The Nation Newspaper

Tag: leaders’

  • NGOs educate Delta community leaders, others on budgeting process

    A non-governmental organisation, The Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment (LITE-Africa) and its partner, National Endowment for Democracy (NED) U.S.A, have held a one-day stakeholders meeting in Asaba-the Delta State capital.

    The conference as part of LITE-Africa’s Strengthening Citizens’ Voice for Change (SCV4C) project was for state policy makers, local government officials, civil society organizations, community leaders and the media on strengthening citizen’s participation in the Delta State budget.

    The meeting drew over 30 leaders from government, legislators, State Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning, local government and civil society groups and the media.

    It aims at bringing Delta State’s legislators and citizens together to understand the complexity and multi-sectorial nature of public budget.

    It also aims to identify opportunities for existing citizens’ participation in the Delta State budget, and understand existing efforts by the Delta State government towards inclusive budgeting.

    The meeting in a communiqué observed improvement on budgetary transparency and accountability by facilitating public access to the 2016 budget of Delta State and initiating the early presentation of the 2017 budget to the Delta State House of Assembly.

    It said early presentation of the State’s 2017 budget provided ample opportunity for citizens to engage with it and deployment of resources in the State.

    It urged the Delta State government to give prioritized attention to participatory budget process at all levels of government, adding that low citizen’s awareness   and non-participation in budgetary process impacts negatively on the socio-economic development of the communities.

    It noted as minimal, citizens’ involvement in project identification and selection process, adding that this often results in lack of ownership by citizens.

    The communiqué further observed the project sustainability is not given needed priority by government agencies in designing projects in the State.

    It decried the low effort to capture the needs of persons with disability, despite the existence of a State steering committee on persons with disability (PWD).

    It recommended improved feedback mechanism between the agencies of government, development partners and communities to strengthen transparency and accountability to ensure quality service delivery.

    It recommended a bottom-up approach to open and transparent all inclusive and participatory budgeting, especially at the formative stage.

    It advocates for budgetary projects to address the socio-economic needs of vulnerable groups, especially women, youth, persons with disability (PWD) in communities.

    It urges communities to protect government projects and ensure they support government project execution and monitoring.

    The meeting urges the full implementation of the Medium-Term Development Plan (2016-2019) which encapsulates the five-point SMART agenda of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration.

  • Jammeh: Buhari to host West African leaders 

    President Muhammadu Buhari will today host four West African leaders to a meeting aimed at avoiding violence and preserving democracy in The Gambia.

    The meeting is in line with his mandate as the mediator picked by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari, those to attend are the immediate past President of Ghana, John Mahama as, who is co-mediator, Liberian President Ellen Jphnson-Sirleaf, Senagalese President Macky Sall and the Sierra Leone vice president.

    The team is expected to ensure the safety of President-elect Adama Barrow and ensure a peaceful handover of power on January 19.

    The statement added: “The meeting in Abuja is following the one in Accra on the sidelines of the inauguration of that country’s President which expressed the readiness of the leaders of the sub-region to continue the pursuit of dialogue with the leaders of The Gambia.”

  • Leaders are readers

    I read in one of our newspapers that His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President gave presents of books to each member of the federal cabinet as Christmas gifts. I am sure some of them would have been pleasantly surprised. Others may have been disappointed. This is because Nigerians do not read and hardly value the gift of books. I also learnt he selected some books of Malcolm Gladwell, the author of OUTLIERS a hugely successful and provocative book about the secret of success across several human endeavours. In the book, Gladwell, a Canadian resident in New York examines everyone from business giants to scientific geniuses, sports stars to musicians, and reveals what they have in common. He goes behind the myths and the legends to show what really explains exceptionally successful people. When I read the book some years ago, I was surprised to know the difference in starting ages of children at primary school matters and that a few months difference in ages of young people starting school could mean much in the intellectual difference even at an early age. His recent book on DAVID and GOLIATH must have provoked some of my Pentecostal and orthodox Christians when he argued that the giant size of Goliath was due to some disease which blows people up rendering them weaker than they ordinarily would have been. This means that the divine assistance we have always thought was the secret of David’s success was debunked by Gladwell who insinuated Goliath was a sick man! Gladwell has written other provocative books titled THE TIPPING POINT and BLINK. What I know about this writer is that he is not just a man of letters but he is also a philosopher who has been taken notice of by the world and he is a potential Nobel laureate

    It is not Malcolm Gladwell the author that catches my fancy; it is the implied challenge to our leaders that they should find time to familiarize themselves with ideas that are current in the world that I find intriguing.

    When the outgoing president of the USA, Barack Obama was elected in 2008 at the height of the recession, the first thing he did was to collect several books on how the 1920s recession in the world was tackled. He read what the British economist Maynard Keynes and other Neo- Keynesian economists had to say about recent recessions. I will be the first person to say economics is too important to be left to economists! We all know economics is not a precise science in spite of whatever modelling econometrics may throw up. But it is still important to familiarize oneself with what economists have written about recession which has become a recurring decimal. The point I am making is what books on recession have those running our economy read? It will be interesting to find out if we are merely groping in the dark. Nigerians I am sorry to say do not read. A cynic said if you want to hide a secret in Nigeria put it in a book. We suffer from bibliophobia in Nigeria.  If you write a book in Nigeria, no matter how well written and how topical it may be, if you sell 5000 copies you would be deemed to be a successful author. In a country of 170 million people, this is simply unacceptable. Even if one writes a textbook, you are not likely to find buyers. This is what has led to the Nigerian unique fashion of book launch and presentation during which time publishers, as in auction, try to recover the cost of publication. It will amaze many people that our leaders do not even read newspapers. Their laziness is encouraged by press officials who read the newspapers and prepare summaries for their bosses in form of what they call “executive brief”. The result of this is total disconnect between the leaders and the citizenry.

    The reason for our aversion to reading is probably due to the fact that we did not have a written civilization. Apart from ajami in the Muslim Emirates of northern Nigeria, the rest of the country evolved along the lines of oral tradition. Both ajami and even oral tradition were not generally known to all but a few people like the Mallamai and griots who were specially trained. The point is that the written word in Nigeria came only with the advent of Christian missionaries in the 19th century. Appreciation of the written word and literature generally is still superficial. Even the educated elite is too involved in just surviving in the face of lack of electricity, water, all kinds of modern infrastructure, security and money and they hardly have time to read. Teachers across all levels of education hardly have time to update themselves. This is very critical in the universities where it is absolutely important that lecturers and professors need to be at the cutting edge of their disciplines. Students hardly read except to pass examinations. When I was an undergraduate, I had a library which forms the nucleus of my present library which runs into thousands of titles of books. These days, students do not buy books and they graduate and go out of the universities without books of their own. They depend on their lecturers from whom they borrow books with no respect for private property because they invariably go away with lecturers books. One of my former students jokingly and unashamedly told me he had a shelf of books which he borrowed from me in his house! Even if politicians do not read, the intelligentsia in the universities, business and the press must read.

    It is however a pity that politicians do not read. This is the reason for the gulf of difference between developed and under developed countries. Leaders in developed countries must necessarily be familiar with the advances in medicine, technology, environmental issues, energy and education. In their regular press conferences, a leader would be terribly embarrassed if he were asked questions on any burning issue and he was not familiar with it. This is one of the reasons why I will like us to return to the parliamentary form of government where the head of the government will be questioned by members of the opposition in order to elicit answers and understanding about government policies. What we have in our country is nocturnal government where people meet in the night and the wee hours of the morning to decide government policies. In Nigeria, our politicians do not sleep well. So-called supporters and members of the kitchen cabinet hang around till midnight preventing leaders from sleeping and without adequate sleep our leaders cannot think straight or well neither do they have time to rest or read. There is a saying that leaders are readers! To make this apply to Nigeria, there has to be a sea change in the way we play politics and run our government. We have to change from our current ways and embrace the notion that being in government is a ministerial assignment in the sense of a minister being a servant and not a master and appointment should not be seen from the prism of power for material self-aggrandizement. We must also know that nothing is new under the sun. Whatever problem we may face has been faced by other people in the past and it is incumbent on us to read and learn how others have coped with similar situations. The whole idea of reading is to sharpen our intellect and the purpose of education is application of knowledge to solve problems. Knowledge is not static it is dynamic and we must continually update our knowledge. That is the purpose of reading.

  • Law students elect national leaders

    Law students elect national leaders

    Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) has held its national convention at the Benue State University (BSU) in Makurdi. The four-day event featured election of members of the executive of the association.

    Delegates attended the event from several universities, including BSU, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Lagos State University (LASU), Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Ekiti State University (EKSU), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Bauchi State University (BASU), Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and Enugu State University of Technology (ESUTECH), among others.

    A LASU student, Samuel Osijo, emerged as the national president of the association. Other members of the executive are Vice President, Abdrahman El-Marzuk (UDUS), General Secretary, Adetayo Awe (EKSU), Assistant General Secretary, Yahaya Yusuf (BUK) and Financial Secretary Kingsley Gabriel (BASU).

    Others are Treasurer, Atika Abdullahi (ABU), Public Relations Officer (PRO), Salisu Sambo (ABU) and Welfare Director, Aliyu Mujitaba (UDUS).

    While congratulating members of the executive, Michael Tyho, former interim secretary of the association, said he was happy the election was rancour-free. He said the purpose of bringing the Law students under one umbrella would not be defeated, urging the leaders of the association not to place personal interest above general wellbeing of members.

    In his acceptance speech, Samuel said: “I want to assure members that our administration will take the association to greater heights. We will not pander to the wishes of any politician. We shall make move for the establishment of Human Rights Commission in all higher institutions to check injustice against students.”

    The convention featured Moot Trial Competition, which was won by ABU delegates, and oratory contest won UNIMAID delegates. The BUK delegates won an essay competition held after the moot trial contest.

    Members of the association held a rally to sensitise traders in Makurdi on the importance of bringing standard products to consumers.

  • Wike to leaders: work with others

    Wike to leaders: work with others

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on leaders of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality to work with other groups to ensure faster development.
    In an address to the 211th Convention of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide at Rumuche in Emohua Local Government on Sunday, Governor Wike said inter-ethnic cooperation would enhance development.
    Governor Wike who noted that his administration will ensure that all councils benefit from projects, said roads pledged for the four Ikwerre speaking councils will be completed.
    He said: “Let us work together to develop Rivers State. Working together with other ethnic groups, we will move the state forward.

  • Ibibio leaders condemn desecration of ancestral stool

    Traditional rulers, political and opinions leaders of the Ibibio land have condemned in strong terms perceived attempts to denigrade the ancestral stool of the land through the adoption of unknown titles as traditional rulers in Ibibio land.

    The Ibibio leaders described the development as self-serving and capable of turning Ibibio land’s ancestral stool into a laughing stock in the country and beyond.

    Rising from a meeting held at Asan Ibibio, Ikot Oku Ikono Uyo Local government area, the leaders affirmed that Mboho Afid Ibibio remains the apex traditional stool in Ibibio land  as ‘Ifim Ibom Ibibio’ has produced Oku Ibom Ibibio 1, 11 and 111.

    The decision of the community leaders may not be unconnected with moves by some paramount rulers in Ibibio land  to introduce names auch as ‘Ifim Ikpaisong Ibibio’, Oku Ikpaisong Ibibio’  which they said is at variance with the already established traditional nomenclature.

    The meeting that was sequel to the one held on 25th October, 2016 at the palace of the paramount ruler of Etinan Local Government Area, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette, was attended by other paramount rulers, clan heads and village heads in Ibibio land, leaders of thought, leaders of political and socio-cultural groups and organizations in Ibibio land, including Akwa Esop Imasong Ibibio, Ibibio Elders Forum, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Ibibio National Union, Ibibio Academic Roundtable, Odudu Ibibio, Uyo Senatorial District Leaders Forum, Ibibio South Senatorial Forum, Youths and Women groups, among others.

    According to the leaders, to address the stool in any other name whatsoever is not in the collective interest of Ibibio people as such act will negate the legendary ancestral and historical milestone of Ibibio nation.

    Consequently, stating that the future of Ibibio nation supercedes individual ambitions, the forum resolved that it was time to intervene and save the stool from being polarised and rendered ineffective .

    Accordingly, the communique signed by the paramount ruler of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area (LGA), HRM Edidem Ntuk Obom, paramount ruler of Mkpat Enin Iga LGA, HRM Edidem Elder A Ekpene, Ntisong Ibibio 111, HRH Obong Essien Ekidem as well as as the International President of the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Akparawa Monday Etokakpan and 57 others, noted that it is unusual and an abomination for the name of a traditional stool to be changed from time to time.

    “Rather, we should emulate what obtains in other traditional stools such as Oba of Benin, Ooni of Ife, Emir of Kano, Sultan of Sokoto, Obong of Calabar, Itai Afe Annang, Ata of Oron among others, therefore, Ifim Ibom Ibibio, the revered traditional stool of the Ibibio people should not be an exception.

    “We have noted a seeming sense of confusion or apparent lack of direction among section of our revered Ibibio traditional rulers in their quest to create a new traditional identity for themselves through the adoption at various times, of names such as Mboho Esien Ibibio paramount rulers, Mboho paramount rulers, Esien Ibibio, Uyo Ikpaisong Ibibio and lately, Ifim Ikpaisong Ibibio,” the leaders noted.

    The community leaders noted with regrets the alleged registration of ‘Uyo Ikpaisong Ibibio ‘ or any other such Non-governmental organization (NGO) with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to function as the traditional stool for the Ibibio people, saying  is an aberration and totally unacceptable to Ibibio people.

    They said such act is divisive and not in the collective interest of Ibibio people because traditional stools are neither registered trustees nor commercial concerns, therefore, “All established traditional stools are products of ancestral evolution that derive legitimacy and supremacy from the customary laws and traditional values of its people.

    “Furthermore, we implore all paramount rulers, clan heads, village heads, leaders of socio-cultural and political groups and indeed all the Ibibio people should close ranks, support and respect Ifim Ibom Ibibio as the apex traditional stool in Ibibio land.

    “However, in the event of organising any ceremony involving the entire Ibibio people, the name Mboho Afid Ibibio be used as the umbrella name for that purpose,” the leaders added.

  • African leaders and the curse of power

    SIR: South African President, Jacob Zuma, is a controversial figure. In the past few days, the maverick politician has faced lots of opposition from the home front. He has severally faced calls for resignation after it was found out that he has misused 246m rand (£13.73m) of taxpayers on the upgrade of security in his country home. The discovery is an injurious blow to President Zuma, whose presidency has been characterized by copious scandals. While his village lacks access to electricity or potable water, Zuma’s country home project demonstrates audacious but implausible affluence. He was equally accused of uncanny arrogance of power and gross insensitivity as his neighbours were ordered to move home without proper authorization, thereby costing government millions in public fund. Zuma was also indicted of conflict of interest by engaging his private architect who earned a mind boggling 16.5m rand (£922,796) from the project.

    Since the post-colonial era, impunity and astonishing acts of recklessness have, no doubt, become the hallmarks of many African leaders. Though most African nations now operate democracy, but in sharp contrast to democratic principles, most African leaders act in defiant of democratic engagements. In Gambia, the president has been in power for over 25 years. His fresh bid ended in a fiasco at the weekend.

    In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe, 93, remains the country’s ruler since 1980. Various opposition groups, opposed to his prolonged hold on power in the country, have had to contend with serious realties of his iron hold on power. Sadly, a large chunk of Zimbabweans  have continued to live in abject poverty as all economic indicators keep pointing to a nation on the brink of socio-economic collapse. The assumption that no one else but him could steer the ship of the country, at 89 and after 36 years in the saddle, is nothing but a charade as he is no super human.

    The tragedy of the African continent is that most of its leaders, especially those who have little or nothing to offer the people, have continued to tow the ignoble path. Is it not funny that most of the leaders’ whose stay in power have pauperized their people would rather prefer to die in power rather than giving opportunities to others with fresh ideas to rule? For those who argue that Mugabe’s prolonged hold on power is as a result of the love and affection his people have for him, they need to be reminded that Mandela was equally held in high esteem by South Africans and he still voluntarily relinquished power after just one term in office.

    African leaders need to wake up to the frightening poverty situation in the

    This is the time for African leaders to uphold the right concept of power for the good of the society. Government does not exercise power; rather, it is the concept of government, upheld by law, which exercises power.  Democracy will be endangered, when political power actors assume that they wield power, and not, that power wields them.

    In the meantime, Africans should rise up and make their leaders accountable and responsible.

     

    • Tayo Ogunbiyi,

    Min. of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

  • Recession: Fed Govt solicits Labour leaders’ support

    Recession: Fed Govt solicits Labour leaders’ support

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, has urged stakeholders in the labour sector to support Fthe ederal Government’s efforts at minimising the adverse effects of recession on Nigerian workers.

    The minister stated this in Abuja, during the week, while declaring open the 4th Registrar of Trade Unions Annual Workshop with the theme The Role of Social Partners in Combating the Challenges of Economic Recession.

    He said a lot needed to be done to stem the tide of recession and that stakeholders in industrial relations ought to come together to proffer ways of minimising it.

    Ngige noted that workers bear the brunt of recession with the survival of trade unions threatened, and  downsising, redundancy, casualisation and indecent work, among others, on the increase.

    Ngige expressed optimism that various actions spearheaded by the Federal Government will improve economic activities and steer the nation’s economy out of recession.

    He advised stakeholders in the labour sector to bargain in good faith, open communication and appropriate disclosure of relevant information devoid of deceit, delay and denial.

    The representative of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mrs. Adenike Ajala, stated that despite the current economic situation, the organised private sector is committed to ensuring that they provide decent working environment for workers.

  • ‘Leaders must take responsbility for their actions’

    ‘Leaders must take responsbility for their actions’

    Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu represents Amuwo/Odofin Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker spoke with Oziegbe Okoeki on his legislative activities and the state of the nation.

    What are the expectations you had in mind before contesting for the House of Assembly?
    When we say expectations, they can be wishes and they could also not be realistic. Wishes do not mean they are not realistic as well. If I may say, it’s my first time here and I want to believe Lagos State, being a metropolitan state that the world looks up to in Nigeria, is expected to be a place the legislators should be true democrats and realistic in their approach to legislative duties. So, if I rate my expectation, I will say the list of my expectation is inexhustive. Again, I want to narrow it to four items.
    What exactly are these things?
    Well, I want to say part of it is the leadership. The environment to legislate is there. Let me say in fairness, true democracy is in the House. Like you can see, they are housing me in a building that is different from any other building and it’s something that is obvious for everyone to see. You can see and it’s about the people. The people I represent ask me similar questions and for me to be realistic with them, I try as much as possible to explain it with reference to the reality about it. So, if my colleagues have their offices in the main building and I am somewhere else, I have to open up on this yardstick. And my people are also asking me how come you don’t belong to a committee with my exposure and educational background. That I think is also questionable. I believe we all have CVs and it should tell what you have for the people because you can’t give what you don’t have. These are certain things that make up that four.
    Apart from being an opposition member, will you describe yourself as an uncompromising PDP member in the House?
    Well, let me be frank with you, when I came to the Assembly, I came with the interest of the people; don’t forget the PDP is not our surname; neither is the APC their surname. You get to an Assembly where you don’t talk about party or you get to find out you are not talking about party. you are talking about the interest of your people. And fine, you might be in the PDP, which is an opposition party, which gives us an opportunity to probably check mate what is happening. But on the other hand you also look at the style and approach of your colleagues, the people and you are watching and you actually want to see how they resolve or solve issues not because you don’t know what to do or what to say; but at times you want to see how other people get to get the job done, so I am watching to see how other people get the job done. Anybody, everybody can be uncompromising, I might not like what you like and you might not like what I like. But, I just believe we should also try to see how each other get the job done either we like it or not. Let’s say I am a patient person even when I don’t like what they do and let’s also say I am trying to learn how they do what they do.
    How formidable is the opposition in the Lagos State House of Assembly?
    You know there is a place in the Bible that says there is a way that seemth right unto man but it leads to destruction. So sometimes, I look at myself even as an opposition member. This thing doesn’t look right, but like I also said let me also see how they are making it happen, you understand, let me see how its happening. But , I must also say this, like I said, in the Assembly, we are not expecting to come and fight. We are not here to fight we are here to protect peoples interest. We are here to protect Lagosians interest, to protect our constituents interest. Maybe, we are carried away by this interest which I feel for me is better than fighting. I think in all honesty and fairness I am even more in such position, being in such an office and not recognised in any of the committees or let me say juicy committee, I think I am in a better position to tell you what is really obtainable by the PDP members in the House of Assembly. So, I have come to grow more as a legislator. I am watching to see if their style of approach is result oriented. But I must also give it to the leadership to some extent, at least they have given some of my colleagues the privilege to be able to understand and know what they know now. So if for nothing I still respect and I give it to them.
    Ambode is performing in Lagos State, are you also in agreement with that position?
    Let me be honest with you, I will tell you the way it is. Frankly speaking am a man of my words and I am a young man that is looking for the betterment of my own peer group. The governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has tried his possible best. I must say it. He has been able to keep the peace. I don’t know what and why the publicity secretary wrote such a thing. Personally for me, I see no business of his because, he is supposed to protect the party.
    People are blaming the hardship on the past government, some are blaming it on the present government, where do you stand in all this?
    I will be honest with you. You can’t stop holding us responsible, we are the ones in government. Nobody wants to take responsibility for whatever is happening. We are in government and we keep taking responsibility for our actions and policies. Well, I give it to Lagos. I won’t say it is not experiencing recession. But, I’ ll put it this way. Lagos State is one of the states in the country managing the recession, at least we can pay salaries here. We are ensuring that our brains are working. We are looking at what comes out of our actions. The Assembly is not resting. We are thinking of more innovations. We are taking more actions. So, if you are saying who to blame, I think we should go to the National Assembly or let’s say the Federal Government. Recession is caused by the type of policies that are made and the legislators and the President have to come to the point of understanding that the kind of approach we take in getting this thing out also matters. Okay, we wanted to curb corruption. You don’t need to announce it. Jesus Christ said if you are without sin, throw the first stone. Even, the big international business people who come here to invest, they are also corrupt. So there are ways to curb corruption and it will not affect the average man.
    Where do you place Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the politics of the Southwest and Nigeria?
    Let me be honest and frank with you, for me as a person, you know, there are people you’ve not met and you just hear about them. It depends on what you hear. But, from my own personal view, I see him as a goal getter. I see him as a business man, I see him as a result oriented person, I see him as someone who wants to have some form of legacy. He is not quiet, he didn’t hide his education, I discovered he used to be in Mobile, he didn’t stop at just being professional, he brought his professionalism to the political arena. For me, he knows how to rebrand his product when the product is failing, so for me, he is just a goal getter. He is someone that sees his business is going well, he understands the marketing communication behind it, how to attend to it; and his business is going bad he knows how to go about it as well and also to use the government of the day to get his business going on. So personally I don’t see anything against him, just one goal getter that I admire from afar. I am not in his party and I have seen how strategic he is. He is not tired, he is supposed to retire, but he is just not tired. So I salute him for that. He is more like Chief Olabode George too. You know, you see this two old men they are supposed to have retired but they are not tired. So I pray to God to give me such strength as a young man so I can also be like this people, focussed at that level and agile, strong. So I give it to them.
    What impact have you made on your constituences?
    Frankly speaking I must be honest with you. I always prefer when the media goes and make their findings on their own. You are not the mirror of yourself. What do you expect me to say, I have been lazy or I have not been working. Everybody will want to tell what you want to hear as a media man; but the Bible says by their fruit ye shall know them. We are goal-getters. We are young men that wants and looks up to Nigeria becoming developed, we also want to ensure there is legacy.

    And it starts from our constituents, our homes; you can’t give what you don’t have, if your home is not taken care of you want to take care of Nigeria, start from your home, your constituents.

    My people at home I can assure you the result you get will be overwhelming because I have received a couple of awards as regards my various services like the policy programmes, free school bus services that runs everyday. We want to ensure that the people feel government, they have a sense of belonging to the government. That was my wish so if I am given the opportunity now I should ensure that I make sacrifices so the people can have some benefits.

  • Migrant crisis, indictment of African leaders

    SIR: The incessant shipwrecks on the Libya coastline and the thousands of lives that had been lost thus far has become a source of worry not only for the international community, but many Africans who begin to see the calamity as a result of failure of governance in Africa, particularly South of Sahara.

    On Thursday, November 3, about 239 migrants died on two separate shipwrecks with very few surviving. From all indications, migrants from West Africa in particular were running away from hardship at home. Many of them preferred to die on adventure to Europe, to seek a better life than die of hunger in their countries. With the danger these migrants face in the Sahara desert on their way to Maghreb, which include hunger, armed robbery, kidnapping, exposure to wild animals and hostile government in Libya and later constant shipwrecks on the Mediterranean Sea, one thinks that they should have detested going into such journeys of no return. As an example, reports say that about 4,220 deaths have been recorded in 2016 alone, compared with 3,777 of 2015. This shows a clear increase in the number of those fleeing Africa to the unknown.

    That the rescuers are mainly from the United Nations further dents the image of Africa as a continent where nothing works. Beyond this however, the true picture of human existence in Africa is given by this type of suicide mission, in spite of false pictures painted by various national governments’ propaganda machineries.

    Whether our governments in West Africa or their agents notice the occurrence is a conjecture but since most of them watch international televisions and listen to international news, they would be up to date on the calamity happening to their citizens abroad. Equally, what they think about the calamity is a conjecture also. Nonetheless, what is certain is that their failure as leaders precipitated these disasters. For example, all index of development in most states of Africa are negative – unemployment, underemployment, kidnapping for ransom, violent armed robbery, lack of freedom to chose who governs them, embezzlement of funds meant for development, inflation, economic depression and life of hopelessness forced many African citizens on Trans Saharan – Mediterranean sea route to Europe for succor from hardship at home. Unfortunately, their case is between the devil and blue sea, yet they preferred to venture into the blue sea than to die of hunger at home.

    There is no doubt that our leaders, who through obnoxious policies inflict hardship on their compatriots feel unconcerned about the gory picture of shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea, believing their children and families are safe in the confine of government houses or safe havens in Europe and America. There is no doubt that the blood of those who die from their bad governance would continue to cry for vengeance on the heads of those brought the calamity on them. This is the time for them to think before it is too late.

     

    • Adewuyi Adegbite

    ayekooto05@gmail.com