The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Western region

  • You can’t escape His judgment, unless….

    Few years ago, I was invited to a program at the capital of a state in one of the western region of the county. As I was driving to the church, I observed a convoy of vehicles driving dangerously from the rear, blaring their sirens and inside the vehicles were gun-totting officers and an ‘elected Governor’.

    All the citizens that he presumably had their votes to get into that office ran helter-skelter at the sight of the seemingly blood-thirsty convoy. I didn’t have a choice but to join others to flee as I had to quickly make a detour to the pedestrian path to give them a right of way.

    As we hid from this known but menacing ‘herdsmen’, the officers in the convoy came to our hiding places and started breaking the windshields and side mirrors of our vehicles. I alighted from my vehicle very perturbed and helpless. Passersby and residents came from the street, homes and shops to symphatize with us for our unfortunate losses which was obviously unwarranted.

    That is an example of the terrible attitude of a number of people in our world today. They traverse the land with the fallacious opinion that they are not answerable to anyone – they fire arrows to the sky and hide their heads under a mortar thinking that their deeds are not visible to human eyes. I have news for such people, that nothing is hid from the eyes of the Almighty God ( 2 Chronicles 16:9; Genesis 17:1). He knows and sees all the deeds of man and He is a rewarder and will surely reward every deed. In Jeremiah 17:10 (NLT version) God confirmed this: “I the Lord search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve”. (Revelations 22:11-12; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Revelations 2:23b; Hebrews 11:6b).

    It is regrettable that this type of irresponsible behavior pervades the land from ‘ghost youth service’ corp members  to ‘ghost workers’ at government controlled organizations to ‘ghost parliamentarians’ who avoid public sittings and yet receive  humongous pay packets, to fraudulent judicial officers who right the societal wrongs by apportioning judgments based on ‘cash and carry’, to shameless political power holders that were voted for public interests but running after personal benefits and to our spiritual power wielders that have mortgaged their consciences on the altar of pecuniary benefits.

    It is becoming a norm in our clime for people to get paid for work undone, for the ‘side pays’ of some highly placed officers in public and private places to be more important to them than their gazetted salaries hence their lives of opulence and influence. Wickedness is now the order of the day in our homes and public spaces. Many privileged individuals live wickedly and selfishly but ignorantly about the day of death when all shall end (Ecclesiastes 11:8). It is worrisome how people subject family members and house-helps at their commands to terrible maltreatment and staff working under them are not spared of their “caustic” tongues and wickedness.

    Paul, in our text expressed the mind of God concerning those set of people. It is possible to deceive man but God can neither be mocked nor deceived. He said that no one should opine that his works are not known because every overt and covert work shall be rewarded in due course. Jesus Christ gave due credence to Paul’s letter when He told the church in Laodecia as recorded in Revelation 3:15-17 that ” I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” – what a frightening verdict of rejection by God for such people at the twilight of their ages!

    During this time of Lent brethren, God is calling on you to carry out a personal, detailed and honest analysis of your life, how wicked and dishonest you have been to yourself, to hapless and helpless people within the precincts of your home, place of work, ministry and the state. It is for this purpose that Jesus Christ came. He came to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). He is calling you today to consider your ways very fast and repent before it is too late and He comes down with His judgment (Acts 3:19; Revelations 2:5). His fiery judgment in Jeremiah 17:11 is that  “like a partridge that hatches eggs she has not laid, so are those who get their wealth by unjust means. At midlife they will lose their riches; In the end, they will become poor old fools.” May this never be your end in the name of Jesus.

    From this moment, please confess your sins to God, surrender your life to Jesus Christ and be committed to a life of righteousness, integrity, kindness, empathy, love and holiness. Ask for pardon from the people you have wronged and restitute your ways. By so doing, God will forgive your past deeds, give you a new life, prosper your way, bless the fruits of your loins, elongate your years and when your end shall come, you will be blessed with eternal life as opposed to eternal damnation in the name of Jesus.

    Prayer: Lord, I am sorry for my evil deeds. Give me a clean heart and new spirit. Give me grace to live a fulfilled life and end well. Help me to make it home at last to reign with you in Jesus’ name

  • Self-governing status for Western Region: 60 years after

    Self-governing status for Western Region: 60 years after

    The British government granted self-governing status to the old Western Region on August 8, 1957.  Prior to that day, with the election of 1951, the Action Group, under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo had taken over the control of the Western Region government, with Chief Awolowo as Leader of Government Business. Between 1952 and 1957, the Action Group government had dramatically changed the fortunes of the region, with one landmark policy and action after another.

    With a laser beam focus on human development, education became a priority and the driving force of development for the new administration. It initiated a huge investment in Universal Free Primary Education, with adequate planning for its success, including the training of teachers, and subsequent avenues for the further education of the products of its products. The introduction of free primary education, with the implication that both rich and poor had a right to it, and the success of the plan for post-primary institutions to absorb its products, led to a phenomenal expansion of educational opportunities that ultimately paid off to the advantage of the region.

    The regional government took seriously the formal planning of the economy with an emphasis on agriculture and rural development and agriculture-based industries. From 1952 to 1957 when it attained self-governing status, the region had witnessed great returns on its meticulous planning, efficient bureaucracy, and effective leadership. Three years later, on the eve of Nigerian independence in 1960, Western Region had recorded enviable growth scoring a “First in Africa” record in some critical indices of social development.

    In sports, the region had completed the Liberty Stadium, an Olympic standard sports facility. In information and entertainment, it had established WNTV television station. It had championed the promotion of agriculture with the establishment of research farms, farmers’ cooperative societies, and farm settlements for young school leavers to practice modernised agriculture. It was obvious that the Western Region was ready for its industrial take-off.

    In a recent paper, (“The Awo Legacy and the Challenges of Political Leadership and governance in Present-Day Nigeria”), Professor Akin Mabogunje gave an insightful account of how the Awolowo government developed its regional cement industry. The Colonial Government controlled the exploitation of mineral resources. However, with the derivation principle of revenue allocation, 50% of the royalty that the federal government received was returned to the region in which minerals were exploited.

    The derivation principle encouraged regional governments to develop interest in the exploitation of minerals in their regions alongside the federal government. However, while the federal government had developed a cement factory in Nkalagu, Eastern Region in 1957, and had plans for another one in the North, it left the Western Region out of calculation. But the Awolowo-led administration took its fate in its hands, and with its own consultants, it soon discovered limestone at Ewekoro, where the region commissioned its cement industry in 1960. That was how true federalism worked.

    Professor Mabogunje compared that Colonial era constitution with the 1979 Second Republic Constitution which vested exclusive control of mineral exploitation in the Federal Government and required that licenses for prospecting be issued only by Federal Government. This requirement adversely affected the effort of the Bola Ige administration to develop Igbetti marbles for the economic benefit of the state.

    The situation has persisted since. Under the 1999 Constitution, Mines and Minerals are on the Exclusive Legislative List. Therefore, the federal government has exclusive powers and jurisdiction over all matters relating to mining and it pockets the taxes and royalties derived from mining with minimal incentives for individual States. What this does is deprive states of the use of minerals under their soil for the benefit of their citizens. In true federal democracies, even individual citizens have control over mineral resources, especially oil and gas under their land and are simply required to pay taxes on the proceed. For this reason, citizens of oil rich states such as Texas do not pay income tax.

    Between 1952 and 1960, Chief Awolowo and his team led the Western region government under a federal constitution which made the federal and regional governments co-equal partners. That constitution favored regions in revenue allocation with 50% of mining rent and royalty from Distributable Pool Account versus 20% to the Federal Government.

    It was that revenue formula, especially the percentage allocated to derivation that made the difference in the rapid development of the regions. Regions with visionary leaders, which was the case with the three regions, took advantage of the favorable revenue allocation formula. The pace of development in Western region between 1952 and 1960 can be attributed to both favorable revenue base and visionary leadership.

    However, contrary to the provision of 50% derivation in 1960, the 1999 Constitution provided that “the principle of derivation shall be constantly reflected in any approved formula as being not less than thirteen per cent (13%) of the revenue accruing to the Federation Account directly from any natural resources.

    The crash of revenue allocated to states on basis of derivation from 50% to 13% is responsible for the state of the states vis-à-vis the center. First, states do not have any incentive to develop the natural resources in their areas because they have no control over them. Second, a greater percentage of revenue from such exploitation now goes to the center. Third, as a result, the states are deprived of funds to cater for the development of their states and for the promotion the welfare of their citizens.

    It should be noted, however, that the reversal of the fortune of states in respect of revenue allocation from the federation account does not come with a reduction in their responsibilities. As successive military administrations from 1966 to 1999 and civil administrations from 1999 to date grabbed more revenue to the center, they also imposed additional fiscal responsibilities on the states. The Udoji Commission of 1974 recommended a unified salary structure for federal and state civil services. The federal government orders the payment of common minimum wage to workers throughout the country with no concern for differences in cost of living.

    The result is that state governments are unwittingly set up to fail, unless they are extraordinarily resourceful or fortunate to have a self-sustaining economy. Visionary leadership played a great role in the success of Chief Awolowo. But so did a true federal structure that ensured that he had the resources to achieve his visionary goals.

    Let us allow our imagination to run as wide as it can. If Chief Awolowo remained in Western region in 1959; if the military coup of 1966 did not take place; if the federal government remained truly federal with a revenue formula that allowed regions to compete healthily for development, where might the Western region be now?

    Of course, any number of events might have occurred that could break the scenario that those hypotheticals assume. More regions might have been created. Different leadership might have emerged for any number of reasons. But if the constitution had remained true to the original federal principle, the states/regions and the entire country would have seen more rapid and progressive development than has been the case. In the race to excel, states/regions would learn from one another for the benefit of their residents. That was certainly the case in the First Republic.

    The moral of the foregoing is simple. Advocates of restructuring are not power-hungry exploiters looking to impose their will on others. They have a sense of history which they witnessed as adults. This country once worked. This nation was once on a trajectory of fast growth and sustainable development. They witnessed peer nations with whom we started at independence zoom past us in the sprint of life. They are now dying to witness a transformation of the nation toward the realization of its full potential.

    True, even in the state of retarded growth to which the nation has been condemned by its present structure, some individuals are making it big. But it is also in their interest that they are not islands of filthy wealth in an ocean of abject poverty.

     

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  • Adebayo was a true patriot – Buhari

    Adebayo was a true patriot – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described the late former governor of the defunct Western Region, retired Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, as a true patriot.

    A statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina in Abuja, said Buhari stated this in a telephone call from London to the son of the late general and former governor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo.

    Adesina said the President lamented that “Nigeria will surely miss the uncommon patriotism and nationalism which Gen. Adebayo typified’’.

    The President also commiserated with the people of Ekiti State and the entire Yoruba race.

    He noted that the late octogenarian while standing firmly for the unity of the country, also fought for the interest of his people as the President of the Yoruba Council of Elders.

    President Buhari prayed that Almighty God would console the Adebayo family and grant the soul of the departed elder statesman eternal rest.

    According to the statement, while thanking President Buhari for the call and commiserations, Niyi Adebayo also wished the President good health.

    The former military governor of defunct Western Region, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, died in Lagos on Wednesday on the eve of his 89th birthday.

    Family sources said he suddenly took ill at his GRA Ikeja, Lagos home and he was taken to the hospital where he died shortly after.

    Adebayo was born in 1928 in Iyin Ekiti, near Ado Ekiti in Ekiti State.

    He attended All Saints School, Iyin-Ekiti, and later attended Eko Boys High School and Christ’s School Ado Ekiti.

    He joined the West African Frontier Force in 1948 as a regiment signaler and later completed the Officer Cadet Training Course in Teshie, Ghana from 1950 to 1952.

    He was commissioned as an officer in the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) as the 23rd West African military officer with number WA23 and 7th Nigerian military officer with number N7 after completing the War Office Cadet Training in Eaton Hall, England.

    He later attended the Staff College course in Camberley (Surrey) in 1960 and the prestigious Imperial Defence College, London in late 1965 where he was the only African officer.

    He was a Military governor, Western Nigeria from 1966 to1971.

     

  • What do the Yoruba want?

    A grand family meeting, like theAugust 30 Yoruba Assembly held in Ibadan, Oyo State, would as of necessity come with many viewpoints. It is not unlike the fall of the proverbial mighty elephant, at which knives of all shapes make a proud showing.

    A lobby at the one-day confab complained of Yoruba “marginalisation” in federal appointments. That is true; and the complaint is valid. If the Yoruba are integral part of the Nigerian federation – which they are – it is their moral and legal right to share from the federation’s benefits. If their share declines, vis-a-vis other partners’ in the federation, they naturally must complain for the imbalance to be righted.

    Still, let it not be forgotten that “marginalisation” – as valid as it is – started as a survivalist cry from the Yoruba mainstreamers, who lost out in the electoral sweepstakes of April 2011. The mainstreamers’ political view is that development in the old Western Region must start with as many federal appointments as the region could possibly coral. That is the plain sharing mentality, which has put everyone in the ditch; and which the Ibadan assembly was trying to correct.

    The futility of such appointment-led development thesis is shown in the Obasanjo example. Olusegun Obasanjo, a Yoruba, was two-term elected president, the ultimate position which decides who gets what. Still, his tenure was a disaster for Yorubaland, so much so that at the height of his presidency, he blithely boasted that Lagos – the crown jewel of the region, former federal capital and still the commercial capital of the country – was a jungle. And he probably was proud to leave it so!

    The mainstreamers’ federal-pork-is-paramount-to-development theory is contrary to the progressives’ view that the South West must be stand on its own, independent of any federal pork. Indeed, since the Awolowo-Akintola tango of the First Republic, these two starkly contrasting political viewpoints have driven the dynamics of politics in the region.
    In any case, there is need for conceptual clarity. Without prejudice to the legal and social rights of the Yoruba in Nigeria as presently constituted, why would they complain that a system is doomed (that is the sum total of the Ibadan meeting: that the present Nigerian system is unsustainable) and yet insist they are marginalised under the same crumbling system? Is that not a contradiction in terms?

    Away from the mainstreamers now, even Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, a legal luminary of no mean calibre and a man with genuine generosity of spirit, proudly announced himself as a Yoruba and Ibadan “irredentist”. “Irredenta”, the word from which “irredentist” emerges, means victims of ethnic imperialism.

    In the context of restructuring therefore, the Yoruba of Kwara and Kogi states, clamouring for realignment with their kith and kin in the South West, are rightly victims of the irredenta of the current Nigerian structure, which groups them as part of the “North”, when really they ought to be part of the South West. That much was said by the area’s representatives at the Ibadan summit.

    But in the context of Nigeria, what does Yoruba or Ibadan irredentism mean? A Yoruba poised to grab more than its due? Or within the South West, in a restructured Nigeria, an Ibadan primed to resume its old imperialism; that climaxed in the disastrous Yoruba civil war, the Kiriji War (1877-1893)?

    Akintola, a bosom friend of decades but unfazed Ibadan nationalist nevertheless, could not have meant what he said in these two imperial senses. Neither could the Yoruba conferees. But there is always a chance of misrepresentation – and wilfully so – by anti-restructuring elements, eager to muddy the waters and scuttle the campaign.
    But Gen. Alani Akinrinade, convener of the Assembly, was very clear at his pre-summit media luncheon comment: that the Yoruba had always been federalists in their political evolution; and would want such productive federalism replicated on the Nigerian front, so that different sections of the country could develop at their own paces and, by so doing, strengthen the Nigerian union, and save it from perennial but life-threatening crises. On “marginalisation”, he said it would not have mattered who held what, if the country was well run.

    Which leads to the next logical question: what do the Yoruba want? From the Ibadan summit’s communiqué, it would appear what any right-thinking Nigerian would want, after 98 years of false steps, since the Lugard amalgamation of 1914. A nasty Civil War (1967-1970), ruinous military rule, the 12 June 1993 presidential election annulment crisis and 13 years of shambling along under civil rule (with the Boko Haram insurrection as the latest nation-threatening crisis) only underscore the feeling that something fundamental is wrong with the country.

    So, the call for a restructured Nigeria is sound. The present Nigerian structure, with a rich but idle centre, is not only a recipe for mindless corruption, but also a charter for underdevelopment, borne out of perpetual crises. With each subsequent occupier trying to coral the common wealth for its own ethnic champions (the latest being Goodluck Jonathan’s Ijaw presidency, handing former militants suspect marine and oil pipeline contracts), it is as if every section is grabbing what it could from a sinking Nigerian ship. Now, if the idea is not for the ship to sink without trace, then restructuring towards a new beginning makes eminent sense: having a federal government; with much stronger six regional governments, as development centres.

    With a skewed structure settled, there is the imperative of whittling down the cost of governance, especially at the centre, which under the proposed new dispensation, would support regional economic activities, after taking charge of central agencies like defence, external affairs, currency and customs.

    To cut down cost of governance, the Yoruba conference suggested adopting Westminster system of choosing ministers from elected parliamentarians in the House of Representatives. If this happens, what role will the Senate, a key institution of electoral balancing in a federation, play? These are areas of serious debate en route to arriving at a mutually acceptable new constitution.

    Perhaps the most disturbing of the Ibadan Yoruba Assembly’s communiqué is the suggestion that vigilantes should hold a pride of place in the region’s security system. This suggests impatience with the present debate over the Nigeria Police.
    Still, the South West must be careful on this sole suggestion. Vigilantes are no substitute to a decentralised police. The time for state police has come. The South West political elite and civil rights groups should press on full throttle for its actualisation. On the other hand, those who stone-wall state police, even with the glaring challenges of insecurity, must know that they risk the putative reign of ultra-nationalist militias. That is the road to Yugoslavia. It is unnecessary.

    The Yoruba have taken a stand on Nigeria’s future. Let the other zones join in the debate. To be sure, it promises a furious jaw-jaw. But it is certainly better than a bloody war-war.
    This serious talk is imperative, if Nigeria must be saved.