Chris Okotie

    The above words were contained in a message that clergyman and politician, Rev. Chris Okotie, posted on his Facebook account. Title A Message for Jonathan and Buhari, it could not have come at a better time. Today, Nigerians are trooping out en-masse in the hope of electing a new president. Voter apathy is not what we expect at this crucial moment of our history. We must show that we want this democracy to work. We cannot afford to be ballot-shy now or acquiesce to the dearth of any real alternative to the main political stalwarts on parade at this presidential election. Despite the fact that there are 14 presidential candidates contesting, only the two leading party’s candidates appear to be making the headlines.

    The initial reticence should begin to dissipate, and decision making in the choice of leadership should be guided in a constructive way. Granted, the idea of enforced candidature is unappealing, but is genuine, heartfelt indifference preferable? My natural choice and preferred candidate for this exalted office, Rev. Okotie, has been edged out of the race by the ruling cabal and their electoral agency. That is no longer news. Yet, in line with the Reverend’s body language of statesmanship and fence-mending for peace and national unity, Nigeria must march forward as we try to build on the last 16 years of uninterrupted democracy.

    What Nigerians had longed for was a chance to critically appraise manifestos of the candidates on obvious criteria like infrastructure, security, education, food, health, employment, housing, general life index, and so on, in order to understand their grasp of the issues and how they intend to fix them. Unfortunately, we have not been so opportune. To do this, some of the criteria are the obvious. Instead, government and development went on recess.

    Following the initial postponement of the February 14 date by six weeks from February 14 to March 28, many tongues wagged with insinuations of ploys to scuttle of the elections with the possibility of instituting an interim government. That belief was not far-fetched as the tone which the campaigns took gave a hint of emotive religious and ethno-cultural sentiments of character assassination masqueraded as fact-bearing was unleashed on the nation.

    There has been psychological intimidation and undue manipulation of the system and harassment of opposing party members by these louts, who copiously threaten to degenerate the electioneering period by any one or many means of ill-defined imperatives like rowdyism, which combine to fuel the fires of dissent. This situation ordinarily would be tension-soaked and explosive, so the electorate must refrain from any act that could jeopardise their lives or the electoral process, because loss of lives and property does not affect the ruling class as they busy themselves with political junketing. Such insensitivity! If they can resort to such extremes before votes are cast, what will they be capable of in the event of loss?

    While we should be basking in the euphoria of 16 years of democracy; the longest in our history, a dark pall hung over the nation as the parties traded blames. Nigerians responded by stock-piling food and resources at home in case of eventualities. How did we descend to this low level of democracy? Never in our history has the political atmosphere got so bad.

    How is it conceivable that a handful of politicians and ruling cabal, who make up less than 1/10000 of our estimated 170 million people, are allowed to disturb the tranquility of this great nation and create a degrading international perception of us as a people? Considering the time and expense that went into these campaigns, can we honestly believe that they have been able to sway votes in their favour?

    For weeks, this troublesome trend flourished in the media. Yet, despite the now obvious academic exercise called the Abuja Peace Accord, none of the presidential aspirants who were signatories to the accord document or their party’s hierarchy are known to have come forward to denounce the trend, even with the print and audio-visual media’s stringent criticism and the populist clamour against the free reign of the mud-slinging campaigns. Silence may well mean consent.

    Our 170 million-strong human capital should count for something. China, with its population is on the way to overtaking almighty America economically, simply because it has taken advantage of its numerical strength to make itself an international economic hub where the world come to get business done. Nigeria, the sixth largest population in the world should not be drowning in the back waters of underdevelopment. We will not continue to stumble along, hoping to somehow arrive at the land of Uhuru. We are not an inferior species of human beings.

    In closing, I once again refer to Rev. Okotie’s article where he closed by saying; “…for us to develop and achieve our full potential, we need an effective mechanism to change our leaders by constitutional means. No other means will be acceptable. Every Nigerian must therefore hear this loud and clear: go out and vote; and equally important, respect the outcome. Let the politicians receive this with equanimity and philosophical discernment…”

     

    •Akhigbe, a former governorship aspirant under FRESH Party, wrote in from Benin, Edo State.

  • Asiwaju Tinubu: My song for the generalissimo

    This is my song in honour of a man of many parts, politician of note, generalissimo of the progressive movement,  a detribalised Nigerian, a mentor and benefactor; Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Those who don’t known him may say other things about him, but those of us who have been privileged to walk with him can never forget how impactful his hands are on the march to greatness of his associates. He is firm and committed and does not entertain sloppiness.  Tinubu never allows you to walk alone, once he shares the vision of your pursuit. I have experienced this attribute first hand and the impression it has left on me is indescribable.

    Celebrating Tinubu is the celebration of excellence in all ramifications; little wonder the world is to mark his birthday and giving him a standing ovation worthy of a man who has given himself over to the emancipation of genuine democratic ethos in Nigeria. Tinubu knows what the world needs and is not afraid to go after it. Let them paint the man of the people in whatever colour pleases their electoral desperation, the world has come to know him as a man of great vision and he is now been celebrated on the global stage. That was why he could stand on developing Lagos state through the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to meet the needs of its large population in the state at a time the powers that be insisted he must not. He suffered for it but I am sure he counted it as a blessing because today, Lagos is doing well through that initiative.

    This man of many parts knows what Nigeria needs and he has never been afraid to pursue it, even if it were to put him in a minority.  Gradually at home, many Nigerians here are coming to terms with the reality of his pursuit, the honesty of his intention and the altruism of his philosophy and they are rewarding him for it. First in Lagos, then Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Edo, Imo, and with the combination of another far sighted Nigerian leader, General Muhammd Buhari, the acceptance of his dream of a better Nigeria is far spreading beyond the coast of his traditional ‘home page’. A man that the Adams Oshoimole of this world can follow, a man that the likes of Rochas Okorocha can associate with, a man that won the heart of Dr Abubakar Saraki and the dogged and rugged defender of the voiceless, Rotimi Ameachi, a man that a cerebral Kayode Fayemi, or the deep man of Osun state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola can celebrate,  a man that a Wole Soyinka and his entire world of gnomes from Igbo Olodumare can dance with must be a man of great understanding and impact.

    Those who don’t know him may vilify him, but those who have shared sessions of strategies with him know that Tinubu is a master of political brinkmanship. He is deft and calculating but never vindictive. His politician eyes are more than the human two; he sees beyond and across the present. For a man trained in accounting, his forensic knowledge of humanity is awesome and challenging. That is the secret behind the emergence of a Babatunde Fashola, who is best described as the “Atunluto of Lagos”; the man who has been able to reorder and restore sanity to the Nigerians of Lagos base. It is the secret behind the emergence of a Oshiomole who is introducing new dimension to public accountability in Edo state. Those who plotted the exit of Kayode Fayemi,  whose tenure witnessed the emergence of a new Ekiti land now lament the ignominy of stomach infrastructure governor.

    Tinubu’s knowledge of humanity is the secret behind the emergence of a Lai Mohammed, the single individual who can wrestle with an entire governmental information machinery and not blink with facts and figures that dissolves doubt about the deceit of some who have been given the privilege to lead but daily show their utter unpreparedness for the task.

    I know Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu as a man with a generous heart; indeed generous to a fault. Asiwaju, your life is a bundle of encouragement to many of us.  Since we knew you in 1992, when you were elected as a senator representing Lagos West constituency in the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic, you have not ceased to be an amazement. Your courage in fighting the dreaded Abacha regime, as a founding member of the equally amazing pro-democracy group, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which mobilized support for the restoration of democracy and recognition of the June 12, 1993 election as the real watershed in Nigeria’s political emancipation, cannot be forgotten in the book of history. You stood with your friend and brother, Aare MKO Abiola till the end. You have always stood with people close to you; no let me rephrase that, you have always been standing for what is good for Nigeria. You started with the people of Lagos and today the LCDAs are benefitting the residents, you stood with the people of Ekiti and after years of agonising legal battle, the people’s rightful choice was installed, you stood with the people of Osun state and the same happened just as you stood with the people of Edo state and the reality is showing today.

    Now Asiwaju, you are standing for Nigeria. Those of us who know you, know that no amount of blackmail can derail you from the path of honour which you have chosen to meander with the masses. You have always stood for the people and my prayer is simple, sir: May you keep standing to the very end.

     

    Congratulations, Sir.

    Abdulwahaab is CPS to the Kwara State Governor and former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, Lagos State Council.