The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peace

  • Scholars advise govt, citizens on road to peace

    HOW to achieve national and global peace was the issue when scholars gathered in Lagos.

    While speaking during a symposium tagged “National Integration for Global Peace” they agreed that  achieving global and national peace begins with the individual.

    While identifying essentials of bringing about global peace through a given national system, Dr. Douglas Anele, Associate Prof., Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos argued that national integration for global peace would remain elusive as long as the average man on the street could not agree with himself in bringing about a peaceful state.

    He stressed that disgruntled and hungry individual would find it difficult to identify with any cause that borders on integration of a nation for global peace. He, therefore, called on all tiers of government to put in place measures that will develop patriotic spirit in individuals.

    H also urged government functionaries to live and feel the pain experienced by the average citizen by denying themselves of free gifts. He said: “Government officials don’t feel the impact of power outage and fuel scarcity; they lack virtually nothing.”

    He concluded at the symposium organised by the Rosicrucian Order, Lagos Zone, that it would take such measures to develop patriotism in an individual, thereby encouraging him or her to eschew violence.

    Also speaking, the Provost Michael Otedola College of Primary Education Noforija-Epe, Lagos, Prof. Olu Akeusola, underscored the importance of education in bringing about an egalitarian society.

    He said: “Education has been regarded as a medium through which enlightenment is achieved. Therefore, the curriculum of our schools should emphasise moral education in different subjects taught in schools. These should include Religious Studies, Civic Education, Social Studies and Moral Instruction. Extra-curricular activities should promote moral discipline through songs, drama, poetry and arts. Leaders in different spheres of the society should lead by example and display high level of moral integrity.”

    In his paper entitled “Good Character: Panacea for Peace and Progress in Nigeria”, Akeusola identified stealing, greed, dishonesty, unhealthy rivalry and competition and covetousness as character traits hindering peace and progress in Nigeria.

    He identified trustworthiness, respect for others, sense of responsibility, fairness, care, performing civic duties as some of the traits needed to foster peace and progress in Nigeria.

    In his speech, Alagba Oladipo Yemitan said loss of Omoluwabi (good character) for “bereft of dignity and pride in ourselves and our country.”

    “The concept, virtues and values of an Omoluwabi need to be revived and embraced by Nigerians so as to be peaceful, lawful and progressive the way we should. We certainly need to revisit and re-invent it,” he said.

    Others at the event included Prof. Femi Otubanjo, consultant and politician and Prof. Friday Ndubuisi, Head, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, Prof. Isaac Alaba, an Independent Consultant on Culture and Languages.

  • Crushing avengers will not win the peace

    SIR, The gunboat diplomacy in the guise of ‘Operation Crocodile Smiles’ going on in the Niger Delta region is an expensive joke which may escalate the crisis. It shows that the government is yet to understand that to win the war is not to win the peace.

    While launching Operation Crocodile Smiles on August 27, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that the purpose of the exercise is to protect government property and apprehend the vandals of the oil pipelines in the region. Days after, President Muhammadu Buhari in Kenya said that his administration will deal with the Niger Delta Avengers as it dealt with Book Haram if they failed to listen to him.

    The struggle for the liberation of Niger delta people started when Isaac Boro created Niger Delta Volunteer Force in 1966. Shortly after the formation, he declared Niger Delta Republic on February 23, of the same year. This led to his arrest and jail before he was release at the eve of the Civil war in 1967. He was sent to war front where he died a mysterious death in May, 1968 while fighting on the side of federal government.

    After a decade of his mysterious death, Ken Saro-wiwa under the canopy of MOSOP embarked on the same demands but in a non-violent manner. Unfortunately he and other eight Ogoni people were executed on November 10, 1995 by the federal might.

    In 2004, Asari Dokubo formed an armed group called Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force with the aim of liberating Niger Delta from the shackle of exploiters and oppressors causing poverty and environmental degradation in the region.

    Also, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) under the leadership of Government Ekpemupolo attacked the oil companies and government on their insensitivity to the poverty and pollution in Niger Delta until President Yar’Adua granted them Amnesty in October, 2009.

    However, instead of the amnesty reducing poverty, ecological warfare and other inhuman conditions in the region, what it does is increase the armament race between the government and militants.

    Yet, the federal government still believes that the failed method it used 1966, 1995 and others will bring solution to the crisis.

    President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2009, came up with  amnesty programme which only benefited 1.5% of people in the region and widened the gap between the ‘haves and the have-nots’.

    The amnesty failed to recognise those that did not carry guns but suffering from the same pollution and poverty in the land. It neglected those that lost their fathers and mothers in Odi destruction under the watch of President Olusegun Obasanjo. It failed to accommodate children, youths and aged ones affected by the gas flaring and environmental degradation.

    That is the reason why the federal government must call Niger Delta conference where all the tribes in the region would be represented to discuss the way forward. It will be a fruitless exercise if the government continues its gunboat diplomacy in the region without addressing poverty, environmental degradation, ecological warfare and other inhuman treatment caused by the activities of the oil companies.  This is because the avengers would continue to avenge for the death of their predecessors until the causes of their deaths are no more.

     

    • Femi Oluwasanmi,

     Arepo, Ogun State.

  • ‘Boko Haram ready for peace’

    ‘Boko Haram ready for peace’

    Hajiya Aisha Wakil, who is believed to be close to the Boko Haram leadership, says the group is ready for talks with the Federal Government on the fate of the 219 missing Chibok girls.

    She said yesterday that she had been on the neck of the Boko Haram leaders, who according to her offered to honour her to dialogue with the government and release the girls and other captives.

    The group’s leadership might soon make a pronouncement on their plan for the girls, she said.

    Hajiya Aisha, who spoke with our correspondent on the phone, said she expected the Boko Haram leaders to come out and discuss with the government.

    She said: “Since I came back, I have been on their neck. They have now agreed to come out and discuss with the government and bring back the girls.

    “I am for the Chibok girls and all the captives. They are ready for peace. This is what they told me.”

    Although Hajiya Aisha was not forthcoming on the imminent release of the girls, whose abduction has sparked a global outrage, she said: “I think they might post some information on YouTube within 24 hours.”

    The Army on August 14 declared Hajiya Aisha and two others wanted  for interrogation in line with the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 (as amended).

    The others are a journalist, Ahmed Salkida, and Amb. Ahmed  Umar Bolori.

    But Aisha has maintained her innocence, claiming  that she is not a shady personality.

    In a reaction to the Army’s statement, she had said: “I am Aisha Alkali Wakil. I understand that  the military declared me,  Ahmed Silkida and  Ahmed Bolori wanted for having links with Boko Haram. It’s interesting; now they believe me?

    “I know the Boko Haram boys. I have been in front fighting for peace long before Chibok girls were kidnapped. Nigerian security knows me too well. I’m not shady. Why declaring me wanted?

    “I have had meetings with Chief of Army Staff and his people. I told them the way forward, to allow me come with some commanders of Boko Haram and  discuss with them,  present the release of CBGs but they chose to do things their own ways only and never gave considerations to any of my suggestions.

    “I  want to inform the Nigerian people of my innocence and make them realise that I am in constant relation with the security personnel and they know where to find me but wonder why I had to be declared wanted on national news, even mentioning my husband’s name alongside.

    “This has put my immediate and extended family under a lot of pressure and I do not deserve this from the Nigerian government.

    “Though they may not appreciate all my efforts to proffer peaceful solutions to the menace of Boko Haram, my name should not be mudslinged nor my character defamed. Thank you.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari,  in an interview with reporters on the sideline of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi, Kenya last weekend, said the government was ready to dialogue with bonafide leaders of the group who know the whereabouts of the girls.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as saying: ‘‘I have made a couple of comments on the Chibok girls and it seems to me that much of it has been politicized.

    ‘‘What we said is that the government which I preside over is prepared to talk to bonafide leaders of Boko Haram.

    ‘‘If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognized Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know.

    ‘‘If they do it through the ‘modified leadership’ of Boko Haram and they talk with an internationally recognized NGO, then Nigeria will be prepared to discuss for their release.”

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  • Herdsmen, farmers sensitised on peace

    Herdsmen, farmers sensitised on peace

    To scale back clashes between cattle herders and crop farmers, the Federal Government is
    rehabilitating grazing reserves and stock routes and sensitising both sides on peaceful coexistence, reports VINCENT OHONBAMU in Gombe State

    There has been enough violence and bloodshed between cattle herdsmen and crop farmers for federal authorities to come up with an answer. And the answer may have been found: rehabilitating all grazing reserves and stock routes, and orientating breeders and growers on the need for peaceful coexistence.

    That is what the government has started doing, working through the Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

    The National Coordinator, Grazing Reserve Rehabilitation at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Mahmud Ibrahim said the government has decided to rehabilitate the 414 grazing reserves and stock routes in the country. He was speaking during a sensitisation and mobilisation programme on the rehabilitation and development of the reserves and routes at Wawa Zange in Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State.

    He said government was determined to end the crisis between farmers and Fulani cattle breeders and would not rest until this was achieved.

    Baba Usman Ngajarma, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, said the tour was meant to sensitise nomads on such issues as the development of grazing reserves, demarcation of cattle routes, cattle rustling, kidnapping and peaceful coexistence with farmers, among others.

    He said the sensitisation team would cover the country in phases, beginning with 10 states in each phase.

    He added, saying, “We are going round the country to sensitise the nomads and the farmers on the need for them to co-exist peacefully because the two professions are created to coexist together. So is the need for them to coexist is very essential and necessary because it is natural that they coexist,” he posited.

    On education, Ngajarma said they were also sensitising the Wawazange population and those in other grazing reserves on the need to allow their children go to school because the lack of modern education is one of the causes of crime among the youths; so also is moral decadence among the Fulani.

    “Since we are collaborating with the National Commission for Nomadic Education, very soon we will still come out with the commission to sensitise the Fulani on the need for them to put their children in school,” he explained.

    His assistance, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, said security was paramount and called on residents to be watchful for suspicious persons, and report them to the authorities immediately. He also appealed for adequate security in the grazing reserve.

    He said he saw a vehicle full of firewood, an indication of indiscriminate felling of trees in the reserve, insisting that such act would not be tolerated, especially now that the country and indeed the entire world is battling with the menace of desertification and desert encroachment.

    This act, according to him, would not be possible without the collaboration of insiders in the reserve, hence the call on leaders in the Gombe State chapter of Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria to come out in full force, liaise with security agents and the

    state Ministry of Environment to put a stop the act immediately.

    Three Fulani leaders in their different remarks pleaded for the provision of water for their animals and assured government of efforts to check the attitudes of their members in order to avoid clashes with farmers and communities.

    Representatives of farmers on the hand complained of hot temper and hostility by some cattle breeders and called on them to desist from wanton destruction of their crops as some deliberately do and to report encroachment on routes to appropriately for appropriate action.

    Dr. Abdullahi pleaded that they should ensure perpetrators were brought to book within the next one month, reminding them of the law which stipulates that ‘for every tree cut down, ten trees must be planted in their place.

    Also speaking the state Commissioner of Animal Husbandry and Nomic Affairs, Mr. Sammy Barka urged the citizen of the state to desist from encroaching into grazing reserves and stock routes.

    According to him, encroaching on grazing reserves and stock routes is causing disharmony and threatening our peaceful coexistence.

    “I will like to appeal to the cattle breeders to control their animals and not to allow them destroy people’s farms and means of livelihood,” he said.

    The sensitization exercise according to Ngajarma, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria was supposed to have been flagged-off by President Buhari on July 4th, but was postponed to September and hoped that the President flag-off do a national the exercise by September.

    Commenting however, Abare Abdu caste doubt on President Buhari’s commitment to end the farmers, herdsmen clashes, the rehabilitation of grazing reserves notwithstanding. He sighted the continuous silence of the President over the mayhem Fulani herdsmen are unleashing on

    communities across the nation to prop-up his argument.

    He opined that the problems between the two related oldest professions should rather be referred to as herdsmen massacre as the clash always end in their favour, especially now that they even brandish their rifles openly.

    Elsewhere in the country, women and even men no longer go to farms alone. Women are constantly raped if found alone or outnumbered by the group of herdsmen who brandish riffles, swords and other weapons to subject their victims to the humiliation.

    Men on the other hand get killed for trying to resist or protest grazing on their farms, while some are bound with ropes and made to watch their sweat destroyed by heartless herdsmen.

  • Rising nationalism and world peace

    As a student of history it is a matter of concern to see incipient nationalism rising all over the world. The connection between this and war is crystal clear to me. In Europe, the then political centre of the world during the period of European imperialism, the clash of interest and the struggle for world domination led to the First World War. That struggle was underpinned by the clash of cultures and ideologies of pan-germanism, pan-slavism and what can also be described as pan anglo-saxonism signifying the desires by Imperial Germany, czarist Russia and imperial Britain to assert their superiority over their rivals. There was also what one can loosely call some kind of racism in the struggle. The argument then usually centred around which country had the largest army or the biggest navy. The strategy then was to ensure no one country had superiority in both arms of the military. The Air Force was still not in the equation then neither were there any strategic forces as constituted today by nuclear armaments. This was going to come into the equation after Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

    The unresolved issues of the First World War led directly to the Second World War which exposed the vulnerability of human civilization to self-destruction unless care was taken. Clash between super powers armed with nuclear weapons has become inconceivable and unthinkable. But this has not eliminated the outbreak of proxy wars as had been the case in Korea, Vietnam, the liberation wars in Southern Africa from the Congo to Angola, the two Rhodesias (Zambia and Zimbabwe) Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa itself. Some kind of proxy wars were waged in Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia and Columbia by factions supported by different global military and ideological patrons. We have not seen the end of this trend even after the collapse of global communism. National interests previously camouflaged by ideology has now reasserted themselves in places like Ukraine where a supposedly democratic regime under Vladimir Putin has severed the Crimea peninsula from independent Ukraine and has virtually divided the country into two by supporting ethnic Russians to lay claim to the eastern half of the country as part of Russia abroad. This has led to sabre-rattling by NATO in its preparedness to defend its new members in Poland and the Baltic Sea against resurgent Russia driven by nationalist pride.

    The Chinese too are no longer manifesting proletarian brotherhood in their relation with Vietnam over rival claims in the South China Sea. China is striking out to put feet down in the area by reclaiming land in the sea and building military bases and challenging even the United States in international waters in the South China Sea.   This has led the United States selling advanced fighter bombers to Vietnam with which it fought a bitter war in the 1960s. Shinzo Abe in Japan is seriously thinking of expunging from its constitution the clause against a big military imposed on Japan by the Allies after the Second World War in view of threat constantly posed to it by North Korea under its erratic and irrational young leader. Japan also has its eyes on reclaiming the Kuriles islands seized from it towards the end of the Second World War by the then Soviet Union. No one can predict the future of peace in Asia because of several flash points and the fact that the nuclear weapons states of North Korea, China India and Pakistan may be joined by the technologically advanced countries like Japan and South Korea if the opportunities present themselves.

    The republican presidential candidate Donald Trump recently said he would not be averse to South Korea and Japan having their own nuclear deterrence by becoming nuclear weapons states so that they can defend themselves apparently in a thermonuclear war as envisaged by Trump. India and Pakistan are so much against each other that if there is a place today of likely possible use of nuclear weapons, it will be the Indian sub-continent. The rising nationalism and antagonism there between the Muslim fundamentalist government in Pakistan and the Hindu nationalist government in India  does not augur well for the future of peaceful relations between these largely poor countries of almost one a half billion people in their combined population.

    The most frightening situation is in the USA and Europe. The rise of Donald Trump, an unprincipled megalomaniac who will tell any lie to be elected president of the most powerful country presents urgent and immediate danger to world peace. This is a man who lied about something as simple as the ethnic origins of his parents when he claimed they were swedes when in fact they were Germans. A man who sets up a so-called university simply to rip off unsuspecting poor people he deceived about making them instant millionaires like himself. A man who inherited millions of dollars from his father yet claims he started from nothing and self-made himself. This is the man who claims he wants to make America great again by seeing all previous international treaties like the ones setting up the WTO, NATO and NAFTA and the Paris climate change protocol as chiffon de paper only good for the waste paper basket. He is preying on the discontent of blue collar workers who have lost their jobs because of movement of some manufacturing industries to China and Mexico. His trump card is immigration and Islamic terrorism. He said he would deport all illegal immigrants numbering about 11 million people and build a wall to shut out migrants from Latin America whom he sees as rapists, drug peddlers and criminals taking jobs from Americans. He would bar Muslims from coming to the USA. He also says he would put tariff of up to 40 percent on goods entering the United States. His tirades seem to be good music to the ears of largely white working class Americans who fear that they are being overwhelmed by immigrants thus reducing the relative population of white people to that of non-white peoples. This demographic trend made the former President George Bush to say he feared that he may be the last republican president of the USA. Nativism and nationalism are driving Trump to advocate for fortress America turning its back on the rest of the world in a policy shift of isolationism not seen since the end of the Second World War.

    If Trump wins and disrupts the global economy and existing Defence architecture, then the entire world will be up for grabs by the most powerful countries thus taking us back to a politics of war-lordism seen in places like China in a previous era.

    The recent BREXIT by Great Britain falls into the same pattern of nationalism of blaming other countries and peoples for one’s national problem. Inward looking sometimes leads to lashing out against other people in a rising tide of negativism and nationalism. The most dangerous part of this trend in Europe is that it is spreading and manifesting itself in France where Marine Le Pen, leader of the French right is threatening to take France out of the European Union if she wins the presidential election in France next year. If she tears the EU apart, then the architecture for peace in Europe would have been destroyed. Already Germany’s right wing party is rearing its ugly head and condemning what it calls Angela Merkel’s wilkommenkultur, a reference to Germany welcoming over a million refugees from the Middle East. This Merkel’s policy, in my view, was really an unwise policy by the German government in a country which has not completely assimilated the three million Turks who migrated to the country after 1945. If the right wing parties take over in the European continent and begin to expel unwanted nationals of other countries, there is bound to be reaction. Compounding this problem is the increase in terrorism fuelled by fundamentalist ideology being exploited by some fanatics claiming to be Muslims where as they are simply anarchists with strange agenda. This impending Armageddon may yet be avoided if these right wing elements lose in the elections that are coming up soon or if world leaders realizing the futility of possible conflict begin to rein in their supporters or begin to moderate their rhetoric and instead of policy of hate and division begin to practice and advocate politics of international interdependence, tolerance.

    We in Africa delude ourselves if we think the gathering storm will not affect us. No part of the world will be spared from global melt down occasioned by political differences mercantilist economic competition and policies fuelled by racial or national hatred. This is why we in Nigeria should get our act together instead of dissipating our energies in unending political debates and planning to tinker with the constitution instead of seeing our inability to make any system work as the reason for our seeming developmental inertia. This is the time to build a virile country with a strong economy and defence. We must see beyond our national horizon because we as a country whether willingly or not carry the burden of defending Africa’s interest on our back

  • How peace can return to PDP, by lawmaker

    How peace can return to PDP, by lawmaker

    Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha is the Chairman of the Aviation Committee in the House of Representatives. She represents Umunneochi/Isiukwuato Constituency. In this interview with Sunny Nwankwo, she speaks on the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Muhammadu Buhari’s battle against corruption, among other issues.

    You are a third term lawmaker representing Isiukwuato/Umunneochi Constituency in the House of Respresentatives. how has it been?

    It has been very good and very challenging. Very good in the sense that I grew up here (Umunneochi). I attended Isuochi Central School. I later attended Isuochi Secondary School, but after three years, I changed to Ovim Girls Secondary School in Isiukwuato. So, if you look at that background, I am not a newcomer here; both Isiukwuato and Umunneochi.

    Politically, as a woman, the men wouldn’t want to give you a chance. So, it is very challenging because they were saying, why will it be this woman (Nkeiruka). Am sure that you know that any woman who is in politics fights ten times more than the man; if I were a man, all the men will accept me, but when you are not a woman, you see people at every point in time, trying to gang up to stop you and that was why I said initially that being involved in politics as a woman is very challenging.

    How have you been able to cope being as an opposition member in the House of Rep having been a member of a former ruling party (PDP)?

    Anyway, for somebody who has been very vocal and rational, it doesn’t make any difference. I am still who I am. But, for some people who are sycophants and want to be at the corridor of power, it is a big deal. It is no big deal for me. The only problem I have now is that a lot of people who are in the ruling party are suspecting everybody. The government of the day doesn’t trust us; they don’t believe that we are rational when we are saying things. They don’t believe that we are saying things that are correct. They believe that we want them out of power and so, it has beclouded their minds from seeing the truth from what we say and what we offer. So, that the challenge. If they are open, there is no big deal being in the opposition. We have only one Nigeria, the only thing is that the service delivery might be different. But with the government of change who don’t trust anybody, it is very difficult. If they have open mind to listen to us without considering the party that one belongs to, then it will be okay. But when they see you as someone that is from the opposition that even before you say something, somebody had already concluded on what you have to say, then that’s the challenge because with this distrust, communication is very hard. But for me, it is same, its just that with the economic downturn and security situation in the country, things are harder.

    Do you think that President Buhari has given women the chance in his administration when compared with Dr Jonathan’s government?

    There is nothing to compare about during Jonathan’s era and the incumbent administration as far as women empowerment. Look at the cabinet as presently constituted, you can’t even compare it with Obasanjo’s cabinet. This government doesn’t even want to hear about women. Yes, I see women like minister of finance, environment and few others. But the truth is that women appointment into offices has dropped drastically at the moment.

    What should be done to improve the situation is for government to go back to the basis; implement the Beijing resolution and then run with it. like now that we are doing electoral amendment, we should the government should as a matter of urgent importance adopt UWAIS report because the report took care of women’s participation in politics; where they said that political parties should allocate certain positions to women in political parties. But unfortunately the only position that political parties have reserved for women is the woman leader.

    Lawmakers from the Southeast have been accused of inadequate representation of the zone. How justifiable are these claims?

    It depends on what they mean by “not representing the zone”. Well, this question should go to our leadership because once the leadership is not focused, it falls down to the people following. Let the people who are talking rate us on individual basis. I am not a leader in the National Assembly and I am not his voice. I will speak for the people of Isiukwuato and Umunneochi Federal Constituency. I think basically what people should be asking is what their representative is doing? So once they get to know what their rep is doing, then they will get what the leader of the southeast is doing and from there, they run with it.

    I won’t speak for others and for anytime that I get up at the floor of the house to speak, I always speak for Isiukwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency and sometimes on matter of public importance concerning southeast I say what I am supposed to say. Like when the Fulani herdsmen did what they did in Enugu State, I issued press release and had press conference where I condemned such action at the floor of the house. I know that during the 7th Assembly, we had a Deputy Speaker (Emeka Ihedioha) and a deputy Senate President (Ike Ekweremadu) and by that time, we (PDP) are the government in power and now, we (Southeast) still have Deputy Senate President (Ike Ekweremadu) and we have deputy minority leader. So, this question should go to the Deputy Senate President and Deputy Minority Leader.

    What I am doing in my little capacity is that, once anything concerning the people of southeast is on the front burner, I don’t wait for anybody to speak out.

    The Grazing Bill seems to have generated controversy at the National Assembly. Do you think that the Southeast needs grazing bill?

    When the Fulani herdsmen attacked Enugu State, remember that I told you that I held a press conference where I condemned it and in a press release that I equally issued, I said that we will not support the grazing bill and I believe that the grazing bill will not see the light of the day. I believe also that rearing cow is business and people should not destroy other peoples wealth while doing their business. From this part of the country (Southeast), basically 80% of our people live on farming no matter the scale. Then somebody is coming to take over our land, what would the person want us to do? They said that they have landmass, why don’t they do ranches? That is my take on it and I believe that every reasonable Nigerian will take that stand.

    Are you worried like every Nigerian and PDP supporters over the recent development in the party?

    Why will I be worried when we lost out of carelessness? We (PDP) are reaping what we sow.

    Do you see the present squabble affecting the party’s performance in the next general election?

    The truth of the matter is that we have to go back to the drawing board to find out how the PDP got it wrong. Why won’t people resign in Nigeria? immediately Jonathan lost, there were a lot of people who should have resigned because they don’t have any business holding forth for PDP and they sat back to blame people who won election. Even within the period, some party outside this country resigned after their party lost out in an election.

    You lead and led your party to failure and you stayed back, what do you have to offer? What I know is that in due course, God will take care. I am a PDP person. we ran an election and we had issues. We lost so many states, and Presidency. But the people who led us to failure stayed back to point accusing fingers on others over our failure.

    From the way that you sound, one may be forced to assume that you are planning to defect to another party. Any plans to defect from the PDP?

    I am not defecting to any other party. We will wait for the macabre dance to finish. Let me tell you, I am from Abia State, I served under Orji Uzor Kalu as a Commissioner and Local Government Chairman who at a time formed his own political party (Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA) and a lot of people moved with him. Ask anybody around here (Umunneochi), I stayed back in PDP because I am not a fair-weather politician and I am not going anywhere. I will stay here and wait, when they finish with what they are doing, the people who have the party will take over. The only thing that worries me is providing help to my constituents who are in their need of help. I am worried that I see some children whose parents don’t have money and they are not in school when they are supposed to be in school with their mates and those of them who can’t get medical care because their parents don’t have the money to provide medical care for them. I am worried that over how many years in this my community that we don’t have light. I am also worried that the little farming that my people are doing is suffering setback because their crops are being ravaged by cattle. But I am not worries about faction in PDP because I know that these people that led us to failure have refused to go and allow the party to evolve and heal. That is not the kind of thing to worry me because I know that the people who have fate in PDP will remain when others have left the party for others.

    What is your take over the prolonged absence of elected Local Government Chief Executive in the third tier?

    I was in the constitution review in the 6th Assembly, but in the 7th Assembly, we came back to our various constituencies to hold public opinion and get peoples verdict that Local government should have autonomy. We got back and reported the result of those outing. But then, at the conclusion, states voted. I can tell you that Abia voted for local government autonomy because they believe that local government should be autonomous. Apart from states like Lagos, I equally know some states who didn’t vote and so, we couldn’t get the needed two-third majority vote to make it work.

    This government (Abia government) is new and I believe that before the end of this year (2016) run out, if all things being equal, he should conduct local government election because Abia voted for it. Tambuwal, the present governor of Sokoto was the Speaker then. Sokoto voted for local government autonomy, this year, he held a local government election and elected local government chief executive are occupying the seat as we speak.

    How would describe the anti-corruption battle by President Muhammadu Buhari?

    I support the anti-corruption fight, but what we are saying is that it should be open and it shouldn’t be one-sided. Nigerian constitution doesn’t condone corruption. It is not a Buhari thing; it’s there in our constitution. The only thing that I am saying is that the ruling government or the people driving it should be free, fair and follow rule of law because everything that is happening now is imbedded in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We have a law that is governing us and if any government decides to follow the law, it is not going to be a new thing. This government has not signed a new law so to speak, as far as fight against corruption is concerned and I believe that there is no PDP person that is not in support of the fight against corruption going on in the country. The only thing is that they (APC led government) should be free and they should be fair. There should be no victimization; people should be tried according to law, if you convict them, let them go to jail.

    Taking the scenario in Abia as an example, do you think that pre-election matters should terminate before the swearing-in ceremony?

    Yes, it is good to speak so and it is possible if our lawyers want it so. You know that sometimes, it is not the judge that determines the life span of any case. If the lawyers come with several injunctions, it means that we are going to have a case last beyond the original time which these election petition matters should have lasted. So, I want to believe that there should be collaboration between the Executive, the Legislature and of course, the Judiciary; that’s in terms of amendment to the laws that we already have. But I also believe that no matter how beautiful that the laws are, if people are not willing to comply with it, you will have issues. In the last election petition, we saw most cases that were time bound which also prevented people from getting away with justice. So, for me, I believe it’s attitude; if someone wants to twist the law, he could find loopholes and reasons to do so. So, basically the problem is not in our laws, but attitude.

    Do you see Abia producing a female governor soon?

    Why not. I wouldn’t know how soon. We still have four years to go before we start talking about having a female governor. You won’t believe it that I supported Nkechi Nwaogu and if she happens to come out again, I will support her. For now, I don’t think that I want to take a shot at the governorship seat, but if I decide, I know that men and women will support me. laughs… my people will even want me to even be the president of the country.

    What advice would you give to women who are afraid of participating in politics?

    I have been a Local Government chairman, a commissioner, a third term member House of Representatives, am a Christian and I am not wayward. So, nobody is forcing you to anything. You do what you want to do. Women don’t have enough resources. You have many women who are strong-spirited with strong character, but they won’t be able to have funds to run for an election.

  • MEND backs peace talks

    MEND backs peace talks

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is backing the Federal Government’s decision not to  negotiate with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and others masquerading as freedom fighters in the crude oil and gas-rich region.

    The militant group has begun preliminary talks with the government to ensure peace in the Niger Delta.

    MEND, in an online statement through its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, yesterday said that the preliminary talks with the Federal Government were through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies, which it noted was revealed by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 21.

    MEND said: “These preliminary talks are the precursor to a wider dialogue between the Federal Government and the MEND Aaron 2 peace initiative, which will seek to find solutions to the short, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region.

    “The Federal Government made it clear during our meetings that a negotiation with criminals is out of the question.

    “The Niger Delta Avengers and Internet-based ‘militant’ groups, such as Joint Revolutionary Council and Ultimate Warriors – Ijaw opportunistic tribal assemblies – that were compromised to keep silent during the six years of Goodluck Jonathan’s misrule and neglect; pirates; pipeline vandals; oil thieves; commercial kidnappers; waterway robbers; political thugs and miscreants all fall under this category.”

    The militant group (MEND) had earlier released the final list of members of its Aaron Team 2 for dialogue, peace and development initiative that would find sustainable solutions to the Niger Delta crisis.

    Members of the apolitical team include Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN (Rivers – Team Leader); King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass (Bayelsa – Deputy Team Leader/representative of the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group – NDDCG), Senator Florence Ita-Giwa (Cross River – representative of all aggrieved militant groups and communities from the Bakassi axis; Ledum Mitee (Rivers); Senator Adolphus Wabara (Abia – representative of oil-bearing communities in Abia and Imo states); High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo (Delta); Ibanga Isine (Akwa Ibom); Alfred Isename (Edo); and Timipa Jenkins Okponipere (Bayelsa – Team Secretary).

    It described the leader of the team (Ajumogobia), who is an ex-Minister of State for Petroleum as a man of unblemished proven record, character, integrity and widely respected throughout the Niger Delta, especially for appreciating the problems and challenges facing the region.

    MEND said: “High Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s inclusion in the final list is principally because of the key role he continues to play in the Niger Delta as a notable ex-militant leader, philanthropist, traditional title holder and mobiliser of amazing capacity. It will be

    counter productive if the Federal Government ignores such an individual, who may be capable of talking to the militants in the creeks to cease fire.

    “We are very much aware of the pending criminal charges filed against Government Ekpemupolo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). However, we strongly advise that the charges be suspended, until after the conclusion of the Aaron Team assignment. This is to ensure that Ekpemupolo devotes his time, energy and resources towards the resolution of the current Niger Delta crisis, without any fear of arrest, intimidation or harassment.

    “The MEND Aaron Team 2 dialogue and peace initiative would not have materialised, if not for the tireless work and support of the Okah brothers – Henry and Charles – who are currently in prisons in South Africa and Nigeria.

  • PDP in desperate search for peace

    PDP in desperate search for peace

    Since the emergence of former governor of Borno State Ali Modu-Sheriff, as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the opposition party has been in a major crisis. The disagreement within the fold has rendered it incapable of playing its opposition role effectively. Attempts to shove Modu-Sheriff aside and move forward have been vehemently resisted. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI evaluates the effort to bring peace to the party.

    After the protracted crisis that hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the emergence of Sen. Ali Modu-Sheriff as National Chairman, the party has embarked on a fresh reconciliation. This follows last week’s national caucus meeting convened by the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee and attended by members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), state governors and principal members of the National Assembly elected on the party’s platform.

    At the end of the meeting, stakeholders agreed to hold a fresh convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on August 17, to elect new national executives. Though the former Borno State governor did not attend the meeting, there were prospects of peace, with one of his close allies, Sen. Buruji Kashamu, not only attending the meeting, but also pledging his support for the reconciliation effort initiated by the Makarfi-led committee.

     

    Glimmer of hope

    The two-term former governor of Kaduna State told reporters after the meeting that the party would amend its constitution to address some of the reasons why a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, nullified the last amendment done by the party.

    Makarfi assured that there will be full reconciliation with the disputed National Chairman and other persons associated with him.

    But, the question is, how far can the PDP go with the current reconciliation effort? In this regard, Sheriff has become more accommodating. For the first since he was shoved aside by stakeholders of the party, the embattled former chairman has conceded that he would be willing to let go of his claim to the chairmanship, if he is allowed to nominate 10 out the 20 members of the organising committee for the proposed convention.

    Sheriff gave the indication on Monday, when a delegation of Abia State chapter of the PDP paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja. He said he was ready to let go, in deference to the intervention by the governors of Taraba and Gombe states, but insisted that the conditions that he gave must be met.

    The former National Chairman is not done. According to him, the proposed August 17 convention must be held in Abuja, not Port Harcourt, as being suggested. He said the conditions being proposed by him were based on the agreement reached at the reconciliation meeting held at Taraba State Government House, under the chairmanship of Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, deputised by Senator Ibrahim Mantu.

    Sheriff said the impunity which prevailed in the party in the past and led it to the present sorry state must be stopped. He said: “The Makarfi Committee should resign; it does not exist in the PDP constitution. What exists is the national chairman which I am. I remain the chairman until 2018. Some people want to make PDP their personal property. That will not happen; if you don’t stand on the truth, the end result will be destruction.”

    Kashamu on Monday appealed to Sheriff to sheath his sword in the interest of the party. In a statement attributed to him, the senator representing Ijebu East District in the Red Chamber insisted that he did not dump Sheriff as widely reported, but only hearkened to the reconciliation initiated by leaders of the party.

    He said: “I can only plead with our great leader, Senator Sheriff, who has been hurt, to soft-pedal and let go, in the interest of the party and our teeming members. He has shown that he is a principled man and a courageous person.

    “Since he and Senator Makarfi have said they are not interested in contesting for the office of National Chairman of the party at the National Convention, he should encourage all his people to participate in the process leading to the rescheduled National Convention.”

     

    No longer family affair

    Many observers are amused by the leadership tussle in the party. The presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, said what Sheriff is asking for is an unreasonable demand. He said: “Even Sheriff must know that he is making an impossible demand; it is just a way of prolonging the matter.” He added that even before the emergence of Sheriff, he had predicted that the PDP was on a free fall and that what held the party together in its 16 years at the helms was the fact that it was the ruling party.

    He said: “It managed to patch up disagreements, claiming it was a family affair. There would never be a reconciliation that would make it a formidable platform that it claimed to be in the past. Even the APC will experience its own implosion in no distant time and its members will go their separate ways.

    “What Nigerians should be looking forward to is a realignment of forces. In future, we are likely to see a coalition of political parties forming governments, rather than the present winner-takes-it-all where one party would emerge as the ruling party.

    Similarly, former Biafran warlord, Col. Joseph Achuzia, said Sheriff’s belligerent posture is typical of Nigerian politics. He knows that the PDP is fighting for survival; so, he is only trying to position himself. His words: “Sheriff is not in a position to make the demand he is making, but he knows that the party is equally desperate. It is typical of Nigerian politics; if he keeps quiet without making the demand, it would be assumed that he has lost the battle.

    “The PDP is doing everything possible to get its acts together; otherwise, it will fizzle out, like many other political parties. With the look of things, there is an agreement in the offing.”

    The PDP has been involved in protracted crisis since it lost the last general elections. But, it was the emergence of Modu-Sheriff as the party’s helmsman that threw it into current crisis. The appointment of the Makarfi-led caretaker committee, which received the endorsement of the party’s BoT and most members of the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC), was part of the mechanism put in place for reconciliation, when it became obvious that the Sheriff-led executive was bringing too much friction into the party. The Dickson-led reconciliatory committee is also part of the reconciliation process. But, Sheriff and members loyal to him have been using the courts to frustrate the committee from carrying out its mandate.

    The governorship election scheduled for September 10 in Edo State made it a battleground the Makarfi-led leadership and that of the sacked National Chairman. Sheriff threw spanner into the works of the other group, which enjoys wide acceptance from stakeholders, when he announced the suspension of the Edo State Executive Committee, saying the move was in line with the provisions of section 31 (2) (e) of the PDP constitution. He went ahead to conduct a parallel primary, where one of those that participated in the earlier one, Matthew Iduoriyekwemwen, was picked as the faction’s flag bearer in the race.

    A Federal High Court sitting in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, had ruled that the process that led to the setting up of the Makarfi-led committee during the last PDP convention was in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution. By the judgment, the court was believed to have conferred legitimacy on the caretaker committee. In the judgment, Justice Mohammed Liman also held that Sheriff didn’t have the power to unilaterally postpone the PDP convention, since there was a caveat in the party’s constitution that he was to preside over the national convention with other national officers.

    But, the court judgment did not put an end to the crisis; as Sheriff tenaciously clung to power, saying he will not quit until the 2018 convention. His claim is predicated on interlocutory orders his group had obtained from the various courts. In one of such interlocutory orders, an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang, restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the “PDP and their agents from dealing with or according any facility required by law (regarding the governorship elections to be conducted by INEC in Edo and Ondo states) to any other person or groups other than the Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju-led NWC.

     

    Who’re Sheriff’s backers?

    With almost all the major stakeholders against him, the question that comes to mind is, who are those backing the former Borno governor? A careful interrogation of Sheriff’s antecedents will provide an insight into his staying power. Since coming into limelight, Sheriff has presented an image of a political juggernaut that brooks no opposition to his leadership. When he fell out with Mala Kachalla whom he installed as the governor of Borno at the beginning of the present political dispensation, the embattled politician, credited with a huge financial war chest to prosecute any campaign, single-handedly took the ticket from Kachalla who decamped from the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) to the equally defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) with ignominy. His subsequent eight years tenure as governor of Borno cemented his hold on the then APP and extended his sphere of influence to the national level. This was crowned when he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). The above experience comes in very handy for Sheriff in the current face off.

    Besides, he appears to have the support of some powerful politicians. Kashamu, a politician who thrived on controversy, was one of those behind him. Apart from his attempts to stave off his deportation to the United States of America to face some charges, the serving senator from Ogun used his alleged deep pocket to position himself as a power to contend with in the stormy politics of the Southwest. But, Sheriff seemed to have lost his support, as latest developments have shown.

    Another strong Sheriff backer is Chris Uba, the Anambra-born power broker fingered in the plot to remove a former governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige, in 2003. Since that incident, Uba has had his hand in many controversies that dogged Anambra politics. In fact, he challenged the emergence of his brother, Andy Uba, as the senatorial candidate in the last election and pursued the case to the Supreme Court.

    Uba’s support for Sheriff, according to observers, is for political survival and relevance, as well as to expand his sphere of influence. One of such observers puts it this way: “For a man who has the record of being the youngest member of the BoT of the PDP, he cannot afford to see his investment in the party blown away by the emergence of a leader that he would not have an influence on. Sheriff appears to be giving him a listening ear that he is not sure to get from any other outsider that he may not be too familiar with.”

    Sen. Hope Uzodinma is believed to be another prominent supporter of Sheriff. Uzodinma has been in a fierce battle with the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, over who controls the structure of the party in Imo State. Ihedioha was the party’s governorship candidate in the last general elections and is perhaps still interested in the seat he lost to Governor Rochas Okorocha.

    Uzodinma, on his part, is also interested in taking a shot at the Imo State governorship election in 2019. With Ihedioha neck deep in his support for the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, it was natural that Uzodinma would pitch his tent with Sheriff. He was rewarded with the chairmanship of the Sheriff-led faction of the PDP governorship election committee for Edo State.

  • PDP crisis: How Ekweremadu, Dickson, others brokered peace

    PDP crisis: How Ekweremadu, Dickson, others brokered peace

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson played vital roles in the resolve of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold a new convention, it was learnt last night.

    A source said the first of the reconciliation meetings between the two factions were held last Monday.

    The first meeting between representatives of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi began on Monday. The meeting had in attendance Ekweremadu, Dickson, House Minority leader Leo Ogor; former Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu and Senator Buruji Kashamu.

    “The discussions at the meeting were frank and tough. Eventually, we were able to bring together the two leaders, Sheriff and Makarfi, at the Taraba State Governor’s Lodge, with Senator Ekweremadu sitting between them,” said the source.

    The second meeting began last Tuesday around 11 am and lasted till the early hours of Wednesday. It had in attendance Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State; Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Minority leader of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Biodun Olujinmi; Senator Suleiman Adokwe from Nasarawa State; Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jubrin and Kashamu.

    At the meeting, Sheriff and Makarfi agreed not to contest the national chairmanship. They agreed that an expanded National Caucus meeting should be held and that a National Convention Committee (NCC) be set up within a week and the NCC would run the party till the National Convention is held.

    “They agreed that a date be fixed for the National Convention within a month. They also agreed to address the nation and members of the party at the National Convention.  In effect, the two leaders showed they have the interest of the party at heart.

    “The only point of divergence was who should preside over expanded the National Caucus meeting and constitute the National Convention Committee,” the source said.

    It was proposed that they co-chair the expanded National Caucus meeting and jointly constitute the National Convention Committee.

  • ‘Dialogue, not war, guarantees national peace’

    Ever wondered what  dialogue can achieve during crisis resolutions? It is a lot better than quarrelling and if sustained, it can guarantee national peace, a professor of English and Literary Studies University of Calabar, Ndubuisi Osuagwu, has said.

    Osuagwu, who is the President of the All Nigeria Universities Debating Championship (ANUDC), said the youth constitute the most ideal segment in the campaign for dialogue.

    He spoke at the opening of the fourth edition of ANUDC hosted by Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State, last Sunday. The theme was: “Expression.”

    He said: “Instead of picking up arms, quarrelling or fighting, we can talk. During debate, as you speak, the other listens. So, it teaches us to be disciplined in the art of conversation. We would listen to other Nigerians and vice-versa and on the basis of strong argument, we can then move our country forward.

    “We feel the best segment to use are the youths and Nigerian university students form a part of this segment. By so doing, we are helping future leadership to acquire the skills in conversation, debating and respect for argument and other people’s views to achieve national peace through discussion.”

    Over 15 contingents from various universities nationwide  arrived for the weeklong annual event, which ends tomorrow.

    Osuagwu lamented that funding has been a major problem militating against the event.

    “Funding is a very big issue. If you want the best adjudicators, you must be able to bring them in from various places. You should be able to fund their trip, accommodation and then pay them some honorarium.

    “All these cost money and we are not only talking about Nigerians, but people who may also have to come in from other countries. You have to take care of their flight ticket and other areas of welfare. Members of Council will also have to come and see the facilities of the university that is hosting. It also means the host university must have the capacity to accommodate so many students and feed them at the same time,” he said.

    Going down memory lane, Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Dr Sherriff Folarin, recalled that ANUDC started in 2013, following a successful hosting of the Pan African Debating Championship by UNICAL same year. According to him, contingents from UNICAL had always participated in the event held in South Africa when Osuagwu felt Nigeria should have a mould of the competition as a way of opening the doors for other universities nationwide to participate.

    “At inception, there were only nine universities in attendance. We even had the difficulty of mobilising the universities at that time because their management would tell you ‘why are we paying you money because of mere debate?’ In fact, to kickstart it, we had to allow about four universities participate without paying a dime,” he said.

    Vice Chancellor of the host university, Prof Charles Ayo, who was represented by his deputy, Prof Taiwo Abioye, said CU was happy to identify with ANUDC because their visions are compatible.

    “I cannot really quantify exactly how much (CU) has spent (in sponsorship), but I know that our budget has been able to accommodate it, particularly because our Chancellor has a passion for young people. Here (CU) we are not just raising leaders, but leaders who can think critically, project into the future and proffer solutions. That is why we call our graduates ‘solution providers’. That is why it wasn’t difficult to get the support of the Board of Regent towards this event,” he said.