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Tag: Unity

  • Ife Crisis: Unity or justice?

    Ife Crisis: Unity or justice?

    It is therefore misleading for anybody, especially police investigators of crime, to resort to pontificating about unity, instead of addressing the matter of fairness of investigation.

    I apologise to my readers for choosing to delay the second part of the series on Politics of Secondary Education, in order to allow me join other commenters on the citizen-police controversy over police investigation of the crisis in Ile-Ife.

    I had lived in Ife before and even had friends in Sabo while I was teaching at the then University of Ife. I remember that despite the self-isolation of Hausa-Fulani people in Sabo, the degree of integration and harmony between Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani residents of the eastern part of the ancient town was not hidden from even casual observers of inter-group relations. The two communities: indigenes and settlers had over forty years ago many cases of inter-ethnic marriage. It should therefore be disconcerting that what used to be a peaceful community has suddenly become, in the vocabulary of the central police force, a threat to Nigeria’s unity.

    This column had written almost ad nauseam about the use of words that hide real problems in order to make those who use such words to be seen as occupying a higher moral or political ground than others. Unity and Security are two of such words. When motorists fail to park on the highway to allow politicians or their spouses in a convoy overtake them, they are warned by the police or SSS operatives to desist from acts capable of endangering the security of the country. Similarly, when two or more citizens of the country fight over whatever riles one or all of them, security personnel quickly warn them against acts capable of derailing the unity of the country.

    The response of the police to queries by Yoruba organisations about police investigation into the killing of Hausa-Fulani and Yoruba people in Ife brings to focus the danger inherent in misusing the word Unity. Hear the response of the police spokesperson on charges of lack of fairness in the investigation that found only one side of a violent conflict culpable: “They should be mindful of national security and they should be mindful that every Nigerian has the right to live in any part of the country. National unity is very important. So, any association that goes to fan the ember of disunity should know that they are not doing this nation any good. The era of impunity is over.”

    Anyone reading these words would think that Hausa-Fulani people have just arrived in Ife and are being prevented from settling down by Ife indigenes. The reality of Ife is that it has been home to thousands of Hausa-Fulani people for a very long time. Historians claim that these two distinct Nigerian communities had lived together or side by side in peace since the advent of the trade in kolanut in pre-colonial Nigeria. Over the years, the relationship grew beyond commerce into romance across ethnic and even religious lines. It is therefore misleading for anybody, especially police investigators of crime, to resort to pontificating about unity, instead of addressing the matter of fairness of investigation.

    All the organisations that had raised concerns about the result of police investigation of the Ife crisis have raised points pertaining to justice while police spokespersons have focused on issues of unity. As this column had observed many times in the past, Unity seems to be one word that has been over ‘Nigerianised,’ to the extent that it means different things to different sections of the polity. Is unity an end or a means to an end? If unity— a condition or situation of harmony or accord is a means, what is it supposed to produce in a diverse society? If it is an end, what is it expected to create for or in citizens of a plural polity?

    Furthermore, what is supposed to be the role of justice— impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments, or conformity to truth, fact, or reason—in a homogenous or heterogenous society? Many people who believe in the power of reason would readily think that justice is the foundation for unity or harmony. When citizens, regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation, raise issues about absence of thoroughness or fairness in investigation of crimes, they should be seen as being concerned with justice rather than “whipping sentiment into the police investigation” and thus threatening the country’s unity.

    The questions that are still not answered by those who conducted investigation into the Ife violence are legion. Did the police discover that only Hausa-Fulani people were killed in Ife? If the answer is no, did the police try to find out who killed non-Yoruba people who died in the fracas? Did the police first focus its investigation on the indigenes with the hope of looking at the other side of the conflict later?  Is this why the police said “outside those paraded, investigation is ongoing and we are still going to arrest anybody found to be involved”?

    If investigation is still ongoing, why did the police then rush to parade suspects as criminals in Abuja, hundreds of kilometres from the scene of crime? Would it not have been enough to just keep those already identified as suspects in detention until completion of the investigation? How fair is the ‘media trial’ of suspects in a judicial system that affirms that suspects are innocent until proven guilty? If there is any behaviour that can threaten unity in a multiethnic society, it is for law-enforcement agents to look at two parties in a conflict and rush to parade suspects before international media in Abuja while investigation is still ongoing. Such action is worrisome in view of the statement by the police spokesman: “This is no ethnic or religious clash; these are people who have been living together for years. Issues came up and that is why the police are there to ensure that anybody that takes law into his hands will face the full wrath of the law.”  What does the police hope to achieve by taking suspects who have lived together for years in Ife with their victims to Abuja—to please the central government or embarrass the attorney-general of the state in which the crimes were committed?

    One lesson arising from the new mission of the police: “The Nigeria Police Force under Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris is stamping out impunity in totality. Gone are the days when people will take up arms and kill other Nigerians and go free,” is that anybody in the country that kills other citizens—be it in Kaduna, Benue, Enugu, Mile 12 in Lagos, etc—will be identified for immediate punishment. But the police should ensure as they apply the Ile-Ife template to other parts of the country that nobody is paraded as criminal until such person has been found guilty of crime in the court of law and that suspects for all killings since the assumption of the new IGP should be identified without delay.

    Another lesson is that the state government in Osun needs to set up a commission of inquiry to look for remote and immediate causes of the crisis in Ife, given the fact that the two communities along Sabo in Ife had lived in peace and harmony for too long for the kind of violence between Hausa-Fulani and Yoruba residents of the ancient city to be left just in the hands of regular or special police investigators. Such inquiry will generate more lessons that need to be learned towards diversity management.

    What was designed to be a meeting to enrich the country’s unity in Abeokuta last week ended as another act of exclusion. The Senator Ken Nnamani Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform organised a Southwest public hearing that was poorly publicised. The region had a better organised public hearing in 2014, preparatory to the National Conference sponsored by former President Jonathan. The preparation for the Abeokuta public hearing sells the commitment of the All Progressives Conference to “Initiate action to amend our Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit” short. Any serious effort to entrench the ‘Federal spirit’ in the constitution ought to be inclusive and be seen as inclusive. It was a similar decision to exclude critical sections of the polity in the era of Sani Abacha that led to the 1999 Constitution, which citizens and even the APC government want to change, for not being a people’s constitution.

  • Ekiti elders seek unity among Yoruba

    Ekiti elders seek unity among Yoruba

    •Decry erosion of values among youths

    Senior citizens in Ekiti State have called for unity among the Yoruba.
    The elders also called for the sustenance of virtues of honesty, humility and integrity, which they described as legacies that must be sustained.
    The elders decried erosion of core values that make the tribe to be held in high esteem.
    These are parts of resolutions reached at the end of their annual get-together, otherwise known as Buffet-in-the -Jungle, hosted by elder statesman and retired Permanent Secretary, Chief Deji Fasuan, at his home in Afao-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area.
    The programme was jointly sponsored by Governor Ayo Fayose, Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola and former president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Kayode Obembe.
    Fasuan, who is the convener of the parley, urged contemporary political leaders to imbibe these virtues to provide exemplary and quality leadership.
    The former board member of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) expressed concern that the virtues are fading away.
    He explained that most of the senior citizens, who reached the peak of their careers, grew up in humble backgrounds and were trained with the proceeds of cocoa grown by their parents.
    Fasuan said the elders resolved that the gathering will be replicated in the 16 local governments and will be sponsored through self-help and open to support from government and other well-meaning people.
    Former old Ondo StateGovernor Bamidele Olumil praised Fasuan for organising the parley, which attracted about 300 participants to interact.
    Fayose’s mother, Madam Victoria Olufunke Oluwayose, attended the event.
    Retired Anglican Bishop of Akure Diocese, Rt. Rev. Michael Ipinmoye, recalled that education was a thing of pride in the time past in which every Ekiti household took pride in producing graduates regretting the development is fading away gradually.
    Former General Secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, expressed delight with the parley which he described as a reference point to set agenda for the unity among the people.

  • Ambode to Christians: Shun acts that can breed disunity, crisis

    Ambode to Christians: Shun acts that can breed disunity, crisis

    …CAN Says Lagos Progressing Despite Recession

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday enjoined Christians to continue to make conscious efforts to sustain the peaceful atmosphere across the country, urging them to also refrain from acts capable of breeding division and igniting avoidable crisis.

    The Governor, who spoke at the 2017 Inter-Denominational Divine Service organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos, said he was absolutely convinced that the success stories his administration has recorded so far were made possible by the collective prayers of all Lagosians and more importantly the relatively peaceful atmosphere that has prevailed within the State over time.

    “Every situation whether good or bad requires prayers. For us in Lagos State, we have been truly blessed. Indeed, we have enjoyed His grace which has enabled us as a State, to experience unprecedented breakthroughs inspite of economic recession. For instance, a lot of investments and new businesses have come into our State in the last twenty-one (21) months and there are many more in the process.

    He therefore urged Christians to lead from the front and continue to pray for not just the progress of the State but the nation at large, just as he assured that his government will continue to promote fairness, justice and everything that will make life more comfortable for Lagosians.

    “At this critical period in the history of our nation, the church and indeed everyone who believes in the efficacy of prayer have a responsibility and patriotic duty to pray for the wellbeing and progress of our State and nation. Prayer is the master key and there is no challenge that cannot be surmounted with prayers.

    “We remain committed to the goal of making the Lagos work for all; making all our communities economically viable and liveable as well as creating opportunities for everyone to actualise his/her potentials, without discrimination on the basis of ethnic affiliation, religious beliefs or socio- economic circumstances. By His grace, Lagos State will continue to prosper and our nation will rise again and become a pride to the entire black race and humanity,” Governor Ambode said.

    The Governor, who also expressed his delight to be part of the service, commended the Chairman, Executives and entire membership of CAN in Lagos, for sustaining the initiative which has become a yearly event that brings Christians from different denomination to worship and pray together.

    Earlier, Chairman of CAN, Lagos State Branch, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola thanked Governor Ambode for finding time to grace the occasion, noting that it was the first time in the history of the service that a Governor of Lagos State of the Christian faith would be attending the programme personally.

    Bamgbola also lauded the Governor for the several laudable projects he had initiated since he assumed office, saying that Lagosians were greatly feeling the impact across the State.

    “We wish to let you know here today that we are proud of the wonderful and excellent work that the Lord is using you t do in our dear state of Lagos. In less than two years, God has used you to do great work that every well-meaning Lagosian is commending daily. It is self-evident that truly: ‘Itesiwaju Eko lo jewa l’ogun”, the CAN boss said.

    Corroborating him, Rev. Sunday Matilukuro who gave the sermon, said he was particularly amazed on how Governor Ambode was able to surmount the early challenges his administration faced to deliver life changing projects across the State.

    “When I was in my former station, we were reading about the traffic jam all over Lagos and I was wondering what was happening, but when I came on visit to Lagos, I was wondering what the noise was all about because what I was seeing was different. You are gradually transforming Lagos to the megacity that it is,” Matilukuro said.

    Speaking on the theme, ‘Grace in a Recession’, the cleric urged Christians to seek the face of God and shun sin if they must rise above recession to succeed.

  • Purposeful unity

    Purposeful unity

    The continuing public show of unity by Southwest governors is a thing of joy. This is especially because unity is what has eluded the zone for so long even at those times, in the current republic, when the zone was (or almost) under the control of one party, first between 1999 and 2003 and then between 2003 and 2007.

    Of course, we cannot afford to overdramatise, or be sheepishly carried away by, what is happening at the gubernatorial level. It may just be a case of ardent political enemies presenting a common front in public to deceive the electorate. Or maybe it is probably just a group of self-interested politicians selling themselves to the public as self-consciously concerned with the progressive development of the entire zone when in fact they are simply each looking out for self. Is Fayose not seeking a way out of his present troubles with EFCC? Or is Mimiko not just seeking redemption?

    The cynics who indulge in such thoughts are not to blame. The environment in which politics has been conducted in the last 17 years leaves much to be desired. What is coming out of various investigations and prosecutions confirm the suspicion of many that some individuals go into politics simply for personal gains. And so, we cannot expect that the selfless efforts of some are going to change many minds.

    But there is a clear danger inherent in such attitude. As our forebears know so well, if you choose to close your eyes to avoid witnessing the passing of the evil ones, you may also miss it when the good ones pass by. More to the present discourse: if you are tuned off by past disappointments, you may miss out on optimistic outlook for the future.

    Despite the misgivings of the cynic, there are good reasons for a positive reaction to the new development. First, that politicians could be self-interested is not just an old cliché; it has always been the belief of far too many citizens and electorate. In the Southwest, especially, we tend to rule out the possibility of genuinely honest people-oriented politicians until they are no longer with us. That was the fate of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who, despite his self-denying attention to the public good, was loathed by the self-centred ones. But the people got to know his intention for them, that it was good and not evil.

    Second, we must not be too cynical as to rule out the possibility of a change of heart even in those that we may have given up on. If a Saul could become a Paul, there is nothing beyond the capacity of the one who is beyond human comprehension. And when he is ready to use his creatures for the purpose that he created them, they have no right of refusal. I believe that this is the time. And what is needed from the rest of us is encouragement.

    Third, our governors have held two meetings. The first was hosted by Governor Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while the second was hosted by Governor Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). At both events, the focus of the meeting was on the development agenda for the Southwest.

    The communiques at both events point to their sense of urgency about this matter. Even if belated, they have come to the realisation that the Southwest must not rely on old glory which appears to have faded but must now embrace the future that is beckoning. That future is not one in which there is a prominent role for the black gold to play. Rather, it is one in which the stone of agricultural revolution that had been unwisely rejected must now be the corner stone of the new industrial building.

    The communique from the last meeting of the governors is especially heartening because it demonstrates the commitment of the governors to regional integration, an indispensable strategy for development in an age of dwindling and disappearing federal revenue. The present national economic malaise is just a constant reminder of the fragility of a federation in which the constituents are forced into a dependent relationship which unfortunately they have each embraced as long as the revenue keeps flowing. Now that it has stopped, it is time each addressed the question of its identity and survival.

    Unfortunately, however, each state cannot adequately address that question because of the significant issue of economies of scale. On the other hand, for every challenge, there is also a redeeming feature. The balkanization of natural entities into artificial administrative blocks, which captures the military exercise in state creation has been responsible for the precarious situation in which many of our states exist today. That is coupled with the emergence of leaders in the guise of emperors or lords of the manor who see their states as fiefdoms. A third force has been the hypocritical position of some who, insisting on a one-nation policy, nonetheless vigorously pursue their regional or zonal interests while discouraging same approach on the part of others. It is not too late that the Southwest is only now waking up to the reality.

    According to the communique from their meeting, the governors agreed to set up a Regional Technical Working Group (TWG) on Integrated Infrastructural Development to facilitate the development of transportation in the region. This is a no-brainer. They also approved the report of a Lagos State-hosted workshop on security and law and order. We will not raise the pertinent question: what took so long? For again, it is better late than never.

    Significantly, the governors also adopted the Southwest Regional Integrated Commercial Agriculture Development Programme and assigned to Lagos State the task of championing a structured regional food exchange programme. It is remarkable that a state with limited land acreage is saddled with this responsibility. But it is not a surprise in view of how Governor Ambode has determined to make food sufficiency a priority for the state. Think LAKE Rice. Now the future of LAYO Rice, LASUN Rice, LODO Rice, LOGUN Rice, indeed ODUA Rice! is within the realm of reality.

    Apart from bread and butter issues, it is gratifying that the governors also zeroed in on the declining moral standard across the land and agreed to put in place “structures to manage the loss of values and virtues in the society.” While some may find the language of “managing the loss of values and virtues” escapist, I understand the ultimate purpose as the promotion and rejuvenation of values and virtues that had seen the region through and underwritten its triumphs in the face of serious obstacles. We did not win in the competition for the first place in all development indices without due attention to the requirements of moral virtues and the standard of omoluabi.

    The governors are up to a new start in regional development and the rebirth of a renewed sense of pride across the region. The question remains: what can go wrong?

    As far as I can see, there is only one monster that can scuttle all these efforts. It’s called partisan politics and it is lurking around the corner. The first test of the resilience and determination of the current players will come from Ekiti and Osun states when the gubernatorial elections sneak in. How will they fare? Will they succumb to the politics of self-interest? Or will they think big and embrace the politics of the common good of the region? This is the question that each must have to answer.

    At the first meeting of the governors in Ibadan, Governor Amosun of Ogun State placed his hands right on the elephant in the room. He urged the governors to “shed their political differences” and noted that “the political differences of the governors of the region should not be a hindrance to exploring the economic possibilities in each state using comparable advantages as measuring index.” These are pleasant words to the ears.

    The new resolve of Southwest governors promises a new era of purposeful unity in the zone. They must not let partisan politics stymie their efforts.

     

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  • ‘Promote Yoruba unity’

    A group, Oyo Youth Forum (OYF), has urged a security expert, Sunday Adeyemo (a.k.a Sunday Igboho) to use his position as the Akogun Oodua Ile Yoruba to promote peace and unity in the Southwest.

    Speaking with reporters in Ibadan at a reception organised for him, OYF President Segun Oluwafemi said the reception was organised for to appreciate and encourage Igboho to continue to promote unity and stability in the Southwest.

    Oluwafemi described Igboho as a right activist always fighting for the Yoruba.

    He said Igboho played a very commendable role in promoting peace in the Southwest.

    Adeyemo thanked OYF for appreciating him and also promised to continue his good works. He thanked traditional rulers in the Southwest for their support and advice.

  • ‘Hate comments‘ll worsen Nigeria’s unity challenge’

    The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit has appealed to religious leaders in the country to stop making inciting statements.

    Its President, Dr Saheed Ashafa, told MSSN National Executive Council (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) members at the weekend that hate speeches were becoming worrisome.

    He warned that no religion would benefit from the consequences of hate speeches.

    Ashafa said: “We all should realise that Nigeria is passing through a very tough and challenging period. As religious institutions, we should mitigate tension and not heighten it. Our role should be to calm and enlighten our faithful on the path of peace.

    “Killings in any part of the country should be condemned and not given a place in any society. Those fanning embers of crisis should desist from that to save this nation from sinking beyond recovery. Our unity is more needed now than ever. We must not worsen the economic and unity challenge Nigerians are faced with.”

    Ashafa subsequently hailed members of the MSSN NEC and NWC for their sacrifice, adding that Nigeria leaders needed to emulate them in selfless service.

  • Unity: between ritual and purpose (1)

    The obsession over unity by political leaders seems more to reflect a self-imposed myopia.

    Managing multiculturalism and heterogeneity is a major challenge and indeed a litmus test for leadership, good governance and progress not just in Northern Nigeria but in the entire global society…Our core challenges in the North today revolve around intolerance, absence of peaceful coexistence, poverty, illiteracy and lack of unity. How can we address these critical concerns?—Kashim Shettima, Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum
    My findings so far show that everyone is talking from the position of strength. People are not talking from position of knowledge and this is not helping. We must be able to dump all our sentiments to overcome the challenges. “Just like other cases of injustice around us, we need peace; it is only peace with justice that can solve all these crises. Genuine peace is what everyone is craving for and this can only come when there is justice.”—Olusegun Obasanjo on Kaduna Crisis

    I have quoted Shettima and Obasanjo in the epigraphs above principally because they are the two most recent users of words that must have deafened millions of citizens in the country since independence, particularly since 1966. Unity featured prominently in Shettima’s address to Northern governors and emirs and peace and justice are highlighted in Obasanjo’s treatise on the Kaduna crisis. Unity has always been viewed in political discussions to be inevitable for peace to reign in the country, while peace has been used by Obasanjo in the context of Kaduna crisis as co-traveller of justice. But unity has been used most ritualistically in the country, to the point of meaninglessness.

    Between the attainment of self-government in Western and Eastern Regions in 1957 and the military coups of 1966, the ideology that drove governance was regional development. Each of the three founding fathers: Awolowo, Azikiwe, and Bello provided a vision for his region, hoping that development of the three regions would add up to national development and this almost happened or would have done so, were it not for interruptions by forces that made a career of unity mongering before and after the Nigeria-Biafra War.

    For example, Awolowo believed that the basic federal system in place at the time of independence provided a basic condition for sustaining national unity and could have been strengthened through creation of regions for ethnic minorities in the West, East, and the North.  Awolowo also provided citizens in his multiethnic region with a governance mission that stressed providing a good life for all citizens regardless of their place of origin, birth, faith, and socio-economic status. With the vision of public education for all, he made it clear to forces of semi-feudal rule in the region, euphemistically referred to as tradition rulers, that modernity was at hand and a government of change under him was in place. And he did everything within the power of his government to initiate the process of fundamental social, cultural, economic, and political change in his region.

    Azikiwe, who was philosophically pro-unitary government in his political rhetoric and had pleaded that the diverse groups in the country should forget their differences, also agreed to make do with the basic federal structure agreed to at the constitutional conferences between 1946 and 1958. He mobilised the people of his region to sharpen their achievement orientation and gave all energy to competition with the Western Region, despite his region’s leaner purse. His experiment demonstrated the capacity to do “very much with very little for his region, especially in the days before petroleum.

    Bello too did not whine about unity, having said categorically that the nations within Nigeria should not attempt to forget their differences but strive to understand them. As the premier of the most plural region in terms of ethnic and religious diversity, the Sardauna put the federal system to good use. He opened doors of opportunity available in Northern Region to the Fulani, Hausa, Bachama, Gwari, Nupe, Kanuri, Igala, Idoma, Yoruba and other nationalities, to the extent that long after Bello’s exit, it was easy and realistic for many of the region’s leaders to invoke the spirit of One North, despite ethnic and religious differences, a concept that was brought back to life last week at the meeting of traditional and modern rulers of the 19 states carved out of Northern Region. Bello did not promote the rhetoric of fear preferred by vendors of perpetually fragile national unity, which subsequent military and civilian leaders from the region seem to have made a career of promoting as a national ideology and an excuse to create what in folk idiom is referred to as landlord/tenant dichotomy in the country.

    The point of this historical hop and jump is to emphasise that fear mongering was not a part of the vision and mission of the three founding leaders who were separated by ideology: Awolowo with social democracy, Azikiwe with pragmatism, and Bello with strong regionalism. The defeatism that made fear mongering or bogey creation out of the concept of unity had no space in the mental landscape of the three founding fathers.

    Recently, I went to give a lecture in Ondo on Ideology and Governance. A management studies undergraduate at Wesley University of Technology asked me about my “take on unity or lack of unity as an obstacle to development in the county.” I threw the question back to him in Socratic style: “Give me your own understanding before we do comparative thinking on the matter.” Undoubtedly, the young lady is a bright student. Before we knew it, our two-person front-yard seminar had grown into a small classroom. The consensus at the end of the seminar was that the matter of unity is exaggerated to occlude poor governance and faulty architecture of governance or what the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum referred to last week as “management of multiculturalism and heterogeneity as a litmus test for leadership, good governance and progress in Northern Nigeria.”

    If truly our leaders not only in Northern Nigeria but also the entire country have the extra vision to apprehend unity as the country’s basic problem, why have they not pushed further to discover the root cause of the appearance of disunity in any region or in the country? Why are they cagey or defensive when citizens raise issues with a constitution that has de-federalised the country?  The rhetoric of unity is not limited to any region, it occurs almost everywhere, especially in the presidency, where it has acquired ritual potency since May 29, 2015. Just about every minister and media manager in the Buhari administration finds refuge in the word UNITY.

    For example, if citizens from southern states complain about number of positions given to northern states in security or other sensitive sectors, such people are exhorted to think about the unity of the country. If Fulani herdsmen (from Nigeria or abroad) kill Christians in Southern Kaduna or Taraba and survivors of those killed also killed Fulani people they could reach, officials are likely to stop at urging both parties to be mindful of the role of unity in the country, just as it happened in Kaduna last week. If a section of a community experiencing inter-faith or inter-ethnic crisis complains about partiality of security staff sent to maintain law and order, such people are encouraged to think nationally, as if the Nigerian nation goes beyond aggregation of all the people(s) inhabiting the Nigerian space.

    The obsession over unity by political leaders seems more to reflect a self-imposed myopia. The problems facing regions and the country are too legion for unity to be the most recurrent decimal in the nation’s political discourse. To borrow and bastardise Olatunji Dare’s concept of Inflation and lexical theory, I venture to say that the country’s political stagflation creates lexical emptiness or words without meaning. For about half a century since the coming of military rule and military-authored constitutions, unity as a word seems to have lost its meaning. It has become a scare tactic to stop calls for change, probity, equality, equity, and justice, all sine qua non  of sustainable unity and multiethnic democracy. Any political system, especially in a multicultural nation-space that smacks of dominance (real or imagined) of any group over others automatically mangles unity. Unity in other federal democracies is nurtured by principle and practice of governance that makes a religion of tolerance of difference and accepts equality of all, something that seems to be lacking not only in post-Bello Northern Region but also in the entire country.

    Presentation of Unity as a call for uncritical acceptance of the status quo is dangerous for any multi-ethnic and multi-religious state. Whichever shade of meaning of unity is intended by its ritual users: “oneness, harmony, continuity without deviation or change as in purpose or action,” requires invariably common acceptance of purpose of living in the same country,  equality, equity, justice, and tolerance for difference if unity is to germinate, grow and bloom.

    To be continued

     

  • ‘Restructure Nigeria to ensure peace, unity’

    ‘Restructure Nigeria to ensure peace, unity’

    The Buhari administration has been called upon to listen to the voice of wisdom by restructuring the country without delay.

    A group, Advance Action Alliance, led by Chief Owolabi Salis, former Lagos State governorship aspirant, said there would not be peace and unity in the country without proper restructuring.

     Salis noted that Nigeria had been faced with myriad of problems since independence in 1960 because the country’s political structure was defective and lopsided and our former leaders refused to remedy the situation.

     Salis, a lawyer, listed the present major problems currently facing the country include tribal, religious and other race- based crisis including Boko Haram, IPOB, Niger Delta agitations and others.

    In view of these challenges, he said there was the need to restructure Nigeria for stronger unity in the country.

    The Advance Action Alliance noted that the political system currently in Nigeria does not address all the problems, rather compound the problems facing the nation while the major victims have always been the less privileged who form over seventy percent of the entire population.

    The group announced its plan for a nationwide campaign, through workshop to foster national unity and make Nigeria a greater place for all of us to live.

    The group therefore recommended diversity-based democracy as a way of getting out of the challenge the country is currently facing.

  • Nigeria’s unity has no substitute, says Ambode

    Nigeria’s unity has no substitute, says Ambode

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday stressed that the unity of Nigeria must not be compromised, calling on the citizenry to continue to remember the fallen heroes, who laid their lives for the country’s unity.

    Ambode, who spoke after performing the laying of wreath ceremony in commemoration of the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, said the importance of the celebration could not be overemphasised since it served as a reminder of the great sacrifice put in by the fallen heroes.

    The governor said: “For every January 15, we come together to remember our past heroes and the whole essence of being Nigerians is for us to live as a united country and some people have laid their lives for us to be here today.

    “It is important that we must continue to celebrate them and remind ourselves that the unity of Nigeria has no substitute and that is the reason we do this every year.”

    Ambode, who also spoke on the efforts of the state government at prioritising the welfare of legionnaires, said the government gave them Hilux vehicle and increased their monthly subvention.

    “We have always taken care of legionnaires and I think we have the best welfare programme across the country. Just recently, we gave them Hilux vehicle for their operation and we have also increased the monthly subvention that we give to them.

    “The whole essence is even beyond what we give to legionnaires, we should take proper care of all Lagosians and that is what we are doing,” he said.

    Chairman of Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Chapter, Col Samuel Akande (Rtd) thanked Ambode for his continuous support to legionnaires, especially in the area of welfare to widows of fallen heroes and members of the association.

    Ambode inspected the parade guard as well as the release of pigeons to signify peace.

    Other notable personalities, who performed the laying of wreath ceremony include Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa; Chief Judge of Lagos State Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade; Oba of Lagos HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Service Commanders of military and para-military formations, among others.

  • The year will usher in peace, unity- FCT Minister

    The year will usher in peace, unity- FCT Minister

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has congratulated residents of FCT as the world celebrates the New Year, 2017.
    Bello, in his New Year message today, prayed that the year 2017 ushers in for the residents and indeed the nation at large, continued peace and prosperity.
    He appreciated God for sparing our lives to witness the New Year, in spite of the daunting challenges facing the nation.
    According to the statement issued by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the minister charged all residents of the Federal Capital Territory, irrespective of religious belief, social affiliation or political inclination, to continue to live in peace and harmony with one another.
    Bello assured that just as the FCTA embarked on completion of major on-going road projects in the city during the preceding year, the administration would continue to strive towards the same direction for the entire territory this New Year and beyond.
    He said “we are committed to ensuring that this year will witness remarkable progress in many areas of service delivery having in mind that Abuja is the window through which the world sees Nigeria.”
    The minister however reminded residents to be security conscious whilst the FCT administration continues to work in concert with the security community to guarantee the safety of the lives and property across the territory.