BLOOD FOR OIL
Member of House of Representatives, Ibn NaAllah, has advocated an easy way out of the Niger Delta problem. Simply NaAllah suggested that the more than 20 million people of the Niger Deltans should be sacrifice for the rest of Nigerians to live. I think it is a novel and wonderful idea to put an end to the Niger Delta and its headache. NaAllah deserve a national honour and award for this recommendation. Did not the Bible says that if your hand or any part of your body would hinder you from going to heaven it is better to cut off that hand and enjoy eternal bliss as a one-handed person instead of going to hell with two hands or all parts of your body intact?
A barrel of oil is worth more than the lives of all Niger Delta people put together. I would suggest that the federal government should go all out and hunt for the Niger Delta people everywhere in the world and wherever they are found they should be killed as they pose a threat to world economy and peace. Niger Deltans are dangerous species and should not be allowed to live. You know any violence in the Delta affects oil price therefore the people are security risk not only to Nigeria but the entire world. To show how worthless the lives of the Niger Delta people are, the federal government, despite Nigeria’s ranking in terms of global warming and the negative impact on human and the ecosystem has been shifting the deadline for an end to gas flaring. Federal government has not clamped down on the oil companies to force them to stop gas flaring. The federal government may be doing this with a hope that the Delta people may contract a kind of flu from inhaling this flared gas and may all died off someday and leave Nigeria in peace.
NaAllah suggestion may be considered as a legislative joke or an unserious comment but there is more to that remark than Nigerians may realize. For the Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. NaAllah has voiced out the feelings of Northerners on how to resolve the Niger Delta crisis once and for all. Nyamiri shege! NaAllah advocacy is the position of the Northern oligarchy and establishment, wipe out the infidels from the Delta and peace and prosperity would return to Nigeria. The issue is that NaAllah cannot keep secret so he unintentionally leaked out the plan that the Northern Army should wipe out the Niger Delta people. Come to think of it, 90 per cent of the Mobile Policemen and soldiers currently in the Niger Delta are of Northern extraction and they cannot claim to be Nigerian Army as there is no federal character or quota system in their postings to the Delta to carry out the ethnic cleansing that is currently going on now. Remember the army ceased to be the Nigerian Army after the January 1966 coup. They are simply an army of occupation whose interest is more of sectional and economic than national interest, whatever is the meaning of the term “national interest.”
The current war in the Delta is a continuation of the civil war; remember the Niger Delta was part of Biafra. The civil war was an oil war and the current military operation in the area is another phase of the war. The foundation of “One Nigeria”, the war slogan, is oil: if oil were to be found in another part of Nigeria maybe we would have gone our different ways. The war in the Delta is a deliberate action to cow and suppress the people in order to have unlimited access to exploit oil and gas resources. Take for example the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, we were told that Abuja is a no man’s land and that the native dwellers were relocated and compensated for their lands but today we have people claiming to be indigenes of Abuja and demanding for certain rights. The Niger Delta people were never relocated or compensated for their land, oil and gas resources that had and still are sustaining Nigeria and when they demanded for their rights soldiers are send to go and wipe them out.
The current war in the Delta is not an accident or a response to recent activities of militants from the area. Rather it is a planned and deliberate attempt to wipe out the people. The current edition of The News Magazine carried a secret memo to the Military High Command on how to tame the Niger Delta people. And according to security reports the governors of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan aid and abet militancy and violence in the Delta. The report said that the governors and Vice President visited Camp 5 but did not tell us what they discuss. The security report did not tell us whether these sons of Niger Delta went to Camp 5 to declare support or pledge loyalty to the militants or asked them to lay down arms and embrace peace. The report is a deliberate attempt to indict and blackmail Niger Delta leaders and to accuse them of working in concert with criminals.
There are media reports that aid workers have not been given free access into the creeks to get to refugees that are stranded in the wake of the military raids in Ijaw settlements in the Delta. If civilians were not targets, as claimed by the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Restore Hope, why should the movement of aid workers, especially National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) a federal government agency be restricted from going into the creeks. If it was really an army of liberation or redemption, the soldiers should escort the aid workers to meet the refugees instead of asking them to go into the creeks with dug out canoes. How far and how fast can dug out canoes go and what quantity of relief materials can they carry? Hunger and starvation can also be used in the war against the Niger Delta people. Those who escaped bullets and the numerous air raids may die from hunger. Hunger and starvation are tested war weapons of the Nigerian Government and Armed Forces; it has been used before and is still being used in the current military expedition
There are militants every where in Nigeria: we have the Islamic militants in the North who have killed more people than the so-called Niger Delta militants. The Islamic militants have burnt churches, looted properties and destroyed lives of thousands if not millions of Nigerians and yet no punitive operation has been carried out against them. No mosque or emir palace which serve as their camps have been attacked by the Nigerian Armed Forces. The Islamic militants have done more harm to national unity, cohesion, security and stability than the Niger Delta militants yet the various probe panels have not produced any white paper or punishment for them. Is because oil is involved that is why the Niger Delta militants are of national interest. Almost every family in Nigeria has a story or knows someone who has a story to tell about the Islamic militants in Northern Nigeria. We have economic militants: the cement war is it in national interest? The current fuel scarcity is an act of economic militancy and not in national interest, yet nothing has been done to call these militants to order. What about the political militants? Our elections have always been war fares, yet no one has been jailed for electoral violence or malpractice.
The militants have raised allegations that operatives of the JTF and other powerful Nigerians are deeply involved in the illegal bunkering trade in the Delta region. This may be dismiss are mere blackmail but I had an encounter with a mobile policeman who confessed to me that he was about resigning from the Police Force when he was posted to the Niger Delta and his life and family have changed for good because he never believed he can make so much money serving in the police. This better life is not a product of salary increase or better welfare for the Police Force, so one can see that the Delta is a rewarding ground for security operatives and they are not in a hurry to see an end to the crisis in the area, abi na peace dem go chop?
I am not supporting criminal elements masquerading as militants in the Delta. My grievance is the plight of innocent civilians killed, maimed and displaced in the course of the current military expedition in the area. The military, based on intelligence reports, should know that militant camps are not located alongside civilian settlements and during their attacks should have avoided civilian casualties. Those who are supporting the current genocide in the Delta should remember what happened at Zaki Ibiam after General Malu presided over the destruction of Odi. One innocent civilian killed in error during the current military operation has cancelled whatever justification the federal government has to attack the region. The military should have done its homework well before confronting the militants. God is the judge of all and will judge every act and intention whether good or bad and every man will get his due reward. We have given our oil and gas for the sustenance of Nigeria and now they have come for our blood. Oh God of Vengeance, to whom vengeance belong, avenge for us, for we are of little strength.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
ब्लड फॉर OIL
BLOOD FOR OIL
Member of House of Representatives, Ibn NaAllah, has advocated an easy way out of the Niger Delta problem. Simply NaAllah suggested that the more than 20 million people of the Niger Deltans should be sacrifice for the rest of Nigerians to live. I think it is a novel and wonderful idea to put an end to the Niger Delta and its headache. NaAllah deserve a national honour and award for this recommendation. Did not the Bible says that if your hand or any part of your body would hinder you from going to heaven it is better to cut off that hand and enjoy eternal bliss as a one-handed person instead of going to hell with two hands or all parts of your body intact?
A barrel of oil is worth more than the lives of all Niger Delta people put together. I would suggest that the federal government should go all out and hunt for the Niger Delta people everywhere in the world and wherever they are found they should be killed as they pose a threat to world economy and peace. Niger Deltans are dangerous species and should not be allowed to live. You know any violence in the Delta affects oil price therefore the people are security risk not only to Nigeria but the entire world. To show how worthless the lives of the Niger Delta people are, the federal government, despite Nigeria’s ranking in terms of global warming and the negative impact on human and the ecosystem has been shifting the deadline for an end to gas flaring. Federal government has not clamped down on the oil companies to force them to stop gas flaring. The federal government may be doing this with a hope that the Delta people may contract a kind of flu from inhaling this flared gas and may all died off someday and leave Nigeria in peace.
NaAllah suggestion may be considered as a legislative joke or an unserious comment but there is more to that remark than Nigerians may realize. For the Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. NaAllah has voiced out the feelings of Northerners on how to resolve the Niger Delta crisis once and for all. Nyamiri shege! NaAllah advocacy is the position of the Northern oligarchy and establishment, wipe out the infidels from the Delta and peace and prosperity would return to Nigeria. The issue is that NaAllah cannot keep secret so he unintentionally leaked out the plan that the Northern Army should wipe out the Niger Delta people. Come to think of it, 90 per cent of the Mobile Policemen and soldiers currently in the Niger Delta are of Northern extraction and they cannot claim to be Nigerian Army as there is no federal character or quota system in their postings to the Delta to carry out the ethnic cleansing that is currently going on now. Remember the army ceased to be the Nigerian Army after the January 1966 coup. They are simply an army of occupation whose interest is more of sectional and economic than national interest, whatever is the meaning of the term “national interest.”
The current war in the Delta is a continuation of the civil war; remember the Niger Delta was part of Biafra. The civil war was an oil war and the current military operation in the area is another phase of the war. The foundation of “One Nigeria”, the war slogan, is oil: if oil were to be found in another part of Nigeria maybe we would have gone our different ways. The war in the Delta is a deliberate action to cow and suppress the people in order to have unlimited access to exploit oil and gas resources. Take for example the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, we were told that Abuja is a no man’s land and that the native dwellers were relocated and compensated for their lands but today we have people claiming to be indigenes of Abuja and demanding for certain rights. The Niger Delta people were never relocated or compensated for their land, oil and gas resources that had and still are sustaining Nigeria and when they demanded for their rights soldiers are send to go and wipe them out.
The current war in the Delta is not an accident or a response to recent activities of militants from the area. Rather it is a planned and deliberate attempt to wipe out the people. The current edition of The News Magazine carried a secret memo to the Military High Command on how to tame the Niger Delta people. And according to security reports the governors of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan aid and abet militancy and violence in the Delta. The report said that the governors and Vice President visited Camp 5 but did not tell us what they discuss. The security report did not tell us whether these sons of Niger Delta went to Camp 5 to declare support or pledge loyalty to the militants or asked them to lay down arms and embrace peace. The report is a deliberate attempt to indict and blackmail Niger Delta leaders and to accuse them of working in concert with criminals.
There are media reports that aid workers have not been given free access into the creeks to get to refugees that are stranded in the wake of the military raids in Ijaw settlements in the Delta. If civilians were not targets, as claimed by the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Restore Hope, why should the movement of aid workers, especially National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) a federal government agency be restricted from going into the creeks. If it was really an army of liberation or redemption, the soldiers should escort the aid workers to meet the refugees instead of asking them to go into the creeks with dug out canoes. How far and how fast can dug out canoes go and what quantity of relief materials can they carry? Hunger and starvation can also be used in the war against the Niger Delta people. Those who escaped bullets and the numerous air raids may die from hunger. Hunger and starvation are tested war weapons of the Nigerian Government and Armed Forces; it has been used before and is still being used in the current military expedition
There are militants every where in Nigeria: we have the Islamic militants in the North who have killed more people than the so-called Niger Delta militants. The Islamic militants have burnt churches, looted properties and destroyed lives of thousands if not millions of Nigerians and yet no punitive operation has been carried out against them. No mosque or emir palace which serve as their camps have been attacked by the Nigerian Armed Forces. The Islamic militants have done more harm to national unity, cohesion, security and stability than the Niger Delta militants yet the various probe panels have not produced any white paper or punishment for them. Is because oil is involved that is why the Niger Delta militants are of national interest. Almost every family in Nigeria has a story or knows someone who has a story to tell about the Islamic militants in Northern Nigeria. We have economic militants: the cement war is it in national interest? The current fuel scarcity is an act of economic militancy and not in national interest, yet nothing has been done to call these militants to order. What about the political militants? Our elections have always been war fares, yet no one has been jailed for electoral violence or malpractice.
The militants have raised allegations that operatives of the JTF and other powerful Nigerians are deeply involved in the illegal bunkering trade in the Delta region. This may be dismiss are mere blackmail but I had an encounter with a mobile policeman who confessed to me that he was about resigning from the Police Force when he was posted to the Niger Delta and his life and family have changed for good because he never believed he can make so much money serving in the police. This better life is not a product of salary increase or better welfare for the Police Force, so one can see that the Delta is a rewarding ground for security operatives and they are not in a hurry to see an end to the crisis in the area, abi na peace dem go chop?
I am not supporting criminal elements masquerading as militants in the Delta. My grievance is the plight of innocent civilians killed, maimed and displaced in the course of the current military expedition in the area. The military, based on intelligence reports, should know that militant camps are not located alongside civilian settlements and during their attacks should have avoided civilian casualties. Those who are supporting the current genocide in the Delta should remember what happened at Zaki Ibiam after General Malu presided over the destruction of Odi. One innocent civilian killed in error during the current military operation has cancelled whatever justification the federal government has to attack the region. The military should have done its homework well before confronting the militants. God is the judge of all and will judge every act and intention whether good or bad and every man will get his due reward. We have given our oil and gas for the sustenance of Nigeria and now they have come for our blood. Oh God of Vengeance, to whom vengeance belong, avenge for us, for we are of little strength.
Member of House of Representatives, Ibn NaAllah, has advocated an easy way out of the Niger Delta problem. Simply NaAllah suggested that the more than 20 million people of the Niger Deltans should be sacrifice for the rest of Nigerians to live. I think it is a novel and wonderful idea to put an end to the Niger Delta and its headache. NaAllah deserve a national honour and award for this recommendation. Did not the Bible says that if your hand or any part of your body would hinder you from going to heaven it is better to cut off that hand and enjoy eternal bliss as a one-handed person instead of going to hell with two hands or all parts of your body intact?
A barrel of oil is worth more than the lives of all Niger Delta people put together. I would suggest that the federal government should go all out and hunt for the Niger Delta people everywhere in the world and wherever they are found they should be killed as they pose a threat to world economy and peace. Niger Deltans are dangerous species and should not be allowed to live. You know any violence in the Delta affects oil price therefore the people are security risk not only to Nigeria but the entire world. To show how worthless the lives of the Niger Delta people are, the federal government, despite Nigeria’s ranking in terms of global warming and the negative impact on human and the ecosystem has been shifting the deadline for an end to gas flaring. Federal government has not clamped down on the oil companies to force them to stop gas flaring. The federal government may be doing this with a hope that the Delta people may contract a kind of flu from inhaling this flared gas and may all died off someday and leave Nigeria in peace.
NaAllah suggestion may be considered as a legislative joke or an unserious comment but there is more to that remark than Nigerians may realize. For the Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. NaAllah has voiced out the feelings of Northerners on how to resolve the Niger Delta crisis once and for all. Nyamiri shege! NaAllah advocacy is the position of the Northern oligarchy and establishment, wipe out the infidels from the Delta and peace and prosperity would return to Nigeria. The issue is that NaAllah cannot keep secret so he unintentionally leaked out the plan that the Northern Army should wipe out the Niger Delta people. Come to think of it, 90 per cent of the Mobile Policemen and soldiers currently in the Niger Delta are of Northern extraction and they cannot claim to be Nigerian Army as there is no federal character or quota system in their postings to the Delta to carry out the ethnic cleansing that is currently going on now. Remember the army ceased to be the Nigerian Army after the January 1966 coup. They are simply an army of occupation whose interest is more of sectional and economic than national interest, whatever is the meaning of the term “national interest.”
The current war in the Delta is a continuation of the civil war; remember the Niger Delta was part of Biafra. The civil war was an oil war and the current military operation in the area is another phase of the war. The foundation of “One Nigeria”, the war slogan, is oil: if oil were to be found in another part of Nigeria maybe we would have gone our different ways. The war in the Delta is a deliberate action to cow and suppress the people in order to have unlimited access to exploit oil and gas resources. Take for example the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, we were told that Abuja is a no man’s land and that the native dwellers were relocated and compensated for their lands but today we have people claiming to be indigenes of Abuja and demanding for certain rights. The Niger Delta people were never relocated or compensated for their land, oil and gas resources that had and still are sustaining Nigeria and when they demanded for their rights soldiers are send to go and wipe them out.
The current war in the Delta is not an accident or a response to recent activities of militants from the area. Rather it is a planned and deliberate attempt to wipe out the people. The current edition of The News Magazine carried a secret memo to the Military High Command on how to tame the Niger Delta people. And according to security reports the governors of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan aid and abet militancy and violence in the Delta. The report said that the governors and Vice President visited Camp 5 but did not tell us what they discuss. The security report did not tell us whether these sons of Niger Delta went to Camp 5 to declare support or pledge loyalty to the militants or asked them to lay down arms and embrace peace. The report is a deliberate attempt to indict and blackmail Niger Delta leaders and to accuse them of working in concert with criminals.
There are media reports that aid workers have not been given free access into the creeks to get to refugees that are stranded in the wake of the military raids in Ijaw settlements in the Delta. If civilians were not targets, as claimed by the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Restore Hope, why should the movement of aid workers, especially National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) a federal government agency be restricted from going into the creeks. If it was really an army of liberation or redemption, the soldiers should escort the aid workers to meet the refugees instead of asking them to go into the creeks with dug out canoes. How far and how fast can dug out canoes go and what quantity of relief materials can they carry? Hunger and starvation can also be used in the war against the Niger Delta people. Those who escaped bullets and the numerous air raids may die from hunger. Hunger and starvation are tested war weapons of the Nigerian Government and Armed Forces; it has been used before and is still being used in the current military expedition
There are militants every where in Nigeria: we have the Islamic militants in the North who have killed more people than the so-called Niger Delta militants. The Islamic militants have burnt churches, looted properties and destroyed lives of thousands if not millions of Nigerians and yet no punitive operation has been carried out against them. No mosque or emir palace which serve as their camps have been attacked by the Nigerian Armed Forces. The Islamic militants have done more harm to national unity, cohesion, security and stability than the Niger Delta militants yet the various probe panels have not produced any white paper or punishment for them. Is because oil is involved that is why the Niger Delta militants are of national interest. Almost every family in Nigeria has a story or knows someone who has a story to tell about the Islamic militants in Northern Nigeria. We have economic militants: the cement war is it in national interest? The current fuel scarcity is an act of economic militancy and not in national interest, yet nothing has been done to call these militants to order. What about the political militants? Our elections have always been war fares, yet no one has been jailed for electoral violence or malpractice.
The militants have raised allegations that operatives of the JTF and other powerful Nigerians are deeply involved in the illegal bunkering trade in the Delta region. This may be dismiss are mere blackmail but I had an encounter with a mobile policeman who confessed to me that he was about resigning from the Police Force when he was posted to the Niger Delta and his life and family have changed for good because he never believed he can make so much money serving in the police. This better life is not a product of salary increase or better welfare for the Police Force, so one can see that the Delta is a rewarding ground for security operatives and they are not in a hurry to see an end to the crisis in the area, abi na peace dem go chop?
I am not supporting criminal elements masquerading as militants in the Delta. My grievance is the plight of innocent civilians killed, maimed and displaced in the course of the current military expedition in the area. The military, based on intelligence reports, should know that militant camps are not located alongside civilian settlements and during their attacks should have avoided civilian casualties. Those who are supporting the current genocide in the Delta should remember what happened at Zaki Ibiam after General Malu presided over the destruction of Odi. One innocent civilian killed in error during the current military operation has cancelled whatever justification the federal government has to attack the region. The military should have done its homework well before confronting the militants. God is the judge of all and will judge every act and intention whether good or bad and every man will get his due reward. We have given our oil and gas for the sustenance of Nigeria and now they have come for our blood. Oh God of Vengeance, to whom vengeance belong, avenge for us, for we are of little strength.
ओबासांजो अस OUR SAVIOUR
OBASANJO: A SAVIOUR FOR NIGERIA
A wise man once said that when a purpose for a thing is not defined there is likely to be an abuse. This statement appears to be true in regards to elective and political office holders in Nigeria. Many get into office just for the glamour and pecks that come with such office. They failed to ask themselves why am I in this office and what is expected of a person occupying this position? So when an office holder does not know the purpose (duties and responsibilities) of his office or position he is bound to do what he knows or like. Recently former President Olusegun Obasanjo was reported to have told the media that he was not elected president to provide roads, water, electricity and other facilities and infrastructures to Nigerians. According to reports, Obasanjo claimed that he was made president so that he can restore peace and stability to Nigeria. By Obasanjo’s statement the president is not responsible for steady power supply, potable water or basic facilities and infrastructures that in other climes are taken for granted
From the reports, it seemed that during his eight years in office, Baba was not implementing the manifestoes, policies and programmes that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on which platform he came to office, had used to campaign while seeking for votes from Nigerians. Stop asking me whether my vote or that of millions of Nigerians count, are you saying that PDP does not need our votes to win elections? Do you realize that you are libeling the greatest, largest and strongest party in Africa, the great PDP! Baba in his infinite wisdom, can you compete with his wise ways, of doing what he considered the best for national interest and stability. If you think you are smart tell me between Baba national interest and PDP manifesto which is superior? After all the president is the party leader and as the leader he is the wisest of them all.
Some persons are complaining that our current President Umaru Musa Yar’dua has not implemented any of his seven point agenda. Umaru may be following the footsteps of Baba, that is, implementing his own personal agenda instead of that of the PDP. And maybe after eight years in office, he would tell us what he was doing in Aso Rock. You mean Yar’dua daughters have all been married within two years of his presidency? Nonsense, this is an achievement whether you like it or not, bad belle. Was it not during his second coming that Baba’s children started marrying and were given out for marriage. Don’t ask me whether some of the marriages are still on? These marriages were and are in the nation’s interest and to further strengthen national stability and integration.
Talking about manifesto, what do you know about party manifesto? Who determines what a party manifesto is and how it should be implemented? According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary: a manifesto is “a written statement in which a group of people, especially a political party, explain their beliefs and say what they will do if the win election….” Don’t mind my dictionary and its definition of manifesto, it is only a learner’s dictionary and its definition cannot be compare to that of a wise man like Obasanjo. My dictionary definition is for political learners and not for masters of the game like Baba. What do the compilers of dictionary know about politics, PDP or manifesto? It is Obasanjo presidency we are talking about and not PDP or Manifesto presidency, so whoever is the president knows what is best for Nigeria, no party, constitution or manifesto can tell or guide him on what to do. So in Nigeria, a party manifesto is only a document to fulfill all righteousness and it does not translate to a promise or covenant of what a party would do if elected into office. After an election, the manifesto is kept in an archive until next elections ( or when an electoral body asked for it) and the elected officer is free to do whatever he likes while in office.
My people have a saying that you don’t argue with a blind man over his dreams because he eyes are always closed so you may not know when he is asleep or dreaming, in short, he can sleep and dream at any time. So who are we Nigerians to challenge Obasanjo’s claim that he was the one who saved Nigeria form disintegration and disappearance from the face of the earth.
Nigerians are ungrateful idiots, a bunch of ingrates who will not appreciate the messianic role of Baba god of Owu kingdom. These Nigerians, especially the bloody Biafrans, would not accepted that it was Baba that risk his life to keep Nigeria one, a task that he did. Don’t mind Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle who attempted to claim victory in a war he did not fight. In short, Obasanjo was and is still the Conqueror of the Biafra Empire. And when Nigeria, that beloved country of Obasanjo, was at the verge of extinction, Baba came out of a well deserved retirement to salvage the country. Forget those who claimed that Baba came out of Prison to the Presidency. The truth is that Baba went to prison in the interest of Nigeria and because of his love for Nigeria. Baba is always ready to die for Nigeria but death has always refused to accept his soul. May he live forever, gods don’t die.
To appreciate the contributions of Obasanjo to national unity and stability, we shall recall some of the milestones of his eight years as a civilian president. Before Baba second coming in 1999, there was no Niger Delta crisis. Except for those irritants from Ogoni land, little or nothing was heard from or known about the Niger Delta region. But when Baba came into office his administration brought Niger Delta to international recognition. Remember the Odi incident in Bayelsa State. And it was Baba that liberated Bayelsa and the entire Niger Delta from the Biafran forces; can you see how much we are indebted to him? As I am writing this piece there is an undeclared war going in Delta state and it is one of the fruits of Obasanjo’s eight years in office. Even the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) thrived well during Obasanjo messianic administration. Baba forgives his enemies easily for they know not what he knew. Forget all those religious crises, tribal wars across the country, they were all in furtherance of national unity, integration and stability, except you have you own meaning of national unity.
We must learn to appreciate creative ideas of leaders like Obasanjo. We should not wait until he is dead before we declared a day as a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of this great democrat, soldier, administrator, peace maker and patriotic Nigerian to the peace and stability of Nigeria. Or what do you think? It is not the business of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide jobs, water, goods schools, roads, hospitals, security of lives and property among other social amenities to Nigerians. Our president has more serious national issues to think about than the welfare and comfort of Nigerians. If you are waiting for the presidency to improve the welfare and standard of living of Nigerians, you are wasting you time and do not understand the responsibilities of the President of the most populous black country in the universe.
A wise man once said that when a purpose for a thing is not defined there is likely to be an abuse. This statement appears to be true in regards to elective and political office holders in Nigeria. Many get into office just for the glamour and pecks that come with such office. They failed to ask themselves why am I in this office and what is expected of a person occupying this position? So when an office holder does not know the purpose (duties and responsibilities) of his office or position he is bound to do what he knows or like. Recently former President Olusegun Obasanjo was reported to have told the media that he was not elected president to provide roads, water, electricity and other facilities and infrastructures to Nigerians. According to reports, Obasanjo claimed that he was made president so that he can restore peace and stability to Nigeria. By Obasanjo’s statement the president is not responsible for steady power supply, potable water or basic facilities and infrastructures that in other climes are taken for granted
From the reports, it seemed that during his eight years in office, Baba was not implementing the manifestoes, policies and programmes that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on which platform he came to office, had used to campaign while seeking for votes from Nigerians. Stop asking me whether my vote or that of millions of Nigerians count, are you saying that PDP does not need our votes to win elections? Do you realize that you are libeling the greatest, largest and strongest party in Africa, the great PDP! Baba in his infinite wisdom, can you compete with his wise ways, of doing what he considered the best for national interest and stability. If you think you are smart tell me between Baba national interest and PDP manifesto which is superior? After all the president is the party leader and as the leader he is the wisest of them all.
Some persons are complaining that our current President Umaru Musa Yar’dua has not implemented any of his seven point agenda. Umaru may be following the footsteps of Baba, that is, implementing his own personal agenda instead of that of the PDP. And maybe after eight years in office, he would tell us what he was doing in Aso Rock. You mean Yar’dua daughters have all been married within two years of his presidency? Nonsense, this is an achievement whether you like it or not, bad belle. Was it not during his second coming that Baba’s children started marrying and were given out for marriage. Don’t ask me whether some of the marriages are still on? These marriages were and are in the nation’s interest and to further strengthen national stability and integration.
Talking about manifesto, what do you know about party manifesto? Who determines what a party manifesto is and how it should be implemented? According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary: a manifesto is “a written statement in which a group of people, especially a political party, explain their beliefs and say what they will do if the win election….” Don’t mind my dictionary and its definition of manifesto, it is only a learner’s dictionary and its definition cannot be compare to that of a wise man like Obasanjo. My dictionary definition is for political learners and not for masters of the game like Baba. What do the compilers of dictionary know about politics, PDP or manifesto? It is Obasanjo presidency we are talking about and not PDP or Manifesto presidency, so whoever is the president knows what is best for Nigeria, no party, constitution or manifesto can tell or guide him on what to do. So in Nigeria, a party manifesto is only a document to fulfill all righteousness and it does not translate to a promise or covenant of what a party would do if elected into office. After an election, the manifesto is kept in an archive until next elections ( or when an electoral body asked for it) and the elected officer is free to do whatever he likes while in office.
My people have a saying that you don’t argue with a blind man over his dreams because he eyes are always closed so you may not know when he is asleep or dreaming, in short, he can sleep and dream at any time. So who are we Nigerians to challenge Obasanjo’s claim that he was the one who saved Nigeria form disintegration and disappearance from the face of the earth.
Nigerians are ungrateful idiots, a bunch of ingrates who will not appreciate the messianic role of Baba god of Owu kingdom. These Nigerians, especially the bloody Biafrans, would not accepted that it was Baba that risk his life to keep Nigeria one, a task that he did. Don’t mind Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle who attempted to claim victory in a war he did not fight. In short, Obasanjo was and is still the Conqueror of the Biafra Empire. And when Nigeria, that beloved country of Obasanjo, was at the verge of extinction, Baba came out of a well deserved retirement to salvage the country. Forget those who claimed that Baba came out of Prison to the Presidency. The truth is that Baba went to prison in the interest of Nigeria and because of his love for Nigeria. Baba is always ready to die for Nigeria but death has always refused to accept his soul. May he live forever, gods don’t die.
To appreciate the contributions of Obasanjo to national unity and stability, we shall recall some of the milestones of his eight years as a civilian president. Before Baba second coming in 1999, there was no Niger Delta crisis. Except for those irritants from Ogoni land, little or nothing was heard from or known about the Niger Delta region. But when Baba came into office his administration brought Niger Delta to international recognition. Remember the Odi incident in Bayelsa State. And it was Baba that liberated Bayelsa and the entire Niger Delta from the Biafran forces; can you see how much we are indebted to him? As I am writing this piece there is an undeclared war going in Delta state and it is one of the fruits of Obasanjo’s eight years in office. Even the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) thrived well during Obasanjo messianic administration. Baba forgives his enemies easily for they know not what he knew. Forget all those religious crises, tribal wars across the country, they were all in furtherance of national unity, integration and stability, except you have you own meaning of national unity.
We must learn to appreciate creative ideas of leaders like Obasanjo. We should not wait until he is dead before we declared a day as a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of this great democrat, soldier, administrator, peace maker and patriotic Nigerian to the peace and stability of Nigeria. Or what do you think? It is not the business of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide jobs, water, goods schools, roads, hospitals, security of lives and property among other social amenities to Nigerians. Our president has more serious national issues to think about than the welfare and comfort of Nigerians. If you are waiting for the presidency to improve the welfare and standard of living of Nigerians, you are wasting you time and do not understand the responsibilities of the President of the most populous black country in the universe.
साउथ साउथ AIRLINES
SOUTH -SOUTH AIRLINES
At it recent meeting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the governors of the South-South zone announced their intention to float an airline. According press a statement from the meeting, states in the zone are to “establish a Trans-Regional Flight operation service that would serve exclusively airports within the region.”
Is air transportation one of the urgent problems confronting the people of the South-South? What is the wisdom in establishing an airline when the South- South zone has no good roads leading to the airports in the zone? Will Bayelsa State that currently has no airport construct one so that the state can be on the flight schedule? Will the South-South states assist Bayelsa to construct its own airport or assist Akwa Ibom to complete its airport that has been on going for years now?
Agreed that reliable transportation is one of the problems confronting the zone but may I ask how many indigenes of the South-South can afford, from their own pockets, to pay for flight tickets. Let us be honest, besides some persons enjoying government patronage or making money from the system, how many can willing bring out their personal fund to pay for flight? What business would attract air passengers to the South-South so that the airline can break even? Will the airline operates chartered flights only, if not, will there be enough patronage to sustain it?
What we need in the South-South is good road network, the states within the zone should collaborate to make inter state roads motorable, this will have greater impact on the people and economy of the states. When the roads were good: from Port Harcourt to Calabar used to be a journey of three hours but today because of the poor state of the roads making the journey in four hours is considered a feat. From Benin to Calabar should take about five hours if the roads are good. The needs for good roads are many: we need good roads for transportation of goods and food stuff produced in the area which using aircraft maybe a bit expensive. Roads would be needed for the transportation of materials and equipment for the envisaged industrialization and infrastructural development of the area.
I appreciate the fears of our Excellencies, traveling on land in these days of militancy, kidnapping and gun men attacking convoys of governors and other public office holders is risky. An airline is not a solution to the security problem in the zone. My people have a saying that the fowl that flies the legs still point to the ground, so one can still be attack on his or her way to or from the airport, except the various government houses would have their own airports, and these boys can also boast of anti aircraft guns. Rather the various state governments in the South-South should be committed to fighting crimes and all anti-social behaviours in the area.
If the roads are safe, motorists and passenger traveling from one state to another can stop along the way to buy bush meats, snails, fish, cucumber, oranges, garri, palm oil among other local products and delicacies and these would boost the local economy of the villages along our highways and contribute to checking the rural urban migration as the people are economically engaged. Road transportation is a form of tourism and helps the people to know their environment and appreciate the uniqueness of the various tribes that make up the south-south.
Before now most motorists traveling to Akwa Ibom and Cross River states preferred to go through Ogoni because it was faster than passing through Aba or Ukwa East but because of the activities of armed robbers and other criminal elements the road in now a no go area. But now passing through that route is considered suicidal. Some passengers are willing to forfeit their fares instead of passing through this route. At parks, they must get assurance that a vehicle they are about to board would not pass through Ogoni. At a point travelers going to Ikot Abasi, Eket and other nearby local government areas to Ogoni have to pass through Uyo spending upward of four hours instead of about an hour that they would have spent to get home. That was how dangerous and risky the road was. There is need for the South-South states to introduce inter border patrol to check the activities of hoodlums and to make roads in the zone safe for motorists.
Government, especially in Nigeria, is known not to be good a businessman or investor. This airline would go the way of the defunct Nigeria Airways and other public corporations in the country. Government businesses are known to be the worst managed in this country and what guarantee do we have that this airline would be different. What about the problem of tribalism and ethnic wrangling among the states in terms of employment and even looting the funds of the airline?
How would the floating of an airline impact on the lives of the majority of the South-South people? Instead of embarking on an elitist venture like an airline, the South-South Governors Forum, should like its chairman, Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers state said at the Uyo meeting should embark on robust infrastructural development of the region and other key projects that would be of mutual interest to the people and states of the region.
There is nothing wrong in setting up an inter regional airline but doing that now in the South-South would amount to putting the cart before the horse. Rather the states in the zone should set up a sound economic foundation that ventures like airline would thrive. Apart from a state like Rivers, which is the hub of the oil industry in sub Sahara Africa, and this is responsible for the high air traffic, what is the volume of air traffic in other states of the zone like. How many flights are currently operating in the airports within the zone? Outside public officers, what is the air passenger population in the South-South that can sustain the proposed airline?
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At it recent meeting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the governors of the South-South zone announced their intention to float an airline. According press a statement from the meeting, states in the zone are to “establish a Trans-Regional Flight operation service that would serve exclusively airports within the region.”
Is air transportation one of the urgent problems confronting the people of the South-South? What is the wisdom in establishing an airline when the South- South zone has no good roads leading to the airports in the zone? Will Bayelsa State that currently has no airport construct one so that the state can be on the flight schedule? Will the South-South states assist Bayelsa to construct its own airport or assist Akwa Ibom to complete its airport that has been on going for years now?
Agreed that reliable transportation is one of the problems confronting the zone but may I ask how many indigenes of the South-South can afford, from their own pockets, to pay for flight tickets. Let us be honest, besides some persons enjoying government patronage or making money from the system, how many can willing bring out their personal fund to pay for flight? What business would attract air passengers to the South-South so that the airline can break even? Will the airline operates chartered flights only, if not, will there be enough patronage to sustain it?
What we need in the South-South is good road network, the states within the zone should collaborate to make inter state roads motorable, this will have greater impact on the people and economy of the states. When the roads were good: from Port Harcourt to Calabar used to be a journey of three hours but today because of the poor state of the roads making the journey in four hours is considered a feat. From Benin to Calabar should take about five hours if the roads are good. The needs for good roads are many: we need good roads for transportation of goods and food stuff produced in the area which using aircraft maybe a bit expensive. Roads would be needed for the transportation of materials and equipment for the envisaged industrialization and infrastructural development of the area.
I appreciate the fears of our Excellencies, traveling on land in these days of militancy, kidnapping and gun men attacking convoys of governors and other public office holders is risky. An airline is not a solution to the security problem in the zone. My people have a saying that the fowl that flies the legs still point to the ground, so one can still be attack on his or her way to or from the airport, except the various government houses would have their own airports, and these boys can also boast of anti aircraft guns. Rather the various state governments in the South-South should be committed to fighting crimes and all anti-social behaviours in the area.
If the roads are safe, motorists and passenger traveling from one state to another can stop along the way to buy bush meats, snails, fish, cucumber, oranges, garri, palm oil among other local products and delicacies and these would boost the local economy of the villages along our highways and contribute to checking the rural urban migration as the people are economically engaged. Road transportation is a form of tourism and helps the people to know their environment and appreciate the uniqueness of the various tribes that make up the south-south.
Before now most motorists traveling to Akwa Ibom and Cross River states preferred to go through Ogoni because it was faster than passing through Aba or Ukwa East but because of the activities of armed robbers and other criminal elements the road in now a no go area. But now passing through that route is considered suicidal. Some passengers are willing to forfeit their fares instead of passing through this route. At parks, they must get assurance that a vehicle they are about to board would not pass through Ogoni. At a point travelers going to Ikot Abasi, Eket and other nearby local government areas to Ogoni have to pass through Uyo spending upward of four hours instead of about an hour that they would have spent to get home. That was how dangerous and risky the road was. There is need for the South-South states to introduce inter border patrol to check the activities of hoodlums and to make roads in the zone safe for motorists.
Government, especially in Nigeria, is known not to be good a businessman or investor. This airline would go the way of the defunct Nigeria Airways and other public corporations in the country. Government businesses are known to be the worst managed in this country and what guarantee do we have that this airline would be different. What about the problem of tribalism and ethnic wrangling among the states in terms of employment and even looting the funds of the airline?
How would the floating of an airline impact on the lives of the majority of the South-South people? Instead of embarking on an elitist venture like an airline, the South-South Governors Forum, should like its chairman, Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers state said at the Uyo meeting should embark on robust infrastructural development of the region and other key projects that would be of mutual interest to the people and states of the region.
There is nothing wrong in setting up an inter regional airline but doing that now in the South-South would amount to putting the cart before the horse. Rather the states in the zone should set up a sound economic foundation that ventures like airline would thrive. Apart from a state like Rivers, which is the hub of the oil industry in sub Sahara Africa, and this is responsible for the high air traffic, what is the volume of air traffic in other states of the zone like. How many flights are currently operating in the airports within the zone? Outside public officers, what is the air passenger population in the South-South that can sustain the proposed airline?
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सिक्यूरिटी एजेंट्स थे थे LAW
SECURITY OFFICERS AND THE LAW
Last week a local government chairman was arrested by Rivers State Governor, Chubike Amaechi, for driving against the flow of traffic. According to reports, the council chairman had some policemen in his entourage and even the driver of the Prado Jeep the council boss was traveling in is said to have been a policeman. Driving against the traffic is a common sight in Port Harcourt and most of the culprits are security personnel escorting one “big man” or some foreign technicians working in one oil servicing company.
Agreed that there are security challenges in Rivers State and other parts of Niger Delta, but do these justified the flagrant violation of traffic laws and other unlawful acts by security agents in the area. During a traffic jam it is common sight to see a bank bullion van, sometimes not carrying cash, driving against the traffic. You see police or military personnel who are not on emergency or even on duty, driving against the flow of traffic, just because they are uniformed men.
Do we have different laws for security men: military and paramilitary and other Nigerians? Is it proper for a security operative that violates a law to arrest a civilian for violating any law for that matter? As I am writing from my office, I can see two policemen on motorcycle without helmets arresting a taxi driver for a traffic offence. I thought the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) told us that with effect from January 1, 2009 it would be an offence for anybody to ride a motor bike or be a passenger on a bike without wearing a helmet. The commission did not tell us that its officers, military men, policemen and other paramilitary are exempted from the law. Do these military and paramilitary men have skulls made of steel that would not be affected in an event of accident? What moral justification does a security man has to arrest a civilian for riding a motor bike without a helmet while his colleague who committed the same offence pleads espirit de corps.
We cannot expect Nigerians to be obedient and law abiding when those who make our laws and those who are charged with the responsibility of enforcing these laws violate same laws with impunity. Any public officer or security agent or agency that breaks the law for whatever reason except for justifiable public interest is not worthy to continue in such office, arrest or prosecute a Nigerian who breaks the law.
Since the law on helmet came into force in January, in Port Harcourt no civilian dare ride a motorbike without a helmet. Many civilians out of fear of being labeled okada riders, there is a ban on commercial motorcycles in the city, have abandoned their bikes at home, sold or sent them to their villages. But on a daily basis you see hundreds of military and paramilitary men, including, FRSC staff, riding bikes without helmets. A week before the South South Economic Summit in Calabar, Cross River State men of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps were reported to have killed an okada rider along Eight Miles area when they tried to stop him for not using helmet. According to sources, from the area the corps pick up van deliberately knocked down the okada rider in a bid to stop him but when they discovered that the impact was severe and the man died on the spot they abandoned him and ran away. Knocking down bike riders, especially okada riders, by men of the Civil Defence is a common practice in Calabar. But in the same city you see officers of the corps, FRSC, military and other paramilitary men riding bikes without helmets. Why should they arrest civilian offenders for the same offence they are guilty of? For a public servant, officer holder or security agent to violate any dot of our laws or constitution is rebellion against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a sin against the Nigerian tax payers from whose pockets these persons salaries and allowances are paid. A servant cannot be greater than his master.
Recently 27 soldiers where sentenced to life imprisonment for daring to protest against the withholding of their legitimate allowances. But the persons who were responsible for the delay thereby provoking the soldiers to react were given light punishment. For God sake, why their salaries and allowances should be delayed or withheld after they have discharged their duties to their fatherland? Who caused the delay that led to their protest? Don’t they have the right to murmur or complain when they have been cheated? Hiding under military laws, rules or regulation to punish a man for agitating for his lawful right is unfair and illegal. Nigeria is a country where if you don’t shout, protest or demonstrate what rightly belong to you will not be given to you, ask the Niger Delta people.
Those jailed soldiers, to me, did not do anything wrong in agitating for allowances because if their allowances were paid as at when due there would have been no need or basis for their protest. Yes, Armed Forces Act may not tolerate protest or agitation of any kind, the Act also should not tolerate corruption in under any guise. Those who withheld the allowances are the real culprits and deserved the life sentences and not mere demotions. Like my colleague would say, salary/allowance delayed is salary/allowance denied. Nobody has informed us whether the jailed soldiers were later paid their delayed allowances. Now that they have been jailed, have the allowances been paid to them? They need the money more now that they are not going to be there for their families. We should not lead Nigerians into the temptation of committing crime because we would not be able to deliver them from the evils that would follow. If somebody is still keeping the soldiers money it should be given to them or their next of kin, and that very soon, without all those bottlenecks. In fact they should be paid with interest, starting from when they where suppose to be paid. You can’t jailed them and still forfeit their money, when the money was not illegally made.
We are told that the law is no respecter of any person or that nobody is above the law. It is not enough to make laws but these laws must be enforced equally on every offender no matter his or her status and position. We cannot re-brand Nigeria when lawmakers, law enforcement agents and other public officers are lawless. Public officers and officials should strive to abide by the laws and constitution of the country. We need discipline and order for this country to make progress as no remarkable growth and development can take place in a lawless society as ours. You cannot expect to have law-abiding citizens when our leaders, lawmakers and security agents do not obey the law.
reactions to itaetim@yahoo.com
or text 08037269329
Last week a local government chairman was arrested by Rivers State Governor, Chubike Amaechi, for driving against the flow of traffic. According to reports, the council chairman had some policemen in his entourage and even the driver of the Prado Jeep the council boss was traveling in is said to have been a policeman. Driving against the traffic is a common sight in Port Harcourt and most of the culprits are security personnel escorting one “big man” or some foreign technicians working in one oil servicing company.
Agreed that there are security challenges in Rivers State and other parts of Niger Delta, but do these justified the flagrant violation of traffic laws and other unlawful acts by security agents in the area. During a traffic jam it is common sight to see a bank bullion van, sometimes not carrying cash, driving against the traffic. You see police or military personnel who are not on emergency or even on duty, driving against the flow of traffic, just because they are uniformed men.
Do we have different laws for security men: military and paramilitary and other Nigerians? Is it proper for a security operative that violates a law to arrest a civilian for violating any law for that matter? As I am writing from my office, I can see two policemen on motorcycle without helmets arresting a taxi driver for a traffic offence. I thought the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) told us that with effect from January 1, 2009 it would be an offence for anybody to ride a motor bike or be a passenger on a bike without wearing a helmet. The commission did not tell us that its officers, military men, policemen and other paramilitary are exempted from the law. Do these military and paramilitary men have skulls made of steel that would not be affected in an event of accident? What moral justification does a security man has to arrest a civilian for riding a motor bike without a helmet while his colleague who committed the same offence pleads espirit de corps.
We cannot expect Nigerians to be obedient and law abiding when those who make our laws and those who are charged with the responsibility of enforcing these laws violate same laws with impunity. Any public officer or security agent or agency that breaks the law for whatever reason except for justifiable public interest is not worthy to continue in such office, arrest or prosecute a Nigerian who breaks the law.
Since the law on helmet came into force in January, in Port Harcourt no civilian dare ride a motorbike without a helmet. Many civilians out of fear of being labeled okada riders, there is a ban on commercial motorcycles in the city, have abandoned their bikes at home, sold or sent them to their villages. But on a daily basis you see hundreds of military and paramilitary men, including, FRSC staff, riding bikes without helmets. A week before the South South Economic Summit in Calabar, Cross River State men of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps were reported to have killed an okada rider along Eight Miles area when they tried to stop him for not using helmet. According to sources, from the area the corps pick up van deliberately knocked down the okada rider in a bid to stop him but when they discovered that the impact was severe and the man died on the spot they abandoned him and ran away. Knocking down bike riders, especially okada riders, by men of the Civil Defence is a common practice in Calabar. But in the same city you see officers of the corps, FRSC, military and other paramilitary men riding bikes without helmets. Why should they arrest civilian offenders for the same offence they are guilty of? For a public servant, officer holder or security agent to violate any dot of our laws or constitution is rebellion against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a sin against the Nigerian tax payers from whose pockets these persons salaries and allowances are paid. A servant cannot be greater than his master.
Recently 27 soldiers where sentenced to life imprisonment for daring to protest against the withholding of their legitimate allowances. But the persons who were responsible for the delay thereby provoking the soldiers to react were given light punishment. For God sake, why their salaries and allowances should be delayed or withheld after they have discharged their duties to their fatherland? Who caused the delay that led to their protest? Don’t they have the right to murmur or complain when they have been cheated? Hiding under military laws, rules or regulation to punish a man for agitating for his lawful right is unfair and illegal. Nigeria is a country where if you don’t shout, protest or demonstrate what rightly belong to you will not be given to you, ask the Niger Delta people.
Those jailed soldiers, to me, did not do anything wrong in agitating for allowances because if their allowances were paid as at when due there would have been no need or basis for their protest. Yes, Armed Forces Act may not tolerate protest or agitation of any kind, the Act also should not tolerate corruption in under any guise. Those who withheld the allowances are the real culprits and deserved the life sentences and not mere demotions. Like my colleague would say, salary/allowance delayed is salary/allowance denied. Nobody has informed us whether the jailed soldiers were later paid their delayed allowances. Now that they have been jailed, have the allowances been paid to them? They need the money more now that they are not going to be there for their families. We should not lead Nigerians into the temptation of committing crime because we would not be able to deliver them from the evils that would follow. If somebody is still keeping the soldiers money it should be given to them or their next of kin, and that very soon, without all those bottlenecks. In fact they should be paid with interest, starting from when they where suppose to be paid. You can’t jailed them and still forfeit their money, when the money was not illegally made.
We are told that the law is no respecter of any person or that nobody is above the law. It is not enough to make laws but these laws must be enforced equally on every offender no matter his or her status and position. We cannot re-brand Nigeria when lawmakers, law enforcement agents and other public officers are lawless. Public officers and officials should strive to abide by the laws and constitution of the country. We need discipline and order for this country to make progress as no remarkable growth and development can take place in a lawless society as ours. You cannot expect to have law-abiding citizens when our leaders, lawmakers and security agents do not obey the law.
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इलेक्टोरल वोइलेंस इन NIGERIA
ELECTORAL VIOLENCE
Why should people kill in the name of politics? If politics is all about selfless service to the public and humanity why should one kill a fellow being to get serve them? If politicians are actually servants of the public, as they claimed, why should they kill their masters in a bid to serve them? Why can’t we conduct free, fair, and violence-free elections in Nigeria? Even students union and town associations elections are fraught with cases of violence. Do or die. Winning at all cost and all means possible. Must we kill to serve? If our motive is actually to offer service we don’t need to use violence to get an elective or a political office. No life is worthless and none should be sacrifice to achieve a political goal.
Agreed that politics is a struggle for power but I think it should be a war of ideologies, ideas, manifestoes, party programmes and policies. But many politicians in Nigeria today can not say what is their party’s manifesto, policy thrust or programmes, all they are interested is getting power at all cost. Ten years after Nigeria’s latest democratic experiment none of the parties can campaign based on their manifestoes, policy or programme, which simply means that for the last decade none of these parties have been able to implement its party’s manifesto or programmes. None have the courage to ask the electorate to judge them base on what they have done and vote on this basis.
What is the role of security agencies during election? Are they not supposed to keep law and order? Who do these security agents support? Whose interest are they protecting? Security agencies and their operatives are supposed to be non partisan before, during and after elections but the situation in Nigeria is the reverse. Most electoral violence and crisis have been triggered off by the activities of security agents. They look the other side when political rivals are attacked or harassed or intimidated, only to turn around and arrest the victim or weaker party. A security office that is supposed to serve as refuge for politicians in danger has turned out to be a dangerous place to run for cover in an event of violence. Security offices serve as centres for falsifying elections results, rigging, and stuffing ballot boxes. In Nigeria, the security agents are unofficial members of the ruling political party. They do everything possible to get the “official party” into office or keep the ruling party in office. In Nigeria, with the security on your side you can win any election, anywhere and any day despite the actual votes cast by the electorates. Agreed security agents have political sympathies, like every human being, but in the discharge of their constitutional duties they should strive to be as non partisan as possible.
Those who get into office through electoral fraud and violence are worst than the militants and kidnappers in the Niger Delta. The various governors in the Niger Delta are recommending death sentence or life imprisonment for kidnappers but no one has ever been jailed for electoral fraud or violence in Nigeria. We need heavy penalty for those who are involved in electoral fraud and violence as well as those who aid and abet these. Electoral fraud and violence go together. In a bid to stop an electoral fraud violence may breakout. Electoral fraud only thrives where the electorates are apathetic, docile, ignorant or fearful. But where there is resistance to electoral fraud violence is inevitable
Electoral staff who superintend over fraudulent or questionable elections should be sacked and prosecuted. Whenever and wherever election results are nullified by a court or a tribunal, the electoral staff that conducted such elections should be punished. The money that would be used to conduct rerun elections is waste and a drain on the nation’s finances. Fraud is fraud whether financial or electoral; they have almost the same effect on the country’s image and credibility in the comity of nations.
Those who are elected through a fraudulent electoral process should not assume until their matters are settled at the election petition tribunal or appeal courts. Those who assumed offices before their elections cases are sort out should refund all the salaries and allowances they collected while illegally occupying those positions. Please pardon my ignorance, I am not aware of anybody who has been jailed for electoral fraud or violence, so how do we intend to discourage these habits in our political system when there is no punishment for deviants. Those arrested for electoral fraud and violence, in the past, would only be detained by the police for some days and are set free to go on and do it again. They are regarded as those who can deliver.
Nigerians are very religious people but when it comes to politics they ask God to understand, that is, after gaining political power they would come back and reconcile with their creator. They do not remember that the Bible says it is not by power or by might but the Nigerian politician is determined to get into office by “fire for fire.” The same Holy Book says that it is God that lifted one up and brings another down as power belongs to God. It is good to have an ambition for a political office but after fulfilling this ambition what do you do with the power at your disposal. You use it to loot the common treasury, victimize political opponents, or serve the people you claimed you are representing or you claimed they asked you to represent them?
Myles Munroe says that when and where purpose is not known, established or defined, abuse is inevitable. What is the essence of a public office? It seems that in Nigerian politics those seeking political offices do not know the purpose of a public office? I think the attitude is that of “when we get to the bridge, we shall cross it.” The principle is: just get into office first and when you are there you can now decide what to do with your position: either to feed or fleece your constituents. Pecuniary interest is the driving force behind Nigerians participation in politics. They want to get their own cut of the national cake.
Is there nothing we can do to make elective and political appointment less financially attractive to reduce this violence? I may hazard a guess that why there is so much violence in our political arena is that politics is the easiest way to wealth. Just invest in a few arms and ammunitions and some thugs and when you over power your political rivals the rewards are unimaginable. Many politicians in the past who have been accused of corruption or gained notoriety by their looting capacity are walking the streets free where cell phone snatchers are dumped in jail.
We don’t need any blood to nurture or sustain democracy in Nigeria. The god of democracy does not drink blood, if there is any such god. Enough of this bloodshed! Stop this culture of political violence. Violence in the political system begets violence in every sphere of our national life, if you doubt, go to the Niger Delta or some universities where students want to get degrees by violence without working for it. Do we blame the youth? No! Because, in Nigeria, violence is an acceptable way of pursuing ones dream, ambition, vision or mission. Punishment is for those who failed to get their goals. Get into a political office first and all the sins you committed on your way to the position will be blotted out. The end justifies the means. There is need to re-brand our electoral process and political system. Re-brand the system and Nigeria will be a great brand.
Why should people kill in the name of politics? If politics is all about selfless service to the public and humanity why should one kill a fellow being to get serve them? If politicians are actually servants of the public, as they claimed, why should they kill their masters in a bid to serve them? Why can’t we conduct free, fair, and violence-free elections in Nigeria? Even students union and town associations elections are fraught with cases of violence. Do or die. Winning at all cost and all means possible. Must we kill to serve? If our motive is actually to offer service we don’t need to use violence to get an elective or a political office. No life is worthless and none should be sacrifice to achieve a political goal.
Agreed that politics is a struggle for power but I think it should be a war of ideologies, ideas, manifestoes, party programmes and policies. But many politicians in Nigeria today can not say what is their party’s manifesto, policy thrust or programmes, all they are interested is getting power at all cost. Ten years after Nigeria’s latest democratic experiment none of the parties can campaign based on their manifestoes, policy or programme, which simply means that for the last decade none of these parties have been able to implement its party’s manifesto or programmes. None have the courage to ask the electorate to judge them base on what they have done and vote on this basis.
What is the role of security agencies during election? Are they not supposed to keep law and order? Who do these security agents support? Whose interest are they protecting? Security agencies and their operatives are supposed to be non partisan before, during and after elections but the situation in Nigeria is the reverse. Most electoral violence and crisis have been triggered off by the activities of security agents. They look the other side when political rivals are attacked or harassed or intimidated, only to turn around and arrest the victim or weaker party. A security office that is supposed to serve as refuge for politicians in danger has turned out to be a dangerous place to run for cover in an event of violence. Security offices serve as centres for falsifying elections results, rigging, and stuffing ballot boxes. In Nigeria, the security agents are unofficial members of the ruling political party. They do everything possible to get the “official party” into office or keep the ruling party in office. In Nigeria, with the security on your side you can win any election, anywhere and any day despite the actual votes cast by the electorates. Agreed security agents have political sympathies, like every human being, but in the discharge of their constitutional duties they should strive to be as non partisan as possible.
Those who get into office through electoral fraud and violence are worst than the militants and kidnappers in the Niger Delta. The various governors in the Niger Delta are recommending death sentence or life imprisonment for kidnappers but no one has ever been jailed for electoral fraud or violence in Nigeria. We need heavy penalty for those who are involved in electoral fraud and violence as well as those who aid and abet these. Electoral fraud and violence go together. In a bid to stop an electoral fraud violence may breakout. Electoral fraud only thrives where the electorates are apathetic, docile, ignorant or fearful. But where there is resistance to electoral fraud violence is inevitable
Electoral staff who superintend over fraudulent or questionable elections should be sacked and prosecuted. Whenever and wherever election results are nullified by a court or a tribunal, the electoral staff that conducted such elections should be punished. The money that would be used to conduct rerun elections is waste and a drain on the nation’s finances. Fraud is fraud whether financial or electoral; they have almost the same effect on the country’s image and credibility in the comity of nations.
Those who are elected through a fraudulent electoral process should not assume until their matters are settled at the election petition tribunal or appeal courts. Those who assumed offices before their elections cases are sort out should refund all the salaries and allowances they collected while illegally occupying those positions. Please pardon my ignorance, I am not aware of anybody who has been jailed for electoral fraud or violence, so how do we intend to discourage these habits in our political system when there is no punishment for deviants. Those arrested for electoral fraud and violence, in the past, would only be detained by the police for some days and are set free to go on and do it again. They are regarded as those who can deliver.
Nigerians are very religious people but when it comes to politics they ask God to understand, that is, after gaining political power they would come back and reconcile with their creator. They do not remember that the Bible says it is not by power or by might but the Nigerian politician is determined to get into office by “fire for fire.” The same Holy Book says that it is God that lifted one up and brings another down as power belongs to God. It is good to have an ambition for a political office but after fulfilling this ambition what do you do with the power at your disposal. You use it to loot the common treasury, victimize political opponents, or serve the people you claimed you are representing or you claimed they asked you to represent them?
Myles Munroe says that when and where purpose is not known, established or defined, abuse is inevitable. What is the essence of a public office? It seems that in Nigerian politics those seeking political offices do not know the purpose of a public office? I think the attitude is that of “when we get to the bridge, we shall cross it.” The principle is: just get into office first and when you are there you can now decide what to do with your position: either to feed or fleece your constituents. Pecuniary interest is the driving force behind Nigerians participation in politics. They want to get their own cut of the national cake.
Is there nothing we can do to make elective and political appointment less financially attractive to reduce this violence? I may hazard a guess that why there is so much violence in our political arena is that politics is the easiest way to wealth. Just invest in a few arms and ammunitions and some thugs and when you over power your political rivals the rewards are unimaginable. Many politicians in the past who have been accused of corruption or gained notoriety by their looting capacity are walking the streets free where cell phone snatchers are dumped in jail.
We don’t need any blood to nurture or sustain democracy in Nigeria. The god of democracy does not drink blood, if there is any such god. Enough of this bloodshed! Stop this culture of political violence. Violence in the political system begets violence in every sphere of our national life, if you doubt, go to the Niger Delta or some universities where students want to get degrees by violence without working for it. Do we blame the youth? No! Because, in Nigeria, violence is an acceptable way of pursuing ones dream, ambition, vision or mission. Punishment is for those who failed to get their goals. Get into a political office first and all the sins you committed on your way to the position will be blotted out. The end justifies the means. There is need to re-brand our electoral process and political system. Re-brand the system and Nigeria will be a great brand.
बेयोंद थे SUMMIT
BEYOND THE SUMMIT
This weekend a South South Economic Summit holding in Calabar, Cross River State will come to an end. This is the first time that the six states from this geo-political zone are meeting to discuss their economy. Though the area is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, because of its oil and gas resources, it is one of the poorest regions in the world. The South South zone is a paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty. The area is underdeveloped, neglected and the environment degraded and polluted. This is the price the people and land have to pay for being the engine room of the nation’s economy. The area is universally notorious for being the most polluted place in the world.
This economic summit is a welcome development because in the past the political leaders of the area have been accused of mismanaging the pittance that the Federal Government of Nigeria has been giving to the states as derivation. Why the summit is very timely is that one day the oil may dry up or another cheaper means of energy may be found and our oil would no longer be sought after. Bio fuel may replace oil.
The economic summit should not be politicized or made to look like one of the party programmes of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It should not be a gathering for political showmanship, rhetoric, and rivalry. It should be devoid of political intrigues and ethnicity. Rather it should be a deliberate and sincere effort to reposition the South South economically in its bid to exploit other abundant resources in the area besides oil and gas.
The aims, goals, objectives, targets and vision of the summit should be that of regional integration, partnership, cohesion, cooperation and economic development of the South South. The states should partner with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on the area of developmental projects, programmes and infrastructural development to avoid conflicts, wastages and duplication. There is need for synergy among the states, NDDC and the ministry.
The states should avoid unhealthy rivalry and competition, embarking on projects and constructing certain infrastructures just to score cheap political points or play to the gallery. Rather states that have comparative advantage in certain areas, like Cross River which is blessed with large expanse of land, and fertile land can concentrate on agro and allied businesses instead of jumping into oil and gas sector though the state can collaborate and invest with states like Rivers and Bayelsa that have oil and gas. There is need for equality of states while the strong should support the weak.
Besides economic cooperation there certain areas that need the attention of the South South states if their economy should receive a turnaround. The area boasts of five dormant and idle ports yet the governments, companies and contractors doing business in the area import through sea on a daily basis. These ports can be put to use. The ripple effect of these five ports functioning would better be imagined. The government should get in touch with the relevant authorities to bring these ports back to life. Same for the Export Processing Zone in Calabar and the Onne Free Trade Zone in Rivers State. We need good roads like the East West road, the proposed Coastal Road, a rail line from Calabar to Lagos and good inter state roads.
Health is wealth and the best resources one can boasts of is the human resources. The South South is reported to have the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in Nigeria, that is, above national average. For our people to be alive and enjoy the expected economic revolution in the area there is need for a massive HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in all the nook and cranny of the Niger Delta so the we can have the required workforce for the future.
The summit should come out with how the South South would tackle the problems of insecurity which the area is notorious for. One of the reasons for the agitation in the area is the issue of environmental pollution and degradation. The states should reach out to the central government and the relevant authorities to put an end to gas flaring and all other forms of environmental degradation going on in the area. The locals should be sensitize on why they should not contribute to environmental pollution because of a short term gain. All oil spill sites should be clean and remediation exercises carried out.
There is need for a revisit of education and educational facilities in the area. We should not only supply oil we should also be exporters of quality manpower to the world. Also the states should embark on an aggressive artisan training for its indigenes to take active part in the booming oil and gas industry as well as other sectors of the economy. There is need for the zone to prepare it youths to seize the unlimited opportunity in the maritime industry like the training of sea farers who are in great demand worldwide.
The issue of good governance and prudent application and management of resources accruing to these states are of paramount importance. The political process should be open, transparent and participatory to check feeling of marginalization while political leaders should avoid the winners take all attitude. Politics should be an opportunity to serve a people (common goal) and not a political party; political parties are only platforms for political participation.
This weekend a South South Economic Summit holding in Calabar, Cross River State will come to an end. This is the first time that the six states from this geo-political zone are meeting to discuss their economy. Though the area is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, because of its oil and gas resources, it is one of the poorest regions in the world. The South South zone is a paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty. The area is underdeveloped, neglected and the environment degraded and polluted. This is the price the people and land have to pay for being the engine room of the nation’s economy. The area is universally notorious for being the most polluted place in the world.
This economic summit is a welcome development because in the past the political leaders of the area have been accused of mismanaging the pittance that the Federal Government of Nigeria has been giving to the states as derivation. Why the summit is very timely is that one day the oil may dry up or another cheaper means of energy may be found and our oil would no longer be sought after. Bio fuel may replace oil.
The economic summit should not be politicized or made to look like one of the party programmes of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It should not be a gathering for political showmanship, rhetoric, and rivalry. It should be devoid of political intrigues and ethnicity. Rather it should be a deliberate and sincere effort to reposition the South South economically in its bid to exploit other abundant resources in the area besides oil and gas.
The aims, goals, objectives, targets and vision of the summit should be that of regional integration, partnership, cohesion, cooperation and economic development of the South South. The states should partner with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on the area of developmental projects, programmes and infrastructural development to avoid conflicts, wastages and duplication. There is need for synergy among the states, NDDC and the ministry.
The states should avoid unhealthy rivalry and competition, embarking on projects and constructing certain infrastructures just to score cheap political points or play to the gallery. Rather states that have comparative advantage in certain areas, like Cross River which is blessed with large expanse of land, and fertile land can concentrate on agro and allied businesses instead of jumping into oil and gas sector though the state can collaborate and invest with states like Rivers and Bayelsa that have oil and gas. There is need for equality of states while the strong should support the weak.
Besides economic cooperation there certain areas that need the attention of the South South states if their economy should receive a turnaround. The area boasts of five dormant and idle ports yet the governments, companies and contractors doing business in the area import through sea on a daily basis. These ports can be put to use. The ripple effect of these five ports functioning would better be imagined. The government should get in touch with the relevant authorities to bring these ports back to life. Same for the Export Processing Zone in Calabar and the Onne Free Trade Zone in Rivers State. We need good roads like the East West road, the proposed Coastal Road, a rail line from Calabar to Lagos and good inter state roads.
Health is wealth and the best resources one can boasts of is the human resources. The South South is reported to have the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in Nigeria, that is, above national average. For our people to be alive and enjoy the expected economic revolution in the area there is need for a massive HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in all the nook and cranny of the Niger Delta so the we can have the required workforce for the future.
The summit should come out with how the South South would tackle the problems of insecurity which the area is notorious for. One of the reasons for the agitation in the area is the issue of environmental pollution and degradation. The states should reach out to the central government and the relevant authorities to put an end to gas flaring and all other forms of environmental degradation going on in the area. The locals should be sensitize on why they should not contribute to environmental pollution because of a short term gain. All oil spill sites should be clean and remediation exercises carried out.
There is need for a revisit of education and educational facilities in the area. We should not only supply oil we should also be exporters of quality manpower to the world. Also the states should embark on an aggressive artisan training for its indigenes to take active part in the booming oil and gas industry as well as other sectors of the economy. There is need for the zone to prepare it youths to seize the unlimited opportunity in the maritime industry like the training of sea farers who are in great demand worldwide.
The issue of good governance and prudent application and management of resources accruing to these states are of paramount importance. The political process should be open, transparent and participatory to check feeling of marginalization while political leaders should avoid the winners take all attitude. Politics should be an opportunity to serve a people (common goal) and not a political party; political parties are only platforms for political participation.
मंद ओं 2011
MEND-PDP DEAL
Few weeks back I was in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, and was hanging out with some friends when one of our school mates told us his ambition to be the chairman of his local government council by 2011. According to our friend, it was the turn of his ward, in fact his village, to produce the next council chairman. One of us, a civil servant, quickly rebuked him and asked him whether he belong? I queried why he is not in support of his bosom friend and clansman political ambition, and my friend took a survey of the relaxation spot we were sitting, lowered his voice and asked our “chair to be” if he has killed before and how many guns he has. He told us that one must “belong” before he can be considered for any elective or political appointment. I believe him not just because we have been friends since 1979 but because by virtue of his office, he works closely with most politicians and power brokers in the state.
He told us that most of the boys sitting in that relaxation spot and many other spots in town are cultists on the prowl looking out for perceived political opponents of the government in power. The cultists, he said, eavesdrop on conversations and are ready to pick a fight with any one that holds a contrary view to that of the political leadership of the state or dare criticize the government. He submitted that it is government of the cultists, by the cultists and for cultists. He pointed out some boys in our undergraduate days whom we used to refereed to as NASU (Non Academic Students Union) who are now holding elective or political positions not because of their academic attainment, job experience or competence rather because the belong to one cult group or the other. This reminds me of one of my classmate in the university who is still angry with me because I frustrated all his attempts to join a cult group in school. His anger is that all our mates who were in one cult group or the other are now “doing well” because of their cult cum political affiliations while he with a Second Class Upper is wasting away in the civil service without no material benefit to show.
Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has alleged that some representatives of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have approached the Niger Delta based militant group to assist the party have a smooth victory in the 2011 general elections. And the PDP through it National Publicity Secretary has denied this. What do you expect the party to do? Do they take decision to rig elections at a national convention of a party? All they tell them is go home and do your homework well and a good home work can be anything. This allegation should not be dismissed as one of those militants’ propaganda or blackmail. One may not accept it hook, line and sinker but it should not be dismissed as garbage. As they say, there is no smoke without fire so there may be some elements of truth in MEND’s allegation.
Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Group, Alhaji Asari Dokubo had earlier alleged that his travails during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was due to his opposition to the PDP rigging machinery in Ijawland during the 2003 elections. Another militant leader in the region has alleged that a certain governor paid him N50 million to disrupt the 2007 elections. These are testimonies that these boys have the capacity and the capability to sway elections outcomes to whichever party they have sympathy for.
I wish MEND would go ahead and named those PDP if the party insists that its representatives did not approach the group. But I know that MEND would not give out these names because some of those who approached the group are from the Niger Delta and since the group claims it is out to fight for the overall interest of the region it would not want to destroy their brothers.
Recently, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Government Niger Delta Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Chief James Jephtath, confessed publicly that the state can no longer pay a monthly grant of N100 million to militant groups in the state because of the global economic meltdown. The state governor was quick to deny that his administration was not giving monthly allocation to militant groups. I sympathise with Governor Timipre Slyva but his denial is an after thought. Is the governor telling us that Chief Jephtath lied? The chief, who has been a chief negotiator with militants and kidnappers, the recent one being the successful release of the wife of former Minister of Petroleum, (the governor’s former boss) and the Mingi of Nembe, King Edmond Daukuro.
Sylva could not have appointed Jephtath chairman of the committee if the chief “was not on ground” as Nigerians would say. So the chief might have known these boys to be able to negotiate with them for the release of hostages as well as remit the monthly allocation to the various militant groups in the state. Is N100 million such a “chicken feed” that it would be missing from the state coffers without His Excellency’s knowledge? The governor has no option than to deny the payment so that his political enemies would not accused him of aiding and abetting violence in the region through funding of militant groups. Aiding and abetting violence, militancy and kidnapping is exactly what the Bayelsa state government has been doing all these years or since it started giving monthly allocation to militant groups to buy peace and calm the boys down. And this applies to all state government and politicians in the region that gives financial and other aids to criminal gangs in the area.
It would be recalled that in the past a notable PDP senator or other party officials were at the forefront of negotiating for the release of kidnapped victims in the region. The question is how do they know these kidnappers if they are not partners in crime? How come these kidnappers have confidence and trust that these politicians would not betray them if they were not doing business together before now? People like Jephtath should tell the security agents have he remits money to these militants groups and who are their contact men.
The so-called militants today are some of the foot soldiers of the PDP during the 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections victories of the PDP in the Niger Delta region. It might not have been MEND but recent disclosure by MEND has shown that this might have been the method of how PDP have been achieving its “waterslide” victories in the Niger Delta. One of the stories of how militancy came into existence is that before 1999 the boys were foot soldiers for the illegal bunkerers in the region and when it was time for elections these boys became a ready pool where political thugs were recruited to execute the various clean sweeps during the elections. And after the elections the politicians took refuge in the various government houses, legislative assemblies and left the boys in the cold. The boys now have weapons bought for them by the politicians and “since man must survive” they to took to crime after refusing all pleas by the politicians to return guns to the buyers. One thing led to another the businesses of kidnapping and illegal bunkering is now booming and the weapons increase, even in greater proportion.
Almost all the past and present governors, ministers, political office holders and politicians of note in the Niger Delta have paid homage to these militants. They have visited the various camps located in far-flung creeks to solicit support from and declare their support for the militants. Many are calling for amnesty for the militants not because they care for the lives of these boys but because if these boys are prosecuted some politicians may be indicted for their nefarious roles in the Niger Delta crisis and violence. Also they may be irrelevant is these boys are killed or jailed. Their so-called political strength and wizardry lies in the continued fire power of these boys.
PDP cannot be exonerated from the crisis in the Niger Delta. Before the advent of PDP there was no militancy or violence in the Niger Delta. These militants, cultists, criminals, freedom fighters, activists or whatever you choose to call them these are monsters that PDP, direct or indirectly, created. And as the saying goes the evil that men do live after them but in this case the evil lives with them. The PDP has been in government and power for the last 10 years and the crisis is worsening by the day. The party lacks the political will to tackle the root cause of the Niger Delta crisis.
Few weeks back I was in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, and was hanging out with some friends when one of our school mates told us his ambition to be the chairman of his local government council by 2011. According to our friend, it was the turn of his ward, in fact his village, to produce the next council chairman. One of us, a civil servant, quickly rebuked him and asked him whether he belong? I queried why he is not in support of his bosom friend and clansman political ambition, and my friend took a survey of the relaxation spot we were sitting, lowered his voice and asked our “chair to be” if he has killed before and how many guns he has. He told us that one must “belong” before he can be considered for any elective or political appointment. I believe him not just because we have been friends since 1979 but because by virtue of his office, he works closely with most politicians and power brokers in the state.
He told us that most of the boys sitting in that relaxation spot and many other spots in town are cultists on the prowl looking out for perceived political opponents of the government in power. The cultists, he said, eavesdrop on conversations and are ready to pick a fight with any one that holds a contrary view to that of the political leadership of the state or dare criticize the government. He submitted that it is government of the cultists, by the cultists and for cultists. He pointed out some boys in our undergraduate days whom we used to refereed to as NASU (Non Academic Students Union) who are now holding elective or political positions not because of their academic attainment, job experience or competence rather because the belong to one cult group or the other. This reminds me of one of my classmate in the university who is still angry with me because I frustrated all his attempts to join a cult group in school. His anger is that all our mates who were in one cult group or the other are now “doing well” because of their cult cum political affiliations while he with a Second Class Upper is wasting away in the civil service without no material benefit to show.
Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has alleged that some representatives of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have approached the Niger Delta based militant group to assist the party have a smooth victory in the 2011 general elections. And the PDP through it National Publicity Secretary has denied this. What do you expect the party to do? Do they take decision to rig elections at a national convention of a party? All they tell them is go home and do your homework well and a good home work can be anything. This allegation should not be dismissed as one of those militants’ propaganda or blackmail. One may not accept it hook, line and sinker but it should not be dismissed as garbage. As they say, there is no smoke without fire so there may be some elements of truth in MEND’s allegation.
Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Group, Alhaji Asari Dokubo had earlier alleged that his travails during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was due to his opposition to the PDP rigging machinery in Ijawland during the 2003 elections. Another militant leader in the region has alleged that a certain governor paid him N50 million to disrupt the 2007 elections. These are testimonies that these boys have the capacity and the capability to sway elections outcomes to whichever party they have sympathy for.
I wish MEND would go ahead and named those PDP if the party insists that its representatives did not approach the group. But I know that MEND would not give out these names because some of those who approached the group are from the Niger Delta and since the group claims it is out to fight for the overall interest of the region it would not want to destroy their brothers.
Recently, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Government Niger Delta Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Chief James Jephtath, confessed publicly that the state can no longer pay a monthly grant of N100 million to militant groups in the state because of the global economic meltdown. The state governor was quick to deny that his administration was not giving monthly allocation to militant groups. I sympathise with Governor Timipre Slyva but his denial is an after thought. Is the governor telling us that Chief Jephtath lied? The chief, who has been a chief negotiator with militants and kidnappers, the recent one being the successful release of the wife of former Minister of Petroleum, (the governor’s former boss) and the Mingi of Nembe, King Edmond Daukuro.
Sylva could not have appointed Jephtath chairman of the committee if the chief “was not on ground” as Nigerians would say. So the chief might have known these boys to be able to negotiate with them for the release of hostages as well as remit the monthly allocation to the various militant groups in the state. Is N100 million such a “chicken feed” that it would be missing from the state coffers without His Excellency’s knowledge? The governor has no option than to deny the payment so that his political enemies would not accused him of aiding and abetting violence in the region through funding of militant groups. Aiding and abetting violence, militancy and kidnapping is exactly what the Bayelsa state government has been doing all these years or since it started giving monthly allocation to militant groups to buy peace and calm the boys down. And this applies to all state government and politicians in the region that gives financial and other aids to criminal gangs in the area.
It would be recalled that in the past a notable PDP senator or other party officials were at the forefront of negotiating for the release of kidnapped victims in the region. The question is how do they know these kidnappers if they are not partners in crime? How come these kidnappers have confidence and trust that these politicians would not betray them if they were not doing business together before now? People like Jephtath should tell the security agents have he remits money to these militants groups and who are their contact men.
The so-called militants today are some of the foot soldiers of the PDP during the 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections victories of the PDP in the Niger Delta region. It might not have been MEND but recent disclosure by MEND has shown that this might have been the method of how PDP have been achieving its “waterslide” victories in the Niger Delta. One of the stories of how militancy came into existence is that before 1999 the boys were foot soldiers for the illegal bunkerers in the region and when it was time for elections these boys became a ready pool where political thugs were recruited to execute the various clean sweeps during the elections. And after the elections the politicians took refuge in the various government houses, legislative assemblies and left the boys in the cold. The boys now have weapons bought for them by the politicians and “since man must survive” they to took to crime after refusing all pleas by the politicians to return guns to the buyers. One thing led to another the businesses of kidnapping and illegal bunkering is now booming and the weapons increase, even in greater proportion.
Almost all the past and present governors, ministers, political office holders and politicians of note in the Niger Delta have paid homage to these militants. They have visited the various camps located in far-flung creeks to solicit support from and declare their support for the militants. Many are calling for amnesty for the militants not because they care for the lives of these boys but because if these boys are prosecuted some politicians may be indicted for their nefarious roles in the Niger Delta crisis and violence. Also they may be irrelevant is these boys are killed or jailed. Their so-called political strength and wizardry lies in the continued fire power of these boys.
PDP cannot be exonerated from the crisis in the Niger Delta. Before the advent of PDP there was no militancy or violence in the Niger Delta. These militants, cultists, criminals, freedom fighters, activists or whatever you choose to call them these are monsters that PDP, direct or indirectly, created. And as the saying goes the evil that men do live after them but in this case the evil lives with them. The PDP has been in government and power for the last 10 years and the crisis is worsening by the day. The party lacks the political will to tackle the root cause of the Niger Delta crisis.
ओं पास्टर एनोच अदेबोये'स JET
MUCH ADO ABOUT ADEBOYE’S JET
As poor as a church rat is a common saying when someone wants to express the gravity of poverty. It is not a compliment rather it is insulting to identify the Church of Jesus Christ with poverty. After all, Jesus became poor that we may be rich, simply put, Jesus chose to be poor so that no Christian would suffer poverty. Anybody who believes that Jesus died on the cross to take away sins should also know that that same Jesus took away poverty so that that person would not suffer poverty. The Bible talks of “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and not the poor in material things or wealth. Material poverty is not the same as spiritual poverty. This is what is confusing many Christians today. One can be rich materially and be poor spiritually and vice versa.
Ask that girl standing by the street side at night and she is wont to tell you that she took to prostitution because her parents are poor so she is the family bread winner and pay her siblings school fees. Most suspects arrested by the police for robbery and NDLEA for drug trafficking have been blaming their woes on poverty. According to their tales, they got involved in these crimes to raise capital for one business or the other or to settle debt. Yes, the Bible talks about being easy for a camel to pass through a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven. The rich man the Bible talks about is one who worships his wealth, that is, wealth has taken the place of God and God being a jealous God cannot share his glory with anything. There is nothing glorious or dignifying in poverty. In short, poverty is a curse.
The same Bible also tell us that we shall lend to nations (note the word nations) and not borrow. Can one give what he does not have? One must have enough to be able to give out of the abundance of his riches. Many are shocked by the sudden financial turn around in Christendom today. They are not happy that churches no longer go cap in hand begging for funds to execute one project or organize a programme. There is nothing wrong with a Christian being rich or wealthy. Our covenant father, Abraham, was rich in all things and he was God’s friend and confidant. According to the Bible, Job was a righteous man as well as the richest man in the East (of his time).
For some weeks now some persons have been on rage because the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has a jet. If I may ask: Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and his anointed,” (Psalms 2:1, 2). What is the big deal about a Pastor owning a jet? Have the G.O.’s critics bother to find out the purpose of the aircraft and what it would be used for?
Mathew’s gospel Chapter six verses 33 say “But Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” All these things referred to in the above passage include jets, mansions, choice property and other good things of life that give comfort to man. In the book of Genesis chapter eight and verse 22, the Bible says that as long as the earth remains seed time and harvest shall not cease, Adeboye has been sowing his seeds all these years, where were his critics and why should they shout now that he is harvesting? You cannot reap what and from where you did not sow.
Are the members of RCCG complaining? Did they say they were coerced, intimidated or sweet-talked into buying a jet for their Papa? Adeboye chose to seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness, when Christianity was not glamorous, I am very sure some of his colleagues and mates then would have considered him a mad man to abandoned his job as a lecturer to become a mere pastor. And now that he is reaping they are murmuring. The jet is just one of those things that Jesus promised would be added unto whosoever seeks his kingdom and righteousness. Remember Jesus is the master of the universe and he owns everything and everybody in the world and is at liberty to give to whomsoever he chooses to bless with his wealth. A servant is worthy of his wage. God created the heaven and earth and Adeboye is his servant and cannot wallow in poverty. It is God that gives power to make wealth.
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; my cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall choose Jerusalem” (Zechariah 1:17). Money is necessary for the expansion of the kingdom of God. One needs money to buy Bibles, build churches, organize crusade and retreats, and send relief material to the poor and needy. No amount of prayer and fasting can make these things to fall from heaven; God must use human agents to meet the need of Christians and the church. If you check the prayers of many Christians it is full of God give me this, give me that: this is a testimony to the desire of every Christian to come out of lack, want and poverty. No pretence. If the economic needs of many Christians are met, their prayer points would be reduced by 80 per cent and they would now have time to pray for the expansion of the kingdom of God. Many have talked about Christians who stole money and donate same to church. The church does not ask anybody to steal his employer’s money. And the church is not a security agency that investigates the activities of its members. Some persons stole and donate to church with the belief that God will accept their gifts but remember the story of Cain in Genesis, a pastor may receive your offerings and tithes but the God in heaven would not accept any stolen or ill gotten money. The church does not ask its members to steal or make money fraudulently.
Most of the so-called church leaders criticizing Adeboye are doing so out of envy and jealousy and not because of care for the poor. No man, no economic policy or programme can wipe away poverty from the face of the earth because the scripture cannot be broken. The book of Deuteronomy Chapter 15 Verse 11 says “The poor shall never cease out of the land:” So are people saying that Adeboye should not enjoy the harvest of his labour because they are poor people around him and in his church. Our master Jesus Christ when he was around did not heal everybody, in fact, when blind Bartimeus cried to him to have mercy on him, Jesus asked him what do you want me to do for you? When, it was obvious that the man was blind.
Adeboye deserved the best money can buy. He has paid the price. He is greater than the president or head of state of any country and if a president can have a jet attached to his office it is not out of place for Adeboye to have one. There is a difference between living in comfort and living a flamboyant lifestyle. And Papa Adeboye is not such a person and would not start at this age. The Bible says it is an anathema for slaves to be riding horses and princes are trekking. It is time Christians stopped glorifying poverty and opens up their minds to receive wealth from above. Malachi Chapter three verse 10 says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouses, that there maybe meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing that there shall be no room enough to receive it.” Is God a liar? Will he say it and would not be able to perform it? I strongly believe that true riches, like wisdom, come from God.
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As poor as a church rat is a common saying when someone wants to express the gravity of poverty. It is not a compliment rather it is insulting to identify the Church of Jesus Christ with poverty. After all, Jesus became poor that we may be rich, simply put, Jesus chose to be poor so that no Christian would suffer poverty. Anybody who believes that Jesus died on the cross to take away sins should also know that that same Jesus took away poverty so that that person would not suffer poverty. The Bible talks of “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and not the poor in material things or wealth. Material poverty is not the same as spiritual poverty. This is what is confusing many Christians today. One can be rich materially and be poor spiritually and vice versa.
Ask that girl standing by the street side at night and she is wont to tell you that she took to prostitution because her parents are poor so she is the family bread winner and pay her siblings school fees. Most suspects arrested by the police for robbery and NDLEA for drug trafficking have been blaming their woes on poverty. According to their tales, they got involved in these crimes to raise capital for one business or the other or to settle debt. Yes, the Bible talks about being easy for a camel to pass through a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven. The rich man the Bible talks about is one who worships his wealth, that is, wealth has taken the place of God and God being a jealous God cannot share his glory with anything. There is nothing glorious or dignifying in poverty. In short, poverty is a curse.
The same Bible also tell us that we shall lend to nations (note the word nations) and not borrow. Can one give what he does not have? One must have enough to be able to give out of the abundance of his riches. Many are shocked by the sudden financial turn around in Christendom today. They are not happy that churches no longer go cap in hand begging for funds to execute one project or organize a programme. There is nothing wrong with a Christian being rich or wealthy. Our covenant father, Abraham, was rich in all things and he was God’s friend and confidant. According to the Bible, Job was a righteous man as well as the richest man in the East (of his time).
For some weeks now some persons have been on rage because the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has a jet. If I may ask: Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and his anointed,” (Psalms 2:1, 2). What is the big deal about a Pastor owning a jet? Have the G.O.’s critics bother to find out the purpose of the aircraft and what it would be used for?
Mathew’s gospel Chapter six verses 33 say “But Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” All these things referred to in the above passage include jets, mansions, choice property and other good things of life that give comfort to man. In the book of Genesis chapter eight and verse 22, the Bible says that as long as the earth remains seed time and harvest shall not cease, Adeboye has been sowing his seeds all these years, where were his critics and why should they shout now that he is harvesting? You cannot reap what and from where you did not sow.
Are the members of RCCG complaining? Did they say they were coerced, intimidated or sweet-talked into buying a jet for their Papa? Adeboye chose to seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness, when Christianity was not glamorous, I am very sure some of his colleagues and mates then would have considered him a mad man to abandoned his job as a lecturer to become a mere pastor. And now that he is reaping they are murmuring. The jet is just one of those things that Jesus promised would be added unto whosoever seeks his kingdom and righteousness. Remember Jesus is the master of the universe and he owns everything and everybody in the world and is at liberty to give to whomsoever he chooses to bless with his wealth. A servant is worthy of his wage. God created the heaven and earth and Adeboye is his servant and cannot wallow in poverty. It is God that gives power to make wealth.
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; my cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall choose Jerusalem” (Zechariah 1:17). Money is necessary for the expansion of the kingdom of God. One needs money to buy Bibles, build churches, organize crusade and retreats, and send relief material to the poor and needy. No amount of prayer and fasting can make these things to fall from heaven; God must use human agents to meet the need of Christians and the church. If you check the prayers of many Christians it is full of God give me this, give me that: this is a testimony to the desire of every Christian to come out of lack, want and poverty. No pretence. If the economic needs of many Christians are met, their prayer points would be reduced by 80 per cent and they would now have time to pray for the expansion of the kingdom of God. Many have talked about Christians who stole money and donate same to church. The church does not ask anybody to steal his employer’s money. And the church is not a security agency that investigates the activities of its members. Some persons stole and donate to church with the belief that God will accept their gifts but remember the story of Cain in Genesis, a pastor may receive your offerings and tithes but the God in heaven would not accept any stolen or ill gotten money. The church does not ask its members to steal or make money fraudulently.
Most of the so-called church leaders criticizing Adeboye are doing so out of envy and jealousy and not because of care for the poor. No man, no economic policy or programme can wipe away poverty from the face of the earth because the scripture cannot be broken. The book of Deuteronomy Chapter 15 Verse 11 says “The poor shall never cease out of the land:” So are people saying that Adeboye should not enjoy the harvest of his labour because they are poor people around him and in his church. Our master Jesus Christ when he was around did not heal everybody, in fact, when blind Bartimeus cried to him to have mercy on him, Jesus asked him what do you want me to do for you? When, it was obvious that the man was blind.
Adeboye deserved the best money can buy. He has paid the price. He is greater than the president or head of state of any country and if a president can have a jet attached to his office it is not out of place for Adeboye to have one. There is a difference between living in comfort and living a flamboyant lifestyle. And Papa Adeboye is not such a person and would not start at this age. The Bible says it is an anathema for slaves to be riding horses and princes are trekking. It is time Christians stopped glorifying poverty and opens up their minds to receive wealth from above. Malachi Chapter three verse 10 says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouses, that there maybe meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing that there shall be no room enough to receive it.” Is God a liar? Will he say it and would not be able to perform it? I strongly believe that true riches, like wisdom, come from God.
reactions to
itaetim@yahoo.com
or text 08037269329
वहत अरे वे रेब्रन्डिंग?
WHAT ARE WE REBRANDING?
Rebranding Nigeria is like a repainting an old grave. Does the fresh paint on the outside of a grave change the content of the grave: old bones and maybe stinking and decomposing flesh? Jesus Christ admonishes us that we should not wash the outside of a vessel and leave the inside dirty. Rather we should clean the inside before attempting to wash the outside; always clean both.
What are we really rebranding? Are we rebranding our educational or health sectors that are now in coma? Are we rebranding the Niger Delta people and its environment, which though the heart beat of the nation’s economic well being is polluted, pauperized, neglectd and deprived? Are we rebranding the widespread poverty in the nation in the midst of plenty? Are we rebranding our nation’s economy where people became millionaires and billions without involvement in any productive venture except that they are holding or once held public office?
Are we rebranding a country that give national honours to notorious criminals and public enemies and those who have not make any sacrifice to the nation except for the fact that they hold one political appointment or elective position? Are we rebranding a country where electoral malpractices and violence are seen as national virtues? A country where political thuggery and agents of violence are celebrated as political leaders and stalwarts? We are rebranding a country that two years after general elections, elections results are still being contested in courts and those who rigged their ways into office are enjoying the spoils of office.
Are we rebranding the poor power supply in the country? Or we are rebranding the poor state of roads in our country? Are we rebranding religious violence, ethnicity or tribalism? Are we rebranding federal character and quota system? Are we rebranding the high child mortality in our country?
What is the product we are rebranding? How many of our national leaders believe in the product Nigeria? If they do why do they and their families hold dual citizenship? Is this a testimony of faith in a product? How many of our leaders are passionate about the product they are talking about rebranding? When you see a salesman presenting his product to a prospective customer you would see the passion he talks about the product, can this be say of our leaders and apostles of rebranding? Many of our public and elective office holders do not believe in the Nigerian brand they only do public show because of the offices they hold and what they are getting or expect to get from the system.
At a recent launching of the logo and slogan of rebranding Nigeria, President Umaru Yar’dua talks about the need for institutional and structural frameworks for national orientation. MAMSER, NOA and all those social mobilization and sensitization hypes like rebranding Nigeria would always fail as long has the ordinary man on the street do not feel the direct impact of government. If one may ask what has his administration done to put in place these institutional and structural frameworks that we need to move Nigeria forward?
The product we are branding, how good and useful is the product? How do we the owner and producers of this product or owners of brand believe in this brand? How would non-Nigerians buy or accept our brand if we the owner do not believe in the product through our language, actions and in actions as a people and a nation? Who are we really rebranding Nigeria for: Nigerians or foreigners?
Apart from the civil and public servants and a few politicians who get salaries and patronage from government many Nigerians do not see the need for government because they provide for themselves and families those basic things government should give them. Many Nigerians provide their water through boreholes, generate their own electricity, pay for private security and vigilante groups, send their children to high fee paying schools because the public school system as collapse, they employed themselves and still pay tax to government. In all honesty, how has the local, state and federal government impact on the lives of the common man, they ordinary Nigerian is like an orphan only God is his last hope? How do you change the attitude and mindset of these people toward the product or brand Nigeria without first of all changing their environment and condition of living? How do you convince them that government is of the people, by the people and for the people? This is one of the reason we see voters’ apathy during elections because whether they vote or not their conditions would not change for good except by divine intervention and their votes do not count as to who emerge their leader or representative.
How can the president asked Nigerians to embrace attitudinal changes and make personal sacrifice when our leaders are not showing personal examples. We want to see our president and his family patronizes the National Hospital Abuja for their health needs. We want to see the children of ministers, governors and national assembly members attend public primary, secondary schools and universities. It is only caring and responsible father that can expect his children to be responsible, obedient and respectful and well behaved. Can Nigeria go to war over one of its citizens? We often quote J. F. Kennedy that we should ask what to do for our country and not what our country should do for us. It is time Nigerian leaders ask themselves what to do for the masses and the people in turn would ask for what to do for the country. There must be an enabling environment for patriotism and national pride to grow. One cannot expect patriotism from citizens who are hungry, angry, abused and deprived.
Nigeria has all the potentials of being great but this rebranding would not take us there. There is nothing wrong with our country but the problem lies with us. We may rebrand and present a great container (Nigeria) but what about the content (the people)? How good is the content of the brand Nigeria? I think if the content is good and of the best quality we may have little need to rebrand the container as the content would speak for itself. Let improve on the content before we talk about the packaging of the product. Like they say we preach a lot but we are not ready to walk our talks. Before rebranding there should be an overhaul of how thing are done in the political, economic, education, health sector, inter and intra ethnic relationship. We cannot build a skyscraper on a shaky foundation of a bungalow, for the Bible says that if the foundation is destroy what can the righteous do. We need to go back to the basics and enthrone the rule of law, justice, fairness, equity and abhors insincerity, corruption, hypocrisy, double speak and all forms of discrimination and marginalization.
Whatever name you call the country and whatever image laundry campaign you embark on except the foundation is set aright it would amount to a waste of public fund to embark on this rebranding jamboree. Nigeria is a bad product and brand (if you doubt ask the a man from Niger Delta, he is not a Nigerian he is either Ijaw or Urhobo; and if you see Uwazurike he will tell you that that he is from Biafra).
To rebrand a bad product to be fit for public consumption and presentation the Research and Development need to work hard to produce a refine product that would meet international standard and certification and our citizens would be proud to say “I am Nigerian.” Our environment has a way of impacting on us for good or bad as well as influences our attitude to and perception of life. In the last two years what has the Yar’dua government actually do to embark on the rebranding of Nigeria? If we treat our citizen well they would not stowaway on foreign vessels to get out of the country? If things were all right no Nigerian youth would go through the risky journey of crossing the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean Sea just to escape to Europe through Spain?
Rebranding Nigeria is like a repainting an old grave. Does the fresh paint on the outside of a grave change the content of the grave: old bones and maybe stinking and decomposing flesh? Jesus Christ admonishes us that we should not wash the outside of a vessel and leave the inside dirty. Rather we should clean the inside before attempting to wash the outside; always clean both.
What are we really rebranding? Are we rebranding our educational or health sectors that are now in coma? Are we rebranding the Niger Delta people and its environment, which though the heart beat of the nation’s economic well being is polluted, pauperized, neglectd and deprived? Are we rebranding the widespread poverty in the nation in the midst of plenty? Are we rebranding our nation’s economy where people became millionaires and billions without involvement in any productive venture except that they are holding or once held public office?
Are we rebranding a country that give national honours to notorious criminals and public enemies and those who have not make any sacrifice to the nation except for the fact that they hold one political appointment or elective position? Are we rebranding a country where electoral malpractices and violence are seen as national virtues? A country where political thuggery and agents of violence are celebrated as political leaders and stalwarts? We are rebranding a country that two years after general elections, elections results are still being contested in courts and those who rigged their ways into office are enjoying the spoils of office.
Are we rebranding the poor power supply in the country? Or we are rebranding the poor state of roads in our country? Are we rebranding religious violence, ethnicity or tribalism? Are we rebranding federal character and quota system? Are we rebranding the high child mortality in our country?
What is the product we are rebranding? How many of our national leaders believe in the product Nigeria? If they do why do they and their families hold dual citizenship? Is this a testimony of faith in a product? How many of our leaders are passionate about the product they are talking about rebranding? When you see a salesman presenting his product to a prospective customer you would see the passion he talks about the product, can this be say of our leaders and apostles of rebranding? Many of our public and elective office holders do not believe in the Nigerian brand they only do public show because of the offices they hold and what they are getting or expect to get from the system.
At a recent launching of the logo and slogan of rebranding Nigeria, President Umaru Yar’dua talks about the need for institutional and structural frameworks for national orientation. MAMSER, NOA and all those social mobilization and sensitization hypes like rebranding Nigeria would always fail as long has the ordinary man on the street do not feel the direct impact of government. If one may ask what has his administration done to put in place these institutional and structural frameworks that we need to move Nigeria forward?
The product we are branding, how good and useful is the product? How do we the owner and producers of this product or owners of brand believe in this brand? How would non-Nigerians buy or accept our brand if we the owner do not believe in the product through our language, actions and in actions as a people and a nation? Who are we really rebranding Nigeria for: Nigerians or foreigners?
Apart from the civil and public servants and a few politicians who get salaries and patronage from government many Nigerians do not see the need for government because they provide for themselves and families those basic things government should give them. Many Nigerians provide their water through boreholes, generate their own electricity, pay for private security and vigilante groups, send their children to high fee paying schools because the public school system as collapse, they employed themselves and still pay tax to government. In all honesty, how has the local, state and federal government impact on the lives of the common man, they ordinary Nigerian is like an orphan only God is his last hope? How do you change the attitude and mindset of these people toward the product or brand Nigeria without first of all changing their environment and condition of living? How do you convince them that government is of the people, by the people and for the people? This is one of the reason we see voters’ apathy during elections because whether they vote or not their conditions would not change for good except by divine intervention and their votes do not count as to who emerge their leader or representative.
How can the president asked Nigerians to embrace attitudinal changes and make personal sacrifice when our leaders are not showing personal examples. We want to see our president and his family patronizes the National Hospital Abuja for their health needs. We want to see the children of ministers, governors and national assembly members attend public primary, secondary schools and universities. It is only caring and responsible father that can expect his children to be responsible, obedient and respectful and well behaved. Can Nigeria go to war over one of its citizens? We often quote J. F. Kennedy that we should ask what to do for our country and not what our country should do for us. It is time Nigerian leaders ask themselves what to do for the masses and the people in turn would ask for what to do for the country. There must be an enabling environment for patriotism and national pride to grow. One cannot expect patriotism from citizens who are hungry, angry, abused and deprived.
Nigeria has all the potentials of being great but this rebranding would not take us there. There is nothing wrong with our country but the problem lies with us. We may rebrand and present a great container (Nigeria) but what about the content (the people)? How good is the content of the brand Nigeria? I think if the content is good and of the best quality we may have little need to rebrand the container as the content would speak for itself. Let improve on the content before we talk about the packaging of the product. Like they say we preach a lot but we are not ready to walk our talks. Before rebranding there should be an overhaul of how thing are done in the political, economic, education, health sector, inter and intra ethnic relationship. We cannot build a skyscraper on a shaky foundation of a bungalow, for the Bible says that if the foundation is destroy what can the righteous do. We need to go back to the basics and enthrone the rule of law, justice, fairness, equity and abhors insincerity, corruption, hypocrisy, double speak and all forms of discrimination and marginalization.
Whatever name you call the country and whatever image laundry campaign you embark on except the foundation is set aright it would amount to a waste of public fund to embark on this rebranding jamboree. Nigeria is a bad product and brand (if you doubt ask the a man from Niger Delta, he is not a Nigerian he is either Ijaw or Urhobo; and if you see Uwazurike he will tell you that that he is from Biafra).
To rebrand a bad product to be fit for public consumption and presentation the Research and Development need to work hard to produce a refine product that would meet international standard and certification and our citizens would be proud to say “I am Nigerian.” Our environment has a way of impacting on us for good or bad as well as influences our attitude to and perception of life. In the last two years what has the Yar’dua government actually do to embark on the rebranding of Nigeria? If we treat our citizen well they would not stowaway on foreign vessels to get out of the country? If things were all right no Nigerian youth would go through the risky journey of crossing the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean Sea just to escape to Europe through Spain?
एंड थिस VOILENCE
LET THERE BE PEACE
The development of the Niger Delta region is one of the seven point agenda of President Musa Yar’dua’s administration. But barely two years into the end of the administration no development has taken place in the area except the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the withholding of funds that should go to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The daily refrain we hear is that federal government cannot execute any project in the Niger Delta because of insecurity, militancy, kidnapping and other anti social behaviours. Recently, Rivers State Governor, Chubike Amaechi, declared that the federal government has not execute or complete any project in the state in the last 20 years, this scenario is not restricted to Rivers state as it is the same story across the nine Niger Delta States. The federal government did not do anything before the violence started and they had no justification. But now that there is violence they have a “cogent” reason of instability and insecurity not to do anything in the region.
For about a decade now the Niger Delta has been a centre of violence, an undeclared war between some militia groups and the Federal Government of Nigeria. But we have not achieved anything in these years except cases of rape, killing, kidnapping and destruction of our communities like Odi. Our youths are being wasted on a daily basis by various military actions aimed at restoring peace in the region. They are destroying our villages, environment and breeding bastard children in the name of keeping peace. They are soldiers of fortune and mercenaries and not peace keepers.
Violence is holding us back while other parts of the country are going ahead. Our youths are no longer in schools because of violence. Tomorrow they will tell us that we don’t have the requisite education and skills to work in the oil and gas sector. Our polluted waters and environment have not be clean up because we are termed to be violent and our environment not conducive for such clean up and remediation jobs or any development activity, for that matter. Some of our youths and community leaders prefer to collect cash in place of clean up and remediation exercises. They are now emergency contractors in cleaning oil spills.
It is time we tell ourselves the truth, what have we gain in a decade of violence? The creation of NDDC has not impacted on the lives of the ordinary Niger Deltans as most of its projects are located in the homes of our political, traditional and opinion leaders who are as guilty as the federal government if we want to apportion blame on why we are where we are today. Some of the contractors handling the commission’s projects are not from the region so whatever money they make do not remain here. Most of the beneficiaries of the commission’s empowerment programmes are candidates of one politician or the other. Take its mass transits scheme, for example, how many drivers benefited from the buses rather politicians and other “stakeholders” were the beneficiaries.
Has the decade of violence change the employment ratio in the oil industry in favour of the Niger Delta people? Has the violence transform the East West Road into a dual carriage way? Has the violence given us potable water or put an end to gas flaring? Has the violence put an end to the exploitation of our oil and gas resources and stop oil spills? What do we have to show except being labeled as kidnappers, pirates, illegal oil bunkerers and criminals?
Our sea ports in Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar have been abandoned with the excuse that our waterways are unsafe for any maritime activity and we are being deprive of revenues that could have accrue to us, the informal employment that would have come to the immediate communities of the ports and other positive effects of a vibrant port. Even when there is congestion at Lagos ports vessels are not diverted to our ports because we have been blackmail before the international maritime community as a haven for pirates and kidnappers. Importers prefer to wait in Lagos and pay demurrage instead of “risking” Niger Delta ports. This situation has made our ports to be idle and unused thereby leading to the deterioration of the facilities due to non usage. These facilities would not be replaced or rehabilitated, especially now that the ports are not in use because of “militancy.” Before they used to tell us that our ports are shallow and need dredging but now they story has changed.
If others are hurting us should we be aggravating our pains and deprivation? Yes, kidnapping, illegal bunkering and militancy may produce a few millionaires in our region but can these money meet the needs of the vast majority of the people? Can the few millions made by a few in our midst be equal to the billions we are losing through non execution and location of federal projects in our region? Can these few millions compensate us for the businesses that are closing shops in our region or the foreign investors who are avoiding our land like plague?
Few persons are making money at the expense of the region’s development. The crisis has thrown up many amorphous organizations, youth groups, security consultants and all manners of negotiators and peace agents. The Niger Delta crisis has produce more “specialists” and “experts” than any other industry in the country in the last 10 years. Every one now tries to use the Niger Delta crisis to get money, attention or relevance from the authorities. Experts in conflict resolution and rehabilitation of deviant members of the society are emerging daily. Billions of naira that would have been used for the development of the region has been expended in hosting workshops, seminars, conferences, technical committees, roundtables among others to proffer solution to the problems of the region but no solution is yet in sight.
Despite a Federal Government directive that all oil companies operating in the region must have their headquarters in the Niger Delta, some of they are using the crisis as an excuse not to relocate to the area. Those that have already relocated are trying to get out of the region. Contracts, employment and other major decisions that affect the Niger Delta are taken outside our region and in most cases such decisions are not favourable to us.
We are truly the losers. The same people who have abused and deprived us are benefiting from continued crisis in the region. The money spent by the various state governments in the region on security is enough to develop, or provide basic amenities like potable water. Funding the police, Joint Task force and other security agencies are the responsibility of the federal government but our meager resources are now expended on this. And one can not rule out the abuse of security votes by these governors. Also as long as we continue to kidnap and rape, bogus security reports that blackmail our governors to release billions for security would not stop.
Also our politicians, elder statesmen, traditional rulers and even religious leaders, who have failed us would continue to profit from the violence as they go to Abuja claiming to be in control of the boys or can talk to them to lay down arms. Security agents are boasting that armed robbery has gone down in the region as the vice of kidnapping is the vogue, how true is this? How many of the kidnappers or pirates know what the Niger Delta issues are or what the region is agitating for. A situation were every petty thief is labeled a militant has make a mockery of the genuine agitation of our people. The rank of the freedom fighters have been infiltrated and hijacked by criminals, who hide under the region’s agitation to pursue their criminal activities.
If we are real freedom fighters and the interest of our region is the motive of our agitation, then we must give peace a chance. That we are observing a ceasefire or temporary lay down our arms does not mean we have exhausted our ammunition, tired, war-weary or at our wits end. It is not a weakness to seek peace or stop fighting out of one’s accord. It would be a time for sober reflection and to strategize for the next level of our struggle. We should adopt Prof. Wole Soyinka’s suggestion of an intellectual and ideological struggle since violence and arms have failed us. Let try the Ogoni option of non violence agitation engagement of the federal government. Many in the region may oppose the peace option because they are afraid that they may lose a reliable source of income, relevance and prominence. Some are also afraid that they may become nobody if peace reigns in the region. They curry favour, get appointments, contracts and other government patronage as long as the crisis last. Let the overall interest of the region prevail.
Let us give the President the next two years to fulfill his electoral promise and one of his administration seven point agenda, and that is, developing Niger Delta. Let us not give him a reason or an excuse not to do this. Let us sheathe our swords, enough is enough, we have registered our grievances, let give them time to keep their promises or fail to do so. We need peace and the time for peace is now. There can be no progress, growth and development in an atmosphere of violence and insecurity. Shalom!
The development of the Niger Delta region is one of the seven point agenda of President Musa Yar’dua’s administration. But barely two years into the end of the administration no development has taken place in the area except the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the withholding of funds that should go to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The daily refrain we hear is that federal government cannot execute any project in the Niger Delta because of insecurity, militancy, kidnapping and other anti social behaviours. Recently, Rivers State Governor, Chubike Amaechi, declared that the federal government has not execute or complete any project in the state in the last 20 years, this scenario is not restricted to Rivers state as it is the same story across the nine Niger Delta States. The federal government did not do anything before the violence started and they had no justification. But now that there is violence they have a “cogent” reason of instability and insecurity not to do anything in the region.
For about a decade now the Niger Delta has been a centre of violence, an undeclared war between some militia groups and the Federal Government of Nigeria. But we have not achieved anything in these years except cases of rape, killing, kidnapping and destruction of our communities like Odi. Our youths are being wasted on a daily basis by various military actions aimed at restoring peace in the region. They are destroying our villages, environment and breeding bastard children in the name of keeping peace. They are soldiers of fortune and mercenaries and not peace keepers.
Violence is holding us back while other parts of the country are going ahead. Our youths are no longer in schools because of violence. Tomorrow they will tell us that we don’t have the requisite education and skills to work in the oil and gas sector. Our polluted waters and environment have not be clean up because we are termed to be violent and our environment not conducive for such clean up and remediation jobs or any development activity, for that matter. Some of our youths and community leaders prefer to collect cash in place of clean up and remediation exercises. They are now emergency contractors in cleaning oil spills.
It is time we tell ourselves the truth, what have we gain in a decade of violence? The creation of NDDC has not impacted on the lives of the ordinary Niger Deltans as most of its projects are located in the homes of our political, traditional and opinion leaders who are as guilty as the federal government if we want to apportion blame on why we are where we are today. Some of the contractors handling the commission’s projects are not from the region so whatever money they make do not remain here. Most of the beneficiaries of the commission’s empowerment programmes are candidates of one politician or the other. Take its mass transits scheme, for example, how many drivers benefited from the buses rather politicians and other “stakeholders” were the beneficiaries.
Has the decade of violence change the employment ratio in the oil industry in favour of the Niger Delta people? Has the violence transform the East West Road into a dual carriage way? Has the violence given us potable water or put an end to gas flaring? Has the violence put an end to the exploitation of our oil and gas resources and stop oil spills? What do we have to show except being labeled as kidnappers, pirates, illegal oil bunkerers and criminals?
Our sea ports in Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar have been abandoned with the excuse that our waterways are unsafe for any maritime activity and we are being deprive of revenues that could have accrue to us, the informal employment that would have come to the immediate communities of the ports and other positive effects of a vibrant port. Even when there is congestion at Lagos ports vessels are not diverted to our ports because we have been blackmail before the international maritime community as a haven for pirates and kidnappers. Importers prefer to wait in Lagos and pay demurrage instead of “risking” Niger Delta ports. This situation has made our ports to be idle and unused thereby leading to the deterioration of the facilities due to non usage. These facilities would not be replaced or rehabilitated, especially now that the ports are not in use because of “militancy.” Before they used to tell us that our ports are shallow and need dredging but now they story has changed.
If others are hurting us should we be aggravating our pains and deprivation? Yes, kidnapping, illegal bunkering and militancy may produce a few millionaires in our region but can these money meet the needs of the vast majority of the people? Can the few millions made by a few in our midst be equal to the billions we are losing through non execution and location of federal projects in our region? Can these few millions compensate us for the businesses that are closing shops in our region or the foreign investors who are avoiding our land like plague?
Few persons are making money at the expense of the region’s development. The crisis has thrown up many amorphous organizations, youth groups, security consultants and all manners of negotiators and peace agents. The Niger Delta crisis has produce more “specialists” and “experts” than any other industry in the country in the last 10 years. Every one now tries to use the Niger Delta crisis to get money, attention or relevance from the authorities. Experts in conflict resolution and rehabilitation of deviant members of the society are emerging daily. Billions of naira that would have been used for the development of the region has been expended in hosting workshops, seminars, conferences, technical committees, roundtables among others to proffer solution to the problems of the region but no solution is yet in sight.
Despite a Federal Government directive that all oil companies operating in the region must have their headquarters in the Niger Delta, some of they are using the crisis as an excuse not to relocate to the area. Those that have already relocated are trying to get out of the region. Contracts, employment and other major decisions that affect the Niger Delta are taken outside our region and in most cases such decisions are not favourable to us.
We are truly the losers. The same people who have abused and deprived us are benefiting from continued crisis in the region. The money spent by the various state governments in the region on security is enough to develop, or provide basic amenities like potable water. Funding the police, Joint Task force and other security agencies are the responsibility of the federal government but our meager resources are now expended on this. And one can not rule out the abuse of security votes by these governors. Also as long as we continue to kidnap and rape, bogus security reports that blackmail our governors to release billions for security would not stop.
Also our politicians, elder statesmen, traditional rulers and even religious leaders, who have failed us would continue to profit from the violence as they go to Abuja claiming to be in control of the boys or can talk to them to lay down arms. Security agents are boasting that armed robbery has gone down in the region as the vice of kidnapping is the vogue, how true is this? How many of the kidnappers or pirates know what the Niger Delta issues are or what the region is agitating for. A situation were every petty thief is labeled a militant has make a mockery of the genuine agitation of our people. The rank of the freedom fighters have been infiltrated and hijacked by criminals, who hide under the region’s agitation to pursue their criminal activities.
If we are real freedom fighters and the interest of our region is the motive of our agitation, then we must give peace a chance. That we are observing a ceasefire or temporary lay down our arms does not mean we have exhausted our ammunition, tired, war-weary or at our wits end. It is not a weakness to seek peace or stop fighting out of one’s accord. It would be a time for sober reflection and to strategize for the next level of our struggle. We should adopt Prof. Wole Soyinka’s suggestion of an intellectual and ideological struggle since violence and arms have failed us. Let try the Ogoni option of non violence agitation engagement of the federal government. Many in the region may oppose the peace option because they are afraid that they may lose a reliable source of income, relevance and prominence. Some are also afraid that they may become nobody if peace reigns in the region. They curry favour, get appointments, contracts and other government patronage as long as the crisis last. Let the overall interest of the region prevail.
Let us give the President the next two years to fulfill his electoral promise and one of his administration seven point agenda, and that is, developing Niger Delta. Let us not give him a reason or an excuse not to do this. Let us sheathe our swords, enough is enough, we have registered our grievances, let give them time to keep their promises or fail to do so. We need peace and the time for peace is now. There can be no progress, growth and development in an atmosphere of violence and insecurity. Shalom!
अप्पोंत्मेंट्स इन NIGERIA'स OIL थे गैस INDUSTRY
APPOINTMENTS IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
At its recent meetings in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South-South governors called on the federal government to review recent appointments in the oil and gas industry. The call, though belated, was a reaction to the lopsidedness in appointments in the industry. Some persons have tagged it the Northernisation of the oil industry. Contracts, employment and even allocation of oil blocks and other oil related activities tend to bend towards people from areas that have produced past heads of these companies and parastatals. There is a correlation between the headship of these companies and employment into them. In Nigeria people from certain tribes, states, and zones tend to dominate certain industry not because they are they best but as a result of the lopsided recruitment and promotion when one of their own was in the leadership saddle.
In a country that boasts of federal character and quota system, in its constitution, these constitutional provisions were not taken into consideration in the recent appointments. Even if the Niger Delta did not have oil, the Willinks Commission recommended that the region should be treated as a special federal territory which means some preferential treatments should be given to natives of the Delta. We deserve this special treatment no because we are inferior but because in Nigeria the larger tribes want to have it all. But God in his infinite mercies, and wisdom, foresaw that the people would amount to nothing in the emerging Nigerian federation decided to deposit oil and gas in their environment to give them relevance in Nigeria.
The Delta is not only relevant in Nigeria because when you hold the map of Africa like a gun you will realize that the Delta is the trigger, this shows the importance of the region not only in the continent but in world affairs. No one can ignore the importance and role of a trigger in a rifle: so is the Niger Delta region. As people of little strength who cannot contend with the larger ethnic groups, God gave the Niger Delta oil so that the can also be powerful. This has serve as a balance of power between the major tribes and the minority Deltans.
The Bible says that God blesses a man to be a blessing to others so God’s blessings (oil and gas) to Niger Delta region should not be for people from this region alone other Nigerians should share it but the owners on the land should not be given the crumbs. Yes land belong to the government what about other regions that use their lands to cultivate cocoa, millet, cotton, tomato do they bring the proceeds from the sales of these crops to the national coffer for sharing as federal allocation? Remember that oil exploration and exploitation as well as gas flaring have rendered Niger Delta lands and waters infertile. We can no longer have bountiful harvests of palm fruits, fishes, shrimps and periwinkles like before.
Nigerian government, leaders and people have been insensitive to the plight and feelings of the Deltans. Where indigenes of these oil bearing communities are reduced to hewers of wood is not fair. These people and their communities are bearing and will continue to bear, after the oil and gas resources have been exhausted, the negative effects of oil exploitation. They are stakeholders and should take the lion share of the goodies accruing from oil revenue. Qualified natives deserved jobs in the oil industry. One is not advocating for mediocrity or employment of unqualified persons but qualified indigenes should be recruited. We have federal character, quota system and waivers for educationally disadvantaged states which take care of some disadvantaged states why not adopt this in the oil industry with emphasis on qualified locals.
A friend even made an observation that some universities in part of the country mass produced first class and second class graduates so that when these companies advertised with first class as minimum grade only those from this region would be qualified to apply. This mass production of first class graduates do not represent academic execellence but a ploy to give some section a head start in the ever shrinking job market so that they can perpetually dominate the nation economy and others like the Deltans would be referred to being lazy and never do wells.There is also a ploy where Nigerians who studied abroad are recruited as expatriates. There is nothing wrong with this but trust Nigerians when they arrive the country they would live up to type and play the ethnic card by facilitating the employment of “his people” to the detriment of the natives.
Why should oil and gas companies operating in the Niger Delta region conduct their aptitude tests and interviews in Lagos and Abuja? How many applicants from the Delta can afford the transport fare and hotel bills to attend these interviews and tests. NLNG and Exxon Mobil are culprits. This is a clear statement that the Deltans are not wanted in their companies. Why should the place be conducive for you to do business and it is not good enough to hold tests and interviews?
It is a pity that some opinion and community leaders in the Delta would prefer contracts and handouts from the companies rather than insist on the employment of their indigenes especially where these chiefs or opinion leaders have no children who are qualified for such positions. There is a story of a young man who scaled through an aptitude test of an oil company and an inside source advised him to get in touch with his State Liason Officer, his is from one of the oil bearing states, the chief told the young man that two of his children took the test and failed, so the young man should also try and get the job the way he passed the test without his help.
Another young man narrated a story of how he passed the attitude test and during the interview was asked if he knew anybody in an American oil company and he said no. That was the end but his friend who failed the test lamented that if only he had made the minimum score the job would have been his- this also shows that the much talked about quality, excellence and merit do not always count during recruitment exercises of these oil multi nationals. So after all it is who you know not what you know.
The Petroleum Development Trust Fund scholarship should be given to all Nigerians but some dedicated slots should allotted to the oil producing states with emphasis to the oil bearing communities. It is not enough for the oil companies to say that the oil communities have no qualified indigenes to fill vacancies but what have they done in the more than 50 years of oil exploration to develop quality manpower from these oil bearing communities? Some oil companies even prefer Nigerians who studied abroad, if one may ask how many locals from these oil bearing communities have they oil companies send abroad from education? Does it mean that any one who attended any school abroad is turn into a genius or an expert? I believe that education is like salvation: it is more of personal endeavor than the name of your school or church.
In trying to douse the agitation and violence in the Niger Delta its qualified indigenes should be appointed and employed into key positions in the oil and gas industry. Employing locals as drivers and watchmen for oil pipelines is not enough as it only introduce the natives the good life that the oil workers are living from proceeds of their lands. It only serve short term purpose and breed anger, violence, bunkering and kidnapping.
At its recent meetings in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South-South governors called on the federal government to review recent appointments in the oil and gas industry. The call, though belated, was a reaction to the lopsidedness in appointments in the industry. Some persons have tagged it the Northernisation of the oil industry. Contracts, employment and even allocation of oil blocks and other oil related activities tend to bend towards people from areas that have produced past heads of these companies and parastatals. There is a correlation between the headship of these companies and employment into them. In Nigeria people from certain tribes, states, and zones tend to dominate certain industry not because they are they best but as a result of the lopsided recruitment and promotion when one of their own was in the leadership saddle.
In a country that boasts of federal character and quota system, in its constitution, these constitutional provisions were not taken into consideration in the recent appointments. Even if the Niger Delta did not have oil, the Willinks Commission recommended that the region should be treated as a special federal territory which means some preferential treatments should be given to natives of the Delta. We deserve this special treatment no because we are inferior but because in Nigeria the larger tribes want to have it all. But God in his infinite mercies, and wisdom, foresaw that the people would amount to nothing in the emerging Nigerian federation decided to deposit oil and gas in their environment to give them relevance in Nigeria.
The Delta is not only relevant in Nigeria because when you hold the map of Africa like a gun you will realize that the Delta is the trigger, this shows the importance of the region not only in the continent but in world affairs. No one can ignore the importance and role of a trigger in a rifle: so is the Niger Delta region. As people of little strength who cannot contend with the larger ethnic groups, God gave the Niger Delta oil so that the can also be powerful. This has serve as a balance of power between the major tribes and the minority Deltans.
The Bible says that God blesses a man to be a blessing to others so God’s blessings (oil and gas) to Niger Delta region should not be for people from this region alone other Nigerians should share it but the owners on the land should not be given the crumbs. Yes land belong to the government what about other regions that use their lands to cultivate cocoa, millet, cotton, tomato do they bring the proceeds from the sales of these crops to the national coffer for sharing as federal allocation? Remember that oil exploration and exploitation as well as gas flaring have rendered Niger Delta lands and waters infertile. We can no longer have bountiful harvests of palm fruits, fishes, shrimps and periwinkles like before.
Nigerian government, leaders and people have been insensitive to the plight and feelings of the Deltans. Where indigenes of these oil bearing communities are reduced to hewers of wood is not fair. These people and their communities are bearing and will continue to bear, after the oil and gas resources have been exhausted, the negative effects of oil exploitation. They are stakeholders and should take the lion share of the goodies accruing from oil revenue. Qualified natives deserved jobs in the oil industry. One is not advocating for mediocrity or employment of unqualified persons but qualified indigenes should be recruited. We have federal character, quota system and waivers for educationally disadvantaged states which take care of some disadvantaged states why not adopt this in the oil industry with emphasis on qualified locals.
A friend even made an observation that some universities in part of the country mass produced first class and second class graduates so that when these companies advertised with first class as minimum grade only those from this region would be qualified to apply. This mass production of first class graduates do not represent academic execellence but a ploy to give some section a head start in the ever shrinking job market so that they can perpetually dominate the nation economy and others like the Deltans would be referred to being lazy and never do wells.There is also a ploy where Nigerians who studied abroad are recruited as expatriates. There is nothing wrong with this but trust Nigerians when they arrive the country they would live up to type and play the ethnic card by facilitating the employment of “his people” to the detriment of the natives.
Why should oil and gas companies operating in the Niger Delta region conduct their aptitude tests and interviews in Lagos and Abuja? How many applicants from the Delta can afford the transport fare and hotel bills to attend these interviews and tests. NLNG and Exxon Mobil are culprits. This is a clear statement that the Deltans are not wanted in their companies. Why should the place be conducive for you to do business and it is not good enough to hold tests and interviews?
It is a pity that some opinion and community leaders in the Delta would prefer contracts and handouts from the companies rather than insist on the employment of their indigenes especially where these chiefs or opinion leaders have no children who are qualified for such positions. There is a story of a young man who scaled through an aptitude test of an oil company and an inside source advised him to get in touch with his State Liason Officer, his is from one of the oil bearing states, the chief told the young man that two of his children took the test and failed, so the young man should also try and get the job the way he passed the test without his help.
Another young man narrated a story of how he passed the attitude test and during the interview was asked if he knew anybody in an American oil company and he said no. That was the end but his friend who failed the test lamented that if only he had made the minimum score the job would have been his- this also shows that the much talked about quality, excellence and merit do not always count during recruitment exercises of these oil multi nationals. So after all it is who you know not what you know.
The Petroleum Development Trust Fund scholarship should be given to all Nigerians but some dedicated slots should allotted to the oil producing states with emphasis to the oil bearing communities. It is not enough for the oil companies to say that the oil communities have no qualified indigenes to fill vacancies but what have they done in the more than 50 years of oil exploration to develop quality manpower from these oil bearing communities? Some oil companies even prefer Nigerians who studied abroad, if one may ask how many locals from these oil bearing communities have they oil companies send abroad from education? Does it mean that any one who attended any school abroad is turn into a genius or an expert? I believe that education is like salvation: it is more of personal endeavor than the name of your school or church.
In trying to douse the agitation and violence in the Niger Delta its qualified indigenes should be appointed and employed into key positions in the oil and gas industry. Employing locals as drivers and watchmen for oil pipelines is not enough as it only introduce the natives the good life that the oil workers are living from proceeds of their lands. It only serve short term purpose and breed anger, violence, bunkering and kidnapping.
कैरिंग फॉर थे POOR
CARING FOR THE POOR
The Bible says that as long as the earth remains the poor would always be in our midst. The Holy Writ also admonishes us to care for the poor because whoever does this is borrowing to God and God must certainly pay back with more interest than any bank or investment can give. The Holy Book also states that whoever despises the poor is mocking God.
No one in his right mind would choose to be poor. Yes to some wealth and the attendant attention may be scaring but every man desired some level of comfort. Poverty or wealth in most cases, as sociologists would say, is a matter of life chances. There is a culture of poverty. This is a story for another day. Most people are poor not because they are not smart, ambitious, brilliant, intelligent or hardworking but are just victims of other factors beyond their control. And the Bible also says that it is God that gives power to make wealth and it is not the power or might of the rich man.
Sunday March 1, 2009 I watched a pathetic story on NTA News Line of the death of one Mrs. Amudat Bello who died after she delivered sextuplets due to post delivery complications. The husband, Mr. Lukman Bello, first ran when he was told the story of the delivery but later realized his mistake and returned to his family. Lukman, the story said is a battery charger, and his income from the business could not sustain his wife and their only child before the arrival of the sextuplets. Now with the arrival of the new babies and the demise of their mother, he needs help and urgently too. If the Bellos had the resources, perhaps those children would have been delivered abroad and maybe their mother would have survived. You see what poverty has caused?
According to News Line report, a scan had earlier shown that Mrs. Bello was carrying a set of sextuplets. I think from the moment this was found, given her socio-economic background she should have been a government project as her medical bills and even diet would have been the responsibility of the government who would one day demand taxes from these children, if they survive; call them for National Youth Service Corps, if they went through university; and seek their support for one national issue or the other?
The Ibibios have a saying that people do not pray for misfortune, so no one would pray to have sextuplets so that he or she can enjoy government patronage or support, many poor people are not beggars except to beg God to change their fortune. No one prays to suffer one of those life threatening diseases so that government would fly them abroad or pick their medical bills. Not many Nigerian would be lucky like the boy from Bayelsa State, who had water in his head, and was lucky to be linked up with the President’s wife to settle his medical expenses. Though we thanked the first lady but I believe there was no need to go as far as Abuja when the authorities in Yenagoa could conveniently settle the bills.
Another pathetic story is that of one Mrs Nnena Ebi, a widow, who has taken up a permanent residence at the Children Ward (Ward Seven) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. About October 2007 her family experienced a kerosene explosion and four of her children suffered some degrees of burns during the incident. They were taken to the hospital for treatment and were discharged last month (February) but Mrs. Ebi cannot pay the bills for her children’s treatment. Even if she was able to foot the bills she has no home to return to. During the course of her five months sojourn in the hospital her one room apartment in Calabar South Local Government Area was burgled and to worsen her plight, her landlord gave her a quit notice. She now needs about N150, 000 to foot the hospital bills, get a one room accommodation and resume her petty trading which was crippled in the last few months as the capital was used during the treatment of her children.
We need some welfare policies that would take care of those who cannot genuinely afford their medical bills because of their economic status or the high cost of treatment of the ailment. Vision 2020 should include a welfare programme for Nigerians, a Social Security Act for individuals who are aged, poor, the disabled, sick or have social needs. I would advocate for services to be given to these people rather than cash to discourage fake needy people. We need a welfare system that should take care of the poor, the not so poor and the non poor.
Who should benefit from social welfare? If put in place welfare assistance like any other thing in Nigeria would be abused but I think it is a conscience game, if you can pick your bills and you still go ahead and seek social welfare and deprive the needy God will judge. Do no ask me about the various Poverty Eradication Programmes by the various governments in this country. The Poverty Alleviation Programme that was supposed to benefit the poor was hijacked by civil servants and party officials and the real poor were left out.
According to Diana DiNitto, one way to define poverty is deprivation, that is, insufficiency in food, housing, clothing, medical care and other items required to maintain a decent standard of living. This definition assumes that there is a standard of living below which individuals and families can be considered deprived. DiNitto noted that the first sources of welfare assistance to those in needs are families, friends and churches but where these sources failed government should intervene.
We should not close our bowels of mercy against the less privileged in our society. The Bible says the crown does not last in one family forever and wealth does not last through all generations. Today that son of your poor neighbor can turn out to be your saviour tomorrow. He may hold the key to the solution to the world crisis. Give him a chance to live and fulfill his destiny. Nigerians should rise up and contribute to the welfare of the poor and needy among us. We should be our brother’s keepers. We should be able to squeeze, so to speak, a few naira for the needy, it maybe all the insurance we need for our rainy days. If we checkmate our greed we can spare some nairas for those in need. Today that money has failed we need to contribute to the survival of our country men and women who are facing one challenge or the other, it may not be a waste after all.
The same federal government that foots the bills of treatment of President Yar’dua owes those innocent kids the same privilege, after all, our president did not contract his ailment while in office or in the cause of discharging his presidential duties, what is sauce for the geese should also be sauce for the gander. I doubt if our president were to still be a lecturer he would still have been alive today or able to foot his numerous foreign medical trips. Those children must not die because of money or lack of concern by Nigerians.
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The Bible says that as long as the earth remains the poor would always be in our midst. The Holy Writ also admonishes us to care for the poor because whoever does this is borrowing to God and God must certainly pay back with more interest than any bank or investment can give. The Holy Book also states that whoever despises the poor is mocking God.
No one in his right mind would choose to be poor. Yes to some wealth and the attendant attention may be scaring but every man desired some level of comfort. Poverty or wealth in most cases, as sociologists would say, is a matter of life chances. There is a culture of poverty. This is a story for another day. Most people are poor not because they are not smart, ambitious, brilliant, intelligent or hardworking but are just victims of other factors beyond their control. And the Bible also says that it is God that gives power to make wealth and it is not the power or might of the rich man.
Sunday March 1, 2009 I watched a pathetic story on NTA News Line of the death of one Mrs. Amudat Bello who died after she delivered sextuplets due to post delivery complications. The husband, Mr. Lukman Bello, first ran when he was told the story of the delivery but later realized his mistake and returned to his family. Lukman, the story said is a battery charger, and his income from the business could not sustain his wife and their only child before the arrival of the sextuplets. Now with the arrival of the new babies and the demise of their mother, he needs help and urgently too. If the Bellos had the resources, perhaps those children would have been delivered abroad and maybe their mother would have survived. You see what poverty has caused?
According to News Line report, a scan had earlier shown that Mrs. Bello was carrying a set of sextuplets. I think from the moment this was found, given her socio-economic background she should have been a government project as her medical bills and even diet would have been the responsibility of the government who would one day demand taxes from these children, if they survive; call them for National Youth Service Corps, if they went through university; and seek their support for one national issue or the other?
The Ibibios have a saying that people do not pray for misfortune, so no one would pray to have sextuplets so that he or she can enjoy government patronage or support, many poor people are not beggars except to beg God to change their fortune. No one prays to suffer one of those life threatening diseases so that government would fly them abroad or pick their medical bills. Not many Nigerian would be lucky like the boy from Bayelsa State, who had water in his head, and was lucky to be linked up with the President’s wife to settle his medical expenses. Though we thanked the first lady but I believe there was no need to go as far as Abuja when the authorities in Yenagoa could conveniently settle the bills.
Another pathetic story is that of one Mrs Nnena Ebi, a widow, who has taken up a permanent residence at the Children Ward (Ward Seven) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. About October 2007 her family experienced a kerosene explosion and four of her children suffered some degrees of burns during the incident. They were taken to the hospital for treatment and were discharged last month (February) but Mrs. Ebi cannot pay the bills for her children’s treatment. Even if she was able to foot the bills she has no home to return to. During the course of her five months sojourn in the hospital her one room apartment in Calabar South Local Government Area was burgled and to worsen her plight, her landlord gave her a quit notice. She now needs about N150, 000 to foot the hospital bills, get a one room accommodation and resume her petty trading which was crippled in the last few months as the capital was used during the treatment of her children.
We need some welfare policies that would take care of those who cannot genuinely afford their medical bills because of their economic status or the high cost of treatment of the ailment. Vision 2020 should include a welfare programme for Nigerians, a Social Security Act for individuals who are aged, poor, the disabled, sick or have social needs. I would advocate for services to be given to these people rather than cash to discourage fake needy people. We need a welfare system that should take care of the poor, the not so poor and the non poor.
Who should benefit from social welfare? If put in place welfare assistance like any other thing in Nigeria would be abused but I think it is a conscience game, if you can pick your bills and you still go ahead and seek social welfare and deprive the needy God will judge. Do no ask me about the various Poverty Eradication Programmes by the various governments in this country. The Poverty Alleviation Programme that was supposed to benefit the poor was hijacked by civil servants and party officials and the real poor were left out.
According to Diana DiNitto, one way to define poverty is deprivation, that is, insufficiency in food, housing, clothing, medical care and other items required to maintain a decent standard of living. This definition assumes that there is a standard of living below which individuals and families can be considered deprived. DiNitto noted that the first sources of welfare assistance to those in needs are families, friends and churches but where these sources failed government should intervene.
We should not close our bowels of mercy against the less privileged in our society. The Bible says the crown does not last in one family forever and wealth does not last through all generations. Today that son of your poor neighbor can turn out to be your saviour tomorrow. He may hold the key to the solution to the world crisis. Give him a chance to live and fulfill his destiny. Nigerians should rise up and contribute to the welfare of the poor and needy among us. We should be our brother’s keepers. We should be able to squeeze, so to speak, a few naira for the needy, it maybe all the insurance we need for our rainy days. If we checkmate our greed we can spare some nairas for those in need. Today that money has failed we need to contribute to the survival of our country men and women who are facing one challenge or the other, it may not be a waste after all.
The same federal government that foots the bills of treatment of President Yar’dua owes those innocent kids the same privilege, after all, our president did not contract his ailment while in office or in the cause of discharging his presidential duties, what is sauce for the geese should also be sauce for the gander. I doubt if our president were to still be a lecturer he would still have been alive today or able to foot his numerous foreign medical trips. Those children must not die because of money or lack of concern by Nigerians.
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