The Nation Newspaper

Tag: information

  • Information, security and corruption

    Wiki  Leaks  and American Security  Operative  Edward   Snowden  stunned the civilized  world  some time  ago  when they  revealed confidential, state  and governmental information,   discussions and minutes leading to important state  and diplomatic  decisions of the US  government. It  was  also  revealed  that world leaders had  their  phones  bugged  by  the US security  agencies  and the notable example  was  that  of  German  Chancellor Angela  Merkel  who  around the time of the exposure  was  on  a trip  to the US and  the occasion  proved quite  embarrassing  for the normally  engaging  and amiable  President  Barak  Obama. Ironically,  some news  magazine  provoked  outrage   then,   when  they  recommended  both  Wiki  Leaks  founder   Julian Paul  Assange  and  Snowden  for  Man of the Year   Award   in Transparency  as  a result  of their     anti – secrecy   revelations.  That  to  me was  a  very  bad  joke  given  the  gravity  of the offence of both men  which  to me was  treasonable  as they  leaked  confidential  state secret  and information and have betrayed  their  nation and  jeorpadised its  security  and  stability  and  should  face the wrath  of the law . In fact  both  men knew the damage and offence they  had  committed and  both fled. The  Wiki Leaks founder  has  been  holed  up in Ecuador’s Embassy   in  London  ever  since while Snowden  fled  via Hong  Kong  to  Russia where  he was  given  political  asylum.

    This  background  information   is necessary  to  follow  the discussion  of today’s  topic on  Information, Security and  Corruption. I  think  it is necessary  to highlight  that state and  government information should  be treated  with a certain  measure of confidentiality  and secrecy  not only to protect decision  makers but to  enable government  decision   to  be respected  as in the best  interest  of the larger society  and motivated  by    overall    public    interest  and  the  common  good  of  society. It  is not as if this  is always  the case,  as history  has shown  and as the lid   when   open  on  statute  barred  disclosures  have sometimes  revealed, there  may  be    many other  less  than  salutary   ulterior   motives  of leaders    and decision  makers. Yet  that is no  excuse  for publicity  seeking individuals  in  whatever  guise to throw into  public  domain, without  authorization, the secrets of  government  decision making and processes  while political  actors  and public  functionaries  are  still in office and  carrying  out  their  officially   designated  duties.

    It  is in this light that we  look  at the allegations  by  US President Donald  Trump  that  his predecessor President  Barak  Obama  ordered a check  on the phones  at  Trump  Towers which  was his campaign  headquarters while  he was  contesting for the presidency  of the US, a  competition  which  he won  to become the 45th president of the USA. Former  President  Barak  Obama through  an aide has denied the charge.  But President  Trump went  on to compare  the bugging with  the historical   one   of the Democratic Party’s   Watergate  Complex in  Washington DC  during  the reelection of President Richard Nixon which  led to the resignation  of  Nixon   in  1974  in  what  is now  widely  known  as the Watergate  Scandal . Donald  Trumps’s categorization  may seem  like  an  exaggeration but  when  you look at the pressure he has faced from the media  literally   claiming that the Russians  won the elections for him by  hacking,  it  can  be assumed safely   then  that his accusation against  Obama  is  a calculated  and measured  tit  for   tat  against  the US  media  which   has always  had  a soft spot    for   his predecessor.  Again, when  you  recall  that Obama pardoned  and   commuted    a 35  year   long  jail term  given    to  Chester  Manning  who  released  700000  files   on security  to   Wiki  Leaks  and the offender  will  be out in May  2017  and  Obama  also  granted pardon to a Marine General, James  Cartwright who  admitted    lying  to the  FBI on  the Stuxnet  computer   virus,   on Obama’s departure  from   office,     then  you  really  cannot  easily   dismiss   Trump’s   charge  with a  wave  of the hand.  When  you  add  the fact on record  that on his  departure  from  office Obama  pardoned  and commuted  more  prison  terms  and sentences  more  than the  overall  done  by the 12 previous  US  presidents then  you  see that the US now and in the future  has serious  security  challenges that  are bound to affect  its political stability, diplomacy  and foreign  policy  for  a  long time  to come.

    In  South  Korea this week  the Constitutional  Court ruled  by a margin of 8-0 that  the country’s  president  should  be tried  for  corruption thereby  waiving the immunity  she had  enjoyed from prosecution  as president. The  ruling followed  the vote  at the nation’s  National  Assembly  that the President  should  be impeached. To  the letter of the law,  South Korea’s legislative and judicial  institutions have  lived up to their lawful  duties  and that was summed up in the verdict  of the Constitutional  Court  which ruled  that President Park Geun –hye   had  breached the values  of  democracy  and the rule  of law  and should  be  dismissed   as  president .According  to reports, the S Korean  Acting  Chief  Justice said  the president’s  ‘acts of violating the constitution and law are a betrayal of  the public  trust.  The  benefits  of protecting the constitution that can  be earned by dismissing the defendant are  overwhelmingly big ‘

    The  court  verdict  was a tragedy  for  the ousted president  but  a victory  for  democracy  and  transparency.  Yet  the  ousted  president was well prepared  for public office and service  as she was the daughter of former S Korean military  dictator  Park  Chung  Hee  who ruled  at the same time like powerful  military leaders like Suharto in Indonesia, and Ferdinand  Marcos in the Phillipines.  She  is said  to be married  to her nation as she has  no  husband  or  family.  Yet  she failed  the anti  corruption test  as  she  colluded  with  a friend  to betray  public trust  and she has left  office  in  disgrace. That  is a good  lesson  for  world  leaders  and  politicians,  especially  those in  Africa  to  learn  from.  The   lesson    is  that nobody, not even  a sitting  president  is  above  the law,  no   matter  the leader’s  origins and manner of ascent  to power.

    Let  us  now look  at  the  situation  in our  nation where luckily and happily  our  President   Muhammadu  Buhari   returned  home this  week  after a two month  medical  vacation.  In  his  absence  the Vice  President  Professor Yemi  Osinbajo  who also  turned  60  this  week  held  fort dutifully  and  brilliantly  too,  in my estimation. I  wish  him many  happy  returns  of  the day.  But  no tribute to him on the occasion can  be greater  than that of his  boss  who congratulated  him  for being  Vice  President  who  turned to a friend  and  partner in office. That is  a tribute  to  loyalty  and  diligence  and  nothing  can  be better, coming from someone  in a position  to make such  appraisal.‘

    In  the president’s  absence  his Vice  performed  numerous state  functions  on his  behalf  quite commendably  and  gave several  speeches  and admonitions  to  keep  the anti  corruption crusade  on course  in the absence  of its  Commander In  Chief  and  Champion, President  Muhammadu  Buhari.  But  it is one  of them  that arrests  my  attention  and  tickles  my imagination on the rule  of law, the fight against  corruption  and the administration of justice  now  and in the future in  Nigeria. Fortutous   circumstances made  it  possible   this week  for  Professor of  Law  to stand in as the President of Nigeria to swear  in the Chief  Justice  of  Nigeria.  At  the occasion the Acting  President  asked  for probity  and uprightness  in the administration of justice  in the temple  of  justice in Nigeria.  As  a former  Attorney –  General  and law  professor nobody  could  have said it better and more  painfully  too as a member  of the  ‘learned    profession‘  In  response  the new  CJ,   Hon Justice  N S Nkanu  Onnoghen  GCON  called  for the cooperation  of all  arms  of  government , namely the executive, the judiciary  and the legislature   and  present  at  the occasion were the  leaders of the  National  Assembly  who  are  also  involved  in their own unique  way  in the fight against  corruption.

    What  tickles  my fancy  however was that the last  time a professor of law  had  anything to do with the installation of Nigeria’s CJ  was when the legal scholar  and luminary, Professor  Taslim  Elias was  made  the  CJ himself   and  served  from 1972  to 1975.  Professor  Elias  was  later,   President, International  Court  of  Justice from  1982 to  1985. Now  another law  professor has sworn in Nigeria’s  new   CJ. What  I am  wondering at  is not  a case  of history  repeating itself  but    of what  is in the offing    this    time  or   the future,  in the highest  office in the temple  of justice  in Nigeria. Especially    for someone  who  has delivered so  eloquently and faithfully his  mandate of  Acting President  of  Nigeria,  to the  obvious   delight  and  admiration of  the leader  for whom he  sat in  for two  months. Once  again, long live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • ‘Provide police with information’

    ‘Provide police with information’

    A community leader and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Adesun security outfit, Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho, has appealed to Ibadan residents to provide the police with information on a notorious group, “One Million Boys”.
    He said: “Members of this gang live among us and are sponsored by some influential people. The police cannot arrest them easily if we do not assist with necessary information.
    “The Commissioner of Police, Damilola Adegbuyi, should be hailed for curtailing the activities of some groups that want to jeopardise the peace in the state since the inception of the Abiola Ajimobi-led administration. Adegbuyi has achieved a lot since he took over.”

  • POST JAMB: UNILAG set to screen candidates

    POST JAMB: UNILAG set to screen candidates

    The University of Lagos on Monday says it will go ahead with its screening of prospective candidates for admission into the 2016/2017 academic session as scheduled.

    The institution’s Deputy Registrar, (Information), Mr Toyin Adebule, said this in an interview with the news men in Lagos.

    Adebule gave the university’s position against the backdrop of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) withdrawing the list of recommended candidates for admission, earlier sent to the various universities.

    JAMB in the statement signed by its Head of Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, stated that the withdrawal was to ensure that the senate of each of the universities performs its statutory functions.

    News agency of Nigeria reports that UNILAG had, last month, announced that it would begin screening candidates, who chose the institution as their first choice with a cut-off point of 200 and above, between Wednesday Aug. 3, 2016 and Aug. 24, 2016.

    ‎”We want to inform the public that our screening, for candidates that will be admitted for the 2016/17 academic session, will still hold scheduled from Aug. 3, 2016 to Aug. 24, 2016.

    “It is true that JAMB had sent a list to us, which it had considered as those who met our cut-off point.

    “It is this same list that it had withdrawn to allow the universities carry out their admission process as required by the law setting up their senates.

    “There are statutory functions meant for all university senates, among which admissions is part one.

    “It is only after selecting the candidates for admission that the senate refers the list to JAMB for confirmation in line with the admission criteria of merit, catchment and educationally disadvantaged states.

    “And so, it is only proper for JAMB to have taken this step, realising that it had taken over the job of the universities’ senates,’’ he told NAN.

    Adebule, however, added that the withdrawal of the list did not interfere with UNILAG’s proposed plan to screen its candidates.

    He reiterated that candidates would be screened based on the authenticity of their results and their course combination.

  • FTAN commends information minister

    The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has commended the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for convening the national culture and tourism summit billed for next week to fashion out a way for the Nigerian tourism industry.

    Speaking on the summit scheduled to commence on Wednesday next week, FTAN President, Chief. Tomi Akingbogun, said the tourism industry in Nigeria is on a back foot and the industry would totally be extinct, if efforts are not made to go back to the drawing board and fashion a way forward.

    Speaking on the summit, Akingbogun said: “FTAN is very much involved in the stakeholders’ summit by the minister. We are happy he is a listening minister because we have been communicating with him. He is kicking off with everybody sitting at the same table to look at the challenges and proffer solutions.

    “In the past, the ministry would come up with policies that were strange to the private sector. That is the reason for the summit, to carry everybody along. We are happy he has taken the right step. We also want to thank the ministry officials for their inputs.”

  • ‘Only 30% of investors’ information in CSCS database’

    The Managing Director,  Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), Mr Kyari Bukar, has urged investors to ensure that they complete all the necessary information in fulfilling the Know your Customer (KYC) requirements for the e-dividend registration.

    Speaking yesterday at the Town Hall Meeting on e-Dividend organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Abuja, he said as at the last quarter of last year,  CSCS data of all investor showed that less than 30 per cent of Nigerians had complete KYC. He said when investors comply with the directive, it would ensure smooth operations in the market and ease stress encountered by investors.

    He said:  “Seven out of every 10 people in Nigeria have not yet completed the information that is necessary for us to say yes this account belongs to this person.

    “Once you fill this information right, what you will get is ease of life because you will get alert when necessary.’’

    He commended SEC’s efforts in developing initiatives that would ensure increased investor confidence in the capital market stressing that “there is no better way for an investor to have confidence in the market than the two initiative of e-divided and the direct cash settlement by the SEC.”

  • NAMA to go digital on information

    NAMA to go digital on information

    Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has developed a software to enhance the dissemination of aeronautical information, also known as Notice To Air Men (NOTAM) electronically to airspace users.

    The new application is part of  the drive by the agency to digitalise air traffic management services

    To this end, a three-day train-the-trainer workshop to educate and sensitise airline operators, service providers, aviation agencies, the Nigerian Air Force and other stakeholders on the migration from manual to digital NOTAM was held in Lagos last week.

    At the event, NAMA Managing Director Ibrahim Abdulsalam said  Nigeria could not afford to be left behind as aviation is moving from manual to digital operations.

    He said the agency was determined  to provide safe  efficient and economic air navigation services.

    He said:” This has challenged us to deploy new technologies that would ease service provision, save time and reduce operational cost for the airlines and aviation agencies/organisations.

    He  expressed confidence that the deployment of electronic NOTAM would make it easy to access online real-time aeronautical information.

    Abdulsalam said NAMA was willing to make necessary adjustments to accommodate customers’ feedback and complaints for improvement.

    The provision of aeronautical information, he said, will enhance flight operations, one of the key functions of NAMA.

    He said:”Before now, NOTAM was printed in hard copy and made available to airspace users.

    “Aside time constraint, the cumbersome nature of paper work posed a challenge to the agency and airspace users, especially in emergency situations.

    “e-NOTAM, therefore, was conceived to ensure an accurate database of NOTAMs, address the above challenges and also bring about efficiency in service delivery.”

    NAMA developed the e-flight plan and e-clearance software packages in response to the yearnings of airspace users for a faster method of processing flight plans and clearances.

  • ‘Insufficient brand information hinders research analysis for Top 50 Brands Nigeria’

    The dearth of sufficient brand information in Nigeria has been described as major limitation to driving quality research exercise.

    The Chief Executive Officer, The Top 50 Brands Nigeria, Mr. Taiwo Oluboyede, said this in Lagos at the 2015 Top 50 brands event where 50 top brands were unveiled.

    He said it was a daunting task  arriving at the top 50 brands in Nigeria as unavailability of sufficient information on brands remain an albatross.

    Oluboyede said: “A major limitation to our processes is unavailability of sufficient information, particularly, for the quantitative review of the brands; hence we rely on the public perception from consumers in arriving at the top 50.”

    He said the aim of the exercise is to have a combination of both qualitative and quantitative. “We are working with several other organisations to achieve this and hopefully we will be able to have the top 50 brands listed in terms of asset base and consumer perception in the very near future.”

    He, however, noted that the top 50 brands 2015 were selected through certain variables such as brand Identity and retention, market acceptability, corporate social responsibilities, customer service delivery, visionary and innovation and popularity evaluation.

    The 50 top brands selected this year are brands that have weathered the storms over the years, and setting the pace in their various industries.

    Apart from the usual top 50 brands, Oluboyede said this year exercise also includes 10 brands to Watch whose selection was based on brands with positive and promising outlook, possibilities of being reviewed for the 50 top brands class soonest.

    He said though they aren’t among the top 50 yet, nevertheless, they are brands with compelling presence and significant brand building activities. “We hope this exciting block will be joining the top 50 league table very shortly,” he affirmed.

    The top 10 brands to watch include Heritage Bank, Huawei, SABMiller, Daraju Industries, Startimes, Jumia, Konga, CWG, Tecno and Waka Now.

    The Top 50 Brand CEO stated that the categorisation and attempt to value brands operational in Nigeria has become very important, particularly now that the Nigerian market is becoming a centre of attention in terms of investment globally.

    “We have a fast growing economy with budding middle class, it is important therefore to identify and categorise these major brands. We are also helping the brands and their investors to have an idea of the worth of their brand from consumer’s perspective. We are creating an information platform where we readily provide information on these major brands.”

    A major highlight at this year event is that the 26 of the 50 top brands for 2015 are Nigeria home grown, 52per cent while multinational are 48 per cent. “This is a positive improvement over the previous exercise. While this is not our target; it is good to note that Nigeria based brands are giving good account of themselves.” Oluboyede said.

    Detailed breakdown also showed that the financial sector has 24 per cent of the top 50 brands, followed by food and beverages with 18 per cent.

  • Propagate true information, says Osun APC

    Propagate true information, says Osun APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has appealed to professionals and educators to purposefully promote and disseminate truthful and enlightening information.

    The party advised the media to always seek truth and propagate facts that would not mislead the public.

    The party’s Director of Publicity, Kunle Oyatomi, was reacting to an article by Prof Niyi Akinnaso.

    Oyatomi said: “The publication is perhaps the most graphic, truthful, factual, educative and enlightening piece that has been done by any commentator, critique, reporter or investigative journalist on the financial crisis in Osun.

    “It is a model of dispassionate and carefully investigated story told by a person who fully understands what truthful and factual information is all about – to educate an ignorant or misinformed public.

    “It is regrettable that in the Nigerian market place of ideas, so much falsehood about Osun has been propagated and assimilated by the gullible and impressionable consumers that the facts contained in Prof. Akinnaso’s piece will be a bitter pill for them to swallow.

    “‘Facts garnered from the article are that the economic crisis in Osun was as a result of a reckless, profligate and kleptomanic Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Abuja that collapsed the country’s economy.

    “That in reality, it was a masterpiece of socio-economic engineering that Aregbesola could still undertake the level of development he achieved before the crash, despite the fact that every kobo earned by the state was used for recurrent expenditure from 2012 to 2014, incurring a deficit of N2 billion.

    “The level of ignorance about the Osun situation is so widespread that it becomes a sad commentary on the status of education in the country vis-a-vis the quality of information available.

    “People are as educated as the quality of information available for their consumption.  Those who are in that business have a huge responsibility to educate our people correctly.”

    The party, therefore, advised that any unbiased person or believer in truth who wants to know the facts about the Osun situation should read Prof Akinnaso’s article.

    “No fake summit of unenlightened stakeholders can match the details in that piece”, the party said.a

  • Kogi offers N5m for information on kidnappers

    Kogi offers N5m for information on kidnappers

    Kogi State Governor Idris Wada yesterday announced a reward of N5million for any person with useful information that could lead to the arrest of kidnappers.

    The governor, who was addressing officers and men of the police at the command headquarters in Lokoja, said the action was taken to tackle kidnapping.

    Wada, who hailed Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase for the deployment of 350 policemen in the state and the provision of 31 Hilux vans to assist the command in the fight against criminals, announced the donation of five Hilux vans by the state government to the police.

    He said the government had released N2.4million as compensation to the families of the 12 police officers, who died in service.

    Each family is to receive N200,000.

    The governor said the government would assist the police to renovate the A Division Police Barracks in Lokoja, adding that it would allocate land to the command to build a secretariat, a police nursery/primary school and a police housing scheme.

    Waku, who hailed the renovation at the command headquarters embarked on by Police Commissioner Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, promised to provide a conducive environment that would enhance quality and effective policing.

    The police boss appreciated the logistic support the command had enjoyed under Wada’s administration, assuring that it would not relent in its efforts to rid the state of crime.

     

  • The New Information Highway

    Nigeria’s 2015 general elections have come and gone. We are now confronted with the ripple effects or the smoldering aftermaths of the titanic battles. While the winners are jubilating and celebrating by popping champagnee all over the place, the losers are licking their wounds. One thing that will, for long, remain indelible in the minds of everybody is the unprecedented level of attention given to the elections in the social media by emergency reporters. It was a novel experience in many ways.

    In Nigeria’s federal system, the federal government at the center holds sway over the state governments. As such, the ‘big vote’ in every election is the one for the top job in Abuja. This is true for other federal systems elsewhere around the world, but maybe more so in Nigeria. Not surprisingly, the election for the top seat generated wide interest, especially from the young generation and other Nigerians far and wide, gripping the whole world that watched on to see if the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), could be unseated at the centre. The outcome of the presidential election held on March 28, could not have been better for the neutrals and the teeming hoard of enthusiasts on social media around the world.

    On April 11, it was time for the gubernatorial elections and elections into the State Houses of Assembly. It proved to be a more ‘local’ affair (as it indeed is), with waned interest noticeable even at the polling units. On social media, where the presidential election was keenly followed step by step from the wee hours on election day, through the arduous process of collation in Abuja (including the ‘Orubebe interlude’), until final results were declared, the gubernatorial elections drew significantly less attention. The ‘online situation room’ was still operational, albeit with less force.

    The posts on the different online platforms told pretty much the same story as was the case in the presidential election. One could discern a pattern consistent with the narrative in the presidential election. The Rivers State election again was a hot topic, with sporadic violence reported by residents beginning from the day before the election, quite unsurprisingly because of the precedence set on March 28. Lives were, again, lost in Rivers State, with gory pictures of victims spread across facebook and twitter.

    The INEC twitter account was active, voters posted events from their polling units which showed thinner crowds but much of the same allegations. The INEC account dispelled claim after claim of malpractices and fake ballot papers reported in different states. One report that INEC account answered directly to was that of armed naval officers in Ikorodu LGA in Lagos distorting elections, stating that the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commission would “resolve” it. Fresh pictures of under-age voters around the north again emerged, with a good picture reportedly from Jos North Local government and another from Kofar Fada polling unit in Keffi, Nassarawa State, making the most sensation on social media. INEC did not confirm the authenticity of these pictures; neither were they denied as many reports coming out of different states were denied.

    A particularly popular post that went viral during the gubernatorial elections was a video of the son of Musiliu Obanikoro. The junior Obanikoro, who was a candidate for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, allegedly involved in a fracas of sorts at a polling unit in Lagos. While some reported that he was confronted while dolling out cash at the polling unit, others suggested he was arrested for bribing voters at the polling unit. The video showed him engaged in heated argument with several people, including a woman who appeared enraged for unclear reasons, shoving the state house of assembly candidate at one point. The presence of policemen at the scene explained the reports of his arrest, but he is seen entering his vehicle at the end.

    Even with the low turnout and the absence of many of the international observers who were themselves posting updates on social media during the presidential election, it is clear that elections in Nigeria have taken a new turn. The unprecedented use of social media in these elections is a welcome development. It succeeded in making the last minute scramble at polling units by political party affiliates a reduced feature in the elections. For whatever reason, Obanikoro Junior was engaged in that scene captured on video, future candidates will be wary of making costly mistakes at polling units going forward, if for nothing else, but to avoid embarrassment or undue insinuations and rumours. At last, Nigerians are catching up to the true power of their resolve and determination; using the tools they have control over.

    It is now time to extend the practice to all aspects of national life. All agencies of government should establish an online presence on social media for easy access, not just outdated websites that are never maintained. In more civilized countries, the police respond to threats posted on social media and multinational corporations make big announcements first on social media. There is one glaring example of the part it played in the Arab spring – governments have been toppled via social media. The sooner Nigerians realise that power to force the hand of our historically unresponsive government and its agencies, the better it will be for the general well-being and development of the country.

    If “my oga at the top” can go viral, and elections can be monitored from polling units to collation centres through eye witness pictures and videos, then people can attend public tenders, follow government projects in their communities, phase by phase, and make reports with pictures or video evidence. The change does not have to end with All Progressives Congress (APC), taking over from the PDP at the centre, it should also extend to the citizenry being more involved and informed using the resources at their disposal. One man cannot guarantee change, but with everyone on board, real change can be realised.

    Anyone who has been following the rising cases of police brutality against black people in the United States of America, will know what role video evidence caught on smart devices has played in getting people’s attention. It has put recalcitrant policemen on their toes, because new videos emerge every day.

    But then, political apathy in Nigeria is still very much a problem. The presidential election roused a good number of the citizenry, due largely to the fact that indications were clear that it will be a close race and the debate was steered by prevailing issues like insecurity among others. Still, after all the barroom talk and public debates, the turnout was less than ideal. The states with the highest numbers, like Lagos, Rivers and Kano, only had a fraction of their official population registered as voters and a fraction of those registered actually voted. The gubernatorial elections saw that number dip. However, to be fair to the people, there are probably more than a few reasons to stay safe in one’s home during elections in Nigeria. People on social media in Rivers State reported monitoring elections “safely in the house”, which is sound logic.

    This is why Nigerians have to work together to make the state apparatus work for the citizens and show interest in government processes. The political parties may have their agenda, but the people’s agenda should remain the same to make the officials work to get tangible results that will speak for themselves in the next elections. News travels faster than ever before, through easier channels and with greater reach.  It is time Nigerians exploit this great avenue to create the change we crave.