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Tag: within

  • The anti-corruption war and the enemies within

    The anti-corruption war and the enemies within

    Text of a lecture delivered by activist-lawyer and FEMI FALANA, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), at the investiture of Dele Ojogbede as President, Rotary Club, Ikoyi, Lagos  on July 24. 

    As a leading philanthropic organisation the Rotary Club in Nigeria has been associated with providing services to the needy. While the efforts of the Rotary Club and similar bodies are appreciated, I am of the strong view that no private establishment or voluntary society can replace the government in the provision of social amenities to the people. Even in capitalist societies, the provision of welfare services has reduced the activities of philanthropic organisations. The Rotary Club is therefore urged to mobilise poor and disadvantaged citizens to demand for popular participation in the government.

    To achieve the objective of meeting the basic demands of the poor, the Rotary Club should be fully involved in the campaign against corruption with a view to ending the criminal diversion of the commonwealth by a few public officers.

    The 4-way tests of the Rotary Club cannot be realised in our society in so far as the nation’s resources are cornered by a few picnic officers. As the government cannot succeed in the fight against corruption without the involvement of the people, we shall examine the duty of citizens in the promotion of accountability and transparency in the public affairs of the nation. In our analysis, we shall acknowledge the political will and the limitation of the government in the prosecution of the war against corruption. We shall conclude by asking the Nigerian people to take over the war from the Federal Government and prosecute it in the public interest.

     Mismanagement of funds earmarked for the provision of relief materials

    Owing to the criminal diversion of funds donated to the government to provide relief materials to victims of natural disasters in Nigeria, the lives of many vulnerable citizens are now in danger. Just recently, President Buhari was compelled to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate a petition received from an international donor agency which had alleged that the Federal Ministry of Health could not account for the millions of dollars donated to fight HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

    It is common knowledge that the EFCC is currently prosecuting two ex-governors for the criminal diversion of ecological funds collected from the Federal Government to fight the menace of erosion in their states. Some other officials are under investigation for stealing the funds contributed by the federal and state governments as well as private agencies and individuals to provide relief materials to the victims of flood which occurred in many parts of the country in 2012.

    In the same vein, the fund donated by international relief agencies to take care of the internally displaced people in the Northeast has been cornered by a few National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials. As we are gathered here, the humanitarian disaster caused by the criminal elements has claimed the lives of thousands of children in the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs’) camps. Indeed, the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast is traceable to the criminal diversion of the sum of $15 billion earmarked by the Federal Government for the purchase of military hardware for the armed forces from 2007-2015. Consequently, the ragtag army of the Boko Haram sect defeated the ill-equipped Nigerian Army. Although the Buhari administration has motivated the armed forces to turn the tide against the insurgents, the war against terror is not yet over.

    Citizens’ vigilance in the fight against corruption

    The fight against corruption has come a long way in Nigeria. To prevent Nigerians from exposing corruption and the crude exploitation of the resources of the nation, the British colonial regime imposed the Official Secrets Ordinance which prescribed 14 years imprisonment for anyone who leaked official information without authorisation. The Criminal Code criminalised seditious publications and statements. The leaders of the Zikist movement were jailed for asking Nigerians to reject imperialist exploitation and embrace socialism. Many other Nigerians were jailed for exposing corruption by the alien regime.

    The indigenous regime which took over power from the colonial regime in 1960 retained the repressive laws for the same purpose. In Chike Obi v DPP (1961) All N.L.R., the Supreme Court held that the pamphlet issued by the defendant wherein he had described the government as corrupt was capable of inciting the people. However, in Nwankwo v the State, the Court of Appeal, it was held that the provisions of the criminal code relating to sedition were illegal and unconstitutional for violating the right to freedom of expression.  It was the view of the court that public officers who feel offended by any publications should not use the machinery of government to protect themselves but sue for libel and put their reputation in issue.

    But the military dictators who ruled the country for close to three decades, closed down media houses and jailed journalists or detained anti-corruption crusaders.  Apart from ordering the release of those who were illegally detained, the court kicked against the closure of media houses. In Tarka v Daily Sketch, the plaintiff, a serving minister under the Gowon-led junta, was accused of corruption by a businessman. In dismissing the libel suit, the court urged the media to publish and be dammed. Notwithstanding that the Babangida junta expelled a foreign journalist, closed down media houses, detained journalists and parcel-bombed a prominent journalist Dele Giwa. Nigerians were not deterred from exposing corruption. The Olusegun Obasanjo administration which established the EFCC and ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Miscellaneous Offences Commission, was accused of using both anti-graft agencies to settle scores. Both the Yar’ Adua and Jonathan administrations did not pretend to fight corruption. All the same, President Jonathan was pressured by civil society organisations to sack the then Aviation Minister, Mrs. Stella Oduah.

     Time to fight the enemies within

    Since the Buhari administration commenced the war against corruption last year, it has enjoyed the support of the Nigerian people. However, corruption is fighting back on two fronts.  From outside the battlefront, the beneficiaries of corruption have accused the government of selectively targeting its political opponents in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  The allegation has been dismissed by Nigerians as all the suspects arrested by the EFCC have not denied their involvement in the mega looting of the treasury. Apart from the fact that majority of those who have been arrested are military officers and government contractors, a number of the suspects who are members of the PDP have actually refunded part of the loot.

    From the home front, it is evidently clear that some highly-placed public officers, who have been linked with corruption, are trying desperately to discredit and sabotage the war. Disturbed by the clamour for the removal and prosecution of such individuals, the government has urged Nigerians to stop making baseless allegations against serving public officers. In spite of the clarification by the government, the online media have continued to substantiate the allegations of corruption against the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Minister of Interior.

    Instead of attacking the imaginary enemies of the government, the anti-corruption war calls for an urgent review of strategies. For instance, it was recently reported in the media that three ex-COAS had been indicted by the arms procurement panel.  But when the report was eventually released, the name of one of the three security chiefs, who is a serving minister, was missing. Not unexpectedly, allegations of cover-up were raised in the media. Embarrassed by the development, the government reacted by denying any cover-up and explained that the panel had not investigated the arms procurement from 2007-2010 when the minister served as the COAS.

    Before the release of the controversial report, a group had alleged that the COAS Gen. Tukur Buratai had purchased some properties worth $1.5 million in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In defending the allegation, the Nigerian Army claimed that the general bought the properties from his legitimate earnings.  In confirming that the properties were declared, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) claimed that the army chief had declared them in the name of his wife. Aside the statement, the CCB should proceed to investigate and confirm that the properties were legitimately acquired from the income of the general.  This investigation should be speedily and transparently conducted to assure Nigerians that there are no sacred cows in the prosecution of the war against corruption.

    Another official, whose conduct ought to be investigated by the government, is the Comptroller-General of Prisons, Mr. Jafaru (Ahmed). According to media reports which have not been denied the prison boss is alleged to have reduced his age by two years. Since two judges were recently dismissed for reducing their ages and ordered to refund the money they had illegally collected the Comptroller-General of prisons ought to be removed from office without any further delay. Similarly, having identified the top civil servants in the Presidency who padded the 2016 Budget, the Federal Government should hand them over to the EFCC for prosecution.

    It is particularly disturbing to note that both chambers of the National Assembly dominated by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) are frustrating the anti-corruption war. For instance, contrary to the anti-corruption policy of the Federal Government, and in utter violation of Section 81 of the Constitution, some unscrupulous legislators are said to have padded the 2016 Budget. The chairman of the Appropriation Committee in the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibril has just stepped down over allegations that he single-handedly allocated N4 billion to his constituency. In reaction to the allegation, Jibril has accused the House leadership of padding the budget to the tune of N40 billion. These serious allegations should not be swept under the carpet or treated as an internal affair of the House. The claims and counter-claims should be investigated by the EFCC without any delay and all the legislators and civil servants who are indicted should be prosecuted.

    The APC-led National Assembly has also engaged in collecting jumbo emoluments for services not rendered to the nation. Whereas Section 63 of the Constitution provides that the Senate and the House of Representatives shall each sit for not less than 181 days in a year, Section 68 thereof states that any legislator who fails to attend the proceedings of the Senate for less than one third of the required number of days shall automatically lose his or her seat. For the first legislative year which ended on June 9, the Seventh session of the National Assembly did not meet the constitutional requirement. Specifically, due to incessant recesses, the House of Representatives sat for only 104 days while the Senate sat for 96 days. This means that the Senate sat for barely 50 per cent of the required sitting period. Indeed, some of the senators who had to attend criminal courts where they are standing trial for corrupt practices did not seat for up to 70 days throughout the legislative year.

    The Senate was actually shut down on a number of occasions to enable the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to attend the proceedings of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) where he is standing trial for false declaration of assets. And in solidarity with him, a number of senators abandoned their duties to accompany him to the tribunal. Since the labour policy of “no work no pay” is applicable to all public officers the legislators ought not to have been paid when they did not perform any legislative duty. In other words, having failed to sit for the mandatory period of 181 days the legislators were not entitled to payment of full salaries and allowances for the whole legislative year. Having been paid full emoluments when they failed to sit for the required number of days, the legislators ought to refund some money to the treasury. In the circumstance, the Accountant-General of the Federation should ensure that the legislators are made to refund the money collected for the number of days they failed to sit in the National Assembly. Furthermore, it is high time the Federal Government stopped the payment of salaries and allowances to former governors who are in the senate. Since they are on pension for life, it is illegal to continue to pay them salaries and allowances at the same time.

    Conclusion

    In view of the commitment of the Federal Government not to compromise the prosecution of the war against corruption, President Buhari should sack all public officers who cannot explain their sources of stupendous wealth. At the same time, to address the problems of poverty in the society, the Buhari administration has to invest in the welfare of Nigerians and proceed to mobilise them to fight against corruption. The Rotary Club and other civil society organisations should ensure that the activities of government are closely monitored with a view to exposing corrupt practices in the government.  Finally, the Federal Government should ensure that all the civil servants and legislators who padded the budget together with those who have diverted money donated by international agencies are prosecuted.

  • Look within you: Les Brown II

    Welcome to your column on public speaking. Last week, we explored the importance of looking within us and bring out the hidden treasures. I shared with you the story of Leslie Calvin “Les” Brown who was born on the floor in an abandoned building and was later labeled educably mentally retarded. Les listened to the teacher who told him, “Never let other people’s opinion of you become your reality” and he went on to become one of the greatest public speakers in the world today.

    While preparing to write on someone else in today’s article, another aspect of Les Brown’s triumph over life’s challenges struck me and I know you won’t mind if I share it with you. Les usually talks of what he refers to as the “inner conversation”.

    In one of his special TV programmes titled, “You Deserve!”, Les Brown told the story of how he was in the audience one day, listening to Zig Ziglar, whom he considered to be one of the greatest motivational speakers on the planet. As Les watched Zig move back and forth while delivering his speech, he said to himself, “I would like to do that. I can do that’. He leaned over to the person sitting next to him and asked, “How much do they pay him to do that?” He replied, “Five thousand dollars”, and Les said, “I know I can do that”.

    However, on the way home as he was driving, his inner conversation kicked in and said, “Les Brown, you can’t do that. You don’t have college education. You don’t have money. You don’t have contacts. You’ve never worked for major corporations. What makes you think that you can make more in one hour talking than you make working for a year?” So, for several years, he talked himself out of his dreams until he finally had the courage to take the bold step.

    Decades after Les Brown became a world famous public speaker, he reflected on the years he wasted convincing himself that he could not do what he actually could do. He said the easiest thing he does presently is to speak, train people to speak and make presentations before thousands of people. However, the most difficult thing he had ever done was to believe that it was possible. A lot of times, the process of believing in ourselves is far tougher than what it takes to pursue our dreams.

    Les Brown says that many people think of great things to do and they talk themselves out of it. According to him, that inner conversation is the reason most people take their greatness and ideas to the graveyard with them. Les referred to late Myles Munroe’s famous quote that the wealthiest place on earth is the graveyard. According to Myles, “The wealthiest place in the world is not the gold mines of South America or the oil fields of Iraq or Iran. They are not the diamond mines of South Africa or the banks of the world. The wealthiest place on the planet is just down the road. It is the cemetery. There lie buried companies that were never started, inventions that were never made, bestselling books that were never written, and masterpieces that were never painted. In the cemetery is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential.”

    So, what is the idea you are currently talking yourself out of? What opportunity are you letting go because you think you are not good enough? If you look inside you, you will see that you are up to the task, with God on your side, of course. Stop focusing on your failures; start concentrating on your successes. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t learn from the past. But after learning, you must focus on the future. If you act on the gift in you, you will make the world, and not the cemetery, a richer place. Do you dare to take the step? Five years from now, you will either be telling the story of how you succeeded in spite of your limitations or you will be telling the story of how you could have succeeded if not for your limitations. It is really all about the choice you make today.

  • Look within you

    You’ve got greatness within you!” These are the words of Les Brown, one of the world’s leading motivational speakers. But before you dismiss this statement as another sugar quoted, empty, and make-people-feel-good speech, you need to read the story of Les. One of my most revered mentors says that the secret of people is in their stories. So, let’s find out if Les has the right to tell us to look within.

    Leslie Calvin “Les” Brown was born in 1945. Les and his twin brother, Wesley, were born on the floor in an abandoned building, in a low-income area of Miami, Florida. They were later adopted at the age of six weeks by Miss Mamie Brown, a cafeteria attendant and a domestic assistant. In the fifth grade, Les was labeled “educably mentally retarded” (EMR) and he became a child no one thought could amount to anything.

    One day, Les was in a class, waiting on a friend who was to rehearse for a play. The teacher told him to go and write something on the board but he declined. When he was asked why, he explained to the teacher that he was in a special education class. The teacher asked him what that meant and insisted that he should write on the board. Still, Les decline. Again the teacher asked him why, then he said he was educably mentally retarded. The teacher came from behind his desk and said, “Don’t ever say that again. Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality”. That statement changed Les’ life forever.

    Les Brown never had a college degree, never worked for a major corporation, and never had any MBA or Ph.D; yet, he became one of the world’s most renowned motivation speakers and a highly-sought-after resource for Fortune 500 Companies. What happened to Les? Was there a magic in what that teacher told him? I don’t think so. What happened was that the teacher redirected his attention from outside to within. He had previously been confused by people’s opinion about him that he never looked inward to discover himself.

    Several people are too focused on external factors that they think very little of the internal factors. How can we believe other people over our own mind? How can we accept external verdict that we are a failure when our hearts are screaming that we can make it? When it comes to our personal success, majority does not carry the vote. We as the minority should determine the outcome of our lives. This is particularly important when it comes to public speaking or communication generally. We need confidence to perform excellently.

    There is something very interesting about opinion; people state what is on their mind, but we are left to act it out. If we are called a failure, it is required of us to fail for them to be correct. The fact that they said it does not seal our fate; our action or non-action is required. So, our action is what either proves people right or wrong. If we are called a failure, but we live out success, we will find people changing their minds.

    Les Brown was labeled EMR. For as long as he convinced himself that he was not good at anything, even something as simple as writing on the board, the label remained with him. He had to change his mind before he could change his life. Supposing someone meets him now and calls him EMR, won’t the person look like a fool? Of course. Les’ life has proved the person wrong. In the same way, what people say about us is not what matters; it is what we think, say and do about ourselves that makes the difference.

    It is very important for us to look within us. We have a lot of potentials that we are not bringing out. Why should we deprive the world of our skills as among the most outstanding speakers, business person, inventor or influencer that the world has ever known? According to Les, “Most people fail in life, not because they aim too high and miss but because they aim too low and hit”. The only reason we aim low is that we fail to have confidence in our abilities.

    Some people’s disposition to life can be summarized by this statement, “Blessed are those that expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed”. A lot of times, the reason we play safe is not because we are being strategic but because we don’t think we have what it takes to succeed. A proverb says, “If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm”. It’s time to deal with the enemy within. Let’s face our strengths and weaknesses with courage. Why run away from ourselves. It’s time to look inside us and explore the resources that God has planted therein.

    Les Brown says, “Feed your faith and your doubt will starve to death”. Faith is an inside force that manifests on the outside. If we look within, we will discover that there is more to us than what people say about us.

    In this series “Look Within You”, we shall explore how we can become less distracted by outside noise and how we can bring out the best in ourselves. I believe you will find this journey a worthwhile experience. Let’s make it a date next week, by the grace of God.

  • Look within you

    You’ve got greatness within you!” These are the words of Les Brown, one of the world’s leading motivational speakers. But before you dismiss this statement as another sugar quoted, empty, and make-people-feel-good speech, you need to read the story of Les. One of my most revered mentors says that the secret of people is in their stories. So, let’s find out if Les has the right to tell us to look within.

    Leslie Calvin “Les” Brown was born in 1945. Les and his twin brother, Wesley, were born on the floor in an abandoned building, in a low-income area of Miami, Florida. They were later adopted at the age of six weeks by Miss Mamie Brown, a cafeteria attendant and a domestic assistant. In the fifth grade, Les was labeled “educably mentally retarded” (EMR) and he became a child no one thought could amount to anything.

    One day, Les was in a class, waiting on a friend who was to rehearse for a play. The teacher told him to go and write something on the board but he declined. When he was asked why, he explained to the teacher that he was in a special education class. The teacher asked him what that meant and insisted that he should write on the board. Still, Les decline. Again the teacher asked him why, then he said he was educably mentally retarded. The teacher came from behind his desk and said, “Don’t ever say that again. Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality”. That statement changed Les’ life forever.

    Les Brown never had a college degree, never worked for a major corporation, and never had any MBA or Ph.D; yet, he became one of the world’s most renowned motivation speakers and a highly-sought-after resource for Fortune 500 Companies. What happened to Les? Was there a magic in what that teacher told him? I don’t think so. What happened was that the teacher redirected his attention from outside to within. He had previously been confused by people’s opinion about him that he never looked inward to discover himself.

    Several people are too focused on external factors that they think very little of the internal factors. How can we believe other people over our own mind? How can we accept external verdict that we are a failure when our hearts are screaming that we can make it? When it comes to our personal success, majority does not carry the vote. We as the minority should determine the outcome of our lives. This is particularly important when it comes to public speaking or communication generally. We need confidence to perform excellently.

    There is something very interesting about opinion; people state what is on their mind, but we are left to act it out. If we are called a failure, it is required of us to fail for them to be correct. The fact that they said it does not seal our fate; our action or non-action is required. So, our action is what either proves people right or wrong. If we are called a failure, but we live out success, we will find people changing their minds.

    Les Brown was labeled EMR. For as long as he convinced himself that he was not good at anything, even something as simple as writing on the board, the label remained with him. He had to change his mind before he could change his life. Supposing someone meets him now and calls him EMR, won’t the person look like a fool? Of course. Les’ life has proved the person wrong. In the same way, what people say about us is not what matters; it is what we think, say and do about ourselves that makes the difference.

    It is very important for us to look within us. We have a lot of potentials that we are not bringing out. Why should we deprive the world of our skills as among the most outstanding speakers, business person, inventor or influencer that the world has ever known? According to Les, “Most people fail in life, not because they aim too high and miss but because they aim too low and hit”. The only reason we aim low is that we fail to have confidence in our abilities.

    Some people’s disposition to life can be summarized by this statement, “Blessed are those that expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed”. A lot of times, the reason we play safe is not because we are being strategic but because we don’t think we have what it takes to succeed. A proverb says, “If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm”. It’s time to deal with the enemy within. Let’s face our strengths and weaknesses with courage. Why run away from ourselves. It’s time to look inside us and explore the resources that God has planted therein.

    Les Brown says, “Feed your faith and your doubt will starve to death”. Faith is an inside force that manifests on the outside. If we look within, we will discover that there is more to us than what people say about us.

    In this series “Look Within You”, we shall explore how we can become less distracted by outside noise and how we can bring out the best in ourselves. I believe you will find this journey a worthwhile experience. Let’s make it a date next week, by the grace of God.

  • ‘Jonathan must act within law’

    ‘Jonathan must act within law’

    The Nigeria Leagues of Democrats (NLD) has charged President Goodluck Jonathan to stop all acts of impunity against the opposition in the build up to 2015 elections.

    At a conference in Lagos, the National Coordinator of NLD Otunba Omoniyi Adebanjo said the misuse of power by the Federal Government is frightening, noting that it will truncate democracy.

    He warned President Jonathan of the dire consequence of withdrawing the security details of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

    He added that the level of insecurity in the country is already a burden on government and should not embark on any undemocratic journey in order not to escalate the situation.

    He said: “The Presidency should as a matter of urgency restore the security details of the Speaker of the House that was withdrawn in commando-like manner.

    “The implication is that the number four citizen of the country is exposed to danger, his life is not secure and, if anything untoward happens to him, we will hold the government responsible.”

    Adebanjo maintained that government should not do anything undemocratic to heat the polity, stressing that Nigerians were warming up to elect credible democrats who will save the country in 2015.