The Nation Newspaper

Tag: New face

  • New face of Nigerian press

    The Nigeria press played an important role in the socio-economic and political emancipation of our nation. It was not an accident that our foremost nationalists as well as our founding fathers were newspaper publishers or practising journalists. Unfortunately the press, like most state institutions the military touched, has been brought to disrepute. Its independence and vibrancy were first undermined by the takeover of the Daily Times and New Nigeria by Murtala Mohammed/Obasanjo regime in 1975. The emergence of Babangida in 1995 with his liberalisation of the ownership of broadcast media heralded new breed publishers and broadcasting media owners who depended on government support to establish their outfits or its patronage to survive in a competitive business environment. Thus the post-Babangida’s emergent press became not just friend of those in government whose activities it was constitutionally empowered to monitor, but an instrument with which the ‘chop I chop’ ideology of the ruling clique was imposed on the nation. They aggressively sold Babangida’s economic policy that allowed for the sharing of our national assets by a few privileged members of the ruling clique claiming there was no alternative to SAP and for his fraudulent eight years of ‘transition without end’,  crowned him the ‘Prince of the Lower Niger’.

    And when PDP finally  hijacked power from Babangida and Abacha’s ‘Nigerian army of anything is possible’ in 1999, a section of the press ceased being ‘an impartial and objective free market place of ideas’ as it was in the pre- and post-independence years to become  an instrument  for spreading PDP’s warped views to legitimize its holds on power. Sadly, in the months leading to the 2015 election, it degenerated into an instrument for the subjugation of helpless and oppressed Nigerians yearning for change.

    Long before the last haul of N2.1billion by Raymond Dokpesi purportedly for publicity and promotional services rendered to Jonathan by his AIT that is often in arrears in payment of salaries to workers, AIT had been close to all past successive governments. And long before Obaigbena’s haul of N670m (N120 reserved for NPAN), he had always been available for use by past successive governments. Shortly after the 1993 election, it was daring Nduka Obaigbena that was first sent out by Babangida to test the waters by appearing on CNN to canvass for the cancellation of the election on the ground that MKO Abiola voted wearing a dress with SDP logo. The editorial policy of his paper and his marketing strategies since 1999 seem geared towards the exploitation and promotion of the greed of the Nigerian ruling class. Towards this, he pioneered printing in colour to celebrate beauty and splendour. This influenced the consumption pattern of the masses while promoting the greed of those who control the material resources. His NPAN members soon joined him in the scramble for a share of the colour advertising media campaign appropriations.

    And to promote the views of those in power, Obaigbena did the unthinkable. He traded off the back page, a traditional major news page, with opinion write ups reflective of the prevailing ideology, first of Babangida and his Aso Rock professors and later of PDP. And in what many of his critics described as contempt for readers, he traded off pages two and three, major news pages for advertisements. And finally as if to validate  Karl Marx’s thesis that those who own material resources also control our thoughts,  Obaaigbena sold off his mast head for what he creatively called ‘wrap around’ . Thus both the front and back pages of the his paper are occasionally taken over by banks, politicians and others who are ready to part with millions in order to impose their views no matter how warped on the helpless readers. Obaigbena’s initial objectionable creative innovations soon became a fad even among serious newspapers that lay claim to setting agenda for society,

    Then business savvy Obaigbena graduated into giving of ‘awards of excellence’ to dubious bankers willing to pay for them. Obaigbena was smiling to the banks as banks chief executives were falling over each other to receive his media awards.  It was not long when other NPAN member envious of his good fortunes joined him. Two of his most decorated awardees, Erasmus Akingbola of Intercontinental Bank and Cecelia Ibru’s of Oceanic soon ran into troubled waters with the banking regulatory agencies. The former was found guilty of mismanagement of depositors funds and ordered to pay about 600 pounds sterling to the new owners of his former bank while the later was similarly found guilty and jailed for similar offence by a Nigerian court.

    From the banking sector, Obaigbena carried his award crusade to   serving governors. But as it also turned out, many of the governors who received his awards were later found to be men with feet of clay with some of them serving jail terms in Nigeria and abroad for financial malfeasances.

    Then Obaigbena came up with what is at best described as the ‘father’ of all awards titled ‘Life Time Achievement Award. Covered in this category were all who  grumbled in private about being  outwitted in their business transactions with Obaigbena, bankers who accepted his ingenious business  proposal of stationing banks staff on his premises to directly collect advertisement revenue to defray ‘serviceable loans’. Even some of his respected NPAN senior colleagues who had been critical of his unorthodox approaches were listed as awardees. Also on the list were captains of industries without industries, fuel subsidy fraudsters and prosperity prophets specialising in sales of grace. Obaigbena did not forget to fly in Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of Britain who has credibility deficit back home to preside over the presentation of Life Achievement awards to his chosen Nigerian achievers.

    AS NPAN president, the ‘Obaigbenisation’ of the Nigerian Press is complete. This has been reinforced by his personal negotiation of N670m of ‘Dasuikigate’s slush fund which he channelled through his Hydrocarbons energy Consulting firm. To ensure everyone is tarred with the same brush, he even collected on behalf of protesting NPAN members such as The Punch and The Guardian that insisted they never filed demand claims.

    I believe the place of Obaigbena in the development of the Nigeria press between 1995 and 2015 is assured. It is not threatened by virtue of being a recipient N670m of Dazukigate’s $2.2m slush fund. For betraying the trust of the people, it is ex President Jonathan, his Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala   and the CBN which ferried $47m cash in 11 boxes to Dasuki’s office in one night and Sambo Dasuki the ‘piggy bank’ who will face harsh judgment of history.

  • New face of State House

    The wind of change is not only sweeping across the economy; even the Presidential Villa is changing too.

    A lot of things that used to happen at the seat of power, especially under the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, have given way to change.

    Only those with genuine business with the government have been visiting the Presidential Villa under Buhari.

    All those hangers-on who normally visited the seat of power under Jonathan have all disappeared.

    In the past two months of relocating to the Presidential Villa, more than 70% of guests and visitors to the President during the daytime have been government officials, especially Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

    They have been trooping in to update the President on their Ministries activities.

    One of the changes, as pointed out by some visitors to the seat of power who normal visited the State House under Jonathan, was in the area of entertainment for guests and visitors.

    Under Jonathan, guests and visitors were often entertained with tea or coffee, other light drinks, snacks, sweets and on special occasions, meals.

    This appears to be fast changing as noted by some recent visitors to the State House, Abuja.

    The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Eze Duru Iheoma, at the State House a fortnight ago noted the changes while answering questions from State House correspondents on anti-corruption stance of President Buhari.

    He said: “Let me tell you, the truth is I don’t think any right-thinking person in this country is comfortable with the word ‘corruption’. So, that the President has declared war against corruption should please every good-thinking Nigerian. I think it is a very good effort. For taking up that challenge and meeting it head-on, we thank him because, in fact, my colleagues pointed out something I didn’t take note of: the atmosphere in the Villa is a far cry from what it used to be in the past.

    “We were there at the reception and in the past you find tea and all that you know. But now you see a conscious effort to cut cost. And that is part of the fight. So, we commend Mr. President.” He stated

    Another area where the changes were recently noticeable was during the commemoration of the 2015 International Youth Day at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    It was obvious that mainly those that have business with the event attended the function unlike any function held at the venue under former President Jonathan’s administration.

    Under Jonathan, such function would have attracted all dick and harry with up to seventy percent of guests not necessarily having any relevance to the function.

    Other things were absent at the 2015 International Youth Day event, which was the second major function to be attended at the venue by President Buhari since his relocation to the Presidential Villa.

    Then, long queues of vehicles of those trying to gain entrance to such function will line up from the old Banquet Hall gate to as far as the front of the Fire Service building outside the State House gate.

    That was the hallmark of any function at the old Banquet Hall under Jonathan.

    While there were unusual free flows of traffic to and from the venue, the Banquet Hall car parks were not half filled throughout the duration of the event.

    This prompted a passerby who arrived the car park after the function have started to say loudly to his friend: “Are you sure the function has not ended and guests gone back?”

    But entering the hall, more than 80% of those in the hall were members of the National Youth Service Corps and other youths.

    While those who don’t have business with the seat of power may not have easy access, some staff who do not normally have access to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa close to the President’s official office now have easy access.

    Most of them who belong to the Muslim faith now easily join the President at the State House mosque for prayers.

    Huge production hours and costs are now saved by the staff who prior to the new administration normally go to the National Central Mosque, Abuja for their Friday Jumaat prayers.

    The State House mosque was virtually under lock and key under Jonathan, who was Christian.

     

    Crackdown

    on racketeers

     

    Racketeers have been in the system over the years extorting money one way or the other from job seekers who are mainly youths.

    There have been several stories of those in charge of such recruitment exercise either directly or through their cronies and middlemen get up to N500,000 from each job applicant.

    Many of the applicants have fell into fraudulent hands and never got the desired job after parting with such huge amount of money.

    Some of them in the process of the recruitment exercise have also lost their lives.

    A recent case in point was the failed Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exercise, which was said to be hijacked from the recruitment board by the then Minister of Interior under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Similar stories were also said then about recruitment exercises in the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and many government agencies.

    But the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday has sent a warning note to all government agencies that it will no longer be business as usual for staff recruitments.

    A test case before the government now is the coming recruitment of 10,000 personnel into the Nigeria Police Force.

    Only time will tell if those in charge will heed the new administration’s warnings or device new system to beat the directive.

     

  • Hostel system: The new face of livestock farming

    Hostel system: The new face of livestock farming

    An innovative livestock hostel system brings farming into the 21st Century and creates income for agro entrepreneurs. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    A fresh group of livestock entrepreneurs are emerging  in Ogun State. They are  supported  by Sliden  Africa, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), to  establish  sustainable  livestock  enterprises.

    Sliden  Africa  provides a support structure for those who want to get into livestock  farming, but  don’t have enough   money to buy land and equipment.

    •Olayimika
    •Olayimika

    Speaking with The Nation, the NGO’s Programme Officer, Olufunmi Olayimika,  said  her  organisation provides technical and business development assistance to  farmers who  want  to go into  livestock  businesses.

    At  its livelihood support and development centre, Olayimika  said, the  organisation  assists livestock farmers with housing  to  keep their animals.  Once the farmers are registered with the agency, she  said they are  free  to bring  their animals  to the place. They  keep  the animals  until  they acquire land to relocate  them.

    According to her, aspiring  entrepreneurs  face a lot of challenges  raising  fund to  start  mini livestock businesses.

    A major  part  of the expenses, she  noted, is in the area of   feeding  the  livestock.

    Under an agreement, she explained  that  the  organisation takes  the burden from aspiring entrepreneurs, including providing  feed, labour and veterinary aid.

    Presently, she  said, the  group  has  a thriving goat unit with a stock of 12 goats.

    Apart from feeding them, she   said the goats are  offered  free grazing.

    Regular attention are provided, including periodic deworming of goats.

    The  arrangement, Olayimika explained, is benefitting start up farmers, who are getting into animal husbandry, but  don’t have the time and resources  to run the business efficiently.

    In his  contribution, a member of the supervising team, Mr

    Adebayo Kareem  saidthe initiative is  relief  to poor  farmers who  want to get involved  in cattle rearing but  are constrained  financially.

    For abeginning farmer, he said  housing isvital and that goats need a well-built shelter and some additional fence in the area to move around freely.

    He  said Sliden Africa is   providing farmers with a large grassland to support variety of livestock.

    To  fortify the  land, he  said the centre  has  provided  concrete  fencing to  keep predators and other unwanted elements away from the  goats.

    For him, the project has come to help goat farmers, who  started with a pair of goats without any preparedness, for a venture.

    The  goats are reared without much difficulty in arranging feeds and fodder and providing them shelter.

    The environment provided the animals enables them to grow.

    The goats also repay with respect. A farm attendant, Mrs Florence  Abolarin, demonstrated  this.

    She  called and beckoned on the goats and they responded immediately  running to  her.

    Apart from when they  come  to feed, Abolarin said  the goats spend their days wandering  on the farm  and come home in the evenings on their own.

    The relative success of the project  has pointed the way forward for farmers who are ready  to bring their  goats and cows to  the farm.

    With this programme, Sliden Africa is creating a dynamic and thriving agricultural community of new and established farmers .

  • ‘We need a new face, a change’

    ‘We need a new face, a change’

    In this interview, one of the aspirants for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Dr Obiora Okonkwo, spoke about his ambition and other issues.  Okonkwo, who is also the leader and chairman, Board of Trustees Nzuko Imeobi of Idemili North and South Councils, an entrepreneur and the Political /Economic Adviser to the ArchBishop of Onitsha, said his people can no longer ignore the idea behind a new way of thinking; the enthusiasm of the new kid in the block. Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports

    What is motivating your aspiration to go to the Senate?

    I am motivated by the singular desire to do good; to be in a position to do something special for people, for humanity. I have often said that my desire, as fueled by my ambition, is to do good, to serve humanity. And the question is, how do I do this good? Nothing is greater than to live a life of service; to add value to another person’s life. In that context, I am looking for a higher pedestal to stand and do this service to humanity. At this point in time, I feel that the Senate will offer me this opportunity to continue to serve humanity.

    In what ways do you think you can render this service to your people?

    The service is contained in my charter with the communities, which we have drawn up in the course of working out how we will get to the Senate. The charter, which many will call a manifesto, contains the expectations of the people as articulated by them. We are still going round all our communities, identifying what their needs are. When I get to the Senate, I will ensure that every component of this charter finds its way into the budget and the projects to be executed for the constituencies. People in the communities, from the traditional ruler, the town union leader, the women leader and the youth leader have to sign on the charter. The plan is to agree on about four cardinal needs in the community. We have to be sure that it goes into the budget that comes to the National Assembly. We are not just going there to appropriate; we are going to deliver on the needs of the people, which we will develop together with them. At the Senate, we will make sure that we integrate with the leadership, with the system; the government in the centre, which is the PDP government and ensure that the needs, as contained in the charter, are aggregated and put into the national pipeline. I have been with my people. I know them; they know me. I know their problems and if given the mandate, it will be easier for me to cater to the needs of my community through the charter, the deed of agreement. We have been doing this before now; we have built roads, brought federal projects and development and we have empowered people. So, when this opportunity finally materialises, it would be a boost, additional strength, additional network, additional inroads into the decision making process. We will be going to the National Assembly to solve problems and lift the people.

    Do you think the PDP in Anambra State is properly organised to effectively run and deliver on this election?

    I am a member of the PDP and I don’t imagine there is another party capable of managing its internal affairs better. Things might not have looked particularly pleasing hitherto but today, we in the PDP have come together and agreed to move the party forward in Anambra State. Admittedly, there were tough issues in the past and if there were difficulties in dealing with those issues, it was because those issues within the context of running a party made up of very democratically minded people, are important. Things can only be better. Many parties would have folded and closed shop if they went through the difficult path that the PDP in Anambra State went through. I believe that era is over; and the statement will be made with the 2015 election. Problems don’t last forever; so, we have resolved to come together, put our house in order, consolidate our strength, work on our weaknesses and ensure that we put our heads together and win this election.

    How confident are you that you are going to get the nod of your party men in the primary election?

    The party is structured to bring out its best at any given point in time to run elections. I believe in the process that will bring the candidate and my confidence is strengthened because I believe I am good enough to represent my people in the Senate. And if it is the will of God, then the people, my party, will key into that. I won’t be in the race if I doubt that I am not good enough to be honoured with the party ticket to run the final race. The party will decide.

    This is your first foray into elective politics, how can you assess your strength and chances in the old Idemili, from where two other aspirants are hoping to grab the PDP ticket?

    To start with, you cannot win a project of this nature if you worry about those who, because of the recurrence of their presence at every election, appear to be favorites. There is something about freshness. We cannot ignore the idea behind a new way of thinking; the enthusiasm of the new kid in the block if I may use that phrase. We need a new energy source, a new face, a change in the way we have been doing things, a shift in gear, which can come only from a collective desire to look elsewhere for movement. Experience counts but what is the benefit of experience if all it does is kept us all stirring the same old pot of stew. This is the difference we are bringing into the race. There are people who keep boasting of how long they have been around. If that is so important, what have they done? There are others who have done so much and ought to move to other challenges. I am saying; let others dance on the stage. My strength is in my dance steps; my chances are hinged on how many people who will key into the dexterity we promise to show on the stage. Here, I am talking about fresh ideas, perspectives, motivation, and an unyielding desire to give to the people, my people, a dose of fresh air.

    In the old Idemili, there are three people, good people, aspiring to be senators. It means that Idemili is vibrant; it is a PDP zone. In that case, it is just one indication that it is already guaranteed that Idemili is going to PDP. Secondly, for me, the choice has been made. I think Idemili people have decided who they want to represent them. We will wait for the party to ratify that. This is Idemili people’s project; they are the people opening all doors and leading the campaigns. They are not debarring any person from contesting, and I think at the end of the day, it is just the choice that they make that will matter.

    Can you expatiate on those things you did for your community that you think have endeared them to you?

    This certainly is not the forum to talk of these things. I have always felt more comfortable to allow the people speak on these things because the people can speak on the things that have affected them in different ways. I can only say that I have been there for them; I have been with them. We have solved a lot of problems together; surmounted some threats within the communities. We have done so much in our villages, towns, councils and the federal constituency. We are now extending it to the Central. We have beneficiaries of our local and oversea scholarships. We have through our network appropriated federal projects to the constituency. The people expect an expansion if we all succeed in this project. We have built roads with our resources. Through our empowerment program, we have been fully engaged in manpower development and employed thousands of graduates in various jobs. It is the people who simply decided that, “if you have done so much out here, why not go now.” At all levels, market men and women, associations, town union associations, have endorsed this project. They believe in it. And the most touching is the endorsement of all the traditional rulers in the Central. The custodians of our culture have blessed this project, can they be wrong? Their endorsement is the first of its kind since 1999; it is unique and significant in many ways. It is a statement of faith and a clarion call to the stakeholders in the Central that this project has a collective essence. The endorsements have not been in secret and the religious, across denominations, have come together to support this project. To me, to all of us and to all those who have endorsed, this is a partnership project and I am just the figurehead. The power is with the people.

  • New face of politics

    SIR: Politics as usual has not served the industrious citizens of this nation well.  Nigerians have been disenfranchised by politicians who cared little for good governance.  The tide of unconscionable politicians is sweeping through the country like locusts.  They are voraciously squandering the immense resources endowed for the betterment of the people.  Suddenly politicians are living in palaces as if they are kings.

    Nigerians should avail themselves of the chance to do soul-searching on the personalities they consider for political leadership.  That someone is visible and loud does not make the person a leader.  Nigerians are very wise; only that if they allow themselves one minute to think about an individual’s character, judging from his or her speech or antecedent, they will be able to make an informed decision about his or her leadership capabilities.

    True leadership comes out of a conscience driven by a sense of social progress.

    Nigerians will individually have themselves to blame when they abuse their political franchise with bad choices.  The influence of poverty politics creates the corridor for charlatans to thrive.  The jingoists come around every election season and make promises and like a typhoon they disappear once they get into office.  The country has sufficient resources to satisfy the economic demands of the citizens.

    Now is early.  The poor masses have suffered tremendously from the neglect or ignorance of their civic responsibility.  If a politician offers you goodies, take them and thank him or her.  An enlightened citizen should endeavour to do his or her own political calculation and vote for the candidate that will best satisfy his or her interests.

    Democracy will yield abundant fruits when its tenets are strictly adhered to.  It behoves on the citizenry to disabuse themselves of the regression of vulgar politics.  The new face of politics in Nigeria will wear the mask of discipline and abhor the evil forest of corruption.  The future generation must be spared from the sins of their forebears.  An Igbo adage says suffering is on the body.  What good has the political road Nigerians travelled so far done for them other than total collapse of the social structure?   Turn on the light and see the disastrousness of the nation’s journey so far.

    • Pius Okaneme,

    Umuoji, Anambra State.