The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Jonathan

  • Why we must keep talking

    Why we must keep talking

    President Jonathan announced in his Independence anniversary day broadcast that he had decided to set up a committee, headed by former Senator Femi Okunrounmu, to prepare the ground and modalities for what he called a National Conference/Dialogue. His decision was totally unexpected and caught most observers napping. It has been received by the public with mixed feelings. The President of the Senate, David Mark, has also declared himself in support of a national conference Those, like Professor Nwabueze, leader of The Patriots, a group of elderly persons that had been calling for a sovereign national conference, and a member of the preparatory committee, feel that President Jonathan’s offer of a national conference did not go far enough. It is considered a kind of tokenism. Regrettably, he will not take part in the work of the preparatory committee due to illness for which he is presently receiving treatment abroad.

    Others like Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, have denounced the proposed conference/dialogue as illegal and fraudulent, insisting that only the National Assembly can review or amend our Constitution. But the National Assembly has not shown much resolution in this respect. It has been dragging its feet on the matter. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a leader of the APC, on returning to the country after three months abroad, has dismissed the proposed national conference as diversionary, a Greek gift, intended to cover up the failure of leadership in the PDP Federal Government. But he was careful enough to add that this was his personal opinion and not necessarily that of his party, the APC. There must be some members of the APC, who consider a national conference a good idea, worth supporting. So far, his co-leader in the APC, General Buhari, has not reacted publicly to the proposal for a national dialogue.

    Whatever his real intentions may have been in offering the nation the opportunity of a dialogue, I think President Jonathan should be commended for finally calling such a conference. In fact, the move came as a complete surprise to many as he had previously not shown any real interest in the idea of a national conference or dialogue to talk about the myriad of problems facing our nation at the moment. He says he is calling the conference in response to the yearnings of the people. His decision to call a conference now is courageous as it entails some political risks for his government. Once the conference starts he will be in no position to guide or control it. The tables may in fact be turned against him as it will provide his political opponents a platform for criticising the government for its failures. All the same it is better, as Winston Churchill, the British war-time leader remarked, to ‘jaw-jaw than war-war’. The alternative to talking is war which will not do our country any good at all.

    This is not going to be a sovereign national conference with full authority to take executive decisions on the future of our nation. No responsible government will make that kind of concession as it cannot be sure where such a conference would lead to. The issue here is not whether or not such a conference could end up calling for the dissolution of the nation. That would be a tragedy to be avoided at all cost. Rather, the point being made here is that once again the nation has been given an opportunity by the government to come together and discuss all the problems with which our nation is currently afflicted. Of course, we have in the past had similar conferences. Only as recently as 2007 we had Obasanjo’s National Political Reform Conference. Senator Okunrounmu and I participated as delegates at that conference which I think made some useful contribution to the resolution of some of Nigeria’s critical problems. Yes, it broke up on the third term agenda of President Obasanjo and the issue of true fiscal federalism, which the delegation from the Southsouth wanted reviewed, but which the northern delegation opposed. But there were other recommendations by the Conference that, if implemented, could have solved some of Nigeria’s urgent problems. The decisions of the Conference were referred for consideration to the National Assembly by the Obasannjo government. But nothing came out of it with the National Assembly insisting that any amendment to the Constitution has to emanate from the Legislature.

    Some will argue that nothing has come out of previous national conferences, and that the same fate will befall the proposed national conference. It is true that statistically Nigeria has held more national conferences than other countries. Virtually every Federal Government, military or civilian, has called a national conference in our country to try and resolve some of our problems as a nation. But then Nigeria is in so many ways unique and needs to keep talking to resolve its problems. In 1951, we started with three powerful regions, but now have 36 states instead. Some might consider this as too many and would argue that the Federal Government in the present dispensation has become too powerful, and the states too weak. Without a dialogue these constitutional anomalies will not be resolved. It is the only way to accommodate the fissiparous tendencies in our country. These are legitimate issues that can be discussed at the conference.

    We need to resolve so many issues such as the current incongruous political structure of the country, fiscal federalism, the creation of state police, terrorism, religious and ethnic conflicts, kidnapping, public corruption, the rule of law, mass poverty, and the poor infrastructure in the country. If necessary, the issue of secession may even be discussed fully, frankly, and openly. Reuben Abati, the President’s spokesman, has said there are no ‘no-go’ areas in the government’s programme. Every thing, including secession, is up for discussion. But it is doubtful that any delegate or state would openly call for secession at the conference. Despite our tribal differences and current difficulties, most sensible Nigerians feel it is better to keep Nigeria together than sponsor its break up. Our leaders may fan the embers of tribalism for political reasons, but I doubt if they would really like the country to break up. After all, they are the main beneficiaries of a united Nigeria with the vast economic and financial opportunities it offers them.

    The story has been told of how Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, then leader of the NCNC, advised the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, leader of the NPC, that Nigerians should forget their differences. The Sardauna replied rightly that we should not forget our differences, and must continue to discuss them. That is the spirit in which the proposed national conference should be approached. Nigeria’s problems will not be solved by one conference, one government, or even one generation. It is basically one of poor leadership and governance, not the Constitution, one of the most elaborate ever. Through the kind of dialogue now proposed we must continue to work on this failure of national leadership until a national consensus on values and ethic emerge in our country. If we talk, we can make some progress in solving our national problems. If we do not, then it will make things more difficult for us as a nation. The alternative to talking is another civil war which we may not survive as a nation. Despite fears on both sides of the political divide about its possible outcome, I urge the public to fully embrace the proposed national conference and give it all its support.

  • National dialogue, a sincere project – Jonathan

    National dialogue, a sincere project – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said the proposed national dialogue is a sincere and fundamental national project aimed at “realistically examining and genuinely resolving” longstanding impediments to Nigeria’s development.

    Speaking while inaugurating the committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said the committee is also to set the stage for developing a harmonious and truly united nation.

    He said: “Today, we are taking historic and concrete steps that will further strengthen our understanding, expand the frontiers of our inclusiveness and deepen our bond as one people under God.

    “In my address to the nation on the occasion of our 53rd Independence and Golden Anniversary as a Republic, I announced that in response to the yearnings of our people, we had decided to take on the responsibility of decisively and genuinely exploring the option of a National Conversation.

    “In furtherance of this objective, government announced the names of some Nigerians, with wide experience from various disciplines, to form membership of an Advisory Committee to facilitate a most acceptable process that will bring our aspirations to fruition.

    “Our gathering here today is to formally inaugurate this child of necessity, the Advisory Committee to midwife this conversation.

    “Permit me to very quickly review the foundational principles that drive our action, and also address a few matters arising. Firstly, let me emphasize that this is a national project, a sincere and fundamental undertaking, aimed at realistically examining and genuinely resolving, longstanding impediments to our cohesion and harmonious development as a truly united nation.

    He faulted those claiming that there is no need for another conference after several conferences convened in the past.

    Stressing that each era and season has its own challenges, he said that leaders in a democracy must respond with the best available strategies to ensure that the ship of state remains focused in its voyage.

     

  • Jonathan inaugurates conference committee

    Jonathan inaugurates conference committee

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday inaugurated the 13-man committee put in place to establish modalities for a national conference aimed at resolving issues affecting the country.

    President Jonathan had on October 1 announced the setting up of the committee which will be headed by Dr. Femi Okurounmu.

    The committee is expected to complete its assignment within one month.

    Other members of the committee are –  Dr. Akilu Indabawa ( Secretary), Prof. George Obiozor, Sen. Khairat Gwadabe, Sen. Timothy Adudu, Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd), Prof. Funke Adebayo, Mrs. Mairo Ahmed Amshi, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq, Alh. Dauda Birma, Mallam Buhari Bello, Mr. Tony Uranta and Prof. Ben Nwabueze.

    However, Prof. Nwabueze has opted out of the committee.

     

  • Jonathan’s national conference: time to re-engineer Nigeria?

    Jonathan’s national conference: time to re-engineer Nigeria?

    The 2015 election is not as important as getting the country’s architecture of governance right

    Today’s column comes with sincere apologies to my readers who must be expecting to read the fifth instalment of the piece on Education and Democracy: training the future generation. The long-awaited countenancing of citizens’ strident calls for sovereign national conference or constitutional conference by President Jonathan has created a more urgent topic for today. My readers in the last four years already know that the issue of re-structuring or restoring federalism in the country is a pet subject of mine, about which I had written ad nauseam in the last four years. Before the matter gets cold, I feel compelled to add my voice to efforts to address some of the confusion already created by the suddenness of President Jonathan’s conversion to the cause of a national conference as a means of solving problems militating against the country’s peace and development.

    Unsurprisingly, President Jonathan’s sudden announcement of his acknowledgement that a national conference is imperative to making Nigeria’s unity sustainable has created doubt, anxiety, and joy for various segments of the polity. But the question of the moment should be more about the message than the messenger. Already, citizens are asking where President Jonathan has been in the last four years, during which he has assured Nigerians that there is nothing wrong with the country’s constitution and that what is needed to move the country forward is a good measure of patriotism on the part of the citizens. Taking this position amounts to worrying unduly about the messenger at the expense of the message. Such Pauline conversion as the nation witnessed a few days ago when the president gave the country an unexpected Independence Anniversary gift may have more advantages than disadvantages in the long run.

    Another focus on the messenger is the subtle reference to the president’s choice of chairman for the committee to work out modalities for holding the conference. There are worries that President Jonathan has appointed Dr. Femi Okurounmu, a Yoruba public intellectual and politician who has been calling without let for a sovereign national conference for almost twenty years. Bloggers are already raising issues with the sense in making a committed Yoruba federalist to lead the group to plan a conference that may not have the last say, because it is not given the status of a sovereign national conference.

    Some bloggers are even saying that Jonathan’s picking the chair of his proposed national conference from one of several Yoruba socio-cultural groups smacks of a divide and rule approach on the president’s part. Even if there is any merit in the claim that Jonathan’s choice of chair from a group that has been openly supportive of his political agenda for the job of creating a roadmap for a national conference that hundreds of self-determination groups have been demanding for over a decade, whatever fear this may engender is not enough to counter the significance of the message: acceptance to hold a national conference to discuss the future of Nigeria.

    Some pundits are even saying that Jonathan’s choice of Okurounmu is designed to push Yoruba voters to Jonathan’s side in 2015, as an expression of Yoruba gratitude to him for agreeing to do what Obasanjo had failed to do with sincerity. It is important for such bloggers to note that a national conference to discuss ways of strengthening the country’s federalism and unity is not any more beneficial to the Yoruba than it is to the Igbo, Ijaw, Edo, Urhobo, Bachama,Idoma, Hausa,Tiv, etc. Moreover, restoration of federalism is not enough to move the Yoruba in any political direction. What can do that is the manifesto of political parties contesting for Yoruba votes. Committed federalists from the Yoruba region need not be bothered that Jonathan may seek to use his support of the call for NC for political advantage. Most politicians would do so, but success depends more on the needs of voters. Jonathan has not even accepted what the Yoruba have been asking for: sovereign national conference. Thus, the Yoruba have no reason to show him any more gratitude than other nationalities.

    Furthermore, some bloggers are already insinuating that President Jonathan’s backing of a national conference this late in his presidency is designed to steal the thunder of opposition parties, particularly the APC that has included devolution and establishment of state police in its eight-point manifesto. If this is so, it is not unusual for politicians. Many of the leaders of the APC in Western Nigeria are, like Okurounmu, unapologetic believers in the concept of fiscal federalism and re-structuring. Even the current interim chair of APC, Chief Adebisi Akande, wrote a book on the imperative of re-structuring the country during his tenure as governor of Osun State. If anything, the conference should give ample opportunities to all opposition parties that are committed to federalism to build cases for devolution of power from the centre to the federating units.

    The claim that calling for NC so close to the 2015 presidential election may be self-serving for the president is also overblown. In fact, the timing may be an advantage for all concerned. The 2015 election is not as important as getting the country’s architecture of governance right. We have had four presidential elections since 1999, yet the country’s problems have festered with each election, not only because of the quality of political leaders but principally because of a flawed political structure. It is better to solve the problem of a designed-to-fail structure once and for all, before going into another election. And twelve months should be adequate for doing this. For example, the United States of America wrote its constitution within four months at the Philadelphia Convention, to which Oronto Douglas has likened the conference that is to be prepared by Senator Okurounmu.

    It should not matter to genuine federalists what Jonathan or any particular political or cultural group closely connected with establishment of the conference may set out to gain for sponsoring a much awaited national conference. What matters most is what Nigeria as a whole can gain from a heart-to-heart talk among the country’s nationalities that should be called to discuss how to make Nigeria work for all its federating units. The re-design of the country since 1966 into a unitary model of governance by military autocracies has hobbled the country for almost half a century. So much damage has been done to the quality of life of its citizens for too long that nobody should worry about the messenger at this time. The genie is out of the bottle. It is the turn of federalists to ensure that all voices about how to achieve functional federalism and sustainable democracy in our multiethnic state-nation are put on the conference table for the world to see.

    Several beneficiaries from the status quo have already started to make the job of the planning committee difficult by calling for a conference of representatives of professional associations. If such a conference is organised, it will certainly not be the conference that most Nigerians desire. Doctors, lawyers, journalists, accountants, academics, plumbers and drivers do not constitute the federating units. It is the nationalities to which such professionals belong that can logically be referred to as the country’s federating units. If each nationality chooses to send only professionals to represent them at the conference, so be it.

    But by any stretch of imagination, professionals are not synonymous with nationalities. Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, or Ijaw professionals, like their politicians, are subsets of the nationalities that produce them. When the British came to fight for land and sign treaties that preceded the creation of Nigeria, they did not sign such treaties with professionals; they signed them with obas, obongs, emirs, and chiefs—faces of specific nationalities. Dr. Okurounmu should resist being drawn into a class war or conflict in planning a conference that is billed to address citizens’ grievances about the way Nigeria has been reo-organised since 1966. Nigeria is not a country of professionals; it is a country constituted by nationalities: Edo, Fulani, Hausa, Idoma, Igbo, Ijaw, Igala, Ebira,Itshekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, Angas, Kanuri, Yoruba, etc.

  • APC: Power is never served a la carte

    APC: Power is never served a la carte

    President Jonathan looks to me a much more desperate politician than erstwhile President Obasanjo

    Power is never served a la carte’, is a regular refrain of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos State governor, and now one of the leading lights of the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress. He should know. He has bruises to show for his many battles against power, i.e entrenched impunity in our country which, like corruption, fights back very ferociously in aid of the status quo of power without responsibility, except to self.  This once led former President Olusegun Obasanjo to make one of his most important statements ever when, at a PDP congress, he said the party existed, or was at best, cohered only by patronage or the expectation of it.  Both the PDP and the incumbent president have shown beyond any doubt that they will brook no opposition nor concede any quarters to the opposition in the titanic 2015 battle. As far as they are concerned, going by what they do and what we hear their militant supporters say, nothing is sacrosanct; not individuals, not the very existence of Nigeria as a united country. Therefore, as you read this, a sitting governor has no Aide de camp, no chief security officer and the Nigeria Police can look askance, like the governor’s security is no longer a concern of theirs even as certified militants bay for his blood. All this because of an alleged ambition they won’t even let him declare. Nor are their members of only a few months back, but now of the New PDP, fairing any better.

    Consisting of seven governors and a number of leading members of the PDP –they have not defected – they must now, like governor Amaechi, no longer sleep. Indeed, if the PDP has its way, not only Baraje and Oyinlola, but also Obasanjo and Atiku will be behind bars while plans are hatched as to how to truly, and manifestly, humble those seven governors who have the temerity to call attention to the Tukur-led crippling political repression in their party.

    I have gone all this length to properly situate what humongous battle lies ahead of those wanting this county to take its rightful place in the comity of nations and not be seen simply as the domicile of corruption and ineptitude because, even with all the make-belief, President Jonathan looks to me a much more desperate politician than erstwhile President Obasanjo. It must be said, in mitigation though, that while he does not look personally desperate he is simply incapable of reining in those who want him to literally commit murder for the sake of 2015.

    Without a doubt, the most at risk are leaders of the APC and, ipso facto, the party itself. A little history will help but space will not allow details.

    For just being considered stubborn and vociferous, a PDP president decreed  that the licence of Orji Uzor Kalu’s Slot Airline be  withdrawn and hundreds of his employers thrown into the unemployment market just as Tinubu, for the same alleged offence, had billions of naira due Lagos State local governments withheld. The minute Buba Marwa was touted as the ANPP presidential candidate, and becoming rather threatening to the Third Term project, it was  time for the EFCC to move against him and get him detained him for weeks in December 2005, on allegations of laundering money for General Abacha.

    On Thursday, 7 September 2006, the Senate heard that an Administrative Panel set up by President Obasanjo had found Atiku guilty of utilising funds in the account of the Petroleum Development Trust Fund for personal use while it said nothing of same funds being used to buy a car for a female acquaintance of the president. All that for opposing the Third Term agenda even if some spurious reasons of an American report were to be given later. In similar circumstances, Freedom Radio was shut down, Africa Independent Television (AIT) was serially embarrassed and intimidated and its transmission equipment near the National Assembly was destroyed because it ran the Senate hearings.

    All these again to forewarn leaders of the APC that they must remain focused amidst intimidation of all types. Lies and all manners of concoctions will be levelled against them individually but they must, for the sake of Nigeria, brace up and be men of principles. It will not only be scare-mongering but bribes will be offered too, in a carrot and stick, double-pronged attack. A good example is what happened to Hon Nairu Dantiye of the ANPP during the Third Term campaigns.  On rejecting his own N50m, he was freshly offered one million dollars in cash, at night on Thursday, 11 May, 2006 , at a hotel in Abuja.  As he told Punch in an interview published on Monday, 15 May, 2006: ‘My price shot up like crude oil about three days ago. It increased from N50m naira to one million dollars’.  But the failure of the offerer to guarantee that he would live long enough to enjoy the loot, which was his counter offer, vitiated the deal. Even oil blocks were offered. This presidency may not be averse to any of these ploys to ensure Jonathan returns in 2015. APC leaders must, therefore, have honourable Alhaji Dantiye at the back of their minds when their own temptations come.

    And one has already come in the latter-day readiness of President Jonathan to approve the convocation of a National Conference. As usual, this is already trending on the wide web and I have had my say too. Below are some of the comments I have already offered.

    My first was a poser to some mails: Must you really put any stock by this Greek gift? Don’t you by any means remember the SAP debates? Didn’t IBB get his required time to plan the never, never transition programme? What about Yar Adua’s Uwais Committee on Electoral Reforms? Where did it lead to? Were this a year ago, when President Jonathan still had PDP intact, I just might have given this a thought. But today, in my view, it is nothing more than a well calculated diversion and one must give it to the Jonathan ‘2015 Think Tank’. The choice of Senator Okunrounmu as Chairman was, for me, the clincher’.

    Critics of my position wrote back and I replied: Please let’s do a reality check, beginning from the basics; the president can only be doing this if he believes it will help him electorally in 2015. Then the following. 1. The Southwest has been most vociferous about a Sovereign National conference and one of its prime demands is fiscal federalism. Let us assume Okunrounmu is dexterous enough to get this. Will it make the Southwest – now with APC governments and most likely to field a strong presidential candidate – prefer Jonathan, as happened in 2011?   2. I believe also, that we can safely assume that the majority of northerners will detest fiscal federalism. Will that decision therefore hurt or help the president in 2015?  In my view, this will serve no more than good photo ops and beautiful newspaper headlines

    An avalanche of views, even a possible agenda for the conference, then came in and I wrote back as follows:  Even on this podium we already have suggestions as to people wanting representatives on the basis of the 774 Local Government Areas, who, of course, must, in their words, not be politicians. Very fine by me. Now you allude to the Southwest Integration effort. Assuming that this were acceptable to everybody in that zone, marshalling it will then bog down the All Progressives Congress and thereby achieve what I personally consider one of the main targets of this ploy – diversion. Of course, the president has already succeeded by diverting attention to the talk show as you are no longer going to hear of such things as the president’s  ‘cluelessness’,  as was previously the case. And how do you approve decisions of a conference which is not sovereign and where the north already has much more than half the numbers in the National Assembly? Why is the president allowing it now with all the raging challenges he faces?  Also, has he decreed the National Assembly out of existence, since he once said it can’t happen as long as that body was in place?

    I concluded my contribution as follows and tried to respond to views that this should, indeed, be an opportunity for ‘pastors’, not politicians, to straighten the cause  of our country:

    I can’t remember how nice it is to be led by the nose.

    Fortunately, even if out of self interest, those politicians we want exempted this time around, are at their best when the government is out to send them on a frolic. I guess they would rather err on the side of caution. They are most unlikely to fall for this presidential trick.

    Enough history, then, for APC leaders.

  • Jonathan’s confab meant to placate SNC agitators – Shehu Sani

    Kaduna based human civil rights campaigner and President of the Civil Rights Congress (CRC), Mallan Shehu Sani said on Friday that the national dialogue proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan is only aimed at placating agitators of a Sovereign National Conference and not to address the nation’s teething problems.

    Sani said in a statement in Kaduna that the proposed national dialogue is doomed to fail from the beginning as it will only provide an opportunity for northerners and southerners to engage in prolonged session of overheated sectionalist debate and give the government a respite to strategise for the 2015 elections.

    While describing the proposed dialogue as a charade, Sani said “the national conference idea of the President Jonathan’s government is nothing but a fraudulent exercise mischievously conceived to rubbish and bastardize the genuine idea of a sovereign National Conference as propagated by other progressive Nigerians over the Years.

    He said, “President Goodluck Jonathan’s conference is a journey to eldorado as it will neither take us out of the hell of our national woes nor deliver us to the paradise of our dreams. It is primarily aimed at appeasing the advocates of the conference and not achieving its ideal purpose.

    “President Goodluck Jonathan conference is a deceptive exercise aimed at diverting the attention of the nation away from the prevalent moral crisis and failure of governance, by engaging the nation in a meaningless and endless debate about a wishful future.

    “The National conference of president Jonathan will only engage northerners and southerners in a prolong session of overheated sectionalists and chauvinists debate while given the regime a respite to strategise for the 2015 elections.

    “The economy has collapsed, the universities remain shut, residents doctors are threatening to down tools, states are bankrupt, Nigerians are killed and kidnapped, oil is stolen, corruption is at its highest level, these are the issues President Jonathan’s conference is aimed at diverting.

    “Those who think that the oppressed can be free through a dialogue process organized by the oppressor and on its own terms, lives in a fool’s paradise; Nowhere in history and nowhere in the world has the oppressors willingly sits down with the oppressed, on same table and surrender their class privileges and structures of power and plunder without a bitter revolutionary struggle.”

  • Jonathan hands over PHCN’s successor firms to buyers

    Jonathan hands over PHCN’s successor firms to buyers

    …. Says, ‘Better days ahead for Nigerians’

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday read riot act to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) cautioning the power sector staff to re-orientate themselves in order to be able to meet up with their new roles under the on-going reforms in the power sector.

    Giving the warning after formally handing over share certificates and licenses to new core owners of Power Holding Companies of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies at the Banquet Hall, Abuja, to 10 Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and four Generating Companies (GENCOs), he said that it is no longer going to be business as usual.

    He said the government is committed to providing the investors with all enabling environment in order to make them succeed in giving Nigerians uninterrupted power supply.

    According to him, the Federal Government has provided the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) capitalization fund of over $750 million to carry out its functions without financial constraints.

    He said: “However, I must remind you that the work is not over. Your staff must re-orient themselves to play the needed new roles that have been assigned to them as a result of the reform.

    “They must be prepared to collaborate efficiently with our private sector partners; business it can no longer be as usual; all the relevant MDAs must be ready to work in a more determined, proactive and result-driven manner,” he said.

    On the government support for the investors, he said: “The administration is committed to providing all elements that are necessary for our private sector partners to succeed in providing Nigerians with uninterrupted power supply.”

    “To start with, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), the off-taker, has been provided with a capitalization of $750 million positioning it to carry out its mandate without financial constraints.

    “Arrangements are also on-going to ensure that the Nigerian Electricity Liability Company (NELMCO) is adequately funded, to assume all of the liabilities associated with the privatisation of the PHCN successor companies, as well as other related liabilities.”

    He continued: “The new GENCOs owners are inheriting signed gas supply and transportation agreements, a new phenomenon in the gas-to-power industry, thereby moving the industry away from the prior status of best endeavor supply and transportation basis.

    “Accordingly, we will maintain the agreed gas pricing policy in order to encourage new investments in gas supply and infrastructure development. The implementation of the gas policy will culminate in a willing buyer-will seller structure to establish a fully market-driven environment,” he added.

    Stressing that adequate measures have been taken to resolve all labour related issues in the sector, he said that contributions of relevant MDAs in the realisation of the privatisation of the power sector was critical.

    While urging Nigerians to exercise patience with the government, President Jonathan declared that better days are ahead in the power sector.

    Also speaking at the occasion, Vice President, Namadi Sambo maintained that it is only the private sector investment in the power sector that can guarantee satisfying Nigeria’s yearning for stable power supply.

    He said the new owners of the generating companies are expected to build up capacity from the present levels of performance to additional 5,000 megawatts within a period of five years.

    “It is noteworthy to state that the privatization of the power utility is unique and different from previous privatization programmes in the country, that of the power sector is driven by the need for efficiency and investment rather than optimisation of proceeds to the government. Moreover, only bidders’ technical ability and financial capability influenced outcomes,” he stated.

     

  • ASUU to Jonathan: Media chat empty, less comforting

    ASUU to Jonathan: Media chat empty, less comforting

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday criticised President Goodluck Jonathan media chat on the country’s 53rd Independence Day celebration, describing it as empty and less comforting.

    The union said President Jonathan’s media chat has succeeded in further showing Nigerians the clueless nature of the leadership to solving pressing problems of insecurity, corruption and the comatose education sector.

    ASUU in a release signed by the Chairman of the University of Ibadan Chapter, Dr Olusegun Ajiboye, titled: “Nigeria at 53: No message of hope for Nigerians Yet,” said the hope that Nigerians had to listen to practical solutions to the problems in the country was dashed when they listened to the “empty” interview which offered no solutions.

    While picking holes in the President Jonathan’s chat, ASUU bemoaned the quality of the nation’s leadership and its failure to provide solution to problems affecting the masses, especially the poor.

    The union asked Nigerians to prevail upon “this government to consider the poor and the children of the poor by giving the needed and necessary attention to public education in Nigeria.”

    ASUU said the presidential team needs to work on the president to bring messages of hope and not dampen the morale of the already dejected Nigerians.

    He said: “Nigerians were all disappointed at President Jonathan’s media chat on the eve on the 53rd independence anniversary of the country. Many Nigerians expected their President to come out with practical solutions and cogent policy statements on urgent, burning national issues were greatly disappointed at the drab media chat. The President cannot be quoted on any of the issues raised during the interview. Most of his answers were not only evasive but lame. Critical issues, such as Boko Haram insurgency, lingering ASUU strike were all treated with mere disdain by the President. The closure of Nigerian universities for upwards of three months received a lackadaisical treatment from Mr. President.

    “Nigerians were at sea when their President and Commander- in- Chief was asked questions on one Boko Haram leader, and the President could only replied that “I don’t know him”. Mr. President, do you need to sit down in town hall meetings before you know the terrorists inflicting lots of pains and agonies on your people daily? Did Obama need to know Osama bin Laden before he took decisive action to end his reign of terror?”

     

  • UN Security Council

    UN Security Council

    Nigeria should tackle the basics at home before seeking grand distractions abroad

    President Goodluck Jonathan’s call for a non-permanent seat, in the 2014-2015 session of United Nations Security Council is legitimate and fair. But before the country can lead a credible campaign for the democratisation of that body – that principle is infallible – it must settle the basics at home. This is one area where foreign aspirations must help propel better governance at home, if the whole exercise were not to turn a grand distraction.

    In making a demand for the non-permanent seat, President Jonathan did a brilliant presentation. Addressing other world leaders and delegates at the opening of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly, in New York, United States on September 24, the president announced that both the African bloc, through the African Union (AU), and the West African bloc, through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have endorsed Nigeria’s aspiration. Therefore, support from other blocs in the global body should come as routine. That was well pitched.

    But beyond regional support, Nigeria’s perennial support to the United Nations, in terms of global and regional peace-keeping missions, is another strong recommendation. If the Security Council drives these peace missions on behalf of the General Assembly, and Nigeria had always contributed contingents to keep and enforce peace in trouble spots all over, then it makes eminent sense for Nigeria to seek election into the Security Council.

    This is a legitimate request that the president has well articulated. What must follow is effective diplomatic lobby to make the aspiration a reality.

    But the much more difficult campaign is the democratisation of the UN Security Council. “Democratisation” is euphemism for either total equality of the 15 members without any member wielding veto powers as it is now; or Nigeria landing one of the permanent member seats, for the African Region too to hold some veto in the Council’s affairs and decisions.

    To be sure, the principle of democratising decision-making in the Council is fair and just. It is an ideal that should be pursued, no matter how long it takes. Of all the 15 members, the Big Five including Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States hold the veto. So, no matter how reasonable or equitable or urgent a matter is, it suffers a fatal kiss should any of the five wield its veto.

    Often, the veto has led to some balance of terror, resulting in delayed or even scuttling of actions, particularly when the Big Five members have ideological differences. But at times too, it has led to a conspiracy of the strong against the weak, which often buys poisoned peace, all too soon coming back to haunt the global community.

    But even with the Big Five having veto power to cancel out themselves, it is always a roiling point that they are only one-third minority, dictating tunes to the two-third majority. The Big Five insist it is equitable, since they bear the brunt of any action the Council might decide to take – a not unreasonable argument.

    But the “Weak” 10, on behalf of other members of the United Nations, counter it is patently undemocratic, for always being lorded over. There is, therefore, the difference between the pragmatic and the ideal.

    For Nigeria to lead the campaign for such democratisation therefore, it must equip itself. It must build its economy. It must develop its people. It must earn enough international economic clout, prestige and respect to command global attention in the matter.

    Ironically, the place of attaining such lofty goals is at home, not abroad. If the Big Five have literally muscled the global community into accepting the Council’s veto system, they base the “equitability” of the apparently unjust action on the likelihood of losing more than the non-permanent members, in case of any adverse consequences. That is no illegitimate argument, except of course the majority members in the Council can build themselves and effectively counteract the argument. They obviously can’t – at least, for now.

    For Nigeria to make a bid for a permanent seat in the Council, therefore, and to angle for veto as the rest, it must fix the basics at home. The sad fact is that among the three contestants for the post in Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, Nigeria, on the basis of socio-economic development indices, appears the least placed. Yet, it is not only the best centrally placed (virtually right at the heart of the continent), it is also the most populous – both in Africa and in the entire Black universe.

    But neither the accident of geography nor the boom of population is enough. What is needed is birthing a country that functions well, meets the developmental needs of its citizens, forge its own economic niche, deliver local productivity and prosperity and earn respect among the comity of nations.

    With such a profile, when Nigeria speaks, the world will listen. With renewed economic power, Nigeria can then challenge the “equitability” theory of the Permanent Five. It too can claim that it deserves more from the international system, since it has much to lose if it goes awry.

    So, there is nothing wrong with Nigeria aspiring to a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. But it must take the first steps by putting right the home front. Otherwise, such foreign aspiration would be nothing but grand distraction.

  • Fashola apologises to Igbos over deportation saga

    Fashola apologises to Igbos over deportation saga

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday offered an unreserved apology for the misunderstanding generated by the alleged deportation of some destitutes to Onitsha, Anambra State.

    The state government was accused of dumping 70 beggars at Onitsha Bridge on July 24, a situation that generated public outcry and bad blood.

    The government had said it relocated the 14 people to Onitsha after rehabilitating them, but the explanations did not appease the aggrieved Igbos, who felt they were being badly treated and hated

    Fashola, who spoke at the silver jubilee of the Igbo socio-cultural think tank, Aka Ikenga held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, insisted he has no problems with the Igbos.

    He noted that the largest herds of cattle he received when his father died was from the Igbos.

    At the event were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Ayim, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan; House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Chief Emeka Ihedioha; Catholic Bishop, Mathew Kuka; former Minister, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; President Aka Ikenga, Goddy Uwazurike; former ambassador George Obiozor and President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Gary Enwo-Igariwey.

    Others included the former President Aka Ikenga, Chief Chris Asodoka; Director, Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi; Captain Emma Iheanacho; Nollywood artistes, Onyeka Onwenu and Kanayo O. Kanayo.

    Fashola said: “I came here to say to say thank you for the honour done to my family and the memory of my late father.

    “People who clearly do not understand the actions taken and words spoken are those I owe an explanation. I cannot take the Igbos for granted because we have built a relationship based on tolerance, mutual respect, love and trust. That relationship was built by our ancestors and I put a lot of value in that relationship.

    “I offer an unreserved apology if the actions taken had been misunderstood.

    “But I think the basic issue Aka Ikenga must address is why people feel compelled to immigrate from one part of the country to the other? Is it the case that some lack the resources to develop or perhaps some parts are endowed with enormous resources but not adequately managed?

    “How can development be so difficult from the zone that has produced people like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alex Ekwueme, Ike Nwachukwu, among others?

    “As political storm gathers, there are contact spots but like in football, contact spots have rules. Those who are victims of our shortcomings as professionals in and out of government should not be pounced.

    “A day like these calls for deep reflection about issues of our loyalties. Are we more Igbo than Nigeria or we are more Nigeria than Igbo?”

    Fashola called on residents in the state to embrace Residence Registration Scheme (RRS) to enable the government meets its obligation to them.