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Tag: good governance

  • Buhari: only good journalism can promote good governance

    •43 journalists killed so far in 2018, says IPI

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said only good journalism can promote good governance.

    He urged journalists to rise to the challenges facing the media with the menace of fake news, hate speech and explosion on the social media

    Executive Director, International Press Institute (IPI), Barbara Trionfi, expressed regrets that independent journalism was under attack all over the world.

    She also said press freedom was being eroded globally.

    Buhari, who spoke at the 67th World Congress of the IPI in Abuja, agreed with the theme of the summit that “good journalism matters.”

    He said: “In a world where the borderline between hate speech and free speech has become blurred, good journalism matters. In an environment where fake news dwarfs investigative reporting, Good Journalism Matters.

    “For survival in an increasingly competitive field, Good Journalism Matters. Good journalism promotes Good Governance. I therefore urge participants to give depth to the topic in your discussions and conclusions.

    “The changing media landscape, the explosion of the social media and the rapidly evolving new technology have had profound impact on media business and media practice. It is satisfying, therefore, that you have chosen an appropriate theme for your conference: Why Good Journalism Matters: Quality Media for Strong Societies.

    The annual congress, he observed, was holding in Nigeria during a period of global terrorism.

    He added: “Nigeria experiences that scourge through Boko Haram, which has been technically degraded and has no territorial hold anywhere, anymore, in its northeast operational base. The Internally Displaced Persons are gradually returning to their communities in reasonable safety and security.

    “It is a reflection of your assessment of Nigeria as a safe country that you gave the country the hosting right for this conference. As you have seen since your arrival, you made a wise and right choice.”

    He explained what Nigeria had been doing to facilitate the Ease of Doing Business.

    “One of the reform initiatives of this administration is the introduction of visa on arrival policy. The policy is designed to aid ease of doing business in Nigeria. I am glad that international delegates to this conference are beneficiaries of this policy.

    “Nigerian government has provided necessary support for a successful hosting right from the time our delegation presented its hosting bid in Qatar to the granting of that right in Germany last year.

    “I commend the efforts of the Nigeria Hosting Committee for organizing this conference. It is one more evidence of Nigeria’s capacity for doing great things.”

    Trionfi said 43 journalists have been killed so far this year.

    She said independent journalism was under attack all over the world.

    She said: “There is a sense that independent journalism is under attack and press freedom as eroded all over the world.

    ‘From Mexico to the Philippines, from Zimbabwe to Turkey, from Russia to Ethiopia,  journalists are being imprisoned, they are denied access to justice,  they are  threatened an insulted on social media, they age  directly targeted  after labeled as traitors, and enemies of the state and they are killed, shot in front of their houses, on their way to work by killers who know that murdering journalist is the easiest way to silence them and ensure that the stories of corruptions they were investigating,  the wrongdoing they had uncovered will never be revealed.

    “But as journalism is under attack, the journalist community has been coming together unprecedented.  Editors, publishers, journalists are increasingly aware that the future of journalism depends on the support they receive from their audiences and from and from their communities

    “ That if we cannot convince our readers,  viewers and listeners that quality, independent journalism is a valuable good, one they should cherish and depend and fight for, it will be very easy for those who want to silence critical journalism to do so.

    “At least 43 journalists have been killed so far in 2018 in places like Afghanistan, Mexico, India, Pakistan, or the Philippines, to mention a few.

    Local Organizing Committee Chairman and President, Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, said in spite of occasional overzealousness of security agencies, “Nigerian journalists have continuously enjoyed a relatively free press.”

    On the complaint of IPI about a detained Nigerian journalist, he said: “We have not been totally briefed of the journalist being talked about.”

    Concerning the menace of Boko Haram insurgency, he said since the return of democracy in 1999, which marked the end of military rule; the nation had not paid much attention to the size of the nation’s military and the police.

    He said with a population of about 190 million people, the nation has to enlarge its military and the police.

    He said: “We have been confronted by the reality to rebuild our total security infrastructure and bring police to the community to ensure the safety of our citizens.

    Obaigbena also made a case for a robust focus on global immigration challenges by journalists like the case in the United States where the press forced President Donald Trump to reverse his policy.

    He added: “Immigration has been one major central issue in the world. If we all can also report it in a robust way, perhaps we can reverse the course of history.”

  • How to achieve good governance, by Kolade

    Beyond casting their ballot, Nigerians muts be actively involved to ensure good governance, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) has said. In a paper entitled: “Christians and governance”, delivererd under the auspices of Christ the Redeemer’s Friends International (CRFI), Dr. Kolade cautions elective office holders against constitutional abuse.

    It is often appropriate to start with definitions, especially because both terms – Christianity and governance – have been used in so many contexts that we need to avoid any possible confusion by ensuring true clarity in the usage that we are adopting for this discussion.

    Take the word ‘governance’, for instance, a short definition, often seen in some United Nations (UN) documentation, sees governance as “the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).” Some have gone from that statement to assume that governance (decision-making and implementation), being activities frequently carried out by governments, should be synonymous with government.

    However, as soon as we accept the reality that decisions are taken and implemented at multiple levels of the society, we have to agree that ‘governance’ is broader than ‘government’ because other sectors of society are included in it.

    These include non-governmental organisations, businesses, professional associations, civil society movements, and religious organisations, to name only a few. Wherever we can identify a group that sometimes exercises some influence on the crafting of public policy or its implementation, that group is asserting its relevance to, and active participation in, governance.

    Indeed, all of us, as citizens, sometimes elect or appoint individuals into roles in government, in which they volunteer to take the responsibility for leading the governance endeavour, it is also true that society needs the active participation of all its members in ensuring the success of the governance plans and policies, not only today, but all the way into the future.

     

    Purpose of governance

     

    Therefore, rather than seek a definition of governance, we may do well to ask the question – What is governance for?  In other words, what is the purpose of governance? Why do we practise governance, and what does it help us to achieve?  Once we adopt this approach, it is reasonable for us to conclude that any governance that fulfils its purpose with sustainable success would qualify to be described as, and this immediately allows us to consider the possibility that Christianity – or, indeed, any other philosophy that extols noble values and high standards – can have a beneficial influence on the quality of governance in which its adherents participate.

    We must also acknowledge that governance is a responsibility, since it is designed to achieve important outcomes for everyone in the society. It should not only ensure welfare, peace and security; it should also enable every citizen to be the best he can be through his productivity and adherence to the laws of the country.

    We may also ask, at this point, what or who is a Christian, and what role should he or she play in governance?  If we are true Christians, this means that we have chosen to follow Jesus Christ, not just when it is convenient or unavoidable, but, indeed, in everything, and at all times.  It means that we have chosen Christianity as our way of life, a way of life to which we are committed, and which should reflect in everything we say or do.

    So, considering what we have already said about the need for all members of the society to participate in governance, we should have no problem in agreeing that, when we do so as Christians, all our decisions and actions should be an accurate reflection of our Christianity.

    One of the ways in which the Christian brings Christ into governance is to follow the example of Jesus Christ, especially when He had to deal with situations involving human considerations and preferences.  We take note of the fact that He would usually go to the word of God in order to establish the validity of the position He was taking.  He chased greedy tradesmen out of the temple because they were turning the place that God’s word described as a house of prayer into a “den of thieves”.

    Again, when Jesus Christ was tested by the devil at the start of His ministry, He answered every test by quoting the Word, thus effectively disposing of each assault. The Christian in governance – and this means everybody – can do no better than to take refuge in the word of God, where experience has shown us that there is always an effective answer to every question that we may raise in any situation.

    With specific reference to the governance responsibility, the true follower of Jesus Christ actually stands in a place of distinct advantage.  We have already mentioned the fact that the word of God can provide an effective answer to every challenge that the Christian may encounter. In addition to that powerful resource, the Christian also has the teachings and example of our Lord Himself when He lived as a man here on earth.  His teachings have given the Christian the noblest values and highest standards that should be applied in all situations.  Then, on top of all that, Jesus Christ has fulfilled His promise that the Holy Spirit would come to live in Christians and guide them to all truth.  When this first happened openly to the disciples, Peter was quick to remind everyone that the promise of empowerment by the Holy Spirit was available to “all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39).  This gives us, the Christians of 21st century Nigeria, the confidence that, indeed, “we can do all things, through Christ who gives us strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

    The essence of all this is that Christians today are able to address their governance responsibility, not only by showing themselves to be practitioners of good governance, but also by standing firm to defend their Christian values and standards whenever they come under attack by people who are inclined to violate them.

     

    What is good governance?

     

    As we observed earlier, it is often helpful, in this kind of discussion, to try to understand a concept by its purpose, and by the outcomes that take place as a result of applying the concept. We have also suggested that the word of God offers enormous help in answering the questions that we confront as we pass through life.

    When we study the Bible at the 29th chapter of the Book of Proverbs, we are given a number of instructive pointers, which I quote here in the Contemporary English Version of the Holy Bible:

    Verse 2: “When justice rules a nation, everyone is glad; when injustice rules, everyone groans.

    Verse 4: “An honest ruler makes the nation strong; a ruler who takes bribes will bring it to ruin.

    Verse 7: “The wicked don’t care about the rights of the poor, but good people do.

    Verse 12: “A ruler who listens to lies will have corrupt officials.

    Verse 14: “Kings who are fair to the poor will rule forever.

    Verse 16: “Crime increases when crooks are in power, but law-abiding citizens will see them fall.

    Verse 18: “Without guidance from God law and order disappear, but God blesses everyone who obeys his law.

    Verse 26: “Many try to make friends with a ruler, but justice comes from the Lord.

    Verse 27: Good people and criminals can’t stand each other.

    In a paper by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), published in 1997, we are also offered the following as the characteristics of good governance – the factors that we should look for in order to be sure that good governance is actually happening:

    An institutional set-up that ensures good governance usually has the following features:

    Participation: All men and women should have a voice in decision-making, either directly or through legitimate intermediate institutions that represent their interests. Such broad participation is built on freedom of association and speech, as well as capacities to participate constructively.

     

    Rule of Law: Legal frameworks should be fair and enforced impartially, particularly laws on human rights.

     

    Transparency: Transparency is built on the free flow of information. Processes, institutions, and information are directly accessible to those concerned with them, and enough information is provided to understand and monitor them.

     

    Responsiveness: Institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders.

     

    Consensus Orientation: Good governance mediates differing interests to reach a broad consensus on what is in the best interests of the group and where possible, on policies and procedures.

     

    Equity: All men and women have opportunities to improve or maintain their well-being.

     

    Effectiveness and Efficiency: Processes and institutions produce results that make the best use of resources.

     

    Accountability: Decision-makers in government and civil society organisations are accountable to the public, as well as to the institutional stakeholders. This accountability differs depending on the organization and whether the decision is internal or external to an organisation.

     

    Strategic Vision: Leaders and the public have a broad and long-term perspective on good governance and human development, along with a sense of their rights and duties. There is also an understanding of the historical, cultural and social complexities in which that perspective is grounded.

     

    Best practice in governance

     

    If we place the UNDP list alongside the statements in Proverbs, Chapter 29, we easily see that the proposed values that should underpin good governance performance are very similar. Both passages make repeated allusions to truth, justice, equity, transparency, inclusiveness.

    In both passages, we also receive the information that those who follow best practice are most likely to succeed in governance.  Again we can find important help to confirm this in the word of God.

    Take the example of Joseph who went from the position of a slave to the role of prime minister in Egypt.  Consider also the important governance role that Daniel earned while in exile in Babylon.  In the New Testament, we also have the example of Stephen and his group of seven who were chosen for governance responsibility in Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 6.  All three references provide examples of best practice in governance, and the one attribute that they all shared was that they were driven by the Spirit and wisdom of God.  The same is what Jesus Christ promises His followers – if they keep His commandments.  And He expects them to keep His commandments because they love Him.

     

    The Nigerian Christian

    and governance

     

    The final question that this paper wants to pose is one that people ask me on many occasions when we engage one another in these discussions.  In the light of all that keeps happening in our country, people ask if it is possible for the Christian – indeed, for anyone – to be an apostle of best practice in governance in present-day Nigeria. My answer, always, is that it is not only possible, but indeed easy, if the Christian is in a functioning relationship with Jesus Christ, and if, with help from the Lord Himself, the Christian in governance is determined to be totally faithful to the Constitution of our country, and to the declarations that we make in our National Anthem and National Pledge. The third commandment warns that God will not overlook the guilt of all those who take His name in vain!

    Too often, our Christian identity withers in the face of any challenge that threatens our comfort, our love of money, or our yearning for personal importance and power.  In the end, the kind of best practice that produces good governance is determined by Christ’s expectation of those who claim to be His followers.  His values, His standards, and His unrelenting discipline are laid upon Christians in His own clear declaration – If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

    But Jesus Christ also extends the invitation to us to enjoy the benefit of His help and care:

    Matt 11:28-30

    28: Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

    29: Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

    30: For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

     

  • Civil society groups begin good governance assessment in Osun

    AHEAD of September 22 governorship election in Osun State, three civil society groups have embarked on a public assessment project in Osun State. The project targets about 30,000 respondents on governance in the state for the past eight years.

    The groups said it was aimed at establishing deep public perception of the socio-political developments in the state for the past eight years.

    The project is being undertaken by three rights groups, the Civil Society Coalition for Mandate Protection, (CSC-MAP), the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), and the Green Peoples Environmental Rights Groups (GREPNET), a member of the International Alliance on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forest (IAITPTF), based in Thailand.

    In a release, which was signed by Comrade Oluwole Suleiman, Uche Obiora and Oladimeji Fatunla, the group stated that 10,000 questionnaires have been distributed to 500 volunteers picked across the 31 local government areas. Is said there is also an online version expected to reach a total of 20,000 people using Information Technology (IT).

    The project takes a look at cultural, socio-political and economic developments in the state from the perspectives of the people.

    The statement said: “We are adopting best practices in measuring good governance in Nigeria. Osun has been picked as a pilot project in Nigeria. We want the people to assess the government in the past eight years in a reflective and comparative sense. Every social strata in Osun will participate in the questionnaire including civil servants, students, peasants and the general public.”

    The groups stated that 10,000 questionnaires will be administered while the same assessment is being conducted online and that it is targeting a minimum of 20,000 people.

    The statement said the coalition is organizing training for some of the key leaders of the survey in the three senatorial districts of the state. The trainees will be responsible for administering the questionnaire to locals.

  • Good governance and national development

    After close to six decades of political independence from Britain, Nigeria is still crawling like a baby. It has a stunted growth despite its enormous mental and material resources. Are the ancestors angry? The good news however, is that this ugliness is reversible in the face of unalloyed patriotism and critical self-analysis. It is unfair to claim that Nigerians are ungovernable and pathologically lawless. The Murtala Mohammed/ Olusegun Obasanjo military administration between 1975 and 1976 was a good testament to the governability and civility of Nigerians. During this period, gross indiscipline was reduced to the barest minimum. Those in charge were a shining example of honesty and commitment to the common good. They were on a mission to make Nigeria a force to reckon with in Africa and the rest of the global village. But along the line, Nigeria lost the golden opportunity to become a world power. That missing link is called good governance. This lost glory is re-claimable via the lens of pragmatism at its peak.  Good governance is attainable within the frameworks of such traits as rule of law, inclusiveness, participatory orientation, fair-play/equity, transparency, accountability, responsiveness to national and/or international affairs, efficiency/effectiveness and uncommon integrity.

    The creation of impartial regulatory legal bodies for ensuring full protection of all citizens of Nigeria in terms of human rights and civil liberties cannot be wished away in the scheme of things. Injustice is an encumbrance to peace and without peace, socio-economic and political progress becomes a wild goose chase. The Nigerian political class has to embrace the principles of inclusiveness as opposed to primordial ethnic, sub-ethnic sentiments and unbridled cronyism. It is too easily forgotten by the Nigerian political class that power belongs to the people and that governance is a social contract. The masses would necessarily withdraw their affection for their leaders if religious bigotry and primitive ethnic solidarity or sentiments dwarf their (political leaders) sense of judgement. African leaders generally have a lot to learn from the Mandelas, Obamas and Churchills of this world.

    Lack of information about government’s activities leads to mutual suspicions and distrusts as well as mistrusts. Keeping many things under wraps is at variance with good governance. In addition, responsive and enthusiastic leadership is a blessing for any nation, especially when it involves the issue of security and safety of lives and property. Members of the political class are supposed to be the servants of the people and this underscores the reason why they enjoy a huge amount of benefits and privileges. In this connection, transparent leadership is a necessity rather than an option. Accountability is also important. Political leadership is not just to win an election and thereafter occupy the Aso Rock Villa with some cronies as if that is an end in itself. The leaders are answerable to us. Thus, for example, we would like to know what President Buhari would do to those military officers if they were found guilty of serious dereliction of duty, with respect to the Dapchi girls’ abduction some weeks ago.  What of the Inspector General of Police who allegedly flouted presidential order about his relocation to Benue State to stop the Fulani herdsmen/farmers clashes recently? What of the killer-Fulani herdsmen who are of course, giving our president an ugly name within and without Nigeria?

    Nigeria is in dire need of an ethical rebirth as the falcons can no longer hear the falconer. Things are falling apart with alarming, astonishing rapidity. Nigerians in frustration, are waiting in an agony of suspense concerning several cases of impunity and/or corruption involving certain government officials. All these challenges can erode the dignity of our leaders and pave the way for tough speeches often inaccurately labelled hate speeches out of reactionary tendencies. Even the meekest Nigerian will soon start talking tough in the face of hopelessness.  There is need to repeal  all the obnoxious, reactionary laws and/or bye-laws that make it possible for governors after leaving office, to be earning unspeakably  huge  pensions at the expense of the ordinary people of  Nigeria. Politics is unacceptably the most lucrative business in Nigeria. How can there be jobs for our youths in this kind of milieu?  Dear President, Nigerians loved you so much before now. But currently, tears of unprecedented anguish have filled their eyes and you need to quickly address the situation. Please, listen less to most of your advisers who appear to hate words of wisdom for obvious reasons. Nigeria and Nigerians are too complex to be caged up by near- complete, glorified despotism. Leaders should not ignore the lessons of history otherwise they would be doomed to repeat its failures. There is need for the government to return to the ontology of culture and development crafted from change and temporality. This is a fact of life and living.  Permit me to illustrate this point for the sake of clarity. In the past, polygamy was a sign of wealth and prestige in Nigeria. The more wives and children, the bigger the farm(s) of a man. Almost everybody was a farmer. Can any serious man embrace that facet of our age-old culture today? Everybody wants to send his children to school. This is expensive and strenuous. Therefore, nobody needs to appeal to any man to hang his ‘pair of gloves’ after two or three children. The era of having children like rabbits is gone for ever. No culture is a fixity!

    Given this scenario, it is most disturbing when some government officials talk about cattle routes in the 21st century. Are we the only people doing animal husbandry in Africa? If care is not taken, very soon some leaders will be talking about pigs routes/roads and chickens routes or even cattle airports. What a hell! Government may have to send some experts in animal husbandry to South Africa and Botswana in order to stop this peculiar mess in the country. Limpopo in South Africa is located in the semi-arid zone and yet cattle, sheep and goats are ranched. They are not roaming freely on the land. In fact, these ranches are tourist attractions. Therefore, the shrinking Lake Chad should not be an excuse for open grazing of cattle in 21st century Nigeria. Fayum and Olduvai lakes in Ethiopia and Tanzania respectively became extinct in prehistory. That is to say that, today these lakes do not exist, and yet the countries are flourishing.  Nigeria needs a philosopher-king capable of proving to the globe that we are not a bunch of savages and cannibals with an archaic mentality. Large-scale integrity embedded in advanced social engineering and profound intellectual tastes/preferences, is of the essence. This also entails an ethical revolution across the board. In other words, there is need for an informed and concerned reflection on Nigeria’s current monumental disappointments with the government. However, we must learn to tolerate sometimes inevitable, acutely-productive disagreements that may ensue in the process of reconstructing and enlarging the conceptual/definitional box that houses our politics. This is my Easter message to the Buhari-led administration that is in a coma.

     

    • Professor Ogundele writes from University of Ibadan.

  • How to achieve good governance by Ambode

    The combination of the experience of political elders and the creative and innovative ideas of young people is crucial to achieving good governance and sustainable development in the country, Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has said.

    He said while delivering goodwill message at the second edition of the   Bola Tinubu Youths Summit, held at the weekend at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    The summit was parts of the activities lined up for the 66th birthday of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Ambode noted that it is very imperative to create a platform in which the benefits of the experience of the elders would be effectively combined with the creative and innovative ideas of young people to align the nation’s desire for good governance and growth with global trends.

    Represented by his deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, the governor said that his administration right from the inception believed in government of inclusion in which a level playing ground is provided for everyone including youths so as to contribute to the growth and development of the country.

    Describing the theme of the summit Making Nigeria Work- Synergy between Leadership and the New Generation as apt, the governor noted that the summit was relevant as it came when political activities towards next year’s general elections were gathering momentum.

    He noted that the summit could not be better organised than now when there was a general clamour for increased participation of the youths in governance which according to him is inspired by the Not too Young to Run bill that is fast gaining ground at the National Assembly.

    The governor t challenged the youths across the country to be steadfast and continue to demonstrate good character in their quest to make positive difference in governance , urging them to ‘’show strong determination and draw inspiration from leaders who are selfless and people centred in their ideas, policies and ideologies’’

    Praising Asiwaju Tinubu for his leadership quality, Ambode noted that his numerous contributions to the evolution and sustenance of democratic governance / ideals in Nigeria are widely acknowledged not only by Nigerians but across the globe.

     

     

  • Youths hail Dickson for good governance

    Youths at the weekend trooped to the streets of Ogbia town in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa State to support the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    They hailed him for good governance.

    Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is from Ogbia Council.

    The youth and Jonathan’s kinsmen, who held pro-Dickson’s banners, extolled the leadership qualities of the governor and his desire to roll out developmental projects in the local government.

    They said they took the action to correct a false impression by enemies of Ogbia kingdom that Dickson had abandoned their council.

    Led by the newly-appointed Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youths, Mr. Osaanya B. Osaanya, the youth said Dickson had given Ogbia appointments and developed schools.

    They were also happy that the governor had earmarked N1 billion to tackle developmental challenges.

    The Nation learnt that the rally was almost sabotaged by the Caretaker Committee Chairperson of Ogbia, Naomi Ogoli, who pressed for the cancellation of the event.

    Youths suspected to be loyal to Ogoli, who was recently appointed a chairperson by Dickson, created tension and breached security at the Ogbia Brotherhood Hall, venue of the event. They were dispersed by security operatives.

    The march, which was peaceful, attracted governor’s appointees from the council, besides Ogoli. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Gabriel Okara, represented Dickson.

    Among Ogbia dignitaries in attendance were the Chairman of the Ogbia Restoration Caucus, Chief George Okirinya; Commissioner for Special Projects, Fred Obua; Commissioner for Community Development, Saviour Ibegi and Vice Chairman, Ogbia Local Government, Mr. Ebinyo Turner.

    The youth sang and praised the governor for his support to Jonathan and Ogbia kingdom.

    Osaanya said the solidarity mega rally was designed to thank Dickson for appointing more of their sons and daughters into key positions.

    He said the governor demonstrated his love for them by building model schools and devoting N1 billion to repair internal roads, including other projects.

    The aide assured Dickson that the youth would support his administration to reduce crime.

    Stressing that ýonly an atmosphere of peace would attract development, he urged youths to shun cultism and drug abuse.

    Osaanya asked them to avoid pipeline vandalism and other crimes, saying they should avail themselves of the opportunity in Dickson’s government by embracing empowerment schemes.

    He said: “We have come out today to appreciate Governor Dickson for what he has been doing for us. It is clear for us to see. Our resolve to thank him is hinged on the fact that he has done well and will still do more.

    “Not just in Ogbia, Dickson has in the last six years made Bayelsa a centre of attraction. He has built significant and legacy projects. We will give him more support and work to maintain peace in Ogbia kingdom.”

    Okara hailed the youth for organising themselves in a peaceful mannerý and for showing solidarity and support for the governor.

    He said the government loved Ogbia and would do more for the council.

    The Commissioner for Special Projects, Fred Obua and that of Chieftaincy and Community Development, Saviour Ibegi, advised youths to flee from agents of division and distraction.

    Information and Orientation Commissioner Danieýl Iworiso-Markson praised the youth for comporting themselves.

    He noted that the unity of Ogbia people was not negotiable and their support for Dickson would remain unshakable.

    Turner said better days were ahead for youths.

    A member representing Ogbia Constituency II in the House of Assembly, Munalayefa Gibson, described Dickson as a leader par excellence.

     

     

  • National Assembly seeks peace, good governance

    National Assembly seeks peace, good governance

    DESPITE the time-table announced by the National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the general elections next year, politicians have been urged against jetissoning good governance for politicking.

    “It is too early for 2019 politicking to override the legislative agenda and the larger work of governance. We have begun a good thing with the recovery of the economy as the core of our agenda; let us see it to its proper conclusion”, Senate President Bukola Saraki told his colleagues at the upper chamber yesteday.

    In the Green Chamber, Yakubu Dogara said there are no sanctuaries anywhere in the country for killers and other hardened criminals who feed on the people’s blood.

    It was in their remarks at the resumption of the National Assembly in Abuja after the Christmas/New Year recess.

    The Senate President kicked against the heightening frenzy that has been trailing INEC’s announcement of the time-table earlier in the year. He warned that it was too early to sacrifice good governance and legislative works on the altar of 2019 politicking.

    Describing the lingering fuel scarcity in parts of the country as man-made, the Senate President spoke of the Red Chamber’s plan to unmask the mastermind.

    Saraki said: “Distinguished colleagues, it is my appeal to each and every one of us, that our legislative duty to Nigeria and her people must be uppermost in our minds.

    “We must not allow the upcoming 2019 elections to overshadow our work for the people that elected us – or distract us from that which we are mandated to do by the constitution and the trust reposed in us by the people.

    “We have begun a good thing with the economic core of our agenda; let us see it to its proper conclusion. It would be most insensitive to the needs of the people of this country if we were to do otherwise. I am directing this appeal not only to us in the chamber but to the National Assembly as a whole, as well as to the executive and indeed all political actors.

    “Many were on the queue for petrol; many households are grief-stricken. This mood of reflection is also one from which no lawmaker is immune; what affects one, affects all. When one part of the body is hurting, the whole body hurts, and this holds true for the entire nation.

    “We have all been witnesses to the hardships with which many Nigerians saw in the New Year, stuck on fuel queues tailing from petrol stations in many of our cities. It has been disheartening to see, especially during the festive period when Nigerians should have been enjoying carefree time with their loved ones, with enough petrol in their tanks to make that cherished journey to their various hometowns.

    “We, as representatives of the people, feel the pain of the people. Things being the way they were, we could not but respond to the crisis. I therefore had to direct members of the Senate Investigative Panel on Fuel Scarcity to cut short their recess to commence hearings into the lingering problem; and that work is ongoing. I commend the committee for their prompt response and the work carried out.

    “We seek the cooperation and understanding of Nigerians as we try to get to the bottom of this issue. My own estimation of the fuel scarcity phenomenon is that it is man-made. We thought we had left the problem of fuel queues firmly in the past in this country, but sadly, that appears not to be the case. In any event, there is a problem, and it must be solved. We await the findings of the Investigative Panel on Fuel Scarcity, firm in our resolve that whoever is responsible must pay the price for visiting this needless hardship upon our people.

    “You will agree with me that even more sober reflection attends the killings in some parts of the country, particularly recent tragic events in Benue State.

    “We condemn these killings in the strongest terms, and we declare that mindless bloodletting has no place in our society. I offer our sincerest condolences to the people of Benue, and indeed to all who have suffered the loss of their loved ones as a result of these wanton acts.

    “Human life is sacred. We state without equivocation that Nigerian life must become sacred. When we fail in our duty to protect Nigerian lives, it is a tragedy and an indictment on us all.

    “We as the Eighth Senate stand ready to help find solutions to assuage the hurt to affected parts, to bring the perpetrators to justice and to enthrone peace in all four corners of this country.”“There are no sanctuaries anywhere in the country for killers and other hardened criminals who feed on the blood of people. The solution to the mindless killings and bloodletting lies in the ability to shun buck passing. The government must live up to its responsibility of providing security for the lives of every Nigerian, irrespective of where they live”, Dogara said yesterday.

    Reacting to the killings in Rivers, Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Adamawa, Edo and other states, the Speaker said that agents of destruction and destabilisation would no longer feel comfortable anywhere across the country.

    He reminded his colleagues that they as leaders, cannot afford fold their hands and pretend that “all is well” with the country.

    Dogara said: “We have a responsibility to all Nigerians regardless of creed or ethnicity in line with the constitutionally stated primary purpose of the government we serve in, which is securing the welfare including the lives and property of our people.

    “This we must do by ensuring that every law abiding Nigerian is protected where ever he chooses to live in the country and everyone who is up in arms against our citizens is quickly brought to justice where ever they are in the country. That there are no sanctuaries anywhere in the country for killers and other hardened criminals who feed on the blood of our people.

    “We are all painfully aware of the wave of murders of innocent Nigerians that has been sweeping through the nation. From the senseless killings in Rivers State, to the killing rampages in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Adamawa, Edo and other states; our dear country is now being painted red with the blood of the innocents on account of unremitting bedlam callously promoted by cold hearted merchants of death.

    “On behalf of the House of Representatives, I wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to the governments, people, and especially families of those who have lost loved ones in these primitive, mindless and despicable rounds of bloodletting across our dear country.

    “At these moments of intense outpouring of grief across the nation, it is important that we shun buck passing and accept responsibility for these wanton killings without which we will never find a solution to this evil.

    “We cannot afford to fold our hands and pretend that all is well with our country. We cannot throw up our hands in defeat. We have a responsibility to all Nigerians regardless of creed or ethnicity in line with the constitutionally stated primary purpose of the government we serve in, which is securing the welfare including the lives and property of our people.

    “This we must do by ensuring that every law abiding Nigerian is protected where ever he chooses to live in the country and everyone who is up in arms against our citizens is quickly brought to justice where ever they are in the country. That there are no sanctuaries anywhere in the country for killers and other hardened criminals who feed on the blood of our people.”

    The Speaker warned that no one or group should be allowed to foist the reign of tragedy and group polarisation on the country, saying that violence will never result in victories.

    According to him, parties should adopt democratic ways of addressing conflicts through compromise and consensus.

    He went on: “Those who pride themselves in violence must be reminded of the self-defeating nature of violence: the fact that violence only begets violence and that true victory has never been won by violence.

    “It was Mahatma Gandhi who delivered a timeless rebuke to the fools who worship brute force by reminding them that, “victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat for it is momentary.

    “We have to preach this message to our people who must not only accept the inevitability of conflict as well as the necessity for tolerance but must learn not to pursue conflict violently but democratically, in ways that result in compromise and consensus as the culture of democracy demands.”

    Expressing condolence to the government, people and victims of the attacks, Dogara said that President Muhammadu Buhari had briefed the National Assembly leadership on the steps being taken to contain killer herdsmen and other criminals who kill with impunity.

    He said that the measures, if applied as designed, will put an end to the sad incidents.

    On the issue of the alleged reintroduction of fuel subsidy and scarcity of the product, the Speaker charged the relevant committees of the House to unravel the causes and claims, saying “except the executive adduces compelling reasons the reverse is the case, it will amount to a betrayal to still pay subsidies after they had been assured that it had been ended.”

    He said: “We expected that with the legislative cooperation given to the executive arm to effect an increase in the fuel price from N87 per litre to N145, and based on their assurances, incidents of fuel scarcity would be a thing of the past.

    “We were also assured that fuel subsidy had come to an end. From recent developments on this subject, except the Executive adduces compelling reasons why the reverse is the case, we will be justified in feeling betrayed.

    “As parliamentarians, we must unravel the causes of this scarcity and the alleged re-introduction of fuel subsidy. I charge our relevant Committees to get to the root of these issues through the instrumentality of oversight to enable the House take an informed position on this totally undeserving precarious situation that our already overburdened citizens are subjected to. This has to be done with minimal delay.”

  • Good governance, not restructuring will save Nigeria

    SIR: Politics in Nigeria has never been about its basics; rather it is about fighting and arguing for the elites who control everything including the minds of the people. The way Nigeria is ruled, if the country is restructured and it remains one or not, who benefits most? It is the ruling elite class. If Nigeria remains united as it is today, who benefits most? It is still the ruling elites. I therefore wonder why non-elites are insulting, fighting and killing themselves over restructuring or not restructuring.

    Those who argue for restructuring cite examples of some factors which have caused imbalances and tensions in the polity.  They ask: Why should the South-east geo-political zone (out of the six zones) have five states while the rest zones have six states each? Why is it that the former Northern Region would always have more population census figures than the Western, Eastern and Mid-Western regions combined? Why is it that in appointment into top government positions, the northerners would always have more appointees than the rest of the country?

    Why is it that Kano State benefits more than Lagos State in sharing of the value added tax (VAT) revenue from the federation account, when the latter is the chief source of VAT revenue to the federal government? Why are most strategic military installations located in the northern part of Nigeria? Why is it that the North recorded more heads-of-state and commanders-in-chief than all other parts of Nigeria put together? Why are the Fulani herdsmen killing Nigerians across the country and the federal government appears not to be serious in stopping them? Why is the federal government so powerful at the expense of the true development of the rest tiers of governance? They strongly argue that these issues make it always easy for the North to have more advantages and better access to the resources of the country than any other part. Therefore, Nigeria must the restructured to address these queries.

    The restructuring argument also is about “who gets what” from the ruling crude oil resource. Crude oil is produced in the Niger Delta in the South-south zone. The argument is that the Niger Delta despite contributing about 80% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange revenue, has remained very poor and underdeveloped because the federal government and oil companies are not paying adequate attention to the needs of the peoples of the Niger Delta. Hence, the Niger Delta people are demanding for resource control through restructuring so that states or regions or zones should take over resources beneath their soil and contribute an agreed percentage to the federal government to take care of its federal services. It is in support of this argument that the Lagos State government argues that it is unfair to have allocated to it less revenue from VAT revenue chiefly derived from the state.

    On the other hand, those who do not support restructuring argue that restructuring may lead to the splintering of Nigeria.

    Both sides of the argument are not sincere. The basic problem with Nigeria is bad political leadership and the two sides are never mentioning how to deal with it. Bad governance is championed by the political, social (traditional rulers and their cronies) and economic elites who always benefit more than the rest of the people whether structured, restructured or united or re-united Nigeria.

    It is bad political leadership which has denied the creation of common goods and effective redistribution of same in the present united Nigeria that has given rise to the agitation for restructuring and/or dismemberment. If Nigeria can achieve good governance which will meet the basic needs of the people, the clamor for restructuring or dismemberment will disappear. Good governance will ensure that the little funds that accrue to the states are well utilized for meeting the basic needs and true development of the people. Good governance goes beyond restructuring and unity arguments. It is about meeting the needs of the people through its attributes of accountability, transparency, effective and efficient resource utilization, rule of law, inclusive governance, discipline and leadership by decent behaviors in leading the people.

    If how to live together is the problem, lets us sincerely discuss it. Nigerians should better put in place determined and committed model of discussing how to live together as a united nation than being carried away with the meaningless idea of restructuring or unity of Nigeria. Nigerians must insist on good governance. If we are not sure of good governance, there is no need for unity or restructuring.

     

    • Okachikwu Dibia,

    Abuja.

  • Council chief urged to be ambassadors of good governance

    Lagos State local government chairmen have been asked to be worthy ambassadors of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs Mr Muslim Folami gave the charge yesterday at the start of a two-day induction programme for chairmen, vice chairmen, heads of administrations (HOAs), heads of department (HODs) of finance and accounts of the 57 councils in the state.

    Folami enjoined the chairmen to use their communities as the springboard for social-economic development by initiating a bottom to top approach to governance.

    “I therefore charge you all to make yourself available to your people and always remember the state government’s policy thrust of giving governance back to the people at the grassroots,” Folami said.

    The induction, he said, was part of capacity building for public officers to cope with modern governance predicated on transparency, accountability and probity in public offices.

    Folami said the government was determined to make the councils functional and “an effective unit of governance not only because it is the third tier of government but one closest to people at the grassroots.

    The ministry’s Permanent Secretary Mr Fola Padonu, said the training was in collaboration with the office of Local Government Establishment, Training and Pension.

    Former Head of Service and Local Government Service Commission Chairman Alhaji Babatunde Rotinwa urged the council chiefs to shun ostentatious lifestyles and avoid a large retinue of aides to prevent waste.

    Rotinwa urged them not to appoint contractors in their bid to improve internally generated revenues, adding that such would be against the government’s vision.

  • Hypocrisy of “Good Governance”

    SIR: The demands and nature of effective governance seems to have either eluded our political leaders and other political stakeholders or has been swept under the carpet by same. Oh yes!

    History and the present times have presented and are still presenting to us – rulers that have achieved ground breaking feats in reawakening dead economies, successfully banning dehumanizing systems and laws, fighting to the last grasp of breathe for the freedom of their people and so on and so forth.

    Nelson Mandela; Abraham Lincoln; Mahatma Gandhi; Fidel Castro, to our wonderful National warriors of the independence era; Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and the likes.

    Our lot as a nation has over the years, been downgraded and polluted by leaders who construct borehole in a community, two blocks of manageable classrooms, upgrade dead road to a span of about 100km and patch the rest, spray money while on political patrol, and media outlets who will dish out encomiums on them.

    The way these petty and normal projects are hyped by some media outlets and the populace is of great distress particularly when leaders all over the world are undertaking national and world-shaking projects (artificial archipelago’s/islands, world class tourism in Dubai despite the abundance of crude oil in the UAE). One can go on and on and keep drawing samples from ages and present time about how many world leaders have been nationalistic in their outlook towards development.

    The Nigerian government, rather than channel resources into the economy are rather being ‘internationalistic’  in their outlook towards development; enriching developed and fast developing nations while infrastructures in their own country are in a state of disrepair.

    This undesirable situation is buttressed by the findings of the recently organized symposium on corruption in Nigeria and Africa generally, held in Abuja. Key speakers include the Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Prof Itse Sagay (leader of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption) and other notable Nigerians. They examined the report of the Thabo Mbeki-led panel where it was discovered that more money was leaving the shores of Africa from the proceeds of corruption to developed nations and the larger percentage of this proceeds of crime are from Nigeria.

    I think it will be better if our hyped and over- hyped political actors take a turn around and turn this nation into a world attraction that it ought to be rather than executing five-kobo/10naira projects and giving a sigh of relief that they have done their best. To whom much is giving, much is expected.

     

    • Bolaji Olaniba

    Lokoja, Kogi State.