The Nation Newspaper

Tag: integrity

  • A guest of integrity

    Guests, everywhere in the world, are of different types. Some are of honour and treated with integrity because of their acknowledged robe of dignity. Some are bereft of honour but merely tolerated for their nuisance value. Each time we talk of guests, people invariably think only of humans in the erroneous belief that no other creature could be qualified for that title. What such people don’t seem to know is that humans are just a fraction of Allah’s creatures. There are millions of other creatures not often noticed by man. One of such creatures is the environment of which season is a part.

    Phenomenal Creature

    The phenomenal creature called season comes in different forms with different intensity and at different times of the year.

    Seasons are like the tides of an ocean. They roll out spirally in quick succession and reshape the world’s environment from time to time as they come in multiples of months. No one measures a season in the absence of months as there can be no seasons without months.

    Seasonal Visitor

    In a few days’ time, a unique guest will arrive in the world with the grandeur of integrity. Its arrival will be the divine catalyst with which the long awaited human respite for the currently prevailing global machinations will be ushered in.

    Europeans have so much respect for seasons that whenever they have an important guest they call him an ‘August visitor’. The month of August is the peak of summer season and the most comfortable month of hospitality for the Caucasian race of Europe hence the term.

    In Islam, the most venerable guest is the month of Ramadan. Its visiting time is not restricted to any particular season. Its arrival in the world may coincide with that of any season. That sacred month is therefore the guest of all seasons.

    With Ramadan as a guest, not only the Muslims but the entire humanity is consciously or unconsciously engaged in hospitable activities.

    Those who cannot fast in it do take advantage of its presence to sell or buy some relevant needs and wants. Thus, there can be no indifference to the awful presence of Ramadan in any part of the world.

    I recall the vivid description given this sacred month in ‘THE MESSAGE’   column some time ago which is still as relevant now as it was then. It went thus:

    “Once every year, something creeps into the world like the early morning light. It moves kaleidoscopically into an arena where the centre becomes its stool. It lifts its veil and beams a special focus on the world with an arresting attention in the days. It envelops the nights in a shroud of covenant linking the dream of man with its fulfillment”.

    Its journey

    “No one except Allah knows Ramadan’s port of embarkation. No human being knows its destination. All we know of it is that of a guest that is so vividly present in our world and yet so physically invisible.

    RAMADAN is the name by which it is divinely christened. Its coming is often heralded by a retinue of envoys. The months of ‘Rajab’ and ‘Sha’ban’ are the immediate escorts that alert mankind of its imminent arrival. Like the sun in the midst of stars, Ramadan ascends the throne in full regalia and all other months, (lunar and solar) quickly take their bow.

    Call it the king where other months are chiefs and you will be dead right. Call it the doctor in a world of sick people and you will not be wrong. Call it the compass in the wilderness of straying humanity and you would have spoken the truth. Call it the reformer of human soul; the sterilizer of human spirit as well as the purifier of human body and you will not be disputed. In its entourage are equally invisible ministers such as piety, knowledge, truth, justice and peace, all of which usher it into the world with splendor”.

     

    Connotation of Its Name

    Deriving its name from a natural healing phenomenon, this ninth lunar month called Ramadan is truly baking in effect.

    The word:  Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word ramd (meaning baking). The name had been in existence before the advent of Islamic calendar. It was coined from a baking summer that immediately followed a freezing winter. Ever since, Ramadan’s mission has been to firm up all loose ends in the life of man. And it does that with a touch of perfection”.

     

    Its mission

    In Ramadan, the entire month of 30 or 29 days is spent by Muslim believers in fasting from dawn to dusk. Such fasting is not about abstinence from foods and drinks alone. It is also about self-restraint from all sinful acts and self-equipment with a reign of impeccable discipline.  More importantly, it is about repackaging of one’s destiny through a new but sincere resolution.

    Fasting during this sacred month is believed to figuratively burn away all sins. It was in this glorious month that the revelation of the divinely reformative Book of guidance called the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) first began.

    In the sacred month of Ramadan, all gates of paradise, according to the Prophet, are open while those of hell are closed. The first ten days in it are blessings galore for those of the Muslim Ummah who need blessings and seek for them. The next ten days personify forgiveness for those who realize the gravity of their sinful acts, repent on them and resolve never to return to such acts again. Thus, Ramadan is far, far beyond a month. It is really a season that serves as a template for other seasons.

    Its anchor leg

    The last ten days in that sacred month are like a spiritual inoculation meant to liberate genuinely faithful Muslims from any satanic ailment that can lead to doom.  Whoever is liberated with that inoculation automatically becomes like a new born baby arriving in a new world with a ‘tabula rasa’ (clean slate).

    The Night of Power

    It is in these last ten days of Ramadan that a particular night called Laylatul Qadr in which the secret of human destiny is encapsulated.

    The night is otherwise known as the ‘Night of power’. Meeting that night consciously and spiritually is like securing the key to one’s own apartment in Paradise. The proviso, however, is that one needs to remain awake throughout those nights to be fortunate to meet the D night.

    Allah did not disclose even to Prophet Muhammad (SAW), which particular night of the sacred month of Ramadan is called Laylatul Qadr. But by asking the Muslims to look for it in the odd nights of the last ten days, the Prophet has helped the rightly guided Muslim Ummah tremendously. However, who can be so sure of the odd nights when the issue of sighting the crescent before starting Ramadan often remains controversial?

    Also, during the last ten days of Ramadan, some willing Muslims, in accordance with the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), do go for Umrah in Makkah or take to I’tikaf (spiritual seclusion) locally, to reaffirm their total submission to Allah. Following this is a session of charity made compulsory for all Muslims irrespective of age, gender and status, to give to the poor and the needy. This is called Zakatul Fitr or Sadaqatul Fitr. It is given in the very early morning of Ramadan Festival Day or the night before it to enable the poor and the needy celebrate the festival with the Ummah in a festive mood.

    Anti-climax

    The first day of the month of Shawwal immediately after Ramadan which is traditionally spent in great celebrations with rejoice and observed as ‘Fast-Breaking Festival’ (Eidul Fitr) by Muslims is the anti-climax of Ramadan month.

    Where else can one find a guest like Ramadan? Where else can one meet a guest that hosts his supposed hosts and heals mankind of ignorance and physical diseases? It was probably more to Ramadan than to man that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) referred when he said: “whoever believes in Allah and the ‘Last Day’ should venerate his guest” That guest is Ramadan. That is why Muslims often say in this unique month: ‘RAMADAN KARIM’ which means ‘Venerable Ramadan’.

    Preparation

    To start or end fasting in Ramadan, sighting of the crescent is just symbolic. The indices of recognizing when to start or end the month are naturally vivid to those who care.

    Ramadan is not preceded by two glorious lunar months of Rajab and Sha’ban for fun. The number of days in those two months is to enable any serious Muslim know the time of the arrival of Ramadan and prepare for it. No lunar month exceeds 30 days and none is less than 29 days.

    Crescent or no crescent, it is very possible and easy to know when to start Ramadan every year without waiting to be prompted. The confusion often created by the sighting of the crescent is therefore avoidable.

    If Rajab is 30 or 29 days, no one looks for the crescent before starting Sha’ban. As soon as Rajab ends, Sha’ban starts with little or no controversy at all.

    Dynamism

    Islam is a dynamic religion and nothing should be rigid about the sighting of the crescent before starting Ramadan. Sighting the crescent is not the only condition for commencing fasting in the great month. After all, the new crescent is not necessarily visible to all eyes at any given time in any locality. That is why a few Muslims who may be privileged to sight it are implored to invite some others to witness it and then inform the recognized authorities who will in turn, announce the arrival of Ramadan to the Muslim community in the locality or region.

    Besides Faith (Iman) and Hajj (which are the first and last pillars of Islam), nothing else in the sacred religion is really globally uniform in practical terms with regards to timing. The variation in the geography of the earth has legitimized the variation of time in the observance of Salat, Sawm and Zakat. The over 1.7 billion Muslims in the world today cannot commence Ramadan fasting on the same day or the same hour. Iman is global because it resides permanently in the hearts of the believers irrespective of their localities. Hajj is equally global because it is performed in only one place at a particular time.

    Geographical factor

    Where a gap of about nine to eleven hours exists between one part of the world and another, talking of global uniformity in starting or ending Ramadan can only border on sheer ignorance. For instance it is impossible for the Australian Muslims living in Australia and their South American brethren residing in Brazil or Argentina to start Ramadan on the same day. Even within Nigeria, all Muslims can start Ramadan on the same day, only if they have equal access to information. And even with that, it is not possible for them all to start or end daily fasting at the same time of the day. That is why the announcement or publication of Ramadan timing according to the various localities is necessary.

    Universality of Ramadan

    That Ramadan fasting is prescribed as a universal obligation for all Muslims in a particular month is deliberate. Allah who did the prescription is not oblivious of the geographical variations in the world. Neither is He unaware of the possible invisibility of a new crescent to most eyes. The design is to allow for the reverberation of the effect of Ramadan across the world. And time variation in observance of Salat or celebration of festivals is not peculiar to Islam. Even in Christianity, neither Easter nor Christmas is globally celebrated in one day. And, there is no media noise about it.

    What is global about Ramadan fasting is the month and not the time.

    Dawn and dusk vary from locality to locality. It is therefore possible for the Muslims in one part of the world to be breaking their daily fast at a time when their brethren in another part of the world are commencing theirs. Thus, the genuineness or otherwise of Ramadan fasting is not to be judged by man. That is why Allah is reported by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as saying in a sacred Hadith (Hadith-ul-Qudsi) that: “Fasting is Mine and I am the One to grant rewards on it.”

    Welcome to the coast of Ramadan. This sacred ‘ship’ must not leave the coast without you on board. Ramadan is like an institution of learning. A good Muslim must not just pass through it he must also allow it to pass through him. Who knows when the last time to witness the month will be?

    RAMADAN KARIM!

  • Buhari’s victory a vote for honesty, integrity

    One of Nigeria’s most successful musicians, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, waxed a record over 20 years ago, part of which was dedicated to the honest traits in Niyi, the son of an unsung hero of democracy in the First Republic, Alhaji Dauda Soroye Adegbenro, and a faithful and incorruptible ally of foremost nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    In it, Obey crooned: “Otito lo ma leke iro; Adegbenro mi o, ma ma y’iwa pada o …”, meaning Niyi Adegbenro, now a high chief of Owu in Abeokuta and Egbaland, should persist in doing good and being honest about it, admonishing the easy-going socialite that if truth and falsehood grapple, truth can never be worsted in such an encounter.

    I recall that song-line in celebrating with President Muhammad Buhari on his deserved re-election, which, as I have always insisted and authoritative New York Times also agreed in its editorial opinion was a referendum on honesty.

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, I must admit, is well connected and must have spread his goodwill among his array of friends and business associates. I’m also told he helped his boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, scout for some people who held top and visible positions in the Obasanjo-Atiku government for eight years from 1999.

    I’m correctly informed that he recommended Nuhu Ribadu and El-Rufai to then President Obasanjo for appointment as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and director-general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises respectively. But it would be interesting to hear from Ribadu and El-Rufai why they abandoned Atiku and pitched their tents first with Obasanjo and now with Buhari.

    Buhari may not be sound in economics as self-appointed assessor Obasanjo once spitefully dismissed him, but he admitted to his unimpeachable integrity, the major asset he has flaunted and with which he has been able to attract retired Col Sani into the Nigeria Customs Service and the late Dr Bala Usman’s daughter, Hadiza, who heads the Nigerian Ports Authority and top class internal revenue generator, Tunde Fowler, to his government to help drive economic recovery and development in the country.

    Now, is it true Atiku’s main grouse with the Buhari Administration has to do with the insistence of the NPA on his company (INTEL) to remit fully into the coffers of the government all monies collected or due on its behalf?

    Honesty and integrity are the logos of credibility Buhari parades, which others who contested against him could not beat in the eyes and minds of the Nigerian electorate.

    Now, to the next level. Honour and integrity will henceforth be the yardstick for the attainment of high office in the land.

  • ‘Nigerians voted for integrity, honesty’

    Senator Andrew Uchendu (Rivers East) and the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chris Amadi, have said most Nigerians voted for President Muhammadu Buhari because of his integrity and honesty.

    Uchendu and Amadi spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt.

    The senator, through his media aide, Solomon Okocha, congratulated President Buhari on his victory. According to him, the President’s decision to prioritise the neglected rural majority was a solid foundation for the growth and development of the country.

    He said: “Mr. President, your victory is a testament to the fact that majority of Nigerians acknowledge and appreciate the solid foundation which you have laid for the growth and development of our country.

    “The foundation will generate reasonable levels of opportunities to pull many away from poverty, and give us a more purposeful and prosperous country.”

    Amadi, through his media aide, Priestley Nna, said President Buhari’s victory was predictable because of his development strides in all sectors.

    He said: “Though the presidential election was keenly contested, the will of the masses prevailed. President Buhari’s victory is a true reflection of the will of ordinary Nigerians who deserve a government that is not given to elitism. This victory is symbolic, and shows that Nigerians appreciate the President’s efforts and commitment towards permanently taking Nigeria out of corruption, poverty, insecurity and underdevelopment.

    “Most Nigerians decided to re-elect President Buhari so that he can continue his good work. Expectedly, the President will now consolidate on his administration’s achievements and move the country to the next level.”

  • Fighting corruption, greed with integrity

    SIR: The rules of accountability, transparency and integrity should be kept. Corruption is satanic and should be seen as the enemy of our oneness. Those with insatiable appetite for greed and selfishness should change their attitude. It is imperative to teach ethics at all levels of our educational system to avoid socio-economic disaster.

    Life continues in bits, in strings of a chord; life is musical, life is a stage. The drama continues so long, so long. The purity in life is the undaunted conscience it owns. Climatic, anticlimactic, there are possibilities in life. Puritans versus plunderers, always. The hardliners of the struggle, even in the book of accounts, ubiquitous, ubiquitous! Mature moment to render mortal, misogynistic and even misanthropic cynicisms of the duo!

    Corruption is conscience-void. Corruption cedes wealth cryptically from the hoi polloi to the affluent. Corruption is satanic. With crooked heart, corruption is master artist for mischief and thieving!

    Even as minister or commissioner, thou have misappropriated funds by mischievous diversions that at end leave the treasury virtually empty. Among others, the government meets the problems associated with climate change such as increased desertification, consequential decrease in arable land, gully erosions in cities and village (a pandemic occurrence) and a preponderance of youth unemployment. Preventive and salvation efforts are needed to avoid socio-economic disaster. An empty treasury is nothing the government can bank upon. Attempts to make you return your illegal enrichments thou have bluffed even through extra-ordinary measures.

    Thou have even gone further to pervert justice by negatively influencing the judiciary (giving gratifications to judges and other court officials) so that justice does not serve. In our closets and wardrobes, thou are termites; and in the valley and on the mountain, thou are fire under our feet. Thou have insatiable appetite for greed and selfishness. Thou have bled the land almost to a comma! Stop drumming for war! Avoid provoking the righteous indignation of the masses! Thy antics and tactics could backfire! All ill-gotten wealth must be returned to the land to appease humanity. Promoting disaffection and dismemberment of the nation energized with chest beating and drums of war are an abomination, selfish, diversionary and skin-saving. Whether at private level or public corruption is enemy of our oneness. Music of peace and love we desire! Remorse and refrain are a path back to humanity via purity.

    In order to make humanity centric in our private, personal and public lives, the teaching of Ethics at all levels of our educational system becomes imperative.

    In all, whatever we do or say, humanity matters most. Anything that gravitates away from this focus is a waste.

     

    • Dr. Oyedokun Agbeja, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

  • My integrity big challenge to the PDP, says Oshiomhole

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole said yesterday that recent attacks on his person were aimed at undermining his integrity.

    He said his integrity was a major challenge to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Oshiomhole spoke while inaugurating six committee to work as National Peace and Reconciliation Committee to reconcile the party’s aggrieved members across the six geopolitical zones.

    The party’s national chairman said the only integrity the PDP were bringing on board was the integrity of sharing the nation’s resources.

    Three governors, who are having a running battle with Oshiomhole -Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) – are the only governors, who are not in any of the committees.

    The APC Chairman, who said he had been a victim of people’s anger as a result of the outcome of the party’s primaries, added that it was not surprising to see the number of aggrieved persons who felt that the outcome of the primaries should have favoured them.

    He said: “I have had my own fair share of people, who, out of anger, chose to target me as a person. Unfortunately, it coincide with what the opposition PDP have always wanted because bringing on board my past reputation is a challenge to the PDP that has no reputation. If they had any, it is a reputation of share the money and these are no longer in the realm of speculations because it has been subject of several litigations across the country.”

    Oshiomhole explained that the party has a responsibility to placate its members, who are aggrieved.

    He stressed that party had so much challenge as a result of the growing confidence of the Nigerian people in it.

    The APC Chairman said: “We want you to help us find in-house solution with a view to finding peace and ensuring internal unity and harmony within the APC family. We have gone through a very crucial stage in the processes leading to the next presidential election, National Assembly, governorship and state houses of assembly elections.

    “From my own records, of the 36 states and the FCT, I believe that we have done extremely well. It is almost impossible for even the most gifted child to score 100 per cent in every subject. The more questions you have to answer, the more the chances of missing some of them.

    “Four years ago, around this time, we were in opposition and therefore, the value of our ticket was certainly not near where they are today. More and more women and men of conviction now subscribes to contesting election on our platform.

    “The house (party) is bigger than it was four years ago because those who initially had reservations have since realised that the president meant business and the APC was delivering on the promises that we made.”

    On behalf of other members of the committee, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, who heads the Southwest committee, assured the party leadership that the committee would work hard to reconcile members and work as a united family to ensure victory for the party in the general election.

    Shettima said: “Contestation for power is not a tea party affair, it is common with human nature but the maturity with which these issues were handled depends on the quality of leadership in our system. We have to commend the leadership of the party.

    “We have governors in 23 states and like I said, contest is a normal phenomenon in human life. I want assure the leadership and members of the party that we shall try our best to see that we reconciled our aggrieved members.”

  • ‘Make integrity your watchword’

    Lagos Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has absorbed 75 support staff ‘into the judiciary following their training as lawyers.

    She has appointed them as court registrars.

    At a workshop for them  at Peace Hall, Lagos Multi-door Court House, Igbosere, yesterday, she urged them to be fair and do their job with the fear of God.

    Justice Oke enjoined them to stand for what is right at all times and let integrity be their watchword.

    The chief judge said the difference now, as lawyers must be seen leading registrars in each court.

    Her administration, she said, was working to improve justice delivery by infusing into the system, professionalism, relevant skills, qualification and competence in courts.

    Justice Oke admonished the registrars to be efficient.

    She said: “Inefficiency on your part will constitute a clog in the wheels of justice. Judges and magistrates cannot perform their duties of hearing and determining cases without an efficient and functional support staff base, of which you are a major part. Your role is both administrative and legal.”

    Justice Oke said the registrars’ contribution to the smooth running of the court could not be underplayed, urging them to be diligent.

    She said their appointment could be the stepping stone to greater height.

    The training, she said, was to educate them on their role, open them up to what was expected of them in some areas and refresh their memory about what they already knew.

  • Senators defend eighth Senate’s integrity

    Two Senators yesterday defended the integrity of the eighth Senate against the barrage of criticisms from Nigerians.

    Senators Isah Misau (Bauchi Central) and Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South) in a statement also decried what they described as making Senate President Bukla Saraki the issue by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement, the senators who defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), queried whether the APC was “being fair to Nigeria by allegedly focusing on one individual and making him the subject of all discussions.”

    “We abide by the principle of collective responsibility. This Eighth Senate under Saraki has done well. It has set a standard that the legislature should not be an appendage of the executive. It is an independent arm of government. Both arms need to extend the hands of fellowship to each other and the duty to work for co-operation does not lie on just one of them.”

    They added: “We are surprised that all the decisions that the Senate took as an institution is now blamed on Saraki. Are we also going to give the credit of all the achievements of the Senate to Saraki as well?

    “The laws that have been signed by the  President and which led to the World Bank improving the rating of Nigeria in the Ease of Doing Business Report, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bills which broke the jinx of over 14 years on the law, the progressive constitution amendment bills, the five anti-corruption laws, and many others, as well as the fact that the 8th Senate has done better than the previous ones in terms of number of bills passed, the petitions successfully treated and the various interventions: will all these be credited to Saraki  and not the entire Senate?”

    ”We will however warn the APC that they will meet a match in those of us in PDP if they try to foment trouble in the Senate whenever we resume.

    “They have made many attempts to subvert this Senate, including stealing of our mace, brutalizing of members of staff of the Senate, invasion of the Senate complex with hooded and masked security agents, refusal to sign important bills, using security agents and anti-corruption agencies to intimidate members and the leadership as well as initiating malicious prosecution against members.”

  • Committee advises auditors, accountants on integrity, professionalism

    Chairman, Audit Committee Institute, Nigeria, Christian Ekeigwe has urged auditors and accountants  to carry out their jobs with integrity and professionalism in the interest of the economy.

    He spoke yesterday during a two-day Audit Committee Conference held in Lagos, with the theme: Cultivating the Conscience of Stewards and Gatekeepers: Key to Responsible Governance and Control.

    According to him, the theme of the event was borne out of the realisation that financial crime by accountants appear to be on the rise despite various seminars on it, hence the need to go back to the basics of humanity in curbing it.

    Ekeigwe said conscience can impact on financial reporting if the auditors decide to let it impose on them the obligation to do what is right and override their desire in the face of temptation of enrichment.

    On whether he believes that auditors can ascribe to their conscience while preparing their accounts, he said giving people hope to believe in themselves will trigger a change of heart to do what is right into developing the country.

    Also speaking, President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Razak Jaiyeola, who was the guest speaker, said accountants have to be more responsive to how the finance of their organisations are being used and be ready to blow the whistle on anomalies noticed.

    Jaiyeola said the high level of corruption in the Nigerian polity has raised several integrity questions on accountants, especially the auditors and with the country ranking 148th out of 180 nations in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) issued by Transparency International in 2017, it is natural to ask what the role of auditors have been in taming this alarming rate of corruption in the system.

    He said: “With the number of well-trained and technically-competent auditors we parade as a nation, then one is tempted to opine that what it takes to be a good auditor goes beyond technical skills”.

    He said while different theories have been propounded and programmes developed across economies to entrench good governance, the human conscience will still play prominent roles in the success of such efforts, adding that once ethics and morality are removed from any government policies or programmes, what is left is just mere texts on white papers.

    “The absence of trust makes governance and control costly due to unnecessary processes, documentation, verifications, meetings and duplicated activities  with a lot of motions striking the air but producing very little.  To build a high trust society in which empowered people bring their best to work requires cultivation of conscience, a natural instrument of control that is at work with us even when we sleep”, he asserted.

  • New stockbrokers’ chief harps on trust, integrity

    The new President of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr Adedapo Adekoje, has urged stockbrokers to ensure utmost trust and integrity in their operations to sustain investors’ confidence in the capital market.

    Speaking during a commemorative visit to the trading floor at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Adekoje urged stockbrokers to ensure a high level of ethical standard because capital market thrives on investors’ trust.

    According to him, the institute expects stockbrokers to exhibit the highest level of ethical behavior and standards of professional conduct in their day-to-day dealings within themselves and the public at large.

    Ahead of his investiture on Thursday, July 26, at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, Adekoje also called on stockbrokers to continue to support the institute.

    “Our institute is in the process of transition. The onus is on us to urgently re-position our institute and our profession for emerging challenges and opportunities. To achieve this , we must tap into the vast knowledge, expertise and experience of our members. I charge you to continue to support your institute with everything you have; and in turn I can assure you that you will derive a lot of benefits ultimately,” Adekoje said.

    He assured that with support of members, the new leadership will expand the scope of opportunities of stockbrokers in the next 12 months so that the profession can take its rightful place in the financial market and the Nigerian economy.

    NSE Head, Shared Services Division, Mr Bola Adeeko commended the institute for its outstanding performances since existence, describing it as a partner in progress with the Exchange.

    He advised the institute to join hands with the Exchange to actualise the demutualisation programme of the Exchange successfully.

    Doyen of the day, Mr Sam Ndata congratulated members of the new administration of the institute on their election and urged the principal officers to work with stockbrokers for enhanced development of the profession.

    Ndata also commended the previous administration for its achievements and promised that stockbrokers would continue to support the institute.

    He however advised the new administration to ensure regular dialogue with the stockbrokers as a strategic move to ensure their support for market development.

     

  • Integrity, honesty and the fear of jail

    DURING his interaction with a delegation of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria some two weeks ago in Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari, spoke endearingly about the exculpatory virtues of honesty and integrity. Since he possessed both virtues, he said softly, he could not be discomfited by fear of retribution, not to talk of being jailed. In a statement issued by one of his spokesmen, Garab Shehu, after the delegation left, the president was quoted to have said: “I am satisfied with what I am. I am happy I have kept myself and people close to me from benefiting from government’s contracts. I have been in many places, including Ministry of Petroleum. I would have gone to jail, if I had taken an oil well. For integrity and honesty, I have no regrets. By this, I have contributed to my social safety. I won’t go to jail. I have appointed ministers and they are in charge. I appeal to their integrity. When they come here (Federal Executive Council) Chambers, we ensure they follow the due process. If I owned an oil well, I would have gone to jail.”

    The president obviously mistakes the scaffolding for the building. He left office as military head of state in 1985; if he had shown interest in oil and gas business after leaving office, would it be wrong to bid for an oil well? Those who did — and not all past heads of state bade for oil wells anyway — did that automatically make them corrupt? Is there anything in the law books, not to talk of any human moral code, that excluded and still excludes former rulers from certain businesses in the country and even outside? Even though this supposition is far-fetched, perhaps President Buhari merely used the oil business as an example of the moral quicksand sitting and former presidents are liable to be entrapped in. But what tells him that a former president could not be jailed as a result of doing other businesses outside oil and gas? Clearly, there is a problem with President Buhari’s moral universe. It is apparently too labyrinthine for him to properly navigate his way around it, both as a sitting and former president.

    Despite his attempt to present himself as squeaky clean, President Buhari also probably overlooks one equally dangerous obstacle to the quiet and peaceful retirement of former rulers — the issue of vicarious responsibility. It is not only when a leader is found guilty of stealing or embezzlement that he is sent to jail. He can equally be jailed for gross dereliction of duty or criminal negligence. Governor Nasir el-Rufai presented this dilemma to a lenient Senate years ago when the parliament probed land allocations by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under his leadership. Shown evidence that toddlers got allocations when he was FCT minister, and asked to justify the practice, the hitherto sprightly minister, as he then was, growled that he could not be held responsible for the misdeeds of his subordinates. The legislators were aghast; but shockingly and inexplicably, they let the then minister’s defiance pass without any noteworthy censure. Mrs Rousseff, a former Brazilian president, was not so lucky for being a board member in Petrobras, Brazil’s oil giant, between 2003 and 2010 when a corruption scandal broke. She was impeached as president when the story came to light in 2015.

    President Buhari has made a song and dance about his honesty and integrity. But there is nothing to indicate that had a forensic audit of some of the agencies he supervised been done, he would not be vicariously held responsible for some of the misdeeds of his subordinates. He may of course avoid jail, but it will probably be due more to the culture of sitting presidents refusing stoutly to call their predecessors to account. Had that omerta not become a culture among the camorra of former Nigerian presidents, it is doubtful whether any of them could avoid jail. After all, it should amaze them that other than the late dictator, Sani Abacha, who died at 55, perhaps due to unnatural causes, all Nigerian former leaders have lived beyond 70 in a country where the life expectancy is about 54.

    More importantly, it is truly baffling that President Buhari seems to insinuate that honesty and integrity are the most invaluable possessions of a leader. No, they are not. It is assumed that before offering oneself for election, a leader must possess those virtues, just as any Nigerian employed in any company or government establishment. Honesty and integrity should be taken for granted, not to be celebrated as rarities. A Nigerian leader or president must have an expansive vision of society, embrace inclusive politics, possess a clear philosophy of leadership and humanity, project a far greater sense of justice than even law officers, and demonstrate religious neutrality in a sea of sectarian intolerance and rage. President Buhari should more appropriately and fittingly judge himself against these other yardsticks and virtues, and celebrate them if he has them. He would reassure his long-suffering countrymen should he esteem these other transcendental leadership qualities far higher than the honesty and integrity the society must take for granted in their artisans, airport workers and taxi drivers.