The Nation Newspaper

Tag: authority

  • ‘Disrespectful behaviour towards women in authority must be condemned’

    ‘Disrespectful behaviour towards women in authority must be condemned’

    Leader of Commonwealth Business Women Africa (CBW-Africa), Ngozi Oyewole, has condemned all forms of discrimination and disrespect against women, particularly evident in the biased treatment of women lawmakers.

    Oyewole, in a statement issued yesterday noted that disrespectful behaviour towards women in positions of authority must be challenged and condemned.

    She urged Nigerian women to continue advocating for their rights, striving for gender equality, and working towards a society where women are valued, respected, and empowered to contribute positively to the nation’s growth.

    While emphasising the necessity for Nigeria to progress and flourish by recognising and honouring the rights and dignity of women, Oyewole noted that women in Nigeria have consistently demonstrated their competence and equal footing with men in both public and private sectors, despite facing numerous obstacles.

    Their achievements and contributions to society, she said,  underscore the importance of providing women with equal opportunities, acknowledgment, and respect.

    ‘’It is imperative to acknowledge and appreciate the invaluable role women play in the progress and advancement of the nation.

    ‘’By uniting in solidarity, raising our voices, and fostering a culture of respect and equality, we can create a more inclusive and just society where women and men can collaborate harmoniously towards a brighter future for Nigeria.

    Read Also: Why is climate change a reality in Nigeria?

    ‘’Let us all commit to the United Nations’ goal of ‘Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality’ and work towards a society where every individual, regardless of gender, is recognised and honoured for their unique contributions.

    ‘’Gender-specific language and discriminatory laws, including those addressing marital rape and domestic violence, must be rectified to ensure fairness and justice for all members of society.

    ‘’The dismissal of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, 2016, by the Senate, and the derogatory treatment of female lawmakers, such as Senator Binta Masi Garba, highlight the deep-seated issue of institutional disrespect towards women’’, she added.

    Oyewole however  commended the courage of Senator Garba and other female leaders like Her Excellency the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Senator Ireti Kingibe for their resilience and commitment to promoting women’s rights in Nigeria.

    In her role as the President of Commonwealth Business Women Africa (CBW-Africa), an organisation represented in 25 Countries in Africa, Oyewole stands firmly in support of gender equality and the rightful respect owed to women in Nigeria as a Nigerian citizen.

    She acknowledges the long-standing patriarchal nature of society, where the concept of the dominant male figure has prevailed.

  • I.E: authority stealing?

    I.E: authority stealing?

    Fela’s “Authority Stealing” album indicated — and creditably so — that Nigeria’s past military juntas (and civilian cronies) had seized the authority to empty the public till, without questions asked.

    Even Fela himself would have been shocked at how Ikeja Electric Plc, one of Nigeria’s electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), may have gifted itself the diktat to fleece its customers, any time it likes, however it likes, with no question asked.

    If that verdict appears harsh, follow the odyssey of prepaid meter no. 45702775466. On 27 December 2023, the meter’s owner recharged for a top-up token of N20, 000.  I.E. “dashed” the customer with 0.9 kW “amount of power”!  That was near-zero.

    Earlier, on 10 November 2023, the customer had recharged and the token received was 371.8 kW of power, pretty much the standard for that amount.

    Feeling pretty impotent about the I.E. steal but chaffing at running out of electricity at the high noon of Yuletide, the customer instantly did another recharge, again worth N20, 000, post-27 December 2023.  He was credited with 371.8 kW, or around that threshold.

    Then, came 3 February 2024: for the same N20,000 recharge, all I.E. gave was 147.7 kW — with 224.1 kW less, the recharge value is even less than N10, 000 worth of power, given the regular standard of 371.8 kW!  Now, if this isn’t bare-faced stealing, by a private firm founded on and bound by law, Hardball doesn’t know what is!

    But apart from this February outrage, I.E’s arbitrariness has been one constant, over the two years — or so — the pre-paid meter had been installed.

    Throwback: 28 August 2023 — recharge figure: N20, 000. Token supplied: 1.1 kW.  A month earlier: 17 July 2023 — recharge figure: N20, 000. Token supplied: 371.8 kW — and that excluded the very first recharge of N40, 000, for which I.E. supplied N20, 000 units-worth, in line with the billing rate back then, with the vendor claiming that was the “norm”.

    Read Also: Magu: Appeal Court orders bank to pay N540m damages 

    Pray, doesn’t I.E. have standards?  Or are its standards no more than its employees’ whims and caprices, in such sacred firm-customer relations, built on absolute trust?

    The street explanation is that I.E. nets off old “debts” — the voodoo debts of the estimated billing years — itself a bastion of fraud and impunity.  Even assuming there were debts, should there not be some strict mutually shared repayment criteria?

    What serious-minded business concern will wipe off an entire N20, 000 recharge to net off old “debts”, if the evil business spirit of the old NEPA doesn’t still abound in I.E.?

    Then, the confounding, nay, annoying opacity!  If you deduct people’s money, isn’t the customer entitled — as of right — to a periodic notice: say, a bi-yearly reconciliation, to show how much has been paid and how much is left?

    The Federal Ministry of Power should call out the industry regulators, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to call I.E. — and other errant DisCos — to order by seriously sanctioning them. 

    Nigeria can’t be a 21st century democracy, yet tolerate brazen and thieving firms, preying on lawful but helpless customers.

  • Daura: Conundrum of authority

    It is no longer news that the chickens finally came home to roost for Lawal Daura last week when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo terminated his appointment as head of the Department for State Security, DSS. The move was a shock, just like many of Daura’s own stunts in his time as the head of the country’s secret service. Daura was said to have been sacked, then whisked away through a back exit, while his security detail waited in vain at the administration gate of the Villa.

    It was a fitting departure for the controversial spy chief as he finally met his waterloo after yet another controversy regarding a blockade of the National Assembly complex by his men. Daura’s record as the head of the secret service was marred by lawlessness and disregard for authority, including that of his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari. In an administration that has been markedly liberal in its attitude towards exercise of power by its appointees, Daura reached new heights in excessive use of authority and cast unwarranted publicity on his agency’s activities, often in contravention of extant laws and superior directive.

    Unfortunately, Daura’s official impudence is not an isolated case. Most appointees in the Buhari administration seem to be working on their own clock, carrying on as if their connection to the centre has been severed by their self-importance. The most visible example of this has been in the case of security chiefs who seem to be going beyond the line of their duty in the pursuit of unclear agendas. Daura, for instance, went toe to toe with the presidency on the issue of the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. While the independence of certain institutions is necessary to properly run a democracy, one expects that there should be a meeting of minds on many matters, especially when the acts of government agencies always reflect on the president.

    The ultra-liberal approach to the delegation of authority by the Buhari administration has been more disruptive than it has been productive. It is in the nature of appointees overseeing government agencies to follow directives, and where no direction is forthcoming from the appropriate quarters, there is a danger of control of the agency being hijacked by others, who may not have the best interests of the administration at heart. Time after time, we have seen the presidency dissociate itself from the acts of its appointees in one agency or another. The public has to contemplate whether the presidency has been feigning ignorance of its own orders or is really out of touch with its appointees.

    It could be this disconnect in the line of communication between the centre and its agents that led to the recent commotion at the gates of the National Assembly. The errant head of the secret service enjoyed the advantage of a very long leash from the presidency which may have opened up the DSS to influence from forces that were opposed to the smooth running of government in this administration.

    Bukola Saraki, the senate president, has been fingered as a possible mastermind behind the reckless show by the DSS last Tuesday. If there is any truth to this, it casts more aspersions on the ability of the president to manage his appointees and run a tight ship than it does on the senate president for being a cheap opportunist. Either way, the outrage expressed by the presidency, and by the vice president in particular, shows that Daura may have become uncontrollable and had to be served his walking papers. The question then remains, that how many more of Buhari’s appointees need the same treatment?

    Daura’s sin of storming the National Assembly without proper authorization is equal to the excesses of others like Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police, who has himself laid siege on the Benue State House of Assembly in a shambolic impeachment proceeding, or Ibrahim Magu who has been accused of freezing state accounts or carrying out selective prosecutions against interests not aligned with that of his principal. The outrage at Daura’s act of ‘betrayal’ is somewhat an endorsement of the excesses of these other officials and many more like them who have remained untouched despite compromising the ethos of their office.

    There is so much activity in the political and public space and one cannot distinguish between issues propelled by self-interest and those driven by public good. Many government agents find themselves serving multiple masters in the conundrum that government authority has become. This is aided by the supremacy battle between the legislature and executive which has produced a senate president who is ready to dismiss all practical legislative conventions in order to win one over the ruling party and the president.

    Whether the senate president was behind the DSS siege on the National Assembly or not, he has proven to be a chronic opportunist and master of deflection. A senate president who thinks it is good and practical politics not to resign after defecting to the opposition, despite leaving the ruling party, must be deeply immoral. Politics, like the one he practices, is what has led us into the recent political commotion we are experiencing, and the commotion in-turn fuels confusion and abuse of authority by agents of the government.

    Now that the country has seen what a lack of cohesion in government can do, it is time the presidency starts setting the tone for its administration by strengthening its chain of command and outlining the bounds of the exercise of power by its appointees in the different agencies of government. It is not enough to appoint a person into authority; there needs to be a synergizing of objectives and the activities of the government as a whole. If this is achieved, the united front on the executive side may inspire cooperation from the legislature, within its ranks and in collaboration with the executive arm to carry on the business of governance.

    Also, the timing of executive actions like that which the vice president performed last week ought to be right. Already, there has been foot-dragging about insubordination within the government fold in the past three years. The deterrent value of the sack of Daura may not be immediately seen, but it has sent a clear message to others to sit up and establish a clear line of authority before taking sensitive actions. This is one reason why the presidency ought to take decisive and timely action where it has been exposed.

    The feud between Daura and Magu is public knowledge. Already, Daura has reportedly had his passport seized, while the EFCC has been called in to investigate his involvement in the controversy surrounding about N80 billion linked to the DSS. The presidency should monitor the investigation to ensure that it does not become a mission of vendetta by Magu who may have a personal axe to grind with Daura. The country needs true resolution of issues at this point and not scapegoats for a collective problem.

    If indeed, there was an unauthorized request for the DSS to act in the manner it did at the National Assembly, the truth must be unearthed and appropriate action taken swiftly against anyone who is found complicit. It should also be noted that this is not the first time the government has distanced itself from the acts of its agents. Other cases should be investigated too and those found complicit should be punished.

    In the boiling political landscape right now, there is likelihood that the DSS siege and Daura’s dismissal could be shaded in certain ways to suit the aims of people in or out of government. It is imperative that this episode does not become a case of sacrifice of the scapegoat. Instead, it is an opportunity to tighten ship and do things through normal channels, for the benefit of Nigerians.

  • Femi ‘authority’ Falana (san) @ 60

    In this article, Lagos lawyer and law teacher Wahab Shittu eulogises Femi Falana on his 60th birthday

    Wahab Shittu
    Wahab Shittu

    It is not an easy task paying tribute to Femi ‘Authority’ Falana SAN who clocked 60 recently with encomiums and accolades everywhere, including the rare one from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari who commended ‘’…Falana’s sense of patriotism over the years as well as “his antecedents which the president described as “…most exemplary and commendable in advocating for a better life for the poor and underprivileged”.

    I will say it is not easy commenting on the persona called Femi Falana (SAN) because of the dilemma of deciding which aspect of this extraordinary Nigerian to focus on in such commentary. Many will prefer to focus on his activities as a lawyer as well as a human rights crusader consistently for several decades in company of such greats as the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), the late Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and many others in that category who were and have been relentless in their crusade for the enthronement of good governance, rights protection and enhancement of the living standards of our people.  In this category of assessment, Falana (SAN) ranks very high on account of his accomplishments.  This is, however, one aspect of Femi Falana (SAN). There is the other aspect of  Falana as a consummate strategist that no one can ignore.  Indeed, his rating on this score is so high that if you are to contend in any battle against Falana you are better warned to be fully prepared for this is a soldier in battle difficult to confront or dislodge in any encounter, whether within or outside the courtroom.

    Thirdly, there is also another aspect of Falana (SAN) as a vociferous protester against all manner of injustice.  Indeed, he is such a one-man riot squad that his singular crusade on any matter at all is sufficient to draw the attention of the authorities to take notice and implement. Falana (SAN) also has incredible capacity to build, cultivate, retain and nourish relationships across board.  He is a friend to human rights and democracy crusaders, friend to the ivory tower including established academia of various orientation, friend to labour movements, friend to the poor and underprivileged, friend to those in privileged circles, friend to those within and outside government and all these relationships, Falana (SAN) nurture without betraying his principles.  In nurturing such relationships, the surprise element is that Falana is always very careful to uphold ethics and the highest professional standards.What of Falana’s strength of advocacy in the courtroom? Oh my God! Falana (SAN) is such a delight to watch in the courtroom with capacity to make very serious points even while putting up regular smiles in a manner that will leave opposing counsel sometimes seriously perplexed.  Learned silk argues clearly, masterfully, logically and with clear focus.  As counsel in the proceedings, he is very fierce yet friendly and willing to make concessions in the best and finest tradition of the bar. I recalled that it was this trait that attracted him to me many years ago and we have since retained such senior friend/junior friend relationship ever since. I had wondered at the time, how can a counsel be so gifted and yet so friendly?

    Falana (SAN) is also an uncommon patriot who is obsessed with the theory of development and he never abandons his friends within and outside government.  Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN in a recent tribute to him wrote:

    ‘…we are gladdened that you stand out, proudly, among genuine patriots and true lovers of our country.  That you remain a consistent and relentless advocate of the downtrodden is a fact through which we derive immense pride in our association with you…your prodigious talent has enriched our jurisprudence. Your seminal interventions at crucial moments continue to resolve the socio-political conundrums thrown up by the very logic of socio-economic interaction in a transitional society.  You are indeed a priceless gift.”

    What a testimonial!

    Many may not be aware of the monumental contributions of Femi ‘Authority’ Falana (SAN) to the anti-corruption crusade in our country.  Perhaps it is a story for another day how Falana influenced the choice and emergence of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the anticorruption czar in our country and how his activities directly or indirectly encouraged the emergence of the latest anti-corruption sensation in our country, Ibrahim Mustapha Magu.  Femi Falana SAN consistently makes his services available to support the anticorruption crusade and movements in our country.  On a personal level, Femi Falana SAN it was who introduced this writer to the prosecutorial assignment in EFCC since inception and for this, I remain eternally grateful to this extraordinary Nigerian.  His expectation is that I and many others in that category do not betray the sacred trust.  I remember that constantly in addition primarily to the reputation of my background.

    What of Falana as a humanist? Femi Falana is ingeniously humane and willing to deploy his talents always in the service of the common good.  Abraham may have had elements like Falana (SAN) when he wrote:

    “The worthiness of life is deep rooted in sacrifice to mankind.  If one dies in the process, he becomes a martyr.”

    Femi Falana by his activities is definitely on a journey to martyrdom.

    The celebrant is also a very passionate family man who has raised with his wife, Funmi Falana very successful children among which is Folarin Falana, the popular artist known as Falz.

    In the past, I commented about Falana (SAN) as follows:

    “It is said that there is time to labour and there is time for harvest.  Anybody familiar with Femi Falana (SAN) and his delectable wife, Funmi Falana would agree that this is one unique couple who have come a long way together and certainly have paid their dues…”

    Who is this Falana (SAN)?

    Femi Falana was born at Ilawe, Ekiti State on May 20, 1958. He studied Law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and the Nigerian Law School. Since he was called to the bar in July 1982, he has been in active legal practice majoring in human rights and international humanitarian law. Through public interest litigation Mr. Falana has contributed to the promotion of human rights, defence of the rule of law and the expansion of the democratic space in Africa.

    Following the suspension of human rights provisions in the Constitution by successive military regimes Mr. Falana convinced Nigerian courts to uphold  the human rights  guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. He equally championed the campaign which led to the expansion of the mandate of the Community Court of Justice to enforce the human rights Community citizens in West Africa. Apart from his regular appearances in Nigerian courts Mr. Falana has represented victims of human rights abuse at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights,  in Banjul, The Gambia; Community Court of Justice, in Abuja, Nigeria; Special Court for Sierra Leone, in Freetown, Sierra Leone and African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in Arusha, Tanzania.

    Through the instrumentality of the law Mr. Falana’s law firm has secured the release of hundreds of illegally detained persons and ensured the reinstatement of many dismissed students and staff of tertiary institutions. He has also got reprieve for scores of soldiers who were charged, convicted and sentenced to death by military courts. The law firm successfully stopped the execution of the 12 kids who were convicted for armed robbery by a military tribunal in Lagos in 1989; the take-over of the Nigerian Bar Association by the military junta; the proscription of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the criminalization of strikes by teachers; the arrest and detention of family members in lieu of wanted criminal suspects and the indefinite suspension of legislators from legislative houses.

    Aside the promotion of political and civil rights Mr. Falana’s law has ensured the recognition and protection of the socio-economic rights of the people by local and international tribunals. Thus, the courts have upheld the right of Nigerians to protest without police permit, the right of police women to marry without permit, the right of every Nigerian child to free and compulsory basic education, the right of undergraduates to education loan, the right of underprivileged citizens to access  loans for business  without collateral, the right of citizens to protection and security of life and the right of the people of the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region to a safe and healthy environment.

    Mr. Falana has consistently campaigned for the enactment of welfare laws to cater for the majority of poor and disadvantaged citizens. On account of his human rights activities he was arrested and detained in police and prison custody on several occasions by the former military dictators. He was charged with criminal offences including unlawful assembly, incitement, sedition and treasonable felony but was never convicted by any court.  As a youth corps lawyer, Mr. Falana successfully defended some student activists who were charged with attempted murder by the police.  The authorities seized his National Youth Discharge Certificate for 18 years for embarrassing the federal government

    However, he has been honoured for his consistent defence of human rights and rule of law. He is one of the 4 lawyers in Africa who have been conferred with the prestigious Bernard Simons Human Rights Award by the International Bar Association. His many other awards include the American Bar Association International Human Rights Award (1986); the Defender of the Year Award from the International League for Human Rights, New York (2000); Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award, Ghana (2003); Knight Outstanding Leadership by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State, Senate, House of Representatives and Boston Council, United States (1998); Knight of Freedom Award by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (2009); Gani Fawehinmi Life Time Award on Human Rights from the Hallmark of Labour Foundation, Nigeria (2011); Promoter of Human Rights Jurispudence in Africa by the National Human Rights Commission (2015).

    Apart from his stints as a member of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association and General Bar Council Mr. Falana was the President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (1996-1998); Secretary-General, African Bar Association (2000-2002) and President, West African Bar Association (2004-2009).  Mr. Falana is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Arbitrators of Nigeria and Institute of Chartered Public Administrators of Nigeria, member of the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association, Pan African Lawyers Union and West African Bar Association.

    Mr. Falana is a regular commentator on public affairs and the Editor-in-Chief, Weekly Report of Nigeria. He is a member of the  Editorial Board of Thisday Newspaper; the Network for the Defence of Journalists in West Africa and the International Centre for Investigative Journalism and Justice Research Institute. He is also a member of the African Group on Justice and Accountability.  Mr. Falana has a long list of publications including Fundamental Rights Enforcement in Nigeria (2004); Fundamental Rights Enforcement (second edition, 2010); ECOWAS Court: Law and Practice (2010) and Nigerian Law on Socio-Economic Rights in Nigeria (2015).

    As I sum up this tribute, one question keeps nagging my mind about this extraordinary Nigerian and I hope one day he will provide an answer. The question is, learned silk from where do you derive the boundless energy with which you crusade all these myriads of activities and traverse everywhere? Before you answer, let me make a guess, I say it can only be God and God alone.

    As Femi ‘Authority’ Falana SAN clocks 60, my expectation is that he will continue on the path of righteousness and crusade for the common good for which he has acquired unprecedented reputation and for which in my view, he will always be appreciated as the celebrant etches his name in letters of gold.

    Congratulations Femi ‘Authority’ Falana SAN, My senior brother, my senior friend and a patriot extraordinaire!

  • World Bank advocates single regulatory authority for free zones

    World Bank advocates single regulatory authority for free zones

    The World Bank has called for a single regulatory authority for the operations of free zones in Nigeria.

    The advice was given at the Public Hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce in respect of a proposed amendment to Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Authority (OGEFZA) Act.

    In his presentation, Craig Raymond Giesze, Senior Operations Officer, Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice, World Bank Group stated that the institution had always advised countries seeking to attract investments into their economies through their free zones “to adopt the single regulatory authority regime for a number of reasons based on knowledge garnered over the years of what foreign investors look out for in an economy”.

    He said: “Beyond the fact  that a single regulatory authority is global best practice, the benefits include the fact that it reduces administrative costs; the approach creates investor confidence in an economy; investors abhor a confusing regulatory environment and consider such environment as too risky but prefer consistency in regulation because a single regulatory authority offers long-term stability that guarantees safety of investments. In that regard, the World Bank perspective would be that Nigeria should seriously consider the adoption of a single regulatory authority regime for its free zones”.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce,  Sylvester Ogbaga, said the key objective of the public hearing was for invited stakeholders to make input that would assist the Committee in its legislative assignment of amending the proposed OGEFZA Act based on global best practice in order to increase the contribution of the free zones scheme to the national GDP.

    The Managing Directors of OGEFZA and NEPZA stated that the supervising ministry of both agencies had stated that it would need time to review and harmonise their respective submissions. Further, they requested a postponement of the public hearing pending the review of the ministry and the submission of their memoranda.

    General Counsel, Snake Island Integrated  Free Zone (SIIFZ) Adewale Dosunmu advised the Committee to ensure fairness, equity and justice in the course of executing its assignment by ensuring that stakeholders are given an opportunity of publicly knowing and reacting to the submissions of Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Authority (OGEFZA) through a second public hearing by the Committee especially after harmonization of the positions of the two contending agencies by their supervising ministry the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

    Dosusmu pointed out to the Committee that four presidential and ministerial review committees set up by three previous administrations over the last two decades had recommended the merging of OGEFZA with NEPZA as best practice. This would remove confusion as to who regulates what and would bolster investor confidence in Nigeria. In addition, it would reduce the cost of governance by eliminating double expenses for two agencies who would ultimately be performing the same function.

    Furthermore, he informed the Committee that a proper examination of the existing OGEFZA Act for which the amendment was being sought would reveal that the intentions of the framers of the OGEFZA Act and that of then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, was specifically to restrict OGEFZA operations to only Ikpokiri and Onne Zones. He contended that the activities of OGEFZA over the years had not been in compliance with the provisions of the extant Act and proposed amendment in its current form would ratify years of unlawful activities.

  • SEC, sole approving authority for local debts, says Adeosun

    SEC, sole approving authority for local debts, says Adeosun

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has said the sole responsibility for the supervision, regulation and approval of issuance of securities in the local market for Nigeria’s internal debt rests with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

    The two circulars endorsed yesterday by the minister stated that “in pursuance of its powers as conferred by the Investment and Securities Act No. 29 of 2007(ISA) and the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission made pursuant to the ISA (the SEC Rules), the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) shall continue to have and discharge the sole responsibility for the supervision, regulation and approval of the issuance of such securities in the local market by Federal, Government agencies, state and local governments, their agencies and corporations.”

    Adeosun added that “henceforth, all applications in relation to the issuance of such securities by any of the aforementioned entities shall be made to the SEC for review and approval.”

  • Waterways Authority cautions Lagos residents

    The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in partnership with Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) on Saturday cautioned residents of Lagos against littering waterways with human wastes.

    The Secretary of LASWA, Mr Damilola Famakinwa, gave the warning during the authority’s clean-up exercise at Ebute Ero Jetty, Lagos Island, Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise was conducted in collaboration with Wecyclers, a Non-Profit Organisation to clean debris around the jetty.

    Famakinwa said that the exercise was to sensitise and enlighten members of the public on the benefits of keeping the waterways clean.

    “Our objective is to educate members of the public on the dangers of polluting our waterways and to make them imbibe a culture of keeping waterways clean.

    “Observation has shown that generally, Lagosian violates and do not take proper care of the waterways.

    “Lagosians litter the waterways with empty plastic, bottles, nylons and various kinds of filth.

    “Another practice is open defecation on the waterways, littering it with human wastes in the form of urine and even faeces.

    “This is totally unacceptable. We have organisations emptying their waste water and various chemicals pollution in the waterways,” he said.

    Famakinwa said that the pollution of waterways necessitated the campaign tagged: ‘Caring for our Waterways’, with the support of relevant agencies.

    According to him, the pilot campaign commences at Ebute Ero because the authority notices various kinds of dirt and litter in the waterways alleged caused by market men and women in the area.

    The scribe highlighted some of the dangers to include accidents and obstruction to easy navigation on waterways.

  • Oke-Ogun obas, ODC bicker over Alaafin’s authority

    Oke-Ogun obas, ODC bicker over Alaafin’s authority

    Recent advertorials in national dailies are signals that all is not well with the relationship between the people of Oke-Ogun and the institution of the Alaafin of Oyo. BISI OLADELE examines the lines of accord and discord between the two as well as the implications of the new trend

    The relationship between the people of Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State and the institution of the Alaafin of Oyo is becoming resentful going by recent advertorials in national newspapers in which suspicions of discord were confirmed. With the public presentation of such facts and allegations, it is safe to posit that the end may be in sight for the relationship that has lasted for centuries.

    Oke-Ogun, a homogenous area which is at the northern part of Oyo State, is knitted together in 10 local government areas.

    In a recent advertorial, the people of Oke-Ogun, speaking under the auspices of the Oke-Ogun Development Council (ODC), faulted opposition of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, to the proposed solidarity visit by traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

    The advertorial, signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the council, Leke Adelere, faulted Oba Adeyemi on some of his claims surrounding promotion of peace and development of the Oke-Ogun area.

    The ODC is the umbrella body encompassing all socio-cultural associations, clubs and professional groups of Oke-Ogun indigenes.

    But the Alaafin is the consenting authority for new traditional rulers to be installed in Oke-Ogun’s many towns and communities. The Oyo State Chiefs Laws authorises the first-class monarch to consent to installation of new obas based on common history.

    But while the Alaafin has played the leadership role to the communities in the area with many obas have allegedly been grudgingly paying obeisance, the elite under the ODC seem to be spoiling for what can be described as a fight for freedom.

    In the advertorial, the ODC criticised Alaafin for sending a letter to each of the obas in the area in which he condemned their plan to pay a solidarity visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, without his approval as the consenting authority.

    The ODC faulted Alaafin’s claim of playing a fatherly role and promoting unity in the area, saying it was all deceit.

    It posited that his letter to the obas “evoked a sad memory of the atavistic age of tsar dealing with the serfs” but emphasised that such era was gone forever, and that the Alaafin should accept the reality of an independent Oke-Ogun.

    The council also cleared one of its own, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, of wrong doing in the scenario. The ODC faulted an alleged claim by the Alaafin that Ojerinde was behind the planned visit to Ooni and vowed that the visit was the idea of the obas, stressing that it would not be abandoned for any reason.

    “You should recognise and accept the existence of the body (Oke-Ogun obas) as a reality and live with it. They have unfettered freedom of association and movement under the Nigerian constitution. And it is under this constitutionally guaranteed freedom that the Oke-Ogun obas in their own free volition and without inducement from anybody, as alleged by your Royal Highness, decided that they would pay a solidarity visit to the new Ooni of Ife, His Royal Highness (HRH) Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11. What permission or consent do they require from you to do that? The planned solidarity visit of the Oke-Ogun obas to Ooni still subsists. It will not be abandoned as a result of your intimidation,” the advertorial read in part.

    But prior to the ODC advertorial, 20 obas from the area paid the Alaafin a solidarity visit, dissociating themselves from the secret plan to visit the Ooni.

    Even after the ODC advertorial, many obas in the area published another advertorial on Sunday in which they pledged their loyalty to the Alaafin. The obas cut across the 10 local government areas in Oke-Ogun.

    Differing from the views of the ODC’s advertorial, 22 obas loyal to the Alaafin issued an advertorial condemning the ODC’s move.

    In the advertorial, they said they viewed the publication by ODC on Wednesday, April 20 as despicable, and an unprecedented abomination which is most unbefitting any civilised person or group in Yoruba land.

    On the issues raised on the publication, the obas said inter alia: “We, the traditional rulers of Oke-Ogun have never been consulted nor held any meeting with the said ODC concerning the content of the press release prior to its publication. Our consent was neither sought nor given.

    “That we state unequivocally that we were not privy to the publication, and we were all shocked to the marrow, and greatly embarrassed by the  publication which does not in any way or shape reflect our unanimous views and considered opinion on the person and office of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi II.

    ‘That all of us, Oke-Ogun traditional rulers openly testify to the honour and respect we have enjoyed in all our interactions and relationships with the Alaafin of Oyo. We have suffered no indignity or insults in the course of our numerous personal and official visits to the palace in Oyo. As a matter of fact , we have enjoyed an unprecedented relationship of mutual respect and honour from the Alaafin.

    “We all support and love the Alaafin and are happy to follow his progressive and purposeful, humane and caring leadership. He has never misled us, neither has he disappointed us in all the years of our following in his footsteps.

    “We hereby condemn in unmistakable terms and in its entirety the content of the ODC publication. We call on the brains behind this publication to openly apologise to the Oke-Ogun obas and people, and to Iku Baba Yeye, the Alaafin of Oyo, the permanent chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

     

    Immediate and remote causes of the crisis

     In Oke-Ogun, for some decades, many elite have been expressing concern about the huge power which the Alaafin wields in serving as the consenting authority in selection and installation of obas in the area. They view the traditional and legal authority as casting their people as being subservient to the institution of the Alaafin. But that does not change the law, history or tradition. Yet, the concern is growing steadily among members of the ODC which they tactically express at opportune occasions.

    As implied in the ODC advertorial, elite in the area are nursing bitterness against the Alaafin on the manner in which he wields his power as the consenting authority. The advertorial exposed the silent bitterness among Oke-Ogun indigenes against the Alaafin. The monarch is, however, not unaware of the situation. But he sticks firmly to the law and tradition backed by the common history of the Oyo and Oke-Ogun area of Yoruba land.

    While this remains at the background as a cause of bitterness, the immediate cause of the latest crisis could be situated in the ascension of the new Ooni and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, between December, last year and March this year.

    The glamour and honour accorded the enthronement of the two monarchs as well as the unity agenda of Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi were said to have stirred up Oke-Ogun obas to seek an audience with Oba Ogunwusi.

    The goals, it was gathered, were to key into Ooni’s unity agenda and also find their voices as a bloc of traditional rulers in Yoruba land with adequate recognition.

    It was learnt, however, that Oba Ogunwusi reached out to the Alaafin, informing him of the plan by the monarchs to pay him a solidarity visit.

    The Alaafin viewed the move as a subversion of the law and tradition. He quickly moved to exert authority over most of the obas that are loyal to him. As a result, many of the obas quickly backed out of the idea and expressed their loyalty to the Alaafin.

     

    ODC as a sacrificial lamb?

     

    In the unfolding scenario, ODC seems to be standing alone in its move to intervene in the traditional authority issue. With most obas in the area standing by the Alaafin, the ODC is left in the cold to sort itself out.

    What exactly does the ODC want? As enunciated in the advertorial, the council seeks freedom for its people from the control of the Alaafin in the area of selecting and enthroning obas.

    But whether the dream is realisable or not will be determined by the provisions of the Oyo State Chiefs Law, the Nigerian Constitution, democratic principles, culture, tradition and history.

  • Budget, authority and leadership deficits

    A  writer  in an Economist of  London’s  publication some years  back identified  what  he called Authority deficit in global  politics leaving a  security  vacuum being filled  by Islamic  militancy. Having been used  to budget deficit in economic scenarios  and analysis, I  found  the terminology  fascinating and it has fired my imagination for the topic of today. I  will  therefore  shed  more light on the notion of authority deficit before going into the  more familiar budget deficit of Economic  Planning.  I will   then plough  back the two into  the arena of leadership deficit as  both fall under the purview  of political  leaders  both local  and global who  take decisions on them and are  thus to be held responsible  for the  consequences of their actions  and inactions, as  the buck stops on their powerful  tables  – as  the saying goes.

    The  Economist Analyst  spoke  then  about a decline of world order since the end  of  the Cold War   and  the hope  of the civilized world   that order  will  prevail  and  be sustained  in a  Unipolar world   led   by the US   after   the fall  of  the  Berlin Wall  and the  collapse  of the former  Soviet  Union. Unfortunately  America’s moral  authority  took  a fatal  blow  from the invasion of Iraq  on the false premise   of   the existence  of weapons  of mass destruction  and  human  rights  violation  at  Guatanamo   Bay. In addition  the analyst  wondered  at the justice  of a world  order and global authority based  on a UN Security  Council   made  up  of winners  of  a  World  War  which  ended  in  1945  and which pointedly left out  Emerging world players and new  powerful    world markets like Brazil  and  India who  are part  of the BRIC  nations namely Brazil, Russia, India, China  and  S.Africa.  This perception of an unjust  world  order has therefore led to a global lack  of respect  for an unfairly  constituted  global  authority.

    Thus creating the authority deficit  which Islamic  Militancy  has exploited and  this too  has led  to the emergence  of  ruthless terrorists groups  like Al Quada, Taliban, ISIS and  Boko  Haram which  are trying to create  borderless  caliphates in a world castrated by  an  authority  deficit  crassly  unable   to check and bring them to order.

    This  analysis  was  written in 2007 a year  before  George  Bush the 33rd  US  President  and the scapegoat  of the  2003  Iraqi invasion with  British PM at the time, left  office.  America’s  loss  of moral authority which created the authority  deficit we  are  talking about now,  created  the political  and electoral  climate  that made present US President   Barak  Obama the next and 34th president of the US   in  the 2008  presidential    elections. This week   in  2016 as  the presidential   election  campaigns  to  elect his successor takes  steam   US  President  Barak    boldly  if not  naively lamented  that the worst  mistake of his administration in foreign policy was in not planning for  the aftermath  of the overthrow  of the Muammar  Gaddafi, the former  ruler  of Libya. He  went  on to say that because  the US  and  its allies have  blocked  or chased ISIS  out  of Syria  and   Iraq, ISIS  fighters  are  now regrouping in Libya and  that is responsible  for  the present  state  of anarchy that  Libya  is experiencing. That  to  me is very brilliant  and candid  analysis  by the US  President. But  it  is also an admission of responsibility by  the leader  responsible  for the best illustration of the  notion   and   existence  of authority deficit in our time.

    The  Obama lamentation  on  Libya can  be appraised from  a troika  of perspectives,  all of which confirm his vintage credentials  as an exponent of authority  deficit in foreign  policy  and none  of which is pleasant for him,  his  legacy, his political  party and  the world at  large.  This  is not difficult  to see and that is why the lamentation was so  difficult  to believe that  he was the one saying it and not someone else and  I will clearly show this.

    Let  me  start by  looking at the impact  of the Obama Libya lamentation on the ongoing  US  presidential  election campaigns especially with the chances  of Hillary  Clinton, the front runner for Obama’s  party, the Democratic  Party.  Of  course there is no need to  imagine what  Donald  Trump, the Republican  Party front runner would  make  of the lamentation as he would certainly take Obama,  who  he once called a security risk  to the cleaners  on that. With  regard  to  the Democratic  Party which   Vice  President Biden literally asked  to  campaign on the  Obama  legacy  when he stepped  down from  contesting for the presidency to succeed Obama, lamentation  has  become a  political  albatross  or hemlock  for Hillary  Clinton and  Bernie  Sanders, the two  front runners  for the Democratic  Party’s Presidential  nomination. This  is because  a policy of mistakes on foreign policy is hardly  a good sales  pitch to sell a presidential  candidate not to talk  of a candidate  of the party of  the  outgoing president making an admission  of failure or mistake  in that regard. In addition the timing seems calculated  to harm the nomination chances of Hillary  Clinton as she was the Secretary of State with Obama  at the time  Gaddafi was deposed and Barak  Obama has hailed that as the high point of her foreign  policy achievements.

    Definitely  the president’s   Libya   lamentation  has given her achievements a kick  in the ass out of the  window  and  made  her a sitting duck  for wicked  jokes of lack  of leadership qualities and judgement  from,  first Bernie  Sanders her opponent in her party  and most dangerously  from the Republican’s Donald  Trump. But then  as Hillary’s  presidential  ambitions  take  a turn  for the worse her  boss  too must  accept  responsibility  for the authority and leadership deficit  so much  on display in this Libya lamentation.  This  is  because  after Hillary left as  Obama’s  Secretary  of State Obama  made  a worse  mistake in Syria than  the one he is now lamenting on Libya,  on  Syria by drawing a red line for that nation to cross  on the possession  and use  of chemical  weapons on  Syrians by their own President Bashar  Assad. The  Syrians  crossed Obama’s  red line amply illustrated by the famous  –  We  know – speeches  by  Hillary’s  successor as Secretary  of  State,  John Kerry  who  gave  graphic  accounts  of the use of chemical  weapons by the Syrian  leader against  his people and prepared the mind of the world and the Syrian  rebels  against air strikes against  the  Assad regime.

    This  however  never happened  against  the  observance  of violations  of American  values  going  on  in Syria because President Obama  lost the stomach  for the air strikes and  that led unfortunately to the rise  of ISIS, the  destruction  of Syria, the establishment of a Russian  base in Syria, and  the mass  flow  of Syrian  refugees  into  the  EU  nations,  which  has become  the huge  humanitarian  crisis  of our  time. Really  the  Obama  Libyan lamentation is unbelievable  but there   is no doubt on the real source of both the authority and leadership deficits and  the attendant  seen  and  unseen dire,  tragic   diplomatic   and global consequences.

    We  go  next  to the Nigerian scene this week on the topic  of the day. Two   issues strike my attention  for  comment and analysis. The first was   the  President’s trip  to China ostensibly  to seek funds or loans to finance our budget  deficit. The  second was  the statement  credited to the president   in  China  that he  would defeat  pipeline vandals  like he defeated  Boko  Haram.

    Starting with the China deficit  financing trip I think  it is a step in the right  direction and a welcome departure  from  IMF  and  World Bank  loans whose repayment terms  have ruined  not only our  economy but that  of several African and developing  nations. China has  a growing economy and the largest population and  consumers of goods and services in the world  and needs minerals, oil and many products that  we  have  for its population. It  is in order  for it to fund infrastructure loans to have access to the needs of its blooming population  and we certainly need  the money  to grow our economy and provide jobs  for  our  youths. In  addition  we are in the fight against  corruption  for which China has zero  tolerance and  has a penalty  of the death  sentence  for  corruption  which it regards as economic sabotage. We should  borrow a leaf there before China  gets wise on that and makes it  a  loan  conditionality. Looting of state funds  needs to  attract lethal deterrence  certainly  above  media ridicule  and  mere opprobrium  as  we  have  now.

    On  the  issue  of defeating  pipeline vandals like  Boko  Haram  we should  be more careful as  comparisons  can be odious and escalating where  terrorism  is concerned. Pipe line vandals are thieves  and not terrorists  we should  not  give them  importance they  don’t deserve so that it does not get into their heads. Boko  Haram started with youths on motor bikes  who  should have been  sorted  out speedily  by the appropriate security  forces  who  looked the other way.  Now  Boko  Haram  has gone international and is threatening not only  the Sahel  but even  Ghana. Pipeline vandals should be apprehended  and  dealt  with pronto  and effectively but  should never  be compared to Boko  Haram, please. As  at  now  the government  has  an authority  deficit  on  Boko  Haram if only because the   200 Chibok  girls  have  not been found for two years now and this government   has been in power  for almost  a year now.

    On  the budget and  leadership deficit as I have  analysed  the government  has my kudos and  is moving in the right  direction. Once again long live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • ‘Don’t submit your authority to anyone’

    The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, has advised traditional rulers not to submit their authority to anyone.

    He enjoined them not to look for help from spiritualists but to seek divine wisdom in leading their domains.

    Oba Akanbi spoke at the installation of Ashiru Ogundokun from Oloola Compound as the Parakoyi (Baba Loja) of Iwo.

    The monarch said God installs kings and give them authorities to lead their domains, warning them not to indulge in acts that would make them incur the wrath of God.

    He said: “God had told me to warn those in authorities to lead with his fear and to trust him alone if they want to succeed as kings. If by their acts they are misled into thinking that they can be secured by going to other places apart from God that made their installation possible, they would lose their authorities.

    “The beaded crowns on their heads would become mere caps and authorities would not come forth from their lips.”