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Tag: character

  • Why character matters

    Why character matters

    There are seven sins in the world: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice and politics without principle.”

    This great and timeless quote by late Indian statesman, Mahatma Gandhi is a clincher any day and I doubt if any sane person can disagree with it. My main concern today is not the totality of the quote, but the aspect on character. Gandhi was a man of great character. He kept himself away from materialistic desires, always favoured the truth and honesty. He condemned violence and was a ‘celebrity’ whose picture covered the front-page of all the important newspapers in the world at that time. But still he lived the life of character, simplicity and discipline.

    When asked about what message he would like to give to the world, Gandhi said, “My life is my message.” And what a life it turned out to be. He wasn’t a great orator, didn’t have a very attractive physique, lived a life of simplicity and avoided limelight as much as he could, but still he is regarded as one of the greatest persons to have ever walked on earth. The reason is he lived a simple and selfless life. He believed that he has a great responsibility to free his country and he had complete faith in himself. He knew he’d play a significant role in the freedom of India and so he did. His faith in himself triggered the faith of millions of Indians in him.

    It was very tough to lead the Independence movement of a huge country such as India and that too with non-violence and against the violent and cruel British army. Gandhi was beaten a lot of times, a lot of times he was left alone, bleeding and lying on the ground and sometimes it seemed that he won’t see the sun next day but each day and each time he faced the opposition, he resisted, he persisted and he got through all the opposition.

    Before the last election, most Nigerians agreed that we were at a crossroad and travelling the same old battered road of the past will definitely lead nowhere. They made a detour with their votes and today it is widely agreed that the country, under President Muhammadu Buhari, may still see better days ahead.

    For instance, the frontal war on corruption is gathering steam, power supply is improving and there seem to be this general mood that we have a leader who really leads. However, it would be naïve to believe that everything will fall perfectly in place since Buhari is now the “New Sheriff in Town” (apology to Femi Adesina). While I’m a firm “Buharist,” I know he may not succeed without the support of Nigerians.

    My point is this: He will face his greatest challenges, not in dealing with the economy, Boko Haram, corruption or infrastructure, but in dealing with the character of the Nigerian. Look around you, there may be gains on the national level to suggest we are heading in the right direction, but has that change impacted the character of the ordinary man on the street?  In essence, we must change our character if true Change must happen and a new Nigeria emerges.

    Nigerian is one country where the class stratification of middleclass and underclass matters little when it comes to character. Within the ranks you still see bad behaviour characterised by a ready disposition to cheat, lie, defraud their fellow citizens. They are at ‘peace’ to even swear on the Bible or Quran while committing acts of atrocities. It is little wonder that we are, by and large, not trusted by outsiders in business nor do we trust themselves for reasons that are quite obvious.

    The challenging question on my mind is this: is it possible to reform Nigeria without reforming Nigerians? While Buhari would, indeed should succeed in fixing the problems and challenges we face as a nation, fixing the Nigerian, in my opinion must be collective. The president may be everything right now but he is certainly not a heart or brain surgeon because what the Nigerian needs is heart and brain transplant to change the way we have been ‘wired’ in ‘doing business.’

    Three weeks ago, a cement laden container fell off a bridge in Lagos crushing no less than three people to death.  Immediately after the avoidable and unfortunate incident, pictures started appearing on social media showing that the same trailer had earlier fell somewhere in Apapa before being lifted to continue its death trip. The questions on the lips of those who waited hours – before heavy equipment to lift the container off the vehicle arrived the scene – were asking was on the cheapness of  life in Nigeria and inertia by the authorities concerned in dealing with issues of this nature.

    While we all blame ‘the authorities,’ the root cause is the flawed character in many Nigerians. Why would an individual risk his life and the lives of others because he wants to earn a ‘living’ driving a truck that is not road worthy? Why would an individual, or group of individuals, corner pension funds meant for retirees and all he, or they get is a slap on the wrist. It all boils down to character.

    A story I read in The Boston Globe of Sunday, June 28, 2015 is quite instructive.  Three 17-year-old students of a regional high school chose former Boston crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger for their National History Day competition entry on leadership and legacy. Rather than provide them the resources they needed, he had some advice for them: character matters and crime doesn’t pay. The 85-year-old sent the handwritten letter, dated Feb. 24, from federal prison in Florida where he is serving two life sentences.

    “My life was wasted and spent foolishly, I brought shame and suffering on my parents and siblings and will end soon. Advice is a cheap commodity some seek it from me about crime – I know only one thing for sure – If you want to make crime pay –‘Go to Law School.’”

    Bulger was convicted in 2013 on racketeering charges that included playing a role in 11 murders. He spent 16 years as one of America’s most wanted fugitives before he was captured in California in 2011.

    One of the students, Brittany Tainsh, said she was stunned to get his letter because that wasn’t what they were expecting. “He did not really reply to any of our actual questions. He was very apologetic.” She said they chose Bulger for their project to try to stand out among the other entries and to learn about someone they hadn’t studied in school.

    The great American president, Abraham Lincoln said, “Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree.” Our character is much more than just what we try to display for others to see, it is who we are even when no one is watching. Good character is doing the right thing because it is right to do what is right.

    Character is the solid foundation on which a person’s entire life is based; it is a potpourri of many qualities like honesty, integrity, dependability, diligence, loyalty, compassion, sincerity, attentiveness, determination, confidence, etc. All these traits and many more sum up one’s character.

    Everyone has character. It is our character that defines who we are and what we will become. Often we tend to disregard the direct influence character has on our successes or failures. When you consider the individual qualities that come together to make ones character then it becomes easier to understand how character affects our lives. If you are honest at work, it will directly relate to your dependability which in turn will translate into better work being sent your way. If you are discreet, then people will be keener on sharing their knowledge with you.

    That Nigeria as a nation is destined for greatness is never in doubt, but the big irony is why a nation so blessed with enormous resources cannot seem to make headway. However, for the first time in a long while, there is a renewed belief in Nigeria. But before that dawn breaks we no doubt need a character revolution.

     

     

  • Between Federal Character and competence

    During the early days when the Eighth National Assembly’s leadership brouhaha gained presence on the pages of our national dailies and dominated discussions on radio, television and the new media, two fundamental criteria for leadership were placed on the front burner.

    Interestingly, in both the apex and lower chambers of the National Assembly, the factors were strongly espoused by the two warring factions. The legislators’ imbroglio later reached its crescendo, as frontline public affairs analysts, ace columnists and eminent legal luminaries joined the fray by advancing their rational views for or against the criteria.

    It was actually a sad commentary to see what began as mere verbal altercation snowballed into a fracas. While the crisis lingered, a friend of mine hilariously told me that even boxing legends, such as Muhammad Ali and Floyd May Wheather, would dread our lawmakers’ ’killer’’ punches. It should be known to our distinguished legislathieves (apologies to Daily Trust’s satirist, Tunde Asaju), that a robust parliamentary business and nothing more, is what we expect from them.

    Now, away from the insanity of our law makers. First, the principle of federal character as a constitutional provision is basically concerned with achieving equity and fairness in resource allocation, appointments and sharing other national largesse amongst the regions, geo-political zones or states in our heterogeneous nation. To achieve equity and fairness, the Federal Character Commission was established during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration to, among other things; address the burning issues of marginalisation and inequality. Competence, on the other hand, simply implies the ability to do something well and is acquired through experience or training.

    Globally, leadership is one of the most significant elements in social discourse. It remains the only tool which can be used to midwife accelerated progress for a nation, state, region, constituency or business organisation through purposeful individuals. It is not a thing to be abused either, consciously or accidentally. In matters of leadership, it is an aberration to resort to our whims, employ sentiment and play the ethnic or religious card, as it is not an all-comers affair. No doubt, it is imperative to give every zone or region a sense of belonging, so to engender harmonious co-existence amongst its diverse peoples and their culture. Likewise, the need to do that becomes sacred when one looks at the peculiar human and intellectual resources endowed each region. As such, entrusting visionary people from different geo-political zone with leadership tasks can be akin to adding spice to the Nigerian project.

    However, there is need for us to perhaps seek the wisdom of Sherlock Holmes or the intelligence of Albert Einstein to objectively answer the following posers. One, do we honestly yearn for national progress? Secondly, do we recognise those qualities or considerations that will orchestrate unprecedented development for our nation? If truly, our responses are in the affirmative, then we must be wary of the consequences of not acting in good conscience.

    One thing is certain, for any meaningful socio-economic progress to accrue to a nation; it needs the intellectual acumen, principle, foresightedness, competence and doggedness of men of impeccable character since these men were elected or appointed based on their pedigree and not on the altar of frivolities. A. N. Whitehead, a British philosopher and mathematician, stated: “Intelligence is quickness to apprehend as distinct from ability, which is capacity to act wisely on the things apprehended.’’ Without mincing word, the thematic preoccupation of Whitehead’s quote is surely on the competency of leaders.

    A cursory study of developed nations will unearth the naked reality, that they accorded premium to competence when appointing or electing individuals into offices. For instance, the Singaporeans will eternally remain grateful to their foremost Prime Minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew as his incorruptibility, high sense of probity, patriotism, sagacity and glowing leadership traits that transformed Singapore into a global economic force.

    Also, the South Africans would forever be indebted to the revolutionary initiatives of the late Nelson Mandela. After a harrowing expedition in jail for 27 years, the late architect of modern South Africa emerged to bequeathe the enduring legacies of rule of law, freedom of speech, credible elections and emancipation of the black race to people of the rainbow nation. Certainly, the principle of federal character or other inconsequential factors were the least in the considerations of electing the legendary Nelson Mandela and Lee Kuan Yew into those exalted positions.

    Again, let it be clear that competence or merit in appointments or elections is all about having square pegs in square holes. In other words, men and women of sterling moral and leadership antecedents, track records, courage, intelligence, honesty, and ingenuity should be considered for strategic leadership positions. Insignificant factors such as geographical location, ethnicity, loyalty, religious or party affiliation should be totally rejected. That our nation’s economic fortunes continue to plummet is as a result of our poor sense of judgment while electing or appointing leaders. It would be foolhardy to expect giant strides when mediocre, avaricious, clueless and decadent people continue to remain our best bet, all in the name of inclusiveness.

    Also, the outpour of encomiums to our dearest country for successfully conducting a credible election earlier this year was made possible by the charismatic and exceptionally-competent Prof Attahiru Jega, who was then the INEC’s helmsman. Even President Buhari cannot deny that his triumph at the March 28 poll was tied to the implicit confidence of the electorate in his leadership abilities.

    More recently, I had to doff my hat for Mr President for prioritising merit over trivialities in the appointments he has made so far. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, after the appointment of the new service chiefs, Mallam Garba Shehu quoted Buhari as saying: ‘’All of you, including the national security adviser, were chosen on merit. Your records gave you the job.’’

    Hence I want to urge other leaders to replicate the same practice of upholding merit rather than the usual recourse to sentiments and geographical descent as benchmarks for appointing public office holders. .

    I believe we have all evaluated the arguments canvassed by both the advocates of federal character and competence in elections or appointments. And extraordinarily, wearrivedata remarkableconclusionon the contentious issue.

    Hence,it would not be rocket science for us to recommend that which will bring about monumental development for our Beloved Motherland. But, the question is, will our leaders heed the clarion call? Hmmm! Methinks that’s anybody’s guess.

    • Mahmud is a 200-Level Mass Comm., Fati Lami Abubakar College for Legal and General Studies, Niger State.
  • Siasia: we must show greater character in second match

    Siasia: we must show greater character in second match

    Head Coach Samson Siasia has charged his U-23 national team boys to show character and resilience when they take on the the U-23 national team of Tunisia in a second international friendly match in Tunis on Wednesday.

    “I don’t want to blame the players too much for the loss to the Tunisians in the first match on Saturday.

    Without appearing to be making excuses for them, we arrived in Tunis on Friday afternoon and immediately went to training but the weather did not help matters.

    “Most of them were traveling outside the country for the first time and you can’t wish that away. The weather was a critical issue. However, in the first match, my assistants and I noticed a number of areas we need to improve on seriously before we can say we have a team.”

    The Dream Team lost 3-5 to the Olympic Eagles of Tunisia at the Stade el Menzah, with the Nigerian goals from

    Etim Emmanuel and Junior Ajayi, who hit a brace. The team created a hatful of chances in the second half, after the first half ended 3-3, but were undone by poor finishing.

    “We thank the NFF for organising these matches because they will really help us prepare for the qualifiers against Gabon, and other matches in the race to the All-Africa Games and the 2016 Olympics. We will try a number of other players in the second match and see how things work out,” Siasia said after Sunday’s training session at the Stade November 7 in Rades, outside Tunis.

  • Oni, Fayemi, Aregbe and politics of character

    Without any fear of inaccuracy, I was the first person in the media industry-both national and foreign-to have an exclusive interview with Engr. Segun Oni after his swearing-in as the governor of Ekiti State in 2007. The interview happened less than a month after he settled down for the serious business of governance. The interview was a no-holds barred and I asked then Governor Oni many questions. Not minding the political tendency on which I may be leaning as he was meeting me for the first time-having been introduced by Dr. Samuel Arowolaju (a senior friend) as a media guy from the United States, he answered my questions candidly and without mincing words.

    Some of the questions revolved around his predecessor, now governor-elect Ayodele Fayose and he said more than a mouthful. Hear him: “On the 29th of September, 2005 we had a meeting that was to become a rally somewhere along Falegan Estate area. We actually had a peaceful meeting but the police came in nonetheless. They said Governor Fayose had prepared an agenda to get some of us. They came to get me and fired some rubber bullets…They kicked me, beat me up and I was dragged on the main road of this (Ado-Ekiti) city and thrown into a vehicle. People were watching from afar. The police thought they’ve thrown my lifeless body inside the vehicle but when they realized that I wasn’t dead they took me to the police station and sprayed teargas on me. They wanted to spray the teargas into my nostrils but I told the guy if he did that I would die and the policemen watching him are the ones who would give evidence against him and he would never get out of it.”

    I asked the then governor if he was contemplating revenge since he then occupied the same office his predecessor allegedly used to attempt to snuff life out of him. The governor said: “The only lesson I took away from that unfortunate incident is that power is very transient. You see, when you have power and you refuse to use it based on your whims you enhance its value.”(Italics mine for emphasis). I never stopped thinking about this last sentence since as reflecting the man’s strength of character.

    A different aura, as if issued from the core of his being, enveloped Ekiti State when John Kayode Fayemi took over the mantle of leadership. The calm that descended on the state, which reflected the persona of Fayemi was palpable. Scrupulous Nigerian entrepreneurs and the international community saw in him his genuineness and started to set up shops in the state so much that billions have been sunk into hospitality and other service businesses by private investors. The governor will probably go down in the 18-years’ history of the state as the only governor that continued with the projects of his predecessor, despite the very painful and tortuous experience to which he was subjected in regaining his mandate. On assumption, he became the first governor in this dispensation to declare his assets and that of his wife. The governor declared an eight-point agenda as a blueprint of his administration that not only touches every socio-economic strata of society, but also implemented virtually all the points and sub-points on the agenda during his tenure. This remarkable feat earned him the sobriquet of “O wi bee, O se bee” which literally translated into “He said it, did it”. As part of rebranding the state along the lines of the values that he holds dear, Ekiti state is now known as “Ile Iyi, Ile Eye,” a phrase that embodies a virtuous state that I hope the new helmsman will keep.

    Osun State was a violent and highly traumatized state on its way to a bottomless perdition when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took over its administration. It was a beleaguered state not because it is socio-culturally disposed to brigandage, but because a class of its own people was attempting to take away its very soul. On his assumption of office, Aregbesola decided -almost from Day One of his administration-to take the road less travelled. This earned him the description of an unusual man running an unusual government. He believes that a people, as that organic structure that makes up society, must coalesce around some core principles which must of necessity become their ethos if they must realize their collective destiny. The state was also rebranded along this line of thought.

    His administration created a crest, a Coat of Arm, a flag and a state anthem that the country’s central authority stuck in its primordial hunter and gatherer political disposition accused him of trying to secede from the republic. The governor did not stop there. A state known as the “State of the Living Spring” became known as a “State of the Virtuous.” He has been described by people from various walks of life to be a “scrupulously honest and humble” chief of state, which probably contributed in no small measure to his victory at the recent poll for a second term. I have given the synopses of this trio in order to identify a common thread that runs through them. And this is the character thread.

    Much has been said by political scientists and pundits that one of the major reasons why the All Progressives Congress(APC) has been unable to gain significant traction so far is because of its inability to anchor its existence on a political ideology or an identity. It should look no further. The opposition political party should make character the lifeblood that gives it sustenance. Character should be seen by the people as what distinguishes it from the ruling party. It should be seen as its main pillar. It should be the first identifier of the party’s candidates for electoral offices from henceforth. This time tested virtue should be its brand.

    As much as Nigeria has been touted as having the largest and the most promising economy in the continent, much of the rest of the world still will not touch her even with a long pole because the country’s government and its people are deemed as hopelessly corrupt and lacking in character. Therefore, injecting character into the body politic will most definitely reverse the self-destructive trajectory of a pathetic country such as Nigeria. Other social pillars of justice, fairness and equity that must be present to lend support to the growth and sustenance of any society can only thrive with the presence of character. A nation without character is a living dead.  They say that character is really what you do when no one is looking. I will add that it is also when one is willing to go against the grain because the values that one represents will be seriously compromised or impaired, as exemplified by the people of the State of Osun when they overwhelmingly voted for the presidential candidate of the party they identified with in 2011 even when they knew that his chances of winning was hopelessly low.

     

     

    •  Odere is a media practitioner. He can be reached at femiodere@gmail.com.
  • Intellect without character

    Intellect without character

    •It is sad that brilliant youths would take to fraudulent means to survive

    It was an ingenious and elaborate scheme carefully crafted to defraud thousands of job-seeking Nigerians of millions of Naira. The six suspected fraudsters behind the crime are young Nigerians between the ages of 25 and 27. They are all well- educated and clearly have the talent and creativity to earn a living by decent and legitimate means, even in Nigeria’s admittedly difficult employment climate. Yet, they chose to apply their intellect, time and energy to defraud their fellow citizens and have now fallen foul of the law.

    The criminal minds, that have made confessional statements to the Special Fraud Unit (SPU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Milverton, Ikoyi, are all products of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).  They include the suspected ringleader, Oluwapelumi Ayotunde, a 500 level Estate Management student; Asaolu Victor, a graduate of Mining Engineering; Awote Temitope Emax, another 500 level Estate Management student; Emmanuel Onaopemipo Bolatiri, a graduate of the institution who deals in handsets and Adebomi Oluwatosin, a computer graduate who works with Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, as a Programmer 2.

    Clearly the most embarrassing of the lot is Fajobi Olalekan, a Mechanical Engineering student of the institution  with first class honours, who was the best graduating student in his department in 2012, and is currently working with Dee Xecutor Concept.

    These brilliant but misguided and depraved youths exploited the plight of at least 2,000 desperate job applicants to criminally enrich themselves to the tune of over N5million. They specialised in designing websites of different companies and using such sites to lure innocent job seekers to apply and pay application fees for non-existing lobs. The crime was uncovered when the Special Fraud Unit of the police in Lagos received a petition from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countr ies (OPEC) Fund for International Development dated August 22, 2013, alleging that a website designed as OFID Scholarship Website with OFID name and logo was being used to defraud unsuspecting Nigerian applicants.  The victims were required to pay N2,500 as application fee through the First Bank account number 2020814607 and Access Bank account number 005941009, with the fraudulent name OFID WSAS NG.

    This sad incident is another poignant reminder of the deep moral quagmire into which our society has sunk. When a society worships at the altar of crass materialism, the end of making money is what matters, no matter how foul the means. In a situation where the most venerated members of society are those who flaunt obscene wealth, even when the source is known to be criminal, there is little or no incentive to seek to earn a living through decent industry and ingenuity. It is thus not surprising that a Fajobi Olalekan with a first class university degree, which suggests brilliance, focus, industry and a capacity for disciplined study, would rather choose the easier, crime-ridden route to wealth acquisition.

    Olalekan and his accomplices are unfortunate examples of intellect without character. Yet, the degree of any higher institution is awarded both for learning and character, since the educated individual who lacks moral scruples is a danger to society.

    The unsavoury unemployment situation in the country has rendered millions of desperate job seekers vulnerable to the antics of fraudsters and extortionists.  At least 16 applicants lost their lives and scores of others were injured during the recent fraudulent and ineptly organised recruitment exercise into the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). Hundreds of thousands of applicants were made to pay N1,000 each as application fees for no more than 4,000 job vacancies. Till date, no one has been brought to book for this atrocity and neither are we aware that any money has been refunded to the applicants as directed by President Goodluck Jonathan. Why then won’t other syndicates be emboldened to criminally exploit job seekers?

  • The harm in federal character, zoning and regionalism

    Section 14(3) of the 1999 Nigerian constitution says: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a  manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to  promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies.”

    In full acknowledgement of the good intentions of the framers of the 1999 Constitution, as necessary to address the need for balancing the interests of the multiplicity of ethnicities in our country and the disparate levels of literacy and economic progression, I believe that with the increasing ethnic-based disturbances, continued balkanisation of the country by non-sustainable ethnicity-driven state creation, the acrimonious political discourse that is fuelled not by substance but ethnic or regional considerations, the citadel of incompetence and mediocrity that, for the most part, is the civil and public service today, given the related diminished standards, the time has come for re-consideration of the Federal Character requirements.

    The concept and practice of allocation of federal and state government positions, issues advocacy by zones or regions, political aspiration by zoning, undermine the principle of fair-play and unity that is, seemingly, the objectives of the requirement.  Specifically, mediocrity, continued ethnic rivalry and balkanisation, gerrymandering of political aspirations, regional factionalism, a system that seeks to put geo-political affiliation ahead of performance and qualifications, a polity that is perpetually heated up, are all products of the “fair-play” arrangements of the Federal Character, quota and zoning mechanisms.

    Federal Character requirements may superficially convey the impression that there is a balancing of geo-political representation at the federal Ievel and ethnic or tribal at the state level, but viewed unemotionally, it is a practice that is deleterious to a nation that seeks to be among the first twenty economically developed countries by the year 2020.  How does an allocation of federal government positions ensure that we have the best and the brightest in those positions?  What happens if a particular region lacks persons with the requisite skills, proficiency and expertise to fill its allocation?

    What about the subordinate personnel, from a different region, who has superior qualifications?  How does such allocation foster the competition amongst the regions and states that is necessary to boost literacy and economic levels which, ultimately, should result in the production of personnel who are able to compete with their peers on a national level, or on international level against those countries such as Belgium, that have to be pushed out of the top 20 economies by Nigeria’s economic ascendency.  Do we really want to continue to teach our children that you can study hard (or not) and then leave it to prayers, that when you seek to perform your civic duty, as a federal or state employee, that you have the luck of having geo-political zone balance in favour of your state of origin?

    If our mechanism for recruiting and promoting our current and future policy makers and implementers is already flawed, how can we expect the organs of government to function at a performance level that results in the delivery of the “benefits of democracy?”

    It is frightening when we realise that these individuals make and implement policies that impact all aspects of our daily lives. As Nigerians, we have never shied away from competition.  It is this need to be the best that we can be that is manifested by the professional, academic and entrepreneurial excellence of our citizens in more organised societies. It is also this pursuit of one-upmanship that also fuels the chaos that is our daily lives. Alas, this chaos cannot be constructively channeled, because we are depriving the brilliant performers of the opportunity to contribute to our nation’s socio-economic growth, thanks to Federal Character requirements.

    Contemporary times reflect a nation that has not learned from the horror of its 1966 civil war and is ever more divided along tribal, ethnic, regional and religious lines.  As a nation, we are seeing more events of loss of life caused by tribal or ethnic affiliation. We are subjected to daily bombardment by the news media of political events, activities and shenanigans with underpinnings of tribal, zonal and regional affiliations.  The run-up to the presidential election of 2010 was full of the strife associated with whether or not the presidential slot was zoned to the North and the reverberations of that period continues until now, with ramifications for the upcoming 2015 elections.  Similarly, the various state-level political party structures are caught up in fights as to where succession has been zoned to or the number of times a particular tribe has assumed an office. Has the relatively recent instance of the deportation of economically disadvantaged Anambra citizens from Lagos or the eviction of non-indigene civil service workers from some South Eastern states (supposedly based on the challenge of meeting the minimum wage increase) indicated that we are anywhere close to the promotion of national unity that is specified in Section 14(3) of the constitution?

    I am a firm believer that the tapestry of the Nigerian nation is stronger and prettier because of the diversity of our people. Together, we are better than we are apart.  However, we may never achieve the togetherness if we continue to institutionalize measures that divide us.

    The use of the Federal Character, zoning and quota mechanisms are artificial constructs that remove the fairness principle from how we live and work.  These are heinous mechanisms that put deserving people at a disadvantage to the detriment of our governance structure.  In our constant cry for visionary leaders, we must acknowledge that we will never find those stellar leaders if we continue to utilise a quota system that gives precedent to tribal, state or zonal affiliation, instead of personal attributes of excellence.

    It is my hope that in the forthcoming national discussions, that there is a robust and consequent review of the Federal Character or any such requirements that do not truly foster unity, fairness, meritocracy and nationalism. The iconic American civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King said, in his “I have a Dream” speech (March on Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963), that he dreamt of a nation where his children “will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”  Our aspiration as a nation should be similarly so, with judgment not on the basis of tribe, ethnicity, zone, but on character and the ability to contribute to nation building.

     

    • Azu Obiaya writes from Abuja

    onweazuka@gmail.com

  • Ahmed Musa: We showed character

    Ahmed Musa: We showed character

    Ahmed Musa has disclosed that Nigeria showed strenght of character to win a Brazil 2014 World Cup playoff in Ethiopia on Sunday.

    The African champions fought back from a goal down to beat a determined Ethiopia 2-1 with the return leg clash fixed for November 16 in Calabar.

    A delighted Musa told MTNFootball.com the game was tough, but they showed the character of true Africa champion to win.

    “The game was a very tough and hard one. The Ethiopians played well, but we are more exposed and experienced than them, that won the match for us. We showed them that we are the Africa champions,” Musa said.

    Musa came close to getting on the scoresheet in the 77th minute, but his powerful shot from inside the box crashed against the right post.

    “I really thought the ball had gone in, but it hit the post. All the same, the eventual victory made me to forget the miss and I am sure we are in Brazil already because we can’t lose to them in Calabar, but we will still take them seriously,” he vowed.

    Sporting Braga defender Elderson Echiejile tweeted his appreciation to Nigerians for their support, saying there is still another match to be played next month.

    “First half played, remaining second half…Nigeria thank you for the support,” he tweeted.

  • Governors without character

    Governors without character

    Precisely because President Jonathan fights with might and means and because PDP is notorious for undermining the spirit of our laws including its own constitution, I predicted a few weeks back that Governor Rotimi Amaechi, despite his acclaimed superlative performance in office, the goodwill of his people and the support of the opposition was not likely going to survive the combined forces of an unforgiving president and a party that loathe the democratic process. That came to pass this Monday when Amaechi, an elected governor, was suspended by his party. This was coming shortly after the suspension of elected members of his state legislature.

    PDP and its elected or selected governors despise the democratic process in spite of their professed commitment to democratic rule. Their reaction to Amaechi’s victory in the NGF election and his subsequent suspension from the party has only but confirmed this lack of faith in the democratic process. Beyond this, the PDP governors have by their irresponsible outbursts, infantile lies and unnecessary heating up of the polity just to please the president, demonstrated their weakness of character.

    The story was that election for the position of chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), was held in which 35 governors participated. The communiqué after the election by the NGF Director-General, Asishana Okauru, confirmed that “The governors of the 36 states of the federation at the sixth meeting of the year elected … for the next two years: chairman, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers State; and vice chairman, Alhaji Abullaziz Yari, governor of Zamfara State. All the governors present participated in the election except the governor of Yobe State who was not present”, Okauru concluded.” He later told journalists that Governor Amaechi won the election with 19 votes as against 16 votes scored by Governor Jang. He also stated that Governor of Zamfara State Abudlaziz Yari was elected vice-chairman of the forum after Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko stepped down for him.

    But without invalidating Okauru’s claims, PDP governors who as we have always said, behave like gangsters, told journalists that 17 governors had chosen Governor Jang as chairman of the NGF while Mimiko would serve as the vice chairman. Their crooked logic was that before the election, Jang had been endorsed by the 19 northern governor’s forum. These bad losers cannot even see the parallel in the triumph of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the current speaker of the Lower House over the South-west PDP endorsed candidate for the position, ably supported by ex- President Obasanjo and President Jonathan.

    Tragically, the battle to discredit an election in which they actively participated was led by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the governor of Ondo State who himself has credibility problem. Critics of the very resourceful governor elected on the platform of Labour Party but now openly wears the cloak of PDP, speaks of his serial betrayal having dumped his benefactor, Adefarati, played Brutus on Dr Olusegun Agagu and used Tinubu to retrieve his PDP stolen mandate, only to cross over to President Jonathan, the highest bidder who was in a position to deploy the IG, an army battalion and a contingent of police to Ondo to ensure his victory during his re-election bid last year.

    He caught a pathetic picture as he tried to justify the perfidy of desperate PDP men trying to play on the intelligence of Nigerians. According to Mimiko, “Amaechi did not step down as chairman before the election in which he was a candidate; he produced some papers that he called ballot papers, there was no way we could trace the source, we don’t know whether they were pre-marked or whatever”.

    Mimiko’s attempt at misleading Nigerians is not in the character of forthright and proud people of Ondo he leads and who are known for calling a spade by its name. But more damaging to Mimiko’s testament is the testimony of his good friend, Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ektit who confirmed the election as free and fair, describing, with his usual grace and depth the outcome as ‘a vote for democracy’ and not as an endorsement of Amaechi or a vote against the president. Nigerians are more likely to believe Fayemi’s account of events than that of those the Yoruba call ’ko se eku, ko se eiye’ (neither rodent nor bird). Above all, the voting process during the NGF election, as shown by some television stations did further damage to the credibility of Mimiko and his PDP forum of bad losers.

    The graceless outing of Jonah Jang of Plateau also probably explains why he has for about eight years supervised bloodletting in his state. He knew he lost ‘fair and square’, yet demonstrating ecstasy after being declared winner by 17 governors on Saturday, he told journalists on arrival to Jos his state capital that “As far as I’m concerned I have been given an assignment and by the grace of God I will do my best to unite the forum and make sure the forum provides the right leadership for the people of Nigeria…”.

    But charity begins at home. Jang, who was not graceful enough to accept defeat, is obviously also deficit in tolerance and compromise, the two most important ingredients of democracy. He needs these attributes to stop the bloodletting between the Fulani and their chief hosts, the Berom. The Fulani have nowhere else to go. Asking them to go back to the Futa Jallon area where their great forbearers migrated from over 200 years ago is like asking the Jews and Arabs to go back to Ur in Iraq, where Abraham their great grandfather was given a vision of a land flowing with milk and honey. Even when in God’s mysterious ways, the land turned out to be hilly desert full of craters and valleys of death, rather than abandon the land to the Philistines its owners, they have turned it to a land flowing with blood of their children. What Plateau need to avoid such fate is compromise and Jang by his actions has proved he is deficit in honour.

    As for the chairman South-east Governors Forum, Peter Obi, “we in the South-east have always worked together as governors… the South-east together supported the candidacy of Jang.” Of course the position of the leadership of the South-east is well known to Nigerians. Their leaders often worked for themselves, feathering their own nests while shouting from the roof top about marginalization of the Igbos after trading off the presidency.

    The Chairman of the South–south Governors Forum, Governor Liyel Imoke said: “As chairman of the South-south Governors Forum, we also participated in the process that led to the emergence of Governor Jonah Jang. “Of course” the South–south has always stood behind this administration…” Imoke ‘s freudstian slip confirmed what everyone knows-that the PDP governors attempt to turn the truth on its head is all about president Jonathan 2015 ambition.

    The vice chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Governor Gabriel Suswam, also confirmed the adoption of “a new leadership led by Jang and supported by Governor Mimiko, the Iroko” during a meeting of northern governors. But Suswam did not make mention of the earlier election in which he participated.

    Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State said: “we were contestants but stepped down for Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State to be our consensus candidate of the 19 Northern Governors Forum.” But except under feudalism, such an act cannot automatically transform Jang to NGF chairman.

    The chairman of the PDP governor’s forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio said: “Yesterday (Friday, it was agreed the chairmanship of the NGF be zoned to the PDP which is the party with the largest number of governors in the forum.” Since Amaechi won the election as a PDP governor, his suspension three days later, meant the script was written well in advance. And finally, if we stretch Akpabio’s logic, what then qualified Mimiko, the only Labour governor, as vice chairman when there are parties with higher number of elected governors?

  • ‘Beauty is a measure of character’

    ‘Beauty is a measure of character’

    How did it feel being the Face of Law for a session?

    It was not the easy task that people believed it to be. It actually came with a big responsibility than the honour attached to it. But then, it was an exciting experience.

    How did you handle the fame?

    I am used to getting attention, especially when I am in the midst of other youths. Being the face of law, all the attention I got did not really pose a challenge or affected my activities. I had learnt how to handle that. It only requires a high degree of responsibility, humility and preparedness.

    What is Strong room of Dreams International (SDI)?

    It is a formidable, well-organised body of young individuals, who are being equipped to achieve realistic objectives by redefining excellence in the human society through capacity building. We strongly believe that every youth is an embodiment of great dreams. Thus, we seek to assist the youths in fulfilling their destinies by celebrating their excellence to impact the society. We envision a society where every youth is actively engaged in the march to greatness through the promotion of diligence and leadership capabilities.

    As a leader, what would you say have been your challenges in leadership and how have you tackled them?

    I must admit that it has not been a hitch-free ride. My greatest challenge has always been how to bring many people from different socio-cultural and religious backgrounds together to achieve multi-dimensional goals. I used to have the challenge of understanding people and their nature and how to make everyone work perfectly together without having to bark. Whenever I am faced with such a challenge, I always seek God’s guidance and also consult people that can give me advice.

    Is it because you are handsome that you were elected the Face of Law?

    Of course, the saying that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder is a fact. On my election as the Face of Law last year, I will say that the opinion of the students that voted for me will suffice to decide if I deserved it or not. To me, there is more to beauty than a person’s physical appearance. Beauty is a measure of character and ability to accomplish what seems to be unachievable.

    What are your hobbies?

    I love to catch fun a lot and I am an extreme explorer. I love playing games, engaging in creative writing. I love chatting and could be a great actor when I argue with my friends.

    Who are your mentors?

    I have mentors. In creative writing, my mentor is Prof Wole Soyinka. In comparative leadership, no one catches my fancy like John C. Maxwell. However, when it comes to public speaking, I revere Larry King, and in business, I respect Warren Buffet.

    What motivates you to do what you do?

    God is my motivation. Then, I am moved by the great passion to leave this world a better place than I met it. Moreover, when I see young individuals like me doing great things for their societies, I am always moved and it gives me pleasure to serve and be served.

    What is your advise for the youths?

    The youths must know that they have just one life to live. Admitting this fact, they must unleash their potentials, making impact and achieving greatness. There is no joy in settling for a life that is lower than what one is capable of. They must live up to the billing and allow their abilities to speak for them.

  • Governors’ Forum crisis: Not a fine moment for Nigerian character

    Governors’ Forum crisis: Not a fine moment for Nigerian character

    The photograph on the front page of this newspaper yesterday spoke volumes. It showed Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State addressing the press on a dreary night in Abuja. But it was obvious he was emotionally drained. He had endured more than one week of intense jockeying for relevance in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), with some of his colleagues intriguing ruthlessly for his post, or at least trying to get him off his perch. Behind him, almost behind his ears, was Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, the man who continues to menace Amaechi and haunt his shadows so much that it must take extraordinary nerves for both gentlemen to stand in the same room. In the photograph, however, Akpabio displays unearthly calmness, with a mechanical grin trying to break on his face.

    Also in the photograph, and behind Amaechi to the right, was Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, a man who has managed by the force of his eloquence and the strength of his conviction to carve some political and national relevance. He has stood rock-solid behind Amaechi, even as the Rivers governor is buffeted by enemies. In the same photograph, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, stood distractingly beside Amaechi. The governors were all emerging from a meeting in which some 16 of them attempted to unhorse Amaechi from the NGF chairmanship. The coup failed, and the battle has been postponed till May. Earlier, however, President Goodluck Jonathan had corralled a few governors led by Akpabio to form the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum. To cut to the chase, everyone knows, in spite of Akpabio’s doublespeak, that the new Forum is designed to balkanise the NGF for spurning Jonathan’s cajolery and blandishments.

    There are many issues surrounding the NGF that discomfit the public, such as its unconstitutional overbearingness. But beyond all those issues, however, and even beyond the reasons that precipitated the presidential conspiracy against the Forum, is the disturbing impression a few of the governors have given to the world of their character. It is doubtful whether Amaechi would have attracted so much opposition and earned the intense enmity of the presidency had he been more restrained, less candid as a politician, more reflective as a person, and disarmingly more diplomatic. But he can at least take solace in the fact that with all his impetuousness, he is not shifty and his conscience is not for hire. Rivers may find his NGF politics a distraction, and even wonder whether they elected him to engage in interminable political jousting, but they will shrug their shoulders and say, well, he can call his soul his own, if nothing else.

    So far, nothing substantially untoward has been done by the pro-Jonathan group other than their engaging puerility. The group is doubtless entitled to pursue its own interests and fight its enemies, whether real or phantom. But by offering himself as head of the Jonathan army, and for a crusade of such enormous dubiousness, Akpabio managed to give the impression he is for hire, and his conscience as elastic as they come. Recall that in the photograph briefly analysed above, Hardball said he detected a forced grin on the Akwa Ibom governor’s face. Well, that kind of painful expression often indicates unbearable turbulence in the heart of a man full of both surrender and betrayal. Akwa Ibomites will revel in their appreciation of Akpabio’s great developmental projects, for the man is hardworking and focused, and take pride in his eloquence, for he is also a gifted public speaker with confident gait. But it is doubtful whether they would not marvel at how cheaply their governor had lent himself to be used by Jonathan, and also wonder whether it is always the case that brilliance must be compromised by lack of character.