The Nation Newspaper

Tag: marginalised

  • ‘Urhobo is marginalised’

    Chief Joe Omene is the President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU). In this interview with Correspondent Polycarp Orosevwotu, he speaks on the position of the ethnic group on next year’s general elections.

    President Muhammadu Buhari visited you at your country home Mosogar, before the 2015 elections, and later you visited former President Goodluck Jonathan. What was the visit to these two candidates then all about?

    UPU is about the welfare and benefits of the Urhobo nation and you cannot separate politics from it. Apart from it being a socio-cultural organization, it is also concerned about how the Urhobo can benefit from the larger state called Nigeria. And to achieve this feat, we must be involve in electioneering issues from the state to the national to know what is our gains in it, and only there you can advise your people to vote for a particular presidential or governorship candidates.

    When I met former President Goodluck Jonathan, I discussed with him and he did assured us, and said he made a mistake in his first tenure by not giving Urhobo its fair share and promised it will be corrected if he wins but unfortunately, he could not make it. Buhari also came to my house, and it was the same question I asked him. Jonathan at that time was more explicit about his commitments, he was more forthcoming, while Buhari at that time was not and that was why we the Urhobos supported Jonathan but this time, the incumbent president still needs to come and convince us that he means well for the Urhobo nation.

    President Buhari has gone to West, East and other parts of the country but he has not come to see Urhobo to give us any form of assurance. Today, we have no minister from his government, and in fact, if you talk of empowerment, we have not gotten any form from his government being the fourth or fifth largest ethnic nationality; we deserve to have at least a ministerial position. This ministerial position we don’t have, how many Chief Executive positions in government parastatal do we have; we don’t have a fair share in this government as it stands today.

    Are you saying Urhobo is being marginalised under present government?

    Sure. We are seriously marginalized; if you like make somebody a board member. How many federal boards members do we have, when we have a lots of federal boards in this country, how many chairmen of federal boards does Urhobo occupies, even the appointment given to Chief Frank Ovie Kokori has not been inaugurated, somebody in this government is yet to convince us as a people that Urhobo is not being marginalized.

    In 2019 elections Urhobo will take decisions on which presidential and governorship candidates they will support. What is the criteria you are looking at?

    Many things have gone wrong before now, though, Jonathan tried to correct it before he left. We have no Minister at Jonathan time, but towards the end of his tenure, he gave us a ministerial position. What is wrong if Buhari appoints Urhobo as minister or chairmen of boards, but as it is now, nothing. So, how can he convince us that we are part of his government? These are some of the things Buhari must address. There should be assurance that when the new government comes, we will have it or he can make some appointments to show commitment by making so many Urhobos Boards members, then we know the change has come to affect us as a nation or ethnic nationality.

    What will now be the position of UPU, if these demands are not met?

    I can’t speak on it now on until then, but if at the end of the day the requests are not met by those in government and the other not in government assure us what he will do for Urhobo, we will take our decision. The important thing is that if you are not doing it now, but will do it, let us know so that after voting, we will know that these are our benefits. For example, apart from the North, Igbos and Yorubas, no other ethnic nations have higher population to Urhobos, yet the people are being marginalized. As we know, government is about people, so if other tribes that their population not up to Uhobo could be given minister, so what is our crime or they have more qualified people than us

    In the 2015 governorship election, UPU restricted its supports to only Urhobo candidate. Is it going to follow same in 2019?

    No, it is going to be thrown open. You see, we have Urhobos in PDP, APC, Labour party and this time, it is not about Urhobo but any candidates that can meet the yearning of Urhobo nation. It is not about SSAs, and SAs without having the interest of Urhobo as a nation. Appointing commissioners without giving them powers to function does not mean you have the interest of the people.

    There are speculations that Omo-Agege and Ogboru had drawn a battle line. Don’t you think it will have effect on the chances of Urhobo producing the next governor?

    What is happening between them is personal interest and not for the general people, but when they were fighting for the structure of the party on who controls the structure of the party, they were together and very close. Now that it has reached the stage, they are at logger ahead, and who is causing this between them is an outsider. A situation where Itsekiri man who during his time did not see anything good in Urhobo, because he is closed to the party chairman, Oshiomole, maternally wants to impose his authority in APC and in doing this by causing division among Urhobos, advising one against the other.

    And this same man who has brought Urhobo nation to this sorry state and who is not Urhobo or when he was governor wouldn’t see anything good about the Urhobo nation, has become a new convert that he now wants to come in between these two persons that have been together since without quarrel. But UPU is going to invite both Chief Great Ogboru and Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and let them tell us the reasons why they cannot work together. Then if it is personal we will know and if it is in Urhobo interest we will also advise them.

    The Urhobo Cultural Centre has been abandoned for over time and no efforts to put it right. What is the union doing about it?

    Some people thought that they will be able to destroy UPU especially politicians, unfortunately they could not. They went ahead to bring Ijaw man thinking that the Ijaw man will be able to do that, as UPU President General. For you to get to that office you must follow the constitution and the guidelines of the union. The Ivie (Kings) are not the custodian of UPU, the union is autonomous. The national body and the branches are the one that dictate the affairs of the union as stated in the constitution. If you are my adviser, you cannot dictate for me.

    The man has told us in a book published about him that his father is an Ijaw man from Kiagbodo. The author said he is the man who gave him the biography and information and the said book has been in circulation, and up to this moment, he has not be able to come out personally that his father is not an Ijaw. What the government does is that they capitalize on the weakness of our Ivie (Kings), to the extent that they could be invited to all government functions without recourse to their status as traditional rulers. If not that they have caused it on their, can government move Olu of Warri to any function or seen at government functions.

    Is there any clause that the UPU President-General must resident within Urhobo?

    The truth is that those who live in the land are those that can govern his people. Like the Prime Minister of Britain, he cannot stay in Germany and say he is the Prime Minister of Britain. If you are the President of Nigeria, you cannot live in Ghana and still claim you are governing Nigeria from Ghana, same applies in the case of the UPU President General. You cannot be stay outside Urhobo as President General, impossible, if you are doing that, it means you are not a popular person, I don’t know either you imposed yourself or somebody imposed you on the people because if the people wholeheartedly choose you, you must be with the people and live with them.

  • ‘We’re being marginalised’

    Muslims in Ondo State have alleged that they are being marginalised, following recent appointments, which they said did not favour them.

    They criticised Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) for allegedly marginalising them in political appointments.

    Akeredolu, a Christian like his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, recently announced a Christian, Ifedayo Abegunde,  as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Gbenga Ale, a Christian, as Chief of Staff(CoS).

    The Muslims, under the aegis of Progressive Muslim Council, said the appointments were sectional and lopsided, noting that Akeredolu is planning to “extinguish” Muslims in the state.

    A statement by their leader, Nurain Akorede, described the recent development in the state as “injustice”.

  • Tiv people marginalised, says new Tor Tiv

    Tiv people marginalised, says new Tor Tiv

    •Strange man sits on stool before coronation

    The newly installed Tor Tiv, Professor James Ortese Ayatse, has lamented what he described as marginalisation of his subjects.
    He called on the federal government to give more Benue people appointments as they are central to its economic diversification programme.
    The paramount ruler stated these in his inaugural speech in Gboko at a grand ceremony at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka Stadium.
    His full title will be His Royal Majesty, Begha U Tiv, Orchivirigh, Prof Ortese Iorzua James Ayatse.
    Dignitaries, including governors, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar attended the ceremony.
    Ayatse specifically noted: “The Tiv people, who are the fourth largest ethnic group in the country are not represented at the Federal Executive Council (FEC)”.
    He urged acting President Yemi Osinbajo to rectify the omission.
    “No Tiv man has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of any federal parastatal in the current dispensation; we believe God will help you to correct this marginalization,” he said.
    He said the marginalisation has become worrisome especially as the Tiv people gave their overwhelming support during the electioneering campaign.
    “As you take stock and make your next series of appointments, kindly be reminded that the Tiv nation is not represented in FEC and have not benefitted from any appointment at the federal level.”
    He said the diversification program of the government was tied to agriculture and the people have comparative advantage owing their agrarian economy.
    The paramount ruler appealed to the federal government to involve the Tiv people in its empowerment schemes to facilitate provision of agricultural inputs and enhance skills.
    He said such measures would enhance food sufficiency and prevent food crises in the country.
    Acting President Osinbajo, represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, promised to present the demands of the Tor Tiv to the president.
    He advised the Tiv people to learn to live together with Fulani herdsmen, with whom, they had lived together for ages.
    He congratulated the new king for his elevation and prayed for his prosperous reign.
    Senate president, Bukola Saraki and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto all appealed to the Tiv nation to coexist with the Fulani herdsmen to avoid acrimony for the well-being of both ethnic tribes.
    Gov. Samuel Ortom lamented the recent security challenges confronting the state but said measures had been adopted to curtail the challenges.
    He reiterated his resolve on ranches as the solution to the perennial crises between farmers and herdsmen.
    The governors of Imo, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, Taraba, Plateau, Kano and Kogi were amongst hundreds of dignitaries that graced the occasion.
    There was however a mild drama shortly before the coronation as a man, Stephen Nyitse, outsmarted security men to sit on the stool of the Tiv Tor.
    Speaking to security personnel under interrogation, Nyitse said he was prompted by God to cleanse the stool for the new king.
    Nyitse said: “I sat on the stool in order to cleanse it and make it comfortable for the incoming Tor Tiv.”
    Chairman Central Planning Committee for the coronation, Brig General Atom Kpera(Rtd), who was present at the scene, ordered security men to take him outside for punishment.
    Officials, however, said they would investigate the motive behind the act.
    Some respondents described the act as “strange and abominable.”

  • Is Igbo marginalised?

    Is Igbo marginalised?

    As far as the Igbo are concerned, the Southeast geo-political zone is marginalised in many respects. They say the situation has changed from bad to worse under the Muhammadu Buhari administration and that this may not be unconnected with the fact that the zone did not vote for the President in last year’s election. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the two sides of the argument.

    SINCE the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the Igbos of Southeast have stepped up the protest over the continued marginalisation of the zone under the current administration. They accuse Buhari of sidelining the zone in major appointments so far and of assigning less-juicy portfolios to ministers of Igbo extraction in his cabinet Indeed, since the emergence of Buhari as the President, the Igbos have resumed agitation for secession from the Nigerian federation. The militant group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is spearheading the campaign, with support from the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

    The Igbo claim of marginalisation precedes the Buhari administration. Analysts recall that the major reason Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu gave to justify the declaration of Biafra in 1967 was that the Igbos had lost faith in the union, because they were being treated as second-class citizens. The proclamation of the Republic of Biafra led to a civil war that lasted 30 months. The Igbos lost the war with heavy casualties.

    An Igbo elder, Robert Obioha, said Igbos have always complained of being marginalised by the successive governments. His words: “The history of the marginalisation of the Southeast started with Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s creation of 12 states, purposely to weaken Ojukwu’s resistance to his regime in 1967, prior to the declaration of Biafra and the commencement of the Nigerian Civil War. Though Gowon’s  12-states structure had a sense of equity between the North and South of Nigeria at six states per zone,  it denied the Southeast majority states in the defunct Eastern Region as was the case for the Hausa and the Yoruba in the Northern and Western Regions respectively.

    “Gowon’s 12 states ensured that the Southeast, the heart of Biafran revolution, was lumped into one state called the East Central State, while minorities in the region were carved into two states; Rivers State and South Eastern State. This was the beginning of the marginalisation of the Southeast. Gowon did not stop there; he ensured the ceding of some oil-bearing Igbo areas to Rivers State.

    “When Gen. Murtala Muhammed split the country into 19 states in 1976, the East Central State became two states of Anambra and Imo. Thus, Muhammed gave the Southeast one out of the seven states he created. It was Gen. Ibrahim Babangida that rose to address the Southeast marginalisation, by giving us additional two states of Enugu and Abia out of 11 states he created. At that that time, the zone needed three states to level up with others. The late Gen. Sani Abacha also gave the zone one state, Ebonyi when he created six states.

    “Therefore the Southeast has suffered undue marginalisation in the state creation structure of Nigeria. Under the present 36 states structure, which ought to give each zone six states apiece, only the Southeast has five and the Northwest seven.

    “In the arbitrary distribution of the nation’s 774 local governments, the Southeast has the least. The entire North has 419 local governments, while the South as a whole has 355. The zonal distribution of local government is as follows: Northwest 186; Northcentral 115; Northeast 112; Southwest 137; Southsouth 123; and Southeast 95. Why was the Southeast given 95 when other zones got over 100?

    “What is the name of this lopsided structure of Nigeria if not marginalisation? Since appointment of ministers, recruitment into the civil service and security agencies and admission into unity schools, federal higher institutions and revenue sharing is based on states and local governments, the Southeast has been overtly marginalised due to having the least number of states and local governments. How many Police Commissioners and Military Commanders are from the zone?”

    A cleric, Pastor Sunday Adelaja, does not believe that the Igbo are marginalised. He premised his argument on the fact that the Igbo have occupied every political, economic and military position in the Nigerian nation.

    As far as Adelaja is concerned, the fact that Nigeria was able to assimilate the Igbo nation back into the Nigerian entity after the civil war faster than most nations that go through civil war is a demonstration that they have been fully welcomed back to the union.

    He said: “The Nigerian government did so much to remove any trace of segregation from all Nigerian peoples immediately after the civil war. The Igbo people were quickly absorbed as part of the Federal Government of Nigeria. In the western part of Nigeria, the properties of Igbos who left to join Biafra were kept intact and later returned to them.

    “In most countries that had experienced civil war, the vanquished are always oppressed and marginalised for many years after. Usually, these people don’t enjoy the privileges of equal citizenship for decades after the civil war. Even most of the countries that we look up to as epitomes of democracy today, things did not go smoothly with them after their civil war.

    “Immediately after the civil war in 1970, the Federal Government forgave the Igbo leadership that plunged the country into civil war and re-integrated them into a united Nigeria, rather than imprisoning or killing by firing squad. In the words of the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, there was ‘no victor no vanquished’. Meaning Nigeria would not treat the Igbo people as defeated enemy, but as brothers and sisters. That was the height of magnanimity displayed by the Nigerian nation.

    “Just 10 years after the civil war, Nigeria did something that had hardly been recorded in the history of civil wars in the world. The Nigerian state decided to forgive the initiator of the civil war itself, the late Odumegwu-Ojukwu. He wasn’t just forgiven, he was granted political pardon, so that he could participate in the nation’s political process. Ojukwu contested for presidency. Again, 10 years after the civil war, the second most powerful person in Nigeria was an Igbo man. Dr. Alex Ekwueme was Vice President in the Shehu Shagari administration.”

    But, Senator Shehu Sani believes the Igbos have a case. He opined that the marginalisation of the Igbos in federal appointments should not be dismissed with a wave of hand. According to him, “It’s wrong to appoint people based on merit without recourse to Federal Character; it’s wrong to appoint people into public office on the ground of Federal Character without merit.

    Sani, who represents Kaduna Central in the Senate, emphasised that merit without Federal Character leads to marginalisation; Federal Character without merit leads to incompetence and ineptitude. He said: “A cry against marginalisation is a legitimate cry for recognition, for equity, for justice and for sense of belonging; only those who believe in the unity of Nigeria will demand to belong.

    “Marginalisation is a crack on the beams and columns on a nation’s spirit of unity and its covenant for togetherness. Marginalisation only feeds the baby monster of violent dissent; marginalisation is a fertile soil for the germination of the seeds of discord; marginalisation is apartheid.”

    A political scientist, Professor Ayo Olukotun, said the word marginalisation is relative and contextual. To him, it is deployed from time to time by political elites to redraw the national map of political rewards in their favour.

    Olukotun said: “The Igbo were more privileged in terms of appointments under former President Goodluck Jonathan than under Buhari, which makes them a natural opposition group. They of course overwhelmingly voted for Jonathan. The current agitation for Biafra may be a bargaining chip by Igbo political elites frustrated by their current status in a federation where they recently held star positions.

    A legal practitioner, Malam AbdulKadir Abubakar, shares Olukotun’s view. He said the Igbo are not the only ethnic group that are marginalised. According to him, the Igbo had the best of time during Jonathan’s administration in terms of appointments and political influence; most of the juicy positions were occupied by them to the detriment of other ethnic groups.

    He said: “The question is if Jonathan had won the last election, would the Igbo be complaining as they are doing today? They will not. They should know that they are in opposition; they should not expect the kind of political patronage they had under Jonathan. Look at the Southwest? This is the first time that the mainstream of Yoruba politics will be on the same page with the government at the centre. All the years they have remained in opposition and they didn’t threaten to secede or make the country ungovernable for the ruling party.

    “Our brothers in the Southeast should put the nation’s interest first; pursuit their demands in a peaceful manner. They should stop crying wolf when there is none. Tell me which zone of the federation that is not marginalised one way or the other? Most northern states are at the lower rung of ladder of revenue sharing formula. No one has monopoly of violence. A living dog is valuable than a dead lion.”

    Civil rights activist, Comrade Mashood Erubami, said Igbos should be civil in demanding their rights from the Federal Government. He added: “There is need to be vigilant and cautious, in the way we agitate against our not getting material things, positions and opportunities the way we want it, so that it does not create unbridgeable separation among ethnic groups that make up the country.

    Erubami, who heads Nigeria Voters Assembly (VOTASS), said: “Today, almost the whole of Southeast and Southsouth are clamouring that their citizens are being marginalised in the scheme of things, but they fail to know the implication of using war to make demands. War is not the best option to correct any perceived marginalisation. In a war situation, as was the case during the Nigeria-Biafra war, the wife could not locate where her husband was, children were separated from their parents, yet many were living in hunger and deprivation, sleeping but unable to close the two eyes, subsisting in perpetual fear and social economic discomfort.

    “For me, the loud agitation against perceived marginalisation as currently being channelled seems to be a product of fear of and expectation that President Buhari might want to punish those who did not vote for him. Hardly was President Buhari able to score 100,000 votes in each of the states that constitute the former Eastern Region.

    “The fact of the matter is that it might appear the zone has not benefitted much under the Buhari administration as it did under the Jonathan administration where not a few believed the zone dominated and benefitted all round, more than any other zone in Nigeria. What needs to be understood is that the electorate from the east have expressed their wish for Jonathan; their failing to get him back to office is not enough to deny the race of its constitutional rights to share from our commonwealth.

    “The allegation of marginalisation against the Buhari administration is presently not realistic as he is just settling down from the crisis that greeted his ascendance of power in May 2015. His anti-corruption war is facing a lot of opposition from those who looted the treasury during the immediate past administration.”

    On the way forward, Sani reasoned that the unity of the country cannot be sustained by just oral or written proclamation or by force, but by observance and respect for shared and binding principles of justice and equality. “We can only sustain national unity and peace when all Nigerians are treated with equal representation and respect,” he added.

    The senator said indeed that the Jonathan administration was the epitome of the politics of marginalisation.  According to him, Jonathan personalised and ethnicised governance in the shape of his tribal circle. He asked Buhari administration to resist this temptation by addressing the perceived marginalisation of the Southeast.

    Olukotun also advised the administration to “keep managing these issues as there will always be insider ethnic groups and outsider ones in every government. In his view, Erubami also admonished the Buhari administration to consider addressing inequality of states, by creating an additional state in the Southeast.

  • ‘We’re being marginalised’

    Oil producing communities in Ondo State at the weekend decried the alleged marginalisation of the state .

    They noted that the discrimination against the only oil-producing Southwest state should end in the interest of justice and peace.

    The communities urged President Muhammadu Buhari to do the right thing in the appointments into the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The chairman, Oil Producing Communities of Ondo State, Charles Ebimomi and Secretary Odusola Omopariola said the state is the fifth largest oil producer in Nigeria.

    They said the post of Managing Director (MD) and Executive Directors (Finance &Administration and Projects) are to be filled by rotation, beginning with the states that have the highest production quotas.

    According to them, the four states before Ondo have produced the MD and at least one Executive Director.

    Ebimomi said Delta State produced MD and ED for 15 years, Bayelsa eight years, Akwa Ibom 11 and Rivers 10.

    He lamented that none of the other five-member states, including Ondo, Edo, Imo, Abia and Cross River, has filled any of the three senior management position.

  • We are being marginalised, Akure indigenes cry out

    the Lisa of Akureland, High Chief James Olusoga has urged Akure indigenes to downplay partisanship and search for credible candidates to represent the community in various public offices.

    Chief Olusoga, who is the second-in-command to Deji of Akure spoke at a programme tagged “Akure Development talk” held at Royal Bird Hotel &Towers, Alagbaka-Akure.

    The programme was hosted by a World Bank Consultant and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Sola Ojo to create political awareness in Akureland.

    The Community leader decried what he termed “political marginalisation” of the ancient town by successive administrations in Ondo State despite its status as the state capital.

    He noted that the development started at the tail end of military administration in Nigeria whereby Akure with its size and population was retained as only one Local Government while Abeokuta, Osogbo, Ilorin and other state capitals of comparable size and population were divided into two or more local government areas.

    Delivering his lecture at the forum, a University don, Prof. Olu Aboluwoye said Akure and its people have never been fairly treated in the scheme of things despite the prime of place it occupies in the State.

    He noted that Akure people are friendly, peace loving, accommodative and politically conscious.

    Prof. Aboluwoye urged Akure community leaders to start paying special attention to the political development of the town and urged them to put a stop to the divide and rule tactics that Ondo State politicians have often employed to retard the progress of Akure.

    His words:”Sadly, Akure politicians have often allowed themselves to be used to frustrate the appointments and elections of fellow Akure politicians in all the major political parties since the beginning of this third republic in 1999.

    “Only Akure division has never produced a democratically elected governor of Ondo State, and Akure is also the only division that has not produced a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this democratic dispensation.

    “It is therefore the turn of Akure division to produce the minister and the governor of Ondo State and Akure town as the doyen of this division is eminently placed to seize this golden opportunity.”

    The academic however said the only solution to the persistent marginalisation of Akure was for a consensus candidate of Akure origin to become the governor of Ondo State

    Also speaking, another prominent Akure son and former Provost, College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Prof.Olu Aderounmu advised Akure community leaders to create  a clearing house that would screen all prospective aspirants to any elective post with a view to pick the best that would give robust representation to Akure kingdom.

    Prof Aderounmu lamented that Akure has not been so lucky to have good representatives to lift up Akure Kingom.

    He however urged the citizenry to shun partisanship and put their heads together to select credible people that would serve Akure kingdom diligently.

    The host, Sola Ojo promised to work assiduously for his people if he finally gets the ticket to represent them at the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

    He passionately appealed to people in Akure North/South federal constituency to support his mission and ensure his endorsement to enable him offer the best to his constituency.

  • Amosun: Women are marginalised in politics

    Amosun: Women are marginalised in politics

    IN politics, women are under-represented. This inequality permeates almost in all areas of human endeavours, in spite of women’s proven abilities and capacities.

    The wife of the  Ogun State governor,  Mrs Olufunso Amosun, said the time has come for women to wake up from their slumber.

    Delivering a lecture titled: ”The Role of Women in the Unfolding Political Equation, she said power is not served ala carte. The lecture was organised by the Capstone Church (Church Without Walls), Yaba, Lagos to mark this year’s Mother’s Day and the 10th anniversary of the church.

    Mrs. Amosun said:  “We have to stand up for what we believe in. We have to stand up and take our rightful places. We have to take bold steps to change the unfolding equation in our favour.“

    She added: “As we prepare for the elections, I implore you to make your voice heard and make your vote count by  participating  actively and encouraging others to take part in the political process. It is the only way to be relevant in the scheme of things. I would like us all to believe in ourselves and work hard to meet the requirements of whatever position we vie for.  The role of women in the unfolding political equation can only be felt, if we make our selves relevant and contribute our quota to the success of the election.”

    Mrs. Amosun said that equality should be adhered to, in compliance with international treaties.

    She said: “There have been some efforts by the government to increase women representation in poli-tics and appreciable progress are being recorded.  But, it is imperative that equal participation of women in politics is further effected in the Nigerian political system, in compliance with the covenants contained in the various International treaties to ensure the female representation continues to grow, not only in bench-warming role, but in the decision-making processes.”

    The first lady observed that women have innate qualities, which have distinguished them in the society. She stressed: “Women play multiple roles within the family, community and the society. We are role models, leaders, teachers, home makers and care givers. We are an unstoppable force to be reckoned with and we are the stabilising factor and bedrock of any society.”

    Lamenting the discrimination against women, she said: “Women are marginalised in all sectors of life, be it in the work place, community, financial institutions, industries and  the public sector. We are  under repre-sented in the economic, political and social sectors and this gross marginalisation in the electoral process contributes to women being a minority political equation.”

    Mrs. Amosun attributed the marginalisation to age-long tradtion and misconceptions, adding that it started with the refusal of people not to send their daughters to school.

    She said: “Women are  well read as men these days and this gives us the right and entitlement to occupy any position that a man can occupy.”

    Mrs. Amosun said that women are still few in the federal and state legislatures and executive councils.

    She stressed: “According to statistics, only 13.4 per cent of the cabinet members were women. There are no female governors. Only 1.6 per cent of women were councillors, 1.2 per cent were local government chairpersons, 2.8 per cent were senators and 3.3 were at the House of Representatives.”

    She urged women to invite men to female conferences so that they can share their feelings. Mrs. Amosun said:  “One of the mistakes that we make at female conferences is not inviting the men as we keep on preaching to the converted. We have to start inviting the men to women’s conferences. We need to state our cases to them. We need to let them know our disposition, stand and expectations. There is no point telling one another over and over again.

    “ To motivate change, the men in the corridors of power must be invited. Women have moved on we are no longer Molly maids or little kept women. Maybe, when we explain and demonstrate this to them over and over again, the desired change will begin to materialise.”

    Mrs. Amosun spoke on her empowerment programmes in Ogun State. She said she has empowered them through the ‘Uplift Development Foundation’, adding that the move has boosted their economic capacity and fostered self-sufficieny. She also commended her husband, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, for putting the welfare of women on the fore-burner.

    She said: “I stand tall and I am proud to say that my husband, in addition to his unrelentless efforts to give dividends of democracy to the citizens, has met and surpassed the 30 per cent  recommendation. He is gender  friendly.  This has been demonstrated through the fact that our Chief  Judge, Head of Service, Attorney-General, Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Agriculture, Women Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Special Advisers on Housing, Trade and Investment, Millennium Development Goals, to mention a few, are all women.

    “These are not the usual back seat female positions; these are the creme-de-la-creme positions that are usually reserved for the male kingdom.  If this were to be replicated in all states, the multiplier effect would bring about a gender0-sensitive nation.”

    Mrs. Amosun lauded the organisers, saying that the conference was timely.

    She said: “This conference is taking place at a time when mothers all over the world are weeping for the safe return of our Chibok daughters, whose predicament is a resultant effect of a political equation, which we have not been able to unravel and it is causing us all so much grief, anxiety and pain.”

     

  • ‘Obubra has been marginalised for too long’

    With 2015 round the corner, dust is already been raised in the political space in Cross River, one of such areas being the Obubra/Etung federal constituency where there has been cries of imposition and injustice.

    Currently occupying the seat is John Owan-Enoh from Etung, who has been there since 2003.

    However, the people of Obubra feel they have been left out of the mainstream of politics for too long and it was only fair that they seat comes to them having agreed that it should be on a rotational basis.

    Former permanent secretary in the federal civil service, Dr Mathew Achigbe, is one of those who feel the representation is imposed on them and there is need for change.

    His words: “For decades now, the people of Obubra have never been elected into a high office outside the ones that are exclusive to them nor appointed into any office at the national level. Initially I thought it was an oversight, but other political development with time has shown that it is a deliberate gang-up to put the people permanently down. I say so because the federal constituency that was given to us since 1999 for Obubra/Etung. Etung has only 32, 000 as against Obubra with 82, 000. I am not too sure that God who created us had made us genetically inferior that we cannot hold public office. Holding office in itself is not important. How the office is held is what is important to me.”

    Achigbe, who ran for the seat in 2011 election, said he was not so much interested in running again as he was that there should be equity and justice by ensuring Obubra gets it now.

    He said: “In 2010 I left the service to contest the office of Federal House of Representatives for Obubra/Etung where. I didn’t feel that a former ward in Ikom local government that was joined to Obubra to form a constituency to keep power permanently mortgaging the interest and future of a larger group, Obubra indefinitely.

    “I support the argument that if people are doing well in office you do not bring them down but if they have stayed and exhausted themselves then they should be changed. The representation we have is not effective. We would mobilise against it and Obubra has suffered for too long.

    “The political space should be loosened so that Cross Riverians can choose who is best for them.”

     

     

  • ‘Youths are marginalised by the old politicians’

    ‘Youths are marginalised by the old politicians’

    Social crusade and youth development expert Samuel J. Samuel, spoke with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on the danger of marginalising the youths in politics and how older politicians can mentor the younger generation in the march of development.

    HOW can the youths contribute meaningfully to nation-building and development?

    I used to see Nigeria as a place where we would have development than it is now. As it were, some of us were passionate about change and took part in mobilising all the resources to making this country great. We want to see how we could make use of the resources at our disposal, to develop areas where many would think it is impossible to thread. For instance, I chose to go into agriculture, industry and become non- partisan in politics for obvious reasons. We want a situation where there is equity, progress and justice. Our fear now is that, with what is going on, something needs to be done to salvage the country. We need to talk more and, if you take a look at our past and compare it to the present, those ruling this country when I was in my 10s, 20s are still the same people ruling us at present. The people who were ministers, presidents and governors are still the same people who want to come back to power. Then I ask myself, is there anything that I had done wrong or have not done enough to deserve the position these same people are contesting for, having been there many years back?

    You think the older politicians should take the blame?

    Today, the question that is in the heart of every youth of Nigeria is that what if every old man in his 60s, 70s and above fall sick or incapacitated today? Are they saying that among the youths we cannot find leaders? If you look at Nigeria, most of those who are clamouring to come back are the same old brigade. People like General Yakubu Gowon rtd, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), even Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, keep featuring. I want to say that, among these people, it is only General Ibrahim Babangida that was in his 40s when he ruled the country. Our ministers, governors, commissioners were in their 20s and 30s. But, if you take a critical look, most of those who were governors, ministers and those who want to be president are the same people who have been there yesterday in similar capacity. It is time for Nigerian youths to be more involved and I think one of the key challenges of the Nigerian youths is that it appears that we have given up. If you look back to 20 years ago, Nigerian youths were very vocal. They were very strong and very active in social justice. Where are we today? We now have poverty everywhere, poverty of ideology and poverty of the mind. And when you talk of corruption, people think that it is for people who only steal money. Now, how do we ensure a country with lots of opportunity to bounce back? We have rich farmlands, resources to match the industry, but there are no jobs. Today, if you place an advertisement for one vacant position, a minimum 50,000 applicants would apply.

    If good foundation has not been laid by the elders, how can the youth follow their footstep?

    The foundation of everything is very fundamental to the development of the society. The fact that every Nigerian is born into Nigeria and he or she affirms that this is my country, serves us to an extent. But,I want to say that Nigeria of today was not like that of 70s and 80s when things were a little bit better. That was when the morale of people were stronger, when patriotism was great. But, that has changed the configuration of Nigeria. Today, a lot of people want to leave Nigeria. Those who are not running out of Nigeria cannot even entrust the welfare of Nigerians with the country. I must say something is wrong with the trust level, morale level of Nigerians. And if I may ask, why do everybody wants to be in government in Nigeria? Today, a bank Managing Director or other chief executives want to end up as a governor. People attribute the urge to be in government to the fact that they want to cut their share of the national cake. Some say it is corruption, but it goes beyond that. It goes to the level of the corruption of the mind. We also agree that there is no social justice, but, if you look at some of these things, they are actually created by the people. Social justice, equity is worth for the asking. I work in this environment some 40 years ago. Now, I want to be in government. Is it because I no longer trust myself, the system and I feel that I am the only one who can do it? And, if I don’t know, other person cannot do it? I think that is another manifestation of poverty of the mind. Poverty of the mind is what we need to address. I must say that people are working, not because they want to work. They are working because they want to live. That is why things are so tight and tough. The banking industry today, they have lots of people with target. Today, you have a young banker who tries to meet the target placed at his shoulder.

    At what point did this gap set in between the youth and the older generation?

    This gap came in as a result of military rule. But, I think it is almost a decade and half now since the democratic system came back. We have not seen anything being done to return us back to where we used to be. If you look at it, even in the military days, we still have some active social movements or some active engagements. But, after that period, what has happened? We have democracy in Nigeria now and, if am correct, it is going to 15 years. Are we saying 15 years is not enough for us to get things back? Basically, that is the reason and we need to go back to where we should be.

    How will the country get out of this mirage?

    I think what we need to do is that we need to engage more in developmental argument. You need to have different level of social group. We have the elite, the middle class and, of course, the poor or lower class. I have seen Nigeria create more billionaires. There is a need for us to create a forum that will ensure that there is a balance. But, I don’t also think we have a problem with old people ruling the country. but, does that means that the old people cannot encourage the youth? If I was in power some 20 and 40 years ago, I expect my child to assume that same position or the one better than that.

    Older politicians are saying that the youths lack experience…

    I believe that the experience the youths have is a reflection of the one they were given. And that is what the youths sleep and wake up with. The challenge that goes with this type of comments, they have that comment coming regularly. I believe the leaders should challenge the youths. I think the youths are not actually hearing them. I have not actually heard any youth coming up to say oh, I can do it. But, of course, we have youths who came into power and have performed well. We have someone like Governor Babatunde Fashola, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal , Governor Donald Duke and others. They have been very exemplary and dynamic. We cannot say youths have not been forthcoming. the argument for me is a challenge. Again, I also want to disagree because, if we say, we don’t have the experience, they cannot be right. But, whatever experience the youths have is what was given. I believe we have enough of experienced hands. if we don’t give them the chance, we will not even know the stuff we have in them. The youth needs to wake up and begin to ask more questions. We need to wake up be more active in asking questions.

    The youths are indulging in social vices and they may take this to the corridor of power…

    I think Nigeria is a country of over 160 million people. If one or two are bad, do we say we do not have them in Nigeria? I don’t like to concentrate most of the time on the weaknesses of Nigeria and the Nigerian people. I will like to concentrate on the best part of Nigeria and the best of it. Like I said the youth is a product of the elderly, and the youth cannot do worst. Today, the e-governance is in place, what this simply means is that I don’t need to see you before I do my transaction face to face with anybody. Will there be corruption, if you don’t know my face? Who will implement it. The youths, of course. The age we are now, it has got to that level of economic development and it does not cost so much. And I think that is what will bring about the change.

    The youths are recruited as thugs during election. What can be done?

    It is simple and that is the reason why I think some of the youths that are privileged should be more active in carrying this campaign of change to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. It is impossible for any youth that is actively engaged to be employed as a thug. I want to believe that the youths are allowed to waste. They are called upon whenever odd things are happening. That is why they are creating a society where you have youths that are easily recruited for the odd jobs. So, the youths should start engaging in things that will help the society more. And, if we do that, I believe that we will have the kind of things that will help the society. For example, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. But, we have to work on that.

    Is there any way the youth can be reorganised to effect political change?

    People talk so much about the change that we have seen in the world recently. And they are wondering whether this could happen in Nigeria or not? This is the reason it happens in countries where it happens. It is because the youths were actually empowered. In Nigeria, can we mobilise? The reason why it is very difficult in Nigeria is because it is expensive. But, I think the Nigerian youths can mobilise and that is why the youths should empower themselves. That is where they need to get it right and the first source of empowerment is education. We have Boko Haram, the Niger Delta crisis with the youths making up the numbers. We have all kinds of things going on Nigeria. This is because the youths have not been properly engaged. All the things you see are all about mobilisation. If people can mobilise the people for this kind of cause, I believe that we can also mobilise for a country that will get the youths to be more engaged in all the kinds of things that they want. The question is, do the people actually know what they want? Are we actually getting it right? If you know that, in your father’s house there are many mansions, then, you will not sleep under the tree. Everybody in Nigeria, whether you like it or not, is a politician. we may not directly be involved in politics or card carrying member of any political party. I think everybody in Nigeria who is of age, should be more engaged in participatory development.

    What is your perception of the on-going national conference?

    If you allow me, I really don’t want to talk about it. I do believe that it is worth it for people to go and sit down to talk. This is not the first time they are talking. They have always been talking and I think there are differences that we do have, which need to be ironed out. But I still believe that there are easier ways, we can achieve some of these things. But, I hope and pray that the national conference will come out with results. I do hope that whatever comes out of the national conference is subjected back the people’s support. And, of course, if we agree on the outcome, let pray it is implemented. I still believe that there are capable people there that have been brought together. I do believe that they will represent Nigeria and I think that this is another opportunity for youths in Nigeria. And by now they should be throwing up questions on the outcome they are looking forward to. And if we get more of that, it will also help this national conference for the future of Nigeria.

  • ‘Market women are marginalised at national conference’

    ‘Market women are marginalised at national conference’

    Chief Folasade Tinubu-Ojo is the Iyaloja of Lagos and President-General of the Market Men and Women Association of Nigeria. She spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on the proposed national conference, the agitation for special status for Lagos and women participation in politics.

    Some people have alleged that you were forcing market women in Lagos to register as members of the APC. What is your reaction?

    It was a big lie. It was false. It was fabrication. It was a figment of hyper-active imagination. It was a piece of falsehood. It was a campaign of calumny. What was published in that newspaper did not represent the opinion of the Iponri market men and women. At a press conference, the traders later told reporters that I never forced anybody to register as members of any political party. I did not force anybody to register for the APC. There is the freedom of association. If I want to force the market people, what is the population of the Iponri market people? I can as well go to Mushin, Mile 12, Alaba-Rago markets. The shop owners in Iponri market are educated people; learned individuals. We have in that market eminent personalities in that market that you cannot order around. They know what they are doing. They know their rights. They ask questions. Nobody can force people to register for the APC. APC knows its members. The registration was just a formality. Can anybody force you to register as a member of a political party against your wish? But, some people who are not interested in following the rules are just blackmailing us and looking for loopholes. that is why they are peddling rumours.

    In order words, as the Iyaloja of Nigeria, you are using your position to foster the freedom of political association…

    Yes. People have the right. I have my right and others have their rights. Nobody can force me to join a political party and I cannot force anybody. Nobody can force me to join a political party against my interest and policy. my position does not allow me to force people to join a political party.

    What are the challenges that have confronted you since you assumed office as the Iyaloja of Lagos?

    This is the challenge of leading a vital segment of the society. Some challenges rose from our decision to do the right thing and insist on rules and regulations at the Iponri Market, Lagos. We were confronted with the refusal to pay levies and dirty environment. Some traders also had misunderstanding among themselves. We have always organised ourselves to embrace the convention of not going to the law enforcement agents, until the association has been informed and the avenues for the ventilation of grievances have been explored, or the problem is of enormous proportion capable of disturbing the entire community.

    We have a tradition of resolving issues internally and amicably in a way that would foster cohesion and guaranteed unity. Some detractors came up with the unfounded allegations that I was demanding N10 million or N5 million. That has been sorted out now and those who purportedly made the allegation have denied making such a spurious allegation. The association has insisted on enforcing its rules and penalising those who violate them. This is challenging. I was a private person before assumed this responsibility and some people were sponsoring the media to attack my personality and that of my father as if I am one of Tinubu’s children who went to the market to shut down the market because my father is a political leader.

    Can the attacks been linked to the fact that you are the daughter of the political leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu?

    Yes. That was what I told the reporters here during a press conference, that you don’t even have to address me as the daughter of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While attacking me, you don’t have to say that Tinubu’s daughter did this or that. I don’t go out to shut down shops because my father is the political leader. If you want to address me, I am the Iyaloja-general. I have my own name. You have to address me in that capacity. I am not the only child of the man. He has other children. My dad is a disciplinarian. He can never allow any of his children to go out of their way to step on peoples’ toes because he is the political leader. Before I became the Iyaloja-General, if I have been using my father’s name, you would have known me one way or the other. I don’t live under the shadow of my father. Thank God, he is my dad. I can’t blame my God for sending me into this world through Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is my biological father. But, I bless God for everything God has done for me today.

    What are the values and virtues you are imbibing from your father?

    Discipline. Truthfulness. Openness. Unbiased judgment.

    What is your reaction to the choice of market men and women association’s delegates to the proposed national conference?

    As far as I am concerned, the only person on that list representing the association is Mrs. Felicia Sanni. She is the only market leader on the Federal Government’s list. That list is not representative of the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. Mrs. Sanni can only speak for the market people in Abuja. So, were not duly represented at the conference.

    What is the implication?

    Any decision they take in respect of the market people will not be acceptable to us. Those there cannot speak our mind, they cannot stand for us. It is just for Abuja people.

    It is believed that you are using your position as the Iyaloja for political mobilisation…

    That is untrue. My position is not political. But, whether we like it or not, we are all political animals. Every one of us has the right to belong to a party of choice. You have the right to choose your own political family. I also have the right to choose my own political family. In our association, we have PDP members, APC members, Labour Party members.

    What is your position on the agitation for a special status for Lagos?

    Lagos is a mini-country. It shoulders enormous national and continental responsibilities. As the former Federal Capital Territory, it should not be neglected by the Federal Government. I am not saying that any city should also be neglected. But, in developed countries, when the capital is re-located, the central government still takes care of the former capital. Lagos is the commercial hub and economic nerve centre. There is pressure on the amenities here. So, the Federal Government should consider giving Lagos a special status, backed with special funding because all Nigerians from 35 states of the federation live in Lagos.

    As the Iyaloja, how have you been able to cope, work and relate with the old market veterans, who operated along with your illustrious grandmother?

    I have been working with them as market leaders for four years before Mama passed on. I have been representing Mama at the Market Board. So, working with them now is not strange to me. I have been acting on behalf of Mama before she died. However, when I became the Iyaloja, they started to give me the respect. It was not easy for me to adjust to this. But, I instantly accord them their own respect.

    What are those things you learned from the market matriarch, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji?

    One of the virtues I learned from Mama was the ability to carry the people along; fighting for the rights of market people, being there for them, defending them when it is necessary.

    How have you been able to articulate the interests and problems of market men and women in Lagos?

    We have been demanding for better life for all people, including the market people. If there are good roads, free education, free health, good and affordable housing, security and other social amenities for the society, market people, who are part of the society, will benefit. But, market people also owe certain obligations to the government and society. Government should play their parts and the people should also play their parts. Governance is a collective enterprise. Government is trying its best for the markets. But, like Oliver Twist, we are asking for improve amenities. We tell the market people to make the market clean; don’t display your wares on the roads. They will tell you that they would do it. When you leave there, they are back on the road. Some market people just called me from Agege to complain that the KAI people packed their goods from the roads. I asked them: are you sure you were not arrested because you spread your goods on the road? Then, I asked them to send the picture of where they were to me. When they brought the picture, I knew that they were actually on the road. This is a challenge. We have to continue to sensitise our people. Rome was not built in a day. It is also a big challenge that some people are still sleeping in the market in the night. But, we are sensitising them. That is why the number of those who do that is reducing drastically.