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Tag: Nigerians

  • Nigerians salute ‘gentleman’ GOK Ajayi

    Nigerians salute ‘gentleman’ GOK Ajayi

    Nigerians from all walks of life have been trooping to the Surulere, Lagos home of the late legal luminary, Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN) to commiserate with his family.

    The Chief Ajayi died last Saturday in Lagos.

    Among those who visited his widow, Magaret on Monday were the Interim National Publicity Secretary, All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the deceased best friend, Chief Bode Ogunlana and his wife: the Ajalorun of Ijebu Ife, Oba Adesesan Oguntayo; the former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice I.A. Olorunnimbe, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, Diocesan Bishop Anglican Communion, Dr. E.A. Ademowo; Chief Ladi Rotimi –Williams(SAN) and his wife, Dr. Henrieta, Mrs. Kudirat Aka-Bashorun, Mr. A.J. Owonikoko (SAN), activist, Mrs. Ayo Obe, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo among others. Best friend to the late legal icon, Olola Bode Ogunlana said the deceased was a friend of 70 years and “one with whom he shared many things in common”.

    Ogunlana said “his demise was like a part of him gone.

    “We have been friends since we were in primary school. I will miss him so much for many things. He was also a director in all my companies,” he added.

    APC Interim Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed described his demise as the passing away of a titan, not just a legend in the profession of law.

    “He made the legal profession what we all want to belong to,” he said , adding that the late Chief Ajayi also fought for the actualisation of late Bashorun Moshood Abiola’s June 12, 1993 mandate. “He was a gentleman, a man that you can rely on, very reliable, very disciplined and had many admirers who are not known to him. He stood for truth. Of course he came to limelight in the battle for actualization of June 12 because he has this principle of fighting for the truth. I think we would all miss him”, he added. Oba Oguntayo described the deceased as “ one of the illustrious son of Ijebuland, a national figure in his profession, a lawyer that fights for the rights of the down trodden, and stood by justice, fairness and equity throughout his life”. “So we are missing a very important person in the legal profession. You remember the Alhaji Abdulrahman Shugaba case, the trial of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the trial of MKO Abiola? I can go on and o. We are happy that he led a good life, a fulfilled life and we hope that other lawyers and people would emulate him”, Oba Oguntayo added.

    The Diocesan Bishop, Lagos Anglican Communion, Dr. Ademowo wrote in the condolence register, “a child of God. May your soul rest in perfect peace”.

    Dr Ademowo was represented at the house of the deceased by four clergymen including Venerable J.O. Adeyi, Canon Egbinola, Canon D.O. Adebayo and Reverend Bimbo Adewoju.

    Oba Oguntayo described the deceased as “ one of the illustrious son of Ijebuland, a national figure in his profession, a lawyer that fights for the rights of the down trodden, and stood by justice, fairness and equity throughout his life”. “So we are missinga very important person in the legal profession. You remember the Alhaji Abdulrahman Shugaba case, the trial ofChief Obafemi Awolowo, the trial MKO Abiola? I can go on and o. We are happy that he led a good life, a fulfilled life and we hope that other lawyers and people would emulate him”, Oba Oguntayo added.

    The Diocesan Bishop, Lagos Anglican Communion, Dr. Ademowo wrote in the condolence register, “a child of God. May your soul rest in perfect peace”.

    Dr Ademowo was represented at the house of the deceased by four clergymen including Venerable J.O. Adeyi, Canon Egbinola, Canon D.O. Adebayo and Reverend Bimbo Adewoju.

    Chief Bose Olujobi McEwen said he has done the country proud, adding: “May God bless your soul wherever you are in His universe. Rest in peace (RIP).”

    Former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice I. A Olorunnimbe said the late legal luminary was a fine gentleman. He described him as a legal icon, defender of the law, defender of the masses. “May his soul rest in peace,” he added.

    Chief Rotimi Williams and wife, Henrietta in their tribute wrote, “he was an inspiration to many of us. May his soul rest in perfect peace”.

    Chief (Mrs) Ronke Atere said the deceased was a gentleman, one that people can rely on. He was a very supportive man who would be available at the times of trouble for people. “We should thank God for his life,” she added. Alhaja Kudirat Aka-Basorun wrote,” daddy, rest in perfect peace”.

    Mr. Owonikoko (SAN) also in the condolence register said of late Chief Ajayi, “it is a glorious exit for a mentor, a leader,a father figure and above all an icon of the legal, profession. You were integrity personalised and your legacy shall never dim. Audieu sir”. Activist Mrs. Ayo Obe wrote that she was always proud to have followed late Chief Ajayi to court adding “may you rest in perfect peace”. Mr. Olusegun Ajayi wrote, “daddy, you were a great patriot, a true legal luminary of all times. May God grant your family the forituide to bear this great loss. May your light shine perpetually”.

    Pastor Ituah Ighodalo also said in the register, “a truly great man. May the Lord grant you peace, joy and grace”. Mr. Gboyega Onabanjo wrote on behalf of the family of the late former governor of Ogun State, Chief Bisi Onabanjo, “rest in perfect peace”.

    Chief Supo Shonibare also wrote, “our mentor, our boss and the last of the truly good barristers in the country. A gentleman and a great leader. May your soul rest in perfect peace”.

  • Govt, insurgents guilty of killing innocent Nigerians

    SIR: Few days ago, some young graduates and promising future leaders lost the battle no one has ever won in life (very early) due to their own government’s insensitivity. When it gets to a stage where the government kills its own people, such a nation is on life support.

    If the government cannot save the poor from the pool of poverty, why should they compound their problems? The government will always claim there is no money to create jobs whereas there is money to pay former governors, retired generals and professionals currently attending the national conference 12 million naira each. Imagine such money being given to people who are living in their own houses, individuals who are eating the kind of food they like at their convenient time while the poverty-stricken keeps wallowing in poverty.

    Both the insurgents and the government are killing the people. The only difference is that the insurgents are doing it directly while the government is doing it indirectly. What else can be said about this? Seven hundred thousand applicants invited for a physical exercise where only 4,000 of them will be employed in the long run? For people to think that the recruitment exercise is transparent given the rumour being peddled around that the politicians have already shared the slots?

    But whether it is a rumour or not, one thing I have learnt in this country is that for you to survive in Nigeria, your leg must be long. If your leg is not long, you must stay connected with people whose

    legs are long. If you can’t meet any of the two, you are finished.

    This is not happening only in government, it happens in private companies, schools, in fact in churches and mosques. When will the poor emerge from poverty?

    Now the government is giving the family of the victim three jobs each. That can only be a consolation. It can never heal the wounds. Ten different eyes cannot be like one’s biological eye.

    Honestly, the March 15 incident is very sad. Graduates whose parents are looking forward to seeing their greatness died suddenly. Parents expecting to reap the fruit of their labour have their hope

    dashed.

    • Idowu Esho Jamiu

    Eruwa, Oyo State.

     

  • From the Villa: Ending Nigerians’ medical tourism abroad

    From the Villa: Ending Nigerians’ medical tourism abroad

    Every year, Nigeria continues to lose huge sums of money when her citizens travel abroad for medical attention.

    While the actions of some of these Nigerians can be justified because of lack of standard equipment or personnel for the particular medical service needed by the individual, others simply prefer the services abroad as they do not want to risk their lives in the course of being handled by local medics.

    In 2012, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) said Nigeria lost $500 million on annual medical tourism by Nigerians abroad.

    The NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele had maintained that over 5,000 Nigerians travel out every month to India, Egypt and Ghana to treat ailments that could mostly be handled in Nigeria.

    “Indeed, it has been shown that India earns over $260 million from medical tourism from Nigeria alone,” he said.

    He specifically challenged Nigerian political office holders to go beyond lip-service in order to change the story in Nigeria.

    Challenging politicians in 2012, he said: “Indeed, the NMA is convinced that if President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, members of the Federal Executive Council, Governors, Deputy Governors, and other political office holders, make it a point of duty to stand on the same queue with ordinary Nigerians to seek medical care and conduct health checks in public hospitals in Nigeria, the confidence of ordinary Nigerians and foreigners in Nigeria’s healthcare system will be re-ignited and bolstered.”

    But almost two years after the call, nothing seems to have changed in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

    Speaking at the Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja Monday last week, President Goodluck Jonathan, through the Vice-President Namadi Sambo, further lamented the capital flight arising from medical tourism of Nigerians abroad.

    He said: “We still have the largest number of people in Africa and the developed world travelling out of the country to seek healthcare services. The scale of capital flight lost to medical tourism is enormous, not justifiable and needs to be speedily addressed for the survival and development of our local health practitioners and industry.

    “Government is not unaware of the numerous challenges limiting the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in our country and the importance of political commitment in surmounting these challenges.

    “The World Bank’s case study of 11 countries that have made significant progress in UHC, affirmed that political leadership and commitment is the key driving force for achieving UHC.”

    Speaking at the summit, the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, citing the successes being recorded in his state, urged government to go beyond lip-service and show the necessary political will needed to attain universal health coverage in the country.

    According to him, due to political will, his state is recording success in a programme called ‘Abiye’ for safe motherhood, which is done in partnership with the World Bank.

    He said: “The programme essentially is about tracing every pregnant woman from conception to delivery, using very simple modern methods. We also trace them to the communities through primary healthcare provider. We have been doing all of this and completely eliminating financial barriers through budgetary allocation, through pooling of funds from partners.

    “Strengthening the core system is also very important because no matter how much you put into the system, if the health system is not strengthened and accountable, you may not get the output you desire.

    “In two years of ‘Abiye’, we were able to increase percentage of attendance by more than 80 per cent. By now, it must be over 1,000 per cent. We were able to reduce the unit cost of care. The cost of taking care of a pregnant woman has been reduced to N4, 000, including caesarean delivery. That means if I give you N40, 000, I’m expecting 10 live babies. It is cost-based analysis; you can measure your outcome.

    “That means that if you eliminate financial barriers, if you engender confidence in the core system, what you spend to take care of each patient goes down. The cost you incur in complications gets reduced.

    “It will also interest you, Mr. President, that in four years, facility-based figures, with clear empirical evidence, we were able to reduce maternal mortality rate by more than 70 per cent. What that means is that with political will, with the necessary backings and technology, we can achieve universal health coverage. “It is not all about money; it is about effective and efficient management of resources that we have. What we need is political will, effective and efficient modernisation of our health system.”

  • United against Nigerians

    United against Nigerians

    We must be worried if truly state govts are at the vanguard of clamour for fuel subsidy removal again

    Only the uninitiated would not have known what was coming when motorists began to queue for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, at filling stations across the country about a month ago. But Nigerians who have known the tricks since the military era must have known the destination: withdrawal of fuel subsidy. That the fuel scarcity has persisted in spite of lies by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that there is enough stock is a strong indication that someone is going to tell Nigerians to prepare to pay more for fuel. It was a matter of time. The only question is: who will bell the cat?

    But Nigeria has never been short of hatchet men. This time around, the clamour for the removal of the so-called fuel subsidy is coming from states’ commissioners of finance, under the umbrella of the States Finance Commissioners Forum. The forum’s chairman, Mr Timothy Odaah, said Nigerians were deceived into believing that fuel subsidy is good whereas it is poison. “We looked at the subsidy on oil as more or less a solution worse than what it intends to solve … In the first place, the NLC and the majority of the Nigerian people appeared to have been deceived into clamouring for the subsidy. This is no doubt because syndicated projects were contrived, especially in the area of transportation problem … but now; you discover that it is the average man that suffers”, he said. Odaah added that “we know of course that the Federal Government had a good intention to subsidise transportation, so it will have an absolute benefit to the poor man and every Nigerian …” Reuben Abati, the president’s spokesman, could not have done a better job the way Odaah painted the picture, and one begins to wonder what the President is waiting for in replacing Abati with Odaah, with immediate effect, to boot!

    The commissioners of finance reportedly said they were going to brief their principals (governors) on the outcome of their deliberations at the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting on Thursday. So, who is fooling whom? How many commissioners would append their signatures to a document as contentious as the subsidy removal without the prior consent of their governors? As if it is not common knowledge that in many states, commissioners are glorified errand boys who cannot disagree with the governors, irrespective of the strength of their (commissioners’) point.

    No doubt what is emerging has been well rehearsed. Hardly had the ink with which the commissioners of finance signed the papers at the meeting dried than the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Jonah Otunla, announced the setting up of a 12-member committee to review the existing partial subsidy on oil, with a view to completely removing it. Of course, Otunla quickly added that this was at the behest of the states as represented by their finance commissioners. “The committee (finance commissioners) members expressed their opinion on subsidy and we have set up a 12-man committee comprising six members from the commissioners’ forum and six members from the Accountants-General Forum to help us review the impact of subsidy on the Federation Account. We will make our opinion known in the nearest future” he said. Other things being equal, that nearest future is the FAAC meeting coming up next month, that is if they do not find the issue urgent enough to warrant convening an emergency meeting to ratify the death knell for Nigerians so President Jonathan could append his signature. Such outcome excites the President whose government cannot imagine life without subsidy removal.

    But, the question now is: since when did the Jonathan administration (that prides itself as slow in taking decisions so as not to make mistake) begin to act promptly on national matters? Obviously for the government, it is selective promptness. It took it ages to decide to fire the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, despite the weightiness of the allegations against her, whereas such painstakingness was a luxury that the government could not afford in the Justice Ayo Salami matter.

    As if to further compound the fooling of Nigerians by their governments, all the members of the 12-man committee that the Federal Government set up on the matter are government officials. What of Labour, students, market men and women; what I call the Other Critical Stakeholders’ Forum? Who would the fly support if not the person with a festering sore? Who would these officials have supported if not their paymasters? This is one of the things I hate about the Jonathan presidency; it relishes playing the ostrich. Instead of pushing the thing down our throats as it really is, it wants to give whatever the outcome of his committee report is as a product of a well-thought-out endeavour; hence the government saying it had set up a committee whereas what it calls a committee cannot pass even for a kangaroo committee.

    Many of those who will be championing the cause of fuel scarcity withdrawal are saying so not with any sound argument beyond the ones we are used to; many see it in the context of the approaching elections. Invariably, politicians need more money to prosecute the elections. One is tempted to ask whether it is only in Nigeria that elections are conducted. Why must we be apprehensive for the simple reason that we are about entering an election year? This is a thing done as a routine in many places, including African countries. But if we are not apprehensive that elections will not be free and fair, we will have to live under the perpetual fear that Nigerians must lose something just for politicians to win (read rig) elections, from which Nigerians are only further impoverished.

    Honestly, we have to be wary of all these forums of compromise and convenience – States Finance Commissioners Forum, States Accountants-General Forum, and all. But if it is true that state governments are truly the champions of this clamour for fuel subsidy removal, then it confirms the saying that there is no first born among pigs; they all play in the mud, first born, last born and all. This being the case, Nigerians must prepare for the worst on this issue. It is unfortunate that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government that has not delivered a single democratic dividend in 14 years is about compounding our woes. It is sadder still, that state governments want to join it in dancing naked in the market.

    Now, are the state commissioners aware that Nigeria is a major producer of crude oil? Are they and their principals aware that Cote D’Ivoire, one of the countries from where we import petrol is only a modest oil producer, yet an important regional refiner? Are they aware that the Jonathan administration promised us three Greenfield refineries, where are they? Are they not ashamed that our deregulation of petroleum products is based on the wrong template – importation? Are they aware that for over 14 years the PDP has not been able to make a single dent on petrol refining because it has always had its mind fixated to fuel subsidy removal? Are they aware of the billions of dollars that have been reported missing from federal purse? What have they done about this? Above all, what gives the commissioners the confidence that, because they cannot have their way with the Federal Government with regards to funds, despite staging walkouts and aborting FAAC meeting, they can have it by shifting the burden of corruption, ineptitude, etc. to ordinary Nigerians? The famed Nigerian docility?

    Until now, many Nigerians believed the Jonathan presidency has been overstretching its luck; but, it is now clear that it is not only the Federal Government that is doing that, the states are now equally complicit in the plot to stretch the people beyond limits. A government under which the worst corruption has been perpetrated in recent times is now cash-strapped and Nigerians should be the beasts of burden? Mba, babu rara, no.

  • ‘51million Nigerians don’t sleep well’

    NO fewer than 51 million Nigerians suffer from sleep disorders.

    A sleep disorder specialist, Dr. Obafemi Akinjobi of Marvina Sleep Disorders Centre, stated this at the weekend during a programme organised to mark the World Sleep Day in Lagos.

    Akinjobi said: “It is imperative to talk about the alarming rate of sudden deaths in Nigeria occasioned by Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), because of its adverse medical and public health effects.

    “About 51 million are estimated number of Nigerians who snore and are at the risk of OSA. Yet the medical disorder is alarmingly underrated and generally under-diagnosed in Nigeria”.

    He said: “It is time for public health authorities to embark on accelerated awareness campaign for the public basic signs, symptoms, treatment and management of the medical problem”.

    Expatiating further, Akintobi said: “There are about 77 sleep disorders and what most people in Nigeria know is insomnia.

    “But there is also snoring, which many people attribute to stress but is a major cause of Obstructive Sleep Disorder.

    “It is common with hypertensive and diabetes. Sleep disorder can cause a variety of chronic physical and mental health problems.

    “There is a direct link between sleep disorders and medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, obesity, erectile dysfunction, among others.”

    He lamented that many medical practitioners don’t know how to diagnose and treat people with sleep disorders.

    Instead, the specialist said, such practitioners prescribe drugs as against proper treatment.

  • Victoria Global University to honour Nigerians

    To recognise and encourage excellence in Africa, Victoria Global University, Turks&Caicos (UK Overseas Territory) will confer honorary doctorate degrees and fellows on some distinguished Nigerians at the institution’s international graduation which holds on Wednesday, March 5 at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Conference Centre, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.

    A statement from the office of Director of the university in Africa, Prof Akin Ogunsakin said: “This well-deserved honour is to recognise extraordinary intellectuals, outstanding achievers in nation building, educational and professional advancement in Africa.

    The finest and most useful method to recognise their accomplishments and to formally bestow upon the worthy individuals the respect they deserve is by the conferral of the degree,” he said.

    Those to be honoured include Managing Director/Chief executive Officer (CEO), UNIBAN Microfinace Bank Limited D A. T. Akinyemi; Assistant Director (Information Technology), JWT Nigeria Limited; Schneider Electric West Africa; Mr. Nathaniel Atansuyi, Mr. Ayo Adegboye, Vice-President ITB: and Chief Executive Officer, Littlebridge Nigeria Limited; Dr. Chijioke Nwaozuzu.

    Others are: Senior Lecturer, Emerald Institute of Energy Economics & Strategic Studies, University of PortHarcourt; Mr. Usman Jimada: Director, Public Affairs and Communication Federal Character Commission; Mr. Kurawa, Farouk A.: Director, Agric. Finance of USAID MARKETS II Project in Nigeria; Mr. Patrick Ofolu: President Afriquette Inc, Republic of Ireland; Hon. Collins Nweke: Municipal Legislator, Ostend City Council, Belgium; Dr. Bello Akingbade, Chairman/CEO, Machine Warehouse Limited, Ibadan; Johncay Ihejieto: Pan African University, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria; Dr. Sunday Daniel Osaat: Faculty of Education, University of Port Harcourt; and Dr. Haruna M. Jumare (Maradin Zazzau): Bursar, Federal College of Education.

    “We, at the Victoria Global University, are dedicated to the propagation of knowledge and its correct application — wisdom. As an organisation, we recognise that all people are part of a larger whole – Humankind. As individual members of the “family” we all have unique qualities, experiences and knowledge to impart unto others,” he said.

    Ogunsakin highlighted the vision of the university as a facilitator of educational development in Africa towards transformation through a synergistic utilisation of researches, relevant curricular offerings, responsive extension services, continuing education and further professional development.

    He stresses further that the mission would be fulfilled through innovative education that responsive to the needs of African populace and involves active, engaging, challenging, and relevant learning experiences.

     

  • From the Villa: Jonathan’s decent houses for Nigerians

    From the Villa: Jonathan’s decent houses for Nigerians

    There is no doubt that rats, cockroaches and other household insects are very destructive and carriers of some deadly diseases.

    These must have informed the support of President Goodluck Jonathan in wiping them out from all human habitation in Nigeria through committed efforts to give Nigerians decent homes to live in.

    It is, however, not too clear if the dislodging rats from houses in Nigeria will really go down well with the ethnic groups in Nigeria that enjoy rats as delicacy. If they are gotten rid of from homes, they may face total extinction or continue to flourish in the bushes.

    While inaugurating 270 flats built by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria at the Aviation Village and the National Housing Fund electronic card in Abuja this month, the President declared that all Nigerians deserve to live in decent houses as he vowed to do everything to improve the living standard of Nigerians.

    To adequately tackle the housing deficits in the country, he said his government is facilitating access to affordable houses through long-term financing and creating enabling environment through appropriate policies.

    He stressed the need for estate developers in the country to concentrate more on delivering high quality houses rather than flooding everywhere with sub-standard, rats and cockroaches-infested mass housing estates.

    President Jonathan said: “I will always advise real estate developers not to begin to think about money for 10,000 or 20,000 units, but small estates that you can manage so that when people go there, they will know that they are in a place where human beings will live and not where human beings will compete for space with rats and cockroaches.”

    Reacting to the remark by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Adulwaheed Omar concerning his friends’ fears that the 270 flats were too small for a President to inaugurate, President Jonathan said: “When my comrade President mentioned that his friend was worried that Mr. President was coming to inaugurate an estate of only 270 housing units, in fact, as he was saying it, I laughed because a number of people don’t know that what makes changes is not the big things we do but the little things we do and do very well.

    “What will transform this country are policies that are workable and sustainable. So, it is not going to be one mega city and the inauguration of a housing estate of thousands of units that will transform a country, but your ability to recreate and replicate these small units across the country.”

    While it is not bad to make sure that rats and cockroaches have no place in new houses being built for Nigerians, it is worth mentioning here that another killer insect in many Nigerian homes which requires the urgent attention of Mr. President, are mosquitoes.

    Even though so much money has been spent on malaria drugs and on insecticide-treated mosquito nets under different programmes, many Nigerian children are still dying from the disease while many production hours are still lost when workers are down with malaria.

    Many countries, including Malaysia, have been able to eliminate malaria from their societies. One hopes that real attention will also be paid towards eliminating the disease in Nigeria.

  • Time for Nigerians to end the wars

    SIR: All over the world there is war and strife; from the battle in the Arab world where bloodshed is the order of the day to suicide bombings that daily deplete the world of its human species. Horrific pictures detail man’s inhumanity to man, videos show how these barbaric acts are carried out openly displaying little or no regard for the sanctity of the human life. IR: All over the world there is war and strife; from the battle in the Arab world where bloodshed is the order of the day to suicide bombings that daily deplete the world of its human species. Horrific pictures detail man’s inhumanity to man, videos show how these barbaric acts are carried out openly displaying little or no regard for the sanctity of the human life.

    From Afghanistan to Iraq, from Pakistan to Syria the story is the same. Even Africa is not left out. The Rwandan genocide of 1994 is still fresh in our minds and the country is yet to recover from the worst genocide in human history. South Sudan is still embroiled in war for control of natural resources and power with wanton destruction of lives and property going on.

    For more than two years now, the fear of Boko Haram has become the beginning of wisdom as these men unleash terror and fear on the populace in the north-east leaving destruction and ruin in their wake. From Borno, to Yobe and Adamawa– the once amiable enclave of the Northeast with its serene environment and warm people are under the rule of terror. Other states of the North like Zamfara, Plateau and Nasarawa also have had their share of the violent attacks and death in the wake of visits by members of this dreaded sect the recent being the attacks on Izghe village in Gwoza local government area of Borno State.

    It’s all the same story of violence and mayhem all over the country as these are exhibited in different forms and patterns but all with the same result. The rich oppressing the poor and delighting in the misuse of power as a show of strength and wealth. Yet we as a people of diverse cultures and multi ethnic society should be united by our shared strength – our country.

    Why do we let strife, anger, religious intolerance and hatred into our hearts and into our lives? Why do we look at our neighbours, family and friends and see only the “darkness” instead of the “light”? When did friends, colleagues and neighbours become infidels and sacrificial lambs for the slaughter? When shall we see war and strife as “demons” to be cast out of our lives for good?

    Nelson Mandela came out of prison in 1990 after 27 years behind bars with hard labour and wicked and uncompassionate wardens yet the first thing he did was to forgive his captors and embrace them in the name of peace and love and enjoined his fellow South Africans to embrace same. It is time for all to embrace his last request to Africans to unite or face the consequences of violence and ultimately war on our hands.

    Nigeria is at a fragile stage in its quest for a free and fair election hence the urgent need for all hands to be on deck to realise this goal of a peaceful and united country. Our politicians and aspirants should watch their utterances so as not to ignite negative feelings against any tribe or religion or incite violence in the hearts of the populace at this time. They should preach peace and tolerance in their messages and campaigns to their supporters geared towards achieving sustainable growth and development of the nation.

    • Olalekan Jimoh,

    Ilorin, Kwara State

  • Cheery ‘news’ for corrupt Nigerians

    Sorrow needs company, it is often said and crooks would fellowship together, opined another thinker. These wise sayings may explain why quick fingered Nigerians, especially public officials, will be much gladdened by this piece of ‘good’ news from Europe. Here it goes: “Corruption across EU breathtaking”, says the report of a Commission set up by the European Union (EU) to survey corrupt practices among member countries. According to the study, corruption may be costing the economy of the EU about €120 billion ( £99 billion).

    While this may console treasury raiders in Nigeria, the report must be a touch disturbing to peoples across the world in the vanguard of good corporate governance and ethical fiscal conduct in public and private settings. The report which studied corruption in the 28 EU member states considered issues of levels of bribery; public procurement processes; financing of political parties; conflict of interests and questions of transparency and openness.

    For instance, about 64 percent of British respondents said they believe corruption to be widespread in the UK, while EU average was 74 percent on that question. But it is remarkable that while Sweden and Britain fared better in the survey, the less endowed members of the EU proved to be the more corruption prone. Some of these are Croatia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. There are particularly high levels of bribery in Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.

    Cecilia Malmstroem, the EU Home Affairs Commissioner, who presented the report, noted that member countries seemed to lack the political commitment to really root out corruption and that the malaise was eroding trust in democracy as well as draining resources from the legal economy.

    While it may be comforting in a sort of way to learn that corruption is also a source of worry even in the developed world it must be pointed out that it is nothing of the sort that happens in Nigeria in particular and most of Africa generally. Corruption in Nigeria has become endemic and has permeated through the entire fabric of her systems and institutions. Looking specifically at some of the indices used in the EU survey like bribery, public procurement, political financing, conflict of interest and openness, all these concepts have become thoroughly debased and made hollow.

    Bribery had been entrenched as part of the business practice in Nigeria for many decades and in government particularly, hardly any major business is transacted without money changing hands under the table. The Haliburton and Siemens bribery scandals are still fresh. Government contracts and the attendant public procurement in Nigeria have become a cesspool of the worst kind of corruption to be found any where in the world. In the past 15 years of civilian rule, top officials have grown more brazen and they are known to simply award multi-billion naira jobs to their shell companies, pay the entire sum upfront and pocket the entire sum. A minister is currently facing trial for such a practice but he is just one out of many dozens.

    Electioneering and political campaign financing has grown to the status of a scourge. The ruling party, particularly, thrives on slush funds from every sector of the economy, which is sunk into a bottomless hole called campaign fund. At a major election period, this is usually a huge bazaar that defies common sense of logic.

    And lastly, government in Nigeria abhors openness and transparency; in fact, it still relishes such ogre called official secrecy oaths which are routinely administered to officials. If, therefore, the level of corruption in EU countries is breathtaking, then no word can sufficiently describe it in Nigeria.

  • Basketball: Nigerians expectant as FIBA set to announce wild cards

    Basketball: Nigerians expectant as FIBA set to announce wild cards

    With just two days to the announcement of the four successful bids for the wild cards for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Nigerian basketball family is expectant as the Central Board of the world body meets in Barcelona, Spain on Saturday.

    The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) along with 15 other federations met the October 30, 2013 deadline for submission of bids for the wild cards for their national teams and NBBF president, Tijanni Umar said in an interview in Abuja that the federation expects to be among the successful bids.

    He stressed that Nigeria’s basketball would be greatly honoured to be the first African side to bag a wild card for the World Cup following the country’s formidable team’s failure to qualify directly at the 2013 Afrobasket held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

    Umar argued that the national male team failed in Abidjan “largely due to a depleted roster caused by major injuries and the players are itching to redeem the team’s profile.”

    Still advancing reasons why Nigeria should get a wild card for the World Cup, the NBBF president said: “Our team has a pool of sustainable talent in some of the best basketball leagues across the world that can perform and compete against the best at the highest levels of the game (i.e.the Olympics and the FIBA Basketball World Cup)”, adding that the country’s best players have committed to play in the FIBA Basketball World Cup if the bid is successful.

    Asked how competitive he expects the Nigerian team to be and whether he is confident the team will feature its leading/best players, Umar said: “If given a wild card, our team will present its best-ever roster for maximum impact and our team captain has written a commitment letter on behalf of his colleagues which is enclosed in our bid document.”

    The countries jostling for the four available wild cards alongside Nigeria (ranked 18 in the world) are, Bosnia-Herzegovina (57), Brazil (10), Canada (25), China (12), Finland (39), Germany (14), Greece (5), Israel (37), Italy (21), Poland (40), Qatar (42), Russia (6), Turkey (7) and Venezuela (28).