Anthony Akinola
Nigeria in dialogue with history
The world will not be destroyed
by those who do evil, but by those
who watch them without doing anything.
–Albert Einstien
Let us pause for a while and remind ourselves of what it would look like, if Nigerians lose their sense of reasoning and embrace anarchy in this age of technology advancement and the great awareness that the 21st Century has exposed mankind to. Also, we should ruminate that after half a Century years of Nigeria’s servitude to three years of civil war, it is a matter of regret that some misguided political elite since inception of President Muhammadu Buhari administration have been in constant ethnic and religious dialogue with history in negative ways.
Sadly, some prominent members of the political elite unguided utterances seem to beckon the above ugly experience witnessed in the country to repeat itself. This underlines a big problem, hence, the chairman, National Peace Committee (NPC) former Head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar recently cautioned state governors who are brandishing their tongues carelessly to be more temperate in their utterances in order not to instigate civil unrest in the nation. He said: “People who are old enough recollect what happened during the civil war. What were the things that led to the civil war? People from different states were being attacked, killed and their property destroyed, and people started migrating to their states of origin. And this is what is happening now…” The above warning is clearly lost just as the lessons of the civil war seem a child’s play in self hating Nigerians who would exult at such a despicable incidences of killings across the country to degenerate into a civil unrest. That the nation has been under the mercy of insurgents, bandits, kidnapping and herdsmen atrocities name it, for over a decade is absolutely disturbing. But what makes it even more worrisome is the paucity of fund that has become the annual harvest of security services budget. Hence, their constant romance with inadequate equipment and their inability to arrest the security challenges. In the face of their handicap, government officials keep saying our security services are up to the task. Yet, the crave for economic progress, peace and stability in the country continue to get slimmer by the day while the lust for anarchy, chaos, bloodshed, destruction and perpetual domination and subjugation of others seem to be the order of the day. It is shameful that the federal government’s body language and inaction continue to ignite the perpetuation of evil in the country, from its craftily blurred line between partisan or ethnic interest over the nation’s overall interest. Of course, that brings to bear the spate of bashing criticism of the ruling party over its poor handling of the security challenges among others facing the nation.
Surely, when there is clearly no path to peace, when every cause of action leads to chaos and anarchy then unity and proclamation of one Nigeria we so crave for would become partial. One of the most impressive aspects of President Buhari inauguration speech in 2015 is his declaration that he is for nobody but for all. Regrettably, as the administration progressed, President Buhari seems to allow himself to be held hostage by ethnic and religious sentiments. This is obviously illuminated from his predilection in appointments and siting of major projects in the northern region. And the growing grave yard silence and toothless statements from federal government about tackling insecurity, lawlessness and herdsmen brouhaha across the country.
As President, Buhari bears a special responsibility for every Nigerian life and property which he swore an oath to protect. In the short term, herdsmen and cattle business seems more important than tackling the burning issue of insecurity, unemployment and infrastructure deficit facing the country. Hence, the unnecessary pettiness and sympathetic allegation by the presidency the other day when it echoed that criminal herders are being tried and convicted in the South West. By the way, is the law suppose to protect criminals, that the federal government had to raise an alarm over criminal herders prosecution? If found guilty, should criminals whether herders or otherwise not pay the ultimate prize as defined by law? As it were, the calumny of facts occasioned from unguarded statements mostly from Miyetti Allah, is helping to heat up the polity. The group which is defined not by any political ideology but by an affection they have towards their business of cattle rearing have become so daring in recent times. However, the blithe assumption by Miyetti Allah arguing with audacious confidence that Nigerians (herders) are free to carry arms for self defence can only encourage the upsurge in small arms and light weapons in the country. It is even more worrisome that some state governors from the north express their support to weaponise the herders through their body language and public defence.
It is particularly disheartening to note that governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state who recently said: “They (herders) have no option than to carry Ak47 because the society and government are not protecting them… it not their (herders) fault, it is the fault of the government and the people, you don’t criminalise all of them…” In the face of all these, the federal government chose to turn a deaf ear and refuses to recognise the legitimate danger of such careless statements therefore, denounce and caution proliferation of arms promoters.
The measure at which insecurity bore the stamp of panic in the country has not only drawn international attention but has spawned and encouraged ethnic regions to set-up their own security architecture for self defence. In the northern region, we have the Hisbah, while Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) operates in the South West, now side by side with Amotekun, formed recently in the same region. Of course, the South East is drumming to everyone’s hearing that it has no intension of truncating the already moving train of its region’s security network. The South East committee chairman, Major General Obi Umahi said: “…the South East is the most secure geopolitical zone in the country today…the region governors have banned open grazing…they have done things about the security infrastructure. I am also aware that each state has motorised its security network…” What all these inflammatory dialogue and regional securities imply is that the window of unity to show that Nigeria is truly one, is rapidly closing. And it is hard to imagine how peace and unity that once defined Nigerians as the most happiest people on earth could sink any lower from the antics of those perpetrating evil. Therefore, President Buhari should overcome his flaws and use his charming charisma to urgently bring back Nigeria on the stead of peace and unity.
Anthony Akinola
The El-Rufai’s call obey
El-rufai. Photo; TWITTER/MGMAIGAMO
There comes a time in the political season, where aspirations that is considered familiar and goodwill towards society are being advocated to woo the masses’ confidence. Apparently, the advancement of such issues begins with a gentle but radical tone until it gradually builds up and set agenda in the minds of the citizens. The underlying assumption is to allow it snowball among the masses before the front-runners in this case, politicians use the bandwagon to grab power. At the moment, there is no catch phrase yet like the present administration rode on issues like true federalism and restructuring in its ‘Change’ and ‘Next Level’ campaign to power. A burden and heavy cross Nigerians still endure with growing pains considering the change and level at which things are shaping in the country. However, the motion would come with some baiting taste or irresistible candor to conquer, subdue, taunt or mock Nigerians. It is capable of holding the masses to ransom and they have no choice than to embrace and join the dialogue.
In the wake of the unending killings by insurgents, bandits, herdsmen and kidnappers across the country, can one therefore, say the appointed time for state police and resource control is nigh? The foregoing are only a few of the terrible things that may likely continue, if government remains in self denial about the common knowledge that the dark clouds over state police and resource control is the greatest sin in Nigeria’s politics today. However, the lone but prominent voice of His Excellency, Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai who, recently, in an event seized the opportunity to add his voice in the hullabaloo urging the federal government to give green light to state police and resource control respectively. While speaking at a live broadcast tagged: “The fierce urgency of now. Tactics and strategies to pull Nigeria from the brink”, he noted: “I would recommend the following immediate decisions and actions…give us state police now, vest all minerals in the states now, and decentralise our judiciary now, not later…”. Ever since that live broadcast, El-Rufai’s call has been the talk of the town, at bus-stops, vendors stand and street corners.
Although, he said nothing new that cannot be found in the editorial columns and opinion pages of Newspapers on any day. The views he expressed are regularly articulated daily at lectures and symposia across the country even before the advent of the ruling government. However, what gave the speech its cutting edge is that it came from somebody from the north where some incurable cynics for ‘one Nigeria’ believes that state police and resource control would tear the nation apart.
Indeed, governor El-Rufai had every reason to be concerned just like many well-meaning Nigerians who believe it was time to put a human face on the call for state police and resource control. This is because the federal government appears totally helpless as it seems it cannot do anything positively different to salvage the country from insurgency and economic doldrum. In the event of this shameful deficiency, the insurgents seized the opportunity to unleash terror and take control of more local government areas in some states in the northern part of the country.
Therefore, El-Rufai’s call is the kind of call no one should oppose as it would drive every state to think outside the box and be economically self reliant. No doubt, the call is purely patriotism at work. Still, trust Nigerians, many are skeptical as they ask, why now? could the call by any chance bear some hidden agenda, or political deception or ethnic or religious under tone? This is because, in every age and in every clime, all sorts of demand have been made in the name of patriotism with a hidden agenda that would play out much later.
As earlier noted, El-Rufai’s call is not sanctimonious. But, the call is for want of trying by government as it can no longer live in self denial with the height of insecurity in the country. Governor El-Rufai has made the incontrovertible point that, the country does not have enough soldiers, uniformed police, or secret police to project state power across the vast swaths, particularly the forests. The limited boots on the ground are not well equipped and are significantly lacking in the technology that can make their limited numbers matter. This is not only pathetic but shameful for a country like Nigeria, the ‘giant of Africa’. The most depressing thing about the call for state police and resource control is that despite several individuals, groups and organisations in the country that had argued that the Nigerian federation is unjust and unworkable with its current formation, government remains adamant to the call for restructuring. It is, however, sad that government’s continued refusal to recognise the need for state police and resource control has driven almost all the six-geopolitical zones into various forms of local security networks.
Governor El-Rufai probably provoked some of his colleagues to join the fray as governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state, during his second term swearing-in ceremony called for state police. He said: “The primary responsibility of any government is the security of lives and property of its citizens…we have been relentless in advocating for the establishment of state police…it is this incongruity which propelled the southwest governors to form a regional security network codenamed Amotekun…” Indeed, state police and resource control agitators had every reason to be concerned as the country continues to face the ordeal of insecurity.
Of course, the after effect is the disruption of economic activities while life is made unbearable for citizens as many hardly move freely to conduct their daily activities. In as far as security of lives and property remains the antidote for economic development and progress of every nation. It is therefore, improper that the federal government continue to romance and treat insecurity with kid gloves. In fact, the pre-eminence of security of lives and property in the country deserves no second thought for the creation of state police and allowing states to control their resources. At this point, it is worth stating the obvious that the country urgently needs an executive order for the creation of state police and allowing states to control its resources. The idea behind the central control of the police force and the cap-in-hand tradition for monthly largesse in Abuja must end.
Anthony Akinola
The wealthy as villain
Photo: PIXABAY
The game is exclusively for those who joke among themselves about whose bank account is the fattest and derive pleasure to show off exotic cars in their garage or thumb their cheat and speak volume about assets and buildings in highbrow areas both home and overseas. However, the above would be too much to describe as a joke for many among whom the impending revolution may consume for their lust for wealth and the inability to explain the source of riches.
Countrymen and women, all ye with questionable wealth, be warned and take no delight to be arrogant about your wealth in society anymore. All ye who ride exotic cars and wear expensive clothes, jewelry and live a flamboyant lifestyle without genuine means of livelihood, and worst still unable to explain your source of wealth, again, beware, there is nowhere to hide. Did I hear you ask why? There is an impending monstrous masquerade that would impede the way and fish out those with questionable wealth for scrutiny.
By the way, how dare you, at a time when the majority of Nigerians, especially the federal government is in want and feel gravely endangered by the ravages of an economy that has defied every standard remedy of economic experts flaunt wealth publicly and you cannot explain the source. Country people, be assured that in no time from now, the night will soon be over for those who cannot explain the source of their wealth and it will no longer be business as usual to have a pleasurable day to enjoy and oppress with ill-gotten wealth. To this class of people, the long arm of the law will sooner than later, go on the offensive with the current prayers to sign an executive order that will confiscate property (ies) that lacks sufficient and convincing explanation. Indeed, you are a lawbreaker if you fall in the category of unexplained-riches candidates. Therefore, weep not, for the law is no respecter of persons, neither does it show mercy for crocodile tears. In that case, try not to seek the law as a shield for it will forsake you on judgment day.
That seems to be the message, former Senate leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume is trying to pass across to Nigerians as he seeks President Muhammadu Buhari’s nod to sign an executive order to curtail the increasing cases of unexplained wealth in the country. Without being told, it is decidedly injurious sabotage and unhelpful to the nation as questionable wealth continues to flourish. Considering the fact that in this time and season of the COVID-19 pandemic, a weak economy, and shrinking employment opportunities some Nigerians chose to recklessly flaunt wealth without being able to defend how they made the money. No doubt, the days of these unscrupulous citizens are numbered. As things stand, there is angst in the land already as many wealthy people have developed high blood pressure despite Ndume’s proposal at its yoke stage. This is proof that Buhari’s administration’s declaration of zero tolerance to corruption is not poetic or mere prescription without an antidote to fight it. What is more, the ominous, indeed martial realities for those with unexplained wealth as they are an inch away from losing their wealth and freedom as it could also lead them to find abode in a government secured maximum apartment, where freedom and pleasure is the beginning of wisdom. Perhaps Ndume’s proposed unexplained wealth order (UWO) will teach Nigerians a hard lesson to follow the path of honour even as the culprits learn their bitter lesson too.
As far as one could guess, the UWO if and when it sees the light of day, would have its fortress among politicians and fraudsters generally referred as yahoo yahoo boys among others. This class of individuals takes great pride in rubbing the name of the country in mud. Given the humongous wealth dubious public servants derive from elephant projects, ghost workers’ pay, and shabby road constructions among others the unexplained wealth order when implemented would create a sordid drama that would be Nollywood best series. To curb the excesses of these corrupt individuals, Senator Ndume argues that, the President has the right to sign an executive order, which nobody can challenge in court. Ndume maintained that the president should also send a bill on Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) to the National Assembly to domesticate it because he believes most advance countries are practicing it. He further argues that, despite the law been embedded in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act, if the government truly wants the newly appointed chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa to work efficiently, a law on unexplained wealth should be enacted so that it can stand alone.
Good talk indeed. But in all fairness, it is shameful that the government and its officials have particularly adopted the laughable habit to copy laws from foreign land which is now assuming the character of state policy that anything foreign is better. But Nigeria’s leaders would not adopt the foreign leaders’ patriotism and selflessness in service and make infrastructure, like electricity, housing, and create jobs just to mention a few, be available and affordable here at home as it is over there. The present government should not insult Nigerians intellect by trying to use the UWO or any law for that matter as an excuse to gag the opposition or perceived enemies in the society to ridicule. When the government is challenged by human rights activists and civil liberty organisations to make available and explain how some of its programmes are handled, it quickly turns tailor sometimes go on the offensive issuing threats. It is unfortunate that those who have taken upon themselves the task of governing this country knowing or unknowingly created a vacuum for political jobbers, sycophants, and questionable characters become wealthy overnight. What would society become now that practical steps are being devised to strip unexplained wealth from their owners? I foresee an ethnic or religious sentiment that may play out and heat up the polity. A case in point is the recent call in Kaduna the other day by Abdusalam Mohammed Kazeem, President, Northern Nigerian Youth Forum on behalf of seven other northern groups that either former governor, Imo state, Rochas Okorocha be arrested and prosecuted for alleged looting or Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame both former governors from the north and serving prison terms for corruption cases be released. There is no gainsaying that, the staggering and weak nature of our institutions encourages discriminations or distinguishes between administration of justice. Hence the judiciary continues to find itself in a mess of miscarriage of justice, even as some law enforcement officers turn the other way once a legal tender exchanges hands. Over the years, there has been a crying need from well-meaning Nigerians for moral leadership, dedication and honesty, and above all strong institutions. That is what Nigeria needs not a multitude of laws that cannot bite or when it does, it is being selective.
Anthony Akinola
Money meant for arms missing under Buratai, ex-service chiefs —NSA
The National Security Adviser to the President, Maj.-Gen Babagana Monguno (retd.), has said some funds meant for the purchase of arms to strengthen the country’s anti-terror war got missing under the leadership of the ex-service chiefs.
The ex-service chiefs are Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin (retd.); Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.); Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas (retd.); and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.).
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The NSA, in an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, said, “No one knows what happened to the money but by God’s grace, the president will investigate to find out whether the money was spent and where the arms went.”
The NSA also added that the new service chiefs have not seen any of the arms that the funds were supposed to be used to procure.
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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had appointed Buratai, Olonisakin, Ibas and Abubakar in July 2015 but the Commander-In-Chief replaced them in January 2021 after a persistent clamour from Nigerians that he introduce fresh blood in the country’s anti-terror war, especially against Boko Haram in Nigeria’s North-East region.
The new service chiefs are Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral A.Z Gambo; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the NSA said on Thursday at a State House Briefing in Aso Villa, Abuja, that the President has released a lot of funds for the military to purchase firepower and win the insurgency fight.
Monguno had also said that the Buhari-regime was not interested in dialogue with terrorists, bandits and other criminals as negotiation paints the government as weak and incapable.
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The NSA, therefore, vowed that the military, headed by the new chiefs has what it takes to crush the enemies of the Nigerian state without the help of mercenaries.
Anthony Akinola
Insecurity: Not yet the last order
[FILES] Buhari addressing troops of the anti-banditry Operation, Hadarin Daji. Photo: TWITTER/HQNIGERIANARMY
In the last decade, the world attention has been drawn to the menace of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in terms of the threat which it poses to nation-building and the setback it causes to grow the economy through foreign investments and the distortion in education curriculum among others. Of course, insecurity is largely responsible for the seeming collapse of anything we hold dear in the country. Even traditional institutions, farming and peaceful co-existence among the tribes and tongues in the society has been threatened by insecurity. At the moment, insecurity is not only worsening, it has become endemic in the country, particularly the North East, as social life and education is now under serious threat.
The desperate security situation in the country necessitated Mr. President to profess that the kidnap of 300 school girls from a Government Girls Secondary School in Jangede, Zamfara state would be the last kidnap in the country and quickly ordered the newly appointed Service Chiefs to ‘go into the field and secure the country’. This the President believes should be done within weeks before farmers and Nigerians generally welcome the next raining season as it would give citizens the confidence to safely return to the farms in order for the country not to suffer food insecurity by running the risk of being unable to produce enough food to feed itself.
Not so long ago, the climax of security challenges necessitated a similar order from Mr. President to the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusuf Buratai to restore law and order in Benue state but was blatantly disobeyed. Of late, it has become a regular occurrence as kidnapping and banditry has become the order of the day. Today, the reality of the Nigerian life clearly reveals that no one is safe anywhere, even in the comfort of your home talk-less of travelling out of town to the rural areas.
It has got to a point that some thoughtful Nigerians began to place with suspicion the marching orders of the present government as it regards insecurity. Of late, government’s action towards fighting insecurity seems to regard bandits, kidnappers and insurgents as “friends” judging by the overwhelming romance going on between religious leaders, governors among others with them. Yet, the ruling government has remained surprisingly indifferent to such meetings with kidnappers. According to the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno as a Nigerian, the Constitution provides one cover to talk and deal with anybody, irrespective of being a bandit, kidnapper or insurgent, so long as such talk will assist government to solve the insecurity debacle. In moments of great national distress such as we are now experiencing, keeping insecurity at arm’s length and handling it like a new born baby, yet looking forward to the end of the floppy economic situation does not serve Nigerians interests.
Before becoming president, Buhari and his party promised not to treat insecurity with kid gloves. But, strikingly often, the ruling government’s priorities are fast changing. One wonders what happened to Buhari’s intent on pivoting towards the previous government on its sluggish attitude towards fighting insecurity as it now chooses to pay ransom. The pretence that they are not paying ransom to free kidnapped citizens, signaled that the present government was losing interest in fighting the insurgents. Hence, the insecurity situations continue to deteriorate in the country as the bandits and kidnappers are becoming daring perhaps due to the bounty they collect from the illicit act. The President’s marching order to go harder on criminals and shoot at site anyone found illegally with AK 47 has created another doubt to carrying out such orders. This is because, the ruling government adopted ‘son’, herdsmen, are seen carrying AK 47 across the country to graze their herds in the forest. While the insurgents, bandits and kidnappers also trade in the forest with their victims. Indeed, few people would envy the security agencies as they are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea in their bid to carry out the shoot at sight order.
Despite the repeated calls by governors of the North East states, particularly Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Zulum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Buhari government ruled out the engagement of mercenaries to assist the country in the fight against insurgency. Thanks, again to the ruling government’s continued show of strength to come all out in full force to defeat the insurgents as it could no longer tolerate blackmail in any guise. In complementing the President’s position, the National Security Adviser came up with a familiar tone as he rendered an assurance that government will deploy all necessary force to deal with terrorists and bandits operating in the country. He emphatically argued that, dialogue with criminals suggest weakness and incapacity on the part of government.
No doubt, the cost of insecurity is quite enormous. The challenge before the present government is to reduce, and even eliminate insecurity in our society. This will require changing the way government does the business of governance. Hence, the President sought traditional rulers’ assistance at a meeting the other day, to use their roles and positions as bridge builders in each of their communities to compliment government’s efforts at bringing peace and security.
However, in another forum, the traditional rulers through the Sultan, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III represented by Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar at the steering committee of the Senate Constitution Review Committee said, traditional rulers incapacity to bring about peace and rule of law in their domain is because insecurity foundation was laid by Aguyi Ironsi’s 1966 unitary government decree, Yakubu Gowon’s 1967 and Olusegun Obasanjo’s 1976 local government reforms decrees respectively which stripped traditional rulers of their powers and made them ceremonial heads while local government councils took charge.
Therefore, the current administration must do everything within its powers to restore the traditional rulers with their prestige and power as well as learn to match its words with action and stop making empty promises. Indeed, there is perhaps, no country that is free of insecurity, but what makes it even more challenging in Nigeria is the way it has become a norm. Tackling insecurity ought to be a starting point for strengthening our economy. It is regrettable, but true that investors are afraid to bring funds to Nigeria because of insecurity. Economically, no investor would choose to invest in a trouble nation.
Anthony Akinola
Nigeria’s unemployment blues
It is hard to overstate the wretchedness of those found in the unemployment market in Nigeria. The unemployed in this part of the world are saddled with a reputation they had never imagined and certainly are not enjoying.
It is indeed difficult to explain what the unemployed suffer on a daily basis as their unique story is so very pathetic and heart breaking. The unemployed encounter plenty of prejudice on account of their joblessness.
Among other dehumanising treatments, the unemployed are guilty as judged by the public court and blamed one way or the other for their deplorable situation and consequences they never created but found themselves. Their views among friends and family discussions do not hold sway in a land where money is the accepted standard for public respect. The assumption that the academic certificate with flying colours that cannot provide three square meals is seen as a waste of time is a regular insult that greets the unemployed. Therefore, being without a job is like living without a soul as today’s society hardly recognises anyone that cannot pick up the bills.
Overtime, unemployment situation has taken to whipsawing between gloom and optimism. Despite the much talked about efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to create jobs for the teeming population of unemployed graduates and youth through different programmes, indications is that the worsening unemployment situation has assumed an alarming rate from a recent National Bureau of Statistic (NBS) findings. According to the NBS report titled: “Labour Force Statistics: Unemployment and underemployment, reveals that unemployment rate rose to 6.5 per cent higher compared to 21.77 million recorded in the second quarter of 2020. The report further shows an estimated number of persons in the Labour force within ages 15-64 that are able and willing to work at 69,675,468. No doubt, this is a set of catastrophic numbers of which, in sane climes, political leaders would resign from their appointment. Far from it, in this part of the world political leaders explain their poor leadership away by calling the youth lazy. It is worrisome that, with the above rising revelation in the unemployment market, uncertainty about the future remains the thought that fills job seekers minds. It is obvious from the above, that Nigeria is facing a grave unemployment challenges that requires quick attention.
The unemployed have been drifting apart for decades as they increasingly feels like living in a different world.
Many wake up every morning to curse the poor governance exhibited by our current breed of politicians who are full of scandalous activities. The country is currently obese by corruption that has reached a climax to shake the country’s foundation.
There is no doubt that the unemployed youth are too numerous and far too important to be ignored. Hence, the House of Representatives chose to embark on a journey to discovering them. Indeed, not that they had been lost.
They were simply abandoned to their fate as no person of any consequence paid attention. Therefore, the House of Representatives proposed databank for unemployed youth to enhance their chances of obtaining empowerment and employment calls for celebration among the unemployed family. Indeed, it makes sense from a public policy perspective that a databank for the unemployed be established to make it easier to identify those seeking employment and help them to find one. But, believe it or not, the mystery behind such programme is simply to increase the frivolous spending priority of government and its officials, and perhaps to further stress and humiliate the already worn out job seekers in their travail. Just before the 2019 elections the current government spent elegantly in the name of a programme tagged: ‘Market moni’ or ‘Trader moni’ in its bid to alleviate poverty among the masses. In no time, the House of Representatives’ databank proposal for the unemployed may soon become the new baby in diapers to care for. Despite the so much talked about job creation that has surrounded the President Buhari administration agenda since inception, it has become easy to forget how and when the jobs would be available.
Good government policy can do enormous amount to improve prospects of the unemployed even as hope should be tempered by realism. Nigeria is blessed with a deeply entrenched workforce mainly in large number among its youth. But that is no shield against poor political decisions that has seen millions of Nigerians being unemployed for years as the country lurches from banditry, kidnapping and COVID-19 pandemic which has crippled many businesses. No doubt, the integrity of the political leadership of the present administration is at stake, for once and by far the most among previous governments that unemployment is at its highest percentage. One reason the unemployment rise does not surprise many is that this is a problem that has long been hiding in plain sight. Slowly, unemployment has become one of the nation’s challenges going down the long slide of history as a monster that fuels insecurity in the country.
It is sad that political leaders are busy churning out imaginary figures in millions of jobs created and even more saddening that most of these jobs are created through provision of motorcycles, wheelbarrows, head-pans and shovels to the indigent masses. Not so long ago, a commissioner in Borno state established a human capacity development jobs for the youth in the state by providing a box of shoe polish kits and it was widely celebrated as an outstanding achievement. It is not clear to what extent these so called job creation lifts people out of poverty.
Hence, the inequality in the country is on the rise as the gap between the rich and poor keep on expanding. Curbing unemployment is not just a matter of good intentions that would gather all and sundry in a databank. Hence, the House of Representatives proposal is seen by well meaning Nigerians as job for the boys.
It is important to remind political leaders that the idle mind is the devils workshop, so says the age long adage. Therefore, the ruling government should endeavour to keep its promise on creating jobs for the teeming youthful population before they become prey as new recruits to join the insurgents or indulge in other frivolous activities.
Anthony Akinola
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Akintoye and Akeredolu
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has again declared that he would not support the agitation for Yoruba Nation by a group of people, saying those calling for such are not representatives of the Yorubas.
Akeredolu, who reacted to a statement credited to a group under the auspices of the Ilana Omo Oodua led by Prof Banji Akintoye, said the Yoruba people would not allow the “impostors” to lead any agitation on their behalf. He also said the people of the South-West would not be deceived by the plan of the secessionists.
Akintoye had earlier berated Akeredolu for rejecting the agitation for the creation of a Yoruba Nation. The group said Akeredolu spoke for himself, and not the people of Ondo State.
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But in a statement issued by the Special Assistant to Akeredolu on Special Duties and Strategy, Doyin Odebowale, on Thursday, the governor declared that Akintoye was not a leader of Yorubaland and could not speak for the people.
The statement partly read in part, “Let it be reiterated again. There will be no agitation for secession in any part of Ondo State. Prof Akintoye should submit himself to the people if he is so desirous of representing them.
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“it is presumptuous, denigrating and condescendingly spiteful for a group of hustlers, living largely in anonymity but struggling for relevance, to keep proclaiming and legislating on issues which affect the destiny of a whole people, without the faintest suggestion of paying even scant regard to their feelings or extending due courtesy to the real representatives of the people whose opinions they discount as unimportant.
” The people are discerning. They know the impostors. They have not forgotten the activities of the suborned agitators, the presumed penitent activists. The Ondo people, and indeed Yoruba are the easiest to lead but the most difficult to deceive. With them sophistry and demagoguery have their limits.”
Anthony Akinola
Kidnapping Proceeds Used To Fuel Boko Haram Insurgency — NGF
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By Leon Usigbe | Abuja On Mar 30, 2021
Kayode Fayemi, NGF chairman
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GOVERNORS have drawn a nexus between kidnappings for ransom in the North-West with the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in the NorthEast, saying that proceeds from the kidnappings are being used to fuel insurgency.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.
He said, “There is a direct correlation between insurgency in the north-east, and what we’re seeing manifesting itself as banditry in the north-west, or kidnapping in the south-west. Some of the people involved in these are also the ones responsible for insurgency.
“They are using the resources that they make from kidnapping for the activities that they’re conducting in the north-east.
“So, we need to take a comprehensive look at all these things and not treat them in compartments.”
He commended the efforts of the nation’s security forces, saying that though he was one of those who advocated the change of service chiefs, he did not expect a dramatic turnaround so soon.
“Two or three days ago, all the service chiefs came together to issue a statement that we are accountable to our Chief of Defence Staff. That’s a very significant position to take because we know what has been the source of inter-service rivalry in our military, which then tends to affect performance on the field, where the air force does not communicate with the army and yet they are supposed to be involved in the same war against insurgency.”
The governor added that the root causes of insecurity in the country require political will, political action against poverty, against inequality and against disconnections between the youth and the government.
Fayemi said he was at the Villa to discuss pertinent issues on security and the economy with President Buhari, adding that the president is committed to doing more in terms of procurement of equipment, platforms for the military, particularly to support the new leadership.
Answering a question on the ongoing constitutional amendment to retain the 774 local government areas in the constitution, Fayemi advised the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to lobby the National Assembly, rather than issuing threats to shut down the council area.
https://tribuneonlineng.com/kidnapping-proceeds-used-to-fuel-boko-haram-insurgency-ngf/
Anthony Akinola
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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)
The National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd.), on Tuesday quoted the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as directing the nation’s service chiefs to identify masterminds of banditry and kidnapping as well as the sponsors with a view to taking them out.
The NSA told State House correspondents that Buhari handed down the directive at a meeting he had with the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He quoted the President as saying that a situation where the armed forces are reactionary rather than being proactive will no longer be tolerated.
[READ ALSO] LASU VC selection: Sanwo-Olu’s visitation panel calls for memoranda
Buhari met the service chiefs ahead of his trip to London for routine medical check-up.
Monguno said, “On the issues of kidnapping and banditry, this menace still persists, especially in the North West and the North-Central zones.
“Mr President has been very emphatic. He has stated clearly that this problem must be brought to an end, but using the traditional methods that the armed forces have been trained to deploy.
“Mr President has made it very clear to both the intelligence and operational elements that the first assignment will be to identify the leaders of these bandits, kidnappers and take them out, in order to restore confidence in those areas.
Anthony Akinola
Nigeria in search of political structure
[FILES] Former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon. (Photo by Kola SULAIMON / AFP) (Photo by KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
A democratic government is by definition, essentially a government of the people, which is expected to show much greater sensitivity and responsibility to the people than any other form of government. However, the last two decades in Nigeria’s political calendar must go down as our season of failed promises and recycling of incompetent political leaders as Presidents, governors among other political portfolios and appointments. In a way, the political recycling of leaders was inaugurated since the nation gained her independence in 1960. Ever since then, the procession of the same bandwagon of politicians has been recycled with reckless abandon even as they constantly betray the nation with poor leadership. Hence, the kinds of body language exhibited by the present government to what is happening as regards insecurity and the display of ineptitude by political leaders has helped to drift the ship of state to a dangerous position causing eminent Nigerians and statesmen to tinker on the way forward.
In fact, the tensed nature of the polity has evoked the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, the other day, to re-echo the clamour for power shift to the South as he called for zoning and rotational presidency among the six geo-political zones at Abuja during the 100th anniversary of Balewa Old Boys Association (BOBA). The former leader known for his fervent belief in ‘one Nigeria’ said that no ethnic group is better outside the nation than inside as one united Nigeria. Therefore, he proposed that, the antidote for marginalisation in Nigeria’s politics and the need for peace, tranquility and development to reign in the country is to embrace rotational president with two vice presidents. That one of them should come from the zone producing the President while the other should be elected into power during the presidential election. Also, he maintained that governorship position of the 36 states of the federation should also be rotated among the three Senatorial districts.
Indeed, there can be no objection to any political structure that will allow peace, justice and equity to reign in the land. If for anything, it would encourage greater political performance and Nigerians would have more confidence in the system. However, General Gowon is not a lone voice in the wilderness, there have been calls for rotational president among well meaning Nigerians. Some of the proponents of this call have argued in the same line of thought with His Excellency, the former Head of state that rotational president will bring about peace and development in the country. The Borno state governor, Babagana Zulum recently at the golden jubilee lecture and the public presentation of a book titled: Strategic Turnaround said, “Power rotation is a covenant between us, hence, the need to shift the power to South”. He further asserted that, “…good governance is the heart and soul of security and development. Bad governance will spread insecurity and destroy the possibility of development as trust is broken between the elected and the electorate…”.
The common denominator in the demand for rotational president is a perception that in spite of democracy, certain structural problems continue to plague Nigeria. Some of these problems are historical dating back to the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates among others. Currently, challenges like insecurity, banditry and kidnapping occurred as a result of poor leadership in the previous and current administrations. It is surprising that in 60 plus years of nationhood, Nigerians are as disillusioned as ever that the political leadership has not managed the country’s vast resources and wealth meaningfully to meet the expectations of the people. In all these period, Nigerians have been constantly greeted with poor leadership spiced with ethnic and religious favouratism. From the present on-goings, Nigeria is at best seen to be romantising the colonial system of government where a master/slave relationship was the norm. This has continued to cause a huge doubt and suspicion among various ethnic and religious groups in the country. The overriding impact from the above is that Nigeria under the spell of religious and ethnic politics does not, and cannot guarantee fairness and justice for all Nigerians. For this reason, poor leadership remains one of the sore points at the centre of the Nigerian question.
In fact, with the current level at which nepotism and insecurity has gone, many fear that Nigeria is heading towards a failed state. Surprisingly, there are those who think the nation is doing well despite the ugly shape of the economy, senseless killings, kidnapping and banditry across the country among others. Perhaps, they are beneficiaries of the unjust and unfair system. Aside insecurity, since the advent of the present administration, Nigerians have seen several threats to the unity of the country. Nigerians have witnessed the existence and rise in influence of an association of cattle rearers’ known as Miyetti Allah who speak with audacious audacity on issues that heat up the polity.
Yet, it seems a tall order for the ruling government to summon the courage to caution the association from making inflammatory comments. It is surprisingly jaw dropping that in a country that proclaims its secularity with jealousy and pride among the comity of nations, yet the government past and present shut its eyes as the Northern part of the country unilaterally imposed Sharia laws. At the moment, some states in the South West and South East have taken the excuse of insecurity challenges in the country to establish regional security outfit to protect its people. As it were, the country’s division along geographical and ethnic lines seems to encourage the agitation for regional autonomy in the absence of good governance from the centre.
In this kind of setting, there is need for circumspection by all men who value and love the country to remain united. Therefore, for the nation to walk out of the democratic structure trap that makes electing political office holders such a high-voltage political issue requires a gentleman approach that all stakeholders should come together in a national dialogue and agree to restructure the country. This would ensure that the interests of all sections of the country are guaranteed to enthrone equity, justice and fairness as well as the economic emancipation of the Nigerian people.
Anthony Akinola
Nigeria’s new drive to industrialisation
Industrialisation. Photo: PIXABAY
Regrettably, Nigeria has a disappointing record when it comes to the continuation of previous administrations’ unfinished projects as political leaders treat the laid down economic plan of their predecessors with levity. Of course, it has become a tradition that every government of the day wants to be identified with its own specific economic blueprint that targets a new decade that would take the country to the ‘promise land’.
If the government is truly a continuum, one possibility is that Nigeria would have evolved through trial and error and to the normal process of human adjustment into an industrialised nation and by now will be the real giant of Africa as well as belong to the BRIGS club or be a member of G-8 nations among others. Anyway, all that is a matter of human imagination as reality stares at us on a daily basis just as our political leaders continue to shy away from continuity in government. Instead, political leaders prefer to hang the peoples’ hope on superlative promises while the paradox remains the affirmative action to keep the promises and the reality that the people are compelled to live with.
Over the years, there have been several moves to industrialise the country by successive administrations to no avail. To a large extent, the ambition of the current government to industrialise the country seems to lack some definite focus as anything within reach in the country that is making global waves economically is chased at as our next drive to industrialisation.
At some point in 2016, the then Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun was reported to be highly disappointed at the resolution reached a meeting held in Washington, United States of America that discussed the importance of addressing infrastructure gaps in developing countries. According to the report, the minister saw Western nations as a stumbling block to Nigeria’s plan to develop by improving power output through the use of coal which will eventually lead Nigeria to industrialisation. Mrs Adeosun argued then that, coal was a competitive advantage that was used to develop Europe yet, now that Nigeria wants to do it they say it is not green, so we cannot. Since then, however, the coal dream to industrialisation has been languishing in pipeline banishment as the ruling government finds it too disrespectful to go against the international powers on the matter.
For the better part of the life of this government, it is interesting to note that just about two years to the end of his administration, the President Muhammadu Buhari government now suddenly realised that, gas, a commodity that has been flared recklessly in the Niger Delta region for decades is now crucial and economically viable. Many well-meaning Nigerians have advocated in the past that gas could catapult the country into becoming an industrialised nation if the flared commodity is properly managed. All these fell on deaf ears until recently, when President Buhari made the revelation at the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) 2021 pre-summit conference and the official launch of the Decade of Gas in Abuja.
Mr. President pointed out that Nigeria is a gas nation with a little oil “really” and lamented that the country had focused more on the ‘little’ oil over the years. However, the paradox of the little oil is what President Buhari’s government decided to confront by declaring the year 2020 as the year of gas in Nigeria.
The high expectations about the overnight realisation that gas is indeed the next revolution that would industrialise the country and bring revenue to the government as well as redeem Nigerians from the poor conditions of livelihood is hard to thumb one’s chest and crow that corruption would not derail the expectations.
Nevertheless, what is instructive is that the gas discovery to wealth should not be treated as the sole economic earner for the country just like oil was regarded. But curiously, is gas not to oil what chicken is to egg? To be candid, the issue of which is little should not arise because you cannot tap wealth from gas without exploring oil, both are like a bind as one begets the other. Nevertheless, the present government should think right and act quickly in looking at other sources of wealth to complement gas, this may add up to big improvements in the lives of the masses. No doubt, climate change brouhaha has made the global future depend on cleaner energy. Therefore, attempts by the ruling government to vigorously follow the trend would in no small measure solve the unemployment problem in the country.
As a precaution, in no way should the gas revolution resemble the nation’s wealth creation in the 19th Century where the gains from agriculture and cash crops, now gone with the wind are only remembered in tales describing the beautiful architecture of the groundnut pyramids and the rolls of the well-cultivated lawns of palm trees, cocoa, and rubber plantations. Also, the endless fascinating tales about the Naira power to currencies across the world especially the British Pound Sterling, are painstaking work and achievements by small teams of dedicated and honest Nigerians across the country.
Given the spectacular gains being envisaged, the decision to make gas lead the nation to industrialisation can be said to be on high expectations on all sides. Aside from job creation and the economic benefit to the government, the Niger Deltans who suffer unbearable destruction and pollution of their environment as a result of gas flaring are eager to witness a zero gas flare in the region and enjoy not just a meaningful but dignified life. Until recently, it has been easy to shrug off oil dominance in the international market as other sources of cleaner energy are being discovered. Currently, crude oil big buyer nations like America, China, and India are switching to alternative cleaner energy. In this case, Nigeria has no reason to continue in the past, rather she should strive to be one of the world’s industrialised nations.
Come to think of it, Nigeria has what it takes both in human and mineral resources, the quality of professionals in various fields both in the diaspora and here at home as well as abundant resources is second to none. Aside from the above, there is some obvious lesson for the ruling government. It should treat gas as an opportunity to embrace the rest of the world with other produce from Nigeria. That implies that rather than neglecting other viable sectors of the economy the government should potentially allow other sectors to flourish so as to increase the nation’s earnings.
Salimonu Kadiri
- Mele Kyari - General Managing Director (GMD).
- Umar Ajiya - Chief Finance Officer/ Finance and Accounts.
- Yusuf Usman - Chief Operating Officer.
- Farouk Garba Sa'id - Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services.
- Mustapha Yakubu - Chief Operating Officer, Refining and Petrochemicals.
- Hadiza Coomassie - Corporate Secretary/legal Adviser to the Corporation.
- Omar Ibrahim - Group General Manager, International Energy Relations.
- Kallamu Abdullahi - GGM Renewable Energy.
- Ibrahim Birma - GGM Governance Risk and Compliance.
- Bala Wunti - GGM NAPIMS.
- Inuwa Waya - MD NNPC Shipping.
- Musa Lawan - MD Pipelines and Product Marketing.
- Mansur Sambo - MD Nigeria Petroleum Development Company.
- Lawal Sade - MD Duke Oil/NNPC Trading Company.
- Malami Shehu - Port Harcourt Refining Company.
- Muhammed Abah - MD Warri Refining & Petrochemical Company.
- Abdulkadir Ahmed - MD Nigeria Gas Marketing Company.
- Salihu Jamari - MD Nigeria Gas and Power Investment Company Limited.
- Mohammed Zango - MD NNPC Medical Services.
- Sarki Auwalu - Director Department of Petroleum Resources.
Sent: 07 April 2021 12:41
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Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series -
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OLAYINKA AGBETUYI
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Cornelius Hamelberg
With just a little more effort he could have tried to be as accurate as possible about this matter ! It was was disingenuous, irresponsible ( and a little lazy?) of Baba Kadiri to forward such a skewed list of board members of the NNPC, knowing fully well the havoc that it was likely to cause.
Here’s a more accurate picture and (sigh of relief) the composition of the board is far from being 100% Muslim and 100 % from the North. Nigeria: Full List of NNPC Board Members in 2021
Cornelius Hamelberg
OLAYINKA AGBETUYI
With just a little more effort he could have tried to be as accurate as possible about this matter ! It was was disingenuous, irresponsible ( and a little lazy?) of Baba Kadiri to forward such a skewed list of board members of the NNPC, knowing fully well the havoc that it was likely to cause.
Here’s a more accurate picture and (sigh of relief) the composition of the board is far from being 100% Muslim and 100 % from the North. Nigeria: Full List of NNPC Board Members in 2021
Salimonu Kadiri
Sent: 12 April 2021 03:56
To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series -
Cornelius Hamelberg
Lord Agbetuyi,
Many thanks, for the clarifications. Even though some of the points you make are controversial and debatable, it’s great appreciation I’m sure, from all of us, for such a painstakingly thorough examination and concrete analysis of the available facts. The matter is obviously so important to you, to Nigeria and the rest of concerned people here and that’s why you have taken such precious time out breaking down the details for us and passing sound judgement like a good constitutional lawyer, like the real Chief Justice of Nigeria and a conscientious royal adjudicator of Nigeria’s Holy Constitution. What you say calls for more careful study and demands our rapt attention, and I’ll be doing just that - a careful re-reading of your presentation. But even now I wondering why if Brer Buhari and others before him have been consistently breaking the law – acting against the spirit and the letter of the Holy Nigerian Constitution, why have they never been brought to book by you or some other conscientious, brave citizens?
BTW, your posting is a superb illustration that goes well beyond the clarity that I felt was required when I said about Baba Kadiri, “With just a little more effort he could have tried to be as accurate as possible about this matter”. I’m sure that he’s also grateful for your complementing and completing what he started, successfully dispelling that abstract fog that usually envelopes and further pollutes the suspicions and accusations of rank tribalism and nepotism in connection with the alleged Northernisation, Fulanisation cum Hausa-i-zation and Islamization of appointments / anointments of executives to the the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation all in the alleged best interests of/ at the service of/ and in the glorious name of the much suspected, feared and not much respected “Northern hegemony” or whatever political party and elitist conglomeration of ethnic interests is in power (or as we usually say in real democracies, “is in office”)
When you write “giefdoms “ - I suspect a typographical error and that what you have in mind is “ fiefdoms” - great difference between g and f, there! In the petrodollar Gulf they talk of” Sheikhdoms” of the kind that would have come into existence in the oil producing Niger Delta if the late Senator Francis Ellah could have successfully piloted his bill through the requisite legislative body, back then in 1981. The logic supporting his argument then was that Rivers States provided 56% of Nigeria's revenue and by his own magical calculation based on what was then the revenue allocation to each of Nigeria’s then 19 States, Rivers State itself could have been subdivided into a further 13 states - bringing the total number of states in the Federation to 32, each appropriating an equal share of the oil revenues allocations. Fast forward unto 2021: if that dream had come true then I can well imagine Kalabari Brother Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari or Sheikh Dokubo-Asari, if you so prefer, being the personal owner and proprietor of his own oil -well/allocated oil block as his own personal “Sheikdom” so to speak.
(BTW, Senator Ellah’s younger brother Joe Ellah (a Durham graduate) was my first benefactor in Nigeria, and Mala, the then speaker of the Rivers State Assembly was a good and constant Scrabble companion. (BTW, my Better Half was a good Scrabble player in Nigeria and in Ghana, and of course, a BETTER Scrabble companion in Sweden, if you know what I mean...
I’m busy obtaining a better education about Nigerian matters almost on a daily basis, from great folks like Ayo Olukotun (dean of commentators and good conscience of the nation) Auwal Musa Rafsanjani and of late The Toyin Falola Interviews promises to supplement some of the required reading of newspapers as recent history that would be necessary to keep abreast with what’s happening. Just imagine, in time (and I hope that we won’t have to wait too long) for folks like Ayo Olukotun and Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Jibrin Ibrahim and Salihu Moh. Lukman, if possible, the inspirational Wally Adeyemo and your effulgence too to be featured in the upcoming Conversations with the Oga his buddies refer to as TF….
Fact is, I have a fair idea but don’t know enough about this and adjacent issues, I can only approach these matters from a common sense level, but I intend to get back to you later on about some of the matters you have raised and I’m looking forward to the looming disagreements without any trepidation because (1) you are not a pessimist and (2) you are far, very far, light years removed from that always pompously inflated, ridiculous fellow who dares to only occasionally whine about, “infelicities of expression” when he is the epitome of “infelicity of expression” but apparently does not understand the unintended consequences of his juxtapositions, weird contrivances, tortured constructs and so far he has never failed to show that he is incapable of writing Simple English instead of making a complete asshole show of himself all the time, at the same time expressing all that disdain for his fellow countrymen in the public domain. Empty buckets make the most noise, and cursory look at the Top 500 Universities in the United States, shows the branch on which the miscreant is perching, riding on his imaginary high horse and looking down at his imaginary vermin squirming like the worms for whose sake that Baba Kadiri says I should eat well. That’s what Baba Kadiri tells me when I talk about Heaven, that I should eat well so that I will feed them (the worms) well …. / smile) So you see, Baba Kadiri doesn't believe that the corrupt sons of bitches are all going to Jahannam.
I intend to say something positive about Bishop Kukah’s answer to the first question bowled by Alagba Falola in that their conversation.
At this point I’m so looking forward to Chief Commander Apostle Ebenezer Obey that the anticipation is almost unbearable….
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Cornelius Hamelberg
Lord Agbetuyi,
Verily, “Fiefdoms”, oilfields, oil-wells, oil-block donations and oil block allocation “thiefdoms”, is this the new English or is it still the same old lingo? Of course we do not imagine that the despair and frustration is the daily portion of shuffering and shmiling Nigerians only, whilst the pot-bellied henchmen keep on smiling all the way to the bank. I thought about them just now reading Allen Ginsberg rehashed in the latest The Paris Review, daily poem and suffered another lapse into poetic dyslexia as when I mistook crown for clown, this time I zapped through what by my troth I thought was high velocity “Sodomite Nitrate & Nicotine Cholesterol “ but in truth it turned out to be mere “ Sodium Nitrate & Nicotine Cholesterol” :
Quatrains
by Allen Ginsberg
Issue no. 100 (Summer-Fall 1986)
Those high lunches needn’t matter
If you are of businessman’s age
Anyway he enjoyed creating food
drifting across the Fragrant Nation
Who was it that began the mouth talk
Gave the citizens thoughtful Saliva
Nature boy came close to Government
Secret police maintained their ham & eggs
O what tragedy for multiple Chickens
O how pigs dreamt butcher night!
Sheep squawked nightmare, goat
fish sent regrets from meadow and sea
If he only could have made new Congress
We wouldn’t breathe so much sulphur smog
Sugar dances at the movies, coffee tells you on TV
and Sodium Nitrate & Nicotine Cholesterol
have nothing to do with Foreign policy.
Nature boy drifts into Central American oblivion
with Seminole Patchwork and Albert Einstein.
Nobody thought heat rays would end the world.
OLAYINKA AGBETUYI
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Anthony Akinola
Can police radio sway the masses?
Radio Studio
Judging by the shellacking that the Nigeria police received from the masses during the EndSARS protests, in October last year, Nigerians in their majority obviously did not recognise the police as a friend. This is indeed a sad measure for the police as policy summersault led to increase in messy and nasty controversies caused by some unscrupulous elements in the police force. Over the years, the ugly issues have not only made the populace aghast, but to see the police as an object of coarse jokes and dark-some insinuations in the society. The police immoral acts was perhaps best captured by the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mike Okiro while speaking about the detestable national ethos in an interview as he lamented that in the good old days when the system worked well a police officer was highly respected. The decay in the system according to him opened a window for SARS, a unit within the police force to be so notorious in its dealings with the society especially the youth. This made Nigerians during the EndSARS protest to vent their anger, disdain and frustration against the police.
However, it seems obvious that sooner than later, the Nigeria police will find its way to the heart of masses as plans have been concluded for the police to easily court the friendship of Nigerians through police community radio. Therefore, some irregularities if not all the negative perceptions would be a thing of the past as the Nigeria police is bent on building its image positively and restore confidence on the people through the air waves. Please don’t get the idea twisted with the general saying that if you can’t beat them, you join them, such literal sense should not really be understood in that context here. This is because, the Nigeria police have resolved to make our society safer through the air waves by feeding Nigerians with the right kind of information.
It is no longer news that, the advent of the internet and other social media platforms has triggered the news media to become an all comers affair where anyone with a gadget that can send and receive information automatically becomes a journalist. Therefore, citizen journalism has become a threat to information dissemination in recent times as fake and false news now rule the internet world.
The proposition to change the narrative about fake news as well as give the police an opportunity to redeem its image, was made known the other day by the senior special assistance to President Muhammadu Buhari on media, Garba Shehu who spoke at the opening of the police community radio, 99.1FM, and challenged the police to use the radio station platform to address fake and false news in the country. He noted that “The radio is coming at a time when fake news is a big issue in the country, big problem globally,” So life will be better “if the police have a radio station that you can tune to and listen to only that which is right, correct and the truth”. Good talk indeed. But in a situation whereby the police air station is doing all the true talk, image laundering and correcting misinformation, one hopes that the (land) stations do not continue engaging in those actions that brings disrepute to the noble profession of policing.
There is no gainsaying that, on several occasions, the police have the efficiency of shooting down peaceful protesters even before they become violent rioters or arresting and locking up innocent citizens for years without trial, nearly every Nigerian have been taught the bitter lessons from the police woeful performances. Aside the above ugly instances, the police regularly invite jest and mockery for itself when ignoble police officers ignore their responsibility and decide to stoop so low to accept token tips with a smile and salute to law breakers, especially motorists, traffic offenders in public glare. In recent times, there is hardly any police action which is anything short of diminishing character or controversial. Several encounters either as an attempt to quell a robbery attack or individual disagreements with the Nigeria police, the consequences are usually tragic with accidental discharge cases or severe beating or loss of lives, wreckage and destruction of properties is usually the order of the day.
Without going into the rhetoric of why the police force is losing its respect among the people in recent times, the police radio has an in-depth obligation to inspire positive public confidence in the Nigeria police force.
Therefore, it may be too early to expect tangible results from the police radio, going by the great expectations from those behind its creation. The senior special assistant on media, Garba, already is trumpeting the spontaneous changes the police radio would bring into the broadcasting industry. First, he believes that the police radio will have that charm and charisma on the Nigerian people that, after listening to other radio stations, Nigerians would tune to the police radio to confirm what they have heard elsewhere. Without playing the devil’s advocate, to use the police radio as a Two Step Theory in verifying what is heard in other radio stations would take a while before most members of the public take the police radio in confidence and seriously too. This is as a result of the wide gap already in existence between the police and the people over undue harassment and intimidations from the police. Anyway, one hopes that the police radio should be able to have that persuasive power and reportage excellence that would seize the people’s attention and bring the police closer to the people by strengthen the bond between citizens and the police.
However, to accomplish all these feats, the police radio must fulfill its own part of the social responsibility contract. Therefore, it should be ready to report objectively and give a succinct analysis of any unholy business activities of dubious members of the public as well as officers and men of the Nigeria police force. Aside, the above, it is important for the Nigeria police to be more professional and civilised in their dealings with citizens. For their continued taking the wrong steps in handling situations and dehumanising the masses would portray the police as having less than adequate appreciation and love of the Nigerian people at heart. As a guide, the police should adhere to the advice from the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who, the other day, after decorating Usman Alkali Baba with the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP) said: “…the police must now rebuild in some ways, the broken bridges of trust to the public and regain the confidence of the citizenry…you must stamp out the excesses and abuses and the culture of impunity demonstrated by some elements of the force which provoke public outrage against institutions…” A word, our elders say is enough for the wise.
Anthony Akinola
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Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami
Some security experts on Saturday dismissed the apology by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, over some controversial comments he made in the past in support of global terrorist groups, Al-Qaeda and Taliban.
The security analysts said Pantami’s comments were too weighty to be discarded, demanding either the minister’s wilful resignation or sacking by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
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For instance, a retired Army Captain in the United States Army, Bishop Johnson, said it was not common for people with extremist ideologists to change overnight.
He said it was more troubling when people with extremist ideologies were in charge of sensitive national data.
“When people have radical ideologies, they don’t change overnight. They will carry such ideologies into whatever offices they occupy. So people with extremist ideologies should not occupy sensitive positions,” Johnson said.
Pantami has been under fire lately over comments he allegedly made several years ago in support of Al-Qaeda – an extremist group founded by the late Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011 by the US Navy SEALs inside a private residential compound in Pakistan.
Pantami also made comments in support of Taliban, a Sunni Islamist movement and military organisation in Afghanistan currently waging jihad within the country.
“This jihad is an obligation for every single believer, especially in Nigeria,’’ Pantami was quoted to have said in one of his vicious preaching in the 2000s. “Oh God, give victory to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda,” he was also quoted to have prayed.
As massive outrage and demand for his sacking continued on social media on Saturday, Pantami renounced his controversial comments on terrorism.
He stated that some of his past views were made out of immaturity, alleging that attacks on him by Nigerians were politically instigated.
He spoke during his daily Ramadan lecture in Abuja on Saturday.
Pantami said, “For 15 years, I have moved round the country while educating people about the dangers of terrorism. I have travelled to Katsina, Gombe, Borno and Kano states, and Difa in the Niger Republic to preach against terrorism.
“I have engaged those with Boko Haram ideologies in different places. I have been writing pamphlets in Hausa, English and Arabic. I have managed to bring back several young persons who have derailed from the right path.”
He added, “Some of the comments I made some years ago that are generating controversies now were based on my understanding of religious issues at the time, and I have changed several positions taken in the past based on new evidence and maturity.”
Pantami said he made some of the controversial comments when he was still a teenager and insisted that he had changed his views about the issues being used against him currently.
He said, “I was young when I made some of the comments. I was in the university. Some of the comments were made when I was a teenager. I started preaching when I was 13.
“Many scholars and individuals didn’t understand some international events and, therefore, took some positions based on their understanding. Some have come to change their positions later.”
Some officials of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy had also defended the minister and expressed worry over social media attacks against Pantami lately.
The minister’s aide, Uwa Suleiman, told Sunday PUNCH that Pantami had always kicked against acts of terrorism and wondered why he was being attacked on terrorism issues.
However, despite Pantami’s regrets over the comments, Johnson, the retired US Army Captain, said the minister should be sacked by the President should he (Pantami) fail to resign.
“When there is an outcry by the people, such a person should resign but if he doesn’t, the President who appointed him into the office has the obligation to relieve him of his duties so that the issue doesn’t drag the administration,” Johnson said.
Johnson added that the Pantami issue could be likened to the situation with a former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who resigned over the National Youth Service Corps certificate scandal.
“You are aware of the NYSC certificate scandal of the former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun. She resigned when the issue was dragging the administration. It’s similar to the Pantami case. He (Pantami) should not occupy that kind of office,” Johnson said.
He also cautioned against poor vetting and screening of people holding public offices in the future.
“Up to the university level, you have to look at the theses they wrote because all these things will help to know the individual’s ideology and philosophy. The screening process in Nigeria is a joke. The ministerial nominees just go before the Senate and take a bow, without asking them any questions and looking at their pasts,” he added.
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Also, the National President of Criminology and Security Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Williams Ekposon, said though Pantami claimed to have renounced his support for terrorist groups, the minister was not worthy of being entrusted with information as sensitive as Nigerians’ data. He urged Pantami to apologise to Nigerians and resign from his appointment.
Ekposon said, “We have to be very careful of our speech and how we go about doing things. Professionally, that kind of person should not be in charge of the data of Nigerians. No statesman will admire being identified with Al-Qaeda or Taliban or any other terrorist group.
“In the light of the position he is holding, Nigerians are not secure; our data are not secure with somebody who had wept sentiments with terrorists. A terrorist is a psychedelic being. If a sensitive public office holder has made a statement that is in connection to terrorists, there is something fishy about it. He should apologise to Nigerians and humbly resign. Let it be that the appointment was made in error.”
Also, a Lagos-based security expert, Dickson Osajie, advised the minister to tender his resignation on account of his “romance with terrorists” in the past.
He said if effective pre-appointment screening was put in place, an investigation would have revealed that Pantami had a soft spot for terrorists and he would have been disqualified from holding such a critical ministerial position.
He stated, “The problem we have in Nigeria is that we don’t carry out effective pre-employment screening before we employ people into strategic positions. The office Pantami is occupying is one of the most sensitive positions.
“For me, I expected that before he was appointed, there should have been a pre-appointment screening which would have looked into his data as far back as 30 years ago. We are not talking about repentance here; we are talking about national security. I read one of his articles where he said he had repented.
“But the truth is that the comment he made resulted in instigating terrorist groups. I don’t think people like that are qualified to hold public offices. People must be held accountable for their statements and actions.”
Osajie said if Pantami lost his position, it would be a deterrent to those who think they could make any statement in the public space and go scot-free.
He added, “I am not contesting the fact that he had repented as he claimed. But the truth is he needs to resign because he needs to set an example for upcoming extremists that they don’t have to put Nigeria at risk. There is power in the tongue. Whatever you say today can destroy many lives.
“Since he had in previous times had mercy on Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups, that shows that he had romanced terrorism before. Whoever has romanced terrorism before is an enemy of the state. He needs to tender a public apology and resign from his appointment. I cannot trust that kind of person because I don’t know his level of repentance.”
Similarly, a security consultant and Fellow, Institute of Security, Mr Chigozie Ubani, said the minister ought to have stepped aside so the allegations against him could be investigated.
Ubani said, “Anybody can be accused but once it is weighty enough that he has in any way previously or currently entangled, either by lectures, professions, affiliations with both local and international terrorist organisations, he should voluntarily step down while further investigation is going on.
“Unfortunately, here we are; I have said this several times, you cannot talk about the security architecture without investigation, profiling the architect. That piece of architecture is a product from the deep or shallow thought processes of the architect. So, if the architect is not well skewed, then the architecture is expected to be very flawed.
“So this brother (Patani) should step down if there is enough evidence to prove this, and let us have some peace. It’s too sensitive to manage our data, information and all that at a period when terrorists are gaining ground, establishing caliphates and gaining territory. We cannot joke with who is managing our information.”
Also, a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, Hassan Stan-Labo, demanded Pantami’s sacking.
“The minister has no role to play in the Federal Executive Council anymore. Ordinarily, he should have resigned from the cabinet due to his comments,” he said.
Retaining minister not in national interest –PDP
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party said it would be wrong to continue keeping the embattled minister as a member of the Federal Executive Council.
The PDP said going by the public outrage against his utterances in the past, the best “is for him to resign and even tender his unreserved apology to Nigerians for his utterances in the past.”
The National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, who spoke with one of our correspondents, asked the President to relieve the minister of his job if he fails to resign.
“The best thing is for the minister to resign, apologise to Nigerians and start preaching against terrorism in the open and to the knowledge of everyone. For now, it is not in the interest of Nigerians and national security to continue to keep him in office,” he said.
Secondus added that persons in public office should cultivate the habit of leaving office when they were perceived to have done something wrong, insisting that “people should stop imposing themselves on the citizens especially when they have moral burden.”