The Nation Newspaper

Tag: credible

  • Nigeria in search of credible leadership

    In his article on Boko Haram and Stephen Davis on the back page of The Nation of September 11, Dapo Fafowora highlighted the shortcomings of the federal government in handling the insurgency. He pointed out that the central government appears confused and bewildered by the audacity of the insurgents. This submission is unauthenticated by conflicting reports making the rounds. What is certain is that some substantial patches of the north-eastern zone, especially some parts of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, are in the hands of insurgents.

    What is debatable in Fafowara’s piece is his apportioning blame. Despite recognising that ‘the insurgency is a direct consequence of persistently bad governance in the North, characterised by the long period of grinding poverty, lack of jobs, and rampant social injustice…’ sadly, he was swayed by the penchant to ‘demonise’ the North  at the expense of the reality; which is that our national pride and our populace is being decimated.  The longer this conflict goes on, the harder it will be to salvage this country from the precipice that decades of corruption and maladministration have pushed it to.

    Unfortunately, Fafowora appears to heap all these shortcomings on the North. In reality however, bad governance, poverty and unemployment are not the exclusive preserve of the North, they are all-pervasive. And the only redemption is a credible, caring and accountable leadership at all levels of governance. Much hope is being hinged on the 2015 elections but first, Nigeria and Nigerians have to survive up to 2015.

    The two major threats to this short term goal, and by extension to democratic governance, are the insurgency and the baseless, so-called American forecast that Nigeria would disintegrate by 2015. The most annoying aspect of the latter is the belief of some Nigerians that the prediction has to come true because some American day-dreamers had said so. Such people are working assiduously, by act of commission or omission, to realize such doomsday prophecy for Nigeria.

    There should be a conscious resolve to prove to all these insurgents and prophets of doom that they are a pack of liars and Nigeria shall grow in strength and grow into an exalted country among the comity of nations.

    But we cannot help but lament that if our leaders had listened and taken appropriate steps as proposed by various groups at the right time, we would have by now put this issue to rest. The embattled Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State drew the attention of the nation early enough to avert what we are in today, but the centre refused to listen. In fact he was threatened, maligned and humiliated. Now, the mewling little cub in the backyard has been allowed to grow into a formidable marauding monster that would spare no one. It has now become clear that the insurgents are after territorial conquest as evidenced by their seizure of nine local governments, which cover at least one-third of Borno State, some parts of Adamawa and Yobe states, as of now.

    The recent deadly encounters in Konduga demonstrates that the insurgents are not only holding on to what they have, but have the ultimate objective of over-running Borno and Yobe, and possibly Adamawa as well. This must not happen.

    With nostalgia one reflects on how impossible such a scenario would have been under Obasanjo, for instance.

    I will explain why.

    In the ‘70s when I was a member of the Borno State Executive Council, there was an incident on a small fishing island on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad. For reasons best known to them, Chadian soldiers overran the little village and hoisted a Chadian flag. The information filtered into Maiduguri and the government alerted our security forces. Within 48 hours, the GOC of the Third Division routed the Chadian soldiers and re-hoisted the Nigerian flag. That is not all; within the same period of 48 hours, the then Head of State, General Obasanjo, in the company of the GOC and the Borno State Governor, flew into Ndjamena to meet President Malum of Chad to demand explanations. The Chadian leader was so rattled that he was visibly shaking like a rat facing a terrier. Since then, there hasn’t been any incursion into Nigerian territory by any force or government until now. Big chunks of our territory have been appropriated by insurgents who are hoisting flags and declaring the creation of new kingdoms.

    Our soldiers, who gallantly and successfully fought in many fronts in other parts of the world, are today being embarrassed in skirmishes in our backyard. We have had over 200 Chibok girls in captivity for the last 150 days! No one is certain of what is happening to them giving rise to speculations.

    Madam Due Process and now Mother of Chibok Girls (MCG), Dame Oby Ezekwesili has virtually shouted herself hoarse on this issue, but is anybody really listening? She too, like our troops, need to be encouraged, and reminded that one with God is majority.

    Her heroics, and those of our troops, should be lauded. There is a need to celebrate the heroes who have given their lives or shed their blood for this country and in this sense, names that have emerged, such as Lt. Col Adeboye Obasanjo, who was injured while leading troops to regain Michika, should be lauded alongside his team, who demonstrated courage under fire.

    This kind of pride for one’s country and readiness to die for it made the famous World War II British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, declare; ‘We shall fight on the land, we shall fight on the sea, we shall fight in the air! We shall never surrender.’

    When confronted with logistics problems during the civil war, General Yakubu Gowon declared: “It is not the guns that fight wars, but the men behind the guns?”

    Such motivation for the troops is as vital as the weapons they take into war and for them to withstand intense enemy fire, they have to learn and be encouraged to believe the age-old military dictum that says dolce et decorum a votre pays moris – meaning ‘it is sweet to die for one’s country.’

    The leadership of the military needs to find ways of making our fighting forces internalise such beliefs. Whatever needs to be done to fully motivate our troops and take care of them should not be compromised because no battle, let alone a war, is won with disgruntled and mutinous soldiery. Field commanders have to cultivate the confidence of their units and be able to confidently say to their men, ‘I will be proud to lead you guys to battle, anytime, anywhere!’

    •Hon. Badawy, OFR, mni represents Bade/Jakusko constituency in the House of Representatives

  • 2015: Only revolution can bring credible leaders, says Balarabe Musa

    2015: Only revolution can bring credible leaders, says Balarabe Musa

    A former governor of the old Kaduna State and National Chairman of the deregistered Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has said the masses should prepare for a peaceful revolution for the 2015 general elections to be fair, free and credible.

    The former governor said only such a revolution would bring the exemplary leaders the people deserve.

    He noted that since the country’s political system had been hijacked by moneybags, the hope of the people getting credible leaders through their votes would remain a mirage.

    Musa spoke in Kaduna at the weekend after meeting with members of the National Executive Committee of the party to find alternative political strategies, following its deregistration by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The former governor said PRP would continue to fight for the cause of the downtrodden.

    He said: “I know Nigeria’s situation; it is impossible to have free, fair, credible and transparent elections leading to a democratic mandate. We need a revolution; we need a peaceful democratic revolution …to bring about the condition that will bring about free, fair, credible and transparent elections that will lead to legitimate leadership.

    “Let us be objective. Elections today are decided by three factors: money power, incumbency and balance terror. That was how elections were decided in Ekiti and Osun states. The ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can do and undo with the people’s votes. So, a revolution is the answer, whether peaceful or otherwise.”

     

  • Election ’ll be credible, says Jega

    Election ’ll be credible, says Jega

    •INEC justifies heavy security need

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega has assured Nigerians of  free, fair and credible election in Osun State on August 9.

    Jega, who spoke at an event titled: “Experience Sharing Dialogue With Media Professionals” in Abuja yesterday,  justified the need for effective deployment of security personnel during the election.

    He argued that the measure would ensure a violence-free poll in Osun State.

    The commission chairman warned politicians involved in the Osun poll to eschew violence and to approach the  election with a positive mindset.

    Jega said INEC would  adopt the colour-coding method in the ballot papers to be used in Osun as it was effective in the Ekiti poll.

    He said: “In Ekiti, there was an effective engagement with security agencies. We believe that the mobilisation of security led to a violence-free election in Ekiti State despite the post-election complaints.

    “In Osun, we will also be up and doing. Though Osun is relatively larger than Ekiti with a voter register of about 1.4 million. We are looking at the size and the complexities and we have factored them in our preparations.

    “Contrary to what some persons say about the Ekiti election, we actually did colour-coding of our ballot papers and the procedures were so rigorous that we would be able to detect any fraud.  We did it in Ekiti and we will continue to do that because it has eliminated fraudulent activities.

    “We will create a level-playing field in Osun and we are cooperating fully with the NYSC and security agencies to ensure a hitch-free election. My assessment is that everything is on course in Osun State for a free, fair and credible poll.  What is left is for the politicians to have a positive mindset towards August 9 and eschew violence.

    “We are doing our best, we’ve done our best and we will do our best and also ensure that the 2015 general elections come out successful.”

    Describing the Ekiti elections as one of the best in recent times conducted by INEC, Jega said the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State had nothing to do with an indictment of the affected officer, but to forestall the raging allegations and counter-allegations by politicians in the state.

    “We are convinced that the former Resident Electoral Commissioner has done nothing wrong, but we have had to take the painful decision to send another person there. Our REC did nothing wrong. We sent another person to Osun to conduct the election to reduce the allegations and counter-allegations.

    “Ekiti poll was successful because INEC adopted a more-centralised, effective and efficient deployment of materials. We also improved on our consultations and stakeholders’ engagements, which go a long way in establishing trust and confidence.”

  • ‘Sylva credible to lead Bayelsa APC’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has said former Governor Timipre Sylva is credible to lead the party.

    The party’s interim Chairman, Tiwe Oruminighe, who spoke in Yenagoa, dispelled insinuations that the party would collapse, if Sylva remained its leader.

    Oruminighe said those leading such campaign were members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were regretting the loss of a great politician like Sylva.

    He said the former governor was the brains behind the solid foundation of the PDP in the state, adding that PDP had begun to fret over his absence.

    He said Sylva’s leadership has started attracting people to APC, adding that many PDP members will join the opposition.

    “Sylva is very credible to lead APC in the state. Someone who has governed a state, if he is not credible why is he a leader? He is very credible and that is why the party is making progress,” the chairman said.

    Oruminighe, who was a former Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, claimed that APC will form the next government in 2016.

    On why he was confident of victory, he said: “Everybody knows we are on ground. When we were in PDP, we won the elections for PDP. We are grassroot politicians. We are serious and in the different levels we have served, we served the people very well.”

    Oruminighe assured members that the party would ensure internal democracy.

    He said the ultimate aim of the party was to guarantee equity and fairness to enable anyone aspire to any political position.

    “Sylva is the leader of this party no doubt. I am interim chairman but the party is built on equity and fairness. We are trying to create a party where everybody will have platform to play politics,” he said.

    The chairman said the party has good rapport with security agencies in the state, adding that such existing relationship was the reason why the party postponed its ward congresses, which coincided with the day President Goodluck Jonathan visited the state.

  • ‘Sovereign National Conference more credible than National Conference’

    ‘Sovereign National Conference more credible than National Conference’

    The Convener of Yoruba Assembly, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, highlights the conditions for a successful National Conference. He emphasises that a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is more credible than a National Conference. EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

    Yoruba General Assembly (YA) yesterday said that ethnic na tionalities should freely elect delegates to the proposed National Conference to make it meaningful. The group also suggested that the conference should be organised without hampering the 2015 general elections.

    Its convener, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), said in a statement that the proposed national census should also be put on hold, until the after the national conference.

    However, the former Chief of Defense Staff, emphasised that a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is more credible than a National Conference (NC).

    The statement reads: “Like most of the other linguistic nationalities that make up Nigeria, the Yoruba nationality in Nigeria have, for decades, persistently called for a rational restructuring of the Nigerian Federation, as well as for a sovereign national conference at which the representatives of Nigeria’s nationalities may address the national question in relation to the Nigerian Federation, and work together to make Nigeria a harmonious, stable and thriving land of opportunities for all Nigerians.

    “Virtually every Yoruba citizen of note, and countless Yoruba leadership and civic organizations, have joined their voices to this call at various times. As recently as August 30, 2012, representatives of Yoruba communities and organizations at home and in diaspora met in Ibadan under the aegis of the Yoruba Assembly to discuss, among other important issues, the Yoruba position on the structure and management of the Nigerian Federation and the appropriate constitution for Nigeria.

    “The Yoruba, at one with other Nigerian nationalities, have waited patiently on the Federal Government of Nigeria to respond to these calls. It is, therefore, a welcome development that President Goodluck Jonathan has finally decided, two years after the election that brought him to power in 2011, to organise a national conference.

    “On behalf of the Yoruba nation, therefore, and in respectful cognizance of the expressed demandsand desires of the Yoruba people, and of countless organizations, leaders and fathers of the Yoruba nation, the Yoruba Assembly welcomes the opportunity hereby offered by President Jonathan for Nigerian nationalities to confer and design Nigeria as a federation wherein each of Nigeria’s federating nationalities shall be protected from domination by any other Nigerian nationality, and wherein each Nigerian nationality shall be able to develop its economy at its own pace within the framework of a united Nigerian Federation or Nigerian Union.

    “Although the sovereign status of the proposed conference is not clear in the swearing-in speech given by President Jonathan, the Assembly believes that the President’s decision to establish a forum for a national conference is appropriate and a welcome beginning. However, the Yoruba Assembly urges the National Conference Advisory Committee to note that the most credible conference in the present circumstances of our country is one that has sovereign powers to transform the current pseudo-federal constitution to a truly federal constitution that captures the wishes of the peoples of our country.

    “We also enjoin President Jonathan to employ all the powers of the Federal Government to see the national conference to a successful accomplishment of the task of shaping Nigeria into a Union of harmony, stability, and progress that can allow Nigerians to exercise their rights and responsibilities in a modern multiethnic Nigerian State.

    Therefore,with regards to the modalities and operations of the national conference, the Yoruba Assembly offers the following: “That the linguistic nationalities that make up Nigeria are the fundamental components of Nigeria, and that the Nigerian Federation or Nigerian Union is, and should be, a federation based upon theaction and consensus of Nigeria’s linguistic nationalities.

    “That a national conference convened to work out a better structure for the survival of Nigeria as one territorial entity characterized by peaceful co-existence of the Nigerian nationalities should not be subject to the stresses of partisan political party confrontations, and that the organisation of the conference should be devoid of any direct participation by any of the existing political parties, as political parties, in the country.

    “That, while all Yoruba people respect political parties as vitally crucial instruments for the running of the country’s democratic processes, we believe, however, that involving partisan political parties in the national conversation of the national conference is capable of creating avoidable tension and distraction for meaningful dialogue among the nation’s federating units.

    “That the primary interest groups in the Nigerian multiethnic state are the linguistic nationalities and that the conference should be a conference of representatives of the linguistic nationalities freely chosen by the nationalities.

    “That the conference should be given the freedom and support it needs to do a thorough job in good time, in order to ensure that the national conference will not disrupt the statutory calendar for the 2015 general elections.

    “That arrangements for a national census count, for which the President has already appointed some officials, be postponed until after the ratification of new constitutional provisions emanating from the national conference”.

  • ‘APC is credible alternative’

    ‘APC is credible alternative’

    You are the Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Compliance. What are the challenges facing the committee?

    The House has discovered that many of its resolutions were not respected by the executive. The idea behind the committee is to interface between the legislature and the executive on various motions and bills that the House had passed. Many of them were ignored by the executive and that is why we ordered the executive to create the compliance departments in their various ministries and agencies. But up till now, the executive has not really done it. This has led to communication gap between the legislature and the executive. What that means is that the executive is not respecting the National Assembly.

    Also in most cases, most of this agencies and ministries, especially NNPC, FRSC are engaging in process es that violate the law. People are sacked without following the due process and they come to the National Assembly to protest. Sometimes, they agree that they have done something wrong when they appear before our committee.

    How do you intend to solve these challenges?

    The last time we took a drastic step to correct it, the leadership of the House asked us to come down. If the executive does not take us seriously, the committee has agreed, with the support of the leadership of the House, that any organisation that refuses to comply with the National Assembly’s decisions without a cogent reason will be punished as the House will have nothing to do with the budget of such a ministry or agency.

    What is the latest on the constitution review?

    Our role at the National Assembly is to go to our various constituencies and deliberate on what our people want to be done on the constitution. We handed it over to the leaders in the constituency as directed by the House and they conducted the meeting themselves. Those who attended the meetings included the traditional leaders, community leaders, landlord association leaders and other major stake holders in the community. The template was given to those representatives and they agreed on what they want in the constitution. We have submitted the request of our people to the committee and as I am speaking with you, the committee has collated the whole template and they have reached us individually to confirm. Meanwhile, you know we cannot change the constitution, if we don’t have the two-third. That is what we are doing now to ensure that we provide a working constitution that will reflect the true wishes of our people. I want to tell you that the House is taking the issue of the constitution seriously and, by the time we finish the review, Nigerians will see that it is their true wish. They should be expecting a good result from us.

    Can APC sucessfully confront PDP, the largest party in Africa, which also enjoys the power of incumbency?

    APC is out to correct the bad deeds of the PDP. Although people have the final say on elections, I want to tell you they are tired of the PDP and its corruption. These parties know that the only way they can dislodge PDP is by coming together and let their people know the reasons why they should to give a red card to the PDP in 2015. If the PDP, which has been ruling us since 1999, is still talking about 4,000 mega watts of electricity, you can see that they need to leave that place for those who can do it. That means they cannot do it. They are not serious about doing anything. If between 1999 and today they cannot produce stable electricity, fix 100 kilometer road and yet, they are saying they want to come back in 2015, you can see that people need to come together and uproot them from the centre. With the APC, it will be difficult for PDP to use the rigging weapon, which they always adopt during elections. APC’s agent will be at alert in every part of the country. By the grace of God, couple with the meticulous ways and manners our leaders are working hard to ensure that APC is set up in the nooks and crannies of the country, we are confidence that the PDP will not remain in the central in 2015. The leaders are making serious sacrifices to ensure that APC dislodges PDP in 2015 so that Nigerians can have an alternative. By the time APC emerges in 2015, I have no doubt that our people will go back to work because the artisans will have electricity to work in their shops, the foreign companies will come to Nigeria, and our creativity will come to play because we are going to have a working system. I believe strongly that APC will be the answer to our problems in Nigeria.

    Is President Jonathan really fighting corruption in the country?

    I think Jonathan Administration is the most corrupt government Nigeria ever produced. I am not surprised because, if you look at the process of his emergence, it was not the wish of the masses. That is why corruption is the genesis of subsidy problem Nigeria is having today. Many people forged invoice for the petroleum they did not supply and that was why they said the subsidy fund jumped from 250 billion before election and raised to trillion after elections. Under his watch, we have many deficits and we have many ministers who are not performing and when the problem comes, they run to President Jonathan for cover.

    What is responsible for the delay in the passage of 2013 budget?

    The House insisted that we don’t need to borrow bond again when the oil money is more than what we have on the budget. Apart from that, we are talking about the inclusion of the constituency projects in the budget. But when I read through the budget from the page one to the end, I cannot see a single item that affects my constituency directly, when I expected that something must come to my people and you expect me to compromise. I will not compromise on that because my people must also have their share in the budget. Most of our projects that are not up to N50 million are pending. You are not going to give me the money directly on behalf of the constituency, but you do the project through your ministry. So, why are you delaying it? I don’t know how much they are doing those things, but all I want is to ensure that the work is done. If I request for street light on my road, they should do it. So, they are trying to cover up their weakness.

    PDP is threatening to win southwest states in particular Lagos state in 2015 general elections. Do you think ACN will be able to withstand this?

    People will decide. Our people who will determine who will govern them. On a serious note, I do not see the people of Lagos State voting PDP because they have seen the good work of the ACN in the region. They will not vote anybody who will come and disrupt the peace of the state. Look at what is happening in Lagos State. All other governors are coming to the Southwest, especially Lagos, to learn about good governance. The situation is so bad that you cannot even pinpoint to the things the PDP have done when theywere in the government in the Southwest.

     

  • ‘APC is a credible alternative’

    ‘APC is a credible alternative’

    House of Representatives member Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a credible party that will successfully wrest power with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next general elections.

    She urged Nigerians to brace up for change at the centre in 2015, assuring that the party will not disappoint them.

    Dabiri-Erewa, who represents Ikorodu Constituency, described the PDP’s years in the government as the most embarassing period in national history. She complained about the collapse of social infrastructure and non-implementation of the transformation agenda of the administration.

    Dabiri-Erewa noted that the birth of the APC has aroused enthusiasm among Nigerias who are eager for power shift to the progressives.

    She said the manifestos of the new party would reflect the peoples’ yearning for a better condition of life, security, industrial development and life more abundant.

    The legislator hailed the commitment of the statesmen driving the alliance, stressing that they have put the nation above personal interests.

    She said the performance of the 11 governors involved in the merger is a sign of good things to come in the future.

  • PDP will present credible candidate in 2015, says Lamido

    PDP will present credible candidate in 2015, says Lamido

    Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido said yesterday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would present a credible candidate for the presidential election in 2015.

    Lamido gave the assurance in Dutse when he received members of the Arewa Youths Forum who visited him.

    “From my political history, I don’t present myself for any position. I believe in my party and it will present a candidate that will be acceptable to all.

    “PDP has modalities of doing things, we should wait and see the person that will be chosen to be the flag bearer of the party in 2015.

    “PDP is built on justice and fairness and my party has sagacity to break religious dichotomy and it is a party that was formed to unite the country, “ Lamido said.

    The governor advised the forum not to allow politicians to use it to achieve their political machinations.

    The President of the forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Gujungu, said it visited Dutse as part of its working tour of Northern states.

    Gujungu praised Lamido for his development projects and urged him “to wade in and save the North from total collapse”.

    Lamido has been linked with 2015 presidential ticket of the PDP.

    He has neither denied nor expressed interest in the race.

    Campaign vehicles with his name inscribed on them on display in Kaduna.