The Nation Newspaper

Tag: debates

  • 2019: Beyond issues, policies and debates

    SIR: As the general elections and especially the presidential poll in 2019 looms, there is a near popular consensus that issue-driven campaigns, clearly articulated policy platforms and even organized and well-focused debates by candidates, especially of those aspiring for high offices, would clear the political process of jaundiced prejudices, inoculate it against banalities of thuggery and other associated brinkmanship.

    Issue-driven political campaign, strong policy platforms and even muscular political debates centered around issues and policies would be welcome; but to define a productive political process and its potential outcomes and outputs as constituting only in the now widely believed golden triangles of issues, policies and debates would be an over-simplification of the critical fundamentals that has perennially dogged the country’s political life.

    Sometimes, the banality of the political discourse that feeds into attempts by some people to drag ethnic and religious identities into the maelstrom of partisan politics, fuels a popular desire to transcend ethnicity and religion through what many called issue based politics.

    However, while issue and policy debates would definitely enliven the political campaigns, and raise the quality of discourse, they would do nothing in itself to disentangle the gridlock that has traditionally ambushed governance and divert resources to maintaining lousy political elite, beholden to state-directed corrupt networks. The sheer political will and extant courage to deal a damaging blow to the network of elite corruption, administrated by a captured state, cannot be captured in any policy document or even glimpsed through any issue-based debate.

    Policy platforms and programmes are political promissory notes and delivering on them, essentially boil down to the character and political will to deal a blow to the powerful vested interests that naturally do not care about policy formulation, but want with vehemence to derail and consign it to the dustbin of history.

    Debates, no matter how issues-based or well marshaled out, will not expose the underhand current that makes best policy outlines look just hollow when it comes to practically engaging issues of governance, where trade-offs between the good of the powerless masses and the over bearing influences of the powerful few is the real stuff. Policy outlines can give a certain clarity to the inner mind and thinking of a candidate for a public office, but that will not prepare him sufficiently for the test of character and political will that actual governance will subject him or her.

    For a political process like ours, with weak institutions and structural fragility, the vehemence of political merchants to foist their nuances and formalized it to the extant and existing weak institutions cannot be ignored. For example, while existing security institutions are known for inadequate funding, the so-called National Peace Corps, a personal notion, was hurriedly rammed through the two chamber of the national legislature and it took the courage of the presidency to deal a fatal blow to such misguided attempt to birth another state institution issuing from the hollow prerogative of few persons.

    The political courage and will to deal with the daily spiraling nuances of the political elite cannot be contained in policy outlines or issue-based debates, but rather is implicit in the character of leaders to stare down on the excesses of  the political elite and rein-in their reckless proclivity to multiply costly state institutions for the mere purpose of huge financial returns.

    While a new political season and atmosphere of grand policy platforms, issue-based campaigns and vigorous debates are welcome, it is even more pertinent to take a deep reflection on the respective gladiators, examine their strength of character and more compellingly, their will to take on vested powerful and influential special interests, who make every government look exactly like “committee at the service of a rapacious minority.” The sound bites of alluring policy platforms, issue-driven campaigns and debates would amount to nothing, except there is evident political will and courage to overwhelm and overcome the political ambush of political syndicates of all sorts, crafted and wedded to the hemorrhage of our national patrimony through their insidious network of corruption.

     

    • Charles Onunaiju, Utako Abuja. 

  • ‘Perception created by #AnambraDebates’

    Channels TV recently organised a debate for few governorship candidates in Anambra State, ahead of the coming election. Only candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA); the United Progressive Party (UPP); the All Progressives Congress (APC); and the People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) were invited for the televised debate tagged #AnambraDebates.

    The debates introduced the antecedence and ideology of each of the candidates. Most importantly, it highlighted the personality brands of each of them. Perception played a big role in the traction received by each of the candidates during and after the debate.

    Godwin Ezeemo of PPA lost the interest of viewers when it became clear that he only moved to Anambra five years ago. He looked like a nascent politician but sounded promising.

    Tony Nwoye of APC put up a dull appearance in terms of dressing and delivery. His demeanor was devoid of executive confidence and intellectual facade. He sounded like the victim.

    Oseloka Obaze of PDP stole the show. His elocution and delivery was outstanding. He sounded like the major challenger.

    Osita Chidoka of UPP has always been popular among the elites. His dressing, composure and candour delivered the excellence he has always been known for. His programmes were spectacularly themed in Igbo language. He seems to be creating a political niche for himself.

    Incumbent Governor Willie Obiano did so well in explaining how he has been driving development in the state. Obiano was obviously tensed as he came face-to-face with his challengers and launched vitriolic attacks on their personalities. He sounded like the opposition.

    However, we look forward to see if perception and personality brand have influence on elections. This election is a referendum, says Osita Chidoka. Perhaps a referendum on the kind of personality widely accepted by the people; this Saturday shall reveal.

  • The coming debates

    The coming debates

    What would life be like without politicians? It is all dull, drab and damp, no doubt.

    Politicians are like the ocean and its rippling waves. When they blow their top, the effects reverberate all over the land. When they tear at one another at the National Assembly, the media bring us the scenes live in the comfort of our homes. We are entertained and for a while there is no talk of being shortchanged; we get value for our votes – and cash into the bargain, sometimes.

    Forthrightness is not their defining attribute. When they cause trouble, they tell us it is all for peace. When they are blinded by ambition, turning against their benefactors, they claim it is all in the interest of the people. When they award themselves hefty allowances and salaries, they call it service.

    Our politicians are in their best elements when they are provoked to strike at one another, hurling invectives like some Balogun market traders who have not sold anything all day. They exhibit uncommon creativity, waxing lyrical and philosophical – all at the same time. Besides, they could deliver their anger with the savagery of a lion dared by a goat, sinking their teeth into their opponent’s body.

    Consider the encounter between Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha and former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, who claimed the visit of some governors to President Muhammadu Buhari in London was a fluke. The governor called Fani-Kayode “unintelligent” and “disrespectful”. He said Fani-Kayode was living on his father’s and grandfather’s glory.

    Besides, he called him an “overpampered child”. A pampered  child at over 50?

    Who is a pampered child?

    The obese one who swims in ice cream and gobbles pizza like a hungry workman? The one who, even though of age and mature, still treats everything of value like the toys of his childhood days?

    Does this description fit the former minister? Does he behave so? Is this a fair comment or a blow below the belt?

    The former minister picked up the gauntlet. He joined battle with Okorocha, describing him as a “sociopathic self-hating Igbo who is suffering from a terrible and debilitating inferiority complex”. He challenged His Excellency to a public debate for Nigerians to decide who between the twain has “native sense”.

    What is native sense? Even before the big debate that Fani-Kayode proposed, some public commentators have launched their own unsolicited and unrestrained debate. They have been describing and defining “native intelligence”, saying: “Is it collecting N1.7b (according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)) from the arms cash and telling the judge, “yes I collected, but it’s all in the line of duty and I don’t think I owe anybody any account”?

    No date has been fixed for the debate.

    No love is lost between former Delta State Governor Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan and university teacher cum businessman Pat Utomi, a professor who is aspiring to be governor of Delta on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Uduaghan advised Utomi to start his aspiration as a councillor.  A professor as a councilor, of all things? What aberration, Utomi may have thought.

    He lunged at Uduaghan, asking the former helmsman to account for N20b Independent Power Project (IPP) funds.  He  accused Uduaghan of plunging the state into a N600b debt onto which his successor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has piled some N60b. The professor would like a public debate on how to use scarce resources for the benefit of the people.

    The former governor described Utomi as “the last managing director of Volkswagen Nigeria”, which he accused him of running aground.

    A former commissioner, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, weighed in. He recalled that Utomi was an honorary adviser to Uduaghan. “Ask him the project that he said they should do in his village, what happened to it? What role did he play on the project? It is very sad that people who have skeletons in their cupboards should begin to make noise.”

    Even as we are yet to hear from the ebullient professor, the busybodies masquerading as public affairs commentators have been making all manner of insinuations,  Did Utomi corner some juicy contracts? What was the project meant for his village and what happened to it?

    Perhaps Utomi is waiting for the proposed debate to shed light on these and other matters.  Step in, please, event planners.

    The other day when the Presidency released the picture of recuperating President Buhari and some governors, it sparked off a bitter argument. Some, among them Fani-Kayode, said it was all some abracadabra.

    Fani-Kayode said the picture from London was “old and fake” because it was indeed taken on another occasion, His proof: he was “reliably told” and “curiously, all the drinks on the table are Nigerian products and Nigerian-made”.

    “Did the governors take all those drinks along with them to London to see the President?” Fani-Kayode asked.

    Instead of simply calling for a debate, those who do not like Fani-Kayode dismissed the former minister’s argument as “illogical, puerile and foolishly mischievous in conception and plainly stupid in delivery”.

    Is it difficult to find Nigerian drinks in London, which is the second home of many Nigerians? they queried.

    A source close to the former minister has just told me that despite everything the Presidency has said, he insists that the photograph was fake all through. He will soon issue a challenge for a full town hall-type debate on the picture.

    Apparently taking a cue from Fani-Kayode, one of its most valued members, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) joined the fray. It described the photograph as “an insult on Nigerians”. “They don’t even think that it is necessary for the President to send message to Nigerians or for themselves to come and tell us what happened during that meeting,” PDP spokesman Dayo Adeyeye said.

    Some of the governors came on television to talk about Buhari’s health. Alhaji Al-Makura, the Nasarawa State governor, swore that he made the trip to London. He said whoever was in doubt was free to inspect his travel papers.

    Against the background of people saying only APC governors were on the trip, the Presidency facilitated another trip to London. Two PDP governors joined the delegation. Was the PDP persuaded?  Doubtful.

    I wonder why the PDP and Fani-Kayode have not called for a debate on this sensitive matter. That must have been a big oversight.

    Even before the PDP joined the fray, one of its men whose public image many would argue is a true testimony to all that the party stands for had challenged the APC to show proof that Buhari was alive. Ayo Fayose, the governor of Ekiti State, threatened to release what he said were the authentic photographs of the President who he swore was on life support.

    After the governors’ London trip, all has been quiet. What went wrong?

    Is Fayose in possession of some strange photographs, perhaps taken by some sophisticated electronic device planted somewhere at the hilltop mansion in which His Excellency lives in Ado-Ekiti? Was Fayose scammed? Who did?

    If indeed he had been scammed as some of his opponents have been saying, then the scammers must indeed be among the world’s first eleven in the business.

    We are really looking forward to when His Excellency will put this sensitive matter behind him at a well organised public debate.

    In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, so much has been going on. The governor’s ability to perform despite his belligerency has been hailed as a rare gift of nature, which His Excellency Nyesom Wike continues to bask in. His former boss and predecessor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, now Minister of Transportation, says Wike continues to stack up documents to push the charge that he (Amaechi) is corrupt. Wike keeps threatening to unleash such documents on the public space.

    Why not a well-structured public debate to settle this matter once and for all?

    Senate President Bukola Abubakar Saraki has been talking about how and why the upper chamber refused to clear Ibrahim Magu for the EFCC job and why the budgetary allocation for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was slashed. Minister Babatunde Fashola says the slashed votes went into some boreholes and such community projects which the lawmakers consider more crucial.

    Motorists continue to die on this road as if it was built to take lives. Now the contractor Julius Berger, has left the site because it has not been paid. Southwest leaders are up in arms against the lawmakers. They do not have to be.

    They should simply call for a debate on why they think this road deserves attention. The lawmakers will then have the chance to state their grouse against the road.

    Isn’t that the way of democracy?

  • House debates legislative agenda

    House debates legislative agenda

    •Reps vow to block revenue leakages

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said that the House will commence debate on the 8th Assembly Legislative Agenda this week.

    A statement issued by his spokesman, Hassan Turaki, said the Speaker made this known when he received the draft 8th Assembly Legislative Agenda from the Committee of Members and Experts he commissioned few days ago.

    “We will debate the legislative agenda and adopt the final version,” he said.

    Dogara informed the panel that the 8th House under his leadership “will do everything possible to implement the legislative agenda even if it means setting up a substantive committee. This will define the character of the 8th Assembly.”

    The Speaker also lamented a situation whereby revenue generating agencies of the Federal government hide under laws establishing them to withhold monies they generate.

    He said even though some laws have allowed the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to retain certain percentage of the revenue they generate, there is the need to review those laws in order to plug the leakages because most of them do under declare their earnings.

    Dogara further advocated for prudent management of the nation’s foreign reserve in such a manner that interest accrued are declared by the foreign fund managers which may be running into hundreds of millions of dollars.

    Another key area that came up for discussion  was the issue of donor funding with some committee members disclosing that between 10 to 17 percent of some ministries’ budgets are funded through foreign aids.

    Some members of the committee also lamented that in most cases, the funds are neither reflected in the annual Appropriation Bill, nor are they declared by the affected ministries and departments.

    The draft legislative agenda is proposing for the introduction of sectorial debate, the conduct of legislative needs assessment of the House of Representatives by experts and restructuring of the House standing committees among others.

    Dogara inaugurated the 22-man committee under the chairmanship of C. J. Osman. Hon. C.I.D Maduabum, Aisha Dukku, Abdulsamad Dasuki, Shehu Garba Sarkin Noma, Zakari Mohammed, O.K. Chinda,  Toby Okechukwu, Princess Adedoyin, Ahmed Yerima and Ibrahim Baba were members.

    Others include Hon Adeyinka Ajayi, Ahman Pategi, Adetunji Ajabge, Clement Nwankwo, Mansur Jarkasa, Mrs. Omotayo Brimmo, Enoch Jarumi, Mrs. Cordelia Akunwafor, Professor J. O. Amupitan SAN, and Oscar Okoro.