Tag: comment

For Segun Gbadegesin

The second part of your article Zones of disaff ection refers. Blame our traditional title holders and their political friends who are ready to devalue their titles in the presence of rotten money. Let stranger elements in Yorubaland do their title-holding wthout any input from our traditional chiefs or obas. See ezes or what as functionaries of social clubs. It is demeaning for traditional rulers to have a hand in Igbo society affairs. Thank you. From Adeoye

Re: “Zones of disaffection”. You have said it all. It is said that when you want to test a man’s character, give him power; this is why I am not amazed at the ugly incident that occurred between the Eze Ndigbo Akure and the Deji in his palace that caused unnecessary frictions recently. Anyway, if such an incident did not occur, we would not know that it is time to put a stop to the craze for strange titles in any town in Nigeria. So, it is a good omen and development that such an incident occurred and had generated so much controversy that also drew serious attention nationally; otherwise, the Eze Ndigbo Akure, would still be parading himself as traditional ruler in a Yoruba town. Is it not a known fact, that the Igbo themselves abhorred anybody referring to himself as king? Perhaps, this is why they have a saying that “Igbos have no kings and that everybody is king in his own house”. If that is the case, why do they behave differently now in another town where cultures and traditions are in contrast with their own, or is Akure now also a no man’s land, like they used to say arrogantly that Lagos is a no man’s land, before they were curbed?  Pride goes before a fall you know? From Prince Adewumi Oyeromade Agunloye.

I quite agree with your piece of Friday November 6.To stop this mad quest for glory and lust for greed which is destroying our sacred traditions and also causing unwarranted unrest, state governments should pass laws prohibiting unrecognized traditional rulers in their states.From Finecountry Imebuogu, Umuahia. 

 

For Olatunji Dare

The truth is that Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) will never ever support any honest investigation into how and why late Dele Giwa was killed. Because his logic cannot bear the weight of its own illogic, he has resorted to sophomoric tricks to win a point that objective reason said he lost. On that account, he has made himself one of the few people in Nigerian history whose body has begun to stink before it died. Pity of pities! From Adegoke O. O. Bako, Ibadan.

We now know that some people are above the laws of this country. I not, President Buhari should make a difference by subjecting Babangida and his co-travellers in the murder of late Dele Giwa to judicial trials. From Miofeyeye O. O. Bako, Ibadan.  

Re-what happened to Dele Giwa?  You wrote and analysed well. It was the second month of my national youth service and we were all shocked that such a negative intelligence existed then in Nigeria. Summary of that tragedy remains that the perpetrators and killers of Dele Giwa know themselves. The earlier they publicly repent ( for heaven/paradise/hell sake), the better.   From Lanre Oseni.  

Re: Dele Giwa-  God has watching angels for every soul. God is watching us all from where He is! Accountability and nemesis is a promise by Allah! Nobody admits it here, but surely they would in the hereafter. Its drags, but not endless! Giwa would have the upper hand on the day of reckoning. IBB or not, God knows. From BZ, Kaduna.

What happened to Dele Giwa? What goes around comes around. Those who used a lethal weapon to terminate the life of a citizen have procured the culture of violence for the whole country- Boko Haram and all other forms of banditry. From Owen- Browne

Re: What happened to Dele Giwa? My take: You can circumvent the judgement of men, but the judgement of God is inescapable. And it is certain at the end it all, for men are mortal being. Anonymous

What happened to Dele Giwa may not be known to the public, but it is known to Almighty God,the perpetrators of his murder, and some few privileged others. Thanks for this effort on his rememberance. From Alhaj Hon. Adey Corsim, Oshodi, Lagos 

Nigerians may never know who killed Dele Giwa,except that the circumstantial evidence of his murder points more convincingly towards one obvious direction – Babangida government.That Gani Fawehinmi didn’t succeed to enter a private prosecution in the Giwa murder does by no means mean that he was pursuing the wrong persons as could be insinuated in some quarters. He was simply blocked by those who knew the unpleasant consequences of his action to them should the fiery lawyer be allowed to sail through. That the killers of Giwa would rather kill more Nigerians to cover their tracks instead of coming open to own up and ask God for forgiveness doesn’t make the matter better for them. As long as “whatever a man sow he reaps” remains, they are not and can never be free. That is, if God hasn’t already visited them and their families with the same death and destructions more mysterious than they visited on the late avant-garde journalist.   From Emmanuel Egwu.

For Segun Gbadegesin

But for the infighting in the APC itself, confirming Rotimi Amaechi by the Senate should have been by popular acclamation of ‘bow and go’. It is obvious that the PDP spoilsports were still belly-aching over the scars of the 2015 elections; of all the pre-2015 defections, I think Amaechi’s hit the PDP where it hurt the most: Goodluck Jonathan’s supposed stronghold of the South-south. Amaechi fought a good fight.

From Harun Shaib, Ilorin, Kwara State.

Prof Gbadegesin’s reflections and ideas in The Nation under the caption “Comment and Debate” remain ever remarkable. There are however, some unresolved problems and intellectual agitations. The connections in both theory and practice between “party supremacy and personal integrity”, critically viewed, challenged to the foundation the intended clarity. Accepted that the idea of  representative democracy came as a refinement of the Athenian city democracy and the concept of “party supremacy” within the context of “ party system” is  the hub of the refinement, the reference to late Chief Awolowo’s understanding of the meaning of the idea underscores the contained self-purpose in the practice of party-politics. The question remains : is  personal interest not party supremacy given the fact that immorality has not  any basis in the struggle for power, authority and influence, the cornerstones of political life ? From Dr Adebayo Salami, OOU, Ago-Iwoye.

You wrote well, but will the politicians give any attention to your pontifications? Elected members of a party who decamp should forfeit such positions. That will be the begining of sanity. God bless.  From Dr Onyeme

Party supremacy should be obeyed, despite your position in the party.  From  Gordon Chika Nnorom 

There are various aspects of PDP life that have worrisomely become part of APC’s way of life today. For instance, many an APC member the other day would quickly find Saraki guilty and wouldn’t even want the list of ministerial nominees submited to him becos of the false assets declaration case against him, feigning ignorance of the fact that the Senate President remained inocent till otherwise established by the court of law. Today the same APC members are up in arms against anybody who would dare say Amaechi wouldn’t be screened, even in the face of the staggering case of embezlement hanging on his neck. Funingly enough, they now agree, contrary to their position on Saraki, that Amechi remains innocent till he is found guilty by the court. A case of so long the stinging odour oozes out from my mother’s kitchen it is all well and good. Needless to say that that is by no means the kind of change Nigerians voted for. God have mercy. From Emmanuel Egwu.

Kindly help us appeal to our governor in Ekiti to pay us arrears of pensions for four months and federal pension entitlments since 2009. He has bluntly refused to pay us from the bailout fund. We are no beggars as been projected.  We are indeed suffering/dying instalmentaly. Some pensioners who are living on drugs could not buy drugs,NEPA bills, social/economic debts are numerous to contend with. The governor maintains that we are not captured in the in the bailout fund he requested for. We are being treated like parasites. We are no beggars under any circumstance. Please come to our aid. If need be, let the President know our plight. Feeding is geting difeicult for us on daily basis. From  Pastor Odunmbaku.

 

For Prof. Olatunji Dare

Thanks for your ironic but, nonetheless, searing lampoon on the still-born Ekiti Airport Project. How punchy and pungent  the climax and close of the article could have been, had we learnt inter-lingually that  your  acronym, GEJIA, means fatigue, both physical and mental, in Hausa. A fitting brand for godfather and godson alike. Thanks all the same for this elixir. From Prof. Bayo Lawal, Unilorin.

Today’s insightful article is another evidence that most of our legislators do not understand the admirable American presidential system which we have copied. How can they be proposing to confer immunity on the principal officers of the National Assembly when organized crime, random crime, and quasi-legal crime have taken over the nation? If Nigeria wants American type of democracy by all means, the thing to do is to import Americans to put us through. From Adegoke O O, Bako, Ibadan.

I believe there are some lessons Nigerians need to learn in the way Pa Edwin Clark has just dismissed Jonathan as too gentle a man to fight coruption in his time. This is the same Clark who claimed Jonathan was his son, acted as the atack dog of his governent, formd part of the Jonathan governing body, visited and had one on one talk wit him and yet was unable to let him know his failings. Or, was Clark also into one type of corrupt acts or the other in Jonathan administration also known to Jonathan but for which the former president lacked the courage to call him to order, which could simply mean the old man is now speaking out of personal experience? I tink this to be the more reason Buhari should be very cautious of some of those so-called elder statesmen who now mill around him pretending to love him and his government more than everybody. Nigeria remains a place where the worst may not have happened but where nothing is imposible From Emmanuel Egwu.

Nigerians and civil societies groups should say NO to proposed immunity clause for our lawmakers because is avenue for them to use it to siphon our money for developmental projects. We would not fold our hands and watch so-called lawmakers take Nigerians for ride with their planned immunity which is not in our constitution for their selfish interest. After all, since their assumption, nothing good has been done for Nigeria in the National Assembly. Why do they want immunity?  From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia.

Re: Immunity for all.When a law enforcement officer – a police officer, commits crime, he is derobed to go and face trial. Most of our politicians had earlier committed crime and defected to the then ruling PDP for “informal immunity” hence the hydra-headed impunity. Those aspiring to lead should start learning how to obey rules and regulations now because after their service years and the immunity expires, they will be trumpetting to the world that they are being witch-hunted. It is better to prevent the National Assembly from being crippled by criminal members than formaly immunising them. It will cripple democracy. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams”. (1 Sam.15:22/23). Principal officers of the legislature should show us good example of obedience and discipline and not being refractory under rigged immunity. Is the President immune from impeachment? From  Elder L .O David; Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State. 

Immunity for all is all we need to achieve the unachievable. You forgot to mention the armed and pen-robbers. Don’t they deserved immunity? From  F. T. Fabunmi, Osun State. 

Immunity for all? Hell no, sir. It has to be circumscribed; only for National Assembly members.  Such that while Saraki enjoys the support of his colleagues to remain Senate President in the face of criminal allegations against him, Amaechi should not be screened as minister nominee on account of petitions against him. That is what I call serving the nation by  our lawmakers. From  Uwem Ekanem, Uyo. 

Immunity for all. I do not support your views as this can be an invitation to breaking the law and order. From  Tomori Ogungbile.

Manufacturers should also be given immunity so that officers from Standard Organisation of Nigeria would  not examine their products’ quality and so on. Thank you for your piece “Immunity for all”. From  Dr. Uduho.   

Re-Immunity for all.  Any day that type of immunity being canvassed by the National Assembly and you, the country breaks down.  For developed world, immunity could be expanded because they know, follow and abide by laws/rules. They fear corruption and avoid it to a large extent! Here in Nigeria, they befriend corruption, break the law and most, get away with their sins. The immunity should remain where it is today. Even at that, a ‘law of Necessity to Prosecute’ where the constitution defines gravity of offence to make the immune officers to be investigated and prosecutable, possible. Our own immunity is corruption. It is a disease. Such must not be expansively granted! From  Lanre Oseni.

‘Immunity’  simply means not affected, influenced, protected or free from some thing. Immunity should n’t be limited. Our constitution that is our grund norms shows clearly that nobody is above the law. Though the President, Vice President, governors and their deputies enjoy constitutional  immunity, it must end when they have ended their tenure after which criminal charges alleged against such  person(s) the  law  must take it course.   In  summary, immunity should have a limit on application because  it’s not  a life assurance.  The immunity clause is a mere provisio to mitigate the exigencies of the moment but any criminal charges, such a person is bound to face the consequences  in a near future but temporarily left in abeyance pending when such immunity period expires. From Abang Joe, Calabar.

The guilty are indeed afraid for without immunity, only a handful will remain in the hallowed chambers. The few who never held any office before winning the recent elections, that is. What a country! Anonymous

Immunity for all… though quite ominously revealing and perilously embedded in anarchical tendencies, your argument is well articulated. I enjoyed the satire. From  Mike Omilusi, Ado Ekiti. 

I just finished perusal of today’s The Nation. I like very much the idea of immunity for  all!  The configuration will be swift and final ! Wham !  From EFRA.

Your piece on “Immunity for all” is a masterpiece. The “ANIMAL FARM” democracy in Nigeria is worrisome. ‘Some are more equal than others’ is the result of high corruption in Nigeria. Buhari should read it. More grease! From Olakumode 1, Ogoja, CRS.

Immunity for all, is thought provoking. The idea of immunity for principal officers of the National Assembly is not only a crazy one, but speaks volume of the quality and character of personalities in the hallowed chambers. The question is-  why is the idea being mooted now that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki is before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for the criminal case of perjury? If they have their way, it implies   that governors can steal public funds as much as they can, during their tenure when they enjoy immunity, then rig their way to the Senate and again be shielded by another immunity from prosecution? No; it won’t work. Not under the anti-graft regime of President Buhari. Infact, Nigerians will be glad if most of these legislathieves that are found to be corrupt and so convicted are sent to jail to serve as deterrent to others. Period! From Chief Babs Alasa.  

I’m writing in response to your article titled ‘Immunity for all’. I believe your intention was to show the absurdity of the immunity proposal and I believe you delivered very well on that. Anonymous

But the message I got more clearly is that our country is totally dysfunctional.  From Kunle Igbasanmi.

The imunity allowed the President, his vice, the governors and deputy, is logically meant to protect them from being distracted with court cases or so, in the course of administering their various areas of jurisdiction, though it unfortunately protects them from being probed while in office too. The distraction aspect, I think, could be the reason the same immunity is being canvased for principal oficers of the legislature/chief justice; and not so much because “Saraki is being presently hauled from one court to another to answer charges resulting from criminal investigations” against him, as your write-up seems to indicate. Though satirically suggested by you, extending such immunity therefore to every Dick and Harry in the society, it needs no telling, can only mean a license for anybody to engage in whatever unlawful act of his desire with no punishment attached, which no responsible government can afford to legitimatise for its people. From   Emmanuel Egwu.

For Olatunji Dare

Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilized by moral education: they grow there, firm as weeds among stones. With rigid determination, Buhari’s administration will win the war against corruption because most Nigerians voted for change. If an oath is necessary to satisfy Nigerians, I swear it. From Adegoke O O, Bako, Ibadan.

My brother, what is playing out is that corruption is fighting back by rallying behind Saraki. These people cut across party lines. Politically Saraki is damaged. Tell the President that we say no to political settlement. From Charles Raje 

My dear brother Tunji, greetings. May your divine wisdom and gifted knowledge continue to haunt those thieves/rogues/looters of our common patrimony who have individualy/collectively caused the socio-economic and political backwardness that characterise our geographical landscape. The onerous task of pricking the conscience of those perveted souls through your regular column At Home Abroad is a thankless job but posterity will etch your name in the records of our national heroes. God bless you and your family at all times. From Dauda Bello, Okene

I have been addicted to your write-ups since your days in The Gaurdian Please fire on! As for Senator Bukola Saraki, he has no moral right to preside over the Senate with the weighty criminal cases hanging on his neck! What a beautiful coincidence that while pilgrims were stoning the devil in far away Mecca, same was being replicated in Ilorin! Families of Kwara civil servants and pensioners whom he impoverished are not praying for him. Let him consider his ways. From Awo Abegunde Ogundare, Ilorin.    

The negative reactions to your article on the Senate President is a reflection of the corrupt Nigerian society that sees nothing wrong with evil as far as it benefits some people. You should not be discouraged, very soon good will overtake evil in Nigeria. Anonymous

Oga Dare, tell me who really is a saint? Today media men are taking the lead in corruption by their brazen and biased reportage. Among the ministerial nominees who is an angel? Anonymous

 

For Segun Gbadegesin

Re: “President’s lieutenants.” You have said it all. Precisely, it is six months, since this administration had been sworn in and people expected unhindered governmental activities with all the ministers in place to give the government an impetus to deliver. However, last week, some nominees were screened and others were put in abeyance. All we are now expecting, is when those already screened and approved will be given their portfolios and work will begin in earnest. Hopefully, we all expect that they will all demonstrate their competence, pedigree, integrity and good characters so that within the next four years, the change we voted for will manifest in the lives of every citizen of this nation. It is not a good thing to be pessimistic because, there are those who want this administration to fail. I am one of those who believe that this administration is going to deliver, succeed and take us to the promised land so, please, join me in wishing all the President’s lieutenants successful tenure. Optimistically, they are going to count on our support too, but, they must all shun corruption this time around. From Prince Adewumi Oyeromade Agunloye

Re:Mr President’s lieutenants. Ministerial nomination and clearance have come and gone. I agree  that the drilling was sectional but could have enriched the audience!  From Lanre Oseni. 

Your piece Mr President’s lieutenants is quite amusing.The presidency made the screening exercise more difficult for the screening committee due to the unnecessary secrecy surrounding the nominees’ portfolios. Future nominees’ name and portfolios should be forwarded to the senators accordingly as this will allow for a thorough exercise. From Ojo A Ayodele, Emure Ekiti 

Re:Mr.President’s lieutenants. A lieutenant here means a person who helps somebody who is above them in rank. No doubt the President with his integrity and the vision to change our faulty orientation for good must have done his homework before coming up with the list of his lieutenants for NASS’ screening. The burden of CHANGING us rests on his shoulder. Don’t forget that most of our elected politicians were distressed businessmen/professionals. Hence, they lack the expertise for appropriate screening; but ready to victimise their political enemies, forgeting that the era of “COME AND CHOP” has gone .It’s now “COME AND SERVE AND BAKE THE CAKE”. The ministers this era would not in collaborationt with the Presidency coerce the Perrmanent Secretary to loot for their political party through frivolous contracts. PMB must have done the needful. The President should run right now. From Elder L. O David; Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State.

 

For. Gbenga Omotoso

Re:When an elephant dies. No elephant is sacred before Almighty God. You recalled that “He (Alamieyeseigha) then flew to Nigeria”. Recall also that Ibori’s case started from Bwari, to Gwagwalada and the case file eventually “fled”to Asaba, his state capital where he was “acquitted of all the 171 cases. And Ibori “flew” out of Nigeria. The man fled: The woman flew; The man ran away from JUSTICE; and “The man died” (courtesy W. Soyinka). GOD has established it thus: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from faith in their greedness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”-1 Tim.6:10). Those in power today should trully LEARN, “For God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” -Eccl.12:14. No ethnicity, witch-hunting or emotion before God. Just fear God and keep His commandments. From Elder L. O David; Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State.

Your today’s piece entitled ‘When An Elephant Dies’ makes an interesting reading. A master-piece indeed! But I wish to disagree with you on one of your conclusions that the extremely poor don’t complain of “witch-hunt”. They do. If you want to know, visit RCCG Redemption Camp Ground on Km 46, Lagos-Ibadan Express-Way on first Friday of every month and ask Daddy G. O. whether the extremely poor also complain of witch-hunt or not. Or better still, you may take a trip further to MFM or Shilloh Camp Grounds and ask Bishop David Oyedepo and Rev. Olukoya similar question, they will tell you that the extremely poor not only complain of witch-hunt, but they even cry of it and seek deliverance from them (the witches)!  From Barr. Gbenga Ojo, Abuja.

I just finished reading your piece in The Nation, it is really a lovely one, maybe if you do more of this in future, maybe men will then learn. From Olawuyi, Abeokuta

The answer to your last question is NO. Fools don’t realise that the relationship between material possession and true happiness is an inverse one.  From Suleiman, Kano.

Big question- Do men learn? Big answer- The children of ADAM and EVE can NEVER! Anonymous

God bless your soul for your writing today on matters arising. Did you see how your name-sake Ike Ekweremadu was shouted down two days ago during the ministerial screening in the Senate when he asked Senator Udoma Udo Udoma if he would help in the implementation of the last National Conference? Those who do not like to see our face on any critical issue in the zoo republic should leave us to go our way. Anonymous

On Alamieyeseigha’s demise: I was devastated when I learnt of the sudden demise of Alamieyeseigha Dieprieye, considering the fact that this man had gone for medical check in Dubai only for the UK government  to have started attempting to repatriate him back to UK to come and answer questions on what he did or did not do before his magical escape  from London in 2005. There’s no doubt that the UK goverment precipitated  his death. Remember, it was this same region one man by the name of Onanefe James Ibori, who had earlier been discharged of corruption charges in his native land was unceremoniously ferried to the UK where he eventually bagged some years in jail. I beg it is better to die a hero than be alive as a villiain. The UK goverment should be charged for murder. From Dr Tunde Obaoye.    The big question should be: Do women learn? Anonymous

It is good to serve people well to avoid embrassement from graft agencies and security agencies for wrongdoing when you are in office. From Gordon Chika Nnorom 

You did a good x-ray on Alamieyeseigha and Diezani Alison-Madueke. All the looted funds must be retrieved. I think this should serve as a lesson to all public holders that the day of reckoning is at hand. From Excel, Ibadan.  

Re-when an elephant dies.   Diezani, Alamieyeseigha and others that will soon be exposed is a lesson for those who care to know that abnormal acquisition of financial materials through theft ends either in unexpected disgrace, vanity or/and hell! From Lanre Oseni.

The answer is no; men never learn. Well, some men. Nice article Mr Omotoso. God bless. From Dr Uku.

A lot of people lost their lives  due to the money that was meant  for building of hospitals but was stolen by corrupt  people. When those  corrupt  people die, they are celebrated by Nigerians. What a funny country. From Hon S.A. Hande,  Makurdi.

Re-When an elephant dies. It is not the grass that suffers but a lot of knives appear. The duo Alison-Madueke and Alamieyeseigha are dogs of the same street that bark alike. It is God’s doing that she was caught outside the country. Alamieyeseigha played his many tricks but ended in the grave. Jonathan relied on the duo and treated them as saints. His level of education has no bearing in his adminstration. These are shameless Nigerians. Our judiciary must brace up in the dispensation of justice. Our God is a God of vengeance. Let their admirers go to London and free her. It is in Nigeria that rogues/armed robbers are celebrated at the expense of individuals with integrity/reputation. Shame to Jonathan and his cabinet of thieves. More of her ilk will soon come to the surface. Every penny/property amassed must be retrieved.  From Pastor Odunmbaku. 

Nigerians will never learn because we are dead in spirit and those that are in spirit are dead foreever and there are no more room for change. Anonymous

To be frank with you, I don’t believe Alamieyeseigha is dead…….with time he might ressurrect again but not like our  Christ sha…. From Adebayo.

Your Editorial Notebook in The Nation October 15 was a nice piece and I pray that those leaders (president, governors. LGA chairmen, ministers, commissioners, etc) have learnt some lessons from the travails of Diezani, Alams, Ibori, Lamido etc. That one day they will be called to account for their deeds in this world and in the next world. God bless Nigeria. From Kabir Ayuba 

Your piece on Alison-Madueke and late DSP refers. First, Alison-Madueke the oil goddess should have chosen to remain in Nigeria where she can be governor or run for Senate in spite of the alleged corruption imbroglo. What we are witnessing in her case and lbori is a serious indictment on our judges – subjecting our judicial systems to ridicule. From Olabode Majekodunmi, Abeokuta.

The piece “When an elephant dies” can be presented for international competition. In fact you are heading for a nobel prize. Keep documenting these pieces for posterity. God bless you. From Arc. Ukura Patrick.

I’m  puzzled  by the bewilderment  of your publications  concerning  the denunciation  of our  former  President  Goodluck Jonathan by mostly  his close assosiates. Did the former President not  make  prophetic  pronouncements shortly before he left office that  before the cock crowed  three times, not a few  of his  associates  shall  denounce him like Judas  Iscariot  did to  Jesus? What else? Your artcle   “Where Are they  Now  ? “  of  August 6 and  ” Hello, Okupe’s phones still ringing”  by  Hardball   also of  August 6 say it all. Need  we wonder then?  ’Epa Clark  Has moved on.”  Hardball October 15.  That is    life  for you.     From Chief  Olusegun Famoriyo. Sagamu, Ogun State.