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Category: People & Politics

  • Why there can’t be female president in near future — Olufunke Arthur-Worrey

    Why there can’t be female president in near future — Olufunke Arthur-Worrey

    •Reveals the secrets of her good health at 94

    •Why I’ve retained  northerners as guards for 40 years

     

    Former President of the International Women Society (IWS), Chief Olufunke Arthur-Worrey, is the younger sister of the late nationalist lawyer, journalist, trade unionist and politician, Chief H. O. Davies. The 94-year-old mother of a former Lagos State Commissioner for Land, Fola Arthur-Worrey, and holder of high traditional titles from prominent Lagos, Delta and Osun communities spoke with GBENGA ADERANTI about her private life and the state of the nation, among other issues.

     

    At 94, you still come across as a fit and witty individual. What is the secret?

    If you believe in one God, everything is possible. One of the things I can say about my life at the moment is that God is there for me. He has been looking after me and He has done wonders in my life. I am very lucky my health has been wonderful. I still engage in activities and my faculty is intact. I can see, I eat what I want and I go out voluntarily. I have people around me. My family members are there. Most of my childhood friends have gone to rest but I still have Nigerians looking after me. What else do I need?

    I still belong to a society like the International Women Society. The members of IWS are like my sisters and children. We all still gather. They still ask for my advice and I advise them in whatever way I can.

    I am satisfied and I thank God that I have the facility to enjoy what God has done in my life.

    God has done so many things for me. I’ve seen so many things that cause me to thank God.

    You just spoke about your faculty remaining intact. Can you explain that?

    For instance, I still remember where I keep my things whenever I’m looking for them. You know I am 94. I still remember all the files. If I want something or if my son comes and says, ‘What about the passport of my father?’ or anything like that, I know where exactly it is. And if I keep something like money in a place, I remember where I kept it anytime I want it. When you came in, we talked about politics. That is faculty. Thank God, I can sing. I can pray on my own. I dance and I tell children stories, and I ask them to tell me stories. That is my faculty, and I thank God it is correct. What else do I need? I can walk, I can jump. But at times, something pulls me back and tells me that you are no longer young again.

     Many people of your age are battling one ailment or the other. Does that apply to you?

    God has been wonderful to me health wise. Apart from when I was having my children in England, I hardly go to the hospital. Even some of the time I went to the hospital, it was because I was forced by my son and the family. They would say, ‘Mummy, you have to see a doctor.’ Left to me, I don’t think I have to see a doctor. But they always insist, so I go. The only drug I use regularly is the one prescribed for me to normalise my blood pressure. A family doctor gave me the medicine in England. He said ‘regularly, for the rest of your life, you have to take it.’ I’ve been taking it. Sometimes, the doctors change it.

    But I like eating organic food. We have so many in our markets, especially vegetables and onions. There are some onions in our markets that are better than the ones you get from anywhere. I go for that. I go for okro and I love our native foods like amala and eba. Health wise, you can see me. I thank God. I’m not boasting; I’m just saying the fact so that you will thank God for me.

    I sleep well. I don’t believe in dreams. If I lie down here, I will sleep, especially when I’m watching the television. I just feel comfortable. I’m not rich as such, but I’m comfortable. I thank God for what he has done for me.

    You grew up as a Lagos girl. How was Lagos then?

    The Lagos of those days was like a family. We were so happy together and movement then was easy. You didn’t have to rack your brain before going out. For instance, on the spur of the moment, you could say let’s go to Epe and buy fish or go to Ota and buy vegetables and smoked fish just for a change. Of course, going to Ota then was like going to London. Then, we were so comfortable. The Bar Beach was there for us, unlike now when they have built the Eko Atlantic. We used to go to Eleko. All these little hamlets and beaches, we used to enjoy them. Lagos was fantastic. We didn’t have to bother about anything. We were close. Like my family from Isale Eko, I’m connected with Isale-Eko, Tokunbo, Sango and Ita-Faji. We were so connected. I enjoyed my life. My youth was beautiful, lovely and fantastic.

    You are current not only about what is going on in the country but also around the world. Does that mean you still read?

    I still read novels (points to her collection of books on her bookshelf.)

    How long does it take you to read a novel?

    It depends on its volume. I like poems. I like history. I love history. I love to read about what happened in England and their lives; how they got married, how they started their fight over nothing. Then the current world affairs, how they are all jealous of each other, like Russia and these little countries, the way they go about fighting each other. I like reading about this young North Korea leader; the one that is throwing bombs.  And you go to the Middle East, there were some small countries we used to visit, like Lebanon, Syria, Libya. You remember when Ghadafi was their head of state. Nigerians used to go to Tripoli to trade.

    Another thing I do now is to travel throughout the world by looking at the world map, the atlas. Now I know Nigeria more by knowing all the nooks and crannies, how we are connected and all that; and to our neighbours in Chad and Niger. The world is wonderful. I read a lot. It is part of me, I must read. I read magazines. I love to read about people. I’m still learning every day to know more about Europe, about the world and the connections. Recently, I asked myself, our children who are going to Tripoli, how do they do it? Then I started looking at the connection with Africa, all the way from Nigeria to Tripoli, and I said it is a lot of wahala (trouble). I looked at Egypt and I saw the Suez Canal where there was a blockade recently. I learn so much. That is my life.

    I still go to my IWS meeting. I am a member of their (board of) trustees. I still go to Abeokuta, my mother’s family, in Decembers for family harvest.

    The outbreak of COVID-19 must have affected your movement. How have you been managing?

    Yes. I hate covering my nose, but these airlines, 100 of them lying down, they can’t fly. All the shops are empty. What is happening in India is alarming. The way they were burning dead people openly really upset me. They are still talking about the second wave and third wave. It is only God that can stop this. This thing came surprisingly. I have been vaccinated. They said we should come back in June to take the next one. What I’m saying is that we are lucky; we got the first one by the grace of God. They said we can’t take half and leave half. They said 75 per cent of the population of Nigeria has taken. What about the rest 25 per cent? What about the beggars on the street? What about the prisoners? What about the aged? What about the villagers, how do you get them? I don’t know. It is only God that can heal the world. I think with the 75 per cent, they have tried. We heard that they would bring more vaccines. I wish Nigeria best of luck.

    When it first came, I remember, they said people would be dying on the streets of Africa. We thank God today and I hope it will get better. There was a report that for two days, nobody died in Lagos. But in our markets, nobody covers their noses. We are in the hands of God. I think God loves Nigeria.

    Some of your guards are still with you. Considering the level of insecurity in Nigeria, one would think you would have replaced them. Why did you choose to retain them?

    Two of them came with me from Ikoyi, Liverton Road. That was in 1967, during the Biafran war when we all left the government. First of all, we went to live at Agege, though we got an offer in Apapa. We had this farmland at Agege where we used to go and spend weekends if we did not travel. We would take friends there. It was like a farmhouse. We would do barbecue, children used to go there and enjoy themselves.  My husband decided that instead of paying so much for Apapa, why couldn’t we go to our farm? We had already built two rooms like a shed. We went there from Ikoyi. People were saying, ‘From Ikoyi to Agege? What is in Agege?’ But we enjoyed it. We had the opportunity to buy everything and we enjoyed the neighbourhood.

    The two (guards), Yaya and Yellow, followed us from Obalende in Ikoyi. They were from Borno. They helped us to put the bungalow there. From there, Yaya left. Yellow too later left. They would not say they were leaving; they would say they were going home. But before they leave, they would bring another person. It has been like that. These people have never bothered me. For security, night and day, they are here. I’ve been lucky with them. I’ve kept them since 1967. They are part of my family. That Baba you see out there has been with me for over 40 years the other one has been with me for 17 years.  I’m afraid that if something has to happen and they have to leave, I don’t know what I will do.

    The only thing is that we want our government to do the right thing. Our government should make people comfortable.

    You said that many of your contemporaries have passed on. How do you feel each time you hear that another one is gone?

    Anybody can go. It can happen at any time. I was looking at the Queen the other day. Queen Elizabeth, who lost her husband recently, is two years older than me. And I looked at her; with all the power, with all the money all over the world, she is still there. Now the husband of seventy-something died. My husband died some 12 years ago. If anybody had said I would be able to live for one year without my husband, I would have said no. But you have to find a way of making yourself happy once you are alive and healthy.

    First of all you must believe in God. You must pray. Once you believe in your God, there is nothing else that will happen to you that will be too big. All my neigbours are gone. Fatai Williams, Justice Ademola, they used to come here and we would play. I can go at any time. I’m ready. But I know I can’t go unless it is my time. But I’m so happy. God has done so much for me. I’m a happy person because God made it like that.

    You are always referring to your late husband. How close were you?

    He was a God sent. He was like my brother. We didn’t take ourselves like a husband and a wife. We were like sister and brother. Something would just happen. If he said this, it would go along with me, I would agree with him. It was not as if we never quarreled. Like every other human being, we had our differences. But when he is hot, I’m cool; when I’m hot, he is cool. He was a good man and I thank God for that.

    What is that thing you’re not likely to forget about him in a hurry?

    I will never forget him because he is always there for me. Whenever we wanted to travel, he was the one that was always  doing the packing and preparations because I never had the patience to do the packing properly. We travelled a lot. He would say, ‘Funke, you can’t travel like that.’ He would arrange everything patiently.

    He was a good man and a man of God. He believed that whatever would be would be. Anytime I was jittery over a thing he would say, ‘Funke, don’t bother yourself.’ He has been looking after me since his death. There has been no problem.

    Do you see a woman emerging Nigerian president in the near future?

    You never can tell. But the way Nigeria is planned, it could be difficult. Earlier, let us say about 25 years ago, I would have said that it was possible. But the way things are right now, I would not deceive myself. Even for a woman to become a governor, it is difficult. Out of the 36 states, do we have a state that has a woman as governor? No. It will be very difficult. To me I don’t see it possible now, but maybe in the future, because anything is possible. We have so many brilliant women that would have made Nigeria better, but there is a blockage. At the moment I can’t see the way unless we want to deceive ourselves.

  • Wike as an apostle of even development

    Wike as an apostle of even development

    By Paulinus Nsirim

    When Governor Nyesom Wike declared on  Saturday, January 30, 2021, that discussions have been concluded to commence the construction of the Trans-Kalabari Road, which will ease transportation difficulties experienced by the people of Kalabari Ethnic Nationality, the announcement was greeted with mixed feelings.

    The diverse feelings of hope, skepticism, disbelief, déjâ vú and forlon nostalgia were understandable for the simple reason that the Trans-Kalabari Road project has been one of the major talking points in the Rivers political calibration since 1999.

    The nostalgia was even more poignant, as many Rivers people, especially the  people of Kalabari  will recall that in December 2012, the administration of the day had assured the people of Kalabari that the Road would be completed before the exit of that regime from office in 2015.

    The so called assurance that the road remains top priority of that administration, had been made with boastful audacity, at a town hall meeting in Buguma, headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, in the following words, “The Trans-Kalabari road is coming and we have awarded the contract to Lubriks for the sum of N21billion. We have agreed to take it to Buguma so by January we will mobilise the contractor to site”.

    Alas, just like the Karibi Whyte Memorial Hospital and the grotesque, daylight robbery monorail project that assaults the sensibilities, the Trans-Kalabari road joined other white elephant projects of that administration, which its spin doctors have been trying with frenzied misleading propaganda to re-present.

    So, when Governor Wike declared, during the reception organised for the conferment of the special chieftaincy title, Eze Gbuwara Uzo1 of Ikwerre on Sir Celestine Omehia, former Governor of Rivers State, at Isiokpo Town in Ikwerre Local Government Area, on Saturday, January 30, 2021, the expectations also carried a tinge of real hope.

    The reason was not far fetched. It was not only that the announcement had come on the heels of a marathon inauguration of quality projects across the state, but the faith and belief that Governor Wike had already pledged to complete legacy projects he started in every Local Government Area in the State, during his tenure.

    Affirming the seriousness of the Rivers State Government to commence the Trans-Kalabari Road project, Governor Wike said: “I and the Deputy Governor, together with the Chairman of the Rivers State Elders Council, have agreed on how the Trans-kalabari Road will follow. Those who said we don’t want to do anything in the Kalabari area, today they are sending me text messages to thank me.”

    To add the icing on the cake, the Governor said that with several projects inaugurated in the various local governmentsbof the State, most critics who accused him of being sectional with his development programme are now ashamed and silenced.

    “So many people have said that I am discriminating in terms of projects. Now, when they saw us go to the various Local Governments to commission projects, they don’t say anything again,” he stated.

    Two months later, on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, the Rivers State Executive Council approved the construction of the Trans-Kalabari and Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road projects at the cost of N27.6billion.

    It will also be recalled that Governor Wike had, during the January 30 reception for Sir Celestine Omehia  equally declared that: “When we were constructing Sakpeenwa -Bori  Road, some politicians in our party were carrying propaganda. They were saying that we are not going to complete it.

    “But, they now have one of the best roads in the state. Some of them were even ashamed to watch it on television. We have also agreed that from Sakpeenwa to Bori, we are awarding fresh contract to take it to Kono town.”

    Little wonder therefore that an avalanche of encomiums, ranging from lyrical to poetic and the unrestrained outpouring of joy  by top politicians, media gurus, statesmen and an appreciative community witnessing an infrastructure miracle they had only dared to dream about, greeted the commissioning of the the first phase, 16.06 kilometers, dual carriage Sakpenwa-Bori Highway by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Lawrence Ugwuanyi  on Tuesday, January 5, 2021

    Now, with the approval for the construction of Phase 2 and indeed the award of the Trans-Kalabari road, Rivers people have already concurred that these are two more promises made and kept by the promise keeping Governor who is building legacy projects all over Rivers State.

    Elloka Tasie-Amadi, speaking at a Press Briefing on the approval for the construction of the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Phase 2 Road project said the project which starts from Bori to Kono, “is a 17 kilometer road and the cost of the project is N14 Billion. Construction time is 14 months. Payment will also be secured by an irrevocable payment standing order of N1 billion monthly drawn against the State Internal Revenue.”

    The Works Commissioner further stated that the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono contract will be executed by the same the company that executed the Phase 1 of the road , Chinese Civil and Engineering Construction Corporation, adding, for emphasis, that the reason the cost of the Trans-Kalabari road which is 13 kilometers long and 9.3 meters wide is almost the same as that of Bori- Kono 17.1 kilometers and 24 meters wide road with street light, is because the terrains are different.

    “You see the cost of building in the riverine area is nothing less than twice the cost of building on solid soil. So the Government is going through huge trouble to see that these roads are built. People will wonder why the cost are like that, the terrain determines the cost. So, the Trans-Kalabari Road  is far more expensive to build.”

    Shedding more light on the Trans-Kalabari Road, Tasie-Amadi explained that the road will connect several communities amongst them Krakama, Omekwe-ama, Angula-ama, Mina-ama and some other communities in the Kalabari area of the State.

    “The project will cost N13.6billion and will have 14 months duration, financed by an irrevocable standing payment order drawn against the State Internal Revenue, meaning that every month the contractor will be paid N1 Billon and there will be no delays.

    “This will guarantee the project is not stalled and completed within the time frame stipulated and agreed with the State Government. This I believe will be useful to the people and open the area for economic activities,” he added.

    There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever, that the award of the Trans-Kalabari Road by the Governor Wike’s administration is historic. Many will recall that the previous government awarded the road to indigenes of the area who later abandoned the project for inexplicable reasons.

    It had also been the most devious unique selling point in a completely dubious and misleading election propaganda of a political party, which had trumpeted the ethnic mantra that only a Riverine Governor would deliver the Trans-Kalabari Road, with their leader even audaciously foisting a business accomplice as the anointed messiah on the hapless followers. Now they will hide their heads in shame.

    Finally, for those who have been shouting themselves hoarse with the broken chant that Governor Wike is only developing Port Harcourt and Obio Akpor, these two major road projects; the Trans-Kalabari and the Phase 2 of Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Roads, are located outside the city centre and this is a further testimony that Governor Wike has remained steadfast in spreading development to all the nooks and crannies of the State.

    Most importantly, the two legacy roads projects are expected to be completed within the next fourteen months and with the kind of payment plan already structured for its operations, these projects will not be abandoned, but will definitely be completed and commissioned with ample time to spare,  before the administration’s tenure elapses.

    This not only consolidates Governor Wike’s promise that no project will be abandoned in his tenure, it further reinforces the undeniable fact that the Wike’s administration is only desirous of delivering projects that will impact positively and ensure the betterment of Rivers State and her people.

    • Nsirim is the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Rivers State

     

     

  • Governor Inuwa Yahaya as child nutrition champion

    Governor Inuwa Yahaya as child nutrition champion

    By Ismaila Uba Misilli 

    The recent award of excellence conferred on Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State as Nutrition Champion for the Nigerian Child by the International Society of Media in Public Health was, beyond the symbolic expression, a worthy leadership appreciation in reversing a harrowing medical trend as it was also a call to duty.

    Of course, the history behind the award and its true meaning in humanising society through human capital development in the state cannot be overemphasized, which indeed underlined the importance of the award.

    Until recently, malnutrition was a major health concern in Gombe State with the attendant classification of the state as one with a high record of children not being able to grow to their potentials. Yes, that’s the implication of malnutrition when it is left to do damage to the development of a child.

    According to the Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research, a key indicator of malnutrition is stunting, “considered to be a very vital proxy for not only chronic nutritional deficit but for long term socio-economic deprivation among children and the society at large”.

    In a recent research carried out in Gombe State aimed at determining the prevalence of stunting and its association with socio-demographic factors among school children, the prevalence of stunting was established especially among children in public schools compared with those in private schools just as low academic performance was also “significantly associated with high prevalence of stunting”.

    Hence it was recommended that a multi-sectoral approach to addressing the problem be instituted by government and all stakeholders. And this was how the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) commenced in Gombe State in partnership with UNICEF.

    The programme was originally piloted in three local government areas comprising 15 specialist centres. While UNICEF provided capacity building and supply of ready-to-use therapeutic food, the state and local governments provided the structures, manpower and supply of essential drugs. So far, so good. The programme has been very successful even with greater prospects of totally eradicating any form of malnutrition in the state.

    It has to be stated that like some other development initiatives in the state where partnership had been a strategic plank of government’s development process, the timely provision of the state’s counterpart funding helped significantly in getting the desired result.

    Alluding to the situation at the award ceremony held virtually, Governor Inuwa Yahaya noted with dismay that in spite of the human and natural resources the state is endowed with, the incidence of malnutrition was regrettably allowed to become a blight like in other vulnerable states for too long, a development which necessitated his government’s proactive action to combat it at the outset of his administration.

    “We have a lot of food products that we produce locally but somehow some where the state failed to utilize them properly for the benefit of the children. So when I became governor, I realized that we are still so backward on the issue and I took it upon myself to relate with development partners and agencies in order to achieve the objective of giving proper nutrition to our children”, he stated.

    However, going forward and in consonance with the challenge of sustainability, the programme has also undergone some review and renewal, making it so pivotal to look inwards in the essential provision of the basic ingredients.  In this regard, the state government has innovated on the idea of sourcing local materials to keep going.

    The understanding here being that government cannot continue to rely on the support from development partners indefinitely, hence the directive from the governor to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to find some means of having direct relationship with the Institute of Agricultural Research at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria so that Gombe State can now develop and produce a formula for the benefit of children in the state.

    In order to realize the above strategic objective, the administration has committed over N30 million in this fiscal year on direct production and the state has already gotten certification from NAFDAC which has since prompted the distribution of ready-to-use therapeutic food to various units within the local government areas so that children across the state can benefit from it.

    By the thinking of government, this initiative is going to be a permanent solution to the malnutrition challenges in the state since all the basic materials required like soya beans, maize, groundnuts and saseme are all available in the state.

    Waxing very optimistic on the development, Governor Inuwa Yahaya stated thus, “We have gotten the formula and the Technology Incubation Centre in Gombe has provided the basic machines required in order to continuously produce and I believe going forward, Gombe will come to be listed out of those states that have issues of malnutrition”.

    Governor Yahaya acknowledged the support and encouragement his administration is getting from the various development partners and allied strategic institutions, adding that Gombe State will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies and bodies in order to rid the state and entire country from the menace of malnutrition.

    The Executive Director of the organization, Mrs Moji Makanjuola, lauded the governor’s 10-year development plan which emphasizes HOD with a special focus on nutrition and related policies tackling issues affecting children.

    On a broader note, the nutrition programme is also very helpful in mitigating maternal and child mortality because good nutrition is key to sound health development for both mother and child with the concomitant effect on economic growth and development.

    In the words of USAID, “optimal maternal nutrition contributes to the survival of both mother and child and promotes women’s overall health, productivity and wellbeing”. This position has also been shared by UNICEF by calling for increased focus on mother and child nutrition as the backbone of a healthy life and with the salient reminder that such steps were critical in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.

    On national scale, the UN expects achievement on the SDG’s target of reducing maternal mortality by ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and end the preventable death of children under five years of age to as low as 25 per 1000 live births. These are major health issues the Gombe State Government is working hard to address and with the ongoing programme to solidify good nutrition base in the state, the future of our children is very bright by attaining their potentials in life.

    • Misilli is Director-General ( Press Affairs) Government House Gombe 
  • BAMIDELE ALIMI: I believe in work, life balance

    BAMIDELE ALIMI: I believe in work, life balance

    Chief Bamidele Abayomi Alimi is Director-General/CEO at the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria, a think tank serving the public and the organised private sector. In this interview with IBRAHIM APEKHADE YUSUF, the Osun-born technocrat, who had a glorious journalism career spanning almost two decades before joining the corporate world of business, recounts fond memories of his working career, and shares life lessons on how to be a success within and outside the boardroom. Excerpts:

     

    When does your typical day begin?

    My typical day begins at about 5.am. I used to set an alarm clock at 5.am. but over the years, my body system has become attuned to the time that I don’t need an alarm clock to wake me up again. Once it’s 5am, I just wake up. But I don’t leave the house until 6am. That’s how my day begins.

    What’s your management style?

    Well, my management is very situational. It depends on where I find myself. So what I do depends on where I’m. As a manager, you could find yourself in a pioneer position, or correctional. If you find yourself in a place where there has been a restructuring, you’re in a pioneer situation moreorless. In that case, you’re like a surgeon who is in an operation. All you need to do is to call for a scalpel. In that case, you will be a little autocratic. But if you find yourself in a company that is doing well and are already in a plateau, and they want you to take them to the next level of their growth, you must be collaborative. The only thing I would like to add is that the most important part of the job is the people. If you must succeed at your work, you must learn to work with the people. It can be any other.

    What’s your management philosophy?

    My management philosophy is start with the people, work with the people and end with the people. As a good leader, you must learn to carry them along.

    Do you delegate responsibility or micromanage people?

    I delegate but don’t abdicate. I delegate with a lot of responsibility. I still supervise but I don’t micromanage.

    Are you a team player?

    Like I said earlier, I’m a team player. I love asking for advice because it is always interesting to listen to other perspectives. I like to work with lazy but smart people because they will always show you the smartest way to do things.

    What motivates you?

    That’s a big one. I think my major motivation is God and I say this because if I look at where I was before and see where I am now, I know it’s all been  due to God’s unmerited favour, mercy and grace in my life. For me, I don’t there is anything impossible to achieve and I used to tell everybody about it using one Yoruba saying that, ‘Olohun ase,’ meaning the Lord will do it. And people would always call my attention that, ‘Look, you’re always saying Olohun ase?’ So I tell them since I have been saying it has the Lord not been doing or answering the prayers? And then they’ll keep quite. So God is my motivation and would always be.

    What makes you tick?

    Maybe because I have so much faith in God, I tend to do everything with the fear of God. I’m a family man to the core so everybody is hanging on my neck. So I ensure that whatever I do, I’m fair to my family. What really makes me tick is doing things that are acceptable to my faith and that would be acceptable to my creed.

    How do you motivate your staff?

    For me staff motivation comes in different ways and it varies a lot too depending on the leader of that organisation. Remember, I didn’t say a boss and that’s the difference. When we are handling a project I carry everyone along in the delivery of the project and when we’re successful what I do normally is that I send out emails to everybody in that team thanking them for the work they’ve done on that project and actually tell them how successful the project has been. Even sometimes making them know the financial success of that project. If it’s not so successful I would let them know and we would discuss how to make a lot more successful the next time.

    But for them, especially for those who are working with me now, it’s not a system they are used to because they have never really been carried along that way so it motivates them to want to do better. So when I set up teams within my team to work on a particular project, everybody puts their hearts on it.  And I also ensure that people are well-motivated. Motivation comes in different ways not just about pay because sometimes as a CEO, you’re not in total control of the pay structure because the pay structure is also in relation to the revenue of the organisation and there is a limit to how far you can go. But then, when people know that they are earning a wage that is commensurate with the efforts they’re putting in, they become more faithful to the organisation and a lot more productive too. There are some little things. For instance, if a staff comes to you, and wants to tell you some things that are happening to them personally.

    Like I said it’s not just about work all the time, it’s also about the people.so how do you empathise? How do you advice? Are you interested in their personal lives? All these things are what I put into my own system to motivate my staff. For example there was I time I saw a staff, a lady actually. I just noticed that she was looking fray, so I called her and asked her about what was happening to her and she said she was alright. I looked at her again over a period and she wasn’t doing so fine. So I asked her colleagues to speak with her, maybe she could opened up more for them. And when I saw that this thing wasn’t getting any better, I gave her an open cheque to go take care of herself in an hospital and assured her that her salaries would be paid for the period she is out of work. And she went. She was a way for three months. Today, she is one of my best staff. For me, it’s not just about the work. If you make people the cornerstone of your organisation, they are always to get their best at all times.

    Do you apply the stick and carrot approach?

    I think the stick and carrot approach is very old and archaic way of management. I think the world has evolved beyond that. Instead of stick and carrot, I’m more into welfare. I try to understand the expectation from the staff, the executive management and the board itself. But for me, ethics and integrity is very key. I don’t compromise.

    What’s the best decision you have taken thus far?

    One experience stands out vividly and that was when I was working with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). I was on working on a project, which was a major revenue generating stream. The mandate was to help improve the performance and I took some decisions which made a lot of difference and in the next three years, we were almost grossing over 500 per cent profit with the same number of manpower. That remains one of the best decisions in my working career.

    What’s the worst decision you have taken in your working career?

    I think I have two of such experiences. It was a situation where we were a company was going through a reorganisation process and we had to let some staff to go. It was very difficult for me but that decision had to be taken.

    What lessons has life taught you?

    There are loads of lessons. One experience I have learnt in life is to be good at what you do, be good in your relationship with people, be consistent too. Don’t let anybody pull you down.

    What’s your definition of success, career-wise?

    Well, success for me is very relative. For me, success is having a balance in your profession and also with your family because there is no point been a success person in your profession and not achieving same level of success with your family. I think for me, your family, spouse, children are also part of the equation too. To be successful, you must be able to carry along all your constituencies. Most times success after all, is not the amount of money you have or the wealth you have amassed. No. It goes beyond all of these material acquisitions. But it’s a combination of a lot of things.

    What are your other areas of interest besides business?

    I have always loved farming. It has always been a passion for me. I have a farm in my state. I do quite a lot of farming because I believe so much in agriculture. I think when I retire from my 9-5 job; I will go into full scale farming.

    How do you unwind?

    I always tell people I’m a workaholic. I do work a lot. Once I set my mind to get something done, I don’t rest until that thing is done. But I do have leisure time. Sometimes I go to the movies with my spouse.  I also go to my social club, that’s the Ikoyi Club. Of course, in the last few months or thereabouts it’s been a little difficult to do so because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I play golf though I’m still at the beginning stage. But most of the time I watch movies, I read and I love listening to all kinds of music, especially indigenous music. I listen to Apala, I listen to Sakara, I listen to Fuji, I listen to Juju and of course, I do listen to foreign music too. So, I’m a music buff; music turns me on any day, anytime. The other thing I do for leisure, sometimes I go to matured clubs with a friend or two. So that’s how unwind. My maxim is that, ‘I work hard, and I play hard too!’

    What was the last book you read and when?

    The last book I read I have read it before and I’m re-reading it again because we now have a session in my organisation, Read one Book a Month. The book we’re reading this month is ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ I have read it before but because we’re going to have a review session with all the staff, myself along with everybody, our HR Manager said, we should all read it so, I’m also reading it as well. I’m reading it as I speak with you now. So that’s the last book I have read.

    What’s your choice holiday destination?

    I have been to quite a lot of places. Incidentally, my choice holiday destination is a place I have not been to and it’s the Caribbean. I have been to Dubai, South Africa. I love the Caribbean but I have not been there. May be when I retire, I’ll go there.

    What’s your sense of style?

    I have a very simple fashion sense. I love dressing well and I’m more of an accessory person. I like wearing good and fitting clothes. I’m not an expensive dresser. I love wearing simple clothes and because I’m a tall person, I also don’t wear very flashy things but I love very good shoes. I’m a sucker for shoes! I love very good belts when I’m wearing one. I love very god wristwatches and my favourite colour is actually blue. But most of the time when I’m actually dressed for work wearing suits; you’ll see me 99 percent of the time wearing a white shirt or a crossed shirt once in a while underneath.  But my favourite colour is still blue. So when I’m not in the official capacity , when I’m not wearing a suit, most likely you’ll see me in my blue agbada or my blue buba and sokoto. I’m a very good dresser and I love accessories; starting from my shoes. I can spend any amount on shoes because I love wearing good shoes. I remember when I was in school I said to myself that whatever I do with my looks, I’m going to make sure my shoes are impeccable. I met somebody who said the first thing people see about you, especially a man is your shoe and they can determine who you are, how you’re by just looking at your shoes before even looking at your clothes. So my dress sense is very simple. I wear anything that makes me comfortable. But I want to be neat all the time and I love wearing simple dresses. So that’s my dress sense.

    How do you maintain your looks, do you follow any particular beauty regimen?

    Well, men don’t usually do so much. We’re lucky. I’m somebody who likes to appear anywhere I’m neat and good. And how do I maintain it, I ensure that I use the kind of enhancement that is good for my skin. The skin is very important. I have a very sensitive skin so I have been using antiseptic soaps from when I was quite young. I also use mild body cream that maintains my natural colour and I make sure that all the time I don’t expose my skin to irritants. I keep my hair well. I just used what I’m comfortable in. because for the kind of job I do, right from when I was a journalist, I believe the first impression last longest so I try to create a very good impression by dressing well and looking wear so that I can be accepted anywhere I find myself.

    Do you cook?

    Yes I do. I love cooking. I come from a family of boys and one girl. My mum never spared any of us the boys. We were always in the kitchen. My favourite dish is amala and ewedu and I know how to prepare it too.

    Do you do the dishes after eating?

    Sure of course I do even though they don’t allow me in the house. But most times when I stay outside the home because of the nature of my job, I do the dishes wherever I’m.

  • Mai Tangale crisis: Suspicion persists after bloody day in Gombe community

    Mai Tangale crisis: Suspicion persists after bloody day in Gombe community

    By Sola Shittu, Gombe

    Billiri, the second largest town in Gombe State is a quiet, peaceful and unarguably a civilised town, going by the number of its educated sons and daughters scattered within and outside the country. On Friday, February 19, however, the peaceful agrarian community erupted in a violence that claimed four lives and led to loss of properties worth hundreds of millions of naira over the appointment of a new Mai Tangale.

    The process for the selection of a new Mai Tangale, the traditional ruler of Billiri, the heart of Tangale/Waja Kingdom, a predominantly Christan community in Gombe State, reached the final stage on Monday, February 15 with the selection of three names by the kingmakers, which were forwarded to Governor Inuwa Yahaya for appointment of one of them as the successor of the late 16th Mai Tangale, Dr. Abdu Buba Maisheru, who was also the Chairman of the Association of Christian Traditional Rulers in the North East.

    The Tangales are notably great warriors, fighters and hunters in Gombe South. From 23 candidates, the number was reduced to three by the nine Tangale kingmakers, five of which voted for Dr. Musa Maiyamba while the remaining four shared their votes into two for each of Ahmad Magaji and Danladi Maishanu. The three names were immediately submitted to the Governor on that same Monday night when the voting was concluded.

    Prior to that time, however, there had been rumours of government interest in the process, particularly in favour of a candidate with fewer votes from the kingmakers and less popularity. The rumour became stronger on Tuesday, forcing the women in Billiri to block the Yola highway which runs through the town to neighbouring states and outside the country.

    It started like a joke, but the women remained on the road for three days, resisting any perceived attempt by the government to foist an unpopular candidate on them. Three government officials, including the Billiri Local Government Chairperson were sent by the state government to pacify the protesters but they were turned back.

    By Friday afternoon when The Nation visited the community, the tension had risen to a crescendo. After passing through more than 10 checkpoints mounted by the women, we eventually arrived at the last one with the hope of gaining access to Billiri in order to speak with the kingmakers, but that was how far we could go. The women turned the reporter and others back after granting them interviews. They said that if they allowed us, the truck drivers who had been delayed for more than three days would threaten to run over them.

    Mai Tangale crisis
    •The carnage after the violence

    Our correspondent and others who were with him had barely driven for 500 metres when pickup vans of armed policemen and soldiers deployed in the community arrived. The tension escalated, culminating in the death of four persons, massive destruction and vandalisation of properties with two policemen injured.

    Governor Inuwa Yahaya, who was in Abuja, arrived on Saturday and moved straight to Billiri to inspect the extent of the damages. A visibly angry Yahaya described the destruction as an act of uncivilised people. He said there was no reason for the violence because the state government had not made any pronouncement on the matter.

    According to him, he had approached the Mai Tangale succession processes with a high sense of responsibility because, as part of Gombe State’s cultural tradition, any decision he takes will have far reaching implications on not only the Tangale chiefdom but the entire Gombe State.

    “That is why I undertook widespread consultations, conducted background checks and engaged in personal reflection in order to arrive at a decision that is in the best interest of the people and the state.

    “Let it be clear that it is within my powers as governor to appoint any of the three recommended candidates to become the new Mai Tangale. Let it also be clear that no official pronouncement was made about any candidate before, during and after the eruption of violence in Billiri Local Government Area.

    “The violence was orchestrated by some unpatriotic individuals who thought they could blackmail the government into announcing their preferred candidate. Let me make it clear that our administration will never fall into any blackmail, threat, intimidation or witch-hunt from any individual or group, no matter how highly placed.”

    Governor Yahaya’s power to appoint, depose or remove any traditional ruler is derived from section 8(2) (3) and (4) of Gombe State Chieftaincy Law 2020 which allows the Governor to appoint traditional title holders “taking into account the history, culture and tradition of the people of the Emirate or Chiefdom.

    Sub-section (3) says “in making the appointment pursuant to sub-section (2) of this section, the Governor may seek the advice of the relevant Emir or Chief who shall give that advice based on the history, culture and tradition of the people of the Emirate or Chiefdom.

    Sub-section (4) further states that “in the interest of the public, the Governor may:

    1. Dissolve any council; or
    2. Suspend any member of the council; or
    3. Remove any member of the council.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Maikudi Shehu, who was part of all the processes leading to the final stage of nominating the trio, also corroborated Governor Yahaya’s position, saying he (governor) was not given a chance at all to even make a pronouncement.

    “I was part of all the processes which arrived at the three names. We submitted the three names to the governor on that same Monday night and the protest started on Tuesday.

    “As at today, the governor has not made any pronouncement on this matter. We are appealing to the people to allow the governor to play his role in this matter. On our part we have chosen to embrace dialogue but we also have the option to use force and we don’t want to do this,” he said.

    On Wednesday, February 24, Governor Yahaya visited Billiri again where he held a meeting with high ranking chiefs and community leaders. The governor also relaxed the 24-hour curfew to 6 am to 2 pm.

    Governor Inuwa Yahaya addressing journalists
    •Governor Inuwa Yahaya addressing journalists

    Efforts made to get the leaders of Tal Community Development Association (TCDA) to comment on the matter yielded no fruit. Although our correspondent was able to get the contact of one of them, he neither picked the calls nor responded to the SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to him.

    A source who sought anonymity said most of the TCDA leaders had gone underground because of the manhunt for them.

    He said: “All of them are now endangered species. They are hunting for them everywhere. That is why you cannot talk to them. I believe this matter has gone beyond the state. The TCDA leaders are talking to the press in Abuja almost on a daily basis but they cannot come here. That is how bad the situation is.”

    But the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) lay the blame for the violence in Billiri on Governor Yahaya who was accused of trying to impose an unpopular candidate as the new Mai Tangale.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, the forum described the state government as “driving the town down the valley of worsening insecurity”.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) has been drawn to the violence and destruction of lives and property that have rocked Biliri, one of the chiefdoms in the Tangale Waja nation in Gombe State over attempts by Governor Yahaya to impose an unpopular candidate as the new Mai Tangale.

    “The Forum is also aware that the planned imposition of the new Mai Tangale is in line with a deliberately crafted plot by Hausa-Fulani oligarchy to impose a candidate that is unpopular with the people in order to disturb the peaceful co-existence of the people along the religious divide.

    “We are shocked that Governor Yahaya who had vowed to stick to the choice of the Tangale kingmakers is now reneging on his promise.

    “Going by the level of destruction unleashed on Biliri by thugs and hired arsonists that are opposed to the popular choice for a new paramount ruler for Biliri, it is clear that the Gombe State Government is driving the town down the valley of worsening insecurity.

    “Without any form of doubt, the SMBLF has been convinced beyond all reasonable doubts that Governor Yahaya is behind the orgy of violence and deployment of soldiers responsible for the unprovoked murder of no fewer than four peaceful protesters at the weekend.

    “The active participation of thugs, popularly called ‘Kalare’, an equivalent of Boko Haram, who were in Governor Yahaya’s convoy, were sighted destroying a church as the convoy departed Biliri town on Saturday.”

    The group further alleged that Yahaya who should be the champion of peace has turned out to be the mastermind of the crisis.

    It noted that the governor should have announced Musa Idris Maiyamba as the new Mai Tangale, having polled five votes from a total of nine votes, leaving the two candidates for the exalted position with two votes each.

    They stated that Yahaya’s insistence on choosing a Muslim as the next Mai Tangale of Biliri is capable of not only worsening the security condition but could also wreak havoc on the peaceful co-existence among the people.

    “For the record, Christians constitute 95 per cent in Biliri that is one of the six chiefdoms in Tangale land. There is no doubt that out of the six chiefdoms in Tangale ethnic nationality, three are ruled by Muslims who constitute less than 10 per cent, with Kaltungo having been turned into an emirate in order to bar Christians from aspiring to the Mai stool.

    “The other two chiefdoms with Muslim monarchs are Waja and Tula. In total, Muslims constitute less than 15 per cent of the entire six chiefdoms. It is clear from the foregoing that the current attempt at imposing a Muslim on Biliri is aimed at entrenching a plot that is outside the Tangale ethnic nationality.”

    The SMBLF also stated that Yahaya has proved to be a hater of Christianity and is deploying religious discrimination for political objectives.

    “He is engaged in fanning the embers of religious discord with the sole aim of throwing not only Gombe State into firestorms of religious acrimony but the North and the entire country.

    “Just recently, Governor Yahaya refused to appoint the state senior judge, Justice Beatrice Iliya, as the State Chief Judge on account of her faith.

    “He refused to appoint a legal luminary, Barr. Mela Nunghe (SAN) as Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General on the simple reason of not sharing the same faith with the governor.

    “To suppress the people and bring them under Islamic dominance, he appointed a district head of Muslim faith to rule over Tudu Kwaya, an area comprising 75 per cent Christians.”

    They described Yahaya as a present and future danger to the peaceful coexistence of the different religious adherents who is determined to impose Muslims over people of other faiths.

    Dr. Abdu Buba Maisheru
    •The late 16th Mai Tangale, Dr. Abdu Buba Maisheru

    However in a quick reaction, the Director General Press Affairs to the Governor, Malam Ismaila Uba Misilli, described the SMBLF statement as a campaign of calumny against Governor Yahaya.

    He said although the Gombe State Government does not wish to join issues with any individual or group of individuals on the matter, it is necessary to set the records straight – without going into frivolous and laughable issues raised by the forum.

    Misilli said; “After the death of the late Mai Tangle, Dr Abdu Buba Maisharu II, on Sunday, January 10, 2021, the Gombe State Government allowed the traditional kingmakers to select and forward the names of nominated candidates to replace the late monarch. “That process has been concluded, and the Gombe State Government is in receipt of the list containing the names of three nominated persons for the stool.

    “At first, 23 eligible persons from the Tangale land indicated interest, and the number was later pruned to 18. In their wisdom, the kingmakers arrived at the three names required by law, which were forwarded to the state government for necessary action. Suffice it to say that the three names submitted by the kingmakers are all qualified for the stool.

    “It is rather unfortunate that what should be an otherwise peaceful and seamless process has generated issues that should not have arisen in the first place as the kingmakers did their work diligently and patriotically,” he said.

    Misilli added that it is regrettable that a body such as the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum would resort to blackmailing the Gombe State Governor on a matter that he has no hand in.

    He said where the governor comes in, is in the approval and announcement of the next Mai Tangle from the list of the three persons nominated by the Kingmakers according to the law.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Governor of Gombe State has assented to the Gombe State Chieftaincy Law, 2020. The relevant provision of the law as to the appointment of an Emir or chief is that the Council of Traditional Kingmakers of an Emirate or chiefdom shall nominate to the governor three candidates for the vacant stool from among eligible members of the royal family. The governor, after due deliberation, will then choose one of the candidates for appointment as an Emir or Chief. Appointment of an Emir or Chief is therefore the prerogative of the Governor.

    “Section 9 sub section (a-b) under their functions, the traditional Kingmakers shall: (a)Upon the death,  resignation,  removal or deposition of an Emir or Chief, to screen and decide on persons suitably qualified to be appointed Emir or Chief in accordance with custom and tradition of the emirate or chiefdom; (b) to recommend to the Governor the names of THREE suitably qualified persons for appointment as the Emir or the Chief.

    “Based on the above law, the Gombe State Government wishes to make it abundantly clear that Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya cannot be blackmailed or arm-twisted into doing what is outside the law. Let it be known that consultations are ongoing among the relevant stakeholders on who becomes the next Mai Tangle from the three nominees. The Governor will NOT go outside the three nominated names submitted to him by the Tangale Kingmakers,” he said.

    Misilli said the three names submitted by the kingmakers are the choice of the Tangale people, and any one among them can ascend the throne.

    “Thus, against the baseless allegation by the forum, there is no room for imposition of “an unpopular candidate as the new Mai Tangle” as the governor will not go outside the names submitted to him by the Tangale traditional kingmakers.”

  • IFEYINWA OKAFOR: I make my staff learn every day

    IFEYINWA OKAFOR: I make my staff learn every day

    IFEYINWA Maureen Okafor, a Chartered Accountant and Governance Professional, spent the first 15 years of her career in banking and financial services. Expanding her private sector portfolio, in 2008, she joined International Packaging Industries of Nigeria Plc where she currently sits atop as the Managing Director of the over 50-year-old company. She was a Commissioner on the Imo State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Contracts from 2011-2019, tasked with reforming the contract award process and recovery of funds paid for contracts not executed. In 2019, Ms. Okafor was invited to join the Imo State Government as a Member of the Financial Advisory Committee, where her team was responsible for introducing the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to the state as well as instrumental in lifting Imo state’s position in the Ease of Doing Business rankings. Ms. Okafor who was recently accepted into the Amujae Leadership Initiative Cohort 2 for 2021, an initiative of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Centre for Women and Development that identifies and challenges African women to be catalysts for political and social change across Africa, in this interview with IBRAHIM APEKHADE YUSUF takes us through her career trajectory thus far. Excerpts:

     

    WHEN does your typical day begin?

    About 4am. I pray, meditate journal and exercise while listening to music. I actually do my best creative (writing) work in the early hours of the day. So with this self-awareness, I try to go to bed early so I can wake up and maximise those dawn hours.

    What’s your management style?

    I have a mix. My dominant management styles are democratic and coaching styles. This is because I welcome views of everyone in the team then I use their inputs to make decisions. I often explain to my team how I arrived at my decision so that they can learn. It’s a constant mentoring much more than managing style. When the situation calls for it, I also apply autocratic management style. You cannot use democracy to decide to kill a snake that entered the room.

    What’s your management philosophy?

    I believe that people are the greatest resource of an organisation. I believe investing in our people and giving them the best environment to unleash their potential is a win-win. Our company core value has an acronym; RISE: Resilience, Integrity, Service, Excellence. I understand that people operate at the level of knowledge that they have per time.  Being mindful that the scope of knowledge is always expanding it means that we can keep mining for the best in our people thus we keep learning!

    Do you delegate responsibility?

    Yes. Leadership is one of my core values. When I teach, I delegate to see in practice how you have learnt what has been taught. As much as possible, I offer clarity in communication by providing guidelines and expectations while constantly supervising. Then we have regular review meetings. I believe this is how to expand and empower staff members. I also give them leadership opportunity.

    Are you a team player? 

    Absolutely.

    Great assignments are always accomplished as a team. Recognising and igniting the capability of everyone, we try to be the strongest link in a strong chain. I understand my role as the CEO. I am the enabler for others so that together we meet our goals. I actively listen and I am not afraid to admit when I am wrong. I give credit to whom it is due and my doors are always open to all staff to discuss new ideas or challenges.

    What are your other areas of interest besides business?

    Sports; (Swimming, Tennis, Aerobics) Music, Dance, Reading and Writing (Poetry). Politics and Governance.

     

    okafor
    •Okafor swimming under water

     

    What motivates you?

    Making the lives of others better through different platforms such as entrepreneurial, nongovernmental/voluntary/charity work as well as government activities. Nigeria provides a lot of opportunity for this.

    What makes you tick?

    What gives me the greatest joy is doing meaningful work. Doing things that can transform the lives of millions of people. I have had the privilege of advising two state governors in Nigeria. Researching and writing policy documents that eventually created change is very fulfilling. I am a person of faith. Everything in life that was created has a manual for its success. For me, the manual for successful living is the Bible. This is where I derive my daily inspiration.

    How do you motivate your staff?

    I constantly affirm them and the work that they do. We celebrate each staff on their birthdays. The company really cares about the career and personal development of each staff. I believe everyone has immense value. However we have to be placed in the environment where our value is enhanced and appreciated. Much like a fertile soil, I try to provide that kind of environment.

    I write a motivational series titled ‘Motivational Mondays with the MD’. It is available on the company website. www.interpackng.com

    Do you apply the stick and carrot approach?

    Yes. Though we have a disciplinary process, we focus more on inspirational leadership; teaching, mentorship, apprenticeship, coaching, training. When you hire right you will have little need for the stick. Thus we try to ensure that our hiring and promotion is entirely merit based.

    What’s the best decision you have taken thus far?

    Running and serving in public office. It gave me a deeper insight into the challenges of society. It gave me opportunity to create policy for government. It allowed me engage my unique gifts and faculty in a way that is beneficial to society.

    What’s the worst decision you have taken?

    Leaving toxic people in my employment for too long. One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.  Great companies have one thing in common; great human capital. As an entrepreneur I made mistakes in the choice of business partners and some staff that I retained after taking over my company through a management buy in.

    What lessons has life taught you?

    To fail forward. There was a time I used to dwell in regrets. I had a list of things I wish I had done better. A wise friend said to me; ‘Do something to create a better list! Your failures are just a page in what can be a great book; the pen is in your hands. Turn that page and write new pages’. I never forgot that piece of advice.  I learnt to embrace my failures, changed my perspective and made better choices.

    What’s your definition of success, career-wise?

    Finding purpose; this is what you are created and uniquely gifted to do. Then becoming the globally recognised resource person in that field. This is often defined as finding what you would do for free and getting paid to do it. However the ultimate pay is not money but fulfillment.

    How do you unwind?

    Besides sporting activity, I choreograph dance to the Jerusalem song with my children. I also listen to faith and leadership podcasts.

    What was the last book you read and when?

    Who moved my Cheese- An amazing way to deal with change in your work and in your life. It is written by Dr Spencer Johnson. Every month, as a team we identify a management book to study. We review and discuss the key insights. We read this particular book in January 2021.

    What’s your choice holiday destination?

    I have a list of the Wonders of the World that I am ticking off as I go. I would love to go where the food is great, (great restaurants) , that has outdoor activity like hiking, dirt bike riding, swimming , surfing and where there is nature ; forests, mountains. A boat cruise to Barbados or Cape Verde might be the answer.

    What’s your sense of style?  

    Business casual for work. I like to ‘roll up ‘my sleeves when I am in the factory and so I dress appropriately. I also love vintage. I am often found in pearls and dress in colours like black and white. When I have an evening event, I like formal and fancy ball gowns.

    How do you maintain your looks?

    Swimming, aerobics, yoga, tennis. Eating the right kind of foods, drinking  a lot of water.

    Most women today are shattering the glass ceiling, operating in otherwise male-dominated areas. How does it feel being one of these women?

    I think women at the top in industry or any sector should be normalised. When it is, we can redraft this question. We need to move away from this concept of glass ceiling by removing every possible barrier to the actualisation of the potential of all our people. I do not feel special and I do not feel that I am in a male-dominated industry. I feel that as a human being I have been gifted by God with talents to be put into use for the progress of humanity. The reason I became an employer is so I can contribute to nation building, increase the GDP of Nigeria and provide employment through manufacturing jobs. This year, I am privileged to be chosen as a 2021 Amujae Leader. The vision of Amujae is to move society from a culture of tokenism to a culture that values women leadership. It is important that we overcome the impact of culture and religious dogma and actively seek the contributions of women in the workplace.  The question to ask therefore is ‘How do we change years of acculturation and socialisation of our society to actively encourage the contribution of women?’ Women have a role to play in national development. We need to embrace it.

    Do you cook?

    Yeeeess!! I love to create new recipes. I also bake. During the lockdown I taught my sons to cook and bake. It is a joy to cook for my loved ones. I also love to watch cooking shows on TV.

    What’s your favourite Nigerian dish?

    Fisherman soup.

  • Ohaneze Ndigbo: Playing the exclusion politics?

    Ohaneze Ndigbo: Playing the exclusion politics?

    By Nnedinso Ogaziechi

     

    In just a few days the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo would hold an election of a new leadership as the Nnia Nwodo-led leadership comes to an end on the 10th of January, 2021.

    However, just like in the larger Nigerian political environment, the election seems to be a wholly male affair. No woman is contesting for either the President General or the Secretary General positions, two of the most influential positions in the leadership of the 44 year-old organization that was a child of necessity at the end of the civil war. The umbrella socio-cultural group was formed as a forum representing all Igbo communities both locally and in the diaspora.

    Even though the group is a socio-cultural organization, it is not by any means insulated from the usual politics either within the region or at the national and global levels. It cannot however be described as a political organization or affiliated to any political party. However, with the whirlwind-like evolution of national and global politics, the organization is not insulated from certain core political dynamics.

    The run-up to the elections has been as controversial as it has been suspense-filled.  From debates over consensus candidacy to that of the venue for the election, no Ohaneze election in the past had attracted this amount of media and national attention. This goes to show that technology and the advent of the internet and social media have all changed the dynamics of associations of any group of people whether overtly political or otherwise.

    However, The Roundtable Conversation observed that like in the larger political field in the country that women’s presence in this socio-cultural organization remains largely peripheral. No woman is among the five male candidates for the post of the President General that has Prof. Chidi Osuagwu, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, Prof. George Obiozor, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu and Dr. Chris Asoluka in the race. The post had according to the organization’s constitution, been zoned to Imo state.

    The Roundtable tried to find out why the organization seems almost bereft of an active female presence knowing that in pristine times, the present male only leadership amongst Ndigbo was not the norm.

    Regina Amadi-Njoku, the Chairperson  Board of Trustees of Nkata Ndi Inyom Igbo, a socio-cultural group of Igbo women by ancestry and or marriage, a former Assistant Secretary General at the United Nations and gender/development expert observes that the predominantly male membership is a fallout of the changing dynamics of African culture especially given the effects of colonialism and its impact on gender relations and development.

    She recalls that prior to the colonial period, Ndigbo practiced dual sex governance where women played their part even though they did not exercise the same level of authority with the men in the society.  There were queens, the amazons, priestesses and varied titled women with leadership duties in the past she says. She points out what we are seeing in Ohaneze is traceable to the colonial administrative style in African colonies having come from a background of male-only governance.

    They gave the African men more power but the African men also lost leadership eminence  in what can be seen as a double-edged knife with its white administrative gains and the fragmentation of the leadership styles across Africa.

    The whites empowered the man but at the same time removed their psychological power by taking some out as slaves and converting the others as indentured laborers in their own land working for the colonial governments. They were given power and at the other hand their geo-political assets and resources were taken but when eventually the colonialists left after independence, the African men consolidated power and continued the female exclusion from governance.

    To Amadi-Njoku,  the result of the leadership disruption caused by the coming of the white man is like what a character in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart said about  the white man putting a knife to what held the us together  thereby  making things including leadership styles ‘fall apart’. From the look of things, this piece of history is necessary in order to fully appreciate the idea of an Ohaneze without the active participation of women. The colonial administrative style has its scars one of which is too much conflict between the genders not only among Ndigbo but in all regions and most colonized countries.  The men watched the colonialists and today both in the socio-cultural associations and even in core politics female exclusion is evident.

    However, she feels strongly that there are solutions, because both the men and women are tired of fractionized leadership.  However, Our strength seems to be our weakness, our entrepreneurship is our solidarity, it is our DNA, our Ubuntu. The igwe bu ike spirit is more productive.

    The Igbos are famous just like the Chinese and Israelis in terms of structured  portable governance which ensures that no matter where they are in the world, their strong communities take care of each person, we tend to replicate Igbo communities everywhere so leadership is better if it is inclusive. There must be a way to accommodate the input of women in the socio-cultural organization for a better and more progressive regional development. The men are the heads culturally but then the women are the necks, the head gets dysfunctional without the neck and vice versa.

    The women too have their own problems, the bitterness and apathy must be handled  proactively. The women are fragilized too. Before the colonialists women led in their own associations, the women were leaders of the of their own and younger ones were groomed, taught  followership, obedience, team spirit, skill acquisition, humility, trading were all learnt at this socio-cultural structure.

    Those at the rural communities  have more solidarity and the elite must learn from them. We have lost the sisterhood solidarity and capacity for deft negotiation skills and ability to truly politick unlike the African American women that have formed real advocacy blocs for political inclusion. It has worked out well for a Kamala Harris.

    On the other hand, the men enjoy internal solidarity and mentorship, they track the progress of their mentees and reap the benefits on retirement. The trappings of modern governance can be seen in the issue under discourse. So now we can recreate that sense of solidarity for better regional and national growth.

    She recalls battles of the OAU transition into AU and how African women including her fought for 33% affirmative action but with a very deft political lobbying,  eventually got 50% and the result is evident in the activities of the AU and their status in global politics. Her advice is more to the men to be more accommodating of a return to the good old order and for the women to actively fight for their lost leadership positions.

    She advises is men to be more accommodating of the renaissance of the win-win traditional gender partnership between men and women for the women to rebuild their sisterhood solidarity that helped their foremothers negotiate and share governance power and leadership with the men, bearing in mind that men and women leaderships are different yet complimentary and progressively viable.

    The Roundtable Conversation has been following the media discussions and debates involving the Ohaneze candidates and almost all of them seem to agree that female inclusion is long overdue given the global leadership dynamics and the values thereof.

    The Roundtable Conversation spoke to Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, an Art enthusiast/collector and entrepreneur who is the Lagos state President of Ohaneze  and asked him about the female membership of the association. He said that there are women wings in all the seven states that make up the Ohaneze Ndigbo. So the women are the leaders of their women wings.

    Curiously, he said that the women can only be members of the electoral committees but they cannot vote at elections. So women only vote for the women leadership. So the women can only be under the state male chairpersons and all of them are under the national leadership headed by the President General.

    He says some Igbos seem to have lost their sense of culture and tradition. Respect and language go together. He believes that culturally, we all know that women organize themselves and mobilize.  To him any male child born automatically becomes Ohaneze member and so we must not deviate from our culture and tradition. Anyone from the region must know that Ohaneze is a socio-cultural group that pilots the affairs of Ndigbo anywhere in the world.

    To him, culture and language unites.  The association must work on the progress of the region and they seek the cooperation of everyone including the media. The people must be united and plan to progress in general terms. Ohaneze has both women and youth wings and their roles are the traditional roles of mediating between the various leaderships and the people. Women leaders in Ohaneze are similar to all women groups in every other socio-political sector functionally. They liaise between male leadership either formally in government or community associations.

    Chief Solomon believes that the culture and language of a people can enhance cooperation amongst the people and so must not be tampered with or allowed to be divisive. Progress of the association must be paramount in everyone’s mind as the people must feel the physical presence of leadership.

    The interesting conversations with these individuals are as revealing as they are thought-provoking. The Roundtable Conversation however feels that the debate about leadership at all the regional levels nationally  must move with the times. The world today is ruled by ideas and technology and the acquisition of these through education is not gender sensitive. If women like Madam Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson could become president of Liberia, if an Okonjo- Iweala can make the global contributions in varied fields globally, all regional organizations like Arewa, Afenifere, Ijaw National Congress etc.  might just be like a plane flying with one engine when it can alternate between  two or more engines. A people according to UN studies are as developed as the level of inclusiveness in education and leadership at all levels of both genders.

    The dialogue continues…

  • The leadership rebirth that elections bring

    The leadership rebirth that elections bring

    Nnedinso Ogaziechi

     

    Love or hate the United States of America, they have come a very long way in influencing the socio-political and economic fortunes in the world, either positively or negatively. The Nigerian democracy for instance is fashioned after the American Presidential system but that seems to be at the very superficial level. The operational mechanics seem to be somewhat far apart.

    While for instance they have defined two party system of the Republicans and Democrats with a sprinkle of other smaller and less influential political parties, Nigeria’s  political party system seems very fluid as it has oscillated between the a handful of parties post-independence to an unwieldy multi-party system that accommodates almost a hundred political parties that were on the ballot in 2019.

    The American political party system equally shows that party leadership is purely for administrative purposes while the Nigerian versions tend to be more influential and seemingly very intrusive in the operational mechanics of the political parties. Has that been the waterloo of our democracy? How does this impact on our leadership evolution processes?

    The Roundtable Conversation sat with Osita Chidoka, former minister of Aviation and governorship candidate in Anambra state in 2017 to get his views about the leadership evolution processes and how it affects service delivery in Nigeria. He believes that in most cases, Nigeria has lacked the emergence of real courageous leaders who have solid convictions about leading a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society like Nigeria.

    To him, it seems the leadership evolution processes at all levels must be redefined. Nigerians must begin to ask themselves what kind of leadership they want because as they say, each society gets the leadership it deserves. He regrets for instance a situation where governors especially in the South East influence who takes over from them whether the person is competent or not. A flashback since 1999 has shown that the South East for instance does not have a very huge record of voting out governors unlike in other regions where incumbents lose elections.  He believes that governors exercise too much power in influencing who takes over from them and in most cases, their choices are often not based on competence of sense of service.

    Chidoka feels that Nigerians must begin to define the type of leadership they want and work towards getting such people. People must start to look beyond selfish gains  in leadership choice because very often, the richest  is not always the most capable leader. But if any group of people decides to take financial benefits over competence, they must prepare to live with the consequences of their choices.

    He observes that the Northern region seems to have the courage to vote out incumbents in the last election. The governors of Adamawa and Bauchi lost their re-election bids because the people rejected them. The people must be willing to let their political leaders realize that if they do not perform well, they would be rejected at the polls.  U

    The American election to Chidoka presents a lot of lessons about a workable democracy. First, the constitution is the grand norm and is respected. The value of a scientific approach to data is quite admirable. If the 2020 election has been said to the best  and almost perfect, it is because they used a system of accountability that works and the human elements played their roles patriotically without allegiance to partisanships.

    A presidential system of election requires very careful planning, data and a prepared populace ready to do all it takes to legally elect competent and ready to serve leaders .To Chidoka, at the stage Nigeria is now, Nigerians needs hope, there is a dire need for re-emergence of functionality at all tiers of government. It is not a function of what government will do or not do, there are things that need to happen for Nigeria to become proud of Nigeria in and outside the country. Nigerians seem disconnected from Nigeria and it is not just about the leadership but the people after all the leadership emerges from the people. Nigerians must begin to re-engage with Nigeria.

    The next election is coming and certain pertinent questions must find answers. Does Nigeria want to renew itself as a multi-ethnic society? How can we push forward as a united country ready to harness the best of our rainbow quality?  We have seen globally  the failure of some multi-ethnic societies, USSR failed, Eritrea and Ethiopia seem to be on the tenterhooks, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia failed but then, there are success stories of multi-ethnic societies too.

    There are still multi-ethnic societies that have thrived. The United Kingdom is, without claiming perfection  a success because the people found a way to have an inclusiveness that speaks justice and equity. Our model of democracy, The United States of America as the name implies is multi-ethnic and embraces what is perhaps the best human cocktail as virtually every country is represented  being a nation of mainly immigrants from various cultures and creeds.

    In the UK for instance, there have been agitations for separations but in all the referendums, majority had voted to stay because somehow there has been a carefully  (even if not perfect) worked out roadmap for co-existence. Switzerland is a multi-ethnic society too that has thrived. So Nigerians must be realistic and come together and work out how to maximize the multi-ethnic country by making realistic and decisive decisions about inclusiveness that breeds justice and equity.

    There are lessons for Nigerians about how to build multi-ethnic societies into a viable country. There must be an inclusiveness that brings every group’s need to the table. There must be the viability of hope, there must be value for meritocracy creating an avenue for progress. A multi-ethnic country cannot survive on any lopsided plan where any group has a sense of superiority or a bullish instinct over others. It is highly unsustainable to maintain a lopsided and unjust system that leaves any segment of the country out in any way. Nigerians must continuously renegotiate the idea of a workable Nigeria. Something like the federal character issue is valid but must never be abused. It is a system that is meant to provide a balance that profits everyone in the union but must not skew to the advantage of any one side.

    The coming election must re-define the Nigeria we want by the choices we make at all levels of the electoral process. Otherwise, the wobbly union we see today might continue. We must realistically continue to re-negotiate the union in ways that would ensure no group is left behind. The election would be a hallmark election that would determine what we truly want. Nothing beats the beauty of diversity. It is the reason the rainbow is such a beauty. The symmetry of the colours create the beauty and no colour displaces another.

    The US election has come and gone and The Roundtable feels that there are lessons Nigerians must pick up besides the comic angle of the sitting President not conceding defeat.  The constitution of the country would be invoked at the right time. The people have spoken and both sides of the aisle are seeing the transparency in the process. The states and individuals followed their electoral laws to the letter in spite of their partisan leanings. Party leaderships are not up in arms as they are not constitutionally empowered to interfer beyond their legal roles.

    In a way, incumbency offered no advantage to the sitting president as the system works irrespective of personalities. No matter how much he wants to return, if the people say no at the poles, he has no choice. There have been governors and senators who have stood to defend the process with clear details and statistics.

    The president-elect, Joe Biden won the election on his merit. He had built a public service legacy over decades and rose to become the Vice President for eight years and the American people had for years been scrutinizing his public service record. He might not be a saint but his integrity and sense of service is admirable. Leadership must come with certain values. Integrity, humility, empathy, patriotism, education and all other values are clear prerequisites.

    The Nigerian people must be willing to elect men and women whose history gives a clear glimpse of their values. No nation seeks to elect saints seeing that is utopian but it helps to look for people whose values can be gleaned from their private and professional lives. The idea of people just jumping out to contest elections and somehow wangle their ways to victory with some opaque history must stop. History matters, pedigree matters, offices do not change people rather they bring their personalities to office.

    Again the historic number of votes is a clear statement that the advocacy for voter turnout worked especially for minorities who had shown clear apathy during the past elections. Stacy Abrams of Georgia has worked herself into the history of American politics for her mobilization efforts that virtually won the state of Georgia for the Democrats. The value of data is equally glaring as all voting blocs had verifiable data. For Nigeria with one of the most litigious elections in a democracy, the handling of the complaints of the losing candidates with transparent records and numbers has seen them either lose or withdraw certain lawsuits.

    It is instructive for Nigerians to note the positives in the US elections in ways that can improve Nigeria’s democracy as a multi-ethnic society practicing the finest brand of democracy. It is pure hypocrisy to just take the system without the core ingredients that marks out the process as a democracy that relies on the will of the people.  There is no perfect human system but Nigerians must decide to either put pillars to the democratic house or let the house continue to stand on sand.

    The dialogue continues…

  • My period as ‘houseboy’ in spite of my father’s wealth, by Victor Mbadiwe

    My period as ‘houseboy’ in spite of my father’s wealth, by Victor Mbadiwe

    Chief Victor Ngozi Mbadiwe, a scion of the famous Mbadiwe family of Arondizuogu, Imo State was born with the proverbial silver spoon. His late father, Chief James Green Mbadiwe, who was the elder brother of the late nationalist and pan Africanist, Chief Kinsley Ozumba  Mbadiwe, was one of the wealthiest and most influential people of his time. In spite of his father’s wealth, however, Victor was made to live with a foster family where he worked like a house help; an experience he told INNOCENT DURU later helped him in life.

     

    WHAT would you say about your background?

    I am from Arondizuogu in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State. I am a businessman. I studied Business Administration and Political Science in the United States of America (USA), and I came back in 1979. When I came back, I was doing some little trading. I then got in contact with the Wahl Clipper Corporation in Sterling, Illinois, USA. And I was lucky to get the distributorship of their business in 1990.

    I was the one who introduced electric clippers to barbers in Nigeria. Before then, barbers were using the manual clippers and operated at roadside shops. I saw that these old fashioned clippers could be modified to something that would simplify their jobs. Barbers also saw it as a good tool that they could use for their businesses. Also, at that time, barbers operated in small shops. So, I showed them how they could beautify their barbing salons to make them look nicer and appeal more to their customers.

    I felt that barbers are doing a good job to humanity and so should be better appreciated. So we went on to start an annual event called the Wahl Show to bring them together and celebrate them. I needed them to realise their importance to the society, because even heads of state and presidents need barbers to cut their hair and make them look good. But most times, barbers are neglected and looked down upon by the society.

    Has that changed in any way now?

    With what I am doing, most Nigerian barbers now have improved self-esteem in their skill and businesses, and many more have realised that they can be proud of who they are and what they are doing. We’ve been staging the Wahl Show for 28 years now. We bring barbers together and make sure that we give them fantastic prizes. We organise competitions where the winners sometimes win cash prizes worth a whopping N500,000, and the non-contestants get free clippers and barbing kits to start up their own businesses.

    After the barbing contests, we would usually look at the less privileged homes and also donate to worthy Charity Homes like the Pachelli School for the Blind, The School for the Dumb, The SOS Village in Isolo-Lagos, Jamaha Mata Arewa in Northern Nigeria, several motherless babies homes and many other charity homes. We have also given several scholarships to secondary school and university students to help their education through the J. Green Mbadiwe Foundation. We have indeed trained many doctors, engineers and lawyers. I’m in my 70s now, and I am happy with life.

    What was it like growing up under a prominent father like yours?

    It was not easy having a prominent father like mine. I was barely 29 years old when my father died. I am my father’s second son. My elder brother, who was the first son, died during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war. So as the second son, I had to take up the mantle of leadership. It was a huge responsibility that fell on me as a young man who just came back from the United States. But what can I do but to handle the responsibility of continuing my father’s legacy. My father was a very strict man and he would not want to see his reputation tarnished. When he was here, he was very hardworking and disciplined. He would never want to deal with a dishonest person or relate with liars. He was very straightforward, and he believed in remaining upright.

    So I have to live up to that. I make sure that I remain upright in running my businesses. And I avoid people of questionable character because my father will not be happy if I do things that would spoil the name of the family. I thank God Almighty, I’ve remained steadfast in keeping the good name he left behind for 40 years now.

    What fond memories of your late father do you have?

    My father was very strict with me even when I was young. At 10 years old he sent me to go and live with a family friend whose wife was a primary school headmistress. So I lived there, relocating with them to different parts of Nigeria, as transfer duties frequently beckoned on the humble civil-service family.  We lived in such diverse places as Owerri, Calabar, Eket and Degema in present-day Rivers State.

    That was a training that helped me tremendously because I was virtually a house boy to this blessed ‘foster family’, the Nwachukwu’s, who were squarely responsible for the valuable training that characterised my early formative years. I frequently did chores like hacking the firewood, washing clothes, cooking, and fetching water from the well. It was a tough life. But I think my father sent me there to fully understand that life is tough. And it helped me later in my adult life when I got to the United States. I did summer jobs like working at the factory, being a messenger and other sorts of menial jobs to earn extra pocket money for me to afford a good apartment and live a good life. Those extra jobs helped me earn a living, and support myself through school.

    I also have fond memories of my father’s magnanimity. During the colonial era, life was so challenging for my father, and that made him and his peers to start thinking about freedom. So they started nursing the idea of having an independent Nigeria. My father was a major financier in the struggle for independence. He worked hand in hand with the likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Herbert Macaulay, and the rest. He also sponsored the likes of K. O. Mbadiwe, Nwafor Orizu, Mbonu Ojike and others to study in the United States. That group was called the “Eight Argonauts.” After their studies, they returned and joined in the fight for Nigeria’s independence. But my father and Odumegwu Ojukwu’s father (Louis Ojukwu), were the people who started it all.

    My father also invested heavily in Azikiwe’s West African Pilot newspaper, a media tool that fast tracked Nigeria’s independence. He also invested in Africa’s Continental Bank for Nigeria to have her own indigenous bank. Also, my father, in 1944, gave an interest-free £500 loan to the British colony. It was some of these generous gestures that made Dr Azikiwe to rank my father (J. Green Mbadiwe) as a “West African Millionaire”.

    No matter how good a man is, he will always have some weak points. What was your father’s weak point that you don’t want to have?

    I love everything about my father, apart from his strictness. I don’t know if I can be that strict with my children at this day and age. When I was sent to stay with the Nwachukwu’s, I kept wondering why he didn’t want me in our luxury home. Even when I ran back home, my father would send his driver to take me back. My father didn’t want his children to feel that he had stupendous wealth. But I think that that training helped me to stand on my two feet and become independent, because if I was spoilt by my father’s wealth, I wouldn’t have understood the value of hard work. My dad’s strictness made me realise that life is a struggle and not a bed of roses.

    Did your father’s clout ever fetch you some antagonism?

    I don’t bother about antagonism. In life, whatever background you come from, or when you’re successful at what you do, people, and even your relatives, would at a time become jealous of you. So for me, I strive to remain focused, keep a level head and give my best in whatever I do. Jealousy and antagonism should not stop you in whatever you are doing to attain your goals in life.

    Why are you not in politics to continue from where your father stopped?

    Politics these days is not easy. People from anywhere can come and hijack a political system. It’s not the best area for me because I feel that there are some other things I can do in life and do it well. An example is what I am doing now. I’m getting barbers together, empowering them, encouraging them to be proud of their skill, organising events to get them recognised and respected in the society. I want to be remembered for that feat. I want to have a legacy for my role in improving the lots of barbers in Nigeria. And again, I am a businessman. In families, some people would be politicians while some others are cut out to do business.

    Do you feel pressured to match your father’s reputation and step into the big shoes he left behind?

    You can’t compare the years of our fathers with now. In this day and with this internet age, somebody from nowhere can start a business and begin to prosper in a few years. But during colonial times, life was much tougher. They strived to make it under the exploitations of the British government. So anybody that was able to excel at that time must have been a great man. Those of us that came after them enjoyed and showcased the foundation they laid for us.

    My father left an illustrious and huge legacy for me after he passed away, and it is not easy fitting into his shoes. But I have done my best to enhance some of his legacies and multiply what he left for us. In those days, my father would say to us, ‘It’s not what the hands fetch that matters, but what it can keep’. And I always repeat the same to my children, and tell them that they must also strive to multiply whatever they inherit from their parents so their children can inherit too.

     Women must have been falling heads over heels for you because of your father’s feat. How did you cope?

    I got married in America before I came back to Nigeria. So I didn’t come back home as a bachelor. I came back with my wife. I was lucky. I met her in the United States, from my tribe. Both of us were students at that time, and when we graduated, I looked at Nigeria as a better place to come back to, and start my life.

  • When a tomorrow comes…

    When a tomorrow comes…

    Nnendinso  Ogaziechi

     

    In the past few weeks, Nigeria has been in the eye of the global storm literarily. The #EndSARS  movement, the ‘intervening’ rioters and ultimately the incidents at the Lekki tollgate on what is now referred to as the October 2020 black Tuesday had all gone viral. The #palliativegate is also in the news and seemed to have diverted attention and increased the number of casualties as private houses/shops, banks and some government agencies  were looted by some people who hid under the protest.

    However, the #EndSARS movement started off as a peaceful protest against the obnoxious activities of the police unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) who did everything that negate what the police in any country should stand for, “to serve and to protect”. There is documented evidence of their brutality across many states in Nigeria. Ironically, series of complaints from victims and their families seemed to have got little or no attention.

    The creation of the SARS unit since 1992 with the mandate to fight crimes associated with robberies, motor vehicle theft, cattle rusting and illegal possession of firearms seems to have brought more problems than it has been able to solve. Statistics shows that one in every five youth might have been a victim of SARS brutality. There has been torture, kidnappings, maiming and killing of some suspects extra-judicially and despite series of protests by youths and even some journalists who have been victims, the calls for reforms had yielded no concrete results.

    And with the recent #EndSARS movement that swept the country, the Nigerian state have heard from the youths who organized what they now a MOVEMENT not just to end the tyranny of the SARS operatives but the movement has morphed into a call for good governance, accountability in government and all such actions that can engender equity, justice and fairness by governments in all tiers of government.

    At the core of the #EndSARS movement are the beating hearts of young Nigerians from all regions. The youths demonstrated the unity of purpose that seems to be lacking in the larger political space. Religion, tribe, gender, class and all other divisive terms have been totally absent. The youths showed commitment, dedication, empathy, deft organizational ability and patriotism like never before witnessed in the country. They more or less showed an aggregated sense of leadership and followership that defy all known perceptions by the older generation.

    The young people of Nigeria raised their collective voice and the global community heard. So this week, the Roundtable Conversation spoke to some #EndSARS youths across the country to hear their grievances and suggestions for a better future in a country they call theirs. Even Nigerians in the diaspora joined in with protests and similar demands, the Roundtable sat with these three;

    Michelle Bello, an award-winning filmmaker, who has been featured on CNN, BBC, Forbes Africa, and France 24 for her award-winning movies, Small Boy and Flower Girl says she is hopeful for a new Nigeria in which citizens take peace, prosperity and good governance for granted. To her, accountability in governance and justice for all has pushed her and her NGO, The White Harvest, a coalition of entertainers, actors and allied industry members and decided that for a functional country, the youths must lend their voices and so the #EndSARS movement is like a crow for governments to listen to the youths and begin, with proper structural reforms to harvest the cocktail of goodies from an industry that is the largest employer of the youth population in Nigeria – the entertainment industry.

    Michelle insists that the leadership in the country must realize that the youths are now more than ever linked to the global community and technology has made it possible for them to see the larger world, to watch governments and films that show the difference in living conditions and governance sttuctures that positively impact on citizens. She says the youths both in the country and in the diaspora want good governance, better life and accountability and are tired of being brutalized by those they elect to take care of them. As parents, most of those in the youth population are as worried as their children and its unacceptable. She feels the government can invest in the arts and film industry and possibly begin to see value in protecting those in the industry through investment in community entertainment through cinemas. She regrets that IROKO TV had to move their investment from Nigeria due to hash operating environment. Better broadcast policies can expand the industry while providing sustainable income for the youth population.

    Olumide Otitoju, a creative designer, photographer and computer engineer  feels the #EndSARS movement is the voice of the Nigerian youths demanding for good and accountable governance that guarantees the welfare of the youth who  have been endlessly promised a tomorrow that seems to never arrive. A personal experience with the SARS agents had left scars both physically and mentally on him and it was just time to say NO to the Hobbesian state for the Nigerian youths. Olumide dreams of a Nigeria that guarantees safety and justice for everyone and is glad that the #EndSARS movement is a collection of all Nigerians without creed or regional allegiance.

    Olumide believes the voice of the youth has seemingly been heard by the governments but that is not enough, the youths want to be included in the democratic projects . He regrets that since his adolescent years, the governments have always told them they are the leaders of tomorrow but it seems the tomorrow is never coming. The tomorrow is here already but it is not about leadership per se because the #EndSARS movement is not about who is leading or that the youths want to take over totally without due process but  for an inclusiveness that they would make our democracy very representative of all blocs and functional.

    Getting off the streets is not a problem. The youths are determined to re-orientate themselves so that the politicians cannot use them like previously. We want every youth to see the larger picture and stop accepting crumbs or suffering the Stockholm Syndrome. We must begin as youths to educate other less educated and enlightened youths who have been used as foot soldiers by politicians. That way the political leaders would begin to be accountable to the people.

    We want to stop the exploitation of the poor by politicians. The young people have ‘WOKEN’ up he says. The youths are ready to work with the old people. While we bring the tech ideas, we want mentorship by the older generations and then we can galvanize to make Nigeria work better. Olumide says they condemn the activities of some youths that resorted to violence and from those that were caught who claimed they were paid to disrupt the movement. Olumide believes that a section of the media should be careful with some reports that later appeared to be wrong. Some headlines were wrong given the realities faced by the movement.

    The youths in the movement also found it unacceptable that access to their elected officials is very rare unlike what democracy should be. At the beginning of the #EndSARS movement, they wanted access to the National Assembly to submit their petitions but were rebuffed by soldiers and armed policemen making it impossible for them to tell their representatives in the legislature their grievances.

    Anita Izato, a legal practitioner is a regular young lady whose personal account video about police brutality went viral and was broadcast by some international news organizations. A justice and peace advocate, she believes that as a Nigerian youth, she should go to bed not worried that her brothers might not come home alive. To Anita, the Nigerian youth including her are sick and tired of police brutality and after capturing  her own story on video, she realized it was time to stand up and say NO then the #EndSARS.

    She saw the beauty in the coalition of Nigerian Youths in the #EndSARS movement as there was the human symmetry of the colours in the rainbow as the youths came together to speak with one voice demanding end to police brutality that has a spiral effect on the psyche of both the young and old. The #EndSARS movement morphed into #endbadgovernance , end bad infrastructure, reduce the salaries of the legislature and other public servants so that the money can be used for the larger good.

    People are just tired because the problems had lasted too long and also the youths loved the endorsements of some adults who spoke at their rallies to support the youths. Enough is Enough and Anita is equally skeptical about the plethora of judicial panels to investigate. She feels that their findings might just not see the light of day and actions might not be taken.  She believes the judiciary has to be more committed to judicial issues as the thired pillar of democracy.

    Anita says that as a lawyer she is glad that she has been offering her services for those illegally arrested or detained or other forms of legal requirements. She believes the movement is one that can move the country forward because the youth cannot destroy their own future contrary to what some adults believe, As a lawyer, she believes that the young people and their cocktail of professional expertize would take Nigeria to the development level the youth seek.

    Anita believes that the if petitions sent by the youths at the beginning got a prompt attention satisfactorily, the Lekki incident might not have happened thereby escalating the protest to a violent demonstration by those bent on seizing the moment to commit crime.

    Despite all that have happened in the past weeks, it is now understandable that the youths are demanding beyond #EndSARS to a total political and economic restructuring for a more equitable and prosperous country. Honesty of purpose on the side of governments and actions in transparency  might just be the panacea for justice and  peace. The embrace of peace and justice might just hold the key to the prosperity of the world’s greatest black nation blessed with incredible human and natural resources. The youth’s voices are loud and clear, the future we seek is theres to care for.

    The dialogue continues…