The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2012

  • Between 2012 and 2016

    Between 2012 and 2016

    So many activists, celebrities and politicians who protested against Jonathan’s deregulation bid in 2012 and have now gone silent in the face of the new measures, have been dismissed as hypocrites by some opposition voices.

    It is amusing watching some of them labouring to justify their new stance. Some say they now back deregulation because they trust Buhari, others say the country was awash with petrodollars and could afford to pay for subsidies.

    On the face of it the volte face appears hypocritical. But think of it this way: only a fool or egotist would not change his mind on a matter when confronted with superior arguments. Rigidity on an issue even when the cold facts are staring you in the face is not a virtue.

    Of course, there’s also the political dimension to the two episodes. Jonathan handed the opposition something to beat him over the head with and they did so with gusto – hurting his government and image.

    Now the PDP-led opposition has the opportunity to serve the now APC rulers a dose of their own medicine. But what do they do? They are whining in social media; waiting for the El-Rufais, Shehu Sanis and Femi Falanas of this world to lead the charge.

    This model of doing opposition business would only guarantee yesterday’s men a long stint far away from the corridors of power.

  • Forex demand dropped in Q 4 2012, says CBN

    Forex demand dropped in Q 4 2012, says CBN

    Foreign exchange (forex) demand by authorised dealers consisting of the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) and Bureau De Change (BDC) operators dropped to $4.29 billion between October and December, last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) External Sector Development Report has said.

    The report said it recorded 34.2 per cent decline, when compared with the third quarter’s performance and 59.4 per cent when compared with the levels recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2011.

    The report showed that dollar continued to dominate external reserves as the currency constituted 84.3 per cent of the $43.83 billion reserves as at December 31, last year. The figure represents an increase of $3.15 billion compared with its level of $33.81 billion in third quarter.

    Other currencies in the basket included Euro (5.9 per cent), Chinese Yuan (1.9 per cent), GB Pounds (1.9 per cent) and SDR (5.9 per cent). A review of the management of external reserves revealed that the portfolio was composed of fixed deposits (48.6 per cent), funds under Asset Management (20.1 per cent), Joint Venture Company cash call (0.1 per cent) and current account (6.3 per cent) as well as Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) (2.3 per cent).

    This development, the report said, was traced to the increased supply of foreign exchange through the autonomous sources to the interbank foreign exchange market.

    Equally, a total of $10.22 billion was utilised in fourth quarter consisting of $6.41 billion and $3.80 billion for visible and invisible trade. This represented 62.8 and 37.2 per cent. Further analysis showed that foreign exchange utilised for visible transactions has remained dominant over the last two quarters of 2012.

    Analysis of foreign exchange utilisation by sectors revealed that $6.42 billion or 62.8 per cent was spent on the importation of visible goods into the country. The importation of industrial, oil, food and manufactured products utilised 28.3, 27.3, 19.2 and 18.0 per cent of the total, respectively services. It comprised, financial ($2.97 billion or 78.1 per cent), business ($0.23 billion or 6.1 per cent), transportation ($0.29 billion or 7.7 per cent) while “others” accounted for the balance.

    “Foreign exchange utilisation of 19.2 per cent for food importation was high and suggests the need for adequate funding of the agricultural sector and the vigorous pursuit of the financial inclusion programme,” it said.

    Also, the average WDAS rate appreciated marginally by 0.04 per cent in during the fourth quarter as the naira exchanged for N157.32 to a dollar as against N157.39 to a dollar in third quarter of 2012. Similarly, the naira appreciated, by 1.63 per cent, at the BDC segment of the market, as it exchanged for N159.19 to a dollar in the review period as against N161.79 to a dollar in third quarter 2012. This made the BDC premium to contract by 1.61 percentage point to 1.19 per cent.

     

  • House of Reps: Drama that went with 2012

    House of Reps: Drama that went with 2012

    In the course of performing their constitutional roles, members of the House of Representatives got enmeshed in various intrigues that tended to spoil the show for them and the nation. Victor OLUWASEGUN and Dele ANOFI witnessed some of the hectic parliamentary sessions.

     

    IT was an active year for the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly; no dull moment. The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, and his colleagues sent a stern warning to the Presidency that the Seventh House of Representatives was not ready to be a pawn in their hands.

    To show how determined he was, the Speaker convened a special plenary on Sunday, January 8 even when the lawmakers were on Christmas break to discuss the intended removal of oil subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan. The atmosphere was tense but lively. No fewer than 294 members turned up.

    It was a plenary that a committee headed by Farouk Lawan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kano State, set up to verify and determine actual subsidy requirement and monitor the subsidy regime. The committee was to later generate more controversies.

    Not entirely satisfied with the levity with which the Presidency had been treating its resolutions, the House, on February 15, took on the Executive again by successfully endorsing the second reading of a Bill seeking to compel the Executive to obey House resolutions.

    The lawmakers were ready to go the whole hog by amending the constitution to that effect. The action of the lawmakers was not unconnected with past actions or inactions as well as utterances of some Presidential aides on House resolutions

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati said that the lawmakers’ resolution that the government should suspend the removal of fuel subsidy was mere expression of their opinion.

    Then the lawmakers wondered: “If over 80 per cent of what we arrive at here on the floor of the House come by way of motions and resolutions, with the time and energy exerted in the best interest of Nigerians are ignored by those who are supposed to implement them, then we have no business being here”.

    If there was any drama that entertained and shocked majority of Nigerians, it was the Hembe/Oteh saga in which the hunter suddenly became the hunted.

    It all began with the probe of the House into the near collapse of the Nigerian Capital Market by the House Committee on Capital Market headed by Herman Hembe.

    The drama began with Oteh being abandoned by her Commissioners and Directors when it was her turn to make presentation about her stewardship. None of the Executives assisted her while answering questions form the panel but when it was their turn to put in their words, they accused the woman of running the show alone.

    Half way into the probe, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunmah Oteh accused the committee chair of demanding and receiving N44 million from her organisation and that some of the funds released to Hembe was not utilised for the purpose it was intended.

    Thereafter, the country was regaled with accusations and counter accusations from both sides. In the long run, Hembe relinquished his position as the chairman of the Committee as well as the probe panel.

    He is currently being prosecuted over the issue by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The face-off between the SEC and the House also resulted in the SEC not getting any allocation in the 2013 budget as the House had earlier demanded her sack by President Goodluck Jonathan for “incompetence. The president is yet to heed the lawmakers’ resolution on the SEC boss. The SEC/Reps imbroglio was a high octane drama that encompassed the former DG of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mrs. Ndi Okereke-Onyuike.

    On April 24, when the report of the Lawan-led Committee was to be presented, the nation was treated to a protest by about 100 protesting youths at the entrance of National Assembly.

    The youths, under the banner of two Civil Society Organisations, said their mission was to express their disapproval over alleged plans by the House of Representatives to indict the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison–Madueke with the recommendations of the report

    One of the inscriptions on the placards they carried read: “We say no to Lawan Report if it is a ploy to discredit President Goodluck Jonathan,

    The protesters arrived at the National Assembly at about 8am on a procession from Millennium Park, protected by the police.

    The report was eventually presented with Lawan exonerating Femi Otedola’s companies of complicities in the subsidy saga. That action was to later haunt him and turn him to an orphan among his colleagues.

    The House commenced an investigation into the allegation against Lawan and removed him as both the Chairman of the ad hoc committee investigating the subsidy regime and Chairman of the House Committee in Education.

    Speaking on the investigation into the alleged $620,000 bribe-for-clearance scandal and its decision to suspend him, Lawan on June 12, maintained his respect for the decision of the House as a collective decision of the institution. Till date, the progress of the investigation by the police is shrouded in mystery.

    On June 11, the lawmakers threw fire and brimstones when they summoned President Jonathan to the House over the deteriorating security situation in the country.

    The summon generated so much heat as the public went on a lengthy debate about the legality or otherwise of the invitation. Till date, the President has effectively ignored the summons and the House seems to have capitulated.

    Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed at a media interactive session on June 21 said though the House had not erred by inviting the President for an interface on the security situation in the country but that the President is at liberty to decide what to do.

    Another interesting moment in the House was the July 3 interrogation of Femi Otedola by the ad hoc Committee set up to probe the bribery scandal. While Otedola insisted on open meeting, the lawmakers preferred closed-door. At the end, the lawmakers accused Otedola of insulting them while the Chairman of the panel, Gambo Dan-Musa lost his cool while calling Otedola ‘stupid’ for making mockery of the panel.

    The deteriorating relationships between the House and the Presidency took on a new dimension when the lower chamber warned the President to either Implement the 2012 budget fully or face impeachment.

    The floor of the House on the 19 of July was tense as the lawmakers irrespective of their party affiliation rose in unison in demand of full budget implementation. The lawmakers were fully prepared, not ready to play to the gallery with rhetorics; they were armed with facts and figures from key Committee Chairmen. By the time they were done, the President was accused of gross violation of the Appropriation Act, 2012 through selective implementation of the budget.

    The lawmakers also took it further, that same day; they rejected the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) on the basis of its late submission.

    They gave the President a deadline of two months that coincided with the lawmakers’ two-month recess.

    The leadership quality of Aminu Tambuwal and the cohesion of the House was tested on July 13, when the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila called for the division of the House on the basis on an unclear voice voting.

    The problem began with the issue of troop deployment to Edo State by President Jonathan for security proposes.

    Bimbo Daramola (ACN, Ekiti) had, under a point of order noted that the President’s action was without constitutional backing. Before he could complete his submission, the House seemed set on weighing the issue along party lines contrary to almost accepted norm in the House where issues are tackled on their merit and based on national interest.

    Daramola tried to buttress his augment with constitutional provision but the noise in the chamber was overwhelming and Tambuwal eventually put the motion to voice vote whether to be taken or forsaken.

    The voice vote was unclear but the voice of those against appeared to be more. Tambuwal nonetheless ruled in favour of the ‘nay’ banging the gavel. At once, Gbajabiamila stood up on another point of order after which he cited Order 11 (77) that when the voice is unclear, a division should be called by the Presiding Officer.

    Moments later, the Speaker reversed his earlier ruling and decided that the motion be taken the following day. On that day, the Minority Leader, before the division could take place, withdrew the application but wanted the motion debated. Murmurs set in, the opposition parties that were ready for the business of the House being divided were disappointed asking for the reason for Gbajabiamila’s change of heart.

    The House seemed divided over party lines again, while some applauded Gbajabiamila for his understanding and for the sake of the unity of the House as he stated earlier, others were furious that they were kept in the dark over what they had thought would have sent a clear signal that there were opposition parties in the House. However, some House commentators commended the Speaker for being a patriot and having the courage to reverse himself, despite knowing the effect such act could have on his authority.

    Another test that came almost immediately was the issue of security in Plateau State. Simon Nwadkon, who was with the late Sen. Gyan Dantong when the mourners were attacked moved a motion, but seeing the mood of the House and probably the mood of the nation and the possible effect the debate might generate, Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha decided that It should not be debated because the prayers of the motion have no negative effect on anyone. When all these were going on, a part of the ceiling in the chamber fell off which prompted the lawmakers sitting at the back of the auditorium to take to their heels for dear lives, thinking it was a Boko Haram attack. This almost resulted in panic in the hall.

    Most of the lawmakers were seen looking over their shoulders when the ceiling fell. Several parts of the roof were leaking with the ceiling looking weak with faded color. Water could be seen dripping from the ceiling in a central part of the gallery.

    On Oct 10 when President Jonathan walked into the green chamber at 10.18 a.m accompanied by his entourage, to present the 2013 budget proposal, little did he realize that the lawmakers were prepared to be dispassionate or sentimental about the event as it was about the greater majority of Nigerians.

    The President however was supported by the heavy presence of his cabinet and PDP chiefs. They did their job by clapping for the President whenever he made any noteworthy remarks when they realized that the lawmakers were not in a clapping mood.

    But to the chagrin of the male lawmakers, the women folks jettisoned the adherence to separation of power by giving the President a standing ovation as he mentioned several programmes lined for women empowerment.

    When it was the turn of the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal to take the vote of thanks, the hall erupted into a frenzy and was given a standing ovation before he uttered the first word. The ‘short’ vote of thanks was applauded at every juncture and when it was finally concluded, the ovation was astounding.

    However, before the President took his leave, like he did on ascending the podium, he approached the Chairs of the Senate President, David Mark and Aminu Tambuwal to exchange handshake with the two men. He was however seen shaking Tambuwal’s hands more vigorously as he exchanged banters with the two leaders. He personally collected the addresses of the Senate President and the Speaker before handing them over to his aides.

    Unlike before, the House on Dec 11 sent clear signal to errant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that always refused to honour invitations by commencing the process of issuing a bench warrant for the arrest of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Lamido Sanusi and 14 other Chief Executives.

    Chairman, Committee on Finance, Abdulmumin Jibrin, who under a matter of urgent public importance requested for mandate of the Committee to issue the bench warrants for the affected Chief Executives for non-appearance. The Speaker granted the request, summons were issued and all the 15 Chief Executives turned up on the appointed date.

    Even protesters took it to the next level on discovering that previous protests have drawn no response for the authorities.

    They took to picketing. The option was more effective as none among the lawmakers, the NASS staff or visitors were spared the agony of being held up for hours at the main entrance to the complex.

    Not done, they somehow found their ways to the last entrance to the complex. How they beat the security apparatus, only God knows.

     

  • Exchange rate stable in 2012

    The exchange rate was relatively stable last year, with the naira maintaining moderate appreciation and depreciation at intervals.

    The naira-dollar rates stability was because of increased supply of foreign exchange through autonomous sources to the interbank segment.

    Also, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervened in the market to reduce demand pressure and raise the net open position of commercial banks in part to curtail speculative foreign exchange demand.

    It adjusted the mid-point exchange rate band from N150 plus or minus three per cent to N155 plus or minus three per cent within the year.

    Managing Director, Blue Wall Bureau De Change (BDC) Lucky Aiyedatiwa said despite occasional upsurges in foreign exchange demand due to interventions by the CBN and the increased supplies from autonomous sources, the exchange rate never exceeded a two per cent appreciation or depreciation margin.

    He said 2012 had seen some of the CBN policies on forex reflect on the dollar-naira parity at both the local and international market.

    Analysts at the FBN Capital predict that the exchange rate for the naira will be strengthened by the approved oil benchmark. The investment and research firm explained in a report that if the oil price remains stable, which is expected, a lower budget threshold would strengthen the defences and underpin the naira exchange rate. The naira has gained 3.1 per cent this year, the second best performance of African currencies tracked by Bloomberg News.

    On the budget, President Goodluck Jonathan had sent a N4.92 trillion Appropriation Bill to the lawmakers. “The House of Representatives had previously argued for $80 per barrel and the Senate for $78 per barrel. The FGN had assumed a threshold of $75 per barrel in its proposals for 2013. This was an increase from the level of $72 per barrel in the 2012 budget, an unusual step by the executive, which we attributed at the time to its determination to secure a relatively swift passage into law of the finance bill,” FBN Capital said.

    Fixed Income & Currency Analyst, Ecobank Nigeria,Ezun Olukunle, said the inter-bank rate fell 20 basis points to 10.5 per cent on December 19, despite provisions made for Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS), treasury bills and the monthly government bonds auction.

    According to him, recent rise in interbank rate was to due ongoing CBN’s liquidity management adding that Open Market Operations (OMO) bills of N273.1 billion were sold between December 10 and 13.

    Data from the CBN showed that the average spot rate of Wholesale Dutch Auction System, Bureau De Change (BDC) and inter-bank were N157.65, N164 and N162.85 to a dollar, especially in the first half of the year.

    Besides, forex inflows into the economy increased substantially, reflecting rise in crude oil receipts and autonomous inflows. However, foreign exchange outflow dropped relative to the level in the corresponding period of 2011.

    In the second quarter alone, there was a net inflow of $35.44 billion into the economy, compared with $28.85 billion last year.

     

  • The year that was 2012

    The year that was 2012

    n a two-part column for this newspaper (December 6 and December 13), the historian Jide Osuntokun called the year just ended our annus horribilis. I doubt whether, if they are true to themselves, other persons reviewing the major occurrences in Nigeria over that period will come to a different conclusion.

    Right up to its closing hours, 2012 has been a year of horrors.

    It began with a callous ambuscade. Nigerians woke up on January 1 to find, contrary to assurances from on high, that the price at the gasoline pump had gone up 120 percent, ending, it was claimed, a subsidy that had for decades subverted the nation’s quest for economic greatness.

    Nine days of people’s power centered fittingly on the Gani Fawehihmi Freedom Square in Lagos forced the government to retreat somewhat. But the harm had been done. The uncertainty and confusion that heralded the New Year governed most of the year, putting investment decisions and the launch of new ventures in abeyance. A measure allegedly designed to perk up the economy ended up crippling it.

    As part of its climbdown, a panicked government embarked on what it called palliatives, to cushion the impact of the hike in gasoline prices. Suddenly, some more than 1000 passenger buses bobbed up in Abuja, as if conjured out of President Goodluck Jonathan’s fedora, to serve with several hundred more expected shortly. The full assembly would work out 2.5 buses for each of the nation’s 774 local government areas.

    Where are the buses today? What is the status today of another palliative, under which each state was going to get federal assistance to put 10, 000 young men and women to work? And just how much relief has the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) delivered with savings from the abolished “subsidies”?

    It would turn out, as was obvious to anyone paying even cursory attention to the matter, that subsidising was not petrol consumption but corruption of the most brazen kind, carried out on a scale almost beyond belief by government insiders, heir cronies and their proxies.The government has been going through the usual pretence of making them disgorge their loot and bringing them to justice.

    The pains arising from cutting the phantom subsidy continue and have in some cases grown worse, but relief is in short supply. Meanwhile, “subsidy” payments continue, almost doubling projections.

    Nigerians were still figuring out how to cope with this government-made disaster when they were zapped by a natural disaster of almost biblical proportions. From the parched Sahel to the mangrove swamps of Nigeria’s Atlantic coast, flood waters raged and swelled and swallowed everything in their path.

    An equal opportunity visitation, the flood waters spared neither the tin shacks of the poor nor the marbled palaces of the wealthy. Even Dr Jonathan’s country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, went under water.

    For the better part of a week, vehicular traffic from the south could not reach Abuja. And for the same period, millions of Nigerians displaced from their homes and farms were left to fend for themselves. When relief finally came, it was vitiated by poor distribution and corruption. Some families reported getting only a cup of noodles. For many of the displaced persons, life will never be the same again.

    And then, there was Boko Haram, carrying its campaign of terror to the heart of the military establishment – the Command and Staff College at Jaji, near Kaduna, after more or less completing what General TY Danjuma called the ‘ Somalianisation” of Northeastern Nigeria.

    Just this past week, some 40 gunmen believed to belong in its ranks attacked the Adamawa border town of Maiha, setting alight the police station, the court house, an official residence and freed prisoners in the jail house. It ended the year with a deadly note at the weekend, with the killing of 15 people in a Borno State village.

    Kidnappers stepped up their game. Among their trophies: Delta State commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Hope Eghagha; the 82-year-old mother of Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and retired professor of sociology, and the wife of retired Brigadier –General Oluwole Rotimi, lately Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States.

    All have returned to their families, but their experience just goes to illustrate how perilous life has become in Nigeria, even for people of privilege.

    Amidst these travails, the nation was treated to a harvest of deaths of the prominent and not-so-prominent, and to reprise of the UmaruYar’Adua health saga that is playing even at this writing. Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser General Owoye Azazi were killed in a helicopter crash.

    The President’s wife dropped out of sight, reportedly “resting” in Dubai, exhausted after hosting a summit of the African First Ladies Peace Initiative, only to be traced later to a German sanatorium where she was being treated for an undisclosed ailment.

    Dame Patience’s prolonged stay led to rumours that she had died. Since her televised return some six weeks ago, she has stayed discreetly on the sideline. And the public is none the wiser about her condition.

    Rumours of death have also been swirling around the heads of Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime and Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke. Chime left Nigeria last September for treatment of an undisclosed illness and was not heard of or from,until he reportedly issued two weeks ago a statement of condolence to the Yakowa and Azazi families.

    Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, who claims to have met with Imoke recently in the United States, says Imoke is not sick, much less dead. The governor, he said, was only enjoying a well-earned vacation

    But, according to government sources, Imoke actually served notice that he was travelling to the United States to attend to a minor ailment and formally transferred power to the Deputy Governor as required by law.

    Chime’s condition remains uncertain, and not even Imoke’s Facebook postings have settled the matter.

    Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai, who suffered critical injuries when the plane he was piloting crashed near Yola, Adamawa State, last October, is in a bad shape, according to a prominent Nigerian who saw him several weeks ago on his hospital bed in Germany. It is doubtful whether he can return to duty.

    A gruesome end-of-year crash near the state capital Lokoja almost claimed the life of Kogi State Governor Idris Wada.He is said to be responding to treatment in Abuja. His aide-de-camp Idris Mohammed was killed on the spot.

    But it has not been all doom and gloom.

    The government says it has finally taken measures that would help ascertain just how much crude is lifted from Nigeria’s oil fields, some 32 years after the University of Lagos polymath, Professor Ayodele Awojobi, established in testimony before the Irikefe Commission that the barrel being used in Nigerian oil fields was four gallons larger than the standard international barrel.

    The economy grew by 5.8 percent, slower than in previous years but still one of the highest rates in the world.The rehabilitated railways, a key element in the Transformation Agenda,ferried 450 newly recruited soldiers from Zaria to Lagos, completing the 613-mile journey in just under 26 hours.

    Above all, we have Dr Jonathan’s assurance that, while 2013 may not be annus mirabilis, it will be much better than 2012. Don’t mind those kvetching that he had said the same thing about 2102 at the end of 2011. And don’t mind those complaining that he is slow. He has himself admitted that much

    They conveniently forget that our GEJ is also steady. They forget the old saying that “slow and steady wins the race.”

     

     

  • 2012 editorial sloppiness

    THE first set of slip-ups to round off this year comes from National Mirror of December 27: “Beside (Besides), the old generation universities should be encouraged to….”

    “Young estate surveyors task (tasked) on professionalism”

    “Mouka rewards distributors at end of year (end-of-year) party”

    “He became the third Lintas alumni (alumnus) to head the umbrella body which….”

    “NSE sanctions Dangote Cement, 96 others for late submition (submission) of results”

    Last entry from NATIONAL MIRROR Back Page Guest Columnist: “…that we have tried our utmost best.” All the Facts, All the Sides: ‘Best’ has attained the end-point of intensification/absoluteness/superlative summit/amplification and cannot, therefore, be padded or subjected to circumlocution or imprecision such as ‘very best’; ‘utmost best’; ‘better than the best’…such expressions smack of verbosity and hazy thinking that borders on linguistic indiscipline! The word means ‘the most excellent type/quality, most suitable/appropriate, the highest standard that somebody or something can reach….’ End of discussion or should it continue? You are welcome in 2013!

    “However, after series of intervention….” (DAILY SUN POLITICS…& Polity, December 26) Get it right: a series of interventions….

    DAILY SUN of December 25 displayed editorial sloppiness with these two headline juvenilities on the same page: “Fayose urges Nigerians to emulate Christ…and “First Lady urges Nigerians to emulate Christ” The sub-editor who planned this page must have been dreaming of Christmas the previous day! How else do you explain this tardiness?

    More from the above medium: “FRSC deploys officials on (to) Asaba-Onitsha highway”

    “No gang up (gang-up) against Jonathan”

    “Customs arrests (arrest) passenger with $456,000 at MMIA”

    Still on DAILY SUN under review: “With deep (a deep) sense of humility…who stood by us during the events of the past two months that culminated into (in) the closure of our petroleum products tank farm facility.” (Full-page advertisement by Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited…the nation’s oil giant)

    “…all Abuja brethren rejoices (rejoice) with…on the occassion of the 10th Anniversary of our great Ministry (sic).” (Full-page advertisement by state coordinator FCT Abuja of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement) I hope this intellectualization of religion is not blasphemous!

    “Reception follows immediately at (on) the church premises” (Full-page advertisement by Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja)

    “Cold blooded murder!” This is an example of cold-blooded headline casting!

    “That was when I saw the handwriting (writing) on the wall.”

    Finally from DAILY SUN of Xmas Day: “YSFON mourns Late (sic) Hamza” Sun Sports: Do you mourn a living person? Enough of this loose thinking!

    THE NATION ON SUNDAY of December 23 contained a few slips: “…discussed the envisaged restructuring of the party and it’s (its) chances in 2014.”

    “…he was the governorship candidate under (on) the platform of CPC.”

    “An engineer by profession and Harvard trained (Harvard-trained) economist….”

    “…argues that the federal government is biting too much (biting off more than it can chew).”

    “…turning himself into a brand that many up and coming (up-and-coming) comedians struggle to emulate.”

    Finally from last week’s edition of this medium under review: “Where to find last minute (last-minute) Xmas bargains”

    “…they now resort into (to) more desperate inactivity.”

    “…shouldn’t the National Assembly summon the will and revert back to the….” How does ‘revert back’ sound, dear reader? Simply illiterate. So, delete ‘back’, which is implied.

    “…on the erroneous ground (grounds) that all of them are rich.”

    “Too many theories are already making the rounds (doing or going the rounds) which only an open investigation can stop.”

    “The Hausa and Yoruba residents of Idi-Araba on Lagos Mainland went for each other’s throats….” Justice in service of community: each other’s throat (two persons) and one another’s throat (more than two persons).

    “The disturbances, as is (are) are now well known, started from a non-issue.”

    “But as soon as the Igbo governors demanded for confederation.…” Gently delete ‘for’ in the interest of lexical sanity.

    “The reunited Ijaw Youths Council has declared February 28 as a day all Ijaw youths would be ready to lay down their lives in a bid to battle the oil companies operating in (on) Bonny Island.”

    “Times like this call for fresh ideas and bold initiatives that would put a final stop to this one dark spot of our national life.” The tragedy of gunmen: A time like this or times like these.

    “Karzai re-opens Afghan embassy in UAE” This way: reopen.

    “Any of the elected representative (representatives) who performs well will stand a better chance of being re-elected in the forthcoming elections.”

    “Therefore, they should refrain from joining the bandwagon in a life of greed and avarice and take a right step in the right direction.” Nigeria and leadership succession: climb or jump on/aboard the bandwagon (not join—it is not a club or society).

    FEEDBACK

    Permit me to point out two rather frequent anomalies in Nigerian English: People are said to die after a brief illness. Does this make sense? ‘After an illness’ implies they have recovered. Death occurs from an illness—NOT after it. Often the word ‘contract’ is omitted when reporters write about government jobs. The road has been awarded. Is it right to leave out ‘contract’? No! Once more, thanks for your good works. (Prof. N.P. Okolie/University of Benin/07031677944)

    YOUR efforts at reducing lexical insanity are appreciated. The column should be an every-weekend tonic to every lover of good English. (Stanley/08062925996)

    My dear reader: Happy New Year in advance as we reconvene here next Sunday by God’s grace!

  • Nigerians rue year 2012

    …Say it is not as prosperous as expected

    A cross section of Nigerians said the outgoing 2012 has not been as prosperous as expected, considering the era of a democratic government.

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria in separate interviews that it could have been better “if only our leaders could muster the political will to make it better.

    Mr. Olaitan Adams, a civil servant with the Lagos State Government, said things were just depreciating year by year, “the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer.

    “I have been in the service of Lagos State for six years now, and I don’t have a car and savings, I live in perpetual fear of the unknown.

    “Last year, I was able to take my family on a treat, but this year, even cooking on Christmas day will be a miracle,” he said.

    Adams urged all the tiers of government to put the welfare of their staff at the forefront, noting: “we are the wheel that makes the nation move and should be adequately cared for.”

    Mrs. Ann Keshinro, an entrepreneur, said she is not impressed with the rate of growth in the economy despite the democratic government.

    “The rate of growth of upcoming or small and medium scale businesses is a proportional percentage of the rate of growth of the economy and vice versa.

    “Entrepreneurs in this country are practically magicians because we still have some businesses that survive against all odds in this dwindling economy,” Keshinro said.

    Mr. Titilope Bamgbala, a real estate manager, said the country had the potential to turn its fortunes around within four years with the right leaders.

     

  • 2012: Deadliest year for journalists

    This has been the deadliest year for journalists, according to both the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Paris-based press watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

    Though the totals of deaths they have compiled differ, due to each using different criteria, the story is tragically similar.

    The bald numbers show 88 journalists were killed (up 33% on the year before) and a further 47 people described as “netizens and citizen journalists” were killed along with six “media assistants.” That’s a total of 141.

    Then 879 journalists were arrested (plus a further 144 bloggers and netizens); 1,993 journalists were threatened or physically attacked; 38 journalists were kidnapped; and 73 journalists fled their countries.

    The worst-hit regions were the Middle East and northern Africa (with 26 killed), Asia (24 killed) and sub-Saharan Africa (21 killed). Only the western hemisphere registered a fall in the number of journalists killed.

    This is the worst set of figures since RSF began producing an annual round-up in 1995. The number of journalists murdered or killed was 67 in 2011, 58 in 2010 and 75 in 2009. The previous record was in 2007, when 87 were killed.

    The 88 journalists killed in 2012 lost their lives while covering wars or bombings, or were murdered by groups linked to organised crime (including drug trafficking), by Islamist militias or on the orders of corrupt officials.

    The killing of journalists continues to be one of the biggest threats to freedom of expression. Here are the five deadliest countries for journalists:

    Syria: At least 17 journalists, 44 citizen journalists and four media assistants killed in 2012 during the conflict between Bashar Al-Assad’s government and various rebel groups.

    Syria has hit news providers hard because they are the unwanted witnesses of atrocities being committed by the regime and armed opposition groups.

    Due to the polarisation of information sources, news manipulation, propaganda, technical constraints and the extreme violence to which journalists and citizen journalists are exposed, anyone trying to gather or disseminate news and information in Syria needs a real sense of vocation.

    Somalia: Twice as many journalists were killed in Somalia in 2012 as in 2009, until now the deadliest year for media personnel. The second half of September was particularly bloody with seven journalists killed, two of them in the space of 24 hours.

    Most are the victims of targeted murders or bombings. Those responsible for this violence are either armed militias, such as Al-Shabaab, or local government officials who want to silence news outlets.

    The lack of a stable government in this failed state for the past 20 years, endemic violence and impunity all contribute to the grim death toll.

    Pakistan: Ten journalists and a media assistant were killed, mostly because of endemic violence in Balochistan and Taliban reprisals

    Pakistan was the world’s deadliest country for the media from 2009 to 2011, and Balochistan continues to be one of the world’s most dangerous regions. With its tribal areas, its border with Afghanistan, tension with India and chaotic political history, Pakistan is one of the world’s most complicated countries to cover.

    Terrorist threats, police violence, local potentates with unlimited powers and dangerous conflicts in the tribal areas place often deadly stumbling blocks in journalists’ paths.

    Mexico: Six journalists were killed as Mexico’s drug-fuelled violence continued. It has grown exponentially during the federal offensive against the drug cartels of the past six years.

    Journalists who dare to cover a range of subjects – drug trafficking, corruption, organised crime’s infiltration of local and federal government and human rights violations by government officials – are targeted.

    Brazil: Five journalists were killed. Drug traffickers operating across the Paraguayan border seem to have had a direct hand in the deaths of two of the five journalists murdered in connection with their work in Brazil in 2012. Both had covered drug cases.

    Two of the other victims were blogging journalists, who often find that the least criticism of local officials can expose them to danger.

    Source: guardian.co.uk

  • 2012, year Jonathan chose pdp over Nigerians

    2012, year Jonathan chose pdp over Nigerians

    ‘It was a lonely year for the president.  His dear Dame  Patience needed  for support after every day of governing Nigeria which is in itself war, spent part of the year in a German hospital for food poisoning while the  restless  Nigerian  journalists, always in search of tragedies, speculated about the worst’

    The outgoing year 2012 will probably rank as the most testing period of Jonathan’s presidency. The anniversary of January 1, the day his detractors claimed he declared war on Nigerians that gave him a landslide victory is approaching. And these detractors are many. Those who had warned if we voted Jonathan, he would sell the nation to PDP, those of us who harassed him every week for allowing the PDP that Nigerians never voted for to hijack his government, civil society groups, labour unions, students, unemployed graduates, N18, 000 minimum wage agitators and elder-statesmen whose demonstration in support of poor Nigerians had to be cut short by the police.

    To this long list, we can also add university teachers especially those of the University of Lagos that put the president in his place over his attempt to rename their university, one of the few internationally recognized Nigerian brands, Moshood Abiola University (MAU).

    Also in our group of President Jonathan bashing are civil society groups, opposition parties led by ACN publicity secretary who would criticize the president when his wife failed to dress to his (publicity secretary) taste. We also have Tunde Bakare, the pastor with a caustic tongue who had been questioned more than once by the secret police for abusing the pulpit. Of course, we also have the president’s number one sworn enemy, General Muhammadu Buhari who daily invokes images of blood and death in the midst of daily flow of blood of innocent Nigerians whose lives were cut short by those who seem to kill for fun.

    We can also add to the list, the National Assembly especially the lower house which threatened to impeach the president for shoddy implementation of the 2011 budget. Curiously among those who gave President Jonathan nightmares within the year is ex-President Obasanjo, his godfather. Long after the president had said he was neither Pharaoh or a military General, General Obasanjo insisted Jonathan ought to have toed his line by leveling up a large portion of north eastern part of Nigeria to teach those who harbour troublesome children a hard lesson just as he did to the people of Odi in Delta and elsewhere in Benue State. Obasanjo was not done. He said the president was weak on corruption, thereby confirming what other detractors of President Jonathan have been saying.

    It was a lonely year for the president. His dear Dame Patience needed for support after every day of governing Nigeria which is in itself war, spent part of the year in a German hospital for food poisoning while the restless Nigerian journalists, always in search of tragedies, speculated about the worst. But God was and is still on the throne for a president fervently remembered in daily prayers by jet age prosperity prophets. Speculating journalists and others with morbid thoughts were shamed by triumphant return of Dame Patience Jonathan destined to enjoy the fruits of her labour as a newly promoted permanent secretary, in Bayelsa State.

    For succour and support, in the absence of his wife, the president was left with his information crew made up of the information minister who had to be cautioned by the National Assembly for his over enthusiasm . We have Dr Reuben Abati, who was doing what he knows how to do best, mesmerizing with beautiful prose about ‘the president Jonathan they don’t know’. Of course, Dr Doyin Okupe was always there for the president. He defended him vociferously on the attempted change of Unilag name to MAU and the CBN governor’s failed attempt to introduce N5, 000 naira bill.

    It was also Okupe, the self styled president ‘attack lion’ who was to later call the attention of the detractors to President Jonathan’s daring act of sending the son of his party chairman for probe on account of his alleged involvement in fuel subsidy scam. For a president who according to Okupe still has political ambition, it was an act of courage rare among Nigerian politicians especially the PDP breed.

    Now we have been told that the case currently before an Ikeja High Court, has been ‘adjourned till January 30, 2013 to enable Mahmud Tukur, son of the national chairman of the PDP and his co-accused, Abdullahi Alao, the son of Ibadan-based business man, Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao, Alex Ochonogor, and Eterna Oil and Gas Plc. to settle the N1.8bn subsidy fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’. But can the president really dictate to the judiciary? I don’t think so, except it has to do with a Justice Salami who ruled against PDP indicted ex-governors who stole their opponents’ mandates.

    But this is a year the president cannot wait to end because of other unresolved issues that have continued to haunt him. The president had been stampeded by PDP buccaneers, to remove what everyone except his ministers and those he himself described as ‘oil cabals’ said was a phantom subsidy on January 1. He had ignored the National Assembly demand for the “publication of the list of the beneficiaries of past fuel subsidy and presentation of facts and figures on the true picture of the subsidy”. The lower house subsequently set up an ad hoc committee to probe the fuel subsidy regime covering three years 2009 -2011. The actual budget expenditure on subsidy for both petrol and kerosene was found to be N261.1b in 2006, N278.8b in 2007 and N346.7b in 2008

    We were also told the actual budget expenditure on subsidy for both petrol and kerosene was tolerable when five companies including NNPC were involved. Bare faced stealing only set in after PDP increased the number to 140 marketers. The president has not told us why we still need about 115 marketers if the names of the 25 the government claimed soiled their hands are removed.

    Based on estimated daily consumption of petrol by Nigerians at 31.5 million litres while that of Kerosene is nine million as against other incoherent figures fraudulently bandied around by relevant government officers, the House ad hoc committee proposed a budget of N806.766billion for the 2012 fiscal year for payment of subsidy on petrol and Kerosene. The president is yet to tell us why that figure is now going up to N1.2trillion. Is it that average daily consumption of products that is not available has gone up or that our epileptic four refineries have finally packed up.?

    The president promised to build three refineries in Bayelsa, Kogi and Lagos. The one in Lagos was to produce 200,000 barrels a day and Kogi 100,000 while the planned Balyesa Greenfield Refinery to be built in partnership with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation, according to the NNPC Group Executive Director, Engineering and Technology, Mr. Billy Agha, would create 7,000 job opportunities. The president needs to tell us why we are not making progress in this regard.

    It is only chest-beating economist like Sanusi, the CBN governor who would argue about throwing people out of jobs in the banking sector and the bureaucracy when America is trying to put everybody back to job will guarantee development. If America is subsidizing American car manufacturers to keep workers on their jobs, we are better off losing N1.2 trillion as subsidy to support refineries, energy or even the agricultural sector if such efforts will create jobs for our teaming youths currently embarking on a journey of no return of second slavery to Europe and America. Sanusi and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are only obsessed with economic growth long after America Brazil and other parts of the world have shifted attention to human development.

  • Civil War 2012

    Civil War 2012

    I  enjoyed your historical analysis you titled “Albert agonistes”. I think Prof. Achebe has forgotten Nigerian history so soon or must have been suffering from hangover or senility or amnesia. Please post this article on the website to educate those of his like minds. – Chief Ayo, Ilesa.

    Achebe has long been writing in vain for the elusive Nobel Prize. His latest book showed he is filled with malicious rage and perhaps fractured mental balance. Thank you for dissecting his despondency and silly belly-aching. – Anonymous

    Those of you hiding Achebe for There was a Country are Yoruba who think Awo is infallible. Achebe is eminently right to relive, as catharsis, his experience during that our dark episode ; just as Soyinka wrote hisThe Man Died, and he – and we – his compatriots are the better for it! This is neither bigotry nor anti-Yoruba outburst. Awo didn’t deny that he didn’t order food blockade but he gave his reasons why he had to do that (The Nation08-10-12). My advice, however, is for Achebe to let go. There was a Country should act as the ultimate catharsis. – +2347068194122

    I read your piece and reaction to the ridiculous assertions of Pa Chinua Achebe about the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in his new book. Your postulation and analysis are inviting, realistic and academically stimulating. I have some vital questions for Pa Achebe and his horde of blind supporters: what would have been the fate of Nigerians if the Igbo had won the war? –Dave Blankson, +2348058514944.

    Re: “Albert agonistes”. Ojukwu could not take orders from Gen. Gowon and unlike Brig. Ogundipe who was the most senior military officer then, he declared a republic within Nigeria and dragged the Igbo and Nigerians into a war they were not prepared for. In war, there are casualties and collateral damages but Ojukwu should be blamed for this and not Awolowo. Prof. Achebe will end up doing himself more harm than good in his latest “tale by candlelight”! –Kayode A, Abeokuta, +2348073821313.

    It is very unfortunate that you chose to attack the personality of Achebe, instead of intellectual analysis and constructive criticism. The issues raised: 1. Should starvation/deprivation be used as war tool, like Chief Awolowo did? 2. When you declare “no victor, no vanquished”, should the people (losers) be denied of their life savings in various banks, just like Awolowo did, giving 20 pounds to each Igbo family irrespective of the amount they had in the bank? How about the banning of used clothes – the only cheap ones the Igbo could afford at that time, etc. I hope you can direct your pen to a professional debate and not on personalities. – +2348035181866.

    I think your piece was educative and analytical with reasonable facts. With all due respect to Prof. Achebe, his views are extreme, biased and lack analytical merit. Achebe should continue to enjoy his self-exile, instead of throwing “ethnic bazookas” that would continue to create needless tension at home. – +2348023185207.

    I am worried about the approach and response of you guys in The Nation to issues that have bearing on the Yoruba. Achebe’s new book which is not even in the market yet is being dissected and you guys are taking part for a whole. How do you review a serious intellectual work from a mere excerpt meant to market the book? Please The Nation is a highly respected newspaper. Don’t destroy it – Dr. Sam Aghalino, Unilorin, +2348039435843.

    Ripples: Thank you, Dr. Aghalino, but you, an academic of all people, should know that informed controversies do not destroy newspapers. Rather, they help build newspaper brands. As for your Yoruba/The Nation bother, my answer is simple: Nigeria is a federation and the media is federalised. So, let every shade of opinion fly.

    The war came and went. But 42 years after, the atrocities and other issues of the war are still being discussed. You know why? Those things that led to the war are still with us. I may not want to discuss Achebe’s position on Awo. Even as a Biafra veteran who fought on the side of my people aged 15 in 1967, Pa Awo remains a man after my heart for his high level of discipline. But he was very wicked to the Igbos. Achebe has every right to write his memoirs anytime he feels it is right for him. – +2347052461117.

    Well done comrade. I suggest people read the books, Brothers at Warby John de St. Jorre (Faber and Faber Ltd, 1972) and Biafra Story by Frederick Forsyth (Penguin London, 1969). The other voluminous book is Crisis and Conflict in Nigeria by AHM Kirk-Greene (a documentary source book, 1966-1970, 2 Vols, Oxford University Press, London 1971). The only solution to all is the convocation of a national conference. Thank you. – Col. Gabriel A. Ajayi, +2348037258268.

    “Albert agonistes”, a breakfast well served. One wonders why some people are held in perpetual bondage because of their unforgiving spirit of their own past mistakes, and the mistake of others. ‘Let go’ should have been the rhythm Achebe is dancing to now in quarter-to-end of his life, as against creating more civil wars within a conquered nation. – Yinka Ayanleye, +2348023178156.

    Please can you let Achebe and his ilk know that Col. Adekunle Fajuyi chose to die because of Ironsi, an Igbo man; that Soyinka risked his life going inside Biafra to persuade Ojukwu to recoil from war, and suffered solitary confinement for 22 months because of Igbos; that not a single Igbo was killed in Yorubaland and my Igbo lecturer at the University of Ibadan was most at home. Such a pity an 81-year old would choose to foul the air before departing. – +2348065475303.

    The Yoruba intelligentsia got it wrong in your response to Achebe’s book. I am happy that you agreed that the Civil War was a gang-up against the Igbo but your allegation that the Igbo ganged up against Abiola remains pure fiction, even if a few of our leaders misbehaved. After all, we did not starve or reduce the Yoruba class to nothing with an equivalent amount of 20 pounds. Igbo too were part and parcel of the June 12 struggle, men like MCK Ajuluchukwu, Arthur Nwankwo, Joe Igbokwe, Udenta Udenta and others. – Arinze Igbueli, +2348058054767.

    For those of you with the rare gift of intellectual pen power, the truth which hitherto has been kept from the public is out. What indeed triggered the pogroms was the provocative Igbo youths taunting northerners over the killing of the Sardauna. Can you please delve into the archives for the copy of Drum Magazine that featured on its pages the photograph of the body of Sarduana derisively (between February and March 1966) by the Igbo. Please ferret the Drum edition out, for the sake of posterity. – John Jimoh, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, +2347064370351.