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Chime, Ekweremadu imbroglio: Time to sheathe the sword

Over the months, with the approach of the conduct of party primaries slated for October this year by the Independent National Electoral Commission, there seems, unfortunately, concerted efforts by surrogates falling over themselves to please the Enugu State Government, by mounting ceaseless campaigns of calumny, against the person of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, through fictitious Advertorials.

Churning out falsehood, these groups and their collaborators are carrying it to a dizzying height which bewilders. There must be truce now and all those fanning the embers of chauvinism and trying to heat up the polity of a hitherto peaceful Enugu State, must be called to order.

Any keen follower of the political events in the Coal City, ought to have deduced that the out-going Governor Sullivan Chime is believed to be eyeing the Enugu West Senatorial seat being occupied at present by Senator Ekweremadu, who has performed creditably well not only as Senator representing the area, but has with candour, simplicity, courage and non pugnacious stance , steered honourably the Senate sessions of the 7th National Assembly, as Deputy Senate President.

His colleagues are won’t to marvel at his proper grasp of legislative duties, his articulate views and how he marshals his points with such ease not incurring the wrath of any Senator even those holding alternate views. It is to his credit that he continues to pilot the affairs of the Red Chamber with such dexterity each time he is presiding that hardly had there been any rancourous situation.

His warmth are infectious hence having friends that cut across party affiliations and he is at home with all his colleague Senators at first name basis.

The pride of any nation and state, is to treasure and hold dearly their best ‘first eleven’ so to say. He remains a phenomenon in the Senate and National Assembly as a whole and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) Parliamentary Body, to therefore contemplate asking Senator Ekweremadu not to rerun, come February 2015 General Elections, is not only a disservice to Enugu State but indeed Nigerians.

To coerce and torpedo this achiever despite his phenomenal legislative accomplishments in both fashioning good laws for the nation and attracting several developmental projects to his Constituency and empowering lots of people across board, no doubt goes against the grains of continuity and institutionalising functional senatorial duties as a bedrock of sound democratic tenets.

No one throws away a baby and the bathwater. There is no wisdom in changing a winning team. One matures with time and experience cannot be bought with money. United Sates of America, where we adopted the Presidential System of Government, never risked removing or uprooting a deserving and performing Senator. As a matter of fact, a peep into the history of serving American Senators, there is a long list of revered longest serving senators, who are still serving.

The list runs thus: Senators Robert C.Byrd (Democrat Western Virginia)- was in the Senate for 51 years from January 3, 1959- January 28, 2010; Dan K. Inouye from January 3, 1963 to present day over 50 years; Storm Thurmond, Republican South Carolina, spent 47 years from November 7 1956- January 2002; Edward M. Kennedy Democrat Massachusetts ,had 47 years of meritorious service November 7, 1962 – August 25, 2009. As champion of higher education, direct loans to students and a lifelong crusader of equal rights, Senator Kennedy perhaps would have still been in the Senate, but for his unfortunate demise as a result of brain tumour.

Carl T.Hayden Democrat Arizona spent about 42 years March 4, 1927- January 3, 1969; John Stemis Democrat Mississippi, did 42 years November 5, 1947- January 1989; Ted Steven Republican Arkansas, was at the senate for 44 years Dec 24, 1965- January 2009; Ernest F Hollings Democrat spent 39 years Nov 9, 1966- January 3, 2005; Richard D. Russel Democrat was at that distinguished American senate for 38 years January 3, 1933- January 21, 1971. Bringing to a close the list of 10 longest serving American senators is Russel Long Democrat Los Angeles, was in the senate for 38 years December 31, 1948- January 3, 1987.

The issue of who represents the Constituents in the American system, is not based on sentiments or emotions but the system works for perfection. It is not at the whims and caprices of President Barack Obama, or any American serving Governor. They hold on tenaciously to their men of honour and valour as they go into elections.

It is becoming a past time for most Governors leaving governance to go headlong in pursuit of uprooting whoever is in the senate so that they may replace them. It shouldn’t really be a dumping ground for past Governors, especially when the incumbent senators are remarkably doing well in all ramifications. There could be other areas these former Governors could participate instead of upturning the apple cart.

The scenario in Enugu makes a good case for study. Although the Governor has not publicly declared he would be contesting the seat occupied by Senator Ekweremadu, but even in my village in Enugu State, it is no longer a news hidden in a bushel. Objectively, both sons of Enugu have done well and are equally qualified to run. The Governor has laid solid foundation for development in the state with the construction of major roads within the capital city and also at the rural areas. He had restored a serene and peaceful atmosphere for business and social life to thrive.

On his part, Senator Ekweremadu’s status has soared with local and an international clout. He is a consummate legislator whose master of legislative process to the advantage of the nation we cannot afford to toy with and miss. He has postulated and sponsored several bills that impact on the common man, promoting legislation that would provide support systems for small and medium scale enterprises, especially reviewing laws that could encourage local technology, local management skills and access to cheap and long term loans.

He had worked tirelessly in getting through legislation that would make for funding for a limited free health care system especially for expectant mothers, children and all those unable to benefit in the health insurance scheme, amongst others. His horizon is people-oriented, hence the infrastructural provision for his Enugu West Constituents so staggering in new school blocks, desks, books, equipping libraries, transformers, rural electrification, water boreholes, roads , building of town halls and places of recreation, adult literacy and micro finance.

He has a Football Championship on-going being competed for by Local Governments that make up his Senatorial Zone. Perhaps it is in the area of philanthropic gestures that Senator Ekweramadu has written his name in Platinum. As at the last count, his Ikeoha Foundation Scholarship Bursary Award is sponsoring the education of over 300 students including bursary awards in higher institutions including universities both at home and overseas.

No tinkering of the Constitution would be complete without mentioning his name since as Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee in the National Assembly, he has brought to bear on the exercise, respectability and a high sense of purpose.

Given his pedigree and purposeful leadership as Deputy Senate President and for the magnificent upliftment and empowerment of people from his area, one can say without any fear of contradiction that his name placed on the Ritchard’s Scale, it would weigh down the gold bars.

Is it therefore desirable that he should return, Yes. Would he add more values and strengthen the Senate in the forthcoming 8th National Assembly? The answers are in the positive. Will the people of Enugu West be better of with his coming back? Yes and Yes!

We must grow this democracy and appreciate excellence and performance. We must not abort a dream so sweet still in the honey comb. All men and women of decent upbringing in Enugu, must intervene to checkmate the unnecessary flexing of muscles.

The party in Enugu is One Big Family. We must shut the door to muckrakers and mischief makers cum sycophants. Howbeit Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan locking themselves up in one room, no interference and as brothers sort out what ordinarily should be a simple family affair.

July 13, 2014
COMMENT

For Olatunji Dare

Sir, Re-harvesting, then and now. On Ekiti election, I can boldly say time will tell. What I am sure of is Dr Kayode Fayemi has made remarkable footprints in the sands of time and it will remain indelible in the history of Ekiti State. Weep not Fayemi because time will tell. From Comrade Esan Ajibola, Ayedun Ekiti.

Ekiti State election can be compared with June l2 election where it was finest. From Gordon Chika Nnorom.

I have just read ‘Vote-harvesting, then and now’. An update assessment of our election. May I add, Ekiti people were also deluded by falsehood this time; apart from going for what they can get, it was erroneously sold to them that all Ekiti federal allocations goes to the pocket of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, as if all the infrastructure and progress recorded by Fayemi were built with feeble stones. That is the lie constantly peddled by PDP to every ignorant listener. One may need to ask from whoever is taken for a fool by that lie to tell Ekiti people what happened to Ekiti federal allocations when PDP were in the saddle in the past, even in other PDP controlled states to date where no record of good governance can be seen? Dr Fayemi has set a pace in Ekiti. It’s better that Fayose key in into it, otherwise, Ekiti would pay dearly for its mistake because no state can enjoy stomach infrastructure and development at the same time- From Barrister M. Atolagbe.

Re-Vote-harvesting, then and now. What matters even in those you categorised as having skills or/and brains was to win! Same way, with your brainless and skill-less Ayo Fayose, he won. What matters before anyone is known to be intellectually skillful was to win first. The same negative attributes you and co-columnists dashed Fayose before the June 21 election helped Fayose’s brain the more. Critique objectively always. Did I not caution you all, from over promoting your candidate and run others aground? I cited Ondo October 20, 2012 Mimiko election as a flag for caution. From Lanre Oseni.

Sir, in your previous piece-The Nation of July 24- on the Ekiti election, you were very scholarly-full of detached, dispassionate   analysis of factors that caused the electoral disaster of Dr. Fayemi. Now you have no doubt got hooked to the APC post-election ‘reawakening’ regarding its need to find excuses and scapegoats for its election fiasco! Precisely because of this mentality, it ‘ll lose more elections. As recent as September last year, it was evident enough to non-armchair writers that Governor Fayemi would lose the election. Besides, APC government equally distributed goods and money right on Election Day! Please go to the state and make discreet enquiries. Enough of sanctimonious rationalisation of a monumental failure!!Anonymous

Sir, it is a shame that you guys in The Nation are always beclouded by sentiments. Fayose is a grassroot politician,while Fayemi is elitist. They don’t vote in elections. So, give it to Fayose for his political wizardry. From Dr.I.O.Ene,Okene.

Good piece you wrote on vote harvesting, then and now. Method used by Fayose may be unethical but the outcome shows that we should be in governance to address people’s problems and not being highly intellectual about problems. I am hungry; put food on my table rather policies that are bound to be highjacked. From Ndon, Uyo.

Sir, when I read “Pharaohs and heroes at Aljazeera” by Awoyinfa in Saturday Sun June 28, in which he castigated Egypt for sending some Journalists to jail, I shared his sentiments because of the calibre of media men involved. But at the back of my mind, I knew my sentiment would have been misplaced if Nigerian media men were involved. Your “Vote-harvesting, then and now” would have come in handy for old “tales by moonlight” programme on Television. Sometimes, I wonder how you columnists take Nigerians. Who in Nigeria does not know that Southwest APC leader is the most proficient “arch-fixer” in turning defeat into victory through judicial complicity? And with examples still on ground in Southwest governors, you attempted selling lie to “dummies” you take Nigerians for. I commend Fayemi’s acceptance of result of the poll; simply honourable. Ekiti people chose Fayose; period. That’s it. From Lai Ashadele

Re-vote-harvesting, then and now-what hapened in Ekiti election was a replica of what had been hapening in the past but in a more public display. This is why corruption can never be fought. The federal might, police, army, security agencies and civil servants (teachers), youth and other allied forces added together are responsible for the defeat of Dr Fayemi.   Careful study of the result will show clearly that it was a well planned exercise. Nigeria can never have a clean/acceptable election. INEC is part and parcle of the scheme. That is the new mode of rigging-only God can intervene- From Pastor Odunmbaku.

The mindset amongst APC armchair writers is rigid: Governor Fayemi who has performed wonders by transforming Ekiti infrastructure shouldn’t have been voted out by the ungrateful Ekitis. But precisely because of that uncritical mentality, APC will, sadly, lose more elections! Pray, where are the developments being trumpeted? Less than 5% of Ekitis can boast of running water; roads are generally impassable; less than 5% of eligible’s received the N5000 social payout; hospitals are bereft of drugs! You are all challenged to make empirical surveys of the state to affirm or controvert the foregoing assertions. Do wake up to the stark realities! Anonymous

For Segun Gbadegesin

Sir Ekiti people did not reject Fayemi on account of non-performance but reject “voice of Jacob, but hand of Esau” from Bayo Ogunsanya

Sir, It’s insulting for Fayemi to have accepted suggestions that no reputable contractors in Ekiti can handle jobs. Anonymous

Re: “Posers from Ekiti 2014. My comment has roots in the various contributions to the column since the declaration of Mr Ayodele Fayose as the Governor-Elect of Ekiti State. The bottom-line is further rooted in the theoretical foundations of democracy and the attendant assessments following the Ekiti contemporary case. I argue that rationality and irrationality have not recognisable bases in the theory of democracy. They are nothing short of shared sentiments being held to by theorisers. Clearly and without any sense of contradiction, the ideas of rationality and irrationality in relation to individual political conduct, are strictly as possessed by the individual who performs the political act and not that of the assessors. Whether or not the Ekiti people acted rationally or irrationally are entirely their cup of tea ! This point of mine perhaps explains the failure of acceptability of Robert Dahl’s “polyarchy” in place of “democracy”. From: Dr Adebayo Salami, Political Science, OOU,Ago Iwoye.

Sir, your 04/07/14 write-up has just earned you an added feather. Just like Dr Fayemi, you are one of our fairest. Anonymous

Re-Posers From Ekiti 2014: I concur with your submission on this subject matter with a little adjustment that election was ‘bought’ rather than won. Agreeably a fall-out of poverty of head rather than of stomach. Anonymous

Sir, this is a good write up. Yes Ekiti have spoken through ballot but they will pay dearly for it. Reason: they have allowed politicians see that they are beggars. Ekiti will be lagging behind when regional developmental stride is rooted in South West. Anonymous

Sir, my comment on Your posers from Ekiti. Please you are very wrong with your statement; let me tell you Dr Fayemi did not conduct local goverment election, which made all LG Secretariat turn to bush area. Dr Fayemi increases school fees by 50 percent in four years. If he continues for another four years, he will take it to 250,000 and he will be telling us that it is only rich men that can send children to school. The man disappointed us in Ekiti. Anonymous

Re-Posers from Ekiti in 2014.   Those of us watching the pre-election occurrences saw it coming. This is a lesson that no candidate should be over promoted and we should think deep before disparaging another. I cautioned you and others against my statement above before the election! What you thought you were doing well might not be the need/want of many people/citizens a times. It is good to blend in Nigeria. Rigidity works better in developed world. From Lanre Oseni.

Sir, you have said it all. You are good analyst. Not that Ekiti people are for food only. As you said there are more to that election. Anonymous

Sir, your comment on ‘Posers from Ekiti 2014’ Friday, July 4, was a master piece. It was educative and instructive too. It was indeed unbiased. Anonymous

It is indeed posers from Ekiti. You must be respected for stating your bias at the onset of the back page article of The Nation of Friday July 4. One would have expected for a balanced journalistic piece that you will leave the bias alone and focus on the real reason your preferred candidate lost woefully. He was dogged in prescribing for the Ekiti people the wrong medicine and importation of his ideals. You continue to insult the people of Ekiti claiming that they prefer politics of the stomach to that of development but failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they were induced to make statement with their votes. Be real. Anonymous

Re: Posers from Ekiti 2014. With respect to the outcome of the Ekiti governorship election, the basic question to ask the Ekiti people is ‘what were the criteria they used in voting on the Election Day? Personality, policies or political party? From Olumide Soyemi, Bariga.

Today’s write-up is interesting but slightly devoid of warnings that he (Gov Fayemi) needs not listen to his leaders, rather be focused on more developmental issues. From Davidson, Kogi state.

Re: “Posers for Ekiti 20 14.” So many things can make electorates vote against a performing governor if the policy of that governor, is not making the people comfortable. Definitely, Governor Kayode Fayemi suffered for his perceived weaknesses. Let me use Lagos State as an example of what might happen in 2015, if the electorates decide to vote against the APC, it may not be based on performance but on the biting policy of the government that is making the people in Lagos uncomfortable. Look at the policy on street trading; when it comes to the enforcement, the Task Force responsible for this goes out to raid defaulters or violators, carry their wares and put the owners in a Black Maria like prisoners. Is this a decent approach to check the excesses of street trading? Impunity of government, harsh policy on commercial bus operators and the various charges imposed and which must be paid whether they like it or not. Even some of the LASTMA officials are not helping due to their excesses and unnecessary arrest. So, if these types of sufferings continue, the electorates may decide to vote against the APC in Lagos in 2015 and do not forget that the downtrodden who are into transportation and petty trading to survive are many and they are fed up. From Prince Adewumi Agunloye

Sir, I enjoy reading your essay weekly. Posers from Ekiti 2014 captured some of the ‘how’ and “why” almost all of the write ups and the writers glossed over the real issues. I do not want to claim knowledge of all of the ‘preferences’ but APC especially in the South west must revisit its selection process viz avis internal democracy. The late sage Awolowo did not hinge his larger than life status on party programmes and performance alone, but made the indigenous politicians domiciled in each zones the catalyst that brought success. This is not the case since the advent of Action Congress metamorphosing to ACN and now and now APC. One thought the merger will make the leadership have a rethink on how the party structure is composed, but alas! APC constitution was observed in the breach other than in the spirit of its letters, people and their interests were jettisoned. Examples abound in Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Oyo. A government so detached from the people and regards elective, appointments and party posts as the preserve of a clique is bound to fail. It is not much of stomach infrastructure but that of giving to the home based politicians what is theirs, allow for reward to the party men and women who laboured for the party victory. Anonymous.

For Tunji Adegboyega

Re: Imelda Marcos at 85. With all the items in your write-up on Imelda Marcos, most especially her 3,400 pairs of shoes as at 1986, then, Nigeria’s case, in spite of all odds, was/is a saint! I wondered as I read the write-up that Imelda could and was made a House of Representatives member, her son also made a senator. Such an eye sore and ear-deaf would not translate to the ‘world coming to an end’. It only means two things: that their own democracy/political independence was a mistake and a misnomer. It also portends that before the world ends, such open years’ robbery of Filipinos corrections will definitely be made to redefine and refine the Philippine. But, don’t be amazed; Imelda’s son could be president in 2016 in a country/society that believes so much in ‘stomach infrastructure’. From Lanre Oseni.

Tunji, were you praising Amaechi or what, when he is part of the country’s problem? Please try and be objective in your articles and stop mentioning Amaechi. From Mba.

Tunji, Imelda Marcos had only 600 shoes! Anonymous.

Why do some leaders feel that their citizens are fools? Marcos’ family takes their citizens for granted by the first lady proposing her son to contest presidential election despite the monumental allegations of corruption levelled against her husband when he was president. The citizens should ignore her plan for 2016 election and her intention to present her son for president. Even here, the news is making the round that some corrupt leaders are planning to make their sons run for governorship election, especially in the northern part of the country. How then can we move the nation forward when we encourage corruption in leadership? From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

Nigeria is in a bigger mess than the Philippines. How many rogues do we have in the National Assembly? How many of the sitting governors are clean? A man that still has corruption and murder charges hanging on his neck has just been returned as governor-elect. How different are many of our local government chairmen from armed robbers? Check out the membership of the ongoing National Conference, 80 percent of them contributed to the ruination of this country. Imagine a Diepreye Alamieyeseigha among those purportedly seeking solution to the country’s problems. Lord have mercy! From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

July 9, 2014
Why I purged my Facebook friends list

An unfriending spree made my online life a whole lot better

It was a small act, but it was also one of liberation. In retrospect, I wonder if the woman had meant to come off quite so obnoxiously when she’d expressed her shock at my admission that I hadn’t yet read that hot bestseller everybody was talking about. But the way that she’d phrased it — “Well, what do you do with all that time when you’re at your cancer treatment?” – made me wonder why I was friends with her in the first place. And then I realized: I wasn’t her friend at all. We’d been in the same social circle of moms a few years earlier, before she’d moved away. We’d never been close and we were less than that now. Yet here we were, whatever semblance of a relationship we’d ever once had now reduced to me taking crap from her on Facebook. I scrolled over her profile picture and clicked “unfriend.” Oh, the sweet freedom of decluttering.

I thought of that woman again recently, when a friend – a real one – mentioned that she’d found herself in a social media dilemma that was causing her true pain. Dolores [her name, like those of the other people quoted here, has been changed to protect her privacy] had been looking at an old school photo she’d been tagged in on Facebook, and there, in the comments, was the man who’d raped her. “I had almost posted something,” she said, “but then, there’s that asshole, close to me. Right there. There’s his ugly face and his whole happy life. I don’t want to see him smiling and acting normal. It scares me to think how many smiling normal men have a past of raping their dates.” She blocked the man to protect herself from seeing his posts, but then she began to wonder about their mutual friends, and what value some of those other old faces from her past really had in her life any more. She decided it was time for a sweep as well. She unfriended the person who’d posted the original photo too.

In the early days of Facebook, it was easy – desirable even – to pick up friends with abandon. I remember my account back then as an empty home, and the impulse to furnish it was deep. I friended people I knew from other, similar online communities; I friended colleagues and old schoolmates and people I’d had an interesting conversation with that weekend at a party. Then a few simultaneous and unpleasant events happened in my on- and offline life. A person I’d crossed in an online community years before – and who’d taken great pleasure in abusing me there – found his way onto several lists of “mutual friends.” A person I’d been briefly acquainted with many years ago found me in a Facebook group for a common interest, and began harassing me with obsessive messages.

Then I got cancer, and I decided that it was as good an excuse as any to make at least one place in my online life a little more private. I stopped – with only a few meaningful exceptions ever since — adding friends. And I became ruthless about purging people I didn’t have a strong enough connection to — especially those who posted quack science stuff, who were openly hateful of ideals I stand for, whose entire feeds were of a self-promotional “DO THIS FOR ME” nature, or who frankly abused their “Here’s another picture of what I’m eating right now” and “Here’s another picture of my pet” privileges. I had never had a particularly bloated friends list, but after my “Game of Thrones”-like cleansing, it became considerably sleeker. Sure, I could have just hidden the feeds of some of them, but what would have been the point? Why keep people in the attic of your online life, never to interact with them? Why not just tighten up and move on?

Rachel, a law student, has a similar outlook. Three years ago, she cut her Facebook friend list right in half — from 1,200 to 600. As she puts it, “I was applying to law schools and just thinking more about my professional reputation. Not that there was anything horrible on my Facebook, but I wanted to control the number of people who had access to all that information about me. I also think part of my motivation was to spend less time looking at the profiles of people I didn’t really know… It was easy at first to go through and cut people I had never actually met, then people I had met once or twice several years before, but hadn’t talked to since. It got harder as I decided to cut people who were friends of friends, people I went to school with for many years, and people whose lives I was interested in following, but with whom I did not have a personal relationship. I think I decided to keep schoolmates based on our friendship at the time, not on how well we’ve kept in touch since. I’ll admit that I held on to a few people I barely know just because they’re fun to follow.”

Yet Rachel and I seem to be unique. When I asked around recently about unfriending, I was surprised at how many people don’t do it. My writer friend Clark says, “I don’t unfriend. I put people on a restricted list and try to make sure my ‘public’ comments are PG instead of R. FB, for me, in large part is about promoting literary readings and events, so to unfriend someone is to chip away at the potential of my market. And I think unfriending goes against the Southern manners with which I was raised. Better,” he cracks, “to let the relationship die via slow, algorithmic atrophy.”

Emmy similarly says, “I hide feeds now just because unfriending seems a little OFF WITH THEIR HEADS, which I know is stupid — there’s no implied social contract to stay ‘friends’ on social media — even if, in my case, it’s mostly business ‘friends,’ but I’m a wuss.” Alicia says, “In my experience, unfriending is like a shot across the bow, inciting threats, unanswerable injured relations, toxic amounts of ‘How could you?’” And Juliet adds, “It just seems cruel to unfriend someone, when they haven’t done anything specifically to me.”

Then there are those who see unfriending as a last resort. Ed, an attorney, recalls, “The one that comes to mind is the guy who tried to explain that trans-vaginal ultrasound was in fact a medically useful procedure for women seeking abortions.” Carly admits, “I unfriended a guy who became a MRA. He posted a lot of anti-feminist BS, and so I pulled the plug. There are legitimate arguments to be made for men’s issues, but MRAs are a hate group and rape apologists. Life is too short.” Bella did it after a FB friend went on a selfies binge, explaining, “I felt like I was watching sadness in front of me.” And Joanne takes the dramatic types at their word, noting, “The ‘please unfriend me if” thing is sort of a golden opportunity to do so.”

I still have a few people on my friends list I’m not really friends with, but the urgency I once felt to clean house has abated as my Facebook circle has grown smaller. I certainly know firsthand the ego sting that an unfriending can bring. It’s a decisive act, whereas most of the time in life it’s easier to quietly drift apart. But I also know that the simplicity of a small list of names is a joy that outweighs it. Now, I just try to, in the words of my friend Meg, “be proactive by not friending stupid people.” And my short list could always comfortably get even shorter. As my friend Susan puts it, “My feeling is that FB is purely recreational/personal and any aspect of it that makes me feel bad I am totally justified in eradicating.”

Courtesy: Salon.com

July 6, 2014
Redefining infrastructure development in Bayelsa
Bayelsa State, created barely over 17 years ago on October 1st 1996 by the military junta of the late General Sani Abacha is a state with all the potentials of greatness.

Being a product of years of struggle, the state is seen by vast majority of the people as a fulfillment of the long sought dreams and aspirations of the Ijaw people to have a hamogenous state.

This underscores the reason that, to many Ijaw people Bayelsa represents the capital of the Ijaw nation just as Jerusalem is to the Jews.

A walk through the streets of Yenagoa, the state capital, one could feel the air of the Ijaw identity, togetherness and the pride of a hardworking people.

The governor of Bayelsa State Hon. H. S. Dickson, who happens to be a one-time National Legal Adviser of the Ijaw National Congress could not hide his sense of Ijaw nationalism when he delightfully stated during his inauguration as governor of the state on February 14th 2012, that, “As a product of the Ijaw movement, I am aware that I was not just a candidate of Bayelsa State but of the entire Ijaw nation… To all Ijaws wherever they may reside, let me reaffirm that Bayelsa will continue to be your Jerusalem and I will be your governor too.”

Buoyed by this spirit of Ijaw patriotism, laced with obvious sense of mission to restore what many believed the eroding pride and glory of the Ijaw man.

The general worry was the magic wand he would device to confront the plethora of seemingly overwhelming challenges and meet the general aspirations of Bayelsans.

These challenges range from the comatose state of infrastructure, a parlous treasury, mind-boggling wage bill to that of the state of insecurity characterised by cult activities.

Typical of the Ijaw man known for its rare courage and determination to confronting the obvious, governor Dickson made it very clear to those who care to listen that; “We shall undertake fundamental reforms of governance culture to emphasize the transparency, accountability, due process and value – re-orientation.”

Governor Dickson further stated without mincing words that, “The days of enrichment without labour and funding the greed and avarice of a few at the expense of the development of our people are over. I will work hard to plug all leakages and sources of corruption which have been the bane of development. I will rather use our common wealth to fund the construction of good roads, education, promote tourism, generate wealth and develop agriculture than fund corruption and greed.”

Governor Seriake Dickson, who is popularly called “countryman governor” by his teeming admirers, an appellation which represents a man of the people, stated unequivocally that he would not play politics with the development of the state and charged the people of the state to judge him by his performance index.

One of the first positive steps he took was value re-orientation through the creation of a ministry dedicated to revive the rich culture and pride of the Ijaw people that had long been related to the background.

Already, a quiet cultural renaissance is going on. For instance, apart from encouraging the documentation and celebration of Ijaw heroes heroins across the length and breathe of Ijaw speaking states in the Niger Delta, it has become mandatory for workers in the state to wear the traditional Ijaw attires on every Friday of the week.

Another policy that has endeared the country man governor to the people of the state is the enthroning of a regime of fiscal discipline.

For example, the holding of a monthly transparency briefing to give account of how the state revenue are being spent for the overall benefit of the state is seen as a very novel culture of accountability in the history of a state whose revenue expenditure profile are shrouded in secrecy.

As a matter of fact, the governor who sounded a note of warning to politicians on a mission to feed fat on the scarce resources of the state to steer clear of his administration as he would not condone the ostentatious lifestyles which Bayelsa politicians were known for over the years. In other words, the days of singing the corruptive song, “PDP share the money” are over and it is time for serious business of governance.

One of the Aids of the governor on Research and Social media and an unrepentant critic of successive administrations in the state, Dr. John Idumange expressed optimism that “the governor will take the state to the promise land if he would not be distracted by those on a mission to milk the state, stressing that Bayelsans must take their destiny in its hand and make personal sacrifices to take the state to the next level.”

The increasing wage bill of the state was another critical area that received the searchlight of Governor Seriake Dickson. It was a thing of worry that a state with a population of less than two million people had a wage bill equivalent to Lagos State with a population of over ten million.

Of course, as a responsible government, this was declared unacceptable. The government embarked on an aggressive biometric exercise, with an eagle-eye screening process that has largely weeded out to its barest minimum the syndrome of ghost workers.

In fact, the monthly wage bill has been reduced from N5-5 billion to N4.1 billion out of which a paltry sum of N400 million only goes for elected and appointed political office holders.

These efforts are no doubt yielding fruits as wasted fund are being ploughed into projects that would place Bayelsa state on the world map of development.

Among these projects are the construction of network of roads across the state. In the state capital, Yenagoa, there is what is called the outer ring road project under construction. This outer ring road is partnered after the Nnamdi Azikiwe ring road in Abuja, capital of Nigeria.

The outer ring road is further linked by what is being described as “six-side profiled road” which are also dualised. This is essentially to avert traffic congestion coupled with the population upsurge associated with emerging cities like Yenagoa.

Apart from the completion of several internal roads in the state capital, a very unique feature to watch is the dualisation of virtually all roads, to the extent that Bayelsans are beginning to marvel at a concept they thought could happen only in foreign countries and is right at their door steps. Among these ring roads are the Okaka road, AIT to Bayelsa Palm and the one linking Igbogene to AIT.

The Honourable commissioner for works and infrastructure, Mr. Lawrence Ewujujakpo who spoke to Vanguard Newspaper on December 22, 2013 emphasized that;

“What we are doing in Yenagoa is that all internal roads have dual carriage ways. We have taken note of all the single lane roads in the capital and we are going to expand them because some of them (constructed by past administrations) are less than six metres. All we want to do is to construct standard eight metres roads across the capital, so that we can have standard driveways, walkways, flowers, street lights and drainage”.

This is in addition to two major flyovers under construction in which compensation of about N1.2 billion has been worked out to pay those affected by the construction. According to the works and infrastructure commissioner. “So far, about N4 billion has been paid as compensation for people affected by the construction of one protect or the other.

A further glimpse into development in the coastal areas of the state indicate that it is receiving a fair attention particularly a state that is 75 percent marine with the concomitant effects of high cost of development occasioned by terrain challenges.

Inspite of these challenges, the governor is in a hurry to fulfill his electoral promises. Already, works are in earnest to complete the three senatorial roads leading to major towns and communities, which until now were accessible by only River crafts. These are the Oporoma road in Bayelsa central senatorial district leading to the riverine areas of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, with high cost of the construction of several bridges. The second one is that of Ogbia Nembe road in Bayelsa East senatorial district. This is a federal project, yet the state government magnanimously intervened with the whooping sum of N3m to ensure early completion of the project. The third one is the Toru-Orua – Ekeremor – Agge road in Bayelsa West senatorial district.

These road projects which have been in the drawing board for over forty years will open up the hinterland for investors to explore the economic and tourism potentials that abound in these areas especially in the area of sea food and agro-allied products.

Another road worthy of mention is the road linking Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area to Torogbene in Sagbama Local Government Area with bridges under construction by construction giants like Julius Berger, Okmas and China companies.

This is being complemented by an airport and a deep seaport under constructions at Amassoma and Agge.

Apart from the three housing estates and Golf estates under construction, the Seriake Dickson administration has signed a contract with IPP America for the generation of additional 120 megawatts for the take off of industrialization in the state.

It is a heartwarming news that the state government has embarked on economic diversification by investing in home grown economy, so as to avoid all the trappings of a mono – cultural economy. Hence, government has established a starch production plant farm, aqua culture farm for production and export and the reviving of the state-owned palm estates.

In the area of security, government considered it as one of its cardinal concerns. The state of insecurity which heralded the Dickson administration was a source of worry, as cult related activities became the order of the day such that night life was like a scarce commodity.

The government adopted the carrot and stick approach by rolling out rehabilitation programme for cultists who renounce their membership and enforce the law on those who appeared to be recalcitrant.

The state government also put in place a crime response squad known as Doo Akpoor. This respond squad is not only equipped with the state-of-the-Art equipment for combating crime but also strategically place them in the nooks and crannies of the state.

Only few weeks ago, the resident pastor of Living Faith Church, a.k.a. winners chapel Yenagoa, pastor Stephen Abraham described Bayelsa as the most peaceful state in the country under the administration of Governor Dickson. No doubt, this is a shining testimony flowing from the alter of God by God’s own servant.

It is against this background the common opinion across the state is that, the governor, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson has given development a new meaning anchored on the principle of goal setting and releasing the political will to achieve the set targets.

The common phrase on the lips of the ordinary people of the state is that “Bayelsa will soon become the Dubai of Africa” which is in line with the vision of the governor. Happily, the economic indicators are all pointing to the fact that Bayelsa state is fast becoming the investment and tourism destination and indeed the fastest growing economy in the South-South.

Inspite of all these laudable performance index, one grey area that needs government attention is the internal security that have to do with sea piracy that has reared its ugly heads in the riverine areas. Government really need to double effort to nip it in the bud.

In the area of agriculture, one can appreciate the modest effort of government to revive the lost glory of agriculture which was once the mainstay of our economy. To this end, government need to do more than ever before by encouraging Aggressive Agrarian Agricultural Revolution (AAAR). With the rice farm at Peremabiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, if properly harnessed has the potential to feed the entire West African sub-region, not to talk of the continental shelve that has a capacity to provide the take off of sea food and agro-allied industries.

What the situation demands is for all the people of Bayelsa state, regardless of the political divide, to come together to drive the development process to a very safe anchor.
- Fente wrote from Yenagoa.
July 6, 2014
COMMENTS

For Olatunji Dare

Sir in all honesty The Nation newspaper deserves its ordeal because you choose to give strength and impetus to the insurgent through your reportage. from Bayo Ogunsanya

Compliments, worry not please, God will soon deliver us from the demons. Stay focused.Thanks. Anonymous.

The military officials have the right to do their work, if there is any intelligence concerning all the media houses or any media house, they should not spare them. Your freedom stops where another person starts. By the way, if you observe the way some of the print media houses operate, you will know their are collabrating with terrorists or have link with Boko Haram in order to disgrace President Jonathan goverment so that the political party their are supporting can take the glory on it and shine. Anonymous

Re: Desperate censors at work . By Olatunji Dare . The print media , particularly The Nation should prepare for more crippling attacks ,because of your persistent exposure of corruption , impunity and cluelessness of the present administration to our national disgrace .The Boko Haram issue has exposed our long neglected security and proper intelligence gathering. Our security operatives can be seen to shooting dismally on focus and at totally wrong target . Anonymous

No doubt the clampdown signifies President Jonathan’s government has finally fallen into bottomless chasm. It is highly abysmal. Gentlemen of the press it is time to return to trenches.From Prince S.Olu Amuda. Lagos.

May 29 should be an ordinary day in Nigeria,why June l2 should marked as democracy day,because June l2 give birth to present democracy project.From Gordon Chika Nnorom

I just bought a copy of The Nation in a show of solidarity. We are Nigerians, we know what we want, least of all ‘Egyptian style tyranny’. Even more grease! Anonymous

This Jonathan government is barbaric ,or how can one explain the rationale behind this callous act of newspapers seizure for no just cause , but they should remember that, we have God o ! From Olowolagba Kayode , Apata , Ibadan .

Sir, can’t the press do a one week warning black-out of government in protest. We allow our governments to get away with a lot of impunity. Anonymous

Re: Desperate censors at work: This is not the military at work, this is some people venting their frustration on all of us when protest they thought will wither has continued to gain momentum. First the police treatened, then SSS complained both met resistance from Nigerians fed up with misrule. If newspaper houses and the newspaper proprietors allow this to go on without any challenge, you will be guilty of conspiring to gag Nigerians and usher in decent to anarchy. I know however that if the worst of military dictatorship failed, these must be some joke. Anonymous.

Sir, how I wish the military and their cohorts were so committed and efficient the day Chibok girls were hijacked from their school dormitaries as they now appear to be in blocking newspaper circulation vehicles roots! Anonymous

For Segun Gbadegesin

Re: “Politicising (in)security.” On the issue of state police, we have not practised true federalism it is supposed to be done. We said that we have not matured. When are we going to be matured? It is a common knowledge, as you said, that during the Second Republic, the Nigerian Police was brutally used as an instrument of oppression and harrassment against the oppositon governors by the Federal Government. This abuse of authority has persisted till today, because we failed to learn to decentralise the establishment of state and local police. The United States of America, from where we copied our system of government, does not have a National Police Force, but nine Federal Agencies that have certain police powers to enforce national laws such as Justice Department, FBI and USA Secret Service just to mention a few. On the recent siege of the Media, the Yoruba will say: “Bi eeyan o ba se nnkan itufu ko ni kiye s’eyinkule, a se buburu o ku ara fufu”. The ruling party has greatly miscalculated and this has battered their image the more. The peace in the society is depended on justice, but, so far, the security lapses, has made this a very costily venture. From Prince Adewumi Agunloye

Re Politicising [in] security. We must congratulate Dr. Reuben Abati for the Presidency’s clampdown on newspapers, their drivers, vendors and distribution centres and vehicles. We need not wait for excuses. Could we ask him what would have been his reaction were he not in the PDP but at the Editorial desk? From Akinlayo. A. State of Osun.

Politicising (in) security. The Nation of Friday 13/6/14. Let just pray for President Jonathan because of his cluelessness in political governance, that has made him a chess game in the hands of vampires in the villa. Otherwise he should have known that the only true friends he has today in Nigeria are the pressmen because they have the courage to tell his government the truth about the state of things in the land. From Abdullahi Danja in Abuja

Sir,your write up is well articulated and every well meaning Nigerian should caution the presidential recklessness in terms of the usage of Nigeria security to chase superior political opponent. Anonymous

Re-Politicising (in) security. There is no doubting the fact, the state governments would abuse the state police than it is currently being witnessed under Federal Government. Some state governments who had always believed and still believe that winning their states by any other political party is a taboo would abuse the state police. Mr President misfired having tactically given directive that Emir’s palace be laid seige around. It was a misnormer! For us to avert trouble, why must another politcal party begin to sweep where another party undertook its campaign when the meaning in Yorubaland is very clear! Why did a government not instal five notice boards from 200 metres to the campaign field showing the O-Yes men are at work, thus making that assignment, official, if not for troubleshooting. Please to a greater extent, let the police system remain centralised. From Lanre Oseni.

Policing in a democratic setting like ours has been bastardised! Both Government and Opposition have not been tolerant and patrotic. The honour of our heroes gone have not been replaced. What a country? What a leadership, What an Opposition, What a political class? Anonymous

Sir, I think its baseless recasting the issues of June 12 and the damages the cancellation of that historical election has done to the nation when we the people involved dont seem to have learnt anything from that crime commited against the west, nay the entire south, by the north. Moreso, when nothing in the northern atitude of today shows that given the second opportunity they wouldnt repeat the same criminal act all over again on us. Of course its good we should forget the past and forge ahead with the idea of a new Nigerian nation of our dream.Otherwise one really does not see the difference in the composition and ideology of d northerners that make up d today APC from SDP of Abiola/Kingibe era. From Emmanuel Egwu

Common on, because you re seekin for sympathy vote for your candidate, shouldn’t make you go this far to full our daily news editorial with dis bunch of lies. I thought you said an uncle’s friend shared a drink with the son of one of those at the meeting, so the son went as far to tell him all of this? Stop these lies. Anonymous

For Gbenga Omotoso

Sweet news for Ekiti…Fayose will lose to Fayemi : A Man of Honour…amen From Evang Steves Aloko O, Ido Ekiti

I find it difficult to believe   that the president whom everybody believes is for all has become a party president. A good leader sees everybody as his or her own, but Jonathan choses to recognise pdp states as his own. A whole president opened his mouth and said, he can only develop Ekiti if PDP wins. I s he a president of PDP or that of the whole country?   From Hamza Ozi Momoh Apapa Lagos.

Tell me the difference(s) between Jonathan/Sambo cum pdp on one hand and Shekau and Boko Haram on the other? they are both laying seige on The Nation. while Shekau’s is restricted largely to the north east, Jonathan and his allieds has the whole nation as their Sambisa forest. I tell you Shekau will likely get gej presidential nod to fly the pdp’s flag as the gubernitorial candidate in Yobe or Borno in next election, in view of d type of candidates he is throwing up or he be made police affiars minister. Awo saw it coming we might not witness true democracy in our generation. That Bayelsa State born mopol that ordered the Ekiti killing is worse than any boko haram member. Nigeria a nation under seige.   From Akinola Olotu

If that was the outcome of the meeting and the INEC is to be coopted as an acomplice, then we already know what is going to be the agenda of meeting on Osun State election. Do not forget both candidates are ‘’birds of same feather.’’ Nigerians are in real problem in 2015 contending with ‘expired’ Mr. Fix it. They have started it in Kano where they want to lord it over the elected governor in the care of the Emir by congratulating a candidate when the procedure to choose was still on going – From Deroju, Ibadan.

Ekiti Recce time in Abuja . Iam constrained to reply to this piece . But as an Ekiti man living in Ekiti I feel that you are not being objective in your piece. l wonder if you have taken the pains to visit Ekiti State in the last few days. and sample the opinion of the people. Do not forget that it takes two to tango . Do not blame any aspirant otherwise you will not be an umpire .Please be fair to all after all in politics nobody is a saint or a messiah . I still have my respect for you. From Ojo A. Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

For Tunji Adegboyega

The PDP and its candidates in Ekiti and Osun know that based on performance, they have no chance of winning elections. Their ‘weapon of mass destruction’ is rigging. But let them try it this time and see. From Alhaji Adeboye Lawal.

Tunji, #BringBackOurGirls has now ‘moved up’ to#BringBachFayemi (laughs). Of course, Fayemi is coming back. We have his name in our church (Celestial) for prayers. God will listen to us. From Valentine Ojo, Abuja.

I have read your article. While I recognise Fayemi’s achievements, I want to correct you on the social welfare grants to “every old citizen” in the state. I have a 75-year-old mum and an 85-year-old dad in Ijurin-Ekiti who never got anything. From Adubi.

As the Ekiti State governorship election is only a few days away, the electorate should know that their destiny is in their hands. So, they should go for continuity which is Fayemi ‘s progressive governance, to enable him complete the good work that he has started. As they say, ‘the devil you know is better than the saint you don’t know’. Let Ekiti people not allow themselves to be deceived; they should check the record of the last administration. The Federal Government should however let their votes count and nobody should be intimidated. In every contest, there must be a winner and a loser; the winner should carry everybody along so as to move the state forward while the loser should see his fate as an act of God and prepare for future elections. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

Partisan journalism will not help reflect the other side of the story and the fact is that a growing number of Ekiti residents are pointing accusing fingers at the APC and Fayemi for the fever of violence that has engulfed the state in the build-up to the election. From Kuteyi, R.R., Ondo.

I had been sick since the visit of Mr. President to Ekiti State. Tell me, is it indeed people like Fayose and Omisore that these people can bring forward? The bottom-line is that Jonathan wants us to believe that he is not Pharaoh? Yet, by fielding Fayose, he must have determined to use brute force in the election because that is the only way Fayose can win. It is not unlikely they would announce a winner. Only God we look forward to to disappoint Jonathan. Anonymous.

Sir, I don’t want to believe that you have sucked enough sweet oranges from Ekiti State; but I wish you will permit me to advise that you stop advertising salt and allow Ekiti people elect a governor of their choice. Anonymous.

Even a blind man will tell you that Fayemi is working in Ekiti. If the PDP is blind and cannot see the good work that Fayemi is doing, the good people of Ekiti are there to speak for the governor. PDP is a party of deceit with people of questionable character. If election is conducted 10 times in Ekiti, PDP will lose 10 times because the time of darkness is over in the state. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

Dear Tunji, Fayemi deserves all the encouragement and support to bring him back. Fayose has not for one day clamoured for the Chibok girls to be brought back, so, he does not deserve the voters’ support. Ekiti voters will vote against the PDP. From Akin Malaolu.

June 18, 2014
Of political destitute, intellectual thugs and media specialists
With the 2015 general elections fast approaching, the airwaves will understandably cackle louder and louder in the times ahead. As men and women of ideas contend for our minds so also will intellectual mercenaries pollute the space with their cant. A teaser of what the latter category is capable of seems on offer in a piece first elegantly disguised as ‘opinion’ in Sunday Guardian (June 1) and, curiously, later published as full-page advertorial in Vanguard of Tuesday (June 3). It was entitled ‘Edo APC Crisis: Beyond A Struggle For State Resources’.

At the first appearance of the article in Sunday Guardian, this writer was instantly drawn to the said piece like magnet. Against the backdrop of recent development in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, one had instinctively salivated at the prospects of savouring fresh insights on the debacle. But one sloppy paragraph after another grotesque paragraph, one could not help but finally feel duped by the sheer effrontery of a hired pen to mislead.

It was only then one bothered to check who could be so cognitively challenged to cobble such incoherent article together. Lo, it turned out to be no other than, ah!, ‘Dr. Edoba Omeregie’, introduced as ‘a politician, legal practitioner and scholar (writing) from Benin City’. (He seems ashamed or afraid to let the public know he actually operates from University of Benin, lest some self-respecting neighbours issued a disclaimer on him for bringing dishonour to that academic community on account of his political alms-begging.)

Knowing this self-styled ‘analyst’ so well, one should ordinarily not have bothered to rejoin, lest one dignified a vituperation that could, at best, be described as imbecilic. But if left unchallenged, chances are that the gullible may be tempted to believe the cheap lies. From the opening to the closing sentence, the author hardly disguised his bitterness, employing an uncouth language in denigrating the person of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. His allegations against the Edo Governor range from sheer falsehood to pure libel. I shall return to those presently.

At this juncture, perhaps it is necessary to locate the source of Omoregie’s bitterness. Here is an intellectual hustler who had begged Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for a political appointment last year. He had begged his relation who is a top media executive (an Edo indigene) based in Lagos to pass on his resume to the governor to give him a life-line. Not wanting to take chances, he also engaged another character who is among the recent decampees from APC to prevail on the governor to, in fact, appoint him Commissioner for Justice. But after due consideration, he was found unworthy of that high office.

To be fair, Omoregie is not alone. He is only one of the tribe of the disgruntled who straddle the Atlantic Ocean and who, ipso facto, offer their services to those bent on reversing the march of progress in the past five and a half years in Edo. To the unsuspecting, they masquerade on the pages of newspapers as ‘experts’ and ‘analysts’ on Edo politics. There is another jester by name, Tony Igiehon, operating from Dallas, U.S. At a function involving Edo indigenes in Dallas last year to which Oshiomhole was invited as special guest of honour, this comedian literally groveled at the feet of aides to set up a meeting with the Comrade Governor to market ‘a proposal’ on behalf of ‘we in the Diaspora’. Once he failed to have his way, he has since resorted to hurling funny missiles from that safe distance in US. There is another political rat, a failed newshound, operating from a dingy warren in Lagos, whose beef is that Oshiomhole refused to ‘dash’ him senatorial ticket of Edo South in 2011…

Of course, this brigade of intellectual mercenaries are currently being lavishly funded by deluded PDP godfathers hiding in Abuja whose new political strategy appears to be noise-making with a view to distracting Comrade Oshiomhole from sustaining the Edo transformation begun in 2008. It is now open secret that a heavy war chest in hard currency (which runs into hundreds of millions of naira) has been provided which is now being drawn down to prosecute the ongoing dirty campaign. Having been humiliated at the polls by the Action Governor repeatedly since 2007, they are still unwilling to accept that the days of ‘Tuke Tuke’ politics are now over for good in Edo State.

In his rambling piece, Omoregie’s tantrums could be summarized into three points: the recent defection of those he falsely described as ‘heavyweights’ was caused by Oshiomhole’s bungling of APC’s congress; the incumbent administration is wasteful in character and without focus in philosophy and that the Comrade Governor is a fascist.

Let us begin from the last point. If Oshiomhole is stubborn, it is only to those who believe the people’s money should be used to settle party leaders and godfather instead of being used to alleviate the condition of the masses of Edo State. So, calling Oshiomhole a dictator or Hitler is certainly laughable indeed because even worst critics today would admit that he is people’s governor whose humility has demystified the office of the governor. Anyway, one can appreciate why some guys are envious seeing ‘Oshio Baba’ move the multitude to tears or action sometimes for hours on end with his power of oratory without a prepared text. These are men who could be described as ‘educated illiterates’ who left university with Third Class and cannot address even a family meeting today for one minute without having rehearsed for one hour.

Again, one can understand why some people are not happy seeing the governor being mobbed and hailed as ‘action man’ by ordinary folks on the streets in Edo State. Of course, these are cowards who dare not enter Edo or move about today without a battalion of riot cops for fear of being stoned by the people who have not forgotten those who looted Edo treasury until Oshiomhole came on board.

On the issue of prudence and focus, Oshiomhole is certainly an exemplar. From the ground zero the Comrade Governor met Edo in November 2008 after the nine-year rape by PDP, the people’s governor has since changed the narrative. Perhaps, we only need to look at a few indicators. With the little he received from Abuja, Oshiomhole has built over 1,000 kilometres of road, rebuilt hundreds of public schools, given water to the thirsty and brought medicare to the poor in the remotest villages.

It is very cheap to seek to confuse the debate over the rehabilitation of public schools in Edo. It is public knowledge that SUPEB involves counter-funding. Being a sensible man, Oshiomhole surely realized way back in 2008 the stupidity in failing to provide your own share, thus forfeiting FG’s. But that commonsense was not so common before the Comrade Governor assumed office, as successive PDP administrations had stupidly left FG’s contribution idle in the bank. So, the question Omoregie failed to answer is why his paymasters hated the Edo child so much that they looted the treasury bare to the extent that there was nothing left to match the FG’s grant. So, why begrudge Oshiomhole for being sensible enough to match FG’s grant and use the receipt judiciously in fixing public schools for the Edo child.

Today, in the South-South zone, Edo is the least earner in terms of federal allocation. But through prudent management, Oshiomhole has been able to make every kobo count for Edo people. Thank God, even Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, recently unveiled ten biggest earners in the country. Edo never featured in that exclusive club. Four states controlled by PDP in the region featured among the first five. Yet, unbiased assessors today are agreed that Edo has more on the ground to show for the pittance it has received. So much that even reputable world bodies like the World Bank have since resolved to support the Oshiomhole administration with either grants or soft loans to improve the human condition in Edo State.

Lastly, it is disingenuous for Omoregie to claim that the ‘political Almajiris’ like Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Abubakar Momoh, Tony Omoaghe and others left Edo APC on account of the undemocratic temper of the governor. Nothing could be more fallacious. The truth is that his paymasters left because of greed and inordinate ambition. Momoh, who is currently representing Etsakor at the House of Reps, is Etsakor like the governor. Even though his constituents are agreed that he has largely been a dozing bench-warmer at the House of Reps since 2011, he now wants to be ‘promoted’ to the senate. Whipping clan sentiments, he wants the governor to impose him on the Edo North Senatorial Zone as APC candidate. The incumbent senator, Domingo Obende, is of Akoko Edo stock. The incumbent SSG, the cerebral Professor Julius Ihonvbere, has also indicated interest in the ticket. But being a man of equity, Oshiomhole insists there must be a level-playing field for all aspirants.

In-between his litany of comical lies, the impression Omoregie created was that Oshiomhole’s cabinet had almost emptied on account of ‘big men’ who resigned. Nothing could be further from the truth. At the last check, all the men and women who matter in the Oshiomhole administration were still at their various desks in Benin City. A couple of guys who resigned were either moles or political slaves who decided to follow their master. In real terms, they added no value to the administration. As for Omoaghe, he wanted the governor to anoint him as the new state chairman of APC. But Oshiomhole said the contest must be thrown open to all.

But Omoaghe was afraid of defeat. Soon, he bolted out of the window. Again, it is quite instructive that while Omoaghe has since been nudging people to desert Oshiomhole, he is yet to inform his two daughters appointed Special Assistants to the Governor last year to also resign. Indeed, when the going was good, he was asked to nominate two people from Esan land to fill the posts. But he chose to bring only his biological kids. Such greed and perfidy.

As for Ize-Iyamu, the Secretary to the State Government in the Lucky Igbinedion administration, it is all about his naked desperation to realize a governorship ambition that is more than ten years old. He had refused entreaties to have consensus candidates for the party offices at the ward and council levels. Like the Shakespearean Macbeth, he was blinded by ambition. His cold calculation: seize the party structure from the ward to the state level and use same as a springboard to the governorship ticket come 2016 and resume the debauchery halted abruptly in 2008.

He boasted on the election eve that his candidates would sweep the stakes. But on the D-Day, his candidates were beaten hands down. Only then did he start to accuse the Comrade Governor of being ‘undemocratic’ and calling his benefactors unprintable names. Anyone familiar with Edo political history will readily recall that this was the exact scenario that had played out exactly ten years ago when over-ambitious Ize-Iyamu, then SSG, began to nurse the illusion that he could succeed Lucky Igbinedion come 2007. But once he saw signs he was headed for a dead-end, he teamed up with others similarly disgruntled under the canopy of ‘Grace Group’ and began to abuse Chief Tony Anenih with the slogan ‘No Man Is God’.

Anyone in doubt should read the interview granted last month by Lucky Igbinedion widely published by the Nigerian media to mark his 57th birthday. In the May 13 edition of the Vanguard, the former governor clearly stated that the warm relationship he had enjoyed with Anenih was strained by some saboteurs within his administration. He said it was his dream all along to hand over to an Esan man in consonance with a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ but the ‘enemies within’ soon set the proverbial cat among pigeons.

Hear him on page 40 of that edition of Vanguard: ‘We said after eight years of a Bini man, an Esan man should be governor. I stood firmly on that ground. But some people in government, unknown to me, had different ideas. They started causing factionalisation within the party. People started calling some unholy names… These are people who had governorship ambition.’

Poor Igbinedion. He had trusted Ize-Iyamu too much and empowered him such that he soon morphed into the de facto governor because Igbinedion was not around most of the time.

One can appreciate Omoregie’s plight and the need to survive. But he ought to realize that hunger is not enough reason to swallow neither poison nor a justification to sip contaminated water from an open septic pit. Defiance has dire consequences. He is far too discredited to offer an honest analysis on the Edo APC debacle.
- Nosakhare, a doctoral student of the Ambrose Alli University, wrote from Ekpoma, Edo State.
June 8, 2014
Comment

For Olatunji Dare

Re: Matters Miscellaneous. Thanks for the indictments. I have been wondering where our press has been, no investigative journalism on this Chibok. None of them reported from Chibok. The press does not give the terrorism we are facing the coverage it deserves, especially the television houses. Most of what we know from local media are from newspapers but you cannot underestimate the power of images. When the foreign media showed us Chibok and the people, we could relate to them and the issues better. Everybody dropped the ball on this one. Thank you. Anonymous.

Everybody knows that we are a nation of beggars. Every month we go cap-in-hand for our share of the oil money. Ibadan where I live has only one industry – government fuelled by oil money that trickles down to the rest of us. Even with the oil money, Osun State struggles to pay salaries – and Fani-Kayode talks about “give me Oduduwa Republic or give me death”. Claptrap! Please, give him death. Northerners and South-westerners are beggars. Please, stop whipping up nationalistic notions that will put us all in trouble. When “katakata” bursts, you, would have flown the coop leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves. Anonymous

Why the difference in body language is clear, while the leadership challenges faced by the US are external, Boko Haram is homemade like sharia to pull down the government. At last, Boko Haram and its sponsors, local and International, have bitten off more than they can chew like Bin Laden’s ill-advised attack on the World Trade Centre. Whether you accept it or not, JEG was at his best, we could not have had a better advocate in organising an international coalition against the international terror we are facing as a nation. Give JEG a break. From Fabian, Enugu,

Your column would have greater credibility if it was running on a medium other than THE NATION, a hysterical partisan opposition mouthpiece. Why do you never address the truth? Is yours a case of the puppet and the puppeteer? Anonymous

Re: Matters miscellaneous.   There was nothing wrong in the PDP postponing its Ekiti Governorship rally that was to take place on 22 May, 2014. If anything, it portrayed more sensitivity to deaths in Jos bomb blasts of the previous days! However, what does the public have to say of the APC that held its own on 21, May, 2014, having accused its rival of insensitivity with the PDP’s Kano rally. Nigeria is a complex country where accusers of wickedness perpetrate same and rejoices in it. In Chibok’s saga and the allied unfortunate incident of bombings and kidnappings, we all have learnt lessons – Mr President, key governors, journalists, key ministers and law enforcement agencies plus the public. May God Almighty sanitise Nigeria, Amen. From Lanre Oseni.

On Matters miscellanous, it is suicidal to compare the mode of governance in America with that of Nigeria. The only thing our leaders are good at is promoting corruption and poverty. This is our bane. Our leaders are also good at looking the other way when crisis knocks at the door. Our president and his likes are good at pumping millions of naira into fighting Boko Haram without success; this is too shameful. I am sure God will rescue us from all these problems very soon. From Ojo A Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

For Gbenga Omotoso

When did National Flag start bearing our Logo? Is it part of Reflections on May 29 or part of Nigeria’s present confusion? The patriots like you should always reflect the TRUTH for up-coming generations. From L.O .David, Abuja .

I believe Jonathan meant well when he made those promises during his electioneering campaign of 2011. It is rather the obstructing challenges thrown up all over the place in his government that tend to make the fulfilment impossible. We don’t need extra-sensory perception to know this, if we are sincere. Nobody runs a race with his legs and hands heavily manacled and poisonous darts thrown at him from all directions and is still expected to perform maximally under that condition. Jonathan’s problem becomes more intractable and pathetic when even the very machinery he should have deployed to tackle the strange developments have themselves become part of the major challenges facing him alongside (conspirators). In this case, how then could he have easily banished the problems overnight as his critics would want us to believe, even with the entire state apparatus at his command. A tree definitely can’t make a forest. From Emmanuel Egwu

I read your piece Reflections on May 29. One point continues to baffle me, not just because you said it today, but millions of people hold that belief, which I consider flawed: that Abacha denied our esteemed MKO his mandate. The general truth is that IBB annulled that election, not Abacha. Secondly, no matter the sentiment, there was a Head of State in power when our MKO declared himself president in Lagos. That was treason. Abacha didn’t kill MKO. He even died before Abiola. Abiola attacked the wrong man. I think that, for posterity, it’s important that the right facts be put out there…always. It was never Abacha’s place to restore a mandate he didn’t steal to begin with. Anonymous

Your article Reflections on May 29 would have won my heart except for your choice of words on the late Gen Abacha. Why mock the dead? The Yoruba respect elders and the dead. Please, retract your words. From Nurudeen Babatunde

Fifteen years of our democracy is a waste. The common man on the street is dying of hunger while those in the corridor of power are living in affluence. Unemployment is on the rise; insecurity, stealing and politics of hate are now the language our leaders understand. Those who are celebrating Democracy Day are celebrating evil because, everyday, people are dying. A good leader celebrates good happenings not evil. From Hamza Ozi Momoh Apapa Lagos.

I started reading The Nation six years ago now, but the criticisms without giving a solution to the present administration is getting unbearable, I think it is a time to search for a newspaper that discharges its work without political sentiments. From George

You are too humorous with your style of writing. ‘Ara’ [wonder] can never end in the bowel of “Alara”. At times, I wonder if you are the architect of the famous Awada kerikeri. You deserve ‘Awada’ award because you use your native intelligence to drive home your points. A country deserves the type of leader she gets. How come that OBJ is still relevant in our political history today? From Wole Adediran, OdeOmu, Osun State

For Segun Gbadegesin

Sir, this is journalism par excellence; balanced reporting. From Bayo Ogunsanya

Oh my goodness! What an analysis, how i wish all our nationals are literate and opportuned to read through the article. Keep writing as inspiringly as you can. The Abatis of this world and the rest of them at the presidency need the re-orientation. Thanks From Henny, Awka

Why can’t you journalists write something good about your country and president, for once. My brother, we are wiser. Anonymous

You seem to be reading my mind when you wrote your piece “Denial & the blame game”. Kudos for calling a spade a spade. From Somnazu Francis, Asaba.

It is not right to say we voted Jonathan into office when Obasanjo insulted us all by writing a public letter saying he put Jonathan there. Protests about Jonathan’s failures should be taken to Obasanjo’s doorstep having admitted to organising a charade that brought him to power in Nigeria. Anonymous

You see this is Nigeria for the PDP. They always think they are on the right path since the birth of Boko Haram. They rely on negative information always and dump the positive information. Kashim Shettima was right by saying the Boko Haram are well equipped than the multi-million budget Nigeria soldiers are. It is a shame for us and our army. It’s also a shame for the PDP to rule this fine country again. We are watching and we will continue watching. From Tuta

Mr. President, I want you to take heart. In due time, Nigeria will pass away from all the terror problem. Anonymous

Had it been you have the power over military, we would have asked you to grant them power to act to end the Boko Haram conduct. From Oguamanam Evans .C., Imo State.

The West and its allies carry a heavy moral burden as a hoard of stolen wealth. It’s time for BRING BACK OUR WEALTH!!- From h.s. faseesin

Well done for your analysis. The Presidency is not totally wrong to say, there is politics in Boko Haram. You remember during 2011 election, some politicians said, if they did not win, they would make the country ungovernable. It is what is happening now. Anonymous

It isn’t proper to think that Jonathan should have approached the abducted Chibok girls issue exactly the same way President Obama or any other leader would, to live. Every leader has got his method. Besides, security matter isn’t one a leader should hastily dash to the stage to discuss just to impress it on the general public that something is being done. No, it has more to do with a behind-the-door action plan, which must be decisively followed with practical but silent implementations of the strategies adopted for effective result. In government, you have Secrets, Confidential Matters and Top Secrets the cases are usually treated accordingly. But, where the President has actually lagged behind on the issue, let our cooperation make up for that. As it requireds the votes of the people for him to become the president, so, too, it calls for the cooperation of the people for the President to succeed. From Emmanuel Egwu

It is, indeed, shameful that our government is playing politics with the lives of these VIRGIN ROSES. Anonymous

In your editorial of Friday, May 30, 2014, entitled: Denial and the blame game, you really exposed the progressive encumbrance to GEJ’s administration. That’s just an articulated summary of his (GEJ) inactivity and failure as could be seen in a speech by the Chairman of Nigeria Governors at an international conference at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, recently. How I wish other editors are like you to help deliver millions of ignorant and corrupt Nigerians with parochial vision. May God help us. Form Henry, Nsukka.

Re: Denial and the blame game. You have said it all. The menace of Boko Haram insurgents continue to devastate and give everyone sleepless nights and, so far, we have not been able to find a solution to the menace. They continue to kill, abduct and maim innocent souls, indiscriminately daily, and, nothing has been done to bring them to justice, other than play bitter and dirty politics against the opposition. It is surprising and irrational to read some time ago the accusation levelled by the Minister of Information against the APC of sponsoring Bring Back Our Girls campaign. This is the level to which the government has degenerated. They have been in power since 1999, and yet, there is nothing to show for it. Infrastructural development is still at zero level. How to stick to power perpetually and rig the forthcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun States are their pre-occupation at the moment. The Yoruba says: A king that rules in a town and there are peace and tranquility, is a king; his name will not be forgotten. On the other hand, a king that reigns and there are chaos and desertion, is a king; his name will not be forgotten as well. This is why all the security challenges are bad omen for the PDP-led administration and their name will go down in history as a bad government. From Princce Adewumi Agunloye.

For Tunji Adegboyega

Re: Akpabio, Akpabio. As far as I am concerned that bill passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly regarding the governor and his deputy’s exit package was/is outrageous and selfish. Unfortunately, the house members also joined in the madness by their approval. I am always amazed what makes Nigerians roar in joy with this civil rule. And the NLC could not go on strike over this bogus retirement package. From Lanre Oseni.

You say Akpabio’s pension law is okay, when last were primary school teachers paid? Do you know the level of poverty and hunger in the state? Anonymous.

Nice article on the Akpabio pension issue, except to say, as you and I know, today is not the Sabbath Day; today is the first day of the week , Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, Saturday as ordained by the Holy Bible. Once again, nice work. From C. Ogwo, Esq. Umuahia.

You Yorubas are fighting tooth and nail to bring Jonathan’s government down because you are not in power. When you vote in the Hausa man, you’ll continue to agitate and form another NADECO. What a pity! From Fortune, Port Harcourt.

Governor Akpabio is a wise man. He knows that outside the government house, life is hellish, especially when one has no other means of economic survival. To people like him, the future is for those who prepare for it. This is why he is not leaving anything to chance, even if it means creaming off the whole treasury of Akwa Ibom State to Secure his own tomorrow. This is the remarkable difference between the’ government’ of Sambisa Forest and what we have in Nigeria as democracy. In the former, funds are being judiciously used to achieve the purpose for which they are earmarked. That is why the leaders of that enclave could plan and unleash maximum terror on us all at will. But in the latter, they are criminally pocketed by an individual with legal backing. Anonymous

To think that a man of humble beginning like Akpabio who should thank God for His grace to survive acute poverty in life would want to earn these unbelievable benefits is mind-boggling. Akpabio was just hustling to survive in Lagos when former Governor Attah took him and made him commissioner … Anonymous

The fear of the unknown is the beginning of wisdom in Akpabio’s mind. If he has no skeleton in his cupboard, then, I must tell you, he is afraid of his shadow. Somebody who ruled for eight years as governor and deputy governor in Nigeria would still be hustling for allowance after leaving office; this is selfish. It is now clear to everybody that most of our leaders are self-centred. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

Governor Akpabio should have continued to keep his good name as one of our performing governors; unfortunately, this issue of N100million medical allowance after leaving office for governors which is against the will of the citizens of the state who are suffering from hardship and neglect is uncalled-for, the citizens should resist the scam. Are there no human right activists, NLC and TUC to protest against the backdrop of these bogus entitlements? From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

How much did Aso Rock bootlicker pay you. Your ilk are Nigeria’s problem. You are a ragtag hungry writer! From Dr Mike, Delat State.

Your column of May 25 refers. Fifteen wasted years indeed. Fifteen years of uninterrupted democracy yes; but when are we having 15 days of uninterrupted power supply? Can anybody say? From Mark, Kogi State.

June 4, 2014
Comment

For Olatunji Dare

Sir, I dont think it is in the best interest of the nation for press to report everything about the planned strategies of our security forces at tackling the Boko Haram insurgence.Though that could have the pontential of crippling the sect pyschologicaly, it more or less equips them wit the vital information they need which puts them in a better position to outwit our security forces. In other words, much as we make public the devices of the government at stopping Boko Haram which could help instil confidence in the general public about the goverment’s capability, wisdom still need be employed so that government does not play into the hands of the sect. The rescue of the abducted Chibok girls can be better and safely done if the Boko Haram sect is kept in the dark about government plans. From Emmanuel Egwu.

Sir, those who abuse you on your article need to be examined. How on earth, will somebody call for President Goodluck Jonathan second term? They want amala and gbegiri party? Dont mind them. Annonymous

Re-Between columnist and reader on President Jonathan. As usual I went through your today’s column without doubt a Junior Secondary School student will know those responses in favour and against of the said article were from the same source changing words and name like a chameleon. I am not surprised because poverty has turned most Nigerians to beggars and hero worshipers. The most funny part of it is putting everything on God. I will advise you to rely on the words of Alexander the Great,” I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep, I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion” From Comrade Esan Ajibola, Academy Ibadan.

Sir, to me, Yoruba people are now talking and talking reality- the unity of what they called Nigeria is negotiable to reflect and guaranteed what we stand for, or else “to your tent oh ODUA”. Anonymous

I just read some of the responses of President Goodluck Jonathan’s stooges in your column today and I totally agree with you that they are paid to do so. Please don’t bother yourself, allow them to continue delluding themselves until the election kicks off. I and my family queued and voted for President Jonathan under the scorching sun in the last election but we are hell bent to vote against him this time around. We shall see. From Sampson, Calabar.

Mr Dare, greetings to you. My take is that it is the masses of our nation that will decide who will be president of Nigeria come 2015. Columnist are supposed to analyse issues, but like you know the art of writting is not science which will always arrive at an acceptable and verifiable answer. Governance or the rule of a nation state is rather too complex for human to profer a perfect analysis, so in this regard, I will say your writing is essentially about how you feel about President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP administration, and may not be in tandem with other people’s view. President Jonathan’s tenure is saddled with too much distraction and for the bit he has done keeping the ship afloat, he will get my vote in 2015. He has done well in the areas of privatising Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), reforms in the aviation sector, rehabilitation of roads, rails etc. From Anonymous

I read your write up about colunmist and readers about President Jonathan and I was able to deduce that a lot of Nigerians are still living in fools paradise by supporting and clamouring for the retention of a clueless leader in most demanding seat despite glaring ineptitude of the number one man in our country. Please don’t mind those hawks forge ahead. From Adekunle, Iwo, State of Osun.

Sir, I’ve just finished reading the rejoinder on your previous column President Goodluck Jonathan: No second term. These are my thoughts on the Chibok issue. Firstly, there is no security in Chibok because the entire security system is created for politicians. In Akwa-Ibom State, Commissioner for Works has at least 10 police men and State Security Services in his security outfit. The same goes for his colleagues and other politicians in the state. Now multiply this in most states in Nigeria, then you know what I mean. So Nigerians can’t be secure in Chibok or anywhere else because politicians have taken all the security. Secondly, Nigerians can’t vote out President Jonathan because we don’t realise we have the power. We’re so busy being hungry and being our own government, eg, providing our light, water, healthcare, housing, education and security that we can’t think of anything else. The abuse of goverment on the people won’t stop anytime soon. I hope the poor girls return home, their only crime is being Nigerian. My conclusion: if the government doesn’t improve soon enough, they’ll have a game of thrones on their hands. Enough said. From Anonymous

Re-Between columnist and reader on President Jonathan Goodluck. Peoples’ comments, very interesting, funny, factual and some, partisan. We remain your admirers despite differing opinions. From Lanre Oseni.

Thank you for this review of reactions. It is more revealing and shows us that the problem is deep, but God will sure save this country. Lets face it, if they did not even believe that any child or girl was abducted for three weeks, what action did we expect? My brother we are in a jet age. From Andrew Okechukwu

Jonathan Goodluck is not only the presidential candidate of the pdp, but will win at the polls with wide margin. But if he decides not to contest that decision is his. Who is challenging Jonathan? Anybody born of a woman and a former beneficiary of pdp cannot bite the hand that feeds him. From Hon John Angbera jp.

On your article in May 20 edition of The Nation: Between columnist and reader on President Goodluck Joathan, the truth can even be seen from the sets of comments published. The people who argued for Jonathan did that out of selfish but needless sentiments. Who in the country does not feel the disheartening resultant effect of President Jonathan incompetence to lead the country? Of course those enjoying the benefits of his office to the detriment of the masses and some fools wil jump to his back to defend him even on instances that are apparently stupid. From Seye Oluyombo, Osogbo.

For Segun Gbadegesin

Daddy God bless you you are the only true Nigerian in that company The Nation. Anonymous

When the Niger Delta militants took up arms against the government, people saw it as freedom struggle. Now a deadlier group : Boko Haram is here. Believe it or not the granting of amnesty to Niger Delta militants is the immediate cause of Boko Haram. From Weyinmi Olomu, Sapele, Delta State

This to me is a masterpiece. This is the crux of Nigeria’s problem. Right from independence nothing has been in place to really guarantee secularism as professed by all the constitutions. There has been lots of hypocrisy and deceit by the high and the mighty. I love this article. From Anonymous

Nothing in this world can undermine the secularity of the Nigerian state. Not even Atomic bombs, let alone improvised explosive device. Nigeria is home to different faiths and no faith can lord it over another. God bless Nigeria. May Allah keep us one. From Ehi.

Sir, you surprise me, can you not get it, that Nigeria the artificial creation of white hall has come to its tithers end, once the caliphate was in charge no problem, once power left the hands of the anointed rulers, all hell was let loose.The United Nations Organisation should aid a Sudanese solution in Nigeria, simple. From Fabian, Enugu

Re: As Terror Ventures Out.

Your article above is thought-provoking and a must read. However, as someone who has lived in Kaduna for 26 years, I strongly disagree with you that Boko Haram is targeted at christians. More Muslims have been killed than you can ever imagine and mosques also destroyed. A bomb that goes off knows no tribe or religion. Let us call Boko Haram criminals that they are, expose their sponsors and together destroy them and their backers. From Hammed Olu

Every Nigerian knows that the Boko Haram group has no reason to waste innocent Nigerian lives nor do they have an agenda than a Muslim to be president perpetually in a secular country like ours of about 75 /80 per cent Christian purpulace. From Anonymous

Re: “As terror ventures out.” You have said it all. I do agree with you that , to prevent the looming religious war that is being dangerously canvassed by Boko Haram, we must uphold the secularity of the state; guarantee the freedom of religious affliations anywhere and everywhere in the country; and identify radicals and fanatics, including political apportunists that stand in the way, enemies of the nation. There is one thing I want us to note, without enemies around us, we grow lazy. An enemy at our heels sharpens our wits, keeping us focused and alert. As Abraham Lincoln said: “You destroy an enemy when you make a friend of him.” But in this situationn, terrorists are lunatics that must be destroyed. This terror had been with us since 2011 and it has gotten out of hand. The government has been too slow to contain them. Though the activities of these insurgents have been restricted to the North, the moment there is a spill over to the South, religious war that we are all afraid of, will be unavoidable and that may spell doom for the survival of the country. If we care less, as the government is doing at the moment, we will bite our fingers. From Prince Adewumi Agunloye.

It would have been very hard for me to believe the existence of such doctored responses except that anything can be possible with Nigerian government. Instead of cooked responses to articles critical of his goverment, improvement in his pefomance should have been the ideal thing for President Jonathan to embark upon for continuity. Manufactured responses can hardly do the magic especialy when greater percentage of what constitute the electorate are either iliterate or too poor to buy newspapers. Of course, I have always insisted that asesment of President Jonathan’s perfomance not related to the strange developments in the country. Not even a superhuman visionary leader could be confronted with the type of many problems thrown up all over the place in his government and still stand to perform creditably at all fronts, if the whole truth about the President and his administration must be told. From Emmanuel Egwu.

For Tunji Adegboyega

Dear Tunji, Re: 15 wasted years. It has been not less than 53 years of wasted efforts in Nigeria, not 15 years. You have undercounted the years. Military or civilian government, it has been the same story. If you doubt me, go back to the albums of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. What he sang yesteryears is still with us today. NPC oo, military oo, UPN oo, NRC oo, SDP oo, PDP oo or APC oo, APGA oo, LP oo, etc. my brother nothing don change … I am inclined to believe that the problem is the system and not the person. Change the system and we may get the right person and solution. Thanks. From Chukwuma Dioka, Owerri, Imo State.

Nigerians will not be surprised by Labaran Maku’s remarks on Jonathan’s achievements. Actually, if the president and his cabinet members are celebrating 15 years of unbroken corruption and stealing, then it is worthy to be celebrated because the president himself has confirmed to us that stealing is not corruption. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

Yes, tortoise will not come back until he got disgraced. Aja to ma sonu ko ni gbo fere ode (a dog that wants to get lost will not heed the hunter’s whistle). Let whoever wants to be disgraced get disgraced and save us as a nation because Nigeria will remain long after Jonathan would have ended his term. From Olufemi Dina.

Sorry, what will Jonathan tell Nigerians again regarding his reelection in 2015, going by his colossal failure in addressing the numerous challenges facing the country since he assumed office in 2011? Will he talk about going to school bare-footed, as he did before, again? Nigerians can no longer be deceived by such sentiments. Mr. President was fortunate to have had parents who could send him to school barefooted. Under his watch, millions of Nigerian children are out of school because their parents cannot afford to send their children to school, even naked. Anonymous.

There is a hint of political bias in failing to balance the well-deserved criticism of GEJ and PDP with due criticism of APC. The hypocrisy of the opposition party is all too glaring. Jumbo pay readily captures the complicity of the party in the present order of looting and corruption. Anonymous.

A government creates an enabling environment not necessarily providing jobs for 200,000,000 people if you have not known that by now, what name of jobs with locations were you expecting from the Minister of Finance? Don’t be naïve just because you hate Jonathan as president. Anonymous.

Thanks for all your brilliant essays. Please tell our president not to annoy us the more. We can’t take protest to Boko Haram because we don’t know where they are. Anonymous

You are right! The government should tell Nigerians indeed what not just President Jonathan but the PDP has done in 15 years, of course. Tunji, it is clear you won’t see what the president has done after all he is ‘clueless’. Is he trying to clean up the mess of corruption which powerful Obasanjo allegedly laid? From Chima, Owerri.

Democracy at 15, nothing to celebrate. I prefer cancellation of the events considering that the Chibok girls are still being held and also, Boko Haram keeps killing people daily. By celebrating Democracy Day, it will be a mockery of the families of those affected by the security lapses in the country. What can Nigerians point at that the government has done that calls for celebration? Please don’t waste resources to celebrate the day, unless of course you just want to use it as an avenue to compensate some party loyalists who would supply items for the anniversary. At our age, no one should fool Nigerians over government’s performance. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

May 28, 2014
Otedola: Philanthropy personified

A particular dictionary simply defines philanthropy as charitable giving to human causes on a large scale. Philanthropy must be more than just a charitable donation; it is an effort undertaken by an individual or organization based on an altruistic desire to improve human welfare. Wealthy individuals sometimes establish foundations to facilitate their philanthropic efforts. In Nigeria, we have never really fallen short of wealthy individuals with philanthropic inclinations. Late Sir Mobolaji Anthony and late Chief MKO Abiola are names readily come to mind in this regards.

Real philanthropists are buoyed by their deep or inner satisfaction of impacting on the lives of their beneficiaries. Others venture into philanthropic activities because of their horrid experience with poverty Sir Michael Otedola, who recently passed on at a ripe age of 88, belongs to this class. A man whose philanthropy is legendary just as his devotion to serving humanity and God was un-wavering, touched and impacted on many lives before he bid the world farewell on the 5th of May, 2014. Though born into a Muslim family at the modest Odoragushin community of Epe Area in 1926, Sir Otedola refused to be carried away by his success later in life. With his humble beginning always in his consciousness, he has since 1985, committed his resources to the Michael Otedola University Scholarship Awards Foundation for indigent students of Epe Division in particular and Lagos State in general. Since inception, over three hundred indigent students have benefited from the scheme to become Lawyers, Engineers and Doctors etc. who are now useful to themselves and the society. Most of them would readily tell whoever cares to listen that Sir Otedola was the angel that God sent to them to give meaning to their lives. Just think about many prospective professionals who are now wasting away in different parts of the country because they couldn’t fulfill their dreams as a result of poverty, then you will appreciate an individual who commits his resources to the training of other peoples’ children.

Sir Otedola’s decision to establish the scholarship awards foundation was borne out of his determination to give back to the society that offered him the platform or springboard to achieve his goals in life. He left his native Epe very early in life for Lagos city centre in pursuit of education and due to his brilliance; he won a scholarship to study Journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London and graduated in 1958. This was a remarkable turning point in Otedola’s life and might have reinforced his commitment to help other indigent students attain their lofty dreams.

After his destined stint as the 2nd elected executive Governor of Lagos State between 1992 and 1993, the quintessential unassuming Otedola quietly reverted to his private life and business becoming even more committed to his philanthropic works. He continued to donate generously to community development projects and to various religious causes.

When the challenges of ageing came calling, this illustrious benefactor was still able to ensure the sustainability of the Sir Michael Otedola University Scholarship Awards Foundation. In 2008, his billionaire businessman son, Femi Otedola, instituted a N200 million scholarship scheme as intervention in the educational sector, expected to grow over time to include infrastructural improvements and the provision of learning aids to schools in the Epe area, thereby bringing a wider impact. With this gesture, Femi Otedola, like his father, has demonstrated himself to also be a very generous man whose heart is continuously flowing with abundant milk of human kindness. This , perhaps, reinforces the fact that kindness runs in the veins of the Otedolas.

The lesson that we need to draw from the commitment of Sir Otedola and his likes to the cause of the downtrodden is that whatever man does in life lives after him. Though Sir Otedola is no more, but he will be remembered forever by the lives that he touched.

•Bilikis Bakare wrote from the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy,

May 25, 2014
Comments

For Olatunji Dare

You read politics into everything. Jonathan is not problem. Jonathan cannot be everywhere. Why do we have governors, local govt chairmen etc. They know the security situation of that place, what arrangement they made before taking the children to that place? Anonymous

Are you God to decide whether Jonathan should go for second term or not? Let me inform you that he has a right to contest and will win whether you like it or not. That is why you are orchestrating violence to discourage him. Anonymous

GEJ: No second term. Thank you Dare. You have spoken the minds of 80 per cent of Nigerians. This number can’t be wrong. Anonymous

Thank you Dare, for, JEG:No second term. There is nothing anybody can add to what you have written. Indeed, Nigeria deserves much,much better. Anonymous

Thank you Dare. You have spoken the minds of 80 per cent of Nigerians. This number can’t be wrong. Anonymous

Is that the reason why you introduce Boko Haram to frustrate his ambition? We are 100 per cent behind him, the devil is a liar, GEJ carry go 2015. From Nasarawa State

Please only God in heaven can stop Jonathan and not selfish people causing confusion in Nigeria. From Delta State.

GEJ. No second term. You speak the minds of 80 per cent Nigerians. You really love him by telling the truth. You are a. great writer sir. From Dr Jide Akinyemi Ikole Ekiti

It appears that your main preoccupation and reason for this your write up is to canvass that Jonathan does not seek re-election. You only found the Chibok incident as a support to your argument. You never said anything about the governor of the state who is the chief security officer of the state and collects security votes. You did not also make any reference to the local government council chairman. May I ask you; are you aware whether or not the governor and the council chairman have visited the families of the girls? From Orji O. Orji

Jonathan has constitutional right to contest a second term. You can break your neck if you like. Jonathan is like all of us. Leave him alone. From Olukaiyeja Dare, Lokoja

I have never been afraid for Nigeria and Nigerians than in the last three weeks. We are saddled with a leader who seems not to have the strength nor words to bring out the best of us. I salute your courage for speaking the truth.. From Lokji David, Jos.

I really enjoy your article. Gej is an accidental president in Nigeria. Remember the first Oct 2010 bomb blast in Abuja where Gej exonerated MEND and later mend publicly claimed responsibility. Thank to South African police and judicery system for sentensing Henry Okah the mastermind of the October bomb. It is time in Nigeria for us to elect a competent and good president better than the one in office. Anonymous

A few Nigerians have Dare’s courage. Please Mr. President step aside. The President I want is the Philosopher-King. Thank you. From Adakole Oine

Goodluck Jonathan will serve second term that is clear you and your paper will not stop him. Anonymous

Who among those jostling for the position of the president in 2015 is the messiah, tell me. You forget that Boko Haram is not Goodluck Jonahan’s creation. Anonymous

Are you and other nation newspaper columnist’s not tired of your vendetta against Jonathan? Never mind Jonathan will seek re-election and win by landslide margin. He is doing well.you are not blind to transformation in the agric and power sectors. the massive airport, road and rail rehabilitation.Try to be objective. From Barrister Felix Agbonrofo, Akure

Thanks for your today’s opinion on your back page, it is a fine one. But for the PDP political group, what you would have advised them is to field another candidate instead of GEJ, they would then know you don’t have anything against the president. Weakness is what you are pointing out and this they should understand. From Emma Omotson.

Truly, the man of thought who cannot act is ineffective and the man of action who cannot think is dangerous for a country like Nigeria. From Saheed Yussuf.

Is the presidency of this nation Nigeria the preserve of the Hausa’s and Youruba’s only? Anonymous

Each time I read your ranting called editorials in The Nation newspaper(s), I weep for Nigerian jornalism. Instead of giving Nigerians food for thought, you only end up making us to have stomach(s) aches. But my only consolation is that come rain come shine, Jonathan will surely “WIN” next year presidencial election. Anonymous

For Segun Gbadegesin

You said it all in your today’s article. But then, must stay together by force. It is to your tent oh Odua, now or we remain stupidly enslaved forever. What are we doing in this deceitful mere geographical instability and failed union that has no future even for the proponents. Anonymous

Re-Looking back…and moving forward. We emphatically need not go back to three regions again. We also do not have to give six geo-political regions any prominence any longer if Nigeria is to progress. Three major things are killing Nigeria’s unity and progress- Indiscipline, Corruption and Ethnicty! Once they are killed, there would be merit, functional power supply, technological development, effective/efficient leadership, economic growth and complete unity! Let us retain our 36 states, 774 LGAs and one FG. From Lanre Oseni.

Segun,You’ve set agenda of peace for the nation…Blowing elephants horn into ele phants ear! IF they blunder,we will throw their memo into fire! From Prof AEO,Uyo.

Hello sir, Re: Fallacious Reasoning For Centralised Security Regime. The idea of state police is desirable and ideal in a truly federated republic. However,with the current corrupt, inept, highly unreliable state of our police force, where majority of its personnel don’t even know the essence of their being in the police force and majority of who live under the delusion that being in the ‘force’ gives them the ‘power’ to harrass those that they are supposed to protect and with whose tax payers money they are catered for with impunity,will amount to a great disservice to Nigerians and the Nigeria police force itself. What we need to do now is to promote a ‘genuine to protect and serve orientation’ among police personnel and ensure that it is ingrained in their mind before we can start thinking of decentralising our police force. From Olumide Soyemi.

I read your article with admiration for your well crafted pit fall of our great nation but once again just like others before you. You failed to mention in emphasis, the civil war, which for me has remained the greatest of all the stumbling blocks of the nation. Some group may want to wish that away because of the role some so-called elderstatesmen played and failed to avoid that shame called the civil war; amazingly that part of our history holds the key to our moving forward as a nation or we shall continue in this vicious cycle called Nigerian nation. Anonymous

I don’t think anybody or group of people should be considered qualified to stop Jonathan from contesting the forthcoming 2015 presidential election having been constitutionally certified to do so.You dont ask a man whose turn and right it is to conduct the affairs of his people not to do so because there is a problem(real or imagined) in his method.Subjective reasons/his performance index rating notwithstanding,let the president’s continuity or removal be decided at the polls by the electorate whose power it is to determine who rules over them in a given period and time.Thats what makes democracy what it is for the people. From Emmanuel Egwu.

For Tunji Adegboyega

Hi Tunji, I read your piece, “Does the president need help”?. You actually brought into public glare the sycophancy in governance; praise singers have done this country more harm than good. Really, the Reuben Abati I knew with Prof Pat Utomi and his days at The Guardian is completely a different person today. Abati even gags the press at times; as for Labaran Maku, before now, Maku had been a critic of government. Well done, Tunji. From Musa.

You don’t disappoint your readers when all one needs to hear is the kind of truth that the Bible says can make one free. I haven’t met Jonathan in person; I only worked briefly in Bayelsa State (his home state) when he was deputy governor. During that period, I was able to discover that he is not a good leader, or, better still, he is not someone who can take the right decision when that is what is needed to make a difference. Having shouted myself hoarse, warning Nigerians not to elect him as president in 2011, without anybody listening, I published an article in which I told the people to get prepared for stormy and confusing leadership style. Three days after his election in 2011, when the people were jubilating over his victory, I repeated the same warning and was almost skinned alive by those who thought they had found good luck on a platter of gold. Today, the reality is staring us in the face. From Ifeanyi O. Ifeanyi.

Your today’s (Sunday) piece was an excellent one; a great advice to the president and other leaders, But, being the lazy type, will they be able to read a piece like this by themselves? Let us pray so that they will not listen to wise counsel until they give way to someone who will save us from the mess of almost 16 years. More ink to your pen. Regards. From Festus.

Patience Jonathan’s meddlesomeness in governance is a reflection of the home front irritation … Anonymous.

This president actually needs to be helped because, presently, he is in a fix. Those people he thinks are his friends are his worst enemies. They advised him to go and dance in Kano while Nyanya was burning and now, they said going to Chibok does not make any meaning. Then, why is he the president if going to Chibok is nothing to him? This is a very hard moment for all Nigerians because our so-called leaders are only leading themselves. The president needs a very solid orientation from all of us. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

Re: ‘Does the president need help?’ The most striking aspect of the media chat was when Mr. President was dazed by the fuel pump price of N110-N130per litre by the independent fuel marketers since February 2014. Since then, I was amazed whether Mr. President was governing us from Nigeria or from France. Even since his assurance that the DPR would do its job, his promise is yet to materialise. Indeed, Mr. President needs help on all fronts; but not from sycophants. From Lanre Oseni.

The president has a good plan for Nigeria but his problems are the sycophants and the cabal that are misleading him in pursuance of their own selfish interests. Some people are benefiting from the security crisis; so, the president needs to be proactive in dealing with insecurity before talking about development. He should not take sides; he should bring the people behind the insurgency and other vices to book to deter others who might intend to cause trouble. From Gordon Chika Nnorom,

Tunji, your criticisms are moderate, so, I will choose to be moderate in my observation too. Please for heaven’s sake, GEJ only inherited a sick nation after years of succession of misrule by leaders your paper is clothing with a saintly coat … GEJ has done well under the circumstances he finds himself. Northern problem; northern solution. From K. Briggs, Port Harcourt.

May 21, 2014