The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • ‘National Assembly should participate in national conference’

    ‘National Assembly should participate in national conference’

    Former chairman of Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Archbishop Benson Ezemo, in this interview with GRACE OBIKE, explains why the National Assembly should participate in the proposed National Conference.

    WHAT is your position on the proposed National Dialogue ?

    My take on the National Dialogue is that it is timely. The President has formed a group that is going around the states and I think that it is time that we all come out in our different groups and talk to ourselves on the way forward.

    But the President said that there are some areas that will be no go areas… We need to talk to ourselves. There shouldn’t be any no go area. Our main focus should be the unity of this country and it should be respected.

    The National Assembly should be involved in the National Dialogue so that we don’t go back sending the same thing to them. The members should be involved in the issue so that there won’t be any opportunity for somebody to remove or add something else. They should be involved in the National Dialogue because they are Nigerians.

    Previous national conference have failed, is there any need for a new one?

    We should learn to speak good about the country because what we say is what we see. We should learn to have some levels of respect for the leadership of this country. We need to pray for the peace of the land. When you talk about the National Dialogue, I believe that Mr. President is a listening President. In my recent interviews, I said his election would be based on performance. He made promises and you can see how he performed. This man you are shouting at, asking him to set up a National Dialogue or whatever, the man came out and agreed to it. Now, some people are saying that we do not want the dialogue. It is not every leader that will listen to the people and do what they say. So, they should give it a chance.

    If you have something to present, you present it. Let’s talk to ourselves because where we were 50 years ago is not where we are right now. There is already a high demand for provision of roads and other infrastructure, with the corresponding increasing population.

    It’s like stocktaking. Anyone that does not take stock at the end of every period will just be moving around. For instance, I attended a unity school and it prickles my heart when we see our country going the way it is because unity schools. Those selected for unity schools was based on performance. People that did well from different states were brought together, to foster unity and that was what the founding father, General Yakubu Gowon had in mind. That a child is taken to another state at the secondary school stage and grows up in another environment.

    That is the kind of things that we should build upon. Things that will direct us and make this country strong. We should go beyond those things that will bring division like religion and tribalism. If we want to go beyond that, we should look for excellence because, in every state of the federation, there are people who are really good. We should bring out our first eleven. Let them go to the field.

    AS a matter of constitutional imperative, can the outcome of the dialogue go to the National Assembly for amendment?

    No, it shouldn’t be referred to them for any amendment. The point is that if they are involved in the debating like other people, they are part of it and there won’t be any need for them to remove anything. That means they have been involved in the process. But what is happening at the National Assembly calls for worry. Some people at the National Assembly are already saying there is no need for it. So, there is division at the National Assembly already on where the outcome of the dialogue should be sent to the National Assembly.

    If asked to present a memora-dum, what would propose?

    If I am asked to submit a memorandum to the conference, I will highlight the unity of this country because I went to a unity school. Religion was not one of the considerations, nor tribe, but the main consideration was that we were Nigerians. Those things that divide us are the areas that we need to put behind us and build on the things that unite us.

    In other words, I will be asking the federal government to review issues of federal character, the issue of zoning and other issues that negate excellence.

    Yes, the Federal Government will have to review issues that negate excellence. Let the first eleven from anywhere go out and contest or take positions. But when you begin to look for people that are not well qualified for certain positions, that is when you now consider some people based on tribe and other narrow interests.

    Some have called for the division of the country becuase the way it is run indicates that there is no unity…

    Our strength today is because we are Nigerians. I don’t think Nigeria is too tattered because our strength today as Nigerians is that we are one country. If we allow this country to divide, if you think that, because you have mineral resources or oil that you will be stronger than another state that has agriculture, you are telling a lie. If you now divide the oil rich states that maybe carved out of Nigeria, another tribe will say, this oil belongs to me and will keep fighting, so the good thing is that we are united now and there is strength in unity and that should be what we should guard jealously.

    Don’t you believe that we will be better as smaller units?

    I don’t believe that we will fare better as smaller units, nobody fares better as a smaller unit, you bring your strength and someone else brings his strength and we put it together. The only thing is that there are those basic things Nigerians have to look up to. If we have leaders that truly believe in this country, that will address the needs of the common man, that will provide selfless leadership, the better. If we have those who will first and foremost have the fear of God and ensure that people are not hungry, that will be a plus.

    The common Nigerian is not a greedy person that is why you don’t see people taking to the streets. The ordinary Nigeria looks up to having is basic need provided. That is why you can’t call out a Nigerian to the streets to stay for 48 or 24 hours. So, we just need a leader that will be selfless, one that will know that at the end of my tenure, I will be like any other person.

    So, we need basic education for our people at all levels. If this can be provided for Nigerians, there will be less talk about tribalism because it is the politicians that use these things for negotiations. When they negotiate, such things play dominant role in the talks.

    You have equally observed that Nigerians are not patriotic. What is responsble for this?

    In the aspect of Nigerians and their unpatriotic nature, this has to do with their background. You will employ somebody today, that has been looking for job for so many years, after securing the job, he starts looking for ways to defraud. You take your car to a mechanic and he charges you for things he did not do. He will be the same person to sit back and criticize the leadership. That is the same person who cannot deliver, he had the audacity to castigate his leaders.

    So, if as Nigerians we begin to say to ourselves, let me respect and place value on myself first as a Nigerian, then, we will begin to talk good about our leaders because we will now know that are all parts of the problems of this country.

    Has President Jonathan met the expectation of the people, since he came to office?

    The President is fulfilling his promises. He has made a lot of progress on power because for him to fulfil that promise on power, he had to unbundle Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). He brought direct investment into power sector. These people buying it are investors and they are there to ensure that there is constant power. They bided and assured Nigerians that they have the capacity.

    Mr. President is one man. He will not be the one to run the organisations but has done his part by providing a level playing field. He provides policy that will make those promises realisable and that is what any president is expected to do. Now, the people that bought the power plants should have an action plan to generate electricity as expected by the Federal Government that handed these things over to them.

    What will you say in terms of education?

    In terms of education, he met a lot of rots in the education sector. The infrastructure had decayed for long and you can’t expect the president to do it overnight. He has set up the right committee, with the right people and talking with ASUU to provide solutions.

    You said there are rots in the education system. For three years, he been there, for how long will he continue to plan?

    If you look at the budget, you will realise that the President has budgeted more towards the education sector than any government. He is the President and needs the support of everyone to achieve anything. The National Assembly should as well do their work. They should oversight properly, everybody should be involved, it’s not just Mr. President others should also should be involved to solve the rots in our educational sector. The solution to this problem is a collective effort.

  • Anambra and travesty of electoral process

    Anambra and travesty of electoral process

    Assistant Editor AUGUSTINE AVWODE, who covered the November 16 inconclusive election in Anambra, writes on the suspence unleashed by the exercise and the danger of failing to redress the perceived injustice done by the umpire.

    A pall of gloom fell on the hall. When the Returning Officer for the Anambra State Governorship Election, Prof James Epoke, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, declared the exercise inconclusive, people were dejected. Following the announcement, last Monday, the candidates, political leaders and voters were sad because efforts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), preparations by political parties, their candidates and other stakeholders in the ‘Anambra Project’, fell flat on the ground. For the flagbearers, it was a wasted expectation. For reporters, who had monitored the exercise and waited for the ‘moment of truth’, it came as an anti-climax.

    A disaster foretold

    Epoke’s announcement did not come to most reporters in the hall as a surprise. Events in the last 48 hours lent ample credence to it. The Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Mr Clement Nwankwo, who doubles as the Head, Civil Society Election Situation Room, had expressed serious concern about the election.

    “A lot of reports coming in indicated some concerns, which include the late delivery of election materials, and delay in starting the polls. We also heard that election materials were not available at the time they should be. In some areas, election officials did not even show up at all”, he said.

    Although Nwankwo refused to use the word ‘bungle’ to describe the INEC’s handling of the election, he said that its performance left a sour taste in the mouth. His final report reflected this position.

    “The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room commends the people of Anambra State for the orderly and peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves during the governorship election in the state, despite the challenges and difficulties experienced with the elections. INEC’s conduct of the governorship election in Anambra State poses serious concerns, ahead of the 2015 general elections, and the Situation Room calls on, the INEC to change their strategy, with a view to improving on its preparations for the 2015 elections”.

    Many observers complained about the ominous developments, especially the cancellation of a whopping 113,113 votes in Idemili North Council; the disappearance of the name of Comrade Tony Nwoye, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the major parties in the contest, from the voter’s register, the disenfranchisement of people in the flood ravaged areas, the palpable apathy, whereby not more than 30 per cent of the total registered voters participated in the exercise. For instance, only 25,138 voters were accredited for the exercise, out of 111,531 registered voters in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra South Senatorial District. Instructively, only 23,966 actually voted out of the accredited number.

    In Njikoka council, Anambra Central, out of the 70,818 registered voters, only 23,902 were accredited, while 23,090 actually voted. In Aguata council, Anambra South, whereas 100,083 voters registered, only 24,883 were accredited and 24,204 actually cast their votes. In Ayamelum council, Anambra North, of the 57,196 registered voters, 19,726 were accredited while 18,045 actually cast their votes.

    The next day, it was obvious that the exercise had failed. The INEC gave credence to that fact on Saturday night when Public Affairs Officer in Anambra State, Mr Frank Egbo, admitted, “serious logistics and related challenges” in the conduct of the election, but in particular, as it affected Obosi Registration Area (RA/Ward 07) where it had to call for a rescheduled election into 65 polling Uunits.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Chris Ngige, fired the first salvo. Apart from rejecting the rescheduled election, which concided with the church service, he alleged a grand plan against him in Idemili North, his stronghold. He berated the electoral umpire for bungling the exercise, and called for a total cancellation. He rejected the idea of an election on a Sunday morning in a predominantly Christian state. He said it was disrespectful to the people’s faith.

    Nwoye described the exercise as a sham and called for its cancellation. The Labour Party candidate, Ifeanyi Ubah, also called for the cancellation. As the day wore on, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, called a press conference where he debunked the allegations by the three candidates and their parties. He said the election was free, fair and credible. He praised the INEC and pledged his party’s readiness for the rescheduled election.

    The waiting game continues

    However, the preponderance of opinion was that the exercise fell below expectation. Besides, it is not surprising that the election has attracted that kind of attention.

    The election was the first of the three important elections before 2015. It generated hope. But as things stand now, that hope has been deferred.

    For the people, who had hoped to hear the announcement of Governor Peter Obi’s, successor the waiting game continues. For Nigerians who had hoped to see the Anambra State election bolstering the image of the INEC as a serious umpire, the waiting game also continues.

  • How national dialogue can succeed, by activists

    Many stakeholders, believe that a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) will prevent chaos, catastrophe and disintegration. They also believe that a national conference will give ethnic nationalities the opportunity to examine and resolve the national question.

    One of the critical issues is the resource control. How should the national revenue be distributed among the federating units? Should it be by derivation, need or national interest? Should there be state police? Should power be decentralised? What should be the relationship between the central government and the states?

    Other fundamental issues resolve around fundamental human rights. These include economic and political rights, education, mineral resource and infrastructural development. Analysts have argued that the current challenges of under-funding of education, infrastructural decay, soaring unemployment, insecurity and poor governance can also be tackled at the conference.

    “It is an avenue where you sit down and discuss the way forward”, said Emeka Michael, a student activist at the University of Benin. In his view, education should become the priority of government because it is critical to human capacity development. Therefore, Michael, who is the President of Mechanical Engineering Students Association, said that the debate at the conference should focus on how to reposition the sector for excellence.

    Another youth leader, Imoniukiri Rukuvwe, said that the conference will bring together Nigerians from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds and offer them an opportunity for mutual understanding. He said that the conference should assist in laying a sustainable foundation for value. Stressing that the youths face serious economic challenges as leaders of tomorrow, Imoniukori, who is the Deputy Coordinator of the Niger Delta Student Union, urged the conference to debate national economic priorities for the purpose of solving the graduate unemployment.

    However, Philip Muoghalu suggested that the conference should foster national stability. He said that the mode of representation at the conference may pose a challenge. “Really, what I don’t understand is how the participants of this conference would be picked or selected for it to represent virtually the nation. Because I think it i0s not just the political class that their opinions are needed. Let it comprise the traders, students, and not just the old politicians”, he added. Muoghalu, who is a mass communication student at Nnamidi Azikiwe University, said that, if the ethnic nationalities can evolve new basis for peaceful co-existence, there will be peace.

    Another activist, Samuel Bright, said that the conference can only be meaningful, if the report is subjected to a referendum, instead of parliamentary ratification. “There are so many issues that need clarifications. Do we want to continue as a people or not? Do we want to practice federalism? Do we need state police? These are the queestions for the conference”, he said.

    A University of Lagos Law student, Jerry Agbodesi, traced the country’s tragedy to the mistake of 1914. He lamented that peace had eluded the ethnic nationalities, following their amalgamation by the British. But he said that the conference can give birth to a country “where we will not see ourselves as Ibos, Hausas, Yorubas, Tivs, Ibibios”.

    He added: “The National Conference is a step towards the right direction. Nigerians are not united and there is no peace. This is evidenced by the crisis of development. The Jos riots, the Kano, Bauchi, and Kaduna riots, the activities of the Boko Haram group, kidnappings and fights in the Niger Delta, and the civil war.

    “Nigerians should not protect the interest of their ethnic groups alone. They should protect the hopes and dreams of every Nigerian, whether rich or poor, Hausa or Efik, Fulani or Yoruba, Ibo or Auchi; whether Christians or Muslims. The hope of a child in the rural areas of Kano learning the Quran is the same as the hope of a girl learning the Bible in a modern Church in Lagos”.

    The national conference, in the opinion of Owodeyi Olalekan, should remove the obstacles against political justice, economic justice, social justice, cultural justice, and religious justice. He said the national dialogue should can achieve this goal through a new constitutional frame-work that would guarantee restructuring and reforms

  • Is INEC prepared for 2015?

    Is INEC prepared for 2015?

    The flawed Anambra State governorship election has created doubts in the minds of Nigerians about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) preparations for the 2015 general elections. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN reports.

    In less than two years, the next general elections will hold. But, judging by the flawed governorship election in Anambra State, it is doubtful if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is prepared to conduct a credible election in the nearest future.

    Unlike in 2011, when Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief, the confidence of Nigerians in the umpire is waning because it has failed to live up to expectation. Five days after, the governorship poll in Anambra is still inconclusive. Many critics have called for its cancellation, citing irregularities.

    Many have argued that the INEC has not learned from its mistakes in Edo State. The governorship election there was marred by logistic failings. Many polling stations did not receive voting materials on time. In some areas, voters complained about fake voters register, with many names without pictures. The accreditation of voters, which was supposed to end by 12pm, did not start in many areas until 11am. Apart from many eligible voters, who could not find their names on the register, many were disenfranchised because they were not accredited before the close of the accreditation.

    Irked by the appalling situation, Governor Adam Oshiomhole chided the commission for the hitches. “Prof Jega and INEC have been an embarrassment to the nation. I am in shock with all the arrangements. INEC is the weakest link in the Nigeria’s democratic chain. I have no faith in what INEC is doing in Benin City”, he said.

    Apart from the Edo experience, inadequacies were also recorded in Ondo poll. There were cases of late arrival of polling officers and materials in some areas, especially, in the riverine areas. There were also reports of illegal insertion of names into voters register. It was discovered that the voters register was inflated with over 150, 000 illegal names. In the months preceding the election, opposition parties alleged a plot by some powerful politicians to inject fictitious names into the register. But INEC insisted that such a development was impossible.

    The commission has come under attacks. There have been allegations by the opposition that some INEC officials are planning to collude with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to manipulate the forthcoming election. While the opposition political parties have called for the cancellation of the Anambra poll, the PDP said that the election was peaceful. The security arrangements for the election were also suspect. Policemen pretended as if nothing was happening when some politicians were openly wooing voters at the polling units with money. In the last senatorial election in Delta-Central, it was alleged that the ruling party employed security agents to intimidate other parties’ agents.

    The inconclusive Anambra election has been described as one of the worst ever conducted in this country. The outcome of the election reflects INEC’s poor preparation. A lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), described the election as a total catastrophe, adding that it was a disgrace to the nation.

    “Everything was in shambles. This is not the type of election that Nigerians should be witnessing at our level. It has diminished us as nation,” Sagay lamented.

    He added: “Jega should respect himself by announcing total cancellation of the fatally flawed election and announce a new date for a fresh election. He should stop talking of supplementary election. No amount of supplementary election would make it credible. The fact is that INEC has failed the nation by bungling the Anambra election. INEC should own up and redeem its image by cancelling the election and fixing a new date for a fresh election. Jega should be honest to himself and admit that what happened on Saturday in Anambra was not an election, but a charade”.

    A critic, Bernard Briggs, said what happened in Anambra is a tip of what Nigerians should expect in 2015. According to him, the PDP has used the election to test its winning strategies in the forthcoming general elections. “People should know that the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is a branch of the PDP. Bamanga Tukur said two weeks ago that the PDP was not interested in winning Anambra gubernatorial election,” he said.

    The President of the Civil Rights Congress, Mallam Shehu Sani, said: “The quality of our leadership is a derivative of the quality control of our elections. If Anambra fails, it will prove the pessimists of 2015 right and will give credence to the apocalyptic predictions of doomsters. A credible election must reflect the will of the people. As long as we continue to find it difficult to count votes honestly, we will continue to count crisis endlessly.”

    Sani advised Jega “to tidy up the mess in Anambra and restore our confidence that has been eroded by the seemingly incurable virus of electoral fraud.”

    The President of the Nigeria Voters Assembly, Mr Mossod Erubami, urged INEC to rectify the noticeable irregularities, manipulations and human errors in the electoral process to the satisfaction of interest groups in the election.

    Erubami said: “It is the only way by which the election can be considered fair, credible and the winner could claim legitimately to have won the popular votes of eligible voters”.

     

  • Lagos East should produce next governor, says Ikuforiji

    Lagos East should produce next governor, says Ikuforiji

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforijihas said that the Lagos East Senatorial District should produce the governor in 2015.

    He said, having produced the three Speakers, who brought honour to the state and party six times, the district is qualified to produce the next governor.

    Ikuforiji observed that there are competent men and women in the district, who can succeed Governor Babatunde Fashola, urging the people to intensify their agitation for power shift.

    The Speaker also reflected on his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying that he will triumph over the predicament. He said: “EFCC or not, it is vanity. They will reap vanity. You know me; I will always speak my mind. Because of that, I incur the wrath of some people. God always deliver me and he will continue to deliver me”.

    The Speaker, who is believed to be eyeing the governorship, spoke at the meeting of the Lagos East All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders held at the Somolu Local Government Secretariat last weekend. He however, clarified that he had no specific candidate in mind, stressing that he only echoed the patriotic views of the stakeholders.

    Ikuforiji said: “In this coming dispensation, Lagos East Senatorial District must produce the next APC governor. All our leaders should approve the proposal. I had a dream. The dream is that our leader will support the East District for the slot”.

    The Speaker’s remark has generated much interest and controversy among the APC chieftains. Ikuforiji, the Epe-born politician, has canvassed for power shift from the Central to the East District at a time he is representing Ikeja, West District, in the House of Assembly.

    A chieftain of the APC from the West, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said: “The legislator has found it difficult to champion power shift to the West, where he resides and currently benefits from. How would he want the people of Ikeja and the West to feel? Since he belongs to two districts, he should have allowed others to lead the agitation”.

    Since the Second Republic, power shift has not shaped governorship selection in Lagos. The three districts were only designed for senatorial elections. Although some politicians have canvassed a rotational principle, based on the five divisions-Lagos, Ikeja, Badagry, Epe, and Ikorodu, the political parties have never considered it. Lagos State has become one indivisible zone, based on the deep interactions among the indigenes and settlers.

    The first civilian governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, son of the Oluwo of Lagos, with an ancestral root in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, came from the Central District. For ethnic balancing, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) leader, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo put forward Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo, an Awori, with an ancestral root in Ile-Ife, Osun State, as the running mate. He came from the West. The Lagos Central-born governor lived in Ilupeju, Lagos West.

    In the Third Republic, Sir Michael Otedola of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) was elected governor. He hails from Epe, East Central. Those who wanted to serve as the governor at that time, including Chief Dapo Sarunmi, the late Prof. Femi Agbalajobi and Chief Yomi Edu, also came from Epe. But the two parties-the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and NRC-did not zone it to Epe or East District. In fact, when Sarunmi and Agabalajobi were banned from the race by the military, the Jakande group in the SDP drafted Prince Abiodun Ogunleye from Ikorodu to the race.

    In 1999, when the Afenifere/Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders endorsed Senator Bola Tinubu for the governorship, they did not bother about whether he is from the West or Central District. Merit was the watchword. The Tinubu family is from the Central, but Senator Tinubu started politics in Ikeja-Agege axis. His successor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), is from the Central, but his origin did not play any role in his emergence as the Action Congress (AC) flag bearer.

    Observers point out that Lagos is a cosmopolitan setting that has thrown up many actors, who are not indigenes of the state. One of the Speakers from the East, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, is from Ijebuland, Ogun State. A handful of state and federal legislators from the district are also not indigenes. There are interactions by marriage. In 2007, when the Ikorodu Division agitated for power shift, a Mushin, West District politician, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, showed up at the rally in Ikorodu, claiming that her paternal grandmother hailed from the division.

    Ikuforiji however, maintained that the agitation for zoning, rotation or power shift is legitimate, urging the people of the East not to relent in their efforts.

    He stressed: “Since 1999, Lagos East has produced the Speakers. The Lagos State House of Assembly has been the best in Nigeria. That means that Lagos East is full of materials. We have capable men and women in the East. The Legislature is the most difficult arm of government. It has been headed by people from the East. It is the turn of the East to produce the governor of Lagos State and it will be so”.

     

     

     

  • ‘National conference is a diversionary strategy’

    ‘National conference is a diversionary strategy’

    Afenifere chieftain Senator Ayo Fasanmi was a member of the National Assembly in the First and Second Republics. He spoke with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN on the proposed national conference, regional integration, presidential system and other partisan issues.

    Some Nigerians are of the view that the proposed National Con-ference is a dis-traction. What is your comment?

    They are right. You know the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Goodluck Jonathan symbolises is a sinking ship. Right now, the party is heading towards total disintegration. Jonathan is doing everything possible to ensure that it does not go under completely. Thus, he has embarked on a salvage operation for PDP, the before, Jonathan and his party were against the national conference. But they suddenly embraced it in order to engage people in discussing one thing or the other, so that they can have ample time to settle the crises within the party. Their strategy is to keep Nigerians talking and arguing and use the opportunity to mend fences in the PDP. To me,the planned conference is a diversionary strategy.

    I have my reservations about the whole process. What Nigerians particularly, we in the Afenifere are yearning for is a Sovereign National Conference that would address urgent national problems. It is unfortunate that the Fasoranti-led Afenifere is championing the national conference being planned by Jonathan to settle score with people that are against them.

    Are you surprised by the appearance of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) before the Presidential Planning Committee on National Conference?

    Not at all, I will personally advise that we should not boycott whatever conference they are planning. I remember in 1965, when the Action Group decided to boycott the federal election, it was counter- productive because it gave the opposition an edge. The opposition candidates were returned. For that bitter experience, we have resolved not to boycot any programme. I am happy the ARG is taking part and that it has submitted a paper stating our position on crucial national issues. Nevertheless, I have my reservations on the timing of the national conference. It is a strategy to buy time for the PDP to gain ground where it has lost. Jonathan is planning to elongate his tenure. We will not allow it. There must be a time lag. The conference should not spread to 2015. Jonathan is on his way out.

    The President has said that the conference report will be presented the National Assembly to give it legal backing. Is it necessary?

    You see, for Jonathan to say he will refer the report of the national conference to the National Assembly shows either he doesn’t understand what the conference is all about or he’s not serious about it. Like I said earlier, what we need is a Sovereign National Conference in which the people will have the final say on its report. The conference is expected among other things to produce a new constitution for the country, alloww us to decide whether all the ethnic nationalities still want to co-exist as a country and what kind of relationship do we want? The delegates should have unfettered freedom on all issues of national importance.There should be a plebiscite on the report because sovereign power belongs to the people. Jonathan’s planned conference is to distract the attention of the people from crucial problems like corruption, unemployment, insecurity of lives and property, education and health sectors that are in comatose.

    Observers say the President’s ambition to contest in 2015 is the root cause of the crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. As an elder statesman, will you advise President Jonathan to seek re-election?

    Jonathan should know how to quit when there is no ovation for him at all. In any civilised society, PDP should have been shown the way out. What are his achievements as President of the country? Corruption in government is getting worse by the day. A minister used public fund to buy bullet proof cars worth N255 million without approval and the President says he would set up an investigation panel to tell him what to do. Is it not funny that a President, who hired a minister, cannot take action against his aide that has tarnished the image of his administration? I am not surprised. We have heard cases of corruption involving those in government and they are getting away with them. Former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, could have got away with the public funds he stole while in office, if not for the British government. What of the fuel subsidy scandal involving relations of those in government and PDP promoters? What has Jonathan achieved in terms of security, mass unemployment, falling standard of education, the university lecturers have been on strike for four months without solutions.

    What is Jonathan coming back to do in 2015? Does he want to come back and continue looting? No way. By the grace of God, the PDP will be buried in 2015. The PDP is like a wheel barrow waiting for a train like the All Progressive Congress (APC) to crush it. When I heard that Jonathan went to Jerusalem, my prayer was that God will touch his heart, so that he would not destroy the country further.

    The other time Jonathan came up with the idea of centenary celebration. The question I keep asking is what are we celebrating-kidnapping, raping Boko Haram insurgency, oil theft, massive corruption, disrespect for the rule of law? It is unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this mess. It is very painful that Nigeria leads in anything that is negative in the world. I am sad to hear that Nigeria is one of the most corrupt and poverty-stricken nations.

    Why have you not been playing the role of Afenifere leader, since your election as the deputy leader?

    I thought at 88, I should hand over to young ones. We should give them a chance. They should be allowed to grow. They are very active and mentally alert. The young ones are doing it very well. The pride of a father is to see his children taking over part of his functions in his life time while he guides them from the rear. I am happy that the likes of Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Segun Osoba, to mention a few, are not found wanting in this respect. They are up to the task.

    You are one of the few surviving disciples of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Would you say that your contemporaries still uphold Awo’s philosophy or they have waivered?

    I am almost alone. Most of my colleagues have gone, even though we may not be in the same party. All my friends in Osun have died. The APC interim chairman, Bisi Akande, got to know Chief Awolowo through me. And like Paul, the Apostle, Akande almost superceded me in his commitment to Awo’s philosophy. As a party man, he has excelled. So also are the young ones like Segun Osoba, a committed Awoist, and a great defender of Awo’s philosophy. He’s forthright and consistent. Then, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is in the fore front of the struggle to preserve the legacies of our great leader. Tinubu is brazing the trail of actualising Awo’s vision. Though my colleagues have passed on, but the young ones are doing well. They should continue to consult us.The struggle continues.

    How would you assess the performance of President Jonathan, after four years in office?

    He has not performed. If he had, we will not be talking of pervasive corruption, insecurity, mass unemployment, armed robbery, kidnapping and raping. That was why Chief Bisi A kande described him as kindergarten President because his government has no clues to the challenges facing the country. You can deceive people for some time, but not all the time. PDP is a collection of marauders. A party that can’t put its house in order has no right to rule. That is why things are getting worse in the country. Recklessness, impunity and disrespect for the rule of law are hallmarks of the Jonathan administration. No nation can prosper in such circumstance.

    Regional integration is one of the developmental strategies of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). How best do you think it can be achieved?

    The Southwest governors have started working towards achieving regional integration in the zone and they are doing well. They have embarked on projects that will enhance development in the region. For instance, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state is trying to construct a road that will connect Osun with Lagos and Oyo states to facilitate movements of goods and services across the geo-political zone. I think they are also planning to build rail lines that will cut across the region. All this will enhance economic activities. The Southwest and Osun, in particular, can feed the whole of Nigeria. But the problem is how to transport the food to the cities with convenience so that the farmers can get adequate reward for their labour. Awo did it before in the old Western Region when he turned the West into a pace setter in Nigeria.

    In Ekiti State, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele and Goveror Fayemi are locked in a battle of political supremacy. As an indigene, what is your advice?

    Fayemi has been a fantastic governor in Ekiti state. He has transformed the state within three years. That explains the gale of endorsement for his second term. Every progressive element within and outside Ekiti State is saying he should be given another term to consolidate his achievements. Opeyemi has the right to aspire for governorship. But I am advising him to haste slowly. He must not allow the reputation he had built over the years to be destroyed by personal ambition. He must not allow forces outside the party to use him as an instrument of destabilisation.

    You are based in Oshogbo. How would you rate Governor Aregbesola?

    Aregbesola is a first class strategist, who holds aloft Awo’s legacy. He has rekindled Awo’s philosophy on education and other program-mes designed to make life abundance for the citizens of Osun. It is just like a Daniel comes to judgment. He is a wonderful young man. The greatest asset he has is a woman as his deputy, who is a pride to womanhood. He is doing very well. Osun has become a state of Omoluabi under Aregbe. Things are changing for good in Osun . People may have to experience certain inconveniences as a result of developmental projects going on across the state, but at the end of the day, they will smile.

    What of the governor of your home state, Ekiti?

    Governor Fayemi is an intellectual per se. He is committed to ideological solution to problems. He is committed and dedicated to the service of Ekiti State. His deputy is also an intellectual. Intellectualism, coupled with ideology, constitutes a veritable engine of socio-economic and political development.

    As a federal legislator in the First and Second Republics, which system of government do you prefer?

    In the First Republic, we operated parliamentary system and presidential system in the Second Republic. The presidential system is very expensive. Whatever that can be done to make it less prone to corruption and less expensive should be done. It pays much premium on service to the people and not promotion of self.

     

  • Mistakes INEC must avoid in future poll

    Mistakes INEC must avoid in future poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under fire. Its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is on the weighing scale. Unlike 2011, when Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief from severely flawed elections, the nation is in a nightmare. As the people of Anambra State agonise over the bungled governorship elections, fears about 2015 polls have become heightened.

    The next general elections is a litmus test for the umpire. Two years ago, it had shown an improved capacity for restoring public confidence in the electoral process, judging by its performance in the 2011 general elections. But now, it has failed woefully in Anambra State to manage the achievement and sustain the tempo.

    INEC has a historic duty to live up to expectation, as it prepares for the governorship polls in the two states in the ‘wild wild Southwest’ – Ekiti and Osun – next year. The governorship elections are now somehow scattered, owing to the mistake of the 2007 by the INEC under Prof. Maurice Iwu. In Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states, where the Appeal Court restored the stolen mandates to the deprived winners, the people have to contend with new electoral timetable.

    To conduct a credible and transparent exercise in Ekiti and Osun, the commission must avoid the ‘Anambra pitfalls”. It must tighten the loose ends and correct the mistakes that have boxed it into the crisis of integrity. In 2011, the electoral agency was about to wreck a monumental havoc on democracy before Jega that had to cancel the first leg of the general elections. Critics have argued that, If the polls were not abruptly stopped and postponed, it would have resulted into an avoidable electoral calamity.

    Shortly after the last general elections, activist-cleric and politician Pastor Tunde Bakare distinguished between free and fair elections. He said an election can be free, and yet be fraudulent. He said, while election, as experience has shown in this dispensation, has been free at the level of voting and counting at the polling booths, it can be fraudulent at the level of collation of results.

    In Anambra, the collation was flawed. In some polling units, there were no result sheets.

    INEC also failed the elementary test of credibility when its officials reported late for the assignment in many local governments. Where the officials reported for the exercise, they did not show up with the non-negotiable polling materials. Voters were disillusioned. Many returned home in protest. Although the poll was postponed till the next day in some units, voters did not show up because it was on a Sunday. The most critical material is the voter’s register. The names of many voters were omitted from the register. The implication was that many were disfranchised. In Ondo State, when voters complained that their names were omitted from the register, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, quickly rose to the occasion by providing the comprehensive data and the voters exercised their voting rights.

    In 2015, INEC will face more challenges. The elections will raise some questions about the environmental dimension of the exercise. There are trouble spots in the North, where people fret under the menace of the Boko Haram. If INEC cannot conduct a free poll in an atmosphere of relative peace, how will it cope in the tensed areas? Also, since the general elections would be holding in the creeks of Cross River, Rivers, Edo and Bayelsa, there is the need to rise to the challenge of movement of men and materials on waterways. During the last governorship election in Edo, INEC was said to have hired a drunkard to navigate a boat full of polling materials. The end was catastrophic.

    Voters usually raise objections to the late accreditation and voting in many states. The late arrival of polling officers and electoral materials is worrisome. Many voters returned home without voting because their names were not found in the voters’ register. Uncouth electoral officers have always been giving INEC a bad name. A dispirited INEC chairman had to even hand over a polling officer to the police for interrogation in Anambra.

    Elections have become a burden in Nigeria. Rather than being perceived as an opportunity for political choice and change, election periods are usually dark moments when the polity is submerged in a tremor of wild politicking, do-or-die contest, thuggery and violence, which often make the critical contest a sort of war. Governorship election, more or less, is a higher local election posing greater challenges to the electoral commission than the presidential and National Assembly elections. Incidentally, the fear of democratic election at the state level has contributed to the fragility democracy in the country.

    The commission owes it a duty to halt the pollution of the ballot box. One man one vote is not guaranteed when many people are excluded from voting due to INEC’s mistake. The practice of voter register display and verification, ahead of the election, tends to be fading. The penchant for doctoring the results by the combined forces of unscrupulous politicians, unpatriotic security agents and electoral commissioners aptly captures the illusion of democracy. In subsequent elections, these should be nipped in the bud by the electoral agency.

    INEC should also be ready to invoke the various provisions in the constitution against electoral malpractices. Electoral officers who act in concert with politicians and the police to commit atrocities against the ballot box should be prosecute The expectation that the ruling party must always have the upper hand at every democratic contest could spell doom. When it is evident that the ruling party is no more popular, INEC should not assist it to unnecessarily prolong its stay without legitimacy.

    Electoral violence has also become a feature of periodic polls. Thugs and cultists, who are armed with sophisticated weapons beyond the reach of the police, are often recruited by desperate politicians to create panic, molest voters, scare away electorate, invade the polling booths, snatch ballot boxes, inflict pain, maim and kill, in the interest of the highest bidder, and in expectation of a fat reward for unleashing terror. INEC and security agents should not sleep – to avoid the floodgate of litigations that trailed the 2007 electoral foul play.

    Ordinarily, a credible election is a panacea for violence. In earlier dispensations, rigging provoked popular revolt. In the Western Region, malpractices was perceived as a colossal rebellion against the people. It led to the burning of houses and mass killings in the First Republic. The scenario was repeated in the Southwest States of Oyo and Ondo States In the Second Republic.

    Domestic monitors and international observers have described the 2007 elections as a national tragedy. The presidential threat of do-and-die was carried out and the INEC gave its nod. These vices may still resurface, if the exercise is characterised by the late arrival of electoral officers and polling materials, shortage of ballot boxes and papers, ballot stuffing by thugs, violence, falsification of results, bribery and corruption.

    In Anambra, election observers were arrested and briefly detained. There should be a better way of accrediting and identifying the monitors next time, instead of subjecting them to ridicule while on a national assignment.

    After the 2007 polls, the rot stared the country in the face. Petitions flooded the election tribunals and courts. Many of the stolen mandates were retrieved back at the courts at greater costs to the opposition parties. The courts decried the electoral horror and terrorism. The poll created a hollow in the record of former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a citizen of the world. It was the nation that suffered the debilitating effects. The country’s image was dented. The Anambra scenario has rekindled the memory of the electoral horror.

     

  • ‘National Assembly should participate in National Conference’

    ‘National Assembly should participate in National Conference’

    Former chairman of Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Archbishop Benson Ezemo, in this interview with GRACE OBIKE, explains why the National Assembly should participate in the proposed National Conference.

    wHAT is your position on the proposed National Dialogue ?

    My take on the National Dialogue is that it is timely. The President has formed a group that is going around the states and I think that it is time that we all come out in our different groups and talk to ourselves on the way forward.

    But the President said that there are some areas that will be no go areas… We need to talk to ourselves. There shouldn’t be any no go area. Our main focus should be the unity of this country and it should be respected.

    The National Assembly should be involved in the National Dialogue so that we don’t go back sending the same thing to them. The members should be involved in the issue so that there won’t be any opportunity for somebody to remove or add something else. They should be involved in the National Dialogue because they are Nigerians.

    Previous national conference have failed, is there any need for a new one?

    We should learn to speak good about the country because what we say is what we see. We should learn to have some levels of respect for the leadership of this country. We need to pray for the peace of the land. When you talk about the National Dialogue, I believe that Mr. President is a listening President. In my recent interviews, I said his election would be based on performance. He made promises and you can see how he performed. This man you are shouting at, asking him to set up a National Dialogue or whatever, the man came out and agreed to it. Now, some people are saying that we do not want the dialogue. It is not every leader that will listen to the people and do what they say. So, they should give it a chance.

    If you have something to present, you present it. Let’s talk to ourselves because where we were 50 years ago is not where we are right now. There is already a high demand for provision of roads and other infrastructure, with the corresponding increasing population.

    It’s like stocktaking. Anyone that does not take stock at the end of every period will just be moving around. For instance, I attended a unity school and it prickles my heart when we see our country going the way it is because unity schools. Those selected for unity schools was based on performance. People that did well from different states were brought together, to foster unity and that was what the founding father, General Yakubu Gowon had in mind. That a child is taken to another state at the secondary school stage and grows up in another environment.

    That is the kind of things that we should build upon. Things that will direct us and make this country strong. We should go beyond those things that will bring division like religion and tribalism. If we want to go beyond that, we should look for excellence because, in every state of the federation, there are people who are really good. We should bring out our first eleven. Let them go to the field.

    AS a matter of constitutional imperative, can the outcome of the dialogue go to the National Assembly for amendment?

    No, it shouldn’t be referred to them for any amendment. The point is that if they are involved in the debating like other people, they are part of it and there won’t be any need for them to remove anything. That means they have been involved in the process. But what is happening at the National Assembly calls for worry. Some people at the National Assembly are already saying there is no need for it. So, there is division at the National Assembly already on where the outcome of the dialogue should be sent to the National Assembly.

    If asked to present a memora-dum, what would propose?

    If I am asked to submit a memorandum to the conference, I will highlight the unity of this country because I went to a unity school. Religion was not one of the considerations, nor tribe, but the main consideration was that we were Nigerians. Those things that divide us are the areas that we need to put behind us and build on the things that unite us.

    In other words, I will be asking the federal government to review issues of federal character, the issue of zoning and other issues that negate excellence.

    Yes, the Federal Government will have to review issues that negate excellence. Let the first eleven from anywhere go out and contest or take positions. But when you begin to look for people that are not well qualified for certain positions, that is when you now consider some people based on tribe and other narrow interests.

    Some have called for the division of the country becuase the way it is run indicates that there is no unity…

    Our strength today is because we are Nigerians. I don’t think Nigeria is too tattered because our strength today as Nigerians is that we are one country. If we allow this country to divide, if you think that, because you have mineral resources or oil that you will be stronger than another state that has agriculture, you are telling a lie. If you now divide the oil rich states that maybe carved out of Nigeria, another tribe will say, this oil belongs to me and will keep fighting, so the good thing is that we are united now and there is strength in unity and that should be what we should guard jealously.

    Don’t you believe that we will be better as smaller units?

    I don’t believe that we will fare better as smaller units, nobody fares better as a smaller unit, you bring your strength and someone else brings his strength and we put it together. The only thing is that there are those basic things Nigerians have to look up to. If we have leaders that truly believe in this country, that will address the needs of the common man, that will provide selfless leadership, the better. If we have those who will first and foremost have the fear of God and ensure that people are not hungry, that will be a plus.

    The common Nigerian is not a greedy person that is why you don’t see people taking to the streets. The ordinary Nigeria looks up to having is basic need provided. That is why you can’t call out a Nigerian to the streets to stay for 48 or 24 hours. So, we just need a leader that will be selfless, one that will know that at the end of my tenure, I will be like any other person.

    So, we need basic education for our people at all levels. If this can be provided for Nigerians, there will be less talk about tribalism because it is the politicians that use these things for negotiations. When they negotiate, such things play dominant role in the talks.

    You have equally observed that Nigerians are not patriotic. What is responsble for this?

    In the aspect of Nigerians and their unpatriotic nature, this has to do with their background. You will employ somebody today, that has been looking for job for so many years, after securing the job, he starts looking for ways to defraud. You take your car to a mechanic and he charges you for things he did not do. He will be the same person to sit back and criticize the leadership. That is the same person who cannot deliver, he had the audacity to castigate his leaders.

    So, if as Nigerians we begin to say to ourselves, let me respect and place value on myself first as a Nigerian, then, we will begin to talk good about our leaders because we will now know that are all parts of the problems of this country.

    Has President Jonathan met the expectation of the people, since he came to office?

    The President is fulfilling his promises. He has made a lot of progress on power because for him to fulfil that promise on power, he had to unbundle Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). He brought direct investment into power sector. These people buying it are investors and they are there to ensure that there is constant power. They bided and assured Nigerians that they have the capacity.

    Mr. President is one man. He will not be the one to run the organisations but has done his part by providing a level playing field. He provides policy that will make those promises realisable and that is what any president is expected to do. Now, the people that bought the power plants should have an action plan to generate electricity as expected by the Federal Government that handed these things over to them.

    What will you say in terms of education?

    In terms of education, he met a lot of rots in the education sector. The infrastructure had decayed for long and you can’t expect the president to do it overnight. He has set up the right committee, with the right people and talking with ASUU to provide solutions.

    You said there are rots in the education system. For three years, he been there, for how long will he continue to plan?

    If you look at the budget, you will realise that the President has budgeted more towards the education sector than any government. He is the President and needs the support of everyone to achieve anything. The National Assembly should as well do their work. They should oversight properly, everybody should be involved, it’s not just Mr. President others should also should be involved to solve the rots in our educational sector. The solution to this problem is a collective effort.

     

     

  • The curse of power

    The curse of power

    Former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode writes on the transcient nature of power, the gains and pains of leadership and vanity of life.

    This is a grim and depressing essay and the subject matter is painful to digest. I take no pleasure in writing it and I would suggest that those that are easily hurt, over-sensitive and unduly emotional should stop here and go no further because this is not the stuff for weak stomachs or gentle souls. Yet those that choose to go on and read it to the end can be rest assured of one thing- that there is a purpose for this interesting contribution and there is a morale to the tale. Now sit back, relax, fasten your seatbelts, prepare for take-off and come fly with me. Here it goes. When one studies the history of our country critically and takes the time to do the appropiate research one thing becomes very clear- that, in Nigeria, politics and the power game is a dangerous calling and terrible business which, more often than not, comes with a heavy price tag.

    That price tag includes pain, anguish, betrayal, humiliation, persecution, misfortune, hardship, loss, death, strange ailments and tragedy for those who reach the top and their loved ones. It is rather like playing Russian roulette- there is one live bullet in the six empty chambers of the pistol and one doesn’t quite know when that bullet will go off when the trigger is pulled. The gamble and risks taken are not only compulsive but they are also addictive and at the same time utterly deadly. Sadly the result is as follows- virtually every single one of our national leaders and those that have ever ruled this country has suffered immeasurably at some point or the other in their lives, whether it be before, during or after they came to power. They too have shed tears in the loneliness of their closets and have eaten portions of what the bible describes as the ‘’bread of sorrows’’. Yes, even the rich and powerful cry and even they suffer loss and tragedy. This is the case for leaders all over the world but in Nigeria it is far more pronounced and common than anywhere else. Here the angel of death, misfortune and sorrow seem to stalk those that find power and, like an ugly old crow plucks out the pink feathers and precious eyes of a beautiful flamingo, she cuts short and plucks away their lives or the lives of their loved ones. Like a light bulb attracts a moth and leads it to a sudden end, so power attracts those who seek it with equally tragic consequences. As painful as it is, let us look at the facts.

    In the early ‘60’s, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first Premier of the Western Region, lost his first son and years later his second son and second daughter were cut short in the prime of their lives. Chief S.L. Akintola, his bitter poiltical rival and the second Premier of the Western Region also lost his first daughter in the early ‘60’s and a few years later lost his third and youngest son. His second son was also cut short in his prime a number of years later. Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode, the Deputy Premier of the Western Region, who was a close ally and second in command to S.L. Akintola, lost his second son. Sir Adesoji Aderemi, who was the Ooni of Ife, a close ally of Awolowo and the first ceremonial Governor of the old Western Region, lost his first son. Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Premier of the old Eastern Region and Nigeria’s first and only ceremonial President, lost his first wife.

    President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s second democratically-elected President lost four wives and one son whilst Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of the Northern Region, lost two sons and one daughter. Awolowo and Obasanjo went to jail for three years each whilst Ahmadu Bello went to jail for three months.

    S.L. Akintola was killed in the prime of his life just as were Ahmadu Bello and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s first democratically-elected leader and Prime Minister. As a matter of fact they were all killed on the same night- the night of January 15th 1966. President Shehu Shagari, Nigeria’s second democratically-elected leader and first executive President lost four children whilst he was in power and was locked up for over two years after he was toppled. Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12th 1993 Presidential election, lost two wives, was locked up for 4 years and was eventually killed. Chief Bola Ige, the first democratically-elected Governor of Oyo state and the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation lost his first son and he himself was later murdered. Chief Bisi Onabanjo, the first democratically-elected Governor of Ogun state lost his first son. Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first democratically elected Governor of Lagos state, lost his first daughter. Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, the second democratically-elected Governor of Oyo state lost his son. Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, the first Minister of Finance of Nigeria was killed. Chief Alfred Rewane, one of the founding members of the Action Group and a leading figure in NADECO, was killed. The list is endless and I could go on and on.

    Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua was Minister of Lagos Affairs in the First Republic. He was blessed with a long and peaceful life. However, two of his sons were not so lucky. His first son, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who was number two to General Obasanjo when he was military Head of State and who for many decades was one of the most powerful men in the country, was murdered whilst he was in prison. His second son, President Umaru Yar’Adua, was cut short in his prime by a strange and inexplicable ailment after he had been President for only three years. He was succeeded by his number two, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan lost his brother and his mother-in-law one year after the other after he became President. Worse still those that he had been deputy to throughout his political life, either as Deputy Governor or Vice President, always suffered one form of misfortune or the other, whether it be death, shame, incarceration or impeachment, and he would end up stepping into their shoes and taking their place.

    When it comes to our military rulers the story of consistent tragedy is no different- General Aguiyi-Ironsi, our first military Head of State was killed. General Yakubu Gowon, our second military Head of State, was toppled from power, exiled and lost his brother. General Murtala Mohammed, our third military Head of State, was killed and lost both his son and son-in-law. General Olusegun Obasanjo was our fourth military Head of State and we touched on his misfortunes earlier. General Muhammadu Buhari, our fifth military Head of State, was toppled from power, locked up for a number of years, lost his mother whilst he was in detention and was not allowed to attend her burial, lost his number two (General Tunde Idiagbon) in very strange circumstances and later lost his daughter. General Ibrahim Babangida, our sixth military Head of State, was eased out of power and compelled to ‘’step aside’’ amidst massive controversy and turmoil and later lost his wife. His number two, Rear Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, lost his first son. Chief Ernest Shonekan, our first and only Interim Civilian Head of State, was badly humiliated and toppled from power. General Sani Abacha, our seventh military Head of State, lost his son, was removed from power and was killed. General Abdulsalmi Abubakar, our eigth military Head of State, as far as I am aware is the only exception and appears to have escaped any misfortune.

    Yet the picture is very depressing. This is indeed a catalogue of tragic events. Sorrow and pain just appears to be following sorrow and pain. It is a vicious circle of misfortune and calamity. Yet the most curious phenomenon and bizarre series of events of all is the fact that every single Head of State or President that has ruled our country from the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock, Abuja for three years or more has either ended up dying whilst there or has lost a spouse before leaving office. Babangida did not stay in the Villa in Abuja for up to three years so he and his wife escaped what has come to be known as the ‘’Villa curse’’. It was the same for Chief Ernest Shonekan who, wisely, never stayed at the Villa at all but who chose to preside over the affairs of the nation from Aguda house next door and who remained in power for barely six months. General Abdulsalami Abubakar stayed at the Villa but he remained there for less than a year. However Abacha, Obasanjo and Yar’adua were not so lucky- each of them stayed at the Villa for three years or more and before the end of their tenure they either lost their own life or the life of their spouse whilst there. The story is that once the three year mark is passed the curse sets in and the clock begins to tick. At the end of the day only one of the two spouses comes out alive. As my friend and brother Mr. Femi Adesina of the Sun Newspaper once wrote, I say ‘’Jumping Jehoshaphat’’. This is truly frightful. Yet one wonders- is it all a mere coincidence or is there more to it than meets the eye?

    Are these ‘’inevitable acts of God’’ or is it the work of the devil? Is there such a thing as a curse or a jinxed existence or place? Most of us believe in blessings and blessed places yet can we believe in blessings without believing in curses? Can we believe in the power of light and God without believing in the power of darkness and the devil? Can you have one without the other? Can there be good without evil? These are indeed strange and curious events but is the whole thing nothing but superstitious humbug? Possibly so, though I doubt it very much. Yet the truth is that I am simply guided by the facts and we must each make of them what we will.

    In his book titled ‘’The Screwtape Letters’’ the great 20th century scholar, writer and philosopher Professor C.S. Lewis wrote- ‘’there are two schools of thoughts about demons. Firstly that they do not exist at all and secondly that they exist but that they have no power’’. He then wrote that ‘’the demons themselves are equally pleased with both schools of thought and they view the atheist with as much disdain and amusement as they do the materialist’’. He goes on to say that ‘’the greatest trick that the devil ever played on humanity was to make mankind believe that he does not exist’’. These are powerful insights, wise counsel and instructive words coming from a man that is generally regarded as being at par with the likes of Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Homer, J.R.R.Tolkien, Plato, Tolstoy, Voltaire, Aristotle and Paul of Tarsus and who is one of the greatest and most influential writers and philosophers that ever lived.

    Whatever the case and whoever we choose to believe it is my sincere prayer that the Villa curse is broken (assuming that such a curse exists) and that no-one else will suffer the same fate as those that lived there for three years or more before them. Given the fact that the bible says that the Lord ‘’reveals to redeem’’ and that the blood of Jesus is more powerful than any curse I have every confidence that eventually it will be.

    I am not a superstitious man but I don’t believe in coincidences either. Where there is a consistent pattern of strange and similar occurences and a series of bizarre and inexplicable events then good old-fashioned common sense and logic demands that questions must be asked and answers must be provided. When one considers all these facts and series of misfortunes that have trailed our leaders in the last 53 years of our existence as an independent nation one cannot but conclude that there has indeed been a harvest of hardship, pain and death attached to the highest, most powerful and most prominent offices in the land and to those that are close to or have occupied it.

    The truth is that power comes at a terrible price and those that wield it have, more often than not, experienced terrible pain and anguish in their lives. That is the price that virtually every single one of them has had to pay. What a tragedy. Yet at the end of the day I wonder whether it is all worth it. For as the bible says, it is nothing but ‘’vanity upon vanity- all is vanity’’. May the Lord continue to comfort and heal the wounds of all those that have lost their loved ones over the years, including every single family or person that is mentioned or referred to in this essay, and may the souls of the departed continue to rest in perfect peace. The morale of the tale? For all those that are either in the power game or politics themselves or that have loved ones that are involved in it my counsel is that they pray, pray and pray again and that they break every known and unknown covenant. As a matter of fact, as the bible says, they must ‘’pray without ceasing’’ for both themselves and their loved ones.

    I say this because this battle is real. Yet, ‘’our weapons are not carnal but are mighty through God in the pulling down of strongholds’’. May we never be at the wrong place at the wrong time and may our loved ones never be the victims of spiritual bullets that are meant for us. Such bullets, in the good old fashioned Mountain of Fire (MFM) way, shall ‘’die by fire’’ and ‘’return back to sender’’. We decree and we declare that the counsel of the ungodly shall not stand over our lives and loved ones and that ‘’no weapon fashioned against us shall prosper’’. Thankfully we have come to the end of the flight and we have landed safely. You may now unfasten your seatbelts. I hope that it wasn’t too turbulent. Cheer up, be strong and keep smiling because despite all the tragedy, sorrow, death and ugliness it is still a beautiful world and much joy can still be found in it. The Lord is faithful to His own. May God be with us all.

     

  • Group urges Fayemi, Bamidele to reconcile

    Group urges Fayemi, Bamidele to reconcile

    The Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Groups (COSEG) has urged Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and House of Representatives member Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele to reconcile in the interest of the progressive bloc in the state.

    The group also warned politicians not to plunge Ekiti State into chaos, ahead of the 2014 governorship election.

    COSEG’s warning came on the heel of the recent reports of disruption of political meetings, maiming and killings, accusations and counter-accusations between the two camps in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The group urged the supporters of the two politicians to embrace peace.

    COSEG warned in a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Dayo Ogunlana, and Secretary, Mr. Razaq Olokoba, that any crack in the wall may make the enemy of the progressives to plot evil.

    The group urged the two leaders to guide against any act that could cause irreparable damage to the polity and socio-economic life of the people of the state, in particular, and Yoruba nation in general.

    COSEG wondered why should two brothers from the same party, who have paid their dues in the struggle of the Yoruba people and Nigerians for democracy, could become political foes.

    The association advised them to sink their personal differences and work for the good of Ekitiland.

    The group said that the political rivalry should not be allowed to degenerate into the ugly rift between Chiefs Adekunle Ajasin and Akin Omoboriowo, which led to killing, maiming and wanton destruction of property in the old Ondo State.

    COSEG added: “Ekiti is not only a centre of knowledge well known for the industry, it is also an important epicenter of Yoruba politics. Any major crisis in Ekiti would definitely not augur well for the rest of Yoruba, particularly at this time when the grounds lost to political miscalculations about a decade ago have just been regained and are being consolidated.

    “It is on this note that COSEG calls on well meaning Yoruba elders, both within and outside political parties, to join hands in stemming the tide of an impending disaster because a stitch in time, it is said, saves nine”