The Nation Newspaper

Tag: role

  • Role of vigilantes’ in securing Lagos

    ir: There is no gainsaying that security is the most fundamental need of human beings. A disturbed mind results in a restless, hapless and distraught personality. Issues of security and safety have been a major migraine for Lagosians in view of increasing acts of lawlessness and social disorder exemplified by the recent invasion of militants in some communities in Ikorodu and Igando areas of the state, armed robbery, and kidnapping which was brought to limelight by the recent kidnapping of the Oniba of Iba – a Lagos suburb.

    It has become expedient to revisit the role of vigilante groups readily accessible to the populace in curbing crime in Nigeria’s commercial capital. With increasing activities of hoodlums, the motley communities comprising Lagos definitely need a commensurate increased vigilance from security agencies at this time of economic down-turn.

    Over the years, local vigilantes have helped to patrol neighbourhoods under the supervision of the police in many communities in Lagos. Thus, the Lagos State House of Assembly recently passed a bill for a law to establish the Lagos State neighbourhood safety agency tagged- Neighbourhood Safety Agency Bill, 2016 to regulate and control safety corps activities and for connected purposes. The Bill came to the fore, in a bid to ensure that emerging highbrow crimes like killings by herdsmen, kidnapping, ritual killings and terrorism do not take root in Lagos State.

    The efficacy of the philosophy and policies of any system of government in any given society depends on their faithful implementation. Hence, the vigilante system must not be turned to tools in the hands of influential community leaders to threaten and punish their adversaries. Also, a major caution note is that the security outfit to emerge should not compete with the Nigeria Police, but must complement their efforts in preventing and combating crime, since our laws do not recognize state policing.

    The fulcrum of the foregoing is that crime prevention is not achieved through isolated retaliatory actions or pre-emptive violence of policing organizations but by prompt reporting of such incidents to the law enforcement agencies in our neighbourhood. It is in the light of the above that the law is laudable.

    With the introduction of a well-structured neighbourhood watch security outfit, potential crimes will be detected early and prevented before maturing into full-blown offence.

     

    • Michael O. Ogunjobi,

     Lagos.

  • Banks explain role in EFCC probe

    Banks explain role in EFCC probe

    Sterling Bank and Access Bank have notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) about their operations concerning the ongoing probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The banks on Tuesday issued separate statements to the NSE about investigations into their roles by the anti-graft agency.

    These  statements were posted on the NSE’s  website.

    Sterling Bank in its statement explained that officials of EFCC visited the bank on Wednesday May 4, 2016 to investigate a banking relationship of a non-bank financial institution.

    It said it never held the account of the customer during the previous administration to which the matter had been linked either officially or otherwise.

    The bank also stated that the non-bank financial institution (Asset Management Company) purchased a number of loans on recourse basis from it on commercially acceptable terms.

    The statement said the transactions were the concerns raised by the EFCC to Sterling Bank.

    The bank said: “Arising from this incident, the bank has commissioned a review of the compliance procedures of its non–bank financial institution clients with the aim of strengthening this area of our operations.

    “In the interim, the bank will not accept any new non-bank financial institution relationships.

    “We thank our numerous partners for their support and assure you that the bank remains a compliant institution that continues to conduct its business within the ambit of the law.”

    On its part, Access Bank said the EFCC officials visited the bank on May 6, 2016 to investigate a specific transaction involving a customer of the bank in the normal course of business.

    The visit, according to the bank, came without any form of earlier notification or invitation to the bank.

    The bank said the officials informed the bank that they were investigating some transactions and sought the bank’s cooperation.

    The officials, according to the bank, met with the Group Managing Director and the Bank’s Chief Compliance Officer who provided the needed information and documents.

    “Thereafter, the Group Managing Director was requested to accompany them to their office to further their investigation, which he willingly acceded to.

    “Following the resolution of the underlying issues, he was allowed to leave the commission’s office on the same day.

    “We have observed the wide-ranging speculations in the media connecting the visits of the commission to various personalities.

    “We would like to state emphatically for the benefit of our stakeholders that the bank has absolutely no link, interaction or relationship whatsoever with any of the personalities stated in the media reports.

    “As a bank, we shall continue to operate in line with the highest level of professionalism, consistently seeking best practices, and hereby wish to re-assure our esteemed stakeholders that the bank remains committed to its strategic goals and objectives,” it said.

  • Role of social media in war against insurgency

    The social media plays a pivotal role in the reportage of counterterrorism activities around the world. But this is not to say that the onus of nipping insurgency in the bud solely rests on its shoulders. Nigerian terrorist group, Boko-haram has gained increased media attention over the past few years. However, the efforts of our military troops in the north-east has been commendable and worthy of praise. The relationship between terrorism and social media has long been noted.

    Terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabab, ISIS, and more recently, Boko-haram, depend on the open media systems of democratic countries and the internet to further their propagandist goals and messages. In order to garner publicity for their cause, terrorist organisations resort to acts of violence and aggression that deliberately target innocent citizens and upload these nefarious acts on social media. This method has proven to be quite effective in gathering attention, due to the convenience, affordability and broad reach of social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. While the social media may not support the goals of terrorist organisations, it is their duty to report current issues and events as they break. In the fiercely competitive internet environment, when a terrorist attack occurs, social media outlets scramble to break the story. In so doing, they knowingly or unknowingly help to further the agenda of these groups. This clearly illustrates that terrorism thrives on the oxygen of publicity, and the free media in open societies are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation by ruthless terrorist groups.

    In the same vein, social media has been a remarkably successful means of publicising the fight against these insurgents by the brave men and women of the Nigerian military. As a result of its unique and ubiquitous nature, the social media has in more ways than one, helped to create a positive awareness via hashtags, retweets, viral anti-insurgency campaign videos and online press releases from notable military authorities, especially in the North-east. However, it can do more. Internet users look to social media outlets to provide news especially on terrorism and counterterrorism. If they believe the former is a threat to their safety, they will want to be informed of the threats against them. The social media must fulfil the desires of its consumers by portraying terrorism as a threat and a menace to our society. These platforms understand that the stories they report have astounding effects on the political, sociological, and psychological perspectives on our society. Hence, they must gear up and help to sensitise and sanitise the mindset of its users, helping to discourage the recruitment of unsuspecting citizens, and also aiding the general public by providing intelligence to security agencies. This means that they must be ready to work hand-in-glove with the latter, and must possess basic skills for writing for the new media. The social media blogger or reporter must be patriotic and must be adept in security intelligence reporting. They must also Understand basic security terminologies, be socially literate, possess the ability to effectively communicate with the public without unnecessarily heating up the polity with “half-truths”, and avoid news commercialisation by any means possible.

    In dealing with extremism, we need answers that go beyond a military answer. We need answers that go beyond force. Considering the role social media plays in our daily lives, it is arguably a massive tool in the ideological campaign of most terrorist groups, and if we as a nation are to gain the confidence of the entire citizenry, it is a weapon we must harness as well.

     

    • Oluwatosin, 400-Level Mass Comm., JABU

     

  • Role of women in nation-building 

    The place of women in any endeavour can never be over emphasized and given their enormous contributions to socio-economic development, there can be no meaningful advancement where women are excluded. In Africa, the conditions of women are more critical, given lingering gender inequalities, domestic violence, lack of social protection, among other issues, that exacerbate injustice and privation. These and many more limit their ability to reach their full potential. Nigeria is one of the countries where women have faced challenges and discrimination for reasons of their sex and wrongful perception that women belong to a lesser class than their male counterparts; a perception strengthened by traditional and cultural practices.

    Be that as it may, Nigeria has continued to develop and implement national strategies and plans for the advancement of women in leadership and managerial roles in the form of amending legislation, policy and institutional framework as it affects the full promotion and protection of the rights of women. This year alone, the Federal Government has re-enacted several criminal laws to reflect a gender perspective and to ensure that restorative justice is incorporated for victims of crime, who are noted to be mostly women.  These include the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which is applicable in all federal courts, and the Trafficking in Persons Law Enforcement and Administration Act.

    Another model legislation in this regard is the Violence Against Persons Act (VAPP) 2015 which creates a broader legal framework for the prevention of all forms of violence, including rape, abolishes Female Genital Mutilation, unfair and discriminatory widowhood practices and other harmful traditional practices. It further makes provision for protection, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of violence. The government has also approved a National Gender Policy which acknowledges the attainment of gender equality as not only as an end in itself, but as a prerequisite for the achievement of sustainable development. In addition, there exists a National Policy for Protection and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking which provide a broad framework for providing protection and assistance to trafficked persons.

    Common to these legislations and policies is a review of the victimology recompense regime in our legal system, incorporating compensation and rehabilitation, counselling and supporting survivors through skills acquisition and financial empowerment. All of these are in acknowledgement of the lasting effect of trauma suffered by victims and need to restore them to some kind of acceptable social and psychological footing, maximizing their potential for full recovery. This is with the view to facilitating opportunities for victims of crime to continue to contribute their quota to critical sectors of our national life.

    To ensure coordination and sustainability of all initiatives in this regard, Nigeria has federal and state ministries of women affairs with a mandate to bring about speedy and healthy development of Nigerian women, children, and the main-streaming of their rights and privileges in national development process. The ministry with key development partners, including civil society organizations, has developed policies, initiatives and strategic plans to engender gender equality and ensure full and effective participation as well as equal opportunities for women in leadership at all levels.

    There has been a deliberate increase in the number of women holding leadership positions in crime prevention and criminal justice. Specifically, some critical positions held by women include the positions of Chief Justice of Nigeria and head of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judges of High Courts, Comptroller General of the Immigration Service, Commissioners of Police, Directors of Public Prosecution with significant numbers of women justices in superior courts of record. The Nigerian Army also now admits female combatants in the Armed Forces. I should also mention the position of Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons, which I am privileged to hold, as its second female chief executive.

    At a practical level, appreciable gains have been recorded in the last two decades and criminal justice policies and institutions are continuously being strengthened to better reflect the invaluable contributions and needs of women.  All of this has been possible as a result of intense advocacy as well as growing recognition of leadership potentials and competences, irrespective of gender. The result is that women are able to claim their pride of place in this sector and make invaluable contributions that have led to the positive development of criminal justice institutions and policies in the country.

    It is however acknowledged that a lot still needs to be done in this regard. While appropriate legalization and policies are in force in many parts of the country, there still appears to be a gap between the existence of these laws and policies in some areas and the reality due to cultural norms, prejudices and practices that reinforce discrimination against women, including the activities of terrorist groups. In pursuing the goals of women’s effective involvement in crime prevention and the criminal justice sector and building the capacity to ensure their own protection; strategies could broadly be categorized in two viz: Women as role actors within crime prevention and the criminal justice system institutions and, Women as subjects of protection from crime.

    A possible starting point is to deliberately ensure the incorporation of women in crime prevention because they are known to have more empathy and are more likely to win the confidence of victims of crime. Another point is the review of victimology recompense regimes and public education of members of society on the benefits of inclusive criminal justice practices and institutions. This will serve the dual purpose of supporting the place of women in criminal justice roles and dealing with gender attitudes, accounting for crimes committed against women.

     

    • Jedy-Agba is Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons(NAPTIP)
  • New role for Southsouth, Southeast

    New role for Southsouth, Southeast

    The outcome of the general elections has reduced the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a regional party. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines its implications and its likely effects on the political future of the Southsouth and the Southeast geo-political zones.

    The electoral defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28 presidential election is already taking its toll on the ruling party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The party has been in power for 16 years. Given its national spread, the party has been domineering since 1999. It was against this backdrop that a former chairman of the PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor boasted that the party will rule the country for 60 unbroken years.

    But the results of the just concluded elections have changed the political calculus of the PDP. An ominous sign that the claim of the PDP as a dominant party was in sight came when like-minded elements in four major opposition parties formed the All Progressives Congress (APC) which was registered in 2013. The party has made history as it defeated a sitting President.

    In the presidential election, APC won in 21 states while the PDP triumphed in 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The states where the APC got majority votes are: Kaduna, Kwara, Oyo, Kogi, Kano, Jigawa, Ogun, Osun, Ondo , Katsina, Niger,  Lagos, Gombe, Adamawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Benue, Bauchi, Yobe, Sokoto and Borno. The results shows that the APC is  the dominant party in the Northwest, Northeast , Southwest and part of the Northcentral.

    The states won by the PDP are: Enugu, Nassarawa, Ekiti, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Taraba, Delta, Anambra, Rivers and FCT. The results indicate that the party is strong only in the Southeast and Southsouth and part of the Northcentral.

    The governorship election results have given a broader picture of how the parties stand. The APC had won more states than it did in the presidential election. For instance, the party won Plateau and Nasarawa from PDP. Thus, the APC is in firm control of the Northcentral.

    The implication of the election results is that the PDP has degenerated into a regional party. A party that has strong presence in virtually all the six geo-political zones can now boast of the Southsouth and Southeast as its stronghold. Analysts say unless the PDP leadership go back to the drawing board to examine what went wrong with the once-upon-a-time national party, that has shrunk into a regional party, it will be difficult for it to win presidential election in future. They argued that a regional party cannot win presidential election and cited the case of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who despite his popularity in the North, failed in 2003, 2007 and 2011 to win because he contested on the platforms of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which later merged with other opposition parties to form the APC.

     

    Electoral fraud

    in Southsouth/Southeast

     

    However, the desperation of the Southsouth and Southeast states to keep the PDP flag flying has resorted in monumental electoral fraud being perpetrated by leaders of the party in the two zones. There were reported cases of electoral malpractices in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Enugu and Imo, where results posted for the APC did not reflect the political situation in those states. The figures released for the PDP are so outrageous. For instance, it was reported that during the presidential and governorship elections in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, the election materials were hijacked by hoodlums sympathetic to the PDP and election did not hold in many polling units. Yet, results were posted for such units. The figures released in some of the states tallied with the total number of registered voters, an implication that the areas recorded 100 per cent voter turnout.

    Local and international observers have written in their preliminary reporters that the turnout of voters for the governorship and House of Assembly elections was lower than during the presidential and National Assembly elections on March 28.

    This is not the first time that states in the Southsouth and Southeast will be voting overwhelmingly for the PDP. In 2011, when President Jonathan first contested for presidency, nearly all the states in the two zones recorded between 90 and 100 per cent of the total registered voters for him. The attitude then was that they had to give maximum support to Jonathan, who they saw as their brother.

    Kano-based legal practitioner, Mahmoud Garba, said it was amazing hearing people from the Southsouth and Southeast alleging that the North and the Southwest ganged up against the re-election of President Jonathan.

    Garba said: “These same group of people voted 100 per cent for their son. There is no single state in both zones where Buhari scored the minimum 25 per cent except in Imo and Edo.  On the contrary, Jonathan won in some states in the North and Southwest.

    “The ethnic and regional politics that our brothers in the Southsouth and Southeast are playing is not in their interest. No zone or region can do it alone. Nigeria has grown beyond regional or ethnic politics.

    Rather than turn the fall of PDP into regional affairs, they should examine the factors that led to its misfortune with a view to addressing them so that PDP can bounce back in the nearest future.”

    Former Senate Minority leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora said the votes posted for the APC is not a true reflection of the party’s projected popularity and acceptability in the two geo-political zones.

    Mamora said: “I am not saying that we should have won in all the states in those zones but at least I was expecting that the number of votes returned for our party would have been much higher than what appeared to have been allocated to us.

    “We should not forget that APC still have some states that are currently under its control like Edo, Rivers and Imo. The purported performance of our party in those states remains a mystery.”

    Breaking ties with the North

     

    Since Independence, the Southsouth, then referred to as the minority group, has always aligned with the North for the fear of domination by the Igbos. When the late Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu declared secession in 1967, the likes of Rivers and Cross River refused to be part of Biafra, they remained in Nigeria. In the Second Republic, the Southeast that was just coming out of the civil war believed it would not be wise for it to be in opposition, it joined the Northern dominated National Party of Nigeria (NPN) that ruled the country between 1979 and 1983. The Southsouth was also dominated by the NPN.

    That explains why both zones embraced the PDP which was predominantly a Northern party. The Southwest used to be in opposition right from independence till date. As from May 29, the Southsouth and Southeast will be in opposition.

    The implication of the new role that the two zones will play under the Buhari administration is that they will be out of power. They may lose ministerial appointments and top legislative and administrative appointments. The PDP swept all the senatorial and House of Representatives seats in the two zones. So they are not in contention for the office of the Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives.

     

     

  • An umpire’s role

    An umpire’s role

    Here is the period of life against which we had been warned through the wisdom of Ubayyi Bn Ka‘b and that of Abdullah Bn Mas‘ud. Here is the time in life when truth becomes totally abhorrent while falsehood and mischief are loftily upheld. Should this period linger and nothing changes in it, the world may (soon) reach a stage where the bereaved will rather rejoice than grieve over the demise of a close relation and parents will rather grieve than rejoice over the birth of a new baby”.

    By an Arab poet

     

    Preamble

    Read the above quotation once again and compare it with the current social, political and economic trends in Nigeria. In a situation like this where suicide through insurgency is in vogue for teenagers; where throwing away of newly born babies by young, unmarried women is taken for civilisation; where kidnapping has become a lucrative business and oil theft is now a unique profession; where rebellion and terrorism are the order of the day, one can hardly see anything other than the signals of the end of time.

    For majority of Nigerians today, life is so much upside down that the children of textile magnates now walk the streets in rags even as the children of meat sellers of yore now eat bones. The highly valued norms of our society that once constituted the pinnacle of glory in the life of Nigerians have sadly become objects of ridicule while vagabondism and unbridled brigandage have replaced those norms. Like prodigal children of history, Nigerians now live in a land of unrealisable dream and peregrinate aimlessly in the desert of pauperism. And the compass with which to find the way to the Cape of Good Hope has been lost by those who are claiming to be the crew on our nation’s boat. Where are we going from here?

     

    Memorial Inscription

    Whenever I remember an inscription once placed, conspicuously, at the entrance of the University of Cordoba, in Spain, my heart bleeds. In the antiquity of that inscription is the summary of what the world should be as against what it is today. I first saw the inscription in 1985 when I accompanied the late Bashorun MKO Abiola to Spain where he delivered a lecture on ‘Islamic Economic System’. It read thus: “The world is held together by four formidable pillars: the wisdom of the learned, the justice of the great, the prayer of the righteous and the valour of the brave”. (University of Cordoba is the very first University ever established in the world. It was established by the Muslim Arabs in Spain in the seventh century CE).

    At the foundation of the four pillars mentioned above are two key words that link man directly to God. The two words are: TRUTH AND JUSTICE. Without those two abstract but ruling words, it would have been impossible for humanity to remain in peace and harmony.

    Perhaps no scholar in the contemporary world has given a more connotative definition to TRUTH than Sheikh Uthman Dan Fodio did. In that axiomatic definition which The Guardian  of Nigeria has adopted for its official insignia, the great scholar described Truth as “an open wound which only the conscience can heal”. And, in Islam, JUSTICE is a corollary of TRUTH. Both are the armour with which two unique persons are fortified in the course of their responsibilities.

    The two persons are the umpire and the witness.

     

    Truth and Justice

    Uthman Dan Fodio’s definition of TRUTH was based on his understanding of Allah’s counsel for mankind thus: “Do not encapsulate truth in falsehood, nor hide the truth deliberately….” Q. 2: 42. And Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also admonished the Muslims thus: “Speak the truth even if it be against you”.

    Truth and Justice are like a pair of scissors. They work together inseparably. And, just as no scissors can function effectively with just one blade so can no building stand without a foundation. Truth is the foundation of Justice. Wherever the two are constantly found, all vices disappear into permanent oblivion.

    In Islam, nothing is more important than Truth and Justice. In 245 places in the Qur’an, Allah talks of the essence of Truth in the life of man with emphasis. Also, in 28 places, in the same Glorious Book, He guides mankind on Justice and frowns emphatically at injustice.

    That is why, (in a genuine Islamic society), no man can become an Imam, a Judge, an umpire or even be accepted as a witness unless there is evidence that he is truthful and just.

     

    Breach of Trust

    The first step towards the breach of trust can be found in a situation where a person who is involved in a case is the one to appoint the judge. This happens in various forms. For instance, injustice is expected to occur where the coach of a football team is responsible for assigning a referee to a match involving his team. A better example is a situation where a ruling party or a contestant in an election is the one to appoint the umpire in such election as it happens in Nigeria. With that alone, the basis of trust has been destroyed, especially if that umpire reports to the same person who appoints him. In such a situation, no amount of verbal assurances or persuasion can convince anybody. And any contest based on that situation is based on injustice.

     

    Down the memory lane

    Students of Arabic grammar should be able recall an episode during the golden era of Abbasid dynasty in Iraq. That was the time when Islamic knowledge flourished almost to its peak and Arabic grammar was taking its final formation. Two famous schools of Arabic language coexisted in Iraq at that time. One was in Basrah. The other was in Kuffah. They were headed by Sibawayh (a Persian) and Kisai (an Arab), respectively.

    The Basrah School specialised in syntax. The Kuffah School specialised in morphology. But both schools were in a fierce competition and none could be said to be superior to the other.

    However, some concerned scholars who wanted to establish the base of superiority between the two schools decided to put both to test. A grammatical question was raised. And the two leaders were invited to answer it analytically. Here is the question: “I have always thought that the hornet was more poisonous than the scorpion”. Two answers were provided for that question. One was “and it happens to be so”. The other was “and it is exactly so”. The examinees were expected to pick only one answer.

    What Sibawayh and Kisai were requested to do in answering the question was to analyse the full complement of any question they picked grammatically. Kisai chose the first answer while Sibawayh chose the second. The panel of judges was divided on the matter but the opinion of the leader of the panel prevailed. Kisai was thus declared the winner and Kuffah School was proclaimed superior.

    Disappointed that the judgment was partial in favour of his rival Sibawayh who was impeccably renowned, intellectually, did not return to his home base in Basrah. Rather, he migrated to a remote village where he spent the rest of his life in frustration and died miserably.

    It was many years after his death that the incident was revisited and Sibawayh was found to be correct while Kisai was wrong. But then, the die had been cast as the demised victor could not rejoice over his victory.

     

    Nepotism

    Going into why the first judgment was faulty, researchers discovered that the head of the first panel was Kisai’s cousin. And so, the judgment was deliberately given to reflect nepotism. Over 1,000 years after that episode, Nigeria staged a similar show in 1993 at a macro level. And it ended in a fiasco called the June 12 debacle. In the show, an MKO Abiola won the freest and fairest election ever held in this country but was denied victory and made to die miserably in prison.

    The result is the ongoing spectre casting a political spell on Nigeria and constituting a pendulum of uncertainty on the citizenry.

     

    Neutrality of an umpire

    Whoever is appointed an umpire or finds himself in such a position must bring his conscience to bear. He must not only be truthful, just, upright and conscientious, he must also see himself as being in the presence of the Almighty God in his open conduct and secret deeds. An umpire can be a judge in a court of law, an arbiter in a dispute, a referee in a boxing ring, a moderator in an election or a ruler of a nation. Each of these is expected by God and by man to be just in his arbitration, rule or dealings. As such, he must not just wear the garb of neutrality; he must also be vividly seen in that garb. It hoped that the INEC boss, Professor Attahiru Jega would read this article.

    As an umpire, pitching tent with an individual or a group against another in a contest can only amount to a breach of natural law, a betrayal of trust and a violation of justice all of which can incur the wrath of God. No man in the position of an umpire has ever betrayed the course of justice without paying dearly for it in the end.

    Where the chief executive officer of a country becomes the chief law breaker through deliberate falsehood, vicious treachery, audacious injustice, treasury looting, and playing of god-fatherism to illegality and gangsterism, it is only natural to expect repercussion in whatever form. A former one time Governor of Kaduna State, Group Captain Usman Jibrin (now of blessed memory) warned Nigerian Muslim leadership against injustice in 1994, at a meeting of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs held in Arewa House, Kaduna, and headed by the former Sultan, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki.

    When some Muslim elders present at that meeting, who were expected to uphold the truth, started to speak from both sides of their mouths on the June 12, 1993 election annulment, Group Captain Jibrin rose courageously to call a spade its name quoting the following verses of the Qur’an: “And guard against a calamity that may descend not only on evil perpetrators but also on their aides as well. And know that Allah’s punishment can be very severe.”

     

    Truth like gold

    Truth is like gold. It can be smelted and panel-beaten after taken through the furnace. But when it becomes an adorned ornament its beauty remains forever. The misfortune of history as a teacher is that people refuse to learn from its lessons. In Nigeria, like in most other African countries, greed is the very basis of injustice. Every action by the so called leaders is measured in terms of dollars and Euros accruing to their pockets from the national treasury. But Allah is patient. He allows unjust rulers and political demagogues to pull a long rope before they end up hanging themselves with the same rope.

    Who can be a better judge of actions and intentions than Allah?

    Democracy is stable in the Western world because greed is not vivid in the culture of that world. The former American President, Bill Clinton, was living in a four bedroom bungalow before he assumed office in 1992. It was to that same bungalow that he returned in year 2000 after serving two terms of eight years as President of the world’s most powerful country. Can the same be said of Nigerian leaders after Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Murtala Muhammed? And, given this situation, in which Nigeria finds herself today, does one need to gaze through the crystal ball to know why the life span in Nigeria came down to 43 years in 2006 from 52 years that it was in 1999 even as winning the coming elections has been declared ‘a do or die affair’?

     

    INEC under watch

    Now, we are going through another acid test in the hands of justice.

    All eyes are on the umpire called Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) even as the world waits to see the direction to which Nigeria will head through the general elections that start in a week’s time. Confidence has been eroded. Fears have been expressed in various quarters. Prayers have been offered by millions of Muslims and Christians in the country. It is our hope that INEC will live by the name of an umpire if for posterity sake. It is also our fervent prayer that the Almighty Allah will allay all fears in the land and rescue Nigerians from the crushing manacle with which Satan has fettered this country to its own stake. Amen.

  • Gero eyes first team role at Osters

    Gero eyes first team role at Osters

    John Chibuike has told AfricanFootball.com he will bring the creativity Nigeria have lacked in midfield since the exit of Austin ‘Jay Jay’ if given his long-awaited chance by the Super Eagles. The former Rosenborg and Enugu Rangers star, who was contacted by Sweden in 2011 to feature for them at full international level, said he hopes to get his chance in the Super Eagles during the AFCON 2015 qualifiers, which begin in September. He also spoke about his other expectations at new Turkish club Gaziantepsor and his time at top Norwegian club Rosenborg.

    How do you feel joining Turkish club Gaziantepsor?

    I am very happy that I am leaving Rosenborg for another team, I am so happy with this deal. I have stayed in Rosenborg for three years, so I deserve a change.

    What would you consider as your best moment at Rosenborg?

    All I can say is that I have had some very good moments in Rosenborg.

    Tell us a few of those moments?

    I was the top scorer for my club last season with 16 goals and the best player in my team same season.

    What are your targets with your new club Gaziantepspor?

    I want to achieve a lot with the team and will put in my best as I used to do at all clubs I have played for. May be we could win a trophy and play in Europe.

    What will you miss the most after he quit Rosenborg?

    The fans were so good to me, they showed me that they love me very much. I am going to miss their support. They are wonderful people.

    You have played as a midfielder and also as a striker, which role do you prefer?

    I prefer to play as a midfielder.

    How much do you want to play for Nigeria?

    I am a Nigerian and playing for the Super Eagles is the dream of every Nigerian player. I am still interested in playing for Nigeria. If that could come during the AFCON 2015 qualifiers and the competition, I will be fulfilled.

    What will you bring to the Eagles midfield?

    I will do my best and contribute my quota to make the team better. I can bring the needed creativity in the midfield to the team.

    Have you ever considered playing for another country after you were overlooked for several years by Nigeria?

    No, I never gave it a thought.

    But it was rumoured that Sweden wanted you to play for them?

    Yes, it is true, I was approached by Sweden in 2011 for a change of nationality so I could play for them. But no matter the disappointment, I have always wanted to play for Nigeria and I am optimistic that will soon come to pass.

  • ‘Christians have role in politics’

    A Cleric, Rt. Rev. Dapo Asaju, has urged Christians to participate in politics, saying that it is not a dirty game.

    He described the recent victory of former Ekiti State GovernorAyodele Fayose at the poll as the wish of the electorate.

    Asaju, a retired professor and an Anglican Bishop, said:” Darkness will shine, if light refuses to shine. God needs your role in politics, which starts from the youths, who are present here today. You need to register; you need to vote and also wait for your vote to be counted before leaving the polling booths.”

    The Vice Chancellor of the College of Technology, Abeokuta spoke at the 2014 Youth Summit organised by the Christian Conscience Group at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Ikeja.

    Asaju spoke on the theme: ‘Playing second fiddle in your father’s house’. He said: “The Bible gave the provision for the system of government in practice. Christians should be active participants and not the gaping audience.”

    Rev. Asaju said being a clergyman does not forbid him to join the push for  good governance. He said that Christians should support political parties of their choice, adding that they have the numerical strength to effect change in Lagos State.

    The cleric addded: “It is high time Christians got to power because we have the population and that is why we are trusting in your generation to be the change Nigeria seeks. Christ has the best manifesto and you are not inferior to anyone as your dream of being a leader is achievable, only if you make something great of yourself”.

    He said Governor Babatunde Fashola has  laudable projects for the state.  But, he maintained that Christians should support the push for change and good governance. The priest also charge Christians to wake up from their slumber and defend great values germane to good governance..

    Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, the General Overseer of Trinity House, said: “This is the right time Christians should clamour for change, new direction and a new beginning. Christians should not see politics as a dirty game”.

    He said a good Christian governor will be endowed with love, fear of God and sympathy for the common man.

    He urged Christians to register and protect their votes, run for electoral offices and become more politically conscious.

    The Chairman of the group, Chief Enouch Ajiboso, said the group’s aim sole is to bring youths together and work towards changing their life. He advised them to shun unruly behaviour and embrace good mentors.

    He added: “We want the youths to get involved in politics and governance in a positive way and we also have hope in their generations because they are the leaders of tomorrow and they need to be mentored as such.”

  • Who is a role model?

    The most important single influence in the life of a person is another person…who is worthy of emulation – Paul Shafer

    The pupils were well-composed as I walked into the class. It was my first time in the school after I was posted to the school as a Corps member. I was introduced to these future leaders as their new English teacher. After my brief introduction, I also asked to know them one after the other. I was excited by the drama that attended the session.

    And then the prologue continued. I took that opportunity to ask them two questions I usually ask kids of their age. The first question was on who they wanted to be in future; the second was on who their role models were. The responses I got from the first question thrilled me but answers to the second question were uninspiring. I reviewed the list and they were names of celebrities that had nothing to do with their chosen career. Being a new teacher, I stomached my dissatisfaction and resolved to create a session to discuss their misconception with them.

    In this clime, we often take celebrities as role models. Once a person is in public glare, whether he is an exceptional teacher, artiste, footballer or politician, he or she is deemed a role model. Then, people start looking up to him or her. But then, this notion is absolutely wrong.

    Wikipedia defines a role model as “any person who serves as an example, whose behavior is emulated by others.” Historically, the term ‘role model’ first appeared in Robert Merton’s socialisation research. He stated that “individuals compare themselves with reference groups of people who occupy the social role to which the individual aspires.”

    Undoubtedly, role models are good. They help us turn out to be the person we want to be and stimulate our passion to make difference. It means that one is on the right track and can be the best he wants to be. It is all about the right choice. To be like someone we often see on the television screen can be detrimental to one’s career. If the admired personality is a well-known celebrity, does it make him or her a role model?

    Anyone apart from celebrity can be one’s role model. It is not necessarily the person must be rich or influential. A teacher, an uncle, or an ordinary man on the street with exemplary lifestyle and career can be our role model. Notwithstanding, it is never a crime to take a celebrity or a famous person as a role model. As Ben Johnson put it, it is not a shame to follow the better precedent.

    We cannot choose a role model just because the person has a style we admire. The choice of celebrities of the pupils was influenced by their addiction to the TV. Most of the celebrities we confer the function of a role model do not worth it. The fact that a particular actor is excellent in interpreting roles in movies does not make him a role model, albeit he is superb in his field.

    By the way, who is a true role model? A true role model possesses the qualities that we aspire to have. He or she is someone who has affected us in a way that makes us want to be better person even though we have not met them physically. His or her life gives us the replica of ourselves in the future and reminds us that we can make it beyond the limit our admired persons attain. Above all, a true role model is that individual that influences one to make the right choice in life.

    Denzel Washington sees a role model as a mentor – someone one sees on a daily basis and learns from them.

    On the other hand, role models are humans and as such, they are not expected to be infallible. They have emotions, feelings and weak points. Sometimes, they fail to live up to expectation as a role model. A role model has not stopped being one just because he or she has done something unexpected of him. That good side of him could still be emulated.

    The fact that those people have made it and seem to have made an indelible footprint in their career does not make them different from any other person when it comes to the acts of the flesh. One really needs to define what he wants, so that he can differentiate those qualities and virtues he venerates from the ones that happen to be the extreme side of his role model which should be discarded.

    As famous and charismatic Bill Clinton is, a lot of people make him their role model. But, that does not erase the Monica Lewinsky scandal from our memories.

    As promiscuous as he was, legend has it that Picasso, a famous artist, got married to Fernande Olivier and separated from her later in 1912 to marry Eva Gouel. After the death of Gouel in 1915, Picasso got married again to Olga Koklova in 1918 and she had a son for him. He later found rest in the bosom of a new love, Marie Theresa Walter and had a daughter, Maia, through her in 1935. In other to enlarge his artistic horizon, Picasso fell in love with Dora Marr, an artist who photographed Guernica as he painted it even though he was still with Walter. Picasso’s emotional life was said to have become enigmatic after he met French painter, Francoise Gilot in the 1940’s while he was still with Maar. Before Picasso and Gilot parted ways in 1953, they had a son, Claude and a daughter, Paloma. Picasso moved on with his amorous lifestyle and later got married to Jacqueline Roque in 1961 and she became his next companion.

    All those women in Picasso’s life were said to have influenced his works during the time they were together. Despite his troubles with having an unsettled home, Picasso nevertheless produced great artworks that are still felt and revered till date. That weak point of his was his inspiration.

    Going by the definition of Wikipedia, would anyone have emulated Picasso given his personal way of life? I know readers would say: “That was just his weak point but he was still a great artist.” Nobody will say Picasso is a bad example to be emulated in marriage, so he should not be taken as role model in art.

     

    Taiwo, a Corps member, NYSC IBADAN

     

  • Counsellors seek role in tackling insecurity

    Chairman, Ogun State chapter of the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) Prof Olufunmilayo Sotonade has advocated that counselling psychology be adopted in tackling insecurity.

    Prof Sotonade spoke at the Fourth conference of the body with the theme: Counselling for security, at Babcock University High School, Ilisan Remo in Ogun State.

    She said: “The role of a counsellor goes beyond the walls of educational institutions. A counsellor’s role is that of a guide to the society. The insecurity sweeping through our nation at this moment calls for counselling. It is very obvious that the state of insecurity in Nigeria has assumed a frightening dimension.”

    Also speaking, wife of the Ogun State governor, Mrs Olufunsho Amosun, said counselling can help the society to reach various heights.

    She said: “All security lies in the hands of God, but there are ways we can counsel to achieve security. To encourage the students not to be careless and know who they speak to. Don’t take certain things for granted,” she added.

    Ogun Staste Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Odubela, lauded the body, saying it is taking counselling services in schools to a greater height.

    He said the services of these professionals are highly commended and desirable.

    “Now, we are all more concerned about vices that are hindering education standard across board and preventing the sanity of the society like examination malpractice, armed robbery, cultism, drug abuse, bullying, truancy, rape, provocative dressing among others. They can be traced to upbringing, media, peer group pressure, improved technology and much more.

    “We all need to be security conscious in our environment, school, or community and avoid complacency in whatever we do. We should remember that Boko Haram in the Northern part of Nigeria has claimed many lives and that there is increasing incidents of violence in schools.”

    He said the purpose of the conference is to provide adequate information to adolescents to prevent them from engaging in terrorism, suicide bombings, among others.

    He said he hoped the forum also provided antidotes to employment and job security, as well as security consciousness especially on the use of computer, and Internet.