The Nation Newspaper

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  • Arthur Eze and peripheral roads in Abia State

    T is only a blind man who will not attest to the fact that there is absence of Federal concern in the whole of South East region and Abia State in particular due to the fact that it is centrally located as a result of its geographical connectivity to the peripheries of neighbouring states.

    This situation has remained static for quite sometime that we can no longer keep quiet because people of the South East have continued to suffer in silence for the fact that we purposefully remain loyal to Mr. President.

    The fact that roads in Abia State have erroneously remained on the front burner is not only troubling but calls for immediate concern and attention by appropriate authorities. South East remains a major bloc of supporters in Jonathan’s administration and yet there is not much to write home about with respect to nature and status of federal infrastructures in the region.

    The crux of this write up is to disprove the notion in circulation that Abia roads are bad, which is not the same thing as saying that roads in Abia are bad, because road users do not know the difference. In Abia State federal roads criss cross the length and breath of the landscape and not one is faultless to say it mildly. Beginning with Enugu, Port-Harcourt road which is almost a death trap that has constituted serious menace to the economy of the south east and Abia State in particular to the Arochukwu-Ohafia road for which attempts in its reconstruction by the Federal Government have been aborted by unscrupulous contractors, other federal roads in Abia are Aba to Ikot Ekpene express way via Ogbor Hill Aba, Ikot Ekpene to Umuahia via Ikwuano, Umuahia, Ohafia, Arochukwu to Ikot Ekpene/Itu/Calabar express roads.

    The present administration of Chief T. A Orji has continued to toil in the turmoil of federally located infrastructure and rather than receive encomiums is being vilified by some uninformed and unpatriotic elements most of whom are in a better position to canvas for federal attention in the south east but rather than do that they choose to pass wrong judgment on a State which is struggling to come out of the woods due to long period of neglect by past administration because they would not like to be preserved as been confrontational with the federal authorities in order not to endanger their businesses at the cost of dilapidation of federal presence in the south east. The comments attributed to a businessman who visited Abia with respect to roads in the State is not only massively doctored to suite a media fit in Lagos owned by a sworn enemy of Abia who has been crying over spilt milk for long time now, but misdirected at the wrong target all in the bid to play to the gallery. In the past, honest evaluations of infrastructure which have been conducted in Abia have attested to the incontrovertible fact that the current Governor of Abia State has done very well in a formerly dry land where nothing existed than propaganda.

    Today in the south east erosion has continued to ravage the environment thereby constituting fear and despair among the populace particularly in Anambra, Imo and Abia States but our so called leaders have turned a blind eye to it. It is no longer secret that the federal authority is selective in its road reconstruction projects which has tilted more to the North because it feels the Igbos can not raise an eye brow.

    The State of federal roads in Abia is simply deplorable particular along Aba axis and the whole stretch of Arochukwu Ohafia roads for which the contractor is said to have absconded with the fund already available to him, and as such the so called businessman whose verbitude and character of speech is enmeshed in controversies can be more useful to the society by assessing correctly and reporting situations to the appropriate authorities to the benefit of the entire populace.

  • Piecing Dimgba together

    The doctors couldn’t, after he was run over by that mysterious motorist in the dawn of Saturday, September 6.

    I have to piece him together. From my only physical meeting with him and Mike Awoyinfa three weeks ago before he passed. And from his massive writing. Didn’t think I’d be doing this now without him. He was to be part of the process.

    I’d set myself the task to write a book on him and Mike. I’d been browsing the newspapers on-line one dreary morning recently when a report on their work on Nigeria’s corporate helmsmen struck me with an idea, wham! ‘Why not write a book on these guys themselves?’ I thought.

    They qualify, given how much they’ve given to journalism. And how successful they’ve been! Pioneer editors-managers of the highly successful Weekend Concord, pioneer editors-managers of the widely-read and commercially successful The Sun, founders and pioneer directors of the highly succeeding Entertainment Express, co-authors of the bestseller 50 Nigeria’s Corporate Strategists and such other books as ‘The Art of Feature Writing’, Segun Osoba: The Newspaper Years, ‘Nigeria’s Marketing Memoirs’, Mike Adenuga – Africa’s Business Guru, ‘Advanced Feature Writing’ (by Dimgba alone).

    And, take a look at whom and whom they’ve mentored: Dele Momodu (publisher Ovation International magazine), Femi Adesina (Managing Director The sun), Sola Oshunkeye (a winner of the CNN African journalist of the Year?), Eric Osagie (Managing Director, New Telegraph), Steve Nwosu (Executive Director, The Sun), Bolaji Abdullahi (former Nigeria’s Minister of Sports), and so on.

    To have the idea was one thing, but, how do you tell a writer that you want to help him, or, in this case, them tell their success story? Hadn’t they better tell it themselves? Especially, when they are such damn good writers.

    ‘Well, I’d tell my story, anyway, whether they help me or not,’ I thought. It’s the sort of advice I might have received from my friend and former editor at Media Review, Taiwo Obe. He’d have said, “Tell your story, anyway.” Indeed, it was he – and another great writer-journalist and friend of mine, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu – who gave me Igwe’s and Awoyinfa’s phone numbers by way of encouragement.

    So, after I’d asked Mr. Awoyinfa by phone text messages for an appointment and hadn’t received a response after 24 hours, I made my dreaded phone call.

    I relied, as a joker, on one thing that could always sway a crack reporter, or crack reporters in this case, to talk to you. A trick they themselves might have used on a few occasions to get stories. It is a blackmail technique. In their case, they’d set themselves up beautifully to be victims of the technique by working on similar books about other people.

    So, I said into the phone: “I’m the guy who sent you that message yesterday. And you didn’t reply.”

    “What do you want, please?” Mike said in his gentle, soft-spoken manner.

    “I see that you and Mr. Igwe have been partner-journalists for years and you both have been successful from publication to publication. And you’re such good partners and entrepreneurs. I’d like to write a book documenting your successes as you’ve been documenting the successes of other successful people. And I’m going to harass the hell out of you till I get my story the way you’ve been harassing those people you write about.”

    Mike chuckled. I suspected by that that I might have got green light for my project. But, he said, “Are we that important? We’re just reporters, you know. Just doing our job.”

    Anyway, he said he’d sound out Mr. Igwe about my proposition. And gave me Igwe’s phone numbers. Again, I suspected I’d got green light. That fired up my courage a lot.

    When we eventually met in their office at Okota, it was Dimgba that led the talk. Both of them sat across the table from me, Dimgba to my left; Mike to the right.

    “Why do you want to write this book?” Dimgba asked.

    “It’s a book that’s overdue, sir,” I said. “I actually got the idea from reading a report on the work you guys have been doing on other successful people. And I thought, ’Why not do a book on these guys themselves’?”

    “But, we’re not that big. Biographies are normally written on great men,” Dimgba said.

    “I’m focusing on your journalism and books, sir. You’ve got a lot to teach this generation and coming ones. And, then, you’re such a good example of partnership. It’s the sort of things we need in this country.”

    They both seemed to agree.  And I followed up, “See, there’s something else I’m passionate about concerning you both. Here you are, an Igbo man and a Yoruba man trusting each other so much. I’m sorry, I’m not writing an ethnic stuff, but this is instructive to us. Shows that there is nothing wrong with us in this country being of different ethnic groups. It’s a lesson worth stressing.”

    “Okay.”

    Just that Dimgba wouldn’t let me off without putting himself in my shoes.

    “But, how are you going to make money from this? Have you thought of that? How do you get your investments back? Have you thought of how to publish it? Who will publish it? How to sell it?

    “I guess we’ll take care of all that. Just want to write the book first.”

    It was while reading his book on feature writing that I found out he had answered all the questions on how I could make money with the book.  He later gave me four of their books, free of charge, even when I’d offered to pay for them. Just one of those books is worth N10,000.

    I can’t recall any particular word spoken by Mike Awoyinfa at that meeting. He just sat down quietly and nodded occasionally while Dimgba spoke. And I picked up an idea from that why they’d been succeeding together. Someone leads; the other follows, once they’d decided on an issue beforehand.

    We agreed to begin work with interviews when Mike returned from the UK where he was to visit for the graduation ceremony of one of his sons. “In three weeks time”, as Dimgba put it. Saturday, September 16 made it three weeks since I met them and I was expecting to call them up in the new week to say, “How now?” That’s the day I read in the papers that Dimgba had been killed.

    I’ve been emotionally unwell since then.

    • Sule, Writer/Filmmaker lives at Abeokuta 

  • Hoopla over National Conference report

    At the point that President Goodluck Jonathan decided to inaugurate his National Conference, a cross section of Nigeria raised questions over the necessity of such a conference at a time the nation was confronted with myriads of socio-political and economic problems. There was, and still the ferocious bloody campaign by the insurgents, Boko Haram engaged in a macabre of killing in the North-east.   This is in addition to the helplessness of the state and inability of the security forces to rein in the cancerous group that has taken their fighting capability and professionalism to the cleaner.

    In the face of all this, some analysts therefore, dismissed the conference as diversionary and a huge distraction. Those in this school of thought were of the opinions that assuming a conference were even necessary; we had glossed over the basic issue of legal framework for such conference.  A presidential diktat and fiat would not just be enough when we get to the point of implementation of the conference’s decisions, having been placed on nothing.  In our mute indifference and usual docility, the President has spoken, any dissension is unpatriotic, and so the conference went ahead thereby putting the cart before the horse.

    For such a crucial conference to address fundamental issues affecting the corporate existence and survival of the country, members were hand-picked, nominated, or appointed by the President and his men; whatever criteria they used.   No input from people whose destiny were to be discussed because of the disdain with which those in authority treat the ordinary citizens of this country.

    The conspicuous scenes at the conference were empty chairs of absentee members, tired and snoring geriatrics, and spent political horses.  From what we know about some of the conferees from their antecedents and remarks on national issues, they were mostly divisive ethnic chauvinists and irredentists.  Others were a cross-section of professionals, bureaucrats, civil society activists who speak from both sides of their mouth.  However, there were incidentally, a few patriots whose voices were lost in the cacophony of Babel from the dominant pro-establishment elements in the conference.

    During their proceedings, we saw caucuses formed around mostly ethnic, sectarian and religious affiliations.  Footages from the proceedings clearly showed that some members from their utterances had no business being there for a serious conference to chart a roadmap for Nigeria.  Now we are at a critical juncture as to what to do with the report of the conference.   The President has told the nation that he was going to forward the report to the National Assembly.

    Wait a minute!  If the President had so much confidence in the National Assembly, why did he not wake them up to their constitutional duty clearly spelt out in Section 4(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic as amended?  What is in the so-called report of the conference?

    A cursory look at bits and pieces from the report of the conference showed that among other things, they recommended that the touchy issue of subsidy on petroleum products be removed.   Whatever their reason, it was obvious that they preferred to treat the symptom of the sickness rather than the cause of the ailment or disease.  They shied away from tackling the official corruption responsible for the failure of the subsidy scheme so as to soothe and massage the ego of their principal.  They preferred that the Nigerian masses should subsidize the ineptitude and corruption of the ruling class.

    Furthermore, the conferences excitedly recommended the creation of 19 additional states across the country.  These same “knowledgeable” Nigerians with whatever credentials they have know full well that not even 10 out of the 36 states are viable enough to meet up their running cost. Are these the sort of recommendations we so eagerly want to be in the so-called new constitution that they want to bequeath to Nigerians?

    I say with humility that the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended is one of the best documents in constitutional jurisprudential craftsmanship anywhere in the world.  It may not have been a perfect document as there never would be one, but the imperfection could be laundered to make room for the vision we want; a vision of cohesive Nigeria based on true federalism.  If we are a courageous people and want to build a true democracy founded on the rule of law, then, we should make Chapter Two of the Constitution, which is on Fundamental Objective and Directive Principles of State Policy justice-able.  All we need to do is to repeal or expunge Section 6(6)(c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.  Furthermore, we could look at the immunity clauses and a few other sections that appear to deify elected officials and make above the law.

    It is becoming apparent that the so-called National Conference was driven and actuated by political motive.  If it were so as it appears to be, it has apparently served its purpose: diversion and waste, period.  Now we should have our focus on the 2015 general elections while the report of the conference gather dust and in no time melt away like others before it.  Assuming that there was anything good in the report, there is nothing in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended that says that it could not go for a referendum; notwithstanding the fact that it was not so mentioned expressly in Section 9 of the Constitution, which deals with amendment.  I listened with interest to the views of some legal minds expressed about referendum.  I found most of the views rather pedestrian and pedantic and do not reflect the doctrine and principle of law as a tool for social engineering.  I say again with humility that interpretation of law should not be reduced to dead letters of the alphabet, which most legal scholars refer to as literary canon of interpretation.  Growth in law is better made not by anachronistic attachment to conservatism but liberal and bold interpretation through progressive legal activism.

    Nigerians needed not to have expected much from the National Conference   whose outcome was quite predictable. We should be worried that extremists are over running our country, and giving our security forces bloody nose.  We should be concerned that after five months, the Chibok girls are still in captivity with little hope in sight for their rescue.  We should be bothered that confidence in our national institutions is eroding rapidly.  We should be concerned that kidnappers and armed robbers have set loops round our necks in the southern part of the country.  We should be worried about cultists ravaging communities in the Niger Delta.

    Rather than the hullabaloo over the conference, we should come together resolutely to remove through democratic means, the vermin, parasites and political vampires who make us look poor and helpless in the eyes of the world. Nigerians should demand the strengthening of institutions so as to build a new Nigeria.  We should begin to cultivate the habit of looking at issues not through ethnic or religious prisms, but through objective and balanced view for the common good.   We should compel our government and indeed the political class to show good conscience and be exemplary to drive our institutions to building a better Nigeria.  The National Conference has come and gone but the solution to the myriads of problems in Nigeria lies with us to develop human capacity for positive change.

    • Kebonkwu Esq is with Bamidele Aturu and Co. Abuja

  • Ogun: Between noise and development

    In a free and fair electoral contest, all the politicians that have now made destructive criticisms their stock-in-trade will be taken to the cleaners by Senator Ibikunle Amosun. I repeat, if the 2015 poll is open, free and fair, Amosun will defeat these noise-makers in their own wards. Most of them will even lose their polling booths to Amosun. I challenge any of these politicians to an electoral contest in their own wards today; their humiliation will be resounding and rout complete in the number of votes Amosun will garner. Either in Ogun Central, East or West, Amosun will secure a landslide victory. The art of disinformation and negative portrayal of the governor will not earn them a single vote.

    I am appalled and galled by the amount of calculated lies being dished out to the public by those politicians that cannot even beat Amosun in their own polling booths.

    What they do not know is that Amosun is a grassroots politician par excellence. I do not yet know in the current Ogun of a politician that has what may be described as fanatical support of the masses than him. Perhaps, they do not know. Amosun is not the type of politician that usually announces his visit to any part of the state. He tours the nooks and crannies of Ogun regularly, and the spontaneous affection that is displayed towards the governor is unprecedented. I only recall such during the era of the Action Group and Unity Party of Nigeria.So, the noise in the newspapers by these purveyors of mendacity will not help them.

    By the grace of the Almighty and votes of the overwhelming majority of the people of Ogun who pray for the governor day and night and appreciate his selfless sacrifice to this state, Amosun will secure a landslide in 2015 election.

    I have heard this story again and again. There was a man so close to Amosun. In fact, Amosun was said to be at his beck and call. But due to the hurdles thrown in the way of Amosun in his bid to become the governor of Ogun State since 2007 by the then power-mongers, he abandoned him during his most trying moments. He believed Amosun would never become the governor. But Amosun eventually became the governor. Ordinarily, he should not forgive such a man. But to the shock and consternation of many, Amosun forgave the man and brought him into the fold. He was not the only one so treated. As Amosun usually says, “We are humans; we are not God; if God has done this for us, who then are we?”

    Amosun also accepts correction, once, like any human being, he makes mistakes. His often-quoted remark is, “He that cannot be counselled cannot be saved.” I can hardly recall a time when Amosun refused to hold the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council. In fact, he regards it as an article of faith. He firmly believes that two heads are better than one. Sometimes he holds the meeting twice weekly or even three times if a situation demands it. You also need to see the governor how he treats elders – utmost respect is the watchword; the quintessential Yoruba-man. He’s a man of peace and will continue to seek reconciliation with all as far as it is in the interest of the good people of Ogun State.

    Amosun is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. That means financial prudence is his watchword. Like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he is obsessed with getting value for money. Human kindness flows in the heart. Most often in the rural areas, the governor will ask his convoy to stop so he can speak with a farmer or market woman. On countless times, he will buy the produce on the head of the farmer or market woman and reward them handsomely. This has been the character of Amosun long before he became the governor, and this is still Amosun. In terms of rapport with the grassroots, if anything has changed, the relationship has even been cemented, now that he is the governor.

    Rather than steal the money of the people of Ogun, like some would do and some actually did during their time, he embarked on those landmark projects that would benefit the masses of the state. Who are the beneficiaries of Amosun’s free education policy, from nursery to secondary levels? The masses, of course. By the way,it is important to mention that the last time the people of Ogun enjoyed free education was over 30 years ago, under the leadership of Chief Olabisi Onabanjo. Who are the beneficiaries of the 107km international standard Ilara-ijoun road, cutting across four local councils and hundreds of out-of-the-way villages? The grassroots, of course. Who are recipients of about 500km rural roads across the state? Who are the beneficiaries of the first international standard roads and first flyover bridges in all the three senatorial districts of the state? The masses and children of the masses who reside in these cities. Who are the beneficiaries of Gbomoro and Araya (the free health schemes)? The masses. When Amosun invested security which has now ended the era insecurity all over the state and of banks regularly closing business on account of insecurity, on whose behalf did he do so?

    I have heard the charge that Amosun is weak; that he is paying billions of naira as arrears of salaries, pension and gratuity of workers inherited from the past government rather than concentrate on his own term, from May, 2011. This is not a sign of weakness but a product of human kindness, responsive and responsible government. Yes, it is true that Amosun does not owe any worker a kobo; in fact, he pays the highest minimum wage, across board, in Nigeria. Amosun’s argument remains that if people have worked for the state, even though they were not paid by that government, he would do everything possible to offset such debts. And so, after a complete overhaul, just for example, it is discovered that the past government, owed staff of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) N2.6 billion in salaries and allowances (just one institution alone!), and Amosun has offset about N1.5billion of the debt.  Can you imagine what state-of-the-art lecture hall that can be built with N1.5 billion? Notwithstanding, the governor recently slashed the fees of the students of the institution (and nine others in the state) by 60% after the initial reduction early in the life of the administration, thereby fulfilling his pledge to the people that “as the finances of the state improve, they all shall be the beneficiaries.”

    Whereas, these spent politicians have voted for noise-making in the media, the Amosun administration has chosen development.And if God is with you and the people are on your side, who then can be against you?

    • Soyombo writes from Abeokuta, Ogun State

  • Jonathan’s electricity programme, a sham

    President Goodluck Jonathan’s Electric Power Sector Reform, ballyhooed over the years as the magical bullet for the  debilitating electricity situation in the country, is a big flop. The nation has since April been in the rainy season when public power supply perennially improves dramatically because of sufficient water in the dams for the three hydro plants at Shiroro, Kanji and Jebba—all in Niger State—but this has not been so. If anything, power supply has been worsening.

    Going by the projections of the Electric Power Sector Reform programme, which President Jonathan launched with fanfare on August 26, 2010, at Eko Hotel in Lagos, the nation should by now be generating, transmitting and distributing at least 15,000 megawatts (MW). But what is currently generated is a far cry. The country is producing less than 4,000MW, or about a quarter of the projected quantum of power! For a nation of some 170million, the electricity per capita is embarrassingly poor, falling behind Ghana’s, among others.

    After announcing for months that 10,000MW would be generated by December, the Ministry of Power on August 3, announced, without any sense of embarrassment, that the new target for the period is 6,000MW, a little above half of the figure bandied about for some time. Even so, no one is realistically expecting the nation to hit 5,000MW by December which is only four months away.  After all, the dramatic improvement which Power Minister Chinedu Nebo promised the nation that would be experienced from last June has yet to be realized. The power sector has been  a shambles since hawks, anti-reform and extremely corrupt elements in the Jonathan government forced the world renowned engineering authority, Professor Bart Nnaji, to resign as Minister of Power on August 28, 2012. The steady improvement in power supply experienced under Nnaji, who raised power generation, transmission and distribution to an all-time high of 4,500MW, ended a few weeks after the professor left office abruptly; ever since then, the country has been on a downward slope, electricity-wise.

    The new owners of the six generation companies and eleven distribution companies privatized since November 1, 2013, are all in a mess financially. If great care is not taken, the banks which loaned them huge sums in the belief that they were assisting a worthy national development cause will be shaken thoroughly. All the assumptions upon which the entrepreneurs committed huge investments in the electricity privatization programme have turned out to be calamitous. Generation firms are unable to produce much because there is no gas supply from the Nigerian Gas Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under the leadership of Deziani Alison-Madueke, the Minister of Petroleum Resources. Apparently, she has shown little interest in addressing this problem, preferring instead to focus on petrol and kerosene and crude oil lifting contracts. The President commissioned the Geregu power utility in Kogi State and the Omotosho plant in Ondo State without a single molecule because there was no gas pipeline to any of them. The nation was taken for granted.

    The joint press conference on the power situation addressed by Mrs Alison-Madueke, Power Minister Chinedu Nebo, National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) chairman Sam Amadi and  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele on August 3, was a panic public relations stunt to calm Nigerians who are becoming increasingly restive over power supply as the 2015 election is fast approaching. NERC’s decision to substantially  increase tariff during the next Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) will not make a dent on the distribution companies’ obligations to banks if there is no considerable increase in quantum of power generated and transmitted by various firms. Distribution companies themselves have already been over-billing customers in a desperate effort to remain afloat, and in some instances, they have refused to supply power to rural communities because of the paltry returns. In other words, electricity is worse for the Nigerian people than in the pre-privatisation days.

    Worse still, the transmission network is in a mess. It cannot wheel up to 5,000MW because it is old and poorly maintained. Politicians in government and elsewhere have been swooping on the limited resources available to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which has in the last one year had two chief executives and two board chairmen. Manitoba Hydro International of Canada, contracted three years ago to manage it for three years, has not been given a free hand to run the company professionally.  As if to add a comic touch to the farcical drama, President Jonathan announced two years ago, a unilateral cancellation of the $20m contract, only to swallow his own vomit in public a few days later when the international community challenged him over his unilateral action.

    Nigeria’s power sector is in no doubt in a fiasco. Perceptive analysts knew  all along that this fiasco was an accident waiting to happen. Any government which could afford to dispense with the services of Nnaji as Minister of Power cannot possibly mean well.  Any government which sold the Kano Electricity Distribution Company and Sapele generating facility to cronies of some people in The Presidency cannot mean well for the Nigerian people. Any government which sold the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to unknown quantities in power, over and above the Southeast state governments and their most accomplished entrepreneurs and researchers. has merely sentenced the South-east permanently to the dark age of history.

    A serious government will appoint only professionally sound persons as Minister of Petroleum Resources and Minister of Power and heads of agencies under them, so as to work with honesty and a sense of urgency on various electricity projects.  A serious administration will look into petitions of controversial privatizations of key power assets to fronts of government officials.  A fair minded administration will simplify and reduce the current requirements for power generation and distribution so that state and local governments as well as private organizations can produce and distribute electricity without the federal administration breathing down their neck.

    A serious administration will create a lot of incentives in the gas sub-sector so that investments will flow into it. It will also encourage the exploitation of resources like coal so that it could serve as a major source of power;  our coal is among the best in the world, given its low sulphur content. In addition, it will aggressively explore alternative sources of energy like solar, water, wind, biomass, etc, in collaboration with international development agencies and friendly countries like Germany which have advanced technologies in this field. Such power should be off-grid, that is to say, generated and supplied to end users in the vicinity, instead of being sent to the transmission network. A serious administration should cause electricity distribution companies to provide pre-paid metres to consumers within 12 months of coming into being.

    It is no longer in dispute that the President Jonathan’s Electric Power Sector Reform, advertised as elixir for the crippling electricity mess, is a big flop—in fact, a national swindle. Instead of generating light, it is generating heat and darkness. It is not working because of a profound lack of sincerity of purpose, a profound lack of vision, a profound lack of commitment and a profound absence of depth and rigour.

    • Dr Ishaku and Engr Nwosu signed this article on behalf of Electricity Stakeholders Conference.
  • COMMENT

    COMMENT

    For Dare Olatunji

    Sir, we can define what is happening now as the inevitable response of men when caprice and transitory experience govern instead of reason and true knowledge. Is Governor Chime not as guilty as his impeached former deputy? The irony is that many people don’t strive to stretch the facts to reveal the truth, before jumping into their conclusions. It is a pity that materialism has damaged our social life beyond recognition. From Adegoke o. o, ikhin, Edo State.

    I think the impeached Enugu State Deputy Governor Onyebuchi’s problem is that the governor Chime does not want to see his face again and all he did was to use the “chicken honourable members” to remove him, otherwise, how can someone be impeached for farming in a state where agriculture should be encouraged. Definitely, they were paid to do the bad job.  From Inyamah P.O.P   Port Harcourt

    It is very unfortunate that operating poultry in Government House premise has become crime, not stealing government money, and then what is the essence of having agricultural sector as ministry? Sunday Onyebuchi should go to court and argue that his impreachment lack merit.  Nigerians will not be happy, if court didn’t return Onyebuchi back office because he was sacked wrongly and probably because of 2015 election.  From Gordon Chika Nnorom

    Well written piece Sir, keep it up we admire your foresight and reasoning. From A.J. Kaura,Ado- Ekiti

    Enugu State lawmakers should cover their faces in shame for impeaching a deputy government because of a mere chicken. An idle mind is a devil work shop. The way the lawmaker are going now one day a governor or a deputy governor will be impeached because of the governor’s stay longer in the rest room (toilet). There are issues that are begging for attention but the lawmakers looked the other way and went ahead to impeach on flimsy reasons. The lawmakers would have saved their faces of shame if they had found another allegation against the deputy governor. From Hamza Ozi Momoh Apapa Lagos.

    Sir, I read your piece on Enugu ‘chicken Impeachment’. It is shocking that instead of Governor Chime to appreciate and be grateful to his deputy Onyebuchi, for dutifuly holding fort for him during his numerous jouney abroad on account of ill health, he is paying him with impeachment. A lesser mortal could have taken advantage of the situation. Examples abound in Nigeria. Taraba State is an instance- a classic one for that matter. Again, what became of the people that were working in the poultry farm? Hoping that Chime also redeployed them to the civil service. If perchance, they lost their jobs over what they do not know about, its then, not difficult to know where the problem of Nigeria lies – greed, avarice, over bloated ego, selfishness etc. Chime has unwittingly multiplied the ranks of those who will line up against him on the day of reckoning. Take a bow Onyebuchi.  From U.T Nwachukwu.

    Dear Professor, I read your piece “Enugu chicken impeachment: matters arising” .It is a very amusing as it is funny. It is a pity that the Enugu House of Assembly members do not know the difference between a serious impeachable offence and a very trivial and disgusting excuse. I am also disappointed that Governor. Chime has forgotten so soon his long period of absence from the State House and state functions. What he and his cohorts have done is pure vendetta, no more any less. In fact they have made a mockery of the word “impeachment “or can’t they read between the lines? Their act is too shameful and malicious. From Ojo Anjorin  Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

    I read your yesterday’s piece sir entitled Enugu ‘Chicken Impeachment’: Matters Arising, it’s quite good and friendly, but, wasn’t too objective; because you never talked of Onyebuchi’s major offence of insubordination to his former boss- From Auta , Jos.

     

     

    For Gbenga Omotoso

    Whoever authored the article on: Mass failure in WASSCE, will live long for being sincere with facts. The truth is that both the parents and government have failed and must someday account for the gross neglect of the upcoming generation thanks .From Dr Chike Ubani , UNN

    Hello! Your article on WASSCE is simply fabulous! Hard truth! Bitter pill! Until we tailor our attention towards rewarding brilliance in academic and technical competence we should not expect change. From Akinya Oluwagbenga David

    I can’t agree with you less in blaming parents for the mass failure of students in the just released WASSCE. Apart from the numerous issues you raised, there is one immoral one some parents encourage shamelessly and that is hiring personnel to write for their children. As a teacher in a higher institution, we had one case that a student gained admission with 7As only to be withdrawn after one semester. We investigated and found that the parents hired someone to write for her. Parents have completely neglected their responsibility. From Adudu, Nasarawa

    Mass failure in WASSCE: WAEC TO BLAME-no more printed booklet Version of the syllabus but the internet. WAEC in collaboration with Education Research Council plus Parents Teachers Association to organise “long-distance writing techniques” to attract writers/publishers and work on institutions for soft loans participants to set up “CORRESPONDENCE OUTFITS. In the good old days a copy of the syllabus plus a handful of past QUESTIONS at HARVEY Street WAEC BOOKSHOP in addition to the VHF film of the prescribed SHAKESPEARS’ text afforded my boy to have a B3 in Literature-in-English. From F O O SOMORIN.

    May God bless  you so much for speaking out my mind. Parents, gadgets and how these bodies lavish money on irrelevant affairs bothers me so much. Please, what good will it be to this country having countless models? They should kindly sponsor competitions and research. That’s Godly! Thanks. Anonymous.

    Thanks immensely for this wonderful contribution on The Nation newspaper on this heated issue of mass failure in the recently released WAEC exams. My take is the same as your views. Please next time, try to stress more on our parents’ show of poverty in the name of affluence in providing their children with state of the arts gadgets they call phones. Meanwhile, thanks once again. More power to your elbows. From Wilson N. K. Esq.

    Thank you very much sir, for your write-up. Actually, I think the parents should be blamed the most. Who gives or buys the phones for the students? Parents/guardians of course! Parents have shifted their responsibility of taking care of their children, to teachers. If it were up to them, I bet you, they will make teachers come to school on Saturdays, just to be free from their childrens’ ‘wahala’. From Onyibe A.F.

    Mass failure in WASSCE: Who is to blame? The write-up is a masterpiece and real truth. Anonymous

    We have to blame ourselves because most students have it in mind that they are going to do engage in exam malpractice in the hall.  I say thank to WASSCE for their effort to reduce malpractice in last MAY/JUNE. I’m expecting them to do the same in forthcoming exam i.e. NOV/DEC. From Oloyede Dhikrullah, Ede Osun State.

    Gbenga, Re- Mass failure in WASSCE: Who is to blame? Thank God for having people like you. What you regard as failure was made possible by “prayer”. You need not read once you are a born-again. What are parents teaching a two-year old by attaching beads to her hair? You just wait; failure is about starting. Please, read The Sunday Times (London) of 10/08/2014 pg 22 captioned: “Waiter, do you have parenting lessons on the menu today”? Observe the picture of a small girl holding a fork/knife.  Parents are more than rare in today’s Nigeria.  Women emancipation remembers! You know most of our women have no homes where charity ought to come from. All they care for is work and jewelleries. They will later learn of having ruined their tomorrow. From Akinlayo. A. State of Osun.

    You’re a great satirist. You made my day on your “2015 and the Jonathan crowd.” My Thursdays are always brightened by your satirical outpouring. Keep it up. And may God redeem us from this pervading groping. Anonymous

    “Mass failure in WASSCE…” You said it all indeed. Given the scenario, my take is that parents need do more to secure the future of their children: teach good values of hard work, motivate them, monitor them in school, and rebuke their excesses vehemently. Anonymous

    Your article on mass failure in WASSCE in the Nation newspaper of 4th September, 2014 is highly commendable. In addition, students don’t even know that WAEC syllabus exists! The students prefer to go for miracle centres for their WASSCE. Many teachers too don’t complete teaching the WAEC Syllabus in those respective subjects with the students. On the whole, the parents, teachers and students are to be blamed for lack of commitment to WAEC Exams and not WAEC who has consistently maintained her standard. From Simon Danbeki, A.C.A  chie, Busary  Department, Benue state University, Makurdi

    ‘Mass failure in WASSCE: Who is to blame? The Nation of September 4, was of truthful sorts. Correctly Yes! You blamed parents, students and corporate entities. I must say you ought to highlight the conspiratorial failure of the three tier governments that institutionalised corruption, lies, double speaks and evil machinations such that minimum deadly wage of N18,000 cannot survive workers\parents in their employment. meaning food first for children before or rather than buying books, etc and children fell for comedies, yahoo, yahoo to make ends meet even for their ageing parents to survive. From Afolabi  Gbajumo, Ikeja, Lagos.  

    Your piece on 2015 and Jonathan crowd is so on point. I love the satire very much, your award as editor of the year is no joke. I love the ingenuity. A word is enough for the wise. Anonymous

    Mass failure in the last WASSCE is disturbing. The state government is largely responsible for this problem. For instance in Lagos state public secondary schools, you will see over 120 students in a class to a teacher. Most of the students do not have chairs and desks. They stand on their feet throughout the teaching period finding it difficult to write down what the teacher is teaching. Even on the available chairs and desks, you will find unusual number of students sitting on them. You will notice that teachers are not committed to teaching with this kind of situation. This condition does not support learning. In a secondary school in Surulere, students claim that they weren’t taught mathematics for a whole session yet students were compelled to write mathematics exam of which mass failure was recorded. Yes students may have their own blame, but state government should be up and doing to correct these mistakes. From Idowu 0sinowo,Timberline, Surulere.

     

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

    Re: Ebola’s other victims. Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria’s case differs from trying to expose our children’s schools to Ebola. While TAN could attempt to solve their own Ebola with their political free funds, where will the average parents get the funds to pay for their wards’ treatment should they contract the disease, and assuming it is curable? The die is cast already with the reversal of the October 13 resumption to September 22. Our solace lies in the almighty God who will protect our children on this journey they are being made to undertake. God willing, they would return safely. From Lanre Oseni.

    It is now clear to all Nigerians that the poor are at the mercy of the rich. If it had been a minister or any notable person that fell sick and was rushed to the hospital, would the doctors have abandoned him or her? Any government that cares for its citizens takes note of things happening within or outside its domain; I urge all our doctors  to emulate the heroine, the late Dr Adadevoh, to save life before things get out of hand. When this is done, Ebola would be a thing of the past in the country. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    You put all the blame at the door step of proprietors. Why? If the minister has superior argument for October as resumption date for our children, they (proprietors) have to abide by it. Mind you, having the entire family intact at home against an outbreak is at the mercy of God. From continuous closure many teachers will suffer more in Nigeria’s system. All businesses tied to the school system will collapse, not only proprietors’. Remember our work and eat syndrome system. Allow resumption sir! Anonymous.

    Thanks for your essay. Please visit hospitals to determine or report on the level of preparedness to tackle Ebola. Read the WHO guidelines on the net for your assessment. There are people who no longer visit doctors because they say doctors now infect people. What would you tell any close relative of yours working in any hospital now? Anonymous. 

    The refusal of TAN to stop their rallies with the attendant risks and dangers, despite the president’s order to that effect only further confirms the suspicion that Jonathan has himself become captive to some forces who are subverting the system just because they know that all that matters to him now is Aso Rock 2015. As for those school children, they are just another means to Jonathan’s end. Remember how long it took him to meet the parents of the Chibok girls? And that only after Malala instructed him to do so. For the PDP and Jonathan, even Ebola is politics. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

    Against the backdrop of the Ebola crisis, the idea to allow schools resume on September 22 instead of the previous October 13 is unwelcome. As our leaders of tomorrow, the health of our children is very important. Why are we in a hurry to resume when we are yet to sufficiently cage Ebola? There is this popular saying that prevention is better than cure. It is dangerous to expose our children to Ebola given that there is no cure for it yet. So, the ministries of education and parents should have a rethink of the decision to resume this month. From Chika Gordon Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    I like your style of writing. A brilliant primary six pupil can understand your message on “Ebola’s other victims”. Keep it up. Anonymous.

  • Abia 2015: Let justice prevail

    At last, grapevine indications that some powerful forces in Abia have vowed to scuttle gubernatorial ambitions of some ‘endangered specie’ is gradually coming to reality. The timing is understandably strategic, and appreciating the enormity of the self-given task, laden with moral burden; lots of nocturnal scheming and thief-in-a-night calculations have been on the cards for several weeks.  Rebuttals of serial exposure of the behind-the-scene manipulations, to prosecute the agenda in a seemingly populist fashion, have been commonplace.

    Indeed, the most vexed issue in Abia political landscape today is the issue of the purported zoning, chorused by a negligible few of suborned wheel-dealers who prefer being kings in hell to servants in paradise. Of a truth, Abians are still at loss with the recent rubber-stamping of the purported zoning of the 2015 governorship position to Abia South Senatorial Zone. It is a typical case of ‘voice of Jacob, hands of Esau’. In fairness, there is nothing wrong with working out an acceptable power sharing framework to ensure stability and minimize acrimony in pursuit of power in any socio-political milieu. On the face value, it is appealing. But that is not the case with the newest grandstanding by those who are desperate to re-write history and transmogrify the cultural bond of Ukwa/Ngwa people.  It is indeed a conspiracy to distort our history. Right from the defunct East Central State, when Late Dr. Michael Okpara held sway as the Premier, Ukwa/Ngwa or the old Aba Division had shared a common destiny in terms of allocation of political offices and largesse. Even in the old  Imo State, Ukwa/Ngwa constituted a formidable and united bloc during electioneering and strategic calculations in socio-political balancing. In the present Abia State, they have been consistently made to serve as deputy governors in the persons of late Dr.  Chima  Nwafor, Enyinnaya Abaribe who is now a serving Senator, Hon. Eric Acho Nwakamma and presently, Col. Austin Ananaba (Rtd). Agitations for Abia governorship seat had been along the two recognized blocs of Old Bende and Old Aba Division or Ukwa/Ngwa. The contiguity of the area even makes Ugwunagbo/Obi Ngwa/Osisioma federal constituency to cut across the Abia Central and Abia South Senatorial  Districts. Besides, Isiala Ngwa has remained the head of Ngwa ancestry and exploiting political leanings and interests to put them by the side, when the issue of common interest of Ngwa people are discussed,  is tantamount to a traditional sacrilege. Again, the Abia Charter of Equity written before the creation of Abia State recognized power sharing along the two blocs of Old Bende and Old Aba or Ukwa/Ngwa. So, zoning the Abia gubernatorial post along senatorial zones is unacceptable. It is like a poisoned chalice with chauvinistic considerations. The psychological pressure and the intended moral burden to whip non-conformists to line is preposterous, and geared towards putting the hitherto loving brothers and sisters  at daggers-drawn, over who gets what.

    Except the likes of late Jaja Anucha Wachuku, Dr. Paul Ogwuma, Senator Adolphus Wabara and presently, Chief Emeka Nwogu, virtually all strategic and national positions  that came to Abia had been the exclusive preserve of Old Bende , and Ukwa/Ngwa did not begrudge them, knowing that one day, the most prized seat in the state will equitably get to them. Old Bende has produced iconic personalities whom their past positions are not factored in, in the present political equation yet it counted for them. At the dawn of new democracy in 1999, Ukwa/Ngwa still supported the emergence of their two sons as governors in the persons of  Orji Uzor Kalu and Chief T.A.Orji, and now that it is the turn of Ukwa/Ngwa, external forces have aligned with home quislings to balkanize a historically-united people. A look at the list of these Old Bende icons is instructive here: Late Gen. J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi  – Former Head of State; Okpara – former Premier of Eastern Region; Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kalu(rtd) – former Military Administrator (MILAD) old Imo / Lagos States;  Gen. Ike Nwachukwu – former MILAD old Imo State/ Minister; Dr. J.O.J. Okezie- former Federal Commissioner of Health & Agriculture; Amadi Ikwechegh- former MILAD old Imo State.

    Others are, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe-  Ex- VP and MILAD Lagos/Niger states; Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu- former  Minister of Finance; Comrade Uche Chukwumerije – former Secretary of Information; Dr. Ihechukwu Madubuike – former Ministers of Health/Education; Prince Vincent Ogbulafor- Former Minister, Presidency and PDP chairman; Ojo Madueke- former minister of Transport and Foreign Affairs; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – Minister of Finance, and Chief Onyema Ugochukwu -pioneer chairman of NDDC.

    Without equivocation, if this  zoning is pursued with the exclusion of Umunneato brothers, it will pose a big threat to Ukwa/Ngwa solidarity.

    The inescapable truth is that the senseless phobia for Ukwa/Ngwa people is being exploited by their enemies to instigate  irreconcilable acrimony among a people whose legendary unity of purpose in pursuing a common agenda usually sends shivers down the spine of their oppressors in the other divide. And one of the most unifying factors among Ukwa/ Ngwa people is the deprivation of the plum position of governor from them for years. Though there have been efforts to actualize the dream, like in 2003 when ‘Otu Onu’ mantra, meaning a Single Term; pervaded the landscape like a battle cry to assuage the ill- feelings and marginalization in Abia politics, yet it has not materialized. Now that the chicken is gradually coming home to roost,  vested interests are out to destroy Ukwa/Ngwa so that the spoils of victory would be ashes in their mouths; while the sponsors of internal implosion will retire to their home stead  to pop champagne, thinking that the Pyrrhic victory would save them in the day of reckoning.  Ukwa /Ngwa people should know that “when the vanes are removed from an arrow, even though the shaft and the tip remain, it is difficult for the arrow to penetrate deeply”.

    One of the critical measures to ensure the survival of Ukwa/Ngwa, now and in future, is to guard jealously the opportunity which the present circumstance presents, with their legacy of commonality and brotherliness. Relying on the pittances from the front row operators and bandwagons without  dispassionately subjecting the far-flung implications of today’s actions would mar the gains of Ukwa/Ngwa affinity built from the time immemorial.

    This is a trick to put us asunder to enable them install a stooge.  Ukwa/Ngwa people should view the unfolding events as they are, not as their emotions colour them. Passivity and indifference at this time is very costly. Some erroneously think that one or a few aspirants are the ready targets of the purported zoning, but underlying the agenda is to subtly discredit Ukwa/Ngwa with our orchestrated internal squabbles, as an alibi. In a game with loaded dice, a player must have a temper of iron, with armour proof to the blows of fate, and weapons to make his way against men. According to Ralph Emerson, “Nature  has made up her mind that what cannot defend itself shall not be defended”. Already, there strong aspirants on the wings, waiting to harness the timely opportunity if it slips away from our hands. Men of goodwill from Ukwa/Ngwa and indeed Abians should look eyeball to eyeball to those calling the shots, to avert murdering the truth. It has cataclysmic consequences. The argument that Isiala Ngwa, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisoma LGAs should not contest the Abia 2015 Governorship based on the purported zoning to Abia South is unsustainable. It is rooted on a defeatist platform and a ploy that would shock the today’s promoters when the real intentions are unravelled. By then, handshake would have gone beyond the elbow (apologies to Chinua Achebe). It would be too late to start a face-saving battle, when the cause or the rallying point has been guillotined by short-sighted and divisive interests.  A stitch in our decision today, may save nine!

     

    • Hilary writes from Umuahia, Abia State
  • Attah’s reception: A grand deception

    Attah’s reception: A grand deception

    Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah is an honourable man.  At least his pedigree affirms this unequivocally. His aristocratic background provided for him the best affordable education during his time- a secondary education at Saint Patrick’s College, Calabar and tertiary education abroad. The training burnished him into a thorough bred professional architect who had the enviable distinction of leading that professional body.

    When Obong Attah ascended the high office of governor of Akwa Ibom State in 1999, it was seen as the return of the aristocrat to his people. Many feared that there would be lack of seam and sync given his blue blood cultivation. They further noted that his long absence from home, his lack of intimate affinity with the home people and apparent lack of grasp of political chicanery may combine to make him a stranger to the politics of the state. Despite these considered deficiencies, Obong Attah, possessing of iron-cast courage and will plunged into the exercise and made the best of it.

    As governor, he broke new frontiers. During the resource control imbroglio, Attah fought doggedly, redefining the national perception of Akwa Ibom man hitherto construed to be timid. At every public forum, he gave a good account of himself in conduct and public communication. His dignified and urbane mien may have been part of the reason why he was made chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum. His conduct of the affairs of that office and his vociferous agitation for resource control gave him a notable standing in national politics.

    Unfortunately, he misread the attention he received. People applauded him for having the courage to confront the then President Olusegun Obasanjo who had assumed the place of a political deity that all had to worship and pander to. Attah broke Obasanjo’s myth and earned public plaudits.

    But he thought the plaudits translated to political popularity and an invitation for him to contest for the presidency. With excess cash in his kitty, he girded his loin preparatory to making his son-in-law a governor and himself President. It was to be a well-choreographed dynasty at the centre and the state. Unfortunately, sufficient thinking was not invested in the process and dispassionate and objective analyses were not done. Working from two flanks at the same time, the centre could not hold. As for the son-in-law, because of his careless attitude to the people when he was in office as commissioner, even the best salesmen in the state could not market him when it mattered most. At the centre, Attah’s ambition did not enjoy the support of the then President. In fact between the two, there was no love lost and so was made to kiss the dust at the two fronts owing to political miscalculations.

    Attah’s public estimation began to flag when he adopted an adversarial role against his protégé and successor. Many were worried that having attained the almighty septuagenarian status, he should have rid himself of the baggage of pettiness. His unsavoury letter to Governor Godswill Akpabio in which he compared the latter to notorious leaders like Hitler and Mussolini was an eloquent expose of this fear. The altercation deepened necessitating many attempts at mediation. Obong Attah was said to have remained implacable further fuelling fears that he carried the baggage of hate against his son. This type of perception did incalculable damage to his well-earned reputation.

    His public rating nose-dived more gravely when some ethnic jingoist goaded him into an ethnic war in which they accused Governor Akpabio of conducting pogrom against Ibibio sons and daughters through incessant kidnapping and killings. It was the most scandalous thing for someone of his pedigree to be associated. But those well-heeled in political shenanigan lured him into that booby trap and used his name to attempt at credibility with their specious allegations. Of all the names dragged into that arid piece of bigotry, only Obong Attah’s name rang a bell. The rest were mere provincial labels that stirred neither interest nor recognition.  The consistent efforts of Ibibio jingoist to pigeon-hole Obong Attah and give him the ignoble colouration of ethnic warlord or ethnic bigot is at best a disservice to him and the state.

    Recently, news has been making the rounds that some of the jingoists have banded themselves together to pursue an ethnic agenda which they couched as reception for Obong Victor Attah. And when yours truly asked the purpose, one of them squawked the inanity, “that they are receiving him from the National Confab”. Obong Attah is now a pawn to be used in the pursuit of ethnic card. Seven-years ago, he was the butt of their jokes, treachery, insults and recrimination. Today, it is convenient to dust him, hoist him as a totem and use him to stoke ethnic acrimony and discord.

    Obong Victor Bassey Adiaha Attah finished eight-years as governor of Akwa Ibom State; he was not received by these charlatans who confess love for him today. When he erroneously arrayed salvos against the present administration which drew a rash of criticisms from members of the public, these bigots were nowhere to be found. When Obong Attah had issues with his membership of Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Party, he did not as much as draw a message of solidarity or protest from these foes in sheep’s clothing. Even when the man’s wife died, their level of participation was either insignificant or non-existent. What is the value of this reception? This is not the kind of politics those who plan to be leaders should engage in. This is stoking ethnicity to an inflammatory peak.

    We are told that a few moneybags who are bankrolling the dubious reception have contributed the hefty sum of N50 million. How much did they contribute when Attah’s wife died? Why was Attah’s reception delayed for seven-years after he left office? Is being a confab member greater than being a governor for eight-years? Why is this reception coming just before nomination and 2015?

    It is all queer politics, ethnic politics. Former governor Attah must reason these realities logically. We must think and find these answers to avoid lending ourselves as pliable materials to those intent on playing roguish politics. We must decide as Akwa Ibom people where we stand on matters of honour and ethnic harmony. We must rise to the occasion of contending falsehood, ethnic bigotry with the saner politics of ethnic cohesion. Former governor Victor Attah must resist being used by these renegades to further their selfish agenda. He must know that he is an honourable man.

     

    Akpan contributed this piece from Uyo.

  • Sule Lamido’s message of unity   

    “I have a history to protect, a reputation to promote, a heritage to maintain and an attitude to exhibit, failure is not part of us.” – Sule Lamido at Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) symposium lecture in Dutse Aug 30.

    In many parts of Nigeria, those described as “settlers” live in fear for their lives, their property and their citizenship rights. In many parts, that is, except in Jigawa State where Governor Sule Lamido went out of his way to assure non-indigenes living in the state of their equal status as Nigerian citizens.

    Lamido believes in national unity as a matter of political and ideological principle. He said on many occasions that peaceful co-existence, mutual understanding, political stability and unity of purpose are necessary ingredients for the rapid progress of any state and of Nigeria as a whole. He told non-indigenes living in the state that their rights as Nigerian citizens would be protected as a matter of right and not as a special privilege (nepotism).  Nigerians, he said, are free to live wherever they choose and their rights are guaranteed by the constitution. While this right is sometimes abridged by authorities in some parts of the country using various forms of subterfuge, in Jigawa State it is guaranteed in theory and in practice.

    Lamido spoke about the incident in which non-indigenes were forced to register in some states. He said those asking Nigerians to register in their own country were sending a wrong signal that was not healthy for the unity of the Nigeria. Leadership, he also said, is about understanding the people being governed with a view to protecting their dignity, lives and properties irrespective of their religious or ethnic background.

    Lamido also stated that in order to promote peace and unity in this country, every Nigerian must have freedom of movement and to live anywhere he chooses to without intimidation, victimization, humiliation or deprivation. Lamido more than preached mutual coexistence; he felt these people need to feel at home; he then allocated plots of lands with cash donation to all non-indigenous groups living in the state capital, Dutse. The representative of the non-indigenous groups responded with encouraging words of his own, thanking the governor for transforming the state in the seven years of his administration. He said that indigenes and non-indigenes live in peace in Jigawa State and he assured that this will be sustained.

    Lamido has given sense of belonging to all the Jigawa people; he has also opened doors for all Nigerians to come, visit, interact, transact, work and live freely without fear of threats and dispossession. In Jigawa, you will see the Igbo, Yoruba, Anga, the Ijaw, Kanuri, Idoma, Tiv, Jarawa, the Nupe and the Jukun etc. This is a clear sign of selflessness, nationality and good leadership shown by Lamido and is a confirmation that, there is peace and unity in the state. Security, peaceful co-existence, equality, welfare and good salary packages attract Nigerians to resign from their various states to come and seek for employment in Jigawa State.

    Jigawa State under Lamido has now become a rallying point for all Nigerians, in fact day- after- day, all sorts of people are trouping into the state either for visits, meetings, Business, or even leisure. For instance just recently, the premier Barewa Old Boys Association was in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital from August 29- 31, for their 2014 Annual lecture and Dinner. Though Lamido is alumnus of the college, the choice of Jigawa State for this year’s AGM was to satisfy their curiosity over the success recorded by one of their own. All left the state satisfied that the face of Jigawa State has been transformed in the seven years by Alhaji Sule Lamido. Throughout the meeting, the members were seen gaping with surprises that despite the lean resources of the state, Lamido was able to bring development to all sectors and the overall impact has been profound and felt by the people. They commended him greatly for his dynamic administration in which he established schools and hospitals, Jigawa State Television, constructed roads and water schemes etc. BOBA believes that, economic activities have received a huge boost and the foundations have been laid for rapid industrialisation. They saw a first class airport built by Lamido to facilitate the easy movement of goods and services and to facilitate the coming of investors who are set to cash in on Jigawa State’s rich potentials in agriculture and minerals.

    The association extolled Lamido for establishing Jigawa State University at Kafin-Hausa in order to afford state indigenes more access to higher education opportunities. Half of eligible candidates of Jigawa origin who seek admission into higher institutions fail to get it due to lack of opportunities, hence the very warm welcome with which Jigawa citizens received the establishment of the university.

    Lamido prayed for a peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections and urged Nigerians to love one another. Some might say that these issues that he raised are self evident but they bear reiteration and emphasis from a man who saw it all due to present happenings in the country. Lamido’s message about unity of purpose should also attract more than a passing interest from Nigerian citizens. This great stalwart of the old PRP and one of the PDP founding fathers knows what democracy and citizenship with a unity of purpose look like.

     

    • Adamu is Special Adviser to Jigawa state governor on Media.
  • COMMENT

    COMMENT

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    Thank you, for the write up. I wish, as a people we could hear you. Jimmy Carter, an American president lost an election because he could not free some Americans who were held hostage in Iran. Can the same happen here? Anonymous

    Re-Politics, Peoples and Principles.  All the Political parties and majority members in those parties are guilty in Nigeria of Politics without principles. Their actions portend ‘self-interests’. Those that even tag themselves as ‘PROGRESSIVES’ are more guilty of ‘command’ rather than internal democracy. While the ruling party, PDP is guilty of less performance, others can not lay claim to credit of ‘pure performance’, where Internal democracy is lacking! Let all of them go and haved open minds. From Lanre Oseni.

    Do you have principles yourself?  Check your publications & views on issues and individuals when they were on oneside of the political divide, especially the PDP and when they turn or decamp to the other, Particularly ; AD, AC, ACN & later, the APC? Hear you, “but the most daring culprit has always been the party that controls the centre. we don’t have to quibble because the evidence is copious from the begining of the republic” right indeed? Anonymous

    Sir, your write up on politics peoples and principles is most apt one is that there no basis and in all parameters between first republic politicians and those of the present day too. President Jonathan PDP and their Cohorts are holding Nigeria and Nigerians by the jugular and with heartless and ruthless impunity. It is only Gods intervention that can deliver Nigeria especially with the indifference lack of patriotism and politics of greed and stomach infrastructre endemic in Nigeria. From Comrade Solomon Egwuenu,Agbor, Delta State

     

    For Olatunji Dare

    Sir, It is surprising that Babangida at 73 is yet to climb down from his high horse of living a lie. Agreed that he is the greatest mischief strategist of our time, what about the unceasing relay of third grade rulers after him? We need to address is the causative factors of the country’s leadership problems. Two of the problems are, rigid adherence to skewed federalism and a subtle preference for a particular religion as reflected in the constitution. From Adegoke, O. O, Ikhin, Edo State.

    I read your article and was highly moved. Well, let wait and see what becomes Babangida’s end, am sure he will never go unpunished. More of it and remain blessed. Anonymous

    Now that IBB  is close to departure lodge he should appeal to Nigerians for forgiveness for all the havoc he did while in power or he should get an acidic book on him titled collected diatribes on the evil genius by Idaewor Rodsimeon. From Akhilomhe Arevhamhe

    The way Abiola and people like you talks justifies IBB actions, so we should blame Abiola and his likes who use words carelessly, you can not tell me that you will kill me, and expect me to go and sleep without taking any action. Anonymous

    Thanks for your piece IBB@73 the disembler at work. Babangida represents political tragedy! Of a man who could have been great and had every opportunity to be but preferred the perfidious path! Of one who spurned light and embraced darkness. Now full of regret and sorrow.Aware of the sure verdict of history that he bequeathed self aggradizement rather than the greatest good for the greatest number!IBB who may exhibit braggadacio now is sure to enter his grave privately broken and sorry chewing gravel, sand and remorse for what he did to Nigeria! From Boye Leyimu

    Prof Dare, I have a great respect for you as a good journalist in the country but now is like you have forgotten that, Nigeria of today is at cross road that need our attention. We should not allow old wound to resurface again because it will not do us good. Annulment of June 12 have gone for good in the history of this country which should not be issue at all at this present time. IBB is a human being like us and he has accepted the responsillty of all that transpired during his time. Let us learn how to forget and forgive for the progress of the country.  From Hamza Ozi Momoh Apapa Lagos.

    I am an avid reader of your column, even from your days at The Guardian. Please where and how do I get your book ‘Debacle of a Transition’.? God bless u @ 70. Anonymous

    This is one article that is like a cap that fits appropriately the head of our former maradonic leader who wasted many generations of Nigerians. Thanks. From Banigo.

    IBB did well as president,but annullation of free and fair June l2 elections was mistake he made.we wish him happy more years to his age. From Gordon Chika Nnorom.

    My brother IBB is a green snake in a green grass, slow poison, a silent killer, a man that is ready to show you a smiling face but inside him he has finish you. God will pay all of us in our own coins.Anonymous

    Prof Dare how are you today? I read your column of Tue Aug 26 2014 and observed that there were incidents that happened during the Abacha regime that you ascribed to the IBB’s. The murder of the following: Kudirat Abiola, Pa Alfred Rewane and the jailing of Generals Obasanjo and Shehu M Yar’adua. Please you need to revisit your article in order to put the record straight for posterity. Thanks and God bless. Amen. Anonymous

    June 12, I think, shuold be better rememberd as part of the nation’s history, if only that succesive governments can learn from that to avoid the repeat of such tragic event in our polity. After the pogrom of 1966 against the Igbos and then the Biafran War, Ojukwu, the symbol of that struggle, came back to reunite with the then NPN of the North, if only to forget that bitter past and forge ahead with a new united Nigeria. Such patriotic concern,one should be right to  conclude must have equally inspired the formation of a party like APC peopled largely by the Northerners and their Western counterparts presently. Recapturing the ugly incident of the June 12 so vividly always and in a manner that reopens the wound fresh in our hearts, especially at a time we are all striving so hard to move the nation forward on a common platform in the intrest of all, could create disaffection among the rank and file. Let posterity and history be the better judge of IBB –From Emmanuel Egwu

    IBB @73- IBB out of power is like a fish out of water. June 12 will sort him out one day. God qualified him but inordinate ambition disqualified him. From O. Abolade

    For Tunji Adegboyega

    Whoever said the President has the interest of Nigerians at heart should by now have a rethink. The whole country is on fire due to his inability to get things right and the hawks around him called TAN are touring the country without minding the consequence. The President should know that Nigerians deserve to be protected because that was what he swore to do. Any President who cannot protect his people does not deserve to be called that name. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    What Nigerians should ask INEC is if the ban on campaign has been lifted. Is TAN not violating INEC law? It is very unfortunate and unhealthy; in spite of the situation in the country over Ebola virus and insecurity, the so-called TAN has taken Nigerians for granted and started campaigning without looking inward to consider the situation of things. INEC should ask political parties and other such groups to suspend all political activities till the time the ban is lifted on political campaign, in the interest of Nigerians. TAN should consider the issues on ground, so as not to spread Ebola in the country. Let us be conscious of things we do, after all, Ebola has no known cure yet. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State. 

    With over 200 girls snatched from their dormitory beds in the dead of the night yet to be rescued, with Boko Haram successfully capturing a portion of the country and hoisting their flag, with oil thieves firmly established and having a field day in the Niger Delta, with our military making ‘tactical manoeuvering’ when confronted by a rag-tag  blood-thirsty bunch, with the country  being raped to death on the bed of corruption, with every institution now thoroughly desecrated on the altar of politics, the country has indeed undergone transformation under President Goodluck Jonathan. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

    Re: From Boko Haram to Ebola, all this Yoruba propaganda will not work. Goodluck is working; The Nation and TVC cannot remove him. Anonymous.