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Tag: tale

  • A tale of two dams

    A tale of two dams

    There was a bit of relief in Nigeria following the news that Cameroon had stopped the release of water from its Lagdo Dam.  Many had been fearful of the impact of the opening of the dam this month, wondering whether there would be a repeat of last year’s devastating flooding in the country caused partly by water released from the dam.

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu, on August 28, told journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) inaugural meeting in Abuja: “It is expected that within the next seven days, we will begin to see the effect of that dam opening on Nigeria.”

    She said President Bola Tinubu had directed her and three other ministers – Joseph Utsev (Water Resources and Sanitation), Bello Goronyo (Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation) and Ishaq Salako (Environment) – “to ensure proper preparedness for the consequences of the dam which has been opened in Cameroon.”

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) listed 13 states that might be affected by the opening of the dam and floods that would be caused by heavy rains: Edo, Delta, Rivers, Anambra, Enugu, Bayelsa, Kogi, Kebbi, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa and Niger states. However, the agency issued a statement “to allay fears of Nigerians over the release of the excess water from Lagdo dam, which is located on River Benue in the Republic of Cameroon.”

    Lack of preparation was an issue in 2022 as floods described as the worst since 2012 devastated many parts of the country. The Federal Government had blamed the disaster on unusually heavy rains and climate change, suggesting that the main contributory factors were beyond human control. 

    Read Also: JUST IN: Sanwo-Olu, Obasa meet Lagos GAC over rejection of 17 commissioner-nominees

    Other identified problems that exacerbated the flooding last year were arbitrary construction on natural flood plains and storm water paths, and poor drainage systems, which were compounded by weak enforcement of environmental regulations.

    But that didn’t tell the whole story. The Federal Government’s non-completion of the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State had aggravated the flooding. Nigerian authorities had an agreement with the Cameroonian government to build the dam in order to contain the overflows resulting from the recurrent release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

     The construction of the Lagdo Dam started in 1977 and was completed in 1982.  More than 40 years later, the Dasin Hausa Dam remains uncompleted.  The Federal Government should be blamed for such an inexcusable delay that worsened flooding in parts of the country last year.

     History may repeat itself if the Dasin Hausa Dam is left uncompleted.  Non-completion of the dam is not in the category of factors beyond human control.  

  • Tale of an inconclusive election

    The die is cast again between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). On Thursday, the governorship election will be repeated in seven wards in Ife North, Ife South and Orolu councils. Who wins the supplementary poll? EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the inconclusive poll.

    For the Osun State All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the struggle continues. The battle for the Bola Ige House is not over. May be, it will be over on Thursday after the rerun in two units at Orolu, and one each at Ife South and Ife North. There is an additional outstanding unit in Osogbo council.

    According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP had 254, 698 votes. The APC had 254, 345. Thus, the PDP is leading by 353 votes. This is a far cry from the 3,498 total cancelled votes.

    In Orolu, 947 votes were cancelled. Other cancelations included Ife South; 502 votes; Ife North, 353 and Osogbo, 884. The preparation for Thursday will be similar to the preparation for the inconclusive poll. This time, the battle will be won and lost. Both parties are anxious. Yet, there is the pervading feeling that leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the African Democratic Party (ADP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), may play a significant role in tilting the pendulum of victory to their preferred direction.

    The rerun may provide an opportunity for the review of strategies. There may be a compelling need for horse trading. All the contestants belong to one big political family. Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Alhaji Moshood Adeoti belonged to the Alliance for Democracy (AD). The governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and Adeoti were in the APC. Also, Adeleke’s brother, Fatai Akinbade and Omisore were in the PDP. At one point or the other, the dramatis personage have politically interacted in their bid to accomplish common goals.

    In the eye of the storm are the two leading candidates-APC’s Gboyega Oyetola and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP. Both have fought with bravery and confidence, employing the same strategies of vigorous mobilisation and campaigns, except that the latter shunned the public debates.

    WIll Governor Rauf Aregbesola be able to hand over to a successor from his party? After eight years, will he be succeeded by the PDP flag bearer?

    APC and PDP ran neck and neck. A gale of defections had hit the two platforms, ahead of the poll. It was a fallout of the primaries. Senator Iyiola Omisore, who lost the PDP ticket to the Ede-born politician, left for the SDP. The former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti, defected from the APC to the ADP. Whatever obvious weakness associated with Adeleke was compensated for by his formidable platform. Thus, despite Omisore’s defection, PDP won votes in many local governments. Ede remained its largest stronghold. Not even the challenge by the former House of Assembly Speaker Adejare Bello could threaten Ede’s bloc vote.

    Many believe that if Omisore had not left the PDP, the party could have also done well in Ife axis.

    Adeoti’s ADP may have played a spoiler’s role. The perception was that the APC chieftain went outside to borrow a platform to confront his original party. The implication was that Iwo, which was one of the APC’s strongholds, voted for the strange party, to the consternation of loyal APC chieftains who refused to defect along with him.

    Many chieftains were of the opinion that APC may have lost Orolu to the PDP due to the lack of amity between the state leadership of the party and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Lasun Yussuff. Although the federal legislator reiterated his support for the APC, it was doubtful, if he deployed his weight. Can the calculus change now that a rerun will hold in Orolu?

    The two Osogbo councils voted massively for the APC. According to observers, it may not be possible for the PDP to quickly penetrate the outstanding units in the state capital. But, APC cannot go to sleep.

    The outcome of the poll meant that Osun is a two-party state. The two dominant parties seem to be of equal strength. The factors that may assist the parties to maintain their hold on the state are peculiar to them. These include the performance of incumbent governors, zoning, and management of crises arising from the shadow polls. While both parties went into the poll as divided houses, the effects were different.

    Will Adeleke dance his way to the State House? He was the underdog, underrated by  many politicians. Fun-seeking Adeleke came into political limelight, following the demise of his brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, former governor of the state. He rode to the Senate on the popular sentiment that another Adeleke should succeed the deceased during the poll conducted to fill the vacancy.

    When he failed to obtain the APC’s ticket, Adeleke went to the PDP. At the by-election, he defeated Senator Hassan Hussein. In parliament, he is not an excellent legislator. But, he has sustained a large following, especially in his West District. At the PDP governorship primary, he defeated Akin Ogunbiyi with just seven votes. There was reconciliation between the candidate and his rival after the primary.

    During the campaigns, Adeleke employed the door-to-door approach. He did not pose as an elite, but a populist with links with the grassroots. Despite the alleged certificate scandal, he forged ahead with optimism. Apparently due to lack of skill and other limitations, he shunned debates. His manifesto remains unknown. Yet, a huge crown followed him to savour his dancing steps.

    Oyetola, arguably a better candidate, engaged the people with captivating programmes of action. A gentlemen, he has learned the ropes in the last eight years under Aregbesola. He has experience and exposure. His life has been devoid of scandals. The September 22 election was his baptism of fire.

    Ahead of Thursday, Adeleke and Oyetola have returned to the drawing board. The APC candidate needs, first of all, 353 votes to neutralise Adeleke’s narrow win, and more to gain an advantage of another narrow win. Adeleke needs to protect his meagre victory and get more votes to affirm it.

    The electorate have to be re-mobilised. There must be another subtle campaign. The wheeling and dealing must be renewed. There is no permanent friend or foe in politics, but permanent interest. There can still be a realignment of forces. Twenty four hours, it is said, is a long time in politics.

  • Tale of two suspended lawmakers

    Tale of two suspended lawmakers

    When will they resume? This is the question watchers have been asking since former Senate Leader Ali Ndume and former House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Chair Abdulmumin Jibrin were suspended. Jibrin’s  supporters claim he  has since served out his suspension, but his colleagues want him to withdraw his case in court before he will be recalled. Their return was the source of heated debate in caucus meetings last week, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    At the two chambers of the National Assembly and across the country, there is fresh confusion following disagreements over the resumption of former Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, suspended for six months and the former Chairman of House of Representatives Appropriation Committee, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, suspended from the Green Chamber for 180 days.

    Since lawmakers resumed from their last recess, the cases of the two former principal officers in the two chambers have taken the centre-stage at the various caucus meetings.

    Ndume was suspended on March 29, 2017, over allegations he made against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, while Jibrin was suspended on March 29, 2017 over allegations he made against the House leadership.

    It would be recalled that Jibrin, in his petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), State Security Services (SSS), and the Police headquarters, had accused the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, and three other principal officers of padding the 2016 budget.

    The other lawmakers he also accused were the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; the Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor. In the reaction of the legislative chamber to the allegation, Jibrin was suspended for not taking “due process before filing the petition”.

    Although their suspensions were described by critics as evidence of lawmakers’ resolve to suppress opposition, it has remained a major subject of debate, especially because of the ripple effects on their constituents, who would not be represented at the federal chambers for such a long period of time. As a result, patriots have called for a review of the suspensions though the affected lawmakers have gone to court to seek justice. They called on the two chambers to consider the effect of the suspension on the affected constituencies.

    But up till yesterday, different interest groups could not agree on the fulfilment of the conditions for the return of the law makers and the way they have tackled their various chambers in court, in a bid to fault their suspensions.

    Besides the ongoing legal battles, it seems both political observers and the federal lawmakers themselves are not agreed on the actual date the two lawmakers would resume and what would constitute the conditions precedent to their resumption.

    It would be recalled that in the middle of September, just before the resumption of the lawmakers from recess, supporters of the suspended member of the House of Representatives for Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, said he had concluded his 180 days suspension and that he would resume with his colleagues.

    The spokesperson of the House, Abdulrazak Namdas, had told newsmen then that such a decision would be taken by the lawmakers when they resume from their recess.

    Notwithstanding the assurance, Jibrin’s critics had insisted he could not have concluded his suspension, since the said 180 days refer to 180 legislative days.

    According to such critics, “180 legislative sitting days amount to a period of one year as the House only conducts plenary sessions three days in a week.”

    Aside the actual meaning of the number of days the suspension would last, another issue that has in a way made reconciliation difficult is the condition that the lawmakers must render apology to their colleagues before he would be allowed to resume.

    Controversy over this issue is not particularly new. It started the very day the suspensions were handed down. Shortly after his suspension was announced, Jibrin had told journalists that he would never apologise to anybody in the House, adding that he did nothing wrong.

    “For me, it’s a non-issue and complete nonsense and it is not going to stand anywhere in the world,” he had said.

    Our investigation shows that this has remained a major stumbling block to the early resolution of the matter as a lawmaker, who confirmed that the matter generated heated debate in one of the caucus meetings, claimed on Friday that if the affected lawmakers had admitted their errors and apologised, the matter would have been resolved differently.

    Another matter the lawmaker confided to be a stumbling block is the refusal of the affected lawmakers to withdraw the cases they instituted against their chambers.

    It would be recalled that on the case instituted at the court by the embattled Senator Ndume, the court had adjourned judgement to October 13th while Senate leadership had said he is due to resume at the Red Chamber by November 15th with a proviso that he must withdraw the case he instituted against the Senate before he would be allowed to resume, since, according to the lawmakers, he cannot be fighting against the institution he wants to serve in.

    Ndume had dragged the upper chamber to court to challenge his suspension, saying it did not go through legal process.

    Dr. Francis Omonigho, a political analyst in Lagos, told The Nation on Thursday that the implication of the development is that if the court’s ruling on the matter favours the senator, it will overrule whatever condition the senate leadership has given as the condition for his return, but if the ruling is not favourable to Ndume, his insistence on taking the matter to court may worsen his case.

    As the controversy rages, observers said Ndume and Jubrin’s cases remind Nigerians of the hi-wired politics that have been part of the lot of the 8th National Assembly. While some said the two lawmakers represent decent voices being maltreated for daring to speak up against corruption in high places, others wonder why they had to speak up only after they have lost their plum positions.

    The argument is if Jibrin, who was Chairman of the Appropriation Committee in the House of Representatives, and Ndume, who was, until January, the Majority Leader of the Senate, would have done what they did or said what they said if political pendulum had remained in their favour.

    However, their supporters said the primary issue is not the speculation on what they would have done if they were still occupying the plum positions but what they did, which should be applauded by all as brave effort at furthering the fight against corruption. They argued that the National Assembly leaders, who were accused in the two cases, are only witch-hunting their perceived opponents.

    Even before his suspension, Ndume made that allegation. “I have always stood on the side of the truth. Maybe that is why I sometimes run into troubled waters,” he said after he was stripped of his position as the Senate Majority Leader in January.

    After the suspension, he remained adamant. Though some lawmakers had said all he needed to do was to apologise, Ndume has continued to vow that he would not apologise to the Senate President Bukola Saraki in order to be reinstated.

    He had maintained that his suspension was not just because of his call for his colleagues’ investigation but because of “a series of other events.”

    For example, he once told a gathering at the palace of the Emir of Biu that he did not regret what he has done. “I will not remain a Senator for the rest of my life; but for the time I serve as the representative of my people, I shall continue to do and tell the truth. I know if I had erred, I would not have been received here. But I enjoy the support of my people because they know my suspension was because I spoke the truth.”

    He explained what he believed was the real reason for his suspension thus: “Firstly, I know my trouble with them started because of my support for the policies and ideals of President Muhammadu Buhari. Secondly, when Ibrahim Magu’s name was brought to the Senate as nominee for the Chairmanship of EFCC, some group in the senate insisted that he would not be cleared. And in my position as the then Senate Majority leader, it was incumbent upon me to support any nominee sent in by the Executive. Besides that, the same nominee is from my state, Borno; besides, he had committed no offence to be denied the senate clearance.

    “Above all, the majority of Nigerians loved him because he is doing the job well even as an Acting Chairman of EFCC.

    “Thirdly, when he was brought in for screening and it was not successful, I took courage to tell them that they were acting out of the Senate order.

    “And lastly, my position on the allegation levelled on the Senate President as well as the issue of Senator Dino’s certificate by a news medium was the final straw they needed to break the camel’s back.”

    Whatever is the real cause of the suspension of the two lawmakers, observers are of the view that such an action must affect their constituents negatively. They therefore demand for immediate resolution of the matter in the interest of democracy.

  • Edo Assembly: A tale of instability

    Since 1999,  the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly has always been zoned to Edo Central Senatorial District, either through political miscalculation or providence. However, no lawmaker from Edo Central has successfully served as Speaker for four years. Edo Central is mainly home to the Esans

    Between 1999 and 2007 when the House was dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, four persons-Thomas Okosun, Matthew Egbadon, David Iyoha and Friday Itulah served as Speakers. The lawmakers were caught in power play between Chief Tony Anenih and Governor Lucky Igbinedion. In 2007, the PDP zoned the seat to Edo North leading to the emergence of Zakawanu Garuba.

    The 2008 court judgment, which brought in Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor, distorted the PDP’s zoning formular. Oshiomhole hails from Edo North and his former deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu hails from Edo South but the defunct Action Congress through which Oshiomhole came to power has only eight lawmakers in the state Assembly and Zakawanu who hails from Edo North continued as Speaker till 2010 when he was impeached.

    After the impeachment of Zakawanu, an Esan lawmaker, Hon Bright Omokhodion from Esan West, defected to the AC to succeed Zakawanu. He stayed as Speaker till the 2011 general elections. The failure of Omokhodion to secure reelection  in 2011 made the Esans tô lose out as the ruling party, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, could only win one seat out of five in Edo Central.

    Omokhodion’s loss at the 2011 polls made the lawmakers elected Hon Uyi Igbe from Edo South as Speaker and made the only defunct ACN lawmaker from Edo Central, Festus Ebea, the Deputy Speaker. Between 2011 and 2015, the Esans got the position of a deputy speaker as Hon Igbe served  for four years.

    The current Assembly was inaugurated in 2015 and Hon Victor Edoror, a second time lawmaker from Esan Central, was elected Speaker. Perhaps, Edoror felt his position was secured being the only two- time lawmaker from Edo Central in the Assembly. What also gave him hope was that the lawmakers would abide by the APC zoning formular but he was mistaken.

    Edoror was impeached after 11 months in office over alleged  high-handedness, dictatorial tendencies and  recklessness. His removal altered the power balancing arrangement as a lawmaker from Edo South, Hon Elisabeth Ativie, was made Speaker while Hon. Justin Okonoboh representing Igueben in Edo Central was made Deputy Speaker.

    Ativie did not last long. Ativie spent only 84 days in office. She was pressured to step down for any APC lawmaker from Edo Central to assuage the feelings of electorates in Edo Central because the 2016 governorship election was near.

    In July last year, Ativie stepped down for Okonoboh, a first time lawmaker, to emerge as Speaker. Okonoboh got the speakership seat on a platter of gold. The lawmakers had to amend their rules for Okonoboh to be elected Speaker. However, Okonoboh managed to spend 11 months in office before he was replaced.

    Critics of Okonoboh described him as ‘Justina’ over his alleged inability to be firm and decisive. The move to remove Okonoboh began four months after he was made Speaker. There were complains of his inability to talk about the lawmakers’ welfare package with the new Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

    It was gathered that the first test case for Okonoboh leadership style and his trust for his colleagues was shortly after Obaseki was sworn-in. The lawmakers were said to have held a meeting where they agreed to push for financial autonomy. A source stated that hardly had the meeting ended when Okonoboh was called by some party leaders that he should jettison the issue of financial autonomy for lawmakers and not cause problems from the new administration.

    A close aide said Okonoboh was surprised that many lawmakers called the next day that they were no longer in support of the need to push for financial autonomy.

    The poor financial situation of the House pitched the lawmakers against Okonoboh as that it was difficult to buy diesel for the power generator. The House was indebted to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company that its power supply was cut-off. Microphones at the hallowed chambers were faulty. Plenary was held at the mercy of BEDC that whenever power supply is interrupted, sitting will end.

    Some lawmakers felt  Okonoboh was not bold enough to present their welfare package before the Governor for money to be released. Besides, during his recent birthday celebration, Okonoboh was alleged to have made some remarks that did not go down well with some political leaders in the state.

    Okonoboh would have been removed on May 22 but the plot to impeached him was leaked.  He quickly made an postponed resumption of plenary citing repair works at the Assembly complex. A lawmaker cited Okonoboh lucky escape this way, ‘the evil day has been postponed’.

    The repair work in the House given as reason for the suspension of plenary resumption became Okonoboh’s albatross as the contracts for the repair of generators and sound systems were allegedly discovered to have been awarded to some lawmakers.

  • The Evans tale

    Since his arrest a few weeks ago, suspected kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeje George Onwuamadike aka Evans has been singing like the famed canary bird. They all do anyway when the chips are down. Many had thought that Evans would be different going by all they heard about him before he fell. He is not. He has been running his mouth non-stop.

    Since interrogators are not done with him yet, Evans would continue to talk and talk. Virtually everything he has said is in the public domain, courtesy of the press. The Evans story is not one that the press comes across everyday. Such stories come once in a blue moon. The press is feasting on the story because many of the things he said he did sound incredible.

    It is more of a movie stuff than a real life story but here we are confronted with it – a true story from the pit of hell.. It is not a dream at all. If any one is dreaming, it is Evans, who was cut down to size on June 10 in his palatial home in Magodo, Lagos. Evans lived big; though a common criminal, he did not live a commoner’s life. He lived more like a drug baron. That was the dummy he wanted to sell the police. Initially,  he told his interrogators that he got the scar  on his right shoulder from gun wounds after a messy drug business. It was a lie and he knew he was lying. He told the lie because he wanted to portray himself as a man forced by circumstances to take to crime.

    Hoodlums will never admit that they embraced crime out of choice. It is the choice they made with their eyes wide open because it is a path paved with gold and silver. It is an easy route to instant wealth,  which has made many, both young and old,  to lose their bearings in life. Crime may give wealth, stupendous wealth, but it will never last. Be it robbery, kidnapping, militancy, swindling aka 419, or money making rituals, it is only a matter of time before the bubble bursts. But while the money is rolling in, the criminal feels on top of the world. He sees himself as the master of his environment. Tell me, which kind of job will fetch someone millions instantly if it is not  shady?

    Criminals know that they will pay the ultimate price when they are caught, yet they are not deterred. The easy money they get has blindfolded them to the point that they are not bothered by the consequences of their actions, which they know too well. In the end, they want to be pitied. The pity they did not have on their victims they want the law to show them when they are caught.

    Evans is not different from the others. Whatever he says today will be to save his neck. He was a terror through and through who had his hands in everything bad. You name it, he was involved – drug trafficking, robbery and kidnapping. And he was never far from the bad guys – militants from whom he got his weapons and native doctors who made charms for him. The Evans story is however deeper than that. When we look at the calibre of his victims and those who assisted him, we will see that something is wrong somewhere.

    Most of his victims were businessmen from the Southeast and the Southsouth whose business integrity cannot be vouched for. Evans, it seems, deliberately chose them because he knew they had something to hide. It takes a criminal to know a criminal. He got good information on them before kidnapping them. And once they are in his hands, he sucks them to the last dollar before releasing them. These people pay quietly without fuss, thereby emboldening him to go after others. Some may wont to ask : if you are in their shoes, what would you have done? Truly, it is not easy to dare a kidnapper especially if you can pay the ransom. But what stops you from alerting the police after such payment?

    By keeping quiet, these victims turned Evans into a demi-god and he cashed in on their fears to keep on terrorising them. He was so sure of himself that he collected ransom twice from a victim. He first collected $1million and another $200,000 from the man. His collaborators were something else. As providers of information on the victims, they got a huge share of the ransom. According to Evans, he takes 40 percent of the ransom,  while 60 percent goes to “owners of the money”. Who are these owners? These are the people the police should go after immediately. As long as these people are free, the society is not safe. Kidnapping will continue to thrive and another kingpin, bolder and more brutal than Evans, may emerge.

    Evans did not operate in a vacuum. He had dens where he kept his victims and these dens were manned by his trusted aides. But these dens were on streets where people live. Mind you, these dens were not in isolated areas. They were in densely populated neighbourhoods like Igando, Isolo and Egbeda. Yet, his victims were taken to these places without people  living in those neighbourhoods knowing anything. It may be possible for one or two people not to know what is happening in their neighbourhoods, but it is impossible for everybody there not to know what is going on. What is the essence of being neighbours if we do not know what some people living in our areas are up to?

    In Evans case, his neighbours should have become alerted to what is happening because of the noise of music coming from his dens daily. What could he be celebrating behind the walls everyday that he will be disturbing others with music? If we do not take note of things like this, our society will never be safe. In those neighbourhoods, I am certain that some people may have complained of noise coming from mosques and churches, but they did not see anything wrong in the noise coming from those dens. We failed as a people to stop Evans earlier than now. The security agencies, the Neighbourhood Watch Corps and the public must take the blame for the rise of Evans.

    With his fall, we should resolve that never again will we allow evil to flourish around us. May Evans get his just deserts.

  • A tale of three cities

    A tale of three cities

    Just back from a trip to China, The Nation’s Nneka Nwaneri captures her scintillating experience, as she toured the country’s three top cities with selected Nigerian journalists.

    OR 12 days, Nigerian journalists from various media houses were in China on the invitation of the Chinese Consulate in Lagos.

    The visit was to enhance an understand the Chinese culture, business environment and clear certain misconceptions. To them, experience was the only way out.

    We toured three major cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, trying to understanding of how the country has fared so far in its relationship with Africa.

    Arriving at the expansive Beijing International Airport was like being in a whole new world. I’m yet to find the right words to express the feeling. Everything was technologically driven; and in less than 30 minutes, the crew was seated in a bus and driven to Xinjiang Muslim Restaurant.

    While seated in the bus, we were fascinated by the architectural splendour of the buildings. Everywhere was well lit. Sky-scrappers were in every available space to accommodate the more than 25 million people living in the 16,000 sq.km Beijing city. No parking was allowed along the roads.

    We later discovered that every underground section of each building was either used as a rail subway or parking lot.

    There were well lit pedestrian bridges to enhance security. Most also had elevators on both sides, while others were decorated with carpet leaves.

    After a 17-hour flight and eight-hour layover wait, the cosy inviting Ritan Hotel bed was just what I needed; but alas, sleep was far from the eyes. Jet lag had set in and I tried to use the moment to inform family and friends of my safe arrival via WhatsApp.

    Because China is seven hours ahead of Nigeria, I barely got a few hours sleep before we were woken up by the hotel officials at 6:30am to prepare for breakfast at 7.

    Breakfast was followed by a lecture on the Belt and Road Initiative instituted by the Chinese government for Africa. The lecture, which was delivered by Prof Zhang Yongpeng of the Institute of West Asian and African Studies (IWAAS) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), turned out to be an interactive session.

    The lecture was followed by lunch, set for a table of 13; the 13th was Chao Xie, the protocol officer for the Chinese Consulate, Lagos.

    The food looked sumptuous and appetising. The setting was inviting and sophisticated too, but it wasn’t the everyday food I was used to. There were soups, veggies and a whole lot of meat and fish…including duck meat, their specialty.

    Most restaurants in China serve duck meat as a meal on its own from what I later found. I opted for the only meal I knew, rice and fish, which I took twice a day throughout my stay.

    Soon after lunch, we proceeded to the Temple of Heaven.

    The Temple of Heaven building is a tropical and great sign of Beijing. Built 600 years ago in 1420, it sits on 273 hectares of land as a symbol of the emperor’s power and his willingness to serve.

    He visits the temple twice annually when the farmers start work, to pray for good harvest so that their agricultural year goes fine. There, he climbs the temple alone to speak to God and prays for 12 hours from sunrise to sunset.

    It is revered as the holiest of holies in China. It is painted in all blue because of the Chinese’ belief that the colour of the sky is the colour of paradise. The yellow droppings represent sunshine.

    The temple plays host to 8,000 to 15,000 visitors daily.

    A large stone, known as the Heavenly Centre Stone is believed to stand at the centre of the universe, where the emperor stands to make a speech at dawn, just before sunrise.

    The Imperial Vault of Heaven is where gods are kept. Chinese believe in the tablet as a place where those who die find their rest. The body, it is said, is just a nylon to wrap the soul.

    In the past, females were never allowed to enter the temple, owing to a perceived low position; but now, they are given a much higher status than the men. Men only serve as priests and dancers who give military performance all through the prayer proceedings.

    Highlights of the temple: Hall for Prayer of Good Harvest

    This was built in 1530; it has the highest level of architectural design. It was uniquely made of wood only…no nails or glue…a magnificent puzzled piece and perfect design plan. Removing a piece of the puzzle means the whole building will crumble.

    Danbi Bridge

    It is 360 metres long and four metres high. It is considered the oldest, over-passing the ancient capital of Beijing.

    The brick-paved way is a passage made exclusively for the emperor’s use and at the disposal of the aristocrats and high-ranking officials who accompanied the emperor for a ceremony.

    The northern part of the bridge is a bit higher than the southern. So walking north on it, one feels as if walking on a road leading to Heaven.

    Seven star stones

    Seven gigantic stones as a Chinese national structure were placed beside the Hall of Sacrifice. These are stones of motifs engraved on them. They symbolise the seven peaks of the Mountain Tai and remained a fascination believed to fall from Heaven.

    After the Manchurian came to power, another stone was placed to make it eight and to signify that the Chinese nations are a big family and the country is unified.

    While the seven large stones are 600 years old, the eighth and smallest was carved 300 years ago.

    Our next port of call was the Hongqiao Market in the heart of town. That was a market mapped out for foreigners. It was more like a fully air-conditioned plaza with every space utilised as a shopping corner. It had souvenirs and things were relatively cheap.

    There were clothes, scarves, electronics, gadgets, teas, watches, but we lacked enough Yuan (Chinese currency) and traders refused to accept dollars. One lady was willing to sell a Galaxy S7 for 50 dollars, but I hadn’t enough money, hence I missed the golden opportunity.

    Tuesday, we set out on a long drive to The Great Wall. We joined in the morning traffic and got exquisite views of the city.

    In China, most people use bicycles, as it is found at every corner and major stations. Everyone has a barcode to himself and with this barcode, they are allowed to pick a bicycle. After using the buses and trains, there is more than enough bicycles to go round everyone in the city.

    Myths and mysteries of the Great Wall

    The Mutianyu Great Wall is the national emblem and world acclaimed insignia of China. It is acclaimed as one of the seven man-made world wonders and a monumental history.

    Built in 221BC, it is one of the oldest defence tool. Linking North East to the North West, it is dragon-shaped like a big snake crouching on a mountain to protect territories. Several parts are said to have been built at different times.

    The Great Wall sits 8212 metres high above sea level. Some part of it have been submerged in water climate, making it shorter. According to the natives, “Respecting themselves is respecting history”.

    According to our tour guide, Forest Song; it was a mistake the Chinese people did not take care of the wall, as it is now gradually losing its substance.

    “The wall can fall at any time, but the best way to protect our people and history is to build the Great Wall in the hearts of the people.”

    “We never rebuilt it for economic reasons and because we want to remind people of the originality of how the Wall was built more than 3000 years ago. We never paid attention to it or cherished it until 1983.”

    The Great Wall was built only in Northern China because to the West is the Himalayas Mountains to protect them; in the South, rainforests and jungles and in the East there is the ocean – all natural defences

    No one has ever completed going round the 6,700KM wall. Once, a Norwegian tried but never made it half way.

    Many people died building the wall. Their remains were buried in the basement of the Wall.

    Excitedly, we all looked forward to catching a glimpse; but there is more to it than meets the eye. Climbing the more than 10,000 flight of stairs leaves one’s legs wearied.

    Aaron, a German and a third time visitor, says there is always a new experience and beautiful weather. He climbed it five years ago, but now he has subscribed to using the cable rail slide.

    Summer Palace

    The Chinese Summer Palace was built in 1750 and is one of the youngest historic places in Beijing, China.

    It was not built for the emperor but by an individual as a gift to his mother on her 60th birthday.

    This is one of the important places Chinese emperors show respect to their mothers. It is a well-designed garden one could easily get lost in. The palace holds a lot of stories.

    In 1860, the British and French aligned forces to fight the Chinese. There, all five of the gardens that made up the Summer Palace were burnt down.

    In 1889, the summer palace was rebuilt, but the original plan could not be gotten. The new was not as strong as the former and the building lost its originality.

    The 4 Square KM garden is the largest and best reserve garden is the Quing dynasty and is very comforting and relaxing.

    Ancient trees which are almost fallen are held down by iron rods firmly rooted to the ground. The garden has begun having a facelift ahead of China’s hosting the Olympics in 2022.

    Our visit to the China Railway Construction Company (CRCC) saw history preserved like never before, as paintings, crafts, pictures and videos dotted the exhibition hall. CRCC is present in 100 countries of the world and has the No 2 railway system in Asia.

    Also, we got to see the prototype 3D design construction of the 30,000Sq Km Lekki Free trade Zone which is still under construction.

    We were received by the President, Oversees Operation of CRCC, Cao Baogang, who said $162m of the contracted $262bn has been paid for by the Lagos State Government.

    He and his team treated us to lunch and we became a spectacle to the workers, who stared at us in bewilderment.  We were decked in our uniformed green ankara shirts and trousers to match.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited us to witness one of its regular Press Conferences. The Director General of Information Ministry Lu Kang, delivered an address, seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict between the United States and North Korea.

    On Thursday April 20, we met with the Secretary of the All Chinese Journalists Association, Ms Wang Dongmei, who explained why Facebook, google, Twitter and Instagram have a firewall on it by their government. They gave reasons why the country supports its government in the stall, saying this could steer a social unrest. Wechat, being the only social platform allowed in the country, is where they release information to the public.

    We learnt that there are 230,000 certified journalists and roughly 2million other personnel; 2200 different types of newspapers and magazines and more than 2,400 radio and broadcast stations in the country.

    Having spoken with so much fervour and patriotism, she revealed that a team of her journalists will visit Nigeria before the end of the year to promote people-people relation and to strengthen its exchange programmes with Nigerian journalists.

    Next stop was the Forbidden City, which records 50,000 visitors daily.

    The construction of the Forbidden City began in 1407 and was completed in 1420, covering approximately 780,000 square meters. With over 8,700 rooms encircled by a 10-meter high wall, the City stands as the highest and most well-preserved complex in China.

    All the buildings are made of wood and become very dangerous during dry seasons. It has been burnt down twice after being struck by lightning in 1420 and 1670. Rebuilt 240 years ago, it has 85 percent of its original plan.

    The meeting with the Deputy Director-General of the Department on African Affairs, Dai Bing, gave an insight into the $60bn set out as supporting fund for Africa based on beneficial principles and for social and economic enhancement.

    We also visited China Radio International, where we met two Nigerians working in their Hausa Broadcast Service, which began operation on June 1, 1963.

    Faiza Mustapha, an English graduate of University of Maiduguri is a translator, caster and presenter for the radio. Since joining the company last December, she said she has eaten rice everyday and has also resorted to using translator apps in shops and to find her way around town, as communicating with the natives in English has been a barrier.

    She likes it in China but wouldn’t want to settle and raise her children there. She neither practise her religion nor use the international hospitals or schools because they are very expensive and her insurance cannot accommodate.

    But she still remains her conservative Muslim self, wears her hijab and does not shake hands with her male colleagues. She said she misses her friends and most times, the Nigerian delicacies. Also, she misses her journalism work at Freedom FM in Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna, which was a lot more demanding.

    Saminu Alhassan has worked in the service for four years and resorted to eating rice, vegetables and noodles daily. He misses the traditional festivals in Nigeria, he confessed.

    On Saturday April 22, it was goodbye to Beijing and welcome to Shanghai.

    On board a light rail train, we moved at the speed of 302 km/h. Seen on both sides of the roads were vast grasslands, mechanised farmlands and store houses stretching as far as the eyes could see.

    6,000 Sq. km Shanghai is a town for the rich and where foreign and local investors live, accommodating 60 percent Chinese and another half investors constituting 56 persons of different nationalities. An apartment goes for as much as $30,000 per square metres and one window to a family. The tallest buildings are more than 600 metres high.

    It is also where four families are forced to share a car. Reason: a car license in Shanghai costs $14,000 and is usually auctioned. Also, it is a one-time life payment for a plate number. The motorcycle licenses costs $50,000. The high cost is expected to curb pollution.

    Our first stop in Shanghai was the Shanghai Museum, established in 1952, which exhibits ancient Chinese arts.

    The building, which was completed in 1996 is shaped with a square base and a round top, indicating the ancient Chinese philosophy that the earth is square while the sky is round. At the entrance of the museum are eight imposing white marble statues of guardian lions, four on each side.

    The Shanghai Museum presents exceptional treasures such as bronzes, ceramics, paintings sculpture, jades, furniture, ivory works, bamboo, ancient currencies and an exhibition of pottery and porcelain through dynasties. It was a one stop place to experience a brilliant history and archaeological discoveries.

    Also on display were seals which were first used in China to validate documents of high ranking officials.

    These items are epitomes of the wisdom and virtuosity of Chinese of old and the dignity of ancient civilisation. It was an experience of brilliant history and creative artistic designs.

    We were lodged at Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai Daning in Jingan District. On either side of the road were Burberry, H & M and others too numerous to mention.

    The atmosphere was not as tolerable as my body could bear, so I jumped into the Paris Bugatti store beside the hotel and soon found myself in an expansive supermarket which had two levels and where virtually everything was sold.

    As I window-shopped, the fisheries compartment caught my eyes. Different sizes and shapes of fishes were on display, frogs, snakes and crabs at label prices. At a point, I couldn’t look any further, and walked briskly back to my room, shielding my body from the cold.

    Next day, we visited the French Concession Market for foreigners, just behind where the Chinese Communist Party started 100 years ago. It is also called the house of celebration.

    We proceeded to the Shanghai World Financial Centre Observatory, being the second tallest building in Shanghai and were taken through a high speed elevator to the 101 floor. It provided the perfect view of the whole of Shanghai.

    The 474metres high bottle top opener shape was another fascination. Japan styled, everything in it is fully automated, including the toilet system.

    Walking on the transparent glass floor walkway gave the feeling that the entire Shanghai was at my feet.

    Also, the Alibaba market stood out. Located in an underground subway by an expressway, it was where many originals are copied and sold at a low price. It is also called Indian market because everything goes for a 90 percent discount.

    Chinese are not allowed to buy or accompany anyone because the traders, who speak good English, believe they bargain at a ridiculously low price. Chinese buy their needs online via Wechat app and get discounts for using the apps.

    There was also the umbrella-looking Century Park and the Shanghai Expo Site.

    We entered Guangzhou after delayed flights by Air China. It was already midnight and we made straight for our rooms in Ramza Plaza Hotel.

    Guangzhou, situated in Guangdong Province, is an important transportation hub playing host to 13 million people and 10 business districts. It was gathered that 80,000 people use its airport daily.

    There are lots of overseas investment in industries there and it is  a major trade, centre, where foreigners are allowed to import and export goods and services.

    It was gathered that 1,900 Yuan being ($300) is the minimum wage per month and it takes as much as 2000 Yuan to keep a child in kindergarten per month. Thus, many chose the one child policy mandated by the government.

    Also, I gathered that in 2016, more than 120 million foreign tourists visited Guangzhou and 80 percent of Nigerians in China live in Guangzhou.

    At the Guangdong Museum is a collection of the history and culture of the people of Guangdong Province. It has a selection of pottery, porcelain, wood-carvings and other artistic exhibitions.

    Yuexiu Park, some metres away from the museum, had an interesting story of the five goats.

    Another meeting was with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, where a question and answer session ensued with the Council’s Vice President Zhang Hua.

    Light dinner was served courtesy of the Director of Foreign Affairs Office, Guangdong Province, Luo Jun. He glowingly spoke of the contributions of Nigerians and Africans to the city.

    On Tuesday April 25, we were at the Canton Fair and were received by the Deputy Director General of China Foreign Trade Centre, Xu Bing.

    The Canton Fair is a trade fair held in  spring and autumn each year since 1957 in Guangzhou. This year’s edition was the 121st.

    Its full name since 2007 has been China Import and Export Fair hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and Government of the Guangdong Province.

    The Canton Fair is the largest trade fair in the world with the largest assortment of products, the largest attendance, and the largest number of business deals made with private enterprises, factories, scientific research institutions, foreign-owned enterprises and foreign trade companies.

    The fair leans towards export trade, though import businesses are done there in areas such as economic and technical cooperation and exchange, commodity inspection, insurance, transportation, advertising and trade consultation.

    On our last evening in China, and with temperature rising significantly high for an African skin, an opportunity presented itself for an evening walk, where I saw the people unwinding after a hard days’ work.

    The morning before departure, we met with the Nigerian-Consul General in China, Wale Olokor, who briefed us on challenges it is facing and some of the good and negative activities of Nigerians in the country.

    Another thing worthy of note is the resilience and never say never spirit of the Chinese. Without mincing words, one could say that the country is no longer an emerging super power, it is already one.

    Thanks to the Chinese Consul General in Lagos Choa Xiaoliang, I got this one in a life time experience to relive such beautiful memories and made lasting friendships.

  • Tale of an impossible country

    SIR: What more ominous signs do we still wait for here? Do we still await more indicators or pointers before coming to the supposition – Nigeria is clearly and obviously on the brink of collapse?

    Everything foretold, foreseen and even the unimaginable has happened here. Nigeria has been brought to its knees while most Nigerians now wish they had originated from Ghana or Cameroun.

    The country is on the precipice. Nigeria now wobbles and dangles dangerously in a direction only decipherable to discerning minds. Like a directionless, muddled and thoroughly whipped lad, the nation now bleeds profusely and uncontrollably.

    Who can cure Nigeria of this melancholy? How did the giant end in this jumbled state? A country that parades an array of technocrats and intellectuals of uncommon measures; a country, just two years ago, was decorated as the largest economy in Africa.

    “How are the mighty fallen?” How are the giants crushed? We must have squandered what should have been preserved and thrown away what could have been kept. We must have emptied our treasury and kicked away the treasurer

    Hence where we found ourselves – atop third Mainland Bridge for suicidal committals; hence we are jinxed at the main market where parents now trade their wards for “a pot of porridge yam.” Hence we are right at the bottom of world economic pecking order.

    The world must have been dazed at the turn out of events here, just as many Nigerians who are already wondering if there is any round-headed economist in the present economic team of the executive at all.

    But how on earth can a good economist function effectively in an administration, where its Secretary to the Government of the Federation allegedly accepted spending over N270 million in merely clearing grasses in the nation’s IDP camps?

    How can this government make a meaningful impact when of course, it is glaringly true the government is pitched against itself?

    The cloud clearly gathers and hovers over Nigeria and Nigerians. There is the fear of uncertainties here and there. And there is fear of the unknown everywhere across the 36 states of the federation.

    President Muhamadu Buhari’s health challenge is “taking a toll on our governance,” apologies to Chief Bisi Akande. And the secret handlers of President Buhari’s health have done him no favour by hiding the status. Thank God they have crawled out of their cocoons and flew him away for medical attention at last.

    Nigeria is indeed, an impossible country, defying every practical solution; a country where government officials live in self-delusion and dereliction; an enclave where the love of oneself is very much stronger than the love of country is in trouble.

    Nigeria is bigger and stronger than any individual and will outlive most of us. Hence it must be guided and guarded against destruction by political termites. The long standing saying “to keep Nigeria stronger is a task that must be done” is important here.

    The government of the day must at this juncture, collate and harmonize all our human resources within reach and set them in motion towards rescuing a country on the brink of collapse. Then we can have a country one will be proud of.

     

    • Gwiyi Solomon,

    Abuja.

  • A tale of two governors

    A tale of two governors

    •Obstruction of justice by Fayose and Wike smacks of impunity

    Fears that the Nigerian state still has a long way to go in the quest for development seem to have been supported by recent actions by Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti who chose to obstruct, rather than support law enforcement agencies in the performance of their constitutional responsibilities. It is unfortunate that, after 17 years of civilian and pseudo-democratic governance, governors could still be mobilising thugs to ambush operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In Ekiti State, Governor Ayo Fayose stormed a branch of Access Bank in Ado-Ekiti where bank officials, acting on the instruction of the EFCC, had held the wife of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan, pending the arrival of the commission. Mrs. Precious Fani-Kayode who was in the state as a guest of the governor, was said to have branched at the bank with a view to making a withdrawal. She informed the governor that she was being held by the bank officials.

    Contrary to expectation that the governor would get across to the EFCC leadership at the federal or state level, he chose to storm the bank and threaten the operatives on official and legitimate assignment. It is difficult to understand why a governor would choose to act in that manner.

    Even if he had reasons to deprecate the action of the EFCC or suspect that they were out to witch-hunt his guest or embarrass him, there is still no justification for his action. At the time he raced to the bank, he did not have access to the EFCC side of the story; all he heard was from Mrs. Fani-Kayode who was clutching a baby. We shudder to think what would have happened if the EFCC officials had chosen to shoot their way out of the scene.

    In Rivers State, Governor Wike chose to adopt a similar method of standing in the way of the law. Alerted that officials of the DSS were at a judge’s apartment to effect arrest at about 1.00 am on October 8, the governor, by his own admission, called up politicians and party rough necks to frustrate the operation. Whether it was a “sting operation” as the DSS men said, or a raid as the governor has dubbed it, it is our view that having ascertained that the men at the judge’s lodge were led by the director of the service, with the commissioner of police (CP) standing by, a decent governor should have made a retreat.

    By his action, he has fuelled the suspicion that the judge was working in concert with the ruling party in the state. Governor Wike’s explanation that he could not believe that the security officials were on legitimate operation flies in the face of the fact as the DSS director and CP are members of the state security council that he presides over. Besides, what has he done to turn the hibernating judge over to the DSS more than two weeks after?

    We urge our security officials to be more careful in handling their assignment. It is possible Mrs Fani-Kayode had deliberately gone to the bank with the baby to create a scene. If that was the case, it would appear she had succeeded, given the way the matter was reported.

    All said, we call on leaders the PDP to take more than passing interest in men elected on their party’s platform if the party is to play a constructive role in this democratic dispensation. Governors Fayose and Wike have been cited in the news channels for the wrong reasons for too long. When Governor Fayose is not accused of leading thugs to beat up judges in open court, he is charged with running opposition legislators out of state. Wike’s Rivers State records the highest rate of violence in the country. These cannot augur well for the country or the party.

    Nigeria is not a banana republic where jungle justice reigns. Governors who enjoy immunity under the Constitution should not act with impunity or be disdainful of the laws of the land.

  • MTN: Twist in the tale

    SIR: The news that MTN has engaged the service of Eric Holder, the former US attorney-general to challenge the $3.9billion fine imposed by Nigerian Communications Commission for the company’s failure to disconnect unregistered mobile phone subscribers is not only unsavoury  but smacks of corporate recklessness underpinning MTN’s business model in Nigeria.

    For MTN to resort to this decoy in the midst of a renewed attempt to secure an out of court rapprochement is flippant to say the least.

    MTN cannot ingratiate itself above the threshold permissible to the Nigerian regulatory laws.

    While acknowledging the right of MTN to use every lawful means to prove its non culpability or seek mitigation, such must be without subterfuge and covert brinkmanship.

    Further vacillation by MTN to gain undue advantage can only encourage corporate brigandage, an aberration extraneous to even the laws of South Africa.

     

    • Bukola Ajisola,

    Victoria Island, Lagos.

  • A tale of two countries

    Rats and mosquitoes. These are the vectors of the two diseases shaking the two heavily populated countries of Nigeria and Brazil to their foundations. These diseases have killed scores of people in both countries and there are no signs of a let-up, if something is not done fast to address the problem. While Nigeria is battling Lassa fever, Brazil is contending with Zika virus.

    Lassa fever is an haemorrhagic infection, which kills within a few days, if the sick does not seek medical attention fast enough. The first six days are said to be critical in the treatment of the disease. There is a drug to be taken within the first six days which will give the sick relief, but if that treatment window closes, the chances of survival are said to be slim. Zika affects new born babies, especially their heads. Since the outbreak, the heads of newly born babies have been unusually small. Doctors are confused about what to do.

    The world is confronted with two diseases in two countries on two continents. Both countries have large populations. Nigeria with a population of 187 million is the most populated country in Africa. So, if there is any serious health challenge in the country, it will threaten other countries on the continent. Likewise in South America, Brazil with a population of 206.1 million is the largest on that continent. Between them, Nigeria’s and Brazil’s population is over 390 million. Rats and mosquitoes are common in both countries because of their high poverty level caused by poor standard of living.

    Their huge populations have not translated into economic prosperity. They are still somehow backward and perhaps, this is why they are being ravaged by diseases which by now they should have contained because they occur seasonally. For instance, Lassa fever first broke out in Lassa village in Borno State in 1969 and since then it has been recurring every year during the dry season. Even though it first occurred in Borno State, its subsequent outbreaks have been in other parts of the country. No state is immune to Lassa fever and we have seen that so far. Speaking on the seasonal nature of the fever during his visit to the Northeast, Health Minister Prof Isaac Adewole said : ‘’It is a seasonal wind that blows across the country. What this administration will do is to ensure that this will be the last wind’’. Nigerians will be happy if that comes to pass.

    The outbreak this year seems to be the worst in the history of the country. As I write this on Tuesday night, Ebonyi became the 18th state to record a death from the disease. It has been like this since this round of Lassa fever hit the country last August, with Niger as the index state. Among the other affected states are Bauchi, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Oyo and Akwa Ibom and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). With over 212 cases in 64 local government areas across 18 states so far, Lassa fever has wreaked havoc on the country, the kind not seen in its 47-year history. If the fever continues to ravage the land the way it is going the chances of it spreading to neighbouring countries are high.

    The Federal Government keeps saying that it has the capacity to fight the disease, yet we keep on recording deaths from it. What is happening? Is it that the infected are not going to hospital or that they are  reporting to hospitals late? To prevent fresh cases, some states have embarked on what they call Operation-Kill-All-Rats. In Lagos, the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN) has since got cracking, killing over 7000 rats in some markets in the first round of its de-rat the markets campaign. By the time it is done with the exercise, all rats may have been wiped out in the state.

    This matter goes beyond wiping out rats, mosquitoes and cockroaches. Whether we like it or not, neither Nigeria nor Brazil has the wherewithal, at least for now, to wipe out these rodent and insects. Our lifestyle in both countries create room for them to thrive. Many families live with rats, cockroaches and mosquitoes. For us to overcome the Lassa fever challenge, the government must do something to improve the  standard of living. Many families do not know where the next meal will come from, that is if they ever have any in a day. They struggle to send their children to school only for these kids to graduate without a job to do. We are talking of self employment.

    Yes, that is good. But who will provide the seed money for them to take off? Lassa fever will continue to torment us yearly if we do not do something about our lifestyle. It is not like Ebola, which is not indigenous to us. Lassa fever is part of us and it may remain with us for long except we tackle it from the root by improving the lifestyle of our people in the rural areas for them to appreciate the harm of  living on the border line. The government must move fast to check the spread of the disease nationwide before it is exported across the border, which may earn us sanction from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    Zika is spreading fear not only in Brazil, but in the Americas. WHO has warned that the Zika disease may spread to South, Central and North America. In Brazil, the government is running from pillar to post trying to find a solution to this health challenge, which may scuttle its hosting of the Olympics from August 5 to 21. From Recife to Rio de Janeiro, everybody is gripped by fear. The carnivals planned for some cities have been cancelled. Expectant mothers are afraid for their unborn babies. The situation is so bad because the vaccine for the cure is not available. Without the vaccine, there is no cure.

    And those planning to get pregnant have been advised not to do so, at least for the next two years. Aaaaah!   As it is in Nigeria, so it is in Brazil. These, indeed, are not the best of times for Nigera and Brazil. What a sour tale of two countries. May God deliver both countries from these terrible diseases.