The Nation Newspaper

Tag: sanity

  • We can reclaim our sanity again

    We can reclaim our sanity again

    • By Emeka Asinugo

    It might look absurd but, frankly, many of us, Nigerians in the Diaspora, quietly shed tears of sadness each time we remember how our country, globally known for its vibrant culture, its rich and alluring history and great promises of immeasurable prosperity, has now become the bloody battle ground of heartless, unknown gunmen, red-eyed herdsmen, unrelenting self-determination agitators, and inhuman insurgents. Ours has become a land where the value of human life has so diminished that for many Nigerians, life literarily has no meaning any more. Over the past few decades, our country has been gripped by these twin evils of insurgency and terrorism that often left on their trail only the story of bloodshed and the subsequent desperation of our people.

    It is not a thing to be proud of.  

    The conflicts that have bedevilled our country are rooted in its complex social and political experiences. But they have also been worsened by the roles local politicians play, encouraging violence in the system. The need to restore the value of life among Nigerians has never been more urgent. But first, we need to know how we came to this rise of insurgencies and terrorism and the insidious role politicians play in sustaining these crises. We need to consider what critical steps we must now take to reclaim the sanctity of life in our country. Let us see what brought about these instances of unrest among our people and then consider if there is anything we ought to do, to come back to our senses and begin to value and respect the sanctity of human life again. 

    Rightly or wrongly, it has  been claimed that Boko Haram evolved as  a result of widespread social and economic marginalization of the masses of our people, particularly in the northern states. Decades of neglect by successive governments, rampant poverty, and the lack of educational opportunities are said to have created the fertile ground for radical ideologies to take root. Boko Haram capitalized on these situations, promising an alternative system of governance that would be based on a strict interpretation of the Sharia Law. And so, what began as a fringe movement quickly turned into a full-blown insurgency, with Boko Haram launching a campaign of terror that have claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions from their ancestral homes.

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    Other insurgent groups also emerged in various parts of the country, each with its own grievances and objectives. The Niger Delta region saw the rise of such militant groups as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). MEND waged a violent campaign against the Nigerian state over the exploitation of the region’s oil resources. In the Middle Belt, clashes between farmers and herders escalated into deadly conflicts, fuelled by ethnic and religious tensions. In the Southeast, the rise of unknown gunmen became responsible for the kidnapping and killing of many young adults and more depressingly, the killing of several royal fathers. Many joined the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to agitate for a referendum so that Nigerians can decide for themselves whether or not they still wanted to stay together as one huge indivisible country.

    While the root causes of insurgency and terrorism in our country are complex, the role of politicians in perpetuating the bloody violence cannot be ignored. One of the most troubling aspects of the country’s struggle with insurgency and terrorism has been the way in which these crises have often been politicized. In many instances, political actors exploit the chaos for their own selfish gain, deepening the crisis and making it more difficult to resolve. Rather than address the underlying issues, some of our politicians use violence as a tool to further their own personal agendas. For instance, during election periods, it is not uncommon for rival political factions to sponsor violence or align with militant groups to intimidate opponents and manipulate voter turnout.

    Corruption also plays an ugly role in perpetuating violence in our society. The siphoning of public funds meant for security and infrastructural development weakens democratic institutions, leaving them ill-equipped to address the root causes of insurgency. For example, funds allocated for military operations are often embezzled by corrupt officials, rendering the military poorly equipped, demoralized and unable to effectively combat insurgent groups. Worse still, corruption has undermined the judicial system which has led to a culture of impunity where perpetrators of violence are rarely held accountable. The case of the judge in Imo State, who was murdered in broad daylight by hooded gunmen with no arrests made, is a stark example of the lawlessness that had taken hold in some parts of our country. This failure to enforce the rule of law obviously erodes public trust in the government and emboldens insurgents and criminals to take advantage of the situation.

    The militarization of politics in Nigeria is one other factor that contributes to the perpetuation of violence. The use of armed groups by politicians to achieve their objectives creates a vicious cycle of violence and retribution. This is particularly evident in states where political power is highly contested, and the stakes are high. In such places, political violence is often seen as a necessary evil, and the value of human life is subordinated to the pursuit of political power. The consequences of this militarization are far-reaching. For one, it has led to the proliferation of arms among civilians, making it easier for insurgent groups to acquire weapons and sustain their campaigns of terror. Moreover, the normalization of violence in the political landscape appears to have desensitized the public to the brutality that has become a daily reality in many parts of our country.

    The task of reclaiming Nigeria from the grip of insurgency, terrorism, and political violence is surely daunting, but it is not an impossible one. Restoring the value of life in Nigeria demands a multifaceted approach. It calls for us, as a people, to address of the root causes of violence, strengthen our state institutions of democracy, and encourage a culture of peacefulness that predicates on respect for human life.

    To effectively combat insurgency and terrorism, the authorities should be crucially ready to address the socio-economic factors that fuel these crises. They should be prepared to tackle mass poverty in the face of plenty, unemployment, and the lack of educational opportunities that makes individuals vulnerable to radicalization. Economic development initiatives that create jobs and provide access to education are essential and the authorities should see and tackle them as such.

    The government should also invest in infrastructure and social services in neglected regions to reduce the disparities that insurgents exploit to gain support. A strong and accountable government will be essential in any attempt to restore the value of life in Nigeria. We should begin with tackling corruption, ensuring that public funds are used for their intended purposes.

    The military and law enforcement agencies should be adequately equipped and trained to respond to the threat of insurgency effectively. The judicial system should be reformed to ensure that those who commit acts of violence are brought to justice. More importantly, there is an urgent need to depoliticize the security forces and ensure that their actions are guided by the principles of justice and the rule of law. The government should also engage with local communities and traditional leaders in conflict-affected areas to build trust and promote peace.

    Reclaiming our sanity in Nigeria is not just about ending violence. It is about restoring the very essence of what it means to be human. The respect for human life, which has been eroded by years of insurgency, terrorism, and political violence, must be reinstated at the heart of our society. This requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of violence, strengthens state institutions of democracy, and institutes a culture of peace and respect for life. Only by doing so can Nigeria hope to emerge from the darkness that beclouds it and build a future where every life is valued and protected. The journey to reclaiming our sanity will be long and challenging, but it is a journey that we must undertake if we are to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.

    •Asinugo, KSC, is a London-based British-Nigerian journalist.

  • Police launch operation to restore sanity on Lagos roads

    The Lagos State Police Command yesterday declared war against traffic offenders in the state, particularly those who drive against traffic.

    Te Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal  said the ‘Operation Restore Sanity in Lagos’ is to ensure all motorists, no matter their status in the society to adhere to traffic rules, or have their vehicles impounded. The exercise, according to the command boss, is expected to begin today, between 6am and 6pm.

    At a meeting with stakeholders comprising members of transport unions and other traffic agencies, at the Police Officers Wives, POWA hall, Ikeja, Edgal, disclosed that 650 policemen had been deployed to man and arrest offenders at designated routes in Lagos.

    He said any motorist, motorcyclist or tricyclist, be he private or commercial, caught driving against traffic or found without driver’s licence, will be arrested. Lamenting the menace caused by traffic offenders in Lagos, Edgal said “the impunity with which traffic laws are being flouted has called for caution and it won’t be acceptable anymore, even with law enforcement officers. Lagosians and visitors disobey traffic laws as regards driving against traffic, driving on BRT lanes and driving without required documents. We must collectively fight this in order to restore orderliness on our roads”.

  • Navy hailed for sanity on Apapa roads

    The Amalgamation of Truck Owners in the Maritime Industry yesterday praised the Nigerian Navy for the steps it took in addressing gridlocks in Apapa area of Lagos.

    Its Publicity Secretary, Oluwaseyi Taiwo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the action had restored sanity and brought great relief to residents and motorists.

    NAN reports that the Commanding officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Commodore Okon Eyo, had in March issued a 48-hour ultimatum to truck drivers to vacate the roads and bridges leading to Apapa port.

    As part of measures to end the gridlock, the Nigerian Navy introduced a “Call up Card System’’ for the trucks loading at Apapa ports.

    The call up card system allowed only trucks that had business inside the port, while those without call up cards were turned back at the foot of the bridge.

    Taiwo said the order had prevented mischief makers from taken advantage of the chaotic traffic situation.

    “Although the intervention may not be a permanent one, yet, it is a big relief to the road infrastructure in the state. The intervention is also a relief to everyone, but it is not over yet as there is still room for improvement,’’ he said.

    Taiwo recalled that the indiscriminate parking by trucks started during the 2006 Port Reform when trucks were pushed out of their designated parks inside the Apapa Port.

    “Apapa port used to have parking lots for trucks – Trailer Park A, B, C, D and E, – but were taken over during the concession exercise, and the Tin Can Island Port also has its own.

    “Now, without a provision for trucks to have a transit point, they are pushed to the streets. And considering the density of the ports too, things became complicated,” he said.

    Taiwo urged the government to look beyond the temporary solution to a permanent one by providing truck parks and automated loading system for truck owners.

    “Eighty to ninety per cent of the trucks coming to Lagos State have their own parks outside the state, but getting to Lagos, they need a place to park, like a transit park.

    “There should be a provision for a parking place for those coming into Lagos to park their trucks; this will discourage parking on the roads. Also there should be an automated loading system that will serve as call up system to inform the truckers when they have their appointment to load. In this age of GSM, things should be easier and people should be able to access their loading time through automation, this will reduce stress on the drivers too,’’ he said.

  • Edo clean-up project restored sanity in markets and eliminated chaos in our roads

    Before the Edo Clean-up project, there was anarchy in traffic in Benin City. Then, buses and trucks were the crazy dictators battling for power. I stayed as far away as I could get from any bus or truck. The buses look like they just came from a demolition derby. For the Edo people who ride the bus, it was not an easy journey. There were no real bus stops. People waited by the side of the road in places that look like bus stops, however when the bus comes, it doesn’t really stop – you have to run to get on it most of the time.

    Edo Clean-up Project, led by the Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, has stopped the anarchy in traffic and restored sanity, created parks and eliminated chaos in Benin City. The SSG has said that the Godwin Obaseki-led administration would sustain the clean-up of Edo State to restore sanity and eliminate chaos in Ring Road, New Benin, Uselu, Aduwawa, Oliha, Satana, Dumez, Third Junction, Oka and other major markets.

    SSG said the task to clean up the state was germane to this administration’s resolve to ensure Edo State, which was once one of the cleanest in the country is restored. The streets and walkways trading had become a major concern for the state government.

    As a result of this, he continued, major markets in the state were devoid of traders while many stores in the markets were empty.

    Edo State government engaged four contractors to clean up Oba market. The government has also had discussion with Benin Electricity Distribution Company of Nigeria (BEDC) to ensure steady power supply in the market.

    Following the removal of makeshift trading spots and illegal bus stops, as well as the sweeping and clearing of refuse around the popular King’s Square and others in Benin City by the Edo State Government, traders, motorists and pedestrians have applauded the political will of Governor Godwin Obaseki for bringing to life the beauty of the city.

    Anyone who was familiar with the disorderliness that defined the King’s Square, New Benin, Uselu, Aduwawa, Oliha, Satana, Dumez, Third Junction, Oka and others and its environs in the famous capital city of Benin, Edo State, will know that there are changes. Trading flourished errantly on roads and street traders virtually took over two of the three lanes on either side of the roads, wastes providing an eyesore. The environment was dirty.

    As it was in Lagos with respect to the famous Oshodi and other notoriously chaotic, congested, and grimy areas in state, there were people who had thought the clearing and cleaning of the disorderly roads and streets around the King’s Square in Benin would be impossible to reclaim and transform.

    But just when it happened against all cynicism and doubt, another sarcastic question loomed in the sky of the liberated areas: Would this last? The apt answer to this inquiry came from the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie.

    The operation, which aims to remove illegal traders in the streets, has seen most vendors move into designated vending areas.

    It would be recalled that the state government had earlier called several meetings with traders, landlords, shop owners market leaders and stakeholders on the modalities to be employed to clear the mess.

     

    • Donald writes from Benin City inwalomhe.donald@yahoo.com
  • INEC sues for sanity during 2019 elections

    INEC sues for sanity during 2019 elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wants stakeholders to ensure good conduct and orderliness during the 2019 elections.

    Professor Francis Ezeonu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State, gave the advice yesterday during a sensitisation visit on voter registration with members of his team to Isiala Mbano Local Government area of Imo.

    He said that the days of ballot box snatching, falsification of results and harassment of electoral officers were gone as all results would be transmitted electronically as soon as counting of votes were over.

    Ezeonu warned stakeholders such as polling agents, local observers, voters and politicians to play the game according to the rules to ensure smooth conduct of the polls.

    He said that plans were underway by INEC to establish an Electoral Offences Commission with a tribunal to tackle all electoral offences and secure conviction.

    Ezeonu highlighted the benefits of the voter registration exercise and urged participants to ensure they carried the news to the grassroots for mass turn out of people.

    He assured that the card reader machines had been improved upon and would be successfully used in the coming elections without the anticipated problems.

    According to him, voters’ registration could be used as a means of confirming census figures as well as used by politicians for community development.

    Earlier, the Electoral Officer in Isiala Mbano Local Government, Mr. Emeka Okike, gave a progress report of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) and Permanent Voters Card (PVC) distribution in the local government area.

    He stressed the need for people to collect their PVCs to be able to vote during the forthcoming elections.

    Okike noted that there had been improvement in the number of people that turned out for the registration since the commission’s policy of taking the registration to the ward level commenced.

    He said that of the 79, 935 PVCs registered in the LGA, 11, 595 were yet to be collected and frowned at peoples’ reluctance to collect their PVC.

    Ezeonu described the voter card as the most lethal weapon in modern day democracy.

    Some stakeholders commended INEC for taking the registration exercise to the ward level, which they said, had made more people to be interested in the registration.

    They complained of difficulty in using the card reader in the last elections and the need for more polling units in some communities that had only one.

    The traditional ruler of Ihim Autonomous Community, Eze Oliver Ohanwe, commended INEC for its efforts to ensure error-free and successful election.

    He urged INEC to ensure that all the wards were covered and that peoples’ votes really counted in 2019 elections.

     

  • Sanity test

    Sanity test

    •FRSC needs caution on simplistic approach to complex problems

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has chosen a new method to address traffic violations in the country. The commission’s leader, Boboye Oyeyemi, has announced July 1 as the date to commence psychiatric examination of traffic offenders. Here is his explanation: “Fine (of traffic offenders) is not the issue; the issue is we need a positive attitudinal change of Nigeria. We cannot continue to be having fatal crashes due to traffic violations, people jumping the traffic lights, I think it is crass irresponsibility.”

    Undoubtedly, conduct of many drivers on highways and urban roads is bizarre. Many drivers feel comfortable about turning one-way streets with unmistakable signs into two-way streets on the excuse of heavy traffic. Any sign of heavy traffic on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway serves as excuse for many drivers to turn a three-lane highway into six lanes. Drivers often park in the middle of the road to exchange pleasantries. Some frivolously use horns to harass or intimidate road users driving within posted speed limit. Commercial drivers are believed by passengers to consume alcohol and marijuana freely. To most observers, drivers’ attitude to traffic regulations call for modification.

    However, we are concerned about the readiness of FRSC to prefer simplistic approach to a complex problem that calls for rigorous analysis and critical thinking. In addition, FRSC already has a reputation for buck passing, transferring initiatives for proper traffic management to citizens. For example, FRSC’s policy to saddle vehicle owners with installment of speed limiters is perceived as the commission’s preference readiness to make drivers do its job on its behalf, instead of installing radars to identify violators of speed limit. It is not surprising that citizens and civil society organisations for protection of human and civil rights are raising objections to the commission’s facile response to Nigeria’s myriad driving problems.

    Admittedly, many Nigerian drivers need additional help to meet normal driving standards. But it is also incontrovertible that Nigeria has poor road maintenance culture and inefficient traffic management system. Both urban roads and highways are filled with craters and potholes. Indiscriminate use of pilot vehicles with sirens on the roads continue despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s complaint about such practice early in his presidency. Roadworthiness certificates are issued to them without any verification of vehicle’s roadworthiness.

    While FRSC staff appear to be ubiquitous on the road, they are hardly available at points of traffic problems on the highway. Traffic lights on many roads function more as decoration than traffic regulators, because of frequent power outage. Most roads do not have essential road signs and posted speed limits required by the Vienna Convention to which the country is a signatory. Most roads and highways do not have marked lanes.

    We, therefore, believe it is not realistic or objective to ascribe drivers’ conduct solely to their mental health. FRSC is not the first agency to resort to moot use of psychiatric test for citizens believed to conduct themselves irrationally. For long, calls for psychiatric tests as method to halt political and bureaucratic corruption were prevalent. The primary job of FRSC is to manage traffic in ways conducive to good driving and punish bad drivers with fines and imprisonment, not to act as a behaviour medication agency. We appeal to FRSC to review its decision on curing headache with decapitation. Infrastructural improvement, use of technology, and transparent application of sanctions are standard ways to ensure good driving in most countries. Use of breath analyzer to check excessive drinking is not synonymous with subjecting citizens to psychiatric tests.

    To have an agency in a democratic country seemingly given a carte blanche to make laws that affect citizens’ human rights at will is fraught with danger for citizens’ privacy. We therefore implore the commission not to jump into subjecting drivers to psychiatric test until the multiple factors responsible for erratic behaviour of drivers have been more rigorously analysed and deficits in road maintenance and traffic management have been rectified.

    Furthermore, we request the National Assembly to review the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act 2007 that created the lacuna that makes the FRSC leadership to feel it can assault the privacy of citizens without qualms. The National Assembly cannot afford to look away from FRSC’s policy that may subvert democratic sensibilities.

  • Bayelsa Federal Polytechnic searches for sanity

    Bayelsa Federal Polytechnic searches for sanity

    There is hope, maybe, a breath of fresh air, for the troubled Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State. The newly appointed Rector, Dr. Timi Seiyaboh, has vowed to bring sanity to the crisis-ridden polytechnic.

    In fact, the institution requires sanity. It has been a shadow of itself since its establishment in 2009. From a citadel of learning, the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, the only polytechnic owned by the Federal Government in Bayelsa, has gradually become the Ivory Towers of decay, corruption and confusion.

    It was even ironic that all the obstacles that militated against the institution were erected throughout the period former President Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from the state, was in the Aso Rock Villa.

    Located on the bank of the River Nun in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, the polytechnic has a mandate to produce middle and high level manpower in Aqua Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Applied and Enviromental Science programmes.

    The institution’s journey to destruction started during Jonathan’s Presidency. The tenure of its former Rector, Dr. Eneyi Ekpebu, was marred by allegations of massive financial fraud against Ekpebu and the Bursar, Mr. James Neminebor.

    The school was said to have only admitted 48 students since its establishment in 2009. Despite its lean student population, the school reportedly maintained 100 employees in its payroll.

    The institution was crippled by inefficient management and perhaps gross and deliberate financial misappropriation. Some highly-placed persons vowed to destroy the institution by making it their personal cash cow.

    Irked by the development, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANP), engaged the management staff in a protracted labour dispute. The union wrote many petitions to the then Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, detailing the woes of the institution and calling on him to bring sanity to the polytechnic.

    They complained among other things of infrastructural decay, unpaid arears of salaries, allowances, minimum wage, first 28 days allowance and implementation of NHIS and pension scheme. But the minister turned deaf ears to the cries of the workers. Ekowe continued to burn. The crisis claimed its first casualty, Mr. Frank Moses, a 35-year-old senior administrative employee of the institution.

    Moses was assassinated in his home in Yenagoa. SSANP accused the management of killing Moses alleging that the deceased became a target for exposing N1bn fraud in the institution and for dragging the management to court over allegations of embezzlement.

    Petitions were further written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) by the union. Ekowe suddenly became a campus of reproach as officials of the anti-graft agencies turned their satellite on it.

    But now with the appointment of Dr. Timi Seiyaboh, as the new Rector of the polytechnic, hope has risen for the long-suffering institution. The workers are happy over the emergence of Seiyaboh whom they described as a forthright anti-corruption crusader. They expect him to turn round the fortunes of the polytechnic.

    Shortly after his inauguration, the rector promised all the stakeholders of the institution a new era. He said the polytechnic would no longer top the chart of bad news. He attributed crisis in the polytechnic to bad management, but said a new chapter had opened for the institution.

    He said: “We will no longer be known for bad image. Most times we have crisis because of bad management. This time we intend to operate a very transparent management. We are also going to be very serious with issues.”

    Seiyaboh said the era of collecting salaries without working was over adding that all the workers must perform their duties to earn their money. He said he was appointed specifically to develop the institution insisting that he must succeed in his mandate.

    He said: “Our days of crisis are over. We want to move forward. I have made it clear that all those that are ready to work with us, we will work with them. Those are not ready to work with us, they will be shown their way out. We need to develop this place. I have a mandate to succeed and I will succeed”.

    On infrastructure, he said the polytechnic was not doing badly. According to him the school has better infrastructures compared to others. But he said buildings and other structures would be maintained and improved upon.

    “Things are going got take shape and move forward. All the unions in the institution will be carried along. We are going to be demanding and we will make sure that people work for their money. We are going to sanitise the institution”, he said.

  • I’ll ensure sanity in Rivers, says Wike

    I’ll ensure sanity in Rivers, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has restated the commitment of his administration to ensure sanity in the state.

    The governor spoke at a dinner organised by Christ the Redeemer’s Friends International in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    Wike said violence was prevalent across the state before his assumption of office on May 29, last year.

    He said such incidents were being tackled.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, noted that his administration’s war against cultism and kidnapping was a deliberate effort to rid the state of crimes and criminality.

    He said: “We now have a government in Rivers State that will make the people rejoice, as the state will never be the same again.”

    Wike hailed the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, for the vision to reach out to eminent personalities in the society.

    The governor praised the church for its continuous prayers for the government.

    The guest preacher, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, who is also the general overseer of Salvation Ministries, said life without Jesus Christ would be full of crises.

    The cleric noted that for anyone to have salvation, he must be born again and profess Christ.

    On the programme’s theme: Let My People Rejoice, Ibiyeomie urged those in high positions to exemplify responsible leadership, thereby showing greater interest in the affairs of the citizens.

    He said only those who could make others rejoice would be relevant in the society.

    Wife of RCCG’s general overseer, Pastor Folu Adeboye, said the programme was aimed at winning more souls for Christ.

  • A premier’s limit of sanity

    A premier’s limit of sanity

    There are good men in every land; the tree of life has many branches and roots; let not the topmost twig presume to think that it alone has sprung from the mother earth; we did not choose our races by ourselves; Jews, Muslims, Christians, all alike are men; let me hope I have found in you a man”.     Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

     

    Preamble

    Once awhile, ‘The Message’ column does go panoramic, especially when confusion is about to set in through the deluge of issues and choice becomes a problem.

    This is one of such occasions. Only few people understand that Islam is the entire life of a Muslim and there is no separation between ‘what belongs to God and ‘what belongs to Caesar’.

    In Islam, both Caesar and whatever belongs to him are for God, the supreme Provider of all things.

     

    Decency and insanity

    In a decent environment sanity has no definition. It is insanity that rather requires definition because it comes in various hues and degrees.

    A lunatic who strips naked and dances in a market place to the applause of onlookers often sees himself as a hero.

    The extent of his lunacy only becomes known to him when he is publicly offered a decent dress to cover his nakedness or to replace the rags he wears.

    When such a lunatic is imbued with (legitimate or illegitimate) power he becomes a megalomaniac.

    That is the parable of a Southwest ‘Premier’ who is generally known for barking incessantly towards all directions like a rabid dog.

    His ceaseless menstruation through the mouth has publicly labeled him as a sarcastic entertainer in his lunatic theater. If as a father or rather, a grandfather, who, as an ‘Emperor’,  is supposed to be a model for his children and grand children, can behave like a rabid dog what should be expected of his children and grandchildren?

    Because of obvious insanity, this megalomaniac treated like a ‘Premier’ cannot think of the consequences or implications of his delirious actions. And unfortunately, no one among his associates seems to be courageous enough to call him to order.

     

    Pity for the sane

    The pity in this case is not as such for the megalomaniac but for the sane ones around him who accept his leadership and are clapping for him in his deteriorating delirium. Evidently, it is not everyone who wears dresses in public that is sane.

    By their utterances, actions and body languages, lunatics are known. For the past one year or thereabout, this delirious ‘Premier’ has continuously engaged in a lunatic drama somersaulting from furrow to furrow while enjoying the sarcastic ovation he gets from those who are unfortunately entertained by his delirious performance in house.

    Judging by this ‘Premier’s drama and the clapping of his sadistic lieutenants, one begins to wonder if the sane majority in his state have lost their traditional courage and will.

    As that state is rapidly being turned into a psychiatric asylum the need for the services of psychiatrists seems to have become a matter of sine qua non. Leaving a rabid dog to itself while it keeps harassing neighbours may not be a reasonable option after all. And if not checked in time, the rabid dog may turn against its owner as an untamable nuisance.

     

    Allegation of ‘Islamisation’

    We were told last week that President Muhammadu Buhari was planning to Islamise Nigeria. Evidence: he went to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

    The allegation came, as usual, from a shameless source that is attributable only to public self-ridicule. For ignorant people the only means of seeking relevance is to randomly roar to the public with blackmail or self-adulation typical of megalomaniacs.

    Let those who understand the language of this delirious ‘Premier’ tell him that Islam is a divine religion with five fundamental pillars.  The last of those pillars is called Hajj which is obligatory on any Muslim that can afford it once in a lifetime.

    A close affiliate of that pillar is called Umrah otherwise known as lesser Hajj. For Muslims, both are pilgrimages performed in divinely ordained sanctuaries at a place once known as Hijaz (but now called Saudi Arabia). While Hajj has a specifically ordained month in the year, Umrah can be performed as many times as allowed by law in a year. The official visa issued for both is that of pilgrimage and not tourism.

    It is therefore a religious right of any Muslim to perform Hajj or Umrah as the case may be without any fear of being barked at by any rabid dog. Thus, by performing Umrah recently, President Muhammad Buhari only exercised his legitimate/religious right without infringing on the right of any other person or that of his nation.

     

    Jonathan’s ‘Pilgrimage’

    President Buhari’s predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, travelled twice to Israel for the same purpose while he held sway as President.

    At that time no Nigerian Muslim was so reckless and so fanatical to allege Jonathan’s intended Christianisation of Nigeria. Therefore, alleging that President Buhari wanted to Islamise Nigeria, just because he performed Umrah, is a way of publicly exhibiting a symptom of delirium.

    Such a symptom urgently requires a psychiatric attention before the situation of the patient in question goes beyond cure. Politics is one thing. Religion is another. Each has a peculiar elasticity with its own limit. Anybody who aims at using the one as a means of achieving the other in Nigeria is surely a lunatic who should be domiciled in an asylum.

    Besides, the use of such words as ‘Islamisation’ and ‘maginalisation’ (which words are Nigerian coinage that cannot be found in English dictionary) either as a blackmail or a sectarian attack, has become as obsolete and anachronistic in Nigeria as the users.

    It is rather unfortunate that a state once venerated as a haven of knowledge can now wallow so helplessly under the leadership of a blatantly ignorant nonentity just because of the so-called ‘stomach infrastructure’ in the name of politics.

     

    The Role of ‘The Message’

    Ordinarily, ‘The Message’, as a religious column, does not concern itself with the murky water of Nigerian politics. But when some inconsequential ruffians want to swim in that murky water under the guise of religion to the detriment of peace and harmony in the society, it becomes the role of this column to rein in the bull, if only by raising alarm, before it enters the china shop.

    Islam is like a surging train which the barking of three trillion dogs cannot halt. In other words, this divine religion is the sun which randomly evaporates the excess water lodged in the earth to cause rain at the necessary time for the survival of all living organisms.

    Whenever the sun bulges out of its orbit, no star dares to come out in a show of presence. Thus, any denial of the existence of the sun by any blind person can only be at the personal peril of that person. It is characteristic of megalomaniacs to oversight the transiency of their power tenure and to assume that power is far too elastic to have a limit.

    As Muslims who understand Islam theoretically and practically, we neither hate any counterpart religion nor haul any hateful utterances to adherents of other faiths. We believe that anybody who lives in a glass house must not throw stones out of discipline preached by our religion.

    Some supposed leaders in the society who open their mouths anyhow to spark religious provocation are the clandestine originators of constant religious strife in the country. We hope the interpreters of the delirious governor will be able to convey this message meaningfully to their ailing boss. One fact is clear according to an Arab proverb however: “a serf will remain servitude even if he is crowned as a king”.

    Meanwhile, we thank God that President Buhari’s own reason for seizing the opportunity of his official visit to some Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah was to offer special prayer for his country and not for winning election for self. Whoever prays for Nigeria prays for the people of Nigeria. And whenever the people of Nigeria pray for such a person it will be automatically accepted by Allah.

     

    The sacked female lawyer

    Nigeria is typical cinema house where all types of films are watched. But the more you look, the less you see. The more you listen the less you hear. Those are the norms.

    Some years back, the typical lamentation was that about 70 per cent of reported news in Nigeria was sad. Today, there are no more lamentations because virtually all the reported news in Nigeria about Nigerians are invariably sad. And Nigerians seem to have grown very thick skins with which to cope with them.

    A few days ago, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Nasarawa State chapter, threatened to shut down the government . Why? A female worker in the Ministry of Justice, Miss Raqayyat Tijjani Usman (a lawyer), was allegedly sacked by the governor.

    She was said to have made a disparaging remark on Facebook on the governing style of Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura.

    When the governor was informed about the incident, he requested for a print out copy of the posting and got it. Thereafter, he reportedly sent for the young woman in her mid 20s whom he promised a sack letter in the presence of some of his commissioners and other top government officials.

    Ruqayyat, a daughter of a former commissioner in the state, had posted the following remark on Facebook: “I can see some political thugs protesting and not professionals; are we going down this way? I weep for my state.”

     

    Ruqayyat’s reaction

    That was her reaction to a seeming botched civil servants’ demonstration over the death of a staff who died of Lassa fever, which she (Ruqayyat) thought was not well handled by the government.

    The posting allegedly angered the governor so much that he summoned Ruqayyat to his office and ordered her sack with effect from February 25, 2016.

    The governor’s decisive action was sequel to the woman’s apology and that of her father. But the governor refused to look back.

    Well, it takes two to tango. As a civil servant, the young woman ought to have known that externalising any criticism against her employer could entail some unpalatable consequences.

    You cannot publicly criticise the policies in the formulation in which you play a role. She ought to have passed such a criticism to her immediate boss in a subtle, civil service language through an internal memo for onward submission to the governor if necessary.

    Nigeria is not yet such a mature nation where an employee can confront his or her boss in the civil service with such a blunt criticism, human rights or no human rights.

    Playing the ‘New School’ toga to the gallery may be taken for an audacious affront, especially when men of the old school are still in charge.

     

    The governor’s power wielding

    As for Governor Almakura, using a sledge hammer to kill an ant in this kind of case may be too much of power wielding amounting to highhandedness.

    The youth of today are quite different from those of the past decades. That is how they were brought up in the name of civilisation. At least, His Excellency knows how his children address him at home despite being the governor.

    That the young woman was sacked by such fiat without query, without warning, is like sitting in judgment on one’s own case, a euphemism for injustice.

    Employment at any level of the government is not a favour. It is a right for those who are qualified. His Excellency can imagine if Ruqayyat were to be his daughter and another governor gives her such a raw deal.

    The governor should note here that a state is not an empire and no governor should behave like an emperor in a democratic setting as we have now in Nigeria. Nothing can be taken for granted.

    Today’s sacked civil servant may become tomorrow’s governor at a time when today’s governor may have become powerless. The episode of how Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau became the governor of Kano is not yet lost on us.

    Governance must go along not only with human face but also with human heart. Our actions of today are stories of tomorrow. We need to tread softly.

     

    The Nasarawa’s NLC

    In a scenario like this, the role of the NLC in a state where there is a trade dispute affecting a worker or two, the first point of call for the NLC should not have been that of bellicosity.

    Sometimes, mediation strategy works faster and better than belligerence. Thus, the NLC will do well to restore the job of the young female lawyer by resolving the matter amicably rather than further provoking the governor by threatening ‘to shut down the state’.

    We should all work towards lifting the state and not collapsing it as no one can benefit from a collapsed state. God bless us all.

  • Ensuring sanity in the ICT sector

    Information and communications technology is central to all forms of social and economic development in contemporary times. They have significant influence on social, educational and commercial activities round the clock and across the world. The ICT age is about using knowledge to make a difference. The knowledge economy relies on the sustainable exploitation of ICT in all its facets.

    Developing countries are beginning to exploit ICT in order to enable them participate meaningfully in the global economy which is rapidly migrating to the digital platform. The use of information in the workplace, in the provision of public services, and in the conduct of

    commercial activities and basic communications are fast becoming virtual, non-personal, remote and ubiquitous. This is the age of information.

    By addressing needs that include poverty eradication, improved healthcare, wealth creation, job creation and education, ICT has become an essential requirement for competition, survival, and progress. In today’s world, weak or inadequate ICT availability means

    less efficiency in capacity utilisation, which translates to underachievement and underdevelopment.

    In other words, societies without ICT resources and infrastructure are disadvantaged in the 21st century world. Nigeria has developed national ICT policies aimed at building a knowledge based economy in order to ensure that citizens derive maximum value from the sector.

    Courtesy of this effort, Nigerians have joined the global ICT mainstream with more than 100 percent mobile phone penetration and about 93 million connections to the internet.

    It seems not to matter that Nigeria still imports almost 100 percent of all its IT requirements. The best effort at local production of some ICT facilities comes from the assemblage of imported components.

    However, cheaper imports from Asian countries such as India, South Korea and China are giving local producers assemblers a stiff challenge. This is discounting the large army of middle class and high-end users who go for first rate, even if expensive products from

    Canada, Europe and America.

    Notwithstanding the “rebasing” of the economy conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics and declared by the Ministry of Finance in 2014, Nigeria is the second largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa after South Africa. It is one of largest producers of crude oil and has enormous natural gas reserves, arable agricultural lands, solid minerals and a developing private sector. It is also quickly catching up with other countries in ICT development. It terms of sheer volume, Nigeria’s ICT market surpasses competition in the continent and only takes second or third place when it comes to technical efficiency.

    Developments in the sector since 2001 have led to tremendous growth in social, economic and commercial activities, including employment generation. Since the GSM launch, mobile telephony has rapidly become the most popular means of communication in Nigeria. The telecom sector has also become the largest generator of Foreign Direct Investment

    (FDI) with significant contributions to GDP. Estimated investments in the sector since 2001 are at over $32 billion and still counting.

    The drastic changes in the telecom situation in Nigeria have had a serious impact on private and public sectors and even in governance, administration and policy implementation. In social and commercial activities, there has been a slow, subtle, but almost imperceptible migration from the reliance on cyber cafes to self-sufficiency, as many people acquired the capacity and resources to independently surf the cyberspace.

    E-commerce and e-payment initiatives have given rise to various payment solutions including automated teller machines, POS terminals, mobile and internet banking services, online bill payment solutions, etc. The ability to facilitate large volume transactions without the use of hard currency cuts down on the chances for crime, and helps the government’s effort at tackling financial crimes and corruption.

    In recent times, Nigeria has been consolidating on its achievements in the sector through the enactment of legislation to provide legal protection and security for the sector. The passage of the Cybercrime Prevention Act is a case in point. With increased awareness and application of ICT in public and social life, different forms of phone and computer-related crime have surfaced. It is therefore important to enhance the information security environment to instil confidence in digital or online transactions and activities. The cybercrime law is the first step to providing such security and deterrence.

    It is a positive step that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) does not take its responsibilities lightly. Under the headship of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, there is concerted effort to collaborate with the security agencies by having a reliable database of ICT users through ensuring they are all biometrically registered. In the past few weeks, network operators have come under pressure and a regime of fines for keeping unregistered subscribers on their platforms.

    With such a bark and bite, it is to be expected that soon, phone scammers and other criminal elements littering the cyber environment will scamper into hiding, or better still, give up completely on their nefarious activities.

    • Ikwuagwu is a cyber security analyst based in Lagos