The Nation Newspaper

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  • Tinubu replies Ikimi.

    Tinubu replies Ikimi.

    I ordinarily would not have responded to Tom Ikimi’s lengthy chronicle of falsehoods, cheap blackmail and abuse. My only reason for this response is that I know Tom Ikimi’s style. He subscribes to the view that no matter how unbelievable a lie may sound if you brazenly assertit and repeat it often enough you may persuade many that it is in fact true.  I have seenIkimi perpetrate this deviousness in his years in public life.
    1. Regarding Ikimi’s bid for the Chairmanship of the Party. It was clear to practically everyone who had the interest of the party at heart that we simply could not have a man of Tom Ikimi’s antecedents as Chair of the party. As chairman of the NRC, one of the only two political parties in the country under the military transition programme, Tom Ikimi not only connived with the then military regime to annul the elections, terminate the democratic process and sell off his party. He became Abacha’s foreign minister, convincing the world that heinous state murders like the hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa were just acts! If Ikimi were the Chair of APC the party would have to sleep with both eyes open lest its chairman sell off the party before day break .No matter what anyone may say about me it is unlikely that I can be accused of supporting incompetent or morally light-weight individuals for important political positions. My philosophy is to put the best forward, menand women of competence and integrity, who can stand up to us politicians to challenge us and say no when necessary. Such people are not noisy or able to gain attention by being loud, I believe my role is to do all I can to project them. Who in their right mind would compare the highly principled Chief Bisi Akande, or Chief Oyegun with a Tom Ikimi? Either of these two men are known for their no-nonsense styles, not once in their careers would you hear that they betrayed a cause or were anybody’s stooge.
    2. Ikimi also concocts a story of a meeting he claims I had with Deziani on the Oando/ ConocoPhillips transaction on the eve of the APC Convention.
    Only a Tom Ikimi can come up with the absurd falsehood that on the eve of the APC Convention when I was in crucial meetings practically round the clock I was meeting with the Minister for Petroleum! What exactly would have been the point of such a meeting especially on the eve of the Convention? Was it to prevent Tom Ikimi from emerging as Chairman of the APC? To what end? Of what value would it be to anyone except Ikimi himself? Besides if this was so why he is back to the same party that purportedly planned his down fall?
    What is the Oando/ConocoPhillips transaction anyway? For those who do not know this is a private sale of the assets of ConocoPhillips to Oando.  It was not patronage of any kind from the Federal government. The Federal government’s involvement was merely to formally consent to the sale. I was not involved and I have never been involved in any of Oando’s transactions.
    Typically he plays on the fact that Wale Tinubu of Oando is my nephew.  Oando has been thoroughly investigated by South African and British authorities in the past 5 years as part of the process of listing the company on the stock exchanges of those countries. Those rigorous and comprehensive investigations conducted by the governments and risk control investigators are to discover the actual ownership of shares in the company. Politically exposed persons like myself are prime targets for those investigations. All these investigations have shown that I have no investments in Oando. My public position on the entire transaction is that if an indigenous Nigerian oil and gas entity run by young serious minded Nigerians raise money transparently in the international capital markets to purchase private assets of a multi-national the Federal government ought to give its consent. That it took so long is shameful. The Conoco/Phillips transaction was a $1.7 billion dollars investment in Nigeria that would create more jobs,witness the establishment of allied industries and make the Nigerian Economy more attractive. I would have been extremely proud to have made such a transaction possible.
    3. Regarding the nonsense about selling out on Ribadu. I think common sense should dictate that if ever such a deal were reached we would have had to inform our members in all the States. How could that have been done secretly? How do you tell hundreds of thousands of people not to vote for your own party without it becoming public knowledge?

    At the formation of the APC, a crucial debate ensued about what to do about persons like Ikimi who had done awful things in the past, but who were now minded to align with the progressive tendency in Nigerian politics. Should we forever blacklist them? This would have been the easiest route, but it would have kept rancor alive. It would have made us slaves to the bleakest chapters of our past. Instead we opted to extend the hand of brotherhood, reconcile and put the past behind us. This would enable a broader political consensus, while also giving the likes of Ikimi an opportunity to atone for their grievous wrongs against the people and be rehabilitated.
    We recognized that many leading Nigerians had committed acts of shame. Some for private profit, others who were otherwise decent people who had become prisoners to a terrible system.

    Not surprisingly, Ikimi acting true to type abuse that magnanimity. He was never sincerely committed to the party. He was always playing out a PDP script. He only wanted the chairmanship of the party as a bargaining chip for negotiations with his benefactors.  His defection purportedly on account of the loss of the chairmanship of the party is a mere subterfuge, once his ploy failed he had no other objective within the party, I knew he would go back to his sponsors. He is back in the company he deserves. And APC is better for it.

    -Bola Ahmed Tinubu

  • Twists and twists on illicit tobacco trade

    Twists and twists on illicit tobacco trade

    The publicity that the media has given to the training of men of the Lagos State Police Command on implementation of the recently-passed Smoke-free Public Places Law by British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has come as a rude shock to public health advocates. It is simply the case of a mosquito giving training on how to treat malaria!

    Not only is the timing of the exercise suspicious, it reveals also the desperate maneuvers of tobacco companies in ensuring that tobacco control laws are interpreted in their own language thereby undermining their effectiveness.  The tobacco companies will talk about health but will reject that health should take precedence over their profit motifs.  Instead, the industry advances economic arguments to rationalize, though erroneously, why effective tobacco control laws should not be promulgated.

    Such arguments, especially against increasing taxes on tobacco products to reduce the number of people taking to the smoking habit were again raised to high pitch at the Public Hearing on the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) which held on July 16, 2014 in Abuja.

    In turns, BATN and other tobacco trans-national merchants poked sections of the bill they felt opened doors to possible increase in taxes, a key recommendation of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) which Nigeria has signed and ratified.

    Their fears (real or imagined) centered on the possibility of smugglers exploiting gaps in the demand and supply chain after taxes are raised, to market supposed fake or substandard tobacco products to consumers at cheap rates, besides being readily available.

    While verifiable statistics were not provided to back up these claims, public health groups feel the fears are mere hypes, pinning their argument on the need to prioritise health over profits, not the other way round. They point to Article 6 of the WHO FCTC which states that: “Parties recognise that price and tax measures are an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption by various segments of the population, in particular young persons.”

    Some of the groups that were vehement against arguments for whittled down regulation include the Environmental Rights Action, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), among others.

    It is pertinent to note however, that for those who understand the “abracadabra” that the tobacco industry is known for the question of raising tobacco products’ taxes is one that goes beyond our shores. It is common knowledge that the tobacco trans-nationals have consistently used the threat of illicit tobacco to argue against any form of regulation but most especially taxes.

    A case study readily cited is a recent research in the UK, where the tobacco trans-nationals were all over the media warning that levels of illicit trade would increase if standardised packaging is implemented.

    Standardised packaging do away with glamorous and alluring pictures etc from tobacco packs to discourage the underage from patronising tobacco products. It was identified as a means of cutting down on the number of youths who would normally be attracted by packs to attempt buying. The study showed that the alarm was actually a strategy concocted by the tobacco firms to thwart the legislation as it showed that media stories citing industry data on growing illicit tobacco actually began in June 2011, just two months after the Tobacco Control Plan for England, which heralded standardised packaging, was published.

    The study further unearthed the murky business of tobacco trans-nationals that were found to be very much involved in the global illicit tobacco trade.  As far back as the 1990s some of the tobacco companies operating in the UK were accused of facilitating smuggling by deliberately oversupplying brands to countries like Bulgaria where there was no demand for them.

    It noted that even after signing an anti-smuggling agreement with the European Union (EU) the transnational tobacco companies like Japan Tobacco International (JTI) continued the practice. JTI is still under investigation by the European Anti-Fraud Agency (OLAF) following evidence of its involvement in illicit even after signing the anti-smuggling agreement.

    In year 2000, British American Tobacco (BAT) was also accused of benefitting from smuggling. In an expose by The Guardian in the UK, journalists who got hold of once secret internal industry documents found that BAT had “for decades secretly encouraged tax evasion and cigarette smuggling in a global effort to secure market share and lure generations of new smokers”.

    But the bogus claims of illicit trade and complicity by the tobacco industry are not limited to the EU. In South Africa where illicit trade in tobacco always makes the news, a group, the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS) recently countered the Tobacco Institute of South Africa (TISA) – a lobby group for the tobacco industry – which had alerted that up to a third of the South African cigarette market goes toward the illegal trade.

    Armed with such evidence about an industry that cries wolf when there is none, it is no wonder that public health groups in Nigeria insist taxes must go up.

    At the height of the first shot at a national legislation on tobacco in 2007, ERA/FoEN and groups like the National Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) went a step ahead with doubts about the motives of BAT Nigeria (BATN) for donating Hilux jeeps to the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) supposedly to combat the illicit trade in tobacco. Their argument was that the vehicles were “Greek Gifts” to pull wool over the faces of Nigerians to divert attention from what they may actually be suspecting.

    Similar alarm bells sounded when the top echelon of BATN visited the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola in September 2013 when the state was on the verge of passing legislation prohibiting smoking in public places. At that time it was also alleged that the visit was to be complimented with the donation of Hilux jeeps to the Lagos Security Trust Fund.

    Current statistics from the WHO indicate that 5.4 million people die yearly from tobacco smoke. The global body painted a gloomier picture recently when it said that unless urgent action is taken, the annual death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030.

    Ironically, it posits that early 80 per cent of the world’s one billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. Among a wide range of measures that can cut down the mortality rate on tobacco, the WHO says that tobacco taxes are the most cost-effective way to reduce tobacco use, especially among young people and poor people. It adds that a tax increases that push up tobacco prices by 10 per cent decreases tobacco consumption by about 4 per cent in high-income countries and about 5 per cent in low- and middle-income countries.

    The WHO recommendation is one that the House Committee on Health must not overlook if the wellness of Nigerians today and in the future must be secured. In the quest to keep the nation’s revenue base intact, the health of the citizenry must always come first.

    Adamu Musa wrote from Sabon Gari in Kano

  • Boroffice: In the service of fatherland

    Boroffice: In the service of fatherland

    No other touchstone
    Can test the heart of a man,
    The temper of his mind and spirit,
    Till he be tried
    In the practice of authority and rule
    -Sophocles (Antigone)

    Nigerians, ever curious about the vibrant polity are always curious when an academic, and a world-renowned, erudite one at that moves from the confines of the four walls of the Ivory tower to throw his hat into the highly competitive ring of party politics. To them, the art of politicking itself can best be situated within the matrix of the murky waters peopled by sharks of greed. To them, the Nigerian variant of politics is meant for only the conscienceless clique whose main driving passion is to serve the self at the expense of the state.

    That sordid scenario throws up the million-naira question: who would make the paradigm shift? Who would up the ante and make politics more civil, more responsive and more accountable to the people; who have invested their sacred trust in their elected leaders? Who is that one man to come with a breath of fresh air by sweeping the Augean stable with the broom of change?

    To the good people of Ondo North Senatorial District, the answer was not far-fetched. They saw in their worthy son, Ajayi Boroffice, the sterling qualities of a true leader. Talk about vision, wealth of experience, candour, compassion and the courage to do right and he has it all in quantum. That explains why he faced little opposition in his bid to become Labour Party candidate for their Senatorial District back in 2011. Before long, he gained the needed support of traditional rulers in the Akoko area of Ondo State.

    In that election, the man (Boroffice) with the magic wand, garnered 84,290 votes to beat the incumbent Senator, Bode Olajumoke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 51,112 votes and Olu Agunloye of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with 36,601 votes. Surely, there must have been some subtle factors to earn him such electoral victory. And that is all because, in Nigeria it would take a miracle to dust an incumbent politician who is still interested in holding on to the plum post. So, what clinched it for Boroffice?

    First, he had always been known to publicly criticise politicians who lacked integrity and honour, especially those who take obscene interest in making flowery promises they could not keep in order to get elected. And once they mount the pedestal of political power.

    On what inspired him, an accomplished academic to go into politics, he had this to say in a media chat back in 2012: “It is in line with my personal philosophy to serve my people, and my country as long as I am alive. I want to serve my nation because my country, my community and my state have invested in me. They have made me what I am today.”

    Politics to him is a veritable platform for selfless service and for gratitude. He wants to give back to the society that has nurtured him to greatness. He went further to throw more light on his guiding philosophy. “So, while I was a lecturer at various universities, I was serving the nation. As a public servant, at the NASRDA I was serving the nation in my own way. Now that I am a legislator at the National Assembly, it is the same push to contribute to the growth of the country that has been my inspiration. I believe that it is that same urge to serve my people that is behind it all. I have looked round and seen that there are other communities that are not as rich as my state that are doing better, so I want to use my wealth of experience to improve on the quality of life of the people.”

    But on December 28, 2011, Boroffice officially dumped the Labour Party, the platform that got him the Senatorial ticket for the ACN (now defunct) to pursue his ambition of becoming the governor of Ondo State. As expected there was a lot of hue and cry from the opposition. As usual the man who has his reasons kept his cool.

    He must have learnt from another brilliant scientist, Albert Einstein who said that: “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” It is interesting, if not curious that his traducers, who attempted but vainly then to rubbish his hard-earned reputation have similarly left the same Labour Party today!

    So, why did he leave the Labour Party at that time? He had his salient reasons. He explained it thus: “The Labour Party started in Ondo State on a very prosperous and progressive note, with the support of the ACN. But with time it was veering off the trajectory. I believe we have to be in the mainstream, as it has been the trend from the Action Group, UPN, SDP, AD to the ACN. So, it has a long political lineage and it is a party with ideology.”

    He added: “The South West has always been the reference point for the progressives. With what I have seen in Lagos State, I believe that we can benefit more in terms of infrastructural development of roads and rail, by the regional integration, in the economy and politics as we have in ECOWAS to foster unity. If there is unity then we can achieve more.”

    He sees those who are driving the party as seasoned politicians who believe in the welfare of the people. He reiterates that it was during the era of the Action Group, that the Western Region was very prosperous. He also believes that Ondo State needs to be reintegrated into the mainstream of the Yoruba politics. That informed his preference for CAN (now APC) instead of PDP.

    There is another reason for his choice of the progressives. According to him they are people who at one point or the other, made a lot of sacrifice for democracy in this country. They fought against the military under (the late General Sani) Abacha and they also made sure that good governance is ensured even in this civilian administration. He specifically points to the heroes of democracy such as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Akingba, Professor Adeyeye of the NADECO (National Democratic Coalition) era, who fought very hard. “They made a lot of sacrifice to ensure that we have this stable and united Nigeria. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifices and their efforts.”

    Now that the party of progressives he joined has expanded from the regional ACN to the national All Progressives Congress (APC), Boroffice is being hailed from across the country as the man who saw tomorrow-the Nostradamus of Nigeria’s polity. And why not! Not a few of his colleagues at the Senate have similarly jumped ship into the APC.

    Though he never clinched the gubernatorial ticket of the ACN, Boroffice stood out as the man whose influence saw to it that his party won in the governorship election in his own Senatorial District. His vision is to take the state, nay Nigeria from an agrarian to an industrial hub. As a scientist he wants his people to go beyond the pedestrian politics of building market stalls to that of shopping malls, from two lanes to the construction of 10- lane dual carriage lanes.

    In his words: “As a scientist I do a lot of planning and I have observed that political leaders and governors in the progressive states do a lot planning before embarking on their projects. They start with the management, then the facilities and incorporate all of this. That is why you do not have the incident of abandoned projects because there was serious thinking through in terms of planning. Planning is the key to sustainable development.”

    As the 2015 general elections inch closer, Nigerians should be on the lookout for visionary, committed, courageous and progressive politicians and those who are well prepared for the onerous task of governance. Professor Ajayi Boroffice is surely one of the leading lights of our current democratic dispensation.

    Ademola Johnson, a public analyst writes from Lagos.

  • COMMENT

    COMMENT

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    It pains that its often at death that the import and impact of most of the nation’s rare gems such as Prof Ade Ajayi and the likes are usually felt by Nigerians.We are so blessed with such icons of international repute but whose  contributions to the growth of the nation are never given chance to thrive beyond the confines of the Ivory Towers, basically because they never counted in billions of naira.Any wonder then that our political stage is so prolifrated with half-baked money-bags educated-illiterate politicians whose worrisome political jokering and corrupt lives have subjected the nation to this perpetual stagnation. How many Ajayis of the nation have we interred unconcerned about their contributions to the way forward for the country? How many of them have either been messed up or brutally assasinated because they dared to foray into our political scene to put their knowlege into use for our comon good? Nigeria! From Emmanuel Egwu     

    On your article of August 21, you wrote as if you didn’t know that Nigeria is an animal kingdom where some animals are more equal than others. President Jonathan being a zoologist is our leader and the “more than equal” corrupt animals are his anointed ones. From J.Peters

    Help me tell Governor Fashola that many non Lagosians love him because he just concentrates on governance and not talking like other APC members. Anonymous

    Prof your piece, “What does the North want” made an interesting reading. I am alarmed as to why we keep  deceiving ourselves that we are ONE NATION! Whatever has been keeping us together, with all due respect to the others is the “see it the way it should be and, say it as it should be” of the Southwest! I know that there are patriots all over, however, the consistency of the westerners about through federalism cannot be taking away.From Adebamowo yinka,Ibadan

     

    For Olatunji Dare

    Dear Prof. August 19 article in The Nation is quite insightful. They were not listening 35years ago and I can assure you, sir, that they are incapable of listening now. The worms in their stomach control their ears and brains.So sad.Anonymous

    Many thanks for your write-up on the erudite Professor of History, of course they are not listening otherwise 16,000 doctors wont be sacked! From Victor Oniyire, Lagos

    Dear Prof., Congratulations on your birthday recently. As one of my great teachers – I learn weekly from your column, I wish you more years of good health and greater accomplishments. I am highly impressed today by the honour done to Prof. Ade Ajayi in your column. Ade Ajayi is my great grandfather in the study of History apart from being a fellow Ekiti man. Honour shall never depart from your home. Sir, can you show me mercy of getting a copy of the book presented at your birthday.Thank you sir.From Pastor Femi Adebayo, Sagamu, Ogun State.

    Prof Jacob Festus Ade Ajayi is Nigerian historian per execellence, who came, saw and conquered as far as education sector is concerned. He left legacies that other historians should emulate. From Gordon Chika Nnorom

    The death of Professor J.F Ade-Ajayi at this time is quite painful and a sad loss. Notwithstanding we must give all the glory to God, for a life well spent. He is one of the very best and illustrious sons Nigeria and indeed Africa has produced. He has left his footprints in the sand of time, and when history beckons, his name will be written in gold. Nigerians should take a cue from the very good life he has spent, he is a humanist personified. From Ojo Anjorin Ayodele,Emure Ekiti

    Re-Jacob Festus Ade Ajayi (1929-2014). An erudite scholar and a Nationalist who believed in his country, Nigeria, also gave Nigeria every chance to make others believe in her. Did the situations warrant that people should make real, late  Professor Ajayi’s theory of ‘My Country’? The question could be answered by all! May late Professor Ade Ajayi’s soul rest and continue to rest in peace, ameen. From Lanre Oseni.

    Prof. Dare., Good day to you wherever you are. I buy The Nation on Tuesdays primarily because of your weekly column. There was a minor oversight on your part in the tribute to Prof. F. Ade Ajayi.  In the fourth paragraph, you described him as a man who was in the eighth decade of life. Actually he was in the ninth decade of his life when he died. You sir, entered the eighth decade of your life on July 17 and I also bridged that threshold in April this year. Thank you for hour insightful writings.From Funso Famuyiwa, Ibadan.

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

    Re: Begging for bread (The Nation, Sunday August 24) refers. No one, no sane mind, no honest and fatherly/motherly Nigerian would read this write-up and his or her heart wouldn’t bleed. Again, should I believe all that you wrote? But with Lipede Olu’s comment, I believed. Have these boy-girl students at Volgograd –Russia visited Nigeria’s Embassy in Russia to find out what is happening? What was/is the Nigerian ambassador in Russia doing regarding information on the pains with the boy-girl students? Is it good luck to those who are crazy about such sponsorship? This article is a lesson to us all. Even here in Nigeria, my heart trembles. I can imagine the pain these young Nigerians are being tormented with over there in Russia. Whoever was or is behind their woes should remember God and remember the Day of Judgment. Release these innocent children-students from these excruciating pains, please. From Lanre Oseni.

    I have not seen a government that does not care for its citizens like this government headed by Dr Goodluck Jonathan. If the previous governments had not provided a good environment for students during his school years, would he have had the chance to become what he is today? Nigerian students are going through a very terrible situation under a government that does not care about the wellbeing of its citizens. It is sad that students on Federal Government scholarship have turned to a laughing stock outside the country. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    This is the country where a man stole billions of naira from pension funds and he is walking free; where a serving minister accused of using public funds to buy two bullet-proof cars told us to go to hell; where another said to have spent N10b on private jets is still sitting pretty in office at the expense of the taxpayer; where the son of a late rogue had charges running into billions of dollars dropped; where only God knows what the legislators are earning. Truth must be told, whoever dies for Nigeria has died for nothing; there is hardly anything noble about this country. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

    Your write-up on the horrible plight of Nigerian students on Federal Government scholarship in Russia is a nice one. My desire is for the Minister of Education to listen and do something to end the sufferings of these our future leaders. Thanks. Anonymous.

    I just read your piece on “Begging for bread”. I like your sincerity of thoughts and the boldness to write them down for those concerned to read and act if they want to. God bless your writing prowess and give you the wisdom to keep telling our leaders the home truth. From Paul Adams, Nyanya, Abuja.

    Thank God for people like you. How do we expect these Nigerians to express patriotic zeal? This country is stupendously rich not to treat her students this way, when one considers the looting going on by political office holders. Anonymous.

     

  • Marilyn Ogar, career official or party hack?

    Marilyn Ogar, career official or party hack?

    “Thank God the APC won the Osun election or else…(APC’s loss would have been blamed on the N14 million bribe which SSS personnel refused to collect?)”
    – SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar
    “Thank God, the APC won the Osun election. There was no bomb blast” (But there were bomb blasts in other states lost by the APC, especially, Ondo captured by the Labour Party, Anambra won by APGA, and Ekiti won by the PDP)
    — SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar

    If the two pull-out quotes reproduced above reflect Ms Marilyn Ogar’s true feelings, the spokesperson for the Directorate of State Security/DSS has two reasons to thank God, not once, but twice, for one favour. The favour is the APC’s victory in the recently concluded gubernatorial election in Osun State. No matter whether she was genuinely elated by the APC’s victory, or she was just being cynical and downright deceitful, Ogar will soon have additional reasons to thank the Omniscient, undeceivable, and justice-dispensing God. Enraged by her persistent violation of public service professional and ethical code of conduct—specifically, by her inability to distinguish between her role as SSS spokesperson and that of a typical PDP propagandist—the opposition APC has not only threatened to institute legal proceedings against her, but has also demanded her immediate separation from the public service of Nigeria.

    Does the APC have a case it can successfully make against Ogar in a court of law? Probably. Although I know a thing or two about the law, I would prefer that litigation issues be handled by those duly called to the Bar. Besides, if the case is already before a judge by the time this article is published, we don’t want to be cited for contempt! Readers can therefore understand why I have decided to leave the broad legal issues to the lawyers, and proceed quickly to the next question, which is whether the APC is right to demand the SSS spokesperson’s voluntary resignation, or failing that, her instant dismissal. On that latter question, I can say without any fear of contradiction (and as one who has researched the subject thoroughly and advised inter-governmental organizations in different parts of the world) that Ogar should have been separated from the public service of Nigeria the instant she embroiled the DSS in public and political controversy. Under the rules, the very minute a public servant issues a statement that could be “reasonably interpreted” as endorsing or opposing a political party’s stand on any subject, that is the minute s/he ceases to be in the public service of Nigeria.  The rules should have been applied to Police Commissioner Mbu Mathew Mbu when he unilaterally inserted ‘making political utterances’ and ‘locking partisan political horns with the Executive Governor of Rivers States’ in his job description as Police Commissioner. That is, of course, by the way.

    In retrospect, and with what we now know about the disproportionate amount of time and resources spent peering under private tents to ferret out “PDP enemies” (to the neglect of the substantive terrorism tracking functions), it is no wonder that we have made little headway containing the insurgency in the North-east, and confronting sundry security challenges (like armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom, ritual killing, and oil bunkering) in other parts of the country.

    In the latest case of goal displacement, Ogar threw caution to the wind when, without producing any evidence, concrete or circumstantial, she not only accused a political party of trying to bribe SSS officials, but also implied that the APC was behind bomb explosions in states where election results didn’t go the party’s way. She claimed that the SSS officials dutifully turned down a N14million bribe that the unnamed political party offered to swing the Osun election to its side. Oh yes, she remembered all the bombs that went off in Ondo, Anambra and Ekiti states where the APC lost, but she left out one crucial detail, that is, the blast that rocked Ile-Ife a few days to the conduct of the Osun State election which the APC won! She also conveniently forgot to underscore the point that the APC was not the only contestant in Ondo, Anambra, and Ekiti, much less the only party that lost. If bombs went off in the three states, what evidence is there that implicates the APC but exonerates the other losers—i.e., evidence that exonerates the PDP in Ondo; the same PDP in Anambra; the Labour Party in Ekiti; and the PDP, the Labour Party, and the remaining competing parties in the Osun State’s gubernatorial election?

    The same Ogar regurgitated the PDP’s unproven allegation linking the APC with Boko Haram!  Again, it escaped her memory that the Presidency had once pinned the Boko Haram label on Muhammadu Buhari only to retract the allegation abruptly and to plead with the APC chieftain to let the matter be settled out of court. In any case, now that Modu Sheriff, the alleged sponsor of the Boko Haram insurgency, has finally defected to the ruling party, the world is waiting for the garrulous Ogar to say something—this time, something logically sound and empirically verifiable. After all, Modu Sheriff’s membership of the opposition party was the smoking gun that the ruling PDP (and its self-appointed mouth-piece, Ogar) gleefully and persistently held aloft to link the APC with terrorist acts.

    As if she had not done enough damage, Ogar went on television to justify the unjustifiable—notably, the illegal detention of Lai Mohammed, the APC spokesman, in Osogbo. Ogar wanted to know what Lai, a Kwara State indigene, was doing in Osun State and in the wee hours of the morning. To legitimize the encroachment on Lai’s personal and citizenship rights, she invented a crime, “loitering”, and promptly accused the APC spokesman of committing it. She also abruptly and retroactively imposed a curfew which she found Lai guilty of “violating”!

    The Gestapo tactic applied in Osun State is reminiscent of the do-or-die measures applied by the Presidency in recent months to give the PDP undue advantage over its rivals. Among these measures are the restrictions imposed by the police on Nasir El-Rufai and other APC leaders during the conduct of the Anambra State governorship election, the ban on flights that would have brought Governors from APC-controlled states to support their Ekiti counterpart’s re-election efforts, and the increasing militarisation of the electoral process.

    The strong-arm methods applied by the government have the potential of hindering or halting our democratic advance. Regretfully, spokesperson Ogar either thinks otherwise or does not care what harm the measures portend. Regardless of what she thinks or feels, the DSS should act quickly to salvage what is left of its reputation. Here is why the DSS should put a distance between itself and Ms Ogar. As the spokesperson of a crucial public agency, she should have exercised the discretion befitting an official of her status. She ought to have refrained from issuing statements that remotely suggests her political leanings or sympathies.  Rather than subscribe to the time-tested principles of impartiality and anonymity, she exceeded herself by making highly provocative and overtly political statements—and on prime time television for that matter.

    Even on the assumption that public service rules are silent on transgressions such as the one Ogar stands accused of committing, the sensitive nature of the DSS mandate requires an official of her calibre to exercise the utmost restraint in making public utterances. The DSS is, after all, a law enforcement outfit. It is an abomination for any of its officials to act as if s/he is above the law. When any high-ranking DSS official gets away with clear violation of public service ethical and professional code of conduct, s/he is likely to leave the impression, though erroneous, that law-breaking pays. It is of little consequence whether the law-breaking outside the DSS is on a small or large scale. The reign of impunity inside the Directorate is likely to have a devastating impact not just on the DSS’s public image but also on the Directorate’s intelligence gathering capacity. If the DSS turns a blind eye to Ogar’s transgression, it risks alienating the public that it was created to serve and on whose cooperation it depends. Since DSS staffers come from diverse background, Ogar’s partisanship is also likely to undermine the Directorate’s internal esprit de corps.  How the Directorate can fulfil its mission when its chain or unity of command is constantly threatened is anybody’s guess.

    The DSS spokesperson’s penchant for political grandstanding is a clear symptom of a deeper psychological malaise—narcissistic personality disorder, to be precise. That of course is none of our business. In fact, rather than focus on her psychological condition, we should consider yet another reason she needs to be separated. The second reason for recommending her removal is the certainty that her constant violation of the rules would sooner than later hold the entire public service to ridicule. Under the extant rules, her persistent tendency to curry the ruling party’s favour constitutes gross misconduct. This is by far a more serious offence than plain ‘misconduct’. For according to Rule 030301, the run-of-the-mill misconduct is just “any act of wrong doing or an improper behaviour which is inimical to the image of the service and which can be investigated and proved.”

    Most of the failings that the rules classify as ‘misconduct’ can be rectified by a combination of counselling, on-the-job training, and exercise of self-discipline by the errant official concerned. Examples of acts of misconduct listed under the civil service rules are drunkenness, use of foul language, habitual lateness to work, improper dressing, insubordination, tardiness in the treatment of files, failure to keep record, and negligence.

    Compared to ‘misconduct’, ‘gross misconduct’ is a deep-seated character flaw that wreaks greater havoc not just on the image of a specific agency but also on the esteem and credibility of the public service as an institution. Gross misconduct is a personal indiscretion that is capable of distorting public purpose and eroding citizen faith in state institutions. Ogar’s transgressions (in particular, her uncontrollable habits of identifying with a political party and making political utterances) fall squarely under ‘gross misconduct’ which is punishable with immediate dismissal.

    I won’t be surprised if the DSS and the public service top brass treat Ogar’s offence with levity. After all, Police Commissioner Mbu breached the rules (of impartiality, anonymity, and professionalism) and got away with it. In fact, instead of being axed for embarrassing the police command with his public outbursts, he was rewarded with redeployment to a more prestigious, higher-profile, post at the Federal Capital (see http://balogunjide.net/nigeria-2015-making-tomorrows-history-today-part-ii/). That is Nigeria. Ours is a country where top officials are rewarded for licking their political superiors’ boots, and penalized when they shield their organizations from political interference. That is why it’s rare to find agency heads willing to provide the leadership needed to build and sustain mission-oriented institutions, meaning, institutions that are managed based on the paramount considerations of excellence, integrity, professionalism, competence, and cost-effectiveness.

    Pending the emergence of such committed leadership and of achievement-oriented organizations, the public service rank and file must rise up and face a clear and present danger. Unless career officials insulate themselves from partisan politics, every job would ultimately be politicised, and therefore, imperilled. The public service is yet to recover from the seismic effect of the 1975 purge. That purge would pale in comparison to the danger lying ahead if nothing is done to stem the rapid erosion of public service professionalism.

    It was in an attempt at pre-empting the undesirable effects of politicisation that our founding fathers set their political differences aside and settled for the adoption of the Westminster public service model. The key attributes of this model are integrity, professionalism, merit-based recruitment, competence, political neutrality, impartiality, legality, accountability, responsiveness, and, naturally, security of tenure. If truth be told, that model has crumbled—with plum jobs going to candidates with strong political backing but weak productive capacity, and attention-seeking officials crowding out the truly loyal and dedicated officials. Can the decline be halted? Yes, but…  For Nigeria to bring back the public service once known for dedication and impartial and courteous rendering of service, we should start by cleaning out the Augean stable of politicisation, partisanship, nepotism, mediocrity, and corruption. What better way to start than by showing Ogar and others like her the way out of the public service?

     

    Professor Balogun is based in Canada. He is former Director-General, The Administrative Staff College of Nigeria and former Senior Adviser at the UN Headquarters, New York.

  • Kano 2015: Why Risqua is the man

    Kano 2015: Why Risqua is the man

    In this knowledge-driven and youth-oriented world, the greatest treasure of a people is to have a leader who is in sync with modernity to lead it to the utopian world of progress. If a state as historic and important as Kano routinely gets into the news for the bad reason – from drug abuse to breakdown of epidemics, it certainly needs redemption. We need someone to rescue the state to a better clime.

    The Kano of today requires a pragmatic leader who is in tune with current events trends and development all over the world. Indeed, the future of Kano depends largely on a quintessential leader blessed with vision, focus, commitment, resourcefulness, exposure, dynamism, hard work, fearlessness, noble family background and above all, credibility and the fear of God. For the state to fit rightly into the modern society, the major catalyst is for it to be steered by one who knows exactly the direction developed all is headed to. Abba Risqua Muhammed perfectly fits this description.

    Abba Risqua Muhammed, for outsiders, is the only surviving son of late Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammad. When his father was tragically murdered by some people opposed to Nigeria’s progress in 1976, Abba Risqua was only six years old. He is now 45: fully made man and accomplished in all respects. A graduate of Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos, he also holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the prestigious Cardiff Business School, Wales, United Kingdom. He is also a trustee of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, an NGO that has done a lot for Kano people and other Nigerians.

    In terms of leadership and management acumen, Alhaji Abba Risqua had served as the Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on International Relations from 2000 to 2007. He is now managing his booming business empire as the Group Chief Executive of AMG Petroenergy Limited, one of Africa’s foremost energy service providers.

    Coming from that golden heritage of a hero that was late General Muhammed, Abba has no hiding place for people looking for credible individuals to take critical leadership roles. It is therefore for this and his personal attributes as an accomplished man that a number of times people of Kano approach him to make himself available to serve the people by standing in for election. This time around, the magnitude and intensity of the demand is huge. As the 2015 general election beckons, the call is for Abba Risqua to come and take up the governorship seat of Kano per chance the state will have a Midas touch of a scion of late General Muhammed.

    There is no gainsaying that General Murtala Muhammed is still regarded as one of Nigeria’s true heroes. He was not only one of those fiercely patriotic sons of the land who defiantly fought to keep Nigeria as one united country; he possesses startling qualities that are cherished by all.  He was detribalized, he was authentic, he was enthusiastic about the progress of the country, he was extraordinarily bold, and he was a patriot who truly loved his country. He was a man in a hurry to accomplish great things. He died in that hurry, in the prime of his life. Imagine what he could have done with power had he lived for a little longer?

    It is also worthy of note to mention that as a mark of his prudence and uprightness, when he was assassinated in 1976 while serving as Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he left only N13,000 in his account and one bungalow in Kano – this was despite serving in various other positions at a time of the celebrated oil boom.

    Already, a group, Kano Good Governance Project, is spearheading a movement for Abba Risqua Mohammed to answer the calls of the people to throw his hat in the ring. The coordinator of the socio-political movement, Alhaji Shehu Usman Umar, said their call followed “careful and acute dispassionate study of the low and high profile Kano indigenes” the result of the group’s survey revealed that “none has even the semblance of convincing capacity to recapture the state than Risqua Murtala Muhammad the only surviving son of the remarkable General Murtala Ramat Muhammad.”

    According to the group: “As the only surviving son of General Murtala Ramat Muhammad, we find it desirous and needful to approach Alhaji Abba Risqua Murtala Muhammad with sincere proposal to come forward and serve people of Kano State, as we are also confident that he would bring to bear the numerous inborn noble leadership qualities bequeathed to him by his great father. Needless to say, this fame and ideal leadership capacity demonstrated by Abba Risqua’s father, have been unequivocally appreciated by uncountable immortalization gestures to the family by individuals, institutions and organizations in both public and private sectors, from local, state and Federal levels”.

    This is an ideal time for Abba Risqua to come forth to complement the efforts of his late father in the development of our nation, with Kano as his primary ground. For those of us engaged in the lobby to have Abba Risqua accede to our demands, our message to him remains that this maybe discomforting, or even disruptive of his other engagements but he has an obligation to serve his people whenever they so desire, which we believe would please the resting soul of his late father, of blessed memory.

    It is not surprising, however, that Abba Risqua is not jumping at our demand. It is the humility that is characteristic of the lineage. His father showed similar attitude when he was approached to take over Nigeria’s mantle of leadership as the Head of State, for he was quoted as saying to them, “To hell with you! I have said I don’t want to be anybody’s Head of State”. But when he eventually accepted to head the nation, fatefully for 199 days, the nation went through the most remarkable socio-economic revolution ever in the country. Again, like his father, Abba Risqua is only invited, by the people to lead the Kano State Government, because of the confidence they have in him being the most suitable to give Kano the dynamic, purposeful and efficient leadership it requires. Kano identifies with Murtala’s son because he would do what he would be asked to do and even much more to give his fellow indigenes a sense of belonging, hope and strength in the Kano project.

    To rescue Kano from some bad influences and turn around its development pace, Abba Risqua is the man for the job. Having Abba Risqua in Kano Government House come 2015 would, in addition to giving Kano a new lease of life, offer the state the benefit of dynamic leadership driven by youthful exuberance with a touch of deep knowledge of issues.

     

    • Mohammed is of Kano Good Governance Project

  • Abia at 23: Journey so far

    By August 27, Abia State will be 23 years old having been created out of the old Imo State by the General Ibrahim Babangida administration in 1991.  Scientifically, the age of maturity for human being is 12 years, but at 23, solid foundation is being laid in Abia State for the first time. This is because since its creation, successive governments in the state, especially during the military era, ran its affairs with impunity and recklessness. But they did not do it without the collaboration of some civilians from the state who served as their conduit pipes.

    Under the guise of businessmen and government contractors, they registered phony companies and government contracts were awarded to them and funds released to them. At the end, no contract would be executed and nobody would ask for the refund of the public funds already paid into their pockets.

    That was the kind of leadership provided for the state for more than a decade. The hope and expectation of the people for a change in the status quo with the inception of democracy in the country in 1999 was never to be a dream come true. This was because the same characters that connived with the military leaders to impoverish and under-develop the state for almost a decade ploughed the looted funds into the politics of the state and hijacked the political leadership.

    So nothing changed in terms of leadership style, aside change from military rule to civilian democracy.

    Between 1999 and 2007, there was no sign of governance in the state, especially in the area of infrastructural development, youth empowerment and peaceful atmosphere. The state then ranked top in the promotion of unnecessary political controversies to attract undue attention from the public and media.

    Decayed infrastructures begging for government’s attention were abandoned, while elected and appointed office holders built business empires and those of their family members, converting government assets into family assets at will. The state-owned newspaper was destroyed.

    Voodoo politics was also introduced in the state and an intriguing matriarchy took charge of government decisions, while the son became the ceremonial leader of the state. A suburb in Bende council area of the state became a Mecca of sorts for politicians seeking appointment into the state government. Nobody dared ask question or criticise government’s policies or actions, which were in most cases anti-people. That was the democracy dividend for the impoverished people of the state then. There was no difference between the military and democratic era in the state. It was as if things were better in the military days.

    By the time the second term of the government expired in 2007, the state was left worse than it was met in 1999 in terms of decayed infrastructure, absence of quality and access roads, a health sector in shambles as residents sought medical attention in neighbouring states. The state of education was pathetic, and the rate of examination malpractices was at the peak as special centres that encourage examination malpractices became dominant in the state than public schools. The state debt profile was as high as N29.9 billion.

    No foundation was laid for the incoming government to stand and take off from. The civil service meant to drive government’s policies was bogged by petty and clannish politics, encouraged by the government. The state capital Umuahia remained the same glorified village it was upon its creation in 1991.

    Assuming office in 2007, Governor Theodore Orji, came with a vision and blueprint on how to transform the state, but his predecessor on whose party’s platform Orji was elected had a different agenda which was maintaining the status quo in the state. Stifled and hounded on many fronts, Orji was just a figurehead and the system at the national level encouraged the situation at that point. Having seen it all in government as Chief of Staff for eight years, Governor Orji tarried for the best time to strike and liberate the state from the menace of godfatherism, a feat he achieved before the 2011 general elections, after due consultations with the people on what they wanted. Thereafter, the state breathed air of freedom. And since then, Orji’s government has been in hurry to cover the lost ground. It is no doubt a daunting task, but the government has remained resolute and focused even in the face of numerous financial challenges.

    As one can witness in the state today, there is no incessant political crisis especially in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This is because of Orji’s peaceful and developmental approach to governance. A development that has made the people of the state to now sit down and discuss the way forward for the state without any reservations. A new Government House befitting of a state is nearing completion in the state capital Umuahia now. So also is an Ultra-modern International Conference Centre, a New Workers’ Secretariat completed and occupied by the civil servants. Also completed and being used now is the Ubani Ibeku International market, Amuba Housing Estate, Isieke Housing Estate, Ohiya Power station, more than 350 kilometre roads constructed and rehabilitated.

    Also not left in the health revolution in the state is the Umunneto General Hospital which the state government has given a facelift by the massive construction of new structures, and equipping it with modern facilities. The hospital which was before now a shadow of its former self can now compete with any modern hospital in Nigeria and beyond in all ramifications.

    At the commercial city of Aba, the government has constructed a modern auditorium at the Specialist Hospital Abayi, for student doctors of Abia State University Teaching Hospital. Millions of naira was released to the management of the hospital for speedy completion of ongoing project in the hospital to ensure that patients get quality medical service and students graduate as at when due.

    The same treatment has been meted to the Nursing department of teaching hospital whose accreditation process that has stagnated for years now is nearing completion.

    Before 2007, only two Schools of Nursing in the state were fully accreditated, but presently seven Schools of Nursing have been fully granted accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Also, the School of Health Technology Aba, School of Nursing Umuahia, Uzuakoli Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre have witnessed massive rehabilitation and expansion.

    Also in partnership with EU-Prime, the state government has distributed more than 20 vans to the council areas in the state for effective immunization of children against polio and other sicknesses.  And in line with Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, the government has built over 250 health centres across the 17 council areas in state. Most of the centres, which are mainly located in the rural areas, have been equipped. Health personnel have been posted to the already completed and equipped centres with good incentives such as accommodation and means of transportation to encourage them and make their work easier. Some of the centres without resident doctors have visiting doctors attached to them and qualified nurses permanently attached to attend to the patients with the visiting doctors coming regularly.

    The present government has also paid all the counterpart funds relating to HIV/AIDS programmes in the state and for other health agencies that have anything to do with HIV/AIDS. Due to the impressive performance of the state in reproductive health in partnership with United Nation Funds For Population Activities, UNFPA, the state remains the only one in the South-east zone selected for participation in UNFPA. In addition, the organization has selected the state as its zonal headquarters.

    There is also the radical reformation of the state civil service which has eliminated quackery, non-challance while promoting competence and professionalism. The intervention in education sector has been great and encompassing with the building and rebuilding of state-owned public schools, funding the sector adequately and others.

    What is paramount now is sustaining the situation and improving on it to ensure that the dark years of locust and looting will not find its way back to the government of the state. So ahead of 2015 general elections, all hands must be on deck to ensure that people of questionable characters will not find their way into the Abia Government House.

     

    • Elder Ugbuaja, wrote from Ukwa-west, Abia State  
  • COMMENT

    COMMENT

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    Should we then call it fowl play.The northerners are united but we are not,I love reading your column and your opinion most often agrees with mine. However, your article “what does the north want?”, on August 15, I beg to differ in opinion. I stand to be corrected, all the delegates were carefully, consciously and cautiously selected to go and protect their regions. None of the delegates from any of the regions spoke as Nigerians but all their contributions were in defence of their zones. To therefore accuse the north of being self centred is hypocrisy of the highest order. I am not from the core north but the most liberal people in this country are the core north. I do not see any meaningful thing that will come out from that conference as usual and I won’t be surprised. So to answer your rhetorical question, “what does the north wants?”, they want to protect the north just as the west, east, south-south want to protect their regions. Shikenan !  From Adudu, Nasarawa.

    National Conference members do not seem to be sincere. They are not speaking for the north that has benefited so much interms of appointments and infrastructure from Jonathan’s government. Anonymous

    Governor Aregbesola wasn’t voted in as a saint but because of his performance. Of course, a purposeful, people-oriented and visionary leader is all we need to make the needed difference in our polity today. Being a leader or governor doesn’t make anybody superhuman or infalliable whatsoever,and Governor Aregbesola couldn’t have been an exception.The Osun State governor simply performed to the expectation and satisfaction of the people and was asked by the people to continue at the polls,which is what effective leadership is all about -continuity.Omisore could be good in his own right but his democratic credentials failed to meet the demands of the people of Osun,hence his defeat at the polls. That is the truth of the whole matter. From Emmanuel Egwu.

    Brother ‘Segun, greetings. Just read your truly patriotic piece in The Nation of August 15, 2014. I share your views with the exception of those on the Chibok girls. The vision and mission of our ethnics are at different levels and constantly in conflict such that peace can only last when we are divided. Mark my words, the Nigerian elites have already dug their own graves by creating the Almajiris . What will ultimately happen is the inevitable dissolution of the so-called Nigerian project. May that day come sooner than later. From Brother Amos A. Akingba.

    Re: What does the North want?: Professor Gbadegesin, unfortunately, your article is nothing but a continuation of the narrative that anything from the North is bad for Nigeria and regarding that from the Southwest, there’s no better alternative. I am not a lawyer so I beg to ask; what is the difference between “an amended constitution” and a “a new draft constitution”? Your answer will either confirm or give lie to the concern (if you will, the fear) of the north. Thank you sir. From Nanna Ndawuya, Minna

    Dear Prof Gbadegesin, Your “What does the North want” has been the most concise, incisive and frank comment on the overbearing and imperious attitude of the north since both before and after Nigeria’s independence. Whatever has a beginning will one day have an end. Thank you immensely. From K O Ajakaiye, Lagos.

    Thank you for your insightful views on Nigeria’s power problem.  By the way, Lagos Island first had electricity in 1896 with street lighting in 1898! Yet, it too suffers from  power shortage. As for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria it should more appropriately be Power Withholding Company of Nigeria. That is the reality.Anonymous

    What does the North  want? This is a wonderful question that need quick answer, unity or disunity ? Peace or war ? Love or heaterd? They should tell us more about the Chibok girls. Nigerians are more wiser. No region will set us back any more. God bless  Nigeria .From Afolashade Afolabi,Abuja.

    It is glaring that the northerners lack the sincerity to build this nation.They only felt empty since the the  days of Obasanjo to now.Moving away from the present imbalance in Nigeria,means a total loss to them.Hence,their current war against every good move to adopt a positive change as advocated especially in the conference.Hence their unintelligent rejection of the conference suggestion.They are just too inimical to true federalism which is actually a true,strong united Nigeria.They are like virus to the political,economic and social progress of this country.May God give them wisdom.Anonymous 

    Re-What does the North want? All boil down to suspicion,corruption,regional/ethnic biases culminating into lack of open-mindedness hence this country may continue to swim in a stagnant water- motion without movement. There is no cause for alarm as no single bloc after 1970, could solely lord anything on others again. Just like the Southwest took the case of one of the bloc (MKO) with caution and was able to be empathised with, others who believe its/their  ‘ox is being gored’ should tread softly.From Lanre Oseni.

    Mr Segun, I really enjoyed your article of August 15, but you have some missing arguments. first, you appear to be sentimental about what a people sensed  to be dangerous in the future and chose to stop it earlier, why wait for debate as suggested by you. Some countries of the world operate without a written constitution and yet are better than us.There is everything wrong with the presidency except I chose to pretend like you. The president has totally closed his eyes on issues of monumental corruption, insecurity, etc any never want anybody to mention it except you want to incur the wrath of the government and the good people of southsouth. Finally, the inefficiency of the goverment or its parastatals is a total inefficiency of the president; this should not be blamed on the North. From Ayagher

    ‘What does the North want?’-A very brilliant and highly informative piece. I hope the Northern people will avail themselves of the piece with the objective of coming to terms with the fact that their dominant mentality over other segments of the country that has held sway over decades is now over. From Kola AMZAT, FCA, Lagos.

    The same mistake over and again, the ‘middle belt revolt’ The christian community in central Nigeria has never supported the ‘core north’ NPP won Plateau State in the Second Republic, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) held sway in the present Southern Kaduna, what constitute the present Taraba State. The late JS Tarka’s Tiv  were with Awolowo before 1979 elections. The Muslims in central Nigeria with majorities in present Kwara, Niger and Nassarawa states traditionally follows the ‘core north’. From Tunde.

    It’s very preposterous to assert that the Igbo supported the annulment.There were many Yoruba people just like their Igbo counterparts who supported the annulment.Have you forgotten the role of some southwest Obas afta visitng Aso Rock?Have you forgotten the role of Diya and others who worked with Abacha? Please,all these ‘we’ and ‘they’ analyses’re simply divisive and trivial.The problems of Nigeria’re beyond these pedestrian analyses. From Chijioke Uwasomba, OAU, Ife.

    Goodmorning Prof. Segun if you have not gained any thing in democracy we have gained defined interest for all regions. Your write-up August 15 clearly expose north political interest which is to remain in power using other regions as their foot soldiers and desperate hunger for power. Thanks for ur insight. Anonymous

     

     

    For Olatunji Dare

     

    Re-Osun:The morning after. Agreed with all you said, with fulsome happiness that, your ‘Backee’ won. You however, failed to tell us whom the ‘militarisation’ you adversely publicised had favoured. Same candidate and his party, APC. This teaches us all, to be open-minded to enable growth to thrive rather than crying wolf always and keep being ‘negatively suspicious’ always. Let us commend when that demands and condemn when only, it is bad.  From Lanre Oseni.

    PDP is like a dead snake with its head cut off and the rest body is still turning. Omisore and his party have been demistyfied by the good people of Osun State. President Jonathan and his party members should know that, there is no champion for ever. Nigerians should lean a leason from this election. Let them militarise the whole country there is no hiding place for PDP again. From Hamza Ozi Momoh Apapa Lagos

    PDP  is evil and can never win any election in the country that is devoid of rigging. The Osun election is victory for democracy. From Comrade Mfam Mbia Asu JP,CIFIAN

    Despite Omisore riding an okada or devouring a cob of roasted corn purchased from a street vendor to deceived the electorate of Osun State to vote for him, not knowing that electorate were wise enough not to be fool again, thereafter he failed.The defeated candidates should accept their defeat in good faith and prepare for future election, rather than causing politicial violence.Afteral in every contest, there must be winner and losers. From Gordon Chika Nnorom

    To God be the glory Aregbesola is a man of integrity we people of Osun believe in him Osun ti dara ko ni baje o.  From Segun Congo 

    Dear Sir,’Baba Kabiru’gallantly merits his victory over Omisore.And I thank God I have never lost votes for him. Despite deservable and undeservable aspersions cast upon his radical self,he convincingly won. My heartfelt congrats to him! From Adeoluwa Balogun, Degree 4, Dept of English,ACE,Ondo.

    Prof. Congrats on your birthday, God will grant you long life with good health. The victory of Ogbeni Aregbesola in the governorship election, practically demonstrated the readiness of Nigerian masses to assert their will with vision to ensure a better and secured future. President Jonathan-led PDP government is drowning, it is high time for APC to provide alternative plaform. From Deacon Obatungashe I. Adebayo

    Dear Prof, your ‘’Osun; The morning after’’ was as usual a delight. Agreed that some of our severed royal fathers might have done certain things unexpected of them, such were only being human as ‘political animals’. That notwithstanding, you are a Yoruba man and I dare say that, your reference to them as ‘wayward’ was unfair. From Temtope Vincent, Akure.

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

     

    Thanks for the write-up on Aregbe’s victory. It was expected because he mixes freely with the grassroots and understands their challenges. Please tell the Lagos State governor to reverse some of the charges by VIOs, LASTMA, on vehicle owners who for reasons beyond their control fall foul of traffic laws. Anonymous.

    True talk my brother in your “Beyond Aregbe’s victory” of August 17. If Omisore could score such a large vote, then APC must watch it. From Valentine Ojo, Abuja.

    Tunji, I have just read your article titled “Beyond Aregbesola’s victory”. Beautiful piece. Anonymous.

    There is no too much talk about the credentials of Omisore in Osun State … The president and his party men have forgotten that the era of darkness has gone forever in Nigerian politics. The era when election is conducted in Oyo and the result will be announced in Abuja is gone forever. With the result on August 9 in Osun State, there is no hiding place for the PDP in terms of manipulation again. Omisore can continue eating his corn; as many as he can on the streets of Osun. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    You have written one of the best treatises in The Nation today (Sunday) and it made my day. God bless you. Anonymous.

    In 2010, Adejare Bello, the then Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly and now Omisore’s deputy said that Aregbe ’ll be governor over his dead body. Before the August 9 election, Omisore boasted that he would rather die if he did not win the election. We are waiting for their obituaries. From Alhaji Adeboye Lawal.

    Since Osun State governorship election has come and gone and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been declared winner, let him take his victory as an act of God and hard work. He should carry every candidate along to move the state forward, irrespective of party affiliation. Even those that rode on Okada and were devouring roated maize purchased from a street vendor to deceive the electorate but whose game plan failed should also take their loss as God’s wish and prepare for future polls. Let Aregbe not relent in his effort to make Osun people happy by delivering more dividend of democracy. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    Your article titled “Beyond Aregbe’s victory” in The Nation of August 17 refers. I do not understand what is wrong with our people in the South-west. We used to be highly rational in taking decisions. But our voting pattern in recent elections leaves much to be desired. Anyway, what gives concern is PDP’s desire to win Lagos at all cost. Hence, they have started collecting people’s voter’s card numbers, names, wards, house addresses and phone numbers, etc. Anonymous.

    I totally agree with your comment. I feel so sad that our people have been so debased that values and moral no longer matter; only money. Well said. From Ayo.

    Your comment of August 17 refers. Why do you think people will revolt now as in 1960s and 1983? The leadership now appears self-centred and after what they can get for themselves and their families. You cannot say this of the leadership of Awo/ Ajasin, and the people are seeing all these … A journalist of your leaning should know better. From Bartholomew, Abuja.

    There is no setback that is without its advantage. The APC now has a chance to showcase the difference between it and the PDP through the performances of its governors. The APC can show the Ekiti electorate and indeed other south westerners that ‘stomach infrastructure’ is nothing but a tool of retrogression in the hands of clueless people who lack the basic rudiments of governance. If the APC comes clean with the people in the states it controls, Ekiti will turn out an albatross with great implications for the PDP. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

    Personal aggrandisement riddled with primitive acquisitiveness is the hallmark of the Nigerian political elite. Jumbo pay captures the fact that the feudalistic tendency of our leaders cuts across party lines and the voters are now seeing through this.  Anonymous.

  • Osun: The tragedy of victory

    Firebrand activist, the only socialist governor in Nigeria, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola defeated his bitter rival, Mr. Iyiola Omisore on August 9, 2014.  I was deeply involved in the Ekiti and Osun campaigns. I saw the thick and thin.  Aregbesola and Fayemi invested wits, energy, brain and vigour.

    Victory is sweet, but the investment in it tastes like a bile. Before the elections, I met the two. I saw exhaustion. On one occasion, I met Aregbesola around 11 pm.  He had not eaten anything since morning. There was simply no time to eat; pale but resolute. On another occasion, I met him around 4.34 am on a Monday. I had waited since 8am the previous Sunday. He was attending to endless sea of visitors. By the time I left around 5am on Monday, scores of people were still waiting to see him. Aregbesola visited all the 332 wards, unlike Mr. Iyiola Omisore. He met with all the traditional institutions in the over 300 towns and hamlets. He spent about 3,000 hours in the past six months preparing for the election. On the contrary, the most formidable slogans of Mr. Ayodele Fayose and Mr. Omisore were “I shall be declared. I shall win. I will be the Governor.”

    On Tuesday when he raised up the Certificate of Return in Abuja, Aregbesola was lean, emaciated but nevertheless, his face as strong as granite.  The same exhaustion of the flesh, in the build up to the campaign, was not noticeable in his main contender, whose most noticeable trademarks were roasted corns which he munched all through, and the armed masked men that usually encircled him.  I have searched in vain for Mr. Omisore’s manifesto, his plans for Osun people, but could not find one. Yet, this man polled 292,747 votes.

    For me, that is a tragedy in this victory. It reflects the heartbreak of a crestfallen nation, a country in perpetual turmoil largely due to the institutionalisation of corruption. More than anything else, Osun has further exposed the catastrophe that has befallen the Yoruba nation and Nigeria as a whole. Aregbesola had 394,684 compared with Omisore’s 292,747. The difference is 101,937 votes. This raises fundamental issues. First, the PDP could have had many elected people if the election was into the state or national assemblies.

    Two, how did a man with so huge a moral burden, following the death of Chief Bola Ige, of which he was a key suspect, manage to record such a high figure in the home state of Chief Ige? Again, the PDP has, no doubt, brought Nigeria unto her knees. The economy is in tatters. Hunger and deprivation rule the land. Deceit, a tradition of treachery and sham are the standards of the PDP. The definition of the party as a ‘nest of killers’ has not changed. The party has also compounded the woes of Nigeria by dragging her into the red light district of global affairs. Yet, this rickety machine has a huge population of people hanging on it, according to election outcome. Here lays the misfortune.

    While Aregbesola campaigned on the basis of a social-economic agenda, like his counterpart in Ekiti, the PDP had no inspiring action plan. What then was responsible for the ‘victory’ of the PDP in Ekiti and the high votes recorded in Osun?  The PDP’s strength is the criminalisation of the electorate through the cultivation of a cult of voters driven by perks and immediate gains. Apart from loads of rice and goodies distributed to voters openly and covertly, the PDP has set up a phantom financial institution code named “Omo Ilu Foundation,” at least in the South West. This group gives out forms to thousands of people. Agents sent by the APC indicated that beneficiaries were asked to take an oath of allegiance. Also the PDP has been attacking reform programmes of the APC, offering in its place, euphoric material gains for the electorate. This, in itself, constitutes a grave danger to the future of political and economic transformation of Nigeria. For a society exposed to long years of deprivation, perks are likely to be seen as more crucial than superstructure. The PDP is giving institutional backing to this backwater axiom. There is the militarisation of the electoral process backed up with denial of human freedom and brute force repression of the opposition.

    After the fiercely contested Osun poll for instance, like the rhythmical movement of a chain of millipedes in the farmstead, a long, orderly crowd of broom-waving supporters snaked through the Osogbo highways. As the crowd milled with glee and unending spasms of joy, a PDP official in a convoy of tainted cars tore through the crowd. Armed masked men that perched like bats on vehicles in the raging convoy released a volley of sporadic gun shots. I remember. We were at a restaurant after an all-night meeting before the election. Five hungry-looking armed men in military fatigue came. Unkempt and in filthy uniforms. They wore beards and slippers, unusual of military men. The ‘soldiers’ had no name tags. One of them had red tattoos on his left cheek. One had the shape of a 12th century wrestler. The other stood like a small bulldozer. Their AK-47s hung loosely on their shoulders.   In military and police tradition, guns, when not in use, should be kept nozzle down. These men kept their guns with nozzles pointed at onlookers. One breast feeding woman had to quit her seat. She quietly walked away into the descending evening cloud. There was naked show of brute force.  After they had finished their dinner-we were all held captive-two of them took strategic positions on the adjacent highway and fired consistently into the sky, hands fidgeting like amateurs. They later left in an unmarked car. People have chilling stories to tell. In the night of Thursday preceding the election, one APC top shot who was my host received a text message that masked armed men were abducting people from their homes in the thickest of night. At the last count, the Commissioner for Regional Integration, Mr. Bashiru Ajibola, said over 200 were arrested in the night preceding the election. In Ekiti, 459 APC leaders were abducted, never to return until after the election. The ‘soldiers’ did not only arrest; they visited homes and collected money meant for mobilisation. Mr. Charles Fasubaa, the General Manager of the Ekiti State Traffic Management Authority, (EKSTMA) was picked from his bedroom and his cash snatched. One leader of APC in Osun was detained all night from Friday until after the election. I was informed that N5million meant for some wards were collected by force from another APC leader in Osun. This apart, I strongly believe PDP rigged the elections in Ekiti and Osun. In the two states, PDP stalwarts were arrested with ballot papers. Where are the ballot papers seized in Ekiti and Osun? Did PDP minimise its rigging tactics in Osun to create a credibility booster? If this heinous plot continues, the other South West states should not expect elections but brutal “war” as warned earlier by the PDP. Therefore, the APC needs real strategic and tactical realignment to deal with a monstrous opponent that has no respect for the rules.  It is infamy that this happened under the nose of Prof Attahiru Jega’s INEC. It is bizarre that INEC consistently describes the elections as free and fair in a malicious rivalry, where in a boxing ring, the umpire watches, as one hand of a contender is tied to the stake. This is my personal submission: gloom is taking its full circle. There needs to be a revolution in Nigeria before we can talk of democracy.

     

    Adeoye, a CNN African Journalist of the Year winner, writes from Lagos.

  • Osun: Aribisala and the fear of APC

    Osun: Aribisala and the fear of APC

    What Nigeria’s brand of politics is a mixed bag of the good, the bad, and of course the ugly tactics of sheer blackmail, barefaced betrayals and subtle subterfuge is stating the obvious. This do-or-die battle field mentality is all because the winner takes it all. Critical observers of the polity should therefore, be driven by the tenets of objectivity and patriotism to say it as it is, and more importantly to make valuable suggestions to fashion the best way out of the political wood.

    It boggles any discerning mind when a citizen, a writer, an associate professor of international affairs and a pastor at that decides willy-nilly, to view a particular political party from the prism of outright hatred and frequent misguided mudslinging. The man in question is none other than Femi Aribisala. The political party that he has chosen, perhaps for pecuniary gains, to be the numero uno traducer is the All Progressives Congress (APC). While more informed minds have hailed its emergence on the nation’s political landscape as a much-needed and timely intervention, to provide a credible opposition and alternative to the behemoth that the PDP has become, Aribisala thinks otherwise.

    If he is not taking on the revered national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a no- holds -barred vitriolic attack asking what more does he really wants, Aribisala would be cooking another poisonous pot fuelled by the wrong reasons why APC is likely to lose Lagos governorship election come 2015. In other climes, his type may be tolerated for providing comic relief as an exception to the rule, but not so in Nigeria. As Vladimir Lenin rightly noted, ‘a lie told often enough becomes the truth’. Our cherished democratic culture cannot afford such political anomaly. Not now. And not ever!

    And that brings us to the recently held gubernatorial election, in the State of  Osun which  incidentally was won by the Independent Newspaper Limited Man-of-the Year and incumbent Governor, Rauf Aregbesola. While not a few political affairs analysts are of the candid opinion that the exemplary preparedness and high level of alertness to plug all loopholes on the part of APC added to the sterling performance of Aregbesola won it for the party, Aribisala has his own theory to it all.

    What he calls ‘crying wolf’ such as the condemnable arrest of the party’s chieftains, including Lai Mohammed, and commissioners on the eve of the election, the harassment of party agents during the exercise and the use of brute force by the security forces against unarmed voters were indeed, all predicted by the APC. It even went further to alert the public to the nefarious collaboration between INEC and the police bulldogs using both the print and electronic media.

    But Aribisala thinks differently. In his words: “Before every election, APC goes to town shouting itself hoarse that the election will be rigged. It brings out all sorts of fictitious documents showing “beyond reasonable doubt” that the PDP, in collusion with the INEC, has perfected outrageous plans to rig the election. Then when it loses, it says “We told you so” and decides to contest the results frivolously in court. Apparently, the only election that is not rigged in Nigeria today is the one that APC wins. At least, we are yet to hear APC say it is going to court to contest the Osun results.”

    How utterly ludicrous one could be! Unknown to him there were conflicting shadows over the purported plan by Iyiola Omisore of the PDP to head to court for redress. He found his defeat under the upper cut blow from the master of the game of politics, Aregbesola too bitter a pill to swallow. But for the prompt acceptance of defeat from the man at Aso Rock, who had a week before raised his hand to the paid crowd and declared him the ‘next governor of Osun’ Omisore would have done so.

    Yet, Aribisala calls it a ‘pyrrhic victory’! Can you beat that? Try to juxtapose this piece with the reality on ground. Said he : “Before the election in Osun, the APC went to town telling the whole world it would be rigged. Every so often, it came out with broadsides as to the discovery of fresh plans to rig the election which it discovered through its detective agency. Its Sherlock Holmes in this regard is Lai Mohammed, its Publicity Secretary. Lai Mohammed has the unique capacity to smell smoke where there is no fire whatsoever. These days, whenever he makes an announcement, it is to cry wolf yet again.”

    Unfortunately he has forgotten the wise counsel from Wendell Philips that: “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”. So good and timely that the APC knew this axiom and put it to full use. Let us consider the nitty-gritty of  Philpot Curran’s statement, “The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he breaks, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt.”

    The APC learnt lasting lessons from this. No more would it want the good people of Osun, nay Nigeria to remain helpless and voiceless slaves to the overbearing PDP-controlled central government that has said more than it has done on the critical issue of transformative leadership. Little wonder its governors are up and doing when it comes to good governance.

    For instance, Governor Aregbesola has discharged his mandate to his people to the best of his government’s capacity and abilities, in spite of the lean purse. He exhibited the rare traits of a politician adequately prepared for the challenging tasks of governance. Also, he is one who thinks and acts outside the box, propelled by high dose of creativity.

    He frontally tackled the monster of youth unemployment with Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O,YES). That has actively engaged some 40,000 young citizens with 5,000 others trained in ICT. That is no mean feat. His government raised the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from a paltry N300 million to N1.5 billion, without increasing tax. That speaks volumes about a visionary leader. There is also the N4.2 billion fixed in state reserve and the establishment of a Debt Management Office (DMO). That is judicious use of public funds which the corruption-riddled PDP should learn from.

    In addition to the N1 billion support for the rural farmers, about 1,765 hectares of land have been cleared for profitable use. Even the PDP could not accuse him of neglecting ‘stomach infrastructure’, Aregbesola can proudly show them  the daily feeding of over 240,000 Osun Elementary  school children and the economic empowerment of 3,000 caterers.

    Similarly, the giant strides in infrastructural development with durable roads and the Ede Water Works capacity raised from 13 per cent to 30 per cent all stand him in good stead. Add these to the ground-breaking Opo Imo educative tablet for students applauded internationally.

    Osun people can recount similar achievements in the sectors of health care services, agriculture, tourism and transportation which was why they appreciated him through the resounding victory at the polls. With 394,684 representing 55.02 per cent out of 11 parties and beating his closest rival by 101,973 votes, there are lessons for the PDP to learn.

    One is that good and effective leadership is the sine qua non to re-election not propaganda. The second is the need for intra-party unity. While the PDP in Osun State has suffered internal crisis the same cannot be said of the APC. Also important is the need to effectively counter misinformation and all acts of deliberate mischief.

    The likes of Aribisala and his conscienceless sponsors should make out time for sober reflection. If the seed of democracy would flourish and flower to fruition the people’s interests must be uppermost in the minds of all the stakeholders, especially the political leaders. No matter how long it may take truth would always overtake falsehood. Well done, Aregbesola. Well done APC. The tasks ahead are enormous but Osun has set the template for more victories. PDP’s misadventure in the South-West and its desire to win by crook instead of hook would remain nothing but a pipe-dream.