Nigeria Watch

NOT AGAIN

2014-05-28T05:43:00.004-07:00

BY EDDY AGHANENU

Recent events in Rivers State gives cause for concern and apprehension. It reminds one of the old Western Region in the first republic. As it was in the first republic, the police are active participants and not neutral observers. This is dangerous and it portends evil for the country. We forget so soon and refuse to learn from history.
As it was in the first republic, the ruling party at the centre in order to control the Western Region decided to induce crisis using the Action Group’s deputy leader against the leader of the party. In the process, Action Group became polarized. The ruling party at the centre, Northern People’s Congress (NPC) decided to use its federal might to rig elections in the region. This blatant disregard for the electoral wishes of the people led to the crisis in the West, which gave birth to the first military coup and inevitably, the civil war. This also led to the long military interregnum that destroyed the democratic culture that was already developing.

The same scenario is playing itself out again in Rivers State. Rivers State is gradually becoming the wild wild West of Nigerian politics. Governor Rotimi Amaechi due to his principled stance on due process and democratic best practices has been at log ahead with the centre. Formerly of the same ruling party as the centre, the governor was forced out of the party. Many factors are responsibility for the political crises we are currently witnessing in the state. The president is from the neighbouring state of Bayelsa while his wife comes from Rivers State. The centre will want to ensure that the state votes massively for the ruling party come 2015. This may not be guaranteed if Amaechi is not checked as the governor is not prepared to compromise on his democratic principles. While the governor is thinking of national interest and unity, others are thinking of selfish gains.

The best way then of limiting the governor’s growing influence in the state is for the centre to prop up another individual as the NPC did in the Western Region. With encouragement from vested interests, this new entrant is prepared to let the state burn in as long as he achieves his aim of becoming the governor come 2015.

Democratic principles were jettisoned in favour of anarchy. First, the governor who won re election as the Chairman of the Governors Forum was not recognized by the centre. Rather, someone else who lost in the democratic election that produced Gov Amaechi as Chairman was recognized. A man who got sixteen votes as against Gov Amaechi’s nineteen was recognized by the centre as the Chairman of the Governor’s Forum. Minority wins the vote!

Another absurd move to weaken and probably impeach the governor was hatched. Five members out of thirty two members of the state House of Assembly in connivance with the police went ahead to illegally impeach the Speaker of the House and other leaders of the House. The police looked on while this rape on our nascent democracy was going on. The centre applauded this move of might is right. Five became the majority while twenty seven became the minority. Today, Nigeria has become a laughing stock in the comity of democratic nations.

The state is gradually being made ungovernable. The attempts to cause confusion and crises in the state are increasing by the day. Events organized by the civil society groups to sensitize the people on the need for peace in the state are being disrupted by the police. The Save Rivers Group has taken it upon itself to preach peace in the state and to advocate for democratic tenets to reign supreme, yet their commendable actions are not allowed to see the light of day by the police. The law enforcement agency has on two occasions disrupted the peaceful gathering of the people of the state who are yearning for peace. There have been allegations of the police shooting to disrupt the gathered crowd. Let the self centred politicians know that it is only the living that they can govern. If they are prepared to massacre the people in order for them to assume power, posterity will never forgive them. The people of Rivers State should not be used as canon fodders for someone’s selfish ambition.

Let us recall that prior to the coming of Gov Amaechi to Government House, Rivers State was in crises. Cult groups were openly at war with each other. Kidnapping was rampant. Niger Delta Militant Groups were also agitating. Rivers State was then Nigeria’s Mogadishu. Companies were relocating to neighbouring countries. Unemployment was high. Insecurity became the order of the day. Porthacourt was no longer the garden city it used to be. No investor was prepared to risk his finance and the lives of workers by investing in the state. This was the sad situation that Gov Rotimi Amaechi met when he assumed office as governor.
The governor was not undaunted. He confronted the problems headlong. He was bold and courageous at what some faint hearted people would have assumed as insurmountable problems. Seven years on, cult groups have been chased out of the state. Kidnappings have been dumped where they belong - history books. Investors are coming back. Commercial activity is on the rise. Night life is back. Niger Delta militants are now respectable members of society.

This is the peace that some selfish politicians want destroyed. If this is allowed to happen, not only Rivers State but the nation will feel the effect of this. When the Western Region crises began, no one guessed that it will engulf the nation. After sacrificing over three million lives in a bloody civil war, Nigeria should not be allowed to tow the same line again. No country goes through two civil wars and survives it. Those who are desperate to assume power should think of the consequences of their actions. Persuasion wins votes and not violence. Our politicians should learn how to persuade the people with the laudable programmes they have rather than using the “do or die” politics of rigging. This way, our democracy will begin to grow and development will be our gain.

I advise the centre to let Gov Amaechi be. Our problems can be resolved through the democratic process and not the use of force. The people of Rivers State are in need of basic things of life. They are not in need of who has more weapons of coercion. Nigeria should learn from the unforgettable experiences of the first republic. Thunder, they say, does not strike in one place twice. Nigeria needs peace and democratic leaders. This is the only way that the needed development can come.

UNBOWED EVEN IN PERSECUTION

2014-05-28T05:39:00.001-07:00

BY EDDY AGHANENU

Life is war. It is a struggle. It is a struggle for survival. Millions go to bed every night hungry. Others have no access to portable drinking water. Millions of children are not in school. Many more are homeless. Yet few are getting richer and those in positions of trust are busy misappropriating the collective wealth. Injustice rules the land. The rule of law is jettisoned. Their rights are tramped upon. The people are left helpless to be used, cheated and dumped. Even in a democratic system, the people’s wishes are neither respected nor even sought. They become pawns in the political chess game of their oppressors.
In such settings, when a leader arises and sets to liberate the people from their political and economic bondage, such a leader is viewed with disdain and mistrust. Such a leader faces persecution and deprivation. The political and economic oppressors ensure that such a liberator is denied his political gains and access to power. The liberator is brazenly cheated and maneuvered out of victories won in an election. The mistake always made by the oppressors is to think that they can break the will and resolve of a freedom fighter by denying him his rights, blocking his source of livelihood and ensuring that justice is denied him.

A committed activist sacrifices self for the good of the people. His personal comfort becomes immaterial. Achieving justice, human rights, economic and political liberation becomes his sole desire. Self is no longer important. What becomes paramount is the people – his people. That is why Isaac Boro could sacrifices himself for his people. To Ken Saro Wiwa, his people were more important than himself. That is the same reason Nelson Mandela could go to jail for his people to be free. It is the same reason that Governor Rotimi Amaechi is fighting to ensure that the people of Rivers State enjoy the dividends of democracy and have access to their God given wealth.

The present seeming misunderstanding between the president and Gov Amaechi is not about personal issues. President Jonathan is Gov Rotimi Amaechi’s “brother” by virtue of both being from Niger Delta and from the old Rivers State. It is about issues and a system that unjustifiably denies the people access to their wealth. It is about injustice on a people and nay Niger Delta. It is about the rule of law. When the rule of law is thrown overboard by the powers that be, chaos and oppression takes over. Gov Rotimi Amaechi is fighter and hates injustice.

In 2007, the powers that be then knew that if Right Hon Amaechi wins the election, he was going to bring development to his people and liberate his state from the economic manipulation that goes on at the centre. The best way to stop him from achieving these noble goals was to deny him the victory which he rightly won at the primaries. He was underestimated. A fighter never quits until justice is done. He obtained justice and through that epic judgment by the Supreme Court our legal system is the better for it. Like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Gov Amaechi believes that our legal system, though not perfect, can still right the wrongs of the mighty.

Rivers State is the better for it through that judgment. I have never been an admirer of the ruling party but I have been a silent watcher of the revolution going on in Rivers State. The transformation going on in Rivers State is something to behold and to recommend to other states. In education, the state is without equal. When I first saw the primary school at Rumuola, opposite the College of Arts and Science, I thought it was a private school. The buildings and the aesthetic nature will entice parents to send their children to school. I brushed it off as a flash in the pan and was a public stunt. I was forced to eat my words when I saw others at Rumuokoro Round About, before Agip Junction, Town, Mbiama, Ahoada, Buguma, Omoku, Eleme and other communities in Rivers State. I do not think that any state has invested in school infrastructure as Rivers State. Aside the infrastructure, all the schools are well equipped including the provision of ICT materials. Years to come, Rivers State will be home to the highest number of graduates in this country.

As the governor is busy investing in human capital, he is equally doing same in the health sector. Most of the clinics built by the Gov Amaechi administration could pass off for cottage hospitals. The clinic at Rumuodomaya, close to the controversial Obia/Akpor LG is a master piece. Same applies to the one on refinery road, Eleme. I learnt same has been built in various local governments and communities. They are all well staffed and equipped.

He did leave road development behind. The flyovers at Eliozu, Mile Three and other areas of Portharcourt is a testimony to the fact that the Governor has been doing marvelously well in this sector. On my way to Omoku, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the roads to all the communities in this axis have been tarred.

In the midst of this gigantic stride in Rivers State, individuals for pecuniary reasons are trying to derail the work of the amiable governor and cause confusion. Today, ministers who are expected to positively affect the lives of Nigerians through their work in their ministries are busy deploying thugs in Rivers State to cause confusion. The injustice is so glaring today that one can say that in an election involving Amaechi, the minority wins the vote. In Nigeria, sixteen is greater than nineteen while twenty seven is less than five. It is only in Nigeria that an unelected person can publicly chastise and issue orders to a governor how to govern his state. There is a deliberate attempt to make the state ungovernable.

The beauty of this struggle for emancipation and for the rule of law to reign supreme is that the governor refuses to be browbeaten. All the state machinery marshaled against him has not made him to lose focus. He is still committed to the oath he took. Making Rivers State the best and most peaceful remains his priority.

His leaving PDP is a big loss to the ruling party and gain to APC. Not only gain to APC but to humanity. He has been fighting for justice, peace and development for his people. By leaving PDP, he is saying enough of injustice. Enough of oppression! Enough of the stealing of the people’s commonwealth!

THE MONSTROUS CENTRE

2014-05-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

BY
EDDY AGHANENU

Nigeria operates a federal system of government or so we are made to believe. What has been masquerading as a federal system is no more different from the unitary system of government practiced by the military. It is not surprising therefore to note that the same system is still being practiced in this civilian era since the operational constitution with a little cosmetic amendment by the national assembly was written by the military. Today, an emperor sits at the centre and all other provisional prefects must bow to his will or else….

Generals Babangida and Abacha bestrode the nation like conquering warlords. Their words were laws. Their transition programmes vividly depict the authoritarian nature of these leaders. IBB decreed two parties into existence. General Abacha became the sole candidate of the five political parties – what Bola Ige calls the “five fingers from a leprous hand.” With the power these leaders had, Nigeria became their personal property to do as they wished.

Chief Obasanjo was not different from former military leaders. He sacked communities at will. Governors who never agreed with him were chased by EFCC. He ensured that Alamiesagha was removed from office. He also ensured that he destroyed his ruling party in order to control it. Those he never liked their faces, he made sure never won election. Ask Atiku! He made sure that Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi who won the party’s primary was not allowed to contest the election. If not for his doggedness, fighting spirit and belief in the judiciary, Gov Rotimi Amaechi would not have smelt the Government House, Portharcourt. Chief Obasanjo equally and illegally withheld local government allocation accruing to local governments in Lagos State.

The control of power, excess fund at the disposal of the centre are some of the things that lure politicians to aspire to be at the centre. The federating units with more burdens are at the mercies of the emperor at the centre. The lopsided revenue accruing to the centre at the expense of the states make the centre so lucrative that those who are there and are bereft of ideas with negative performance indices are prepared to come back to power at all costs including rigging elections. Unelected spouses of the emperor are wont to publicly scold provincial prefects. Unelected officials at the centre are of the habit of looking down on the elected leaders at the federating units. They use the instruments of coercion at the disposal of the centre to harass elected officials in the states. An elected governor was abducted by an unelected official with the tacit support of the powers that be at the centre. State properties were wantonly destroyed by the said official without even a protest from the centre. In another scenario, the centre became the accuser, the prosecutor and the judge in a local government issue which is within the purview of the State government. The federal government barricaded the said local government with its agents of coercion and prevented business from going on in the said local government secretariat.

This is not a federal system of government but unitary. What business has the Federal government with primary and secondary education? Why should the centre have more than half of the revenue when the states that generate the revenue and have more to do are given less? Why should the federal government through its agency be involved in driver’s license issue? Why should the federal government receive all the revenue generated from mineral resources mining and allocate peanuts to the states where such mineral resources are found? Why can’t there be state police? Why must there be a uniform salary structure when revenue accruing to each state is not the same?

These excesses in power and revenue at the centre are the main attractions why the urge and desire to be at the centre has become a “do or die” affair. It is also the reason why mind boggling figures are declared missing or misappropriated on a daily basis. It is this excessive power and funds at the disposal of the centre that makes it interfere in states like marauding gangs. Any wonder why a minister of works will stop a state government from maintaining or constructing roads when the centre cannot maintain such roads. Those with access to centre easily run to the centre to use the bearing influence of the centre to achieve their selfish means.

This overbearing influence of the centre is playing itself out in Rivers State. It started with an unelected lady publicly rebuking an elected governor. Then the local government issue which the centre blew out of proportion and bared its diabolical fangs in all attempts to cow the vocal and democratic governor. There was also the attempted imposition of a minority over the majority in the State House of Assembly. The latest is the issue of the Chief Judge in the state. The centre through its agency is trying to frustrate the state government from appointing the state’s Chief Judge. The state governor has gone through the due process of appointing a Chief Judge, yet the centre won’t allow it. In a truly federal system, this will not happen.
Some will argue though that the ongoing National Conference will be able to resolve these anomalies in the national setup. Unfortunately, this national conference is nothing but a talk shop. It is a charade. It will resolve nothing. The establishment of the conference has no backing in law. Like Chief Obasanjo’s conference, the report of this conference will only end up in the waste bin. The conference has been a political gimmick to remain entrenched at the centre. While the charade lasts, corruption will be on the increase. Impunity on the part of the centre will never wane. The fear of the centre will continue to be the beginning of wisdom for some state chief executives.

There is no democracy yet. We only have civilian rule. A situation where the centre dabbles into the affairs of states and acts like the big brother watching over the states - as it does in Rivers State - will never promote democracy. If there is no true federal system in the country, democracy will continue to be a mirage. As long as there is no true federal system of government and democracy, so long shall we continue to reap underdevelopment, corruption and impunity.

LEADERSHIP CURSE?

2014-02-28T04:05:00.000-08:00

BY EDDY AGHANENU

By August this year, Delta State would be twenty three years old as a state, having been created on 27th August, 1991. Fifteen of those years have been under People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led government. By August, the PDP led government in the state will roll out the drums to celebrate the creation of the state. What will they be celebrating? A harvest of woes and unfulfilled dreams! A cursed leadership bereft of ideas and missed opportunities of making the state a centre of excellence in terms of human and infrastructural development.

Passing through the sister state of Edo one begins to wonder if Delta State is cursed. The infrastructural development that has taken place in Edo State in the last six years is unparalleled in the history of the region. Today, Delta State lags behind Edo State. Yet, the annual budget of Edo State is about one quarter of Delta State’s annual budget. For fifteen years, the PDP government in state has nothing to show for all the revenues that has been accruing to the state.
The jostling for 2015 has begun. PDP in the state are out again to deceive the people. These were the same people that the ruling party has been deceiving for over fifteen years. Unfulfilled promises are what the people have been reaping. In the words of Dr Otive Igbuzor: “over the years, especially since the return to civil rule in 1999, there has been progressive degeneration in governance and development in Delta State. Violence, brigandage, and mafia style behavior have been introduced into body politic. Merit, professionalism and decency for which Delta State was known in the past have been completely jettisoned….There is degeneration of values. The values of respect, hard work, integrity and self pride are being completely eroded.”

Abandoned projects litter the landscape. Unemployment in Delta State is one of the highest in the country. The ability of government to think and plan ahead is nonexistent. For instance, the proposed introduction of BRT lane along Effurun Warri Road will not work rather, it will create more hardship on the people. A BRT lane in a two lane road will limit other road users to a single lane thereby creating serious hardship on the people. The road needs expansion.
The cosmetic structural changes going on in selected schools along major high ways is not enough. It should go round all the schools in the state. Schools are poorly equipped. Computer learning is still a mirage in majority of the schools in the state. Laboratories are not equipped and nonexistent in others.

Other vital areas in the state are not immune from these deliberate neglect and abandonment. Yet the PDP which is synonymous with failure and wastage are preparing to vie in 2015 so as to continue sending the people and the state to perpetual poverty and underdevelopment. The work done since 1999 cannot be equated with the massive fund the state has generated over the same period.

Enough is enough! Delta State cannot continue this way. The same people who have plundered the state should not be allowed to continue with the plundering. Enough of the plundering! It is time for development. The People’s Democratic Party cannot offer this needed development. It is clear that Delta State cannot continue to be governed the way it has been done since 1999.

What is needed is a new and alternative platform. A platform of Delta State patriots - people of integrity and not those who have misapplied and misallocated public resources entrusted to them. Deltans need a platform made up people committed to the development of Delta State and not people who have plundered the resources. They need a platform of knowledgeable people who know what needs to be done to rescue the state and not incompetent and corrupt people. Deltans want a platform of morally upright people and not people who are morally bankrupt. They need a platform of the right caliber of people and programme to make Delta great. In particular, Deltans need a platform with a programme that will prioritise education and human capital development and the delivery of health services; a programme that will build the infrastructure that will sustain present and future generation; a people driven security agenda; industrialization that will be beneficial to the people and promotion of our culture, arts and tourism potentials. Above all, Deltans need a platform that cuts across age, sex, ethnic group that seeks to redefine in the state and return Delta State to the path of merit, excellence, integrity, development, transparency and accountability.

The ruling party in the state has not been able to provide the above platform to the people in the last fifteen years. If they could not do it then, they cannot do it now. Oppressed, deprived, marginalized and cheated Deltans, let us unite to democratically chase these leeches out that have been sucking us dry. Let us not waver. Let us take our destiny in our hands. Rescuing of Delta State is a task that must be done.

THE SEA EATS OUR LAND

2013-05-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

BY EDDY AGHANENU

Each time one travels to the rural areas of our dear Delta State, one is besieged by very ugly and pathetic sights. The trip is no longer fun. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and anger. Anger at the deliberate neglect of the rural areas and the rural folks! Pity at these people who have so much to offer but now abandoned by their leaders! No one cares for the people. They are only useful during elections. They are figuratively raped by their own leaders and their dignity systematically taken away. No wonder, crime rate is on the rise in the state.
From Urhoboland to Anioma to Itsekiriland, Ijawland and Isokoland, the scenario is the same. One begins to wonder what the future holds for the state. According to a recent study by Delta Development Initiative (DDI), the state is projected to be eighty five million people by 2100. What foundation is the state laying now to cater for this population increase when we cannot take care of a little over four million people?

The first sight that greets one is the number of teenage parents. It is no longer the issue of teenage mothers but that of teenage fathers also. Girls of less than sixteen are already mothers to two or three children and in most cases; the children are of different fathers. Some of these fathers are still in junior secondary school or early stages of senior secondary school. Both parents are still children who are still very dependent on their own parents.

The children suffer from malnutrition, barely clothed most of the time and have little or no access to medical care. The parents are helpless in bringing up these kids. Most of them are already old in their young age. They look haggard, unkempt and in need of parenthood themselves. The worst hit is the teenage mother who is left all alone to cater for the kids. Kids are strapped to their backs, others trailing behind as she goes about trying to eke out a living. They are found in building sites seeking for their daily bread. When no means is available, their body becomes the easiest alternative. When they can no longer cope, the teenage mother abandons her children to her burdened mother and flees to the already congested urban areas to swell the prostitution population.

Meanwhile, the young father without any trade, education or skill joins others of his ilk to while away the time by drinking cheap alcoholic drinks and indulge in illicit drugs. Since there is no means of livelihood, he gradually resorts to crime, cultism and becomes a valuable asset in election rigging.
Women are not left out. They carry most of the household burden. They have no access to government or cheap loans to aid their petty business or farming. The only alternative is the shylock lenders or cooperative groups where the interest rate is very high. The little sales from farm products and petty business are used to pay and service the loans. They have barely enough left to take care of other needs. They are perpetually in debt. Government empowerment scheme are only heard in the news. The women are in a pitiable state as they look lean, old and haggard from too much to carry in life.
The above are the things you observe in rural communities in Delta State and even urban areas. One is left wandering how it has come to such a bad state. We no longer care about human development. Public schools in rural areas are just there in name. Teachers resume at their own time and teach whenever they want. The inspectorate section of the Ministry Of Education has gone to sleep. When the monitors are no longer monitoring, the environment becomes chaotic. That is the situation of public schools in the rural areas. The youth they say are the leaders of tomorrow. I am yet to see how these youths who have become elders in their youths will become leaders of tomorrow. How these youths who have no access to quality education or skills can become leaders of tomorrow is yet to be seen.
Some political leaders are even fuelling this state of affairs. They have an army of unemployed youths to recruit from. These youths engage in election rigging and even assassination. Women are hired to attend political rallies. The political leaders will not want the status quo to change. They are the chief beneficiaries.

Government is not addressing these issues. No amount of structural development (if any) without commensurate human development will be meaningful to the people. Government has to make deliberate and concerted effort to arrest this drift. The Ministry of Women Affairs has to educate the youths on the dangers of teenage parenthood. The ministry should also look for ways of engaging young mothers. They could be sent back to school or let them acquire skills that make them useful to themselves and the society.
The Ministry of Information has to do more in enlightening the youths on the dangers of election rigging and other forms of crime. The use of dangerous drugs should be preached against.

Skill acquisition centres should be created in every local government area and be made free. Local governments too can build skill acquisition centres. I know that there is the Songhai Centre in Amukpe. This is not enough for the state. Worse still, it has gone the way of other government’s projects in the state – a white elephant.
Delta State can be the food basket of South South. They can engage, train the youths, equip them and provide fund for them to engage in agriculture. Extension workers must be available to guide the youths in agriculture. They should be encouraged to engage in quarterly crops such as vegetables, tomatoes and maize so that they will not lack funds. When this is done, the youths will embrace agriculture wholeheartedly. The way it is now, agriculture is meant for those who have no hope of making it elsewhere. The mindset has to change. This is where orientation comes in.

Women in the rural and even urban areas should be assisted with funds so that they can engage in meaningful ventures. Government should ensure that such funds really get to the people. Such funds should not be hijacked by the political class. There are many instances where funds meant for the people are hijacked on the way by the ruling class. It never gets to the people.
Government has to engage in a total war to redeem the youths from self destruction. If they are abandoned as they are, Delta State will be like Somalia where crime is the order of the day. Let us bring life to the rural communities. For now, they are the dredge of society. Each time, I travel to any rural community in Delta State, I become apprehensive. Apprehensive not because of insecurity but because of degeneration of morals. The sea has encroached our rural communities and has eaten our land. If nothing is done now, we will pay the price in future in the form of insecurity. It is already happening. Let us not allow this stigma of Delta State being a crime prone area to continue. It has to be stopped. The time to stop it is now. Let the government for once be sincere. It should no longer be government of television and billboard. Let the zeal used in erecting billboards and placing of adverts in the electronic and print media be used in working for the people.

TO W. S

2013-04-09T08:28:00.001-07:00

This piece is written in honour of The Leadership four held by the Nigerian State. Freedom of the press is under siege. We are back to Decree 4 era.

TO W. S

Wole Soyinka

The son of Ogun

The man that spits fire like Shango

The palm wine lover

The wordsmith

The man who dances in the evil forests

And comes out victorious

The jewel of the forest of books

The lion who never keeps mute in the face of tyranny

I salute you.

Wole Soyinka

The man who has crossed the seven seas to dare the tyrant

The man that held the gong captive

That we may be free.

The man died

Cos we are in silence of fears

We will never die

We have been pushed to wall

React, we must.

How long shall we be held hostage and in bondage

In our freedom of fear?

How long shall the land be raped

By our liberators in agbada?

How long shall the thief be boastful

Of having stolen our crops?

How long shall our children

Continue to be servants to thieves?

How long shall our land live in darkness?

Occasioned by nocturnal men in power?

How long shall evil triumph over good

In our land.

Despair we will not

For W. S has shown how

To confront the monster.

We will survive

We will re claim

We will possess

Our lost land

We will clear the land of thieves

Our numbers shall speak for us

Our numbers shall stop the usurper of our votes.

Our voices must die

Our resolve must not be shaken

Freedom we desire

Prosperity for our land we seek

Justice is all we ask for.

These we will get

Cos the abiku of maladministration

Must come to an end.

Our cries have woken those gone before us

They are restless and angry

At a brother’s inhumanity to his brother

And have vowed

That come 2015 and beyond

Restoration of our land must take place.

Wole Soyinka

The trail blazer

Today, we honour you

For showing the way

Unbowed by the power of evil.

In your life time

Victory is sure.

Eddy Aghanenu

VICE PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE – MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

2013-01-04T11:08:00.004-08:00

Eddy Aghanenu

I read with bemusement Ogaga Ifovwodo’s piece on the Vice President’s official residence. I do not understand his quarrel with the cost of the nation’s Number Two’s official residence. That the residence of the vice president is to cost a mere sixteen billion naira is a surprise to me. When I first heard of the cost, I thought they were referring to the official residence of a deputy governor of a state. What is so special about this amount that has made Ogaga Ifowodo have sleepless nights? Has Ifovwodo forgotten that this is Nigeria and not a tiny country like Gambia or Seychelles or even Eritrea?
This is Nigeria! The most populous black nation in the world! The giant of Africa! The most blessed country in the continent! Rich in oil and other mineral resources! Rich in human resources! Has Ifovwodo forgotten that Nigeria was paying the salaries of some South American nations in the early seventies? This is a country where ordinary citizens like me have purchased private jets worth over a trillion naira in the last five years. Is Nigeria such a poor country that the Vice President’s official residence should be like those found in Ajegunle or Suleja? Money has never been our problem as Ifowodo rightly quoted Gowon. The problem has always been how to spend it. Now that we are wisely spending our money, enemies of this government are quarrelling with it.
The Vice President’s residence must befit the status. Let us equally remember that it is not the personal property of Sambo. Ifovwodo may reside there in future as the nation’s vice president. The place must have a worship centre. There must be a mosque, church and traditional place of worship for people like the Kongi and others of his ilk. The place of worship is meant as place where the Vice President will go and ask for forgiveness if he mistakenly misplaces a few billion naira. He can equally go there to ask for miracle for a better Nigeria even though he has planned for a better Nigeria.
A state of the art hospital is also ear marked for the Vice President’s residence. It will be manned by specialist doctors from Saudi Arabia and Germany. This is to prevent another Yar’dua and Chime’scenario where Nigerians will be wondering where their leaders are receiving treatment. In this case, special assistants in the Vice President’s Office can be signing documents on his behalf and claiming it is signed by the Vice President if (God forbid) he falls sick.

The Vice President’s official residence is also have a banquet hall that will accommodate about a thousand people. The place will be used for official and non official functions. Once in a while, Dbanj, Tu Face and others could be invited to entertain the nation’s big wigs with undergraduate females being invited to learn the art of governance. The Vice President will no longer run to Kaduna and in fear too when giving out his daughters for marriage. The banquet hall serves that purpose. There must be enough rooms too in the official residence where the Vice President’s relatives and friends can lodge thereby saving money that would have been used for hotel accommodation.
The security of the Vice President is equally important. While monitoring devices will be installed both within and without the premises, a missile shield will also be installed. Nobody knows what these Boko Haram people may come up with. Prevention, they say, is better than cure. Armoured cars will be permanently stationed there. What will happen if kidnappers kidnap our Vice President? That is why the residence must be well secured.
As prophetically suggested by Senator Smart Adeyemi, the furniture for the Vice President’s residence will be made in heaven. The famed Benin furniture makers will not be good enough. The kitchen materials will cost over a billion naira. Every other material that will be used to furnish the residence will be imported. There will equally be a landing pad for helicopters to land and take off (not the type of helicopters used by the Nigerian Navy). Because of the good nature of our roads and for security purposes, the Vice President will no longer be using our roads. The Vice President will be flying from and to office so that we do not have another Murtala Muhammed in our hands.
President Jonathan, you will agree with me has be very frugal in spending. He is spending lessthan a billion naira next year for feeding. He now eats only cassava bread found only in Aso Rock supermarket. Abakiliki rice is now his favourite. In next year’s budget, some amount have been ear marked for generator repairs because there will be constant power by 2013. I learnt that an order has been given that no diesel should be bought to power generators next year. The new banquet hall in Aso Rock is a mere two billion naira. He is buying just one additional to add to the presidential fleet. This project is not expensive.
With some other features that will be provided in the official residence of the vice president, I see no reason with Ifovwodo’s anger. To me, the amount is inadequate. The agency required to vet all contracts have seen the need for contract variation. Ogaga Ifovwodo talked about building schools and hospitals. How can the Vice President brainstorm and think properly on how to make Nigeria better if he sleeps in a “matchbox house”? This was the type of residence

Jakande was staying in Ilupeju while he was governor of Lagos state. The same with Bafarawa while governor of Sokoto State. The era where our leaders stay in their inadequate personal residences to administer the people is over. The said amount is not even half of what some fuel importers were paid as fuel subsidy. Delta State spent N7.4billion to demolish anthills in Asaba Airport in ten days. That is the way money must be spent. Not frugal like some war torn countries. Nigeria is rich. We must show that we are rich. The Vice President’s residence is an example of showing that we are rich. After all, you cannot live by the bank of a river and wash your hand with spittle.

BAKASSI – DO THEY KNOW IT IS CHRISTMAS?

2013-01-04T11:07:00.000-08:00

Eddy Aghanenu

The man stood in royal regalia recounting the sufferings of his people. He was almost in royal tears. Royal tears! He is a king without a kingdom. A king without a homeland! A king without a palace! He is a king whose subjects are in different countries – Nigeria and Cameroun. He is a king living in a refugee camp in his own country. The man swore! He laid curses on leaders who betrayed the collective will of the people for their own selfish ends. He chronicled before the audience the suffering of his people. People were touched by his tales of woes.
He is Etinyin Etim Okon Edet, the paramount ruler of Bakassi. He was speaking at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs’ 12th Brainstorming Session On The Bakassi Peninsula: Ten Years Of ICJ Ruling And Prolegomena To Resultant Problems. The event took place almost a month before the October 10th, 2012 deadline for Nigeria to appeal the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Bakassi Peninsula.
The occasion chaired by former Minister of International Affairs, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, had many scholars and eminent diplomats as speakers. It was an eye opening and revelation filled event. It was an event that a true patriot will weep for this country called Nigeria. It was an occasion that truly brought the reality home that we do not have leaders in this country but selfish rulers who care less about this country but more about their selfish interest. Is this country worth dying for?
How can a leader willingly give out part of his country to another country as Gowon did in 1975? Was it because Cameroun supported Nigeria during the civil war? Was that enough reason to cede part of a country to another - a very rich part of a country for that matter? How can a leader remove some of the best international lawyers from the defence team simply because they were members of the opposition? How can a leader easily accept the ICJ ruling (when most Western countries don’t) simply because they were pursuing a third term agenda and want to be looked as good boy before the international community? How can a leader simply uproot his people from their ancestral homes without making adequate alternative arrangement for them? How can the National Boundary Commission unilaterally redraw the map of a disputed part of the country when the issues at stake have not been fully resolved? How come the NBC took that decision to redraw the nation’s international boundary when the constitution has not been amended about the said area? How can this redrawing been done when the national assembly has consistently said it does not recognize the Green Tree Agreement? How can such redrawing be used as the basis of judgment when the Surveyor General has not signed the new map? How can a leader watch his people rot and be maltreated by another country without protesting? Why did Nigeria refuse to appeal the ICJ ruling when there was documented evidence to prove that the Anglo – German Treaty of 1913, which the ICJ used as the basis of ruling, was never signed? Why was Nigeria in such a haste to hand over part of her territory to another?
These and more were some of the many posers that were raised during the workshop. Majority of speakers were against the final ceding of that part of the country to Cameroun? The people of Bakassi were against the final ceding of their ancestral land to Cameroun. They want to remain as Nigerians. Unfortunately, they do not know where they belong. Those still in the peninsula are living in bondage while those in Nigeria are living in refugee camps. How unfortunate can a people be!
At the brainstorming session, it was revealed that the Nigerian Navy Eastern Command are permanently locked or holed up in Calabar because they cannot go onto the international waters without permission from Cameroun. The Southern Eastern part of the country is now vulnerable to attack as the international boundary has given much of the international waters to Cameroun. Enemy warships can now come very close to Calabar. Meanwhile, Cameroun and France are busy exploiting the resources of Bakassi.
Finally, on October 10, 2012, Nigeria ceded part of her country to Cameroun. This was in spite of the protest by the Bakassi people, Nigerians and the National Assembly. Our leaders promised to take care of the Bakassi people in Nigeria here and to protect those in the peninsula. The noise has died down. Everything has gone back to normal. All is well. The issue of Bakassi has been thrown into the waste can of history. Our leaders pretend that there are no more problems in the area.
Meanwhile, Bakassi people are now like bats – not accepted by Nigeria or Cameroun. They do not know where they belong. People whose lives depended on marine farming have suddenly found themselves in environment alien to them. They can no longer fish in their new environment. Where they have been given as their new home were taken away from the original owners thereby creating mistrust between the new owners and the original owners. They cannot vote in their own country as witnessed during the last election. They are still living in refugee camps. The money meant to resettle them has gone the Nigerian way. About hundred houses were built for a people over a hundred thousand. Their dignity is gone as they are still dependent on the goodwill of others. Like the Palestinians, they have no home of their own.
Those in the peninsula are not faring better. They are in bondage. The palace of the paramount ruler has been coveted by the Camerounian gendarmes. The people are made to pay excessive taxes. Women are commonly raped. The fishing gears of the Bakassi people and their catch are often seized by the Camerounian authorities. Bakassi names of communities are being changed to Camerounian names. Bakassi people in Nigeria are not allowed into the peninsula to see their loved ones there. They are treated like spies. All these are against the spirit of the Green Treaty Agreement which specifically asked Cameroun to guarantee the freedom of Nigerians who decide to remain in the peninsula. This section of the agreement is being obeyed in the breach.
The Nigerian government has not come to the rescue of Bakassi people. How can one sacrifice for his country when the country does not know of one’s existence. No Israeli is meant suffer indignity in the hands of others. For any Israeli captured or kidnapped, the government of Israel will do its utmost to rescue such one. Not so Nigeria. That was how thousands of Nigerians were killed in Liberia. Same in Libya. Nigerians are maltreated in Gabon, Equitorial Guinea and other parts of the world without protest or protection from Nigeria. Recently, the United States had to send a rescue team to rescue an American medical doctor kidnapped in Afghanistan.
The fate of the Bakassi people has an international conspiracy to it. How come that all the actions taken on the Bakassi people are against the spirit and tenets of the United Nations? Why were the people not consulted on where they want to belong?
The festive period is here. People are preparing on how to celebrate it. Our leaders are busy going about organizing activities to celebrate this festive period. Have we as individuals and as a nation spared a thought for the nationless Bakassi people? Do the people of Bakassi even know it is Christmas?

IS BAKASSI FINALLY GOING?

2013-01-04T11:04:00.003-08:00

Eddy Aghanenu

Bakassi is situated at the extreme eastern end of the Gulf of Guinea. According to Wikipedia, “Bakassi is the peninsular extension of the African territory of Calabar into the Atlantic Ocean”. The people of Bakassi were originally from Calabar and Akwa Ibom.

The first fishing settlement in the peninsular was established by Abasi Eke of Obutong in the 17th century. The peninsular was generally known by the indigenes as Akai Abasi Eke which the British corrupted to Bakassi. The British acknowledged that the area were dependencies of Calabar.

The peninsular is very rich in resources. It has abundance of fish. It is also rich in oil. Wikipedia says further that the area is “rich in fish, shrimps, and an amazing variety of other marine life forms. This makes the Bakassi area a very fertile fishing ground, comparable only to Newfoundland in North America and Scandinavia in Western Europe. Most of the population make their living through fishing.” Is it any wonder that the place has been an area of dispute for a very long time?

In 1884, agents of the British Queen signed a treaty with the king and chiefs of Old Calabar, making the Old Calabar a British Protectorate. The King and Chiefs of Old Calabar refused to accept some clauses in the treaty which gave the British an unfettered access to Old Calabar territory. In spite of this objection, the British went ahead to sign this treaty on 10th September, 1984. Article v1 of the treaty said the King and Chiefs refused to allow uncontrolled access to their territory.
The British went further to sign a treaty with the Kings and Chiefs of Bakassi. The Bakassi kings and chiefs refused to enter a treaty with the British declaring that they were subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the kings and chiefs of Old Calabar.

Despite the objection of the Bakassi people, the British went ahead to cede the territory to Germany in a treaty purportedly signed on 11th March, 1913. The territory continued to be part of Nigeria. Even after the plebiscite of 1961 when Southern Camerouns decided to join Cameroun, Bakassi continued to be a part of Nigeria.

In 1971 and 1975, Nigeria under General Gowon in not very clear circumstances signed agreement with Cameroun ceding Bakassi to Cameroun. These were the Yaoundé II Declaration of 4 April 1971 and the Maroua Declaration of 1 June 1975, which were devised to outline maritime boundaries. These agreements were however never ratified by the Supreme Military Council (the parliamentary arm of Nigerian military government then). The agreement has therefore no force of law.

Nigeria and Cameroun almost went to war in 1981 and early 1990s. The Shagari government and Abacha regime respectively never allowed Cameroun to have her way. Cameroun was forced to retreat.

This was the situation before Cameroun went to the International Court of Justice on 29th March, 1994. The outcome of that case was the ICJ judgment of 10th October, 2002, confirming in a curious judgment that Bakassi belongs to Cameroun based on the treaty purportedly signed by Germany and Britain of 11th March, 1913. The judgment went against all that UN stood for. It breached the United Nation’s Charter on Human Rights which says in Article 15 that
1. Everyone has a right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality or denied the right to change his nationality.

The people were never asked to choose where they want to be. Judgments are no longer based on treaties signed without the people’s consent. The judgment also ignored the principle of uti possidetis juris – as you possess, you shall possess henceforth. People who declared that they were under the jurisdiction of Calabar were suddenly asked to leave their kith and kin and be citizens of Cameroun.

In the Green Tree Agreement which Obasanjo signed on 13th June, 2006, for reasons best known to him, it was agreed between both countries that rights and freedom of Nigerians left behind will be guaranteed. Today, the reverse is the case. Nigerians are oppressed and discriminated against. Those who left are in refugee camps in their own country in peace time. They are now located at Akpabuyo Local Government, a crop farming environment different from the fish farming environment which they were used to in Bakassi. They were disfranchised during the last general elections.

The Bakassi peninsula being a very rich area has been attracting the interest of the international community. France has been the power behind Cameroun’s agitation all along. We can be sure too that France may well be involved in the ICJ judgment.
Why Nigeria hurriedly signed the Green Tree agreement can still not be fathomed. She was not obligated to sign that agreement. Examples are bound all over the world of countries that ignore international community without being sanctioned. Israel has been sitting on Arab lands for decades without any sanction. Britain is claiming Falkland Island in the Pacific when it is obvious that that is part of Argentine territory. The US and Russia are still holding firm some Japanese Islands in spite of Japanese opposition.

The Nigerian Senate on 22nd November, 2007, that the withdrawal from the peninsular was illegal. A Federal High Court in a judgment also said that the Federal Government should suspend the withdrawal until all resettlement issues have been settled. The Federal Government ignored these and went ahead to handover the territory to Cameroun.

Nigeria has ten years to appeal the judgment. The ten years elapses by 10th October, 2012. If by this date, Nigeria never appeals, then Bakassi is gone forever. The implications are serious. The security implications are there. It means that Nigeria’s territorial waters would be reduced. This will be worsened with the National Boundary Commission’s adjustment of the maritime boundary. It will lead to other struggles by the neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe.

Nigeria will become vulnerable to attacks. The economic resources in the area will become free to be plundered especially France and Cameroun. The people of Bakassi will be homeless as where they are even being harboured now is raising tension. Those left in the peninsular are being over taxed, raped, their fishing gears seized from them and social amenities not provided.

Nigeria has a very good ground to appeal the ICJ judgment. The people were never consulted before being relocated to another country. Their fundamental human rights have been breached. The cultural affinity between the Bakassi people and Clabar is never in doubt. The treaty which was the basis of the judgment was signed without the people’s consent. The people of Bakassi must not be abandoned. The Nigerian Government has almost abandoned the Bakassi people. They cannot vote. They are still in refugee camps. The Bakassi people were never settled. Today, they have no means of livelihood. Only about a hundred houses were built for a population that Wikipedia estimates to be between 150,000 and 300,000 people.

Nigeria must be able to protect her people and territory. Let her start doing that now by appealing the ICJ judgment. No inch of this country must be lost.

A TALE OF TWO STATES

2013-01-04T10:57:00.002-08:00

Eddy Aghanenu

This is not about Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities but about two states that grew from the same source. Delta and Edo States were formerly Bendel State. Before then it was Midwest State. Midwest State was so named on May 27, 1967 when Gowon created twelve states. It was the only region that was not split in that 1967 state creation exercise. In 1963, Midwest Region was created. It remains to date the only constitutionally created state in Nigeria. It was not created via any military fiat.

As Midwest State, the state became the pacesetter in Nigeria. The state became synonymous with development. In infrastructure, sports and other areas, the state became number one in the country. When it metamorphosed to Bendel State, the pace never slowed.

When twenty one years ago, Bendel State gave birth to Delta and Edo States one had expected the two states to maintain the pace. The relationship between these two states goes even beyond the 1963 creation of Midwest Region. Nearly all ethnic groups in the two states trace their origin to Bini. The language spoken by nearly all the ethnic groups in both states can be traceable too to Bini language. In folk tales too, most of the stories are about the Obas of Benin Empire.

Politically too, both states have been moving in the same direction. In the second republic, Bendel state joined the progressives in the West by voting in a Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) governorship candidate. In 1983, Bendel State went to National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

During Babangida’s contraption and democratic experiment, both states went to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Both states have been moving in the same ideological direction way back in time.

In 1999, both states went to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In both states for a long period of time, they were condemned to bad leadership and corruption. For ten years, Edo state was in bondage. Development was lacking. There was infrastructural decay. Insecurity became the order of the day. The godfathers were busy helping themselves to state fund. It was ten years of disaster in Edo state. No wonder, the former governor was found guilty of corruption.

The case was not different in Delta State. Since 1999, the state has been retrogressing. Roads are in terrible conditions. From Effurun Roundabout to Enerhen Junction, from Enerhen Road to Udu, Refinery Road, there is none to write home about. Asaba is not faring better either. Apart from the new bridge construction going on, Agbor is a forgotten place. Where roads are constructed, it is of very poor quality. Maryam Babangida Way in Asaba is a typical example.

The Health is not left out in this rot going on in Delta State. Asaba General Hospital is an eyesore. If the hospital in the state capital is this bad, one can imagine what obtains in the rural areas.
Corruption has eaten deep into the system. Delta State awards the most expensive projects in the country and in most cases, the projects are never completed. Oghara power project has not left the drawing board several years after it was awarded and paid for. Asaba Airport has become a drain on the state’s purse. The Airport has gulped several billions of naira and is yet to be completed. N7.4billion was the contract sum for the demolition of hills at the airport. It was meant to be done in ten days. Over two months later, the job has not been completed.

Elections in Delta State have been the worst in the country. Results are known even before elections. Thanks to the judiciary, such results are made to stand. Since 1999, those in power have been able to win elections but have not been able to win the hearts of the people.

Like Edo State, the former governor of Delta State has been convicted of money laundering charges. It was ten years of bad governance and corruption in Edo State while Delta State has been thirteen years of corruption and bad governance with no end in sight.

In 2007, the people of Edo State had had enough. They decided to vote against underdevelopment, corruption and bad governance. Though the mandate was stolen, they were resolute and unbowed. Comrade Oshiomole provided the needed leadership - a quality that has been lacking in Delta State opposition. Almost two years after, Edo people reclaimed their mandate. Since then, Edo State has been on the roller coaster of one success story to the other. The people have never had it so good. While Edo State is on the ascendancy of development, Delta State has been on the ascendancy of corruption.

Two weeks ago, Edo people reaffirmed their faith in Comrade Oshiomole by massively voting for him and politically burying the forces of darkness in the state. They defended their votes. They ensured that their votes counted. In spite of some logistic problems in some areas and inclement weather in other areas, the people were never discouraged. They did not want the forces of darkness to eclipse the sun already shinning in the state. Their leader, the Comrade Governor never disappointed them as a leader. He was there with them. The small man with a big heart was like a god to Edo people. He never for once abandoned them. Today, any Deltan that passes through Edo State will be ashamed of his state. With a very small budget Comrade Oshiomole has been able to do what Delta State could not do with its massive budget.
Edo and Delta State are twins. Both states have been moving in one ideological direction until recently. Today, Edo State has overtaken Delta State. While Edo State is a reference point of good governance, Delta State has become a reference point of bad governance and corruption. Delta State must move in the right direction.

In a Press Statement issued by Delta Rescue Mission (DRM), immediately after the announcement of the Edo Election results, the group has this to say:
“The Edo State election is a source of good lesson for the people of Delta State. Since the advent of this democratic dispensation, Delta State has never had it so bad. Some politicians impose themselves through the blessing of the judiciary on the people. Delta State has suffered enough. Seeing the developmental strides in Edo State, one is ashamed to note that Delta State has more resources with little to show for it.
No non performing individual or political party can impose itself on the voters if they are determined and focused. This is the lesson from Edo State. It is the will of the people that determines change in democracy. Unlike the bullet in a military era, it is the ballot that becomes the people's potency against the wicked who want to rule by all means. When people are tired of darkness, their appetite for light cannot be silenced anymore. Deltans, let us move towards the light.
We were once the Midwest and then Bendel. It is wise to move westwards into the club of focused, visionary and development driven governors. We can do it. Delta Rescue Mission has flagged it off, join us. The time to prepare for that change is now.”

I cannot agree more with this statement. Deltans, let us begin to mobilize the people now. Power belongs to the people and not riggers of elections. We must take a cue from Edo State and make our votes count.

PRESS RELEASE: EDO STATE ELECTION

2013-01-04T10:55:00.004-08:00

The Edo State Governorship election has come and gone. The election has marked a watershed in Nigeria’s march to true and participatory democracy. Prior to the election, it was feared that it would lead to security breaches. Thankfully, this was not to be.
Edo State election has redefined the political temperature and scope in Nigeria. So much campaign based on exercise of right, development, ethnic and tribal campaigns versus issue based campaigns. It was also between the godfathers versus the people.

Delta Rescue Mission (DRM) wishes to thank the good people of Edo State who turned out en mass to exercise their civic responsibility. In spite of the inclement weather in some areas, late arrival of materials in others, the people patiently waited to be accredited and to cast their votes. They were ready to make their collective voices heard through their ballot papers. Their level of awareness was unprecedented. The voters in Edo State defied ethnic appeal, money politics, apathy, intimidation by so called godfathers and a raining day to vote right, to vote for performance and against systematic looting of state funds. They voted for vision, development, actual projects and good governance. The people of Edo State by the landslide victory have attested to the judicious use of their resources by their governor. They have shown the triumph of the people over deceit and corruption. We salute them.

We also commend INEC for once doing a very good job. Though, there were some lapses, these cannot diminish the quality of work done by INEC. DRM hopes that INEC will maintain this momentum or even surpass it in future elections.

The security personnel are not to be left out. In spite of their large presence, they conducted themselves in very civilized manner and never interrupted the voting process. To all the security agencies that took part in the election, we say thank you.

The conduct of the various political parties that contested is also to be commended. Apart from few isolated cases, the parties have come of age. Negative tendencies were things of the past in this election.

The effort of election observers is also to be commended. The synergy between various monitoring groups is something that must be maintained.

The Edo State election is a source of good lesson for the people of Delta State. Since the advent of this democratic dispensation, Delta State has never had it so bad. Some politicians impose themselves through the blessing of the judiciary on the people. Delta State has suffered enough. Seeing the developmental strides in Edo State, one is ashamed to note that Delta State has more resources with little to show for it.

No non performing individual or political party can impose itself on the voters if they are determined and focused. This is the lesson from Edo State. It is the will of the people that determines change in democracy. Unlike the bullet in a military era, it is the ballot that becomes the people's potency against the wicked who want to rule by all means. When people are tired of darkness, their appetite for light cannot be silenced anymore. Deltans, let us move towards the light.

We were once the Midwest and then Bendel. It is wise to move westwards into the club of focused, visionary and development driven governors. We can do it. Delta Rescue Mission has flagged it off, join us. The time to prepare for that change is now.

M A Mukoro (Esq) Eddy Aghanenu
DG, DRM Director of Education, DRM

KIDNAPPING AND INVESTMENT IN DELTA STATE

2013-01-04T10:53:00.001-08:00

Eddy Aghanenu

Delta State has been on the news in recent weeks. Unfortunately, it has been for the wrong reasons. There was the issue of the former ex convict governor James Ibori who was again convicted for money laundering in a London court. There was the controversial N7.4billion contract to demolish hills at Asaba Airport in ten days so that the presidential jet could land for the South South economic summit. Then there was the alleged threat by the state governor that he has the “powers to demolish houses and to kill”.

The above negative news items emanating from the state will not boost investment and reduce unemployment in the state but would rather do the contrary. A government that is people oriented will not dabble into anything that will bring it into disrepute. The above scenario paints a picture of a government that has no plans for the development of the state, clueless and inept at finding solutions to the numerous problems besetting the state. A government that hopes to attract investments to the state will do all within its powers to create an enabling environment that will be attractive to investors. A government that can “demolish and kill” can never attract investments.

The situation in Delta State has become worse with the rising insecurity in the state. People literarily sleep with one eye opened. Kidnapping is on the rise. It is no longer news in Delta State when someone is kidnapped. It has become a daily affair. It has become the easiest and quickest means of making money. From Asaba to Warri, Burutu to Agbor, the story is the same. Nowhere is safe in the state. Indigenes living outside the state are scared to come home. Investors are too scared to invest in an unstable and risky environment like Delta state.

Recently, soccer star, Christian Obodo was kidnapped in Warri. This was followed by the kidnapping of the governor’s elderly cousin in Asaba. Not done yet, kidnappers reached to the home of Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Ozoro to kidnap his son. How has it come to this? How come that States such as Rivers, Imo and Anambra have been able to curb or reduce this crime to the barest minimum and Delta State has not?

The Uduaghan government has never been sincere in his quest to create jobs. According to him, the state government authorized the civil service to employ one thousand workers in a state where hundreds of thousands are unemployed. Even these were alleged to have been asked to part away with six hundred thousand naira (N600,000) before they were employed. The governor said he was going to investigate this allegation. Two months after, the investigation is still going on.

Government drives the economy. It is government policies that help in shaping the economy and the creation of jobs. For now, nothing positive has been done by the state government in bringing the private sector to be involved in job creation. The so called industrial park in Warri that consumes three billion naira (N3billion) annually has not left the drawing board. No attempts have been made to revive comatose industries such as Delta Glass, Ughelli, AT&P, Sapele and others.

Infrastructural development that help in creating jobs are not being embarked upon. Edo State that has been turned into one gigantic construction industry has helped in employing more youths and reduce crime including kidnapping which was so prevalent in the past. The same cannot be said of Delta State. Rather than build new and upgrade existing infrastructure in the state, the ones on ground are dcaying.

In an apparent publicity stunt orchestrated by the state government, an online article said that the Delta State government has empowered 86,573 persons in the state through it micro mechanism programme. Delta state government is notorious for quoting none existent figures and completing grandiose projects on television to justify its financial recklessness. If over eighty thousand persons have be so empowered, why is it that unemployment is still high and kidnapping on the increase? Why is it that the state government has not been able to tackle crime in the state?

Some youths were employed during the elections to perform some illegal duties by the ruling party in the state. These youths that have been used to deliver victory to some people have been abandoned. Most were armed. Today, not being gainfully employed nor being remembered by their former paymasters, they have begun to vent their anger on the society. The monster that has been created is now bigger than the creator. The chicken has come home to roost. There is no hiding place for anyone in the state. The people are now being made to pay for the sins of some greedy politicians in the state.

Where will our help come from? The people are helpless. The government has abandoned governance and security to the criminals. Delta State government has no solution to the problem. Meanwhile, corruption is still endemic. Commissioner Chike Ogeah says Deltans should be patient while the state is burning. Infrastructural decay is on the increase. Major roads in all urban areas in the state are being turned to rivers because of lack of drainages. Sub standard work is done on the few ongoing projects such as the drainage work along Okpanam Road, Asaba and the so called dual carriage way of Warri Eku Road.

Investors are fleeing in droves. Deltans who attempted to establish one project or the other have sworn not to return to the state unless security improves. This is no time to play politics with the lives of the people. Gov Uduaghan must guarantee security in the state and ensure that he faithfully implements his three point agenda for the people. He should begin to “demolish” kidnapping in the state and “kill” insecurity. It is only then that investors will have confidence in the state. Otherwise, unemployed youths will continue to make us pay for the sins of the government.

A RESPONSE TO MR. CHIKE OGEAH, DELTA STATE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER ON HIS CALL FOR PATIENCE

2013-01-04T10:50:00.003-08:00

Chuks Erhire

Dear Mr. Ogeah,

I am constrained to respond to your statement in page 12 of Vanguard of Tuesday June 12, 2012 urging Deltans to be patient with Uduaghan. I must confess that very many of us has refrained from responding to your very many falsehoods fed to Deltans, this in the belief that you are almost like an alien who has little or no understanding of the issues your position has constrained you to address – a position to my mind, you were never prepared for in the first place. I decided to do this today because you chose a sacred day like June 12, a day I believe that people like you contributed significantly to truncate to insult our sensibilities. More so, it has been said that “to leave an error un-refuted will lead to an intellectual immorality”.

I sincerely believe that apart from the deliberate attempt at impoverishing and pauperising Deltans, you and your co-travellers in the Uduaghan cabinet may have thought that all Deltans has suddenly lost their sense of reasoning when you said that “the governor was not interested in playing to the gallery to win cheap popularity but has a vision to provide for the people, projects with longer gestation period that would impact positively on the present and future generations to come”.

I find it very disturbing that the people we thought we could trust can hoodwink their principles to the extent of allowing principles to play robot to the samba dance of opportunism. I believe that is important to just let you know that Deltans are not as gullible as you people think we are.

On a very serious note Mr. Information Commissioner, can you summon the Asaba people that lives in DLA road, Okelue Street, Ebenuwa street, maduemezie street, Odiachi Street, Chukudumebi street, the street by Sizler’s, Parkinson street, Nmunkwo Quarter in Asaba, the street behind Zenith bank in Ezenei avenue, and all the adjoining roads off the popular Nnebisi road and tell them to be patient at a time that many of them cannot drive their cars to their homes? Can you say that to the school children who have to almost walk naked out of their homes because of the large pools of water that has taken over their streets? How about the angry car owners whose meagre salaries now goes to the mechanic who has to fix their cars every now and then because of the high degree of dilapidation of the streets under review?

Can you go to the streets of Agbor and tell the residents of the town now turned to an ancient city to be patient with a government that has demonstrated its clear lack of focus on how to address the infrastructural challenges of the State? Can you say that to the people of Ika South that lives in Aliagwu, Ewuru, Aliagwai, Ozanogogo, Oyoko, Obi Ayima,Obi-Agbor, Ekuku Agbor, Abavo central and Igbogili communities who cannot drive their cars to their communities because of the high level of dilapidation of their roads and with every other infrastructure in a state of disrepair?
Are you aware that there is no access road in the entire kwale town once the rain comes? Do you know that you cannot get to Ogume through Kwale once the rains are here? Do you not know that a journey from Obiaruku to Eziokpor is reminiscent of the route Okonkwo took on his trip to his mother’s kinsmen in Chinua Achebe’s famous book, “Things fall apart”?

Do you realise that the Oko communities just a few kilometres from Asaba is still wallowing in anguish, neglect and reckless abandonment with all their roads crying for attention? Do you know that if this government was focussed enough to construct a road from Oko to Abala that the trip to Aboh from Asaba would have been reduced to barely 20 minutes?

Can you stand before the people in a town hall meeting in Warri city or Udu LGA and urge the slaving mass of the people swimming in the artificial rivers in their streets to be patient with this administration and hope to escape without being lynched? Mr. Chike, as commissioner for information, how many times have you gone round the State to get firsthand information on the challenges in every city, town and village? How many times have you commissioned people to carry out perception analysis of the government that you speak for? I believe that to come out every now and then to peddle falsehood and say only things that will suit the hearing of your paymaster is to say the least a total disservice to the people of this State who you claim to serve.

Does a serious Governor need 8 years in office before constructing street roads that are less than 500m? Can Mr. Chike show to Deltans the projects the government has on ground as pointers to their plan to build for the future? Can a governor who has not been able to meet the needs of the present generation, dream of meeting the needs of the future generation?

Perhaps, we may need to ask if the Mariam Babangida road is the example of the projects signposting Uduaghans dream for a greater tommorow. There can be no greater testimony of the type of vision the governor has for the State other then the quality of job done on that road built only in 2008 but yet has become completely comatose. Mr. Chike, does the Ughelli Asaba dual carriage way awarded in 2008 have a completion date? Maybe it is a project for the future.

The Governor would need to take a trip to other States just within the South- South Region to see how not to govern a people. It is painful that the other South- South Governors Mr. Chike is vilifying as executing only short term and quikfix programmes have put in place solid strategies for the development of their States. Do we need to mention that Gov. Oshiomole has turned around the infrastructure in the nooks and crannies of Edo State? How about Godswill Akpabio who within his first four years in office has turned every town and village around, with the quality of the infrastructures competing with those you will find in Europe. Do we need to mention Hon, Rotimi Amaechi who stunned the nation with his unending list of high impact projects (completed and commissioned) and achievements in every sector in his State during the BRACED Commission summit hosted by this State!

Do we need to inform you Mr. Information Commissioner, that, the people in Ogwashi Uku are living in the brinks as there is no potable water and electricity? Does it occur to you that the state of affairs will have a very negative impact on the quality of graduates from The Polytechnic at Ogwashi Uku. Will it require a million years for a serious government to put in place a strategy to address these two all important basic necessities of life and for once rescue the Ogwashi Uku people from this anguish?

I challenge you to open the gates of the Delta Broadcasting Service and DRTV in Asaba and Warri respectively and allow Deltans an unfettered access to the State media and see if you can escape with your half truths reminiscent of the propagandist agenda’s of the military dictatorship in Nigeria.

Let me conclude by letting you know that come what may the Uduaghan administration shall come to an end in 2015 and when that happens you will become a stakeholder like us. I sincerely hope that you will not say that you were only doing your job?

LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD

2013-01-04T10:47:00.004-08:00

Eddy Aghanenu

The N7.4billion spent on demolishing hills at Asaba Airport is still generating controversy. Government officials and government apologists have been defending the controversial expenditure.

Government officials have been singing discordant tunes on the expenditure. Some have reduced it to ethnic sentiments in order to win support from the people while others say it was part of the overall budget for the airport project and not a new one.

Let it be known that nobody has ever questioned the location of the airport in Asaba. It was a well conceived idea but poorly and abysmally executed. The airport is meant to boost the economy of the state. It is also meant as attract investment to that part of the state while also benefitting from the ever busy commercial city of Onitsha. The hospitality sector will thrive the more. In essence, the Asaba airport is meant to enhance the economy of the state and help in creating employment.

No one too has looked at the airport from an ethnic colouration. Delta Central already has an airport in Osubi near Warri, which serves the need of Delta Central and Delta South. So an additional airport in Delta Central is out of the question.

What Deltans are quarrelling with is the cost of the project. Having spent over twenty billion naira (N20billion) in the airport project without an end in sight, Deltans are querying the wisdom behind spending an additional N7.4billion in demolishing hills at the airport. This is the grouse of Deltans. The airport project is now the goose that lays the golden egg for the looters of the state treasury. This is what government and government apologists have refused to talk about. If there is transparency as claimed by Delta State government, how come no one knows the true cost of the project? Why are they hiding the cost of the project which so far is the most expensive in the country?

Eminent Deltans including “Vanguard” Publisher, Chief Sam Amuka have questioned the wisdom N7.4billion in demolishing hills while there are more pressing needs in the state. A report in the “Vanguard” says “ PUBLISHER and Chairman, Vanguard Media Limited, Mr. Sam Amuka, Thursday charged Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to tackle the security challenges facing the state. He also asked the governor to explain why over N7.4 billion would be spent on clearing mountains of sand at the Asaba airport, saying Deltans need to know to be more informed on the matter”. M.A Mukoro, Esq, of Delta Rescue Mission (DRM) calls the expenditure “financial recklessness and executive irresponsibility”.
It is only a clueless government that will spend such an amount of money in demolishing hills when students’ bursary are not paid. Where are our priorities?
In a well attended Press Conference in Asaba, a few days before the BRACED Commission Summit, the Commissioner of Economic Planning gleefully announced to the whole world that “Delta State government on Tuesday said it has approved the contract for the demolition of hills surrounding the Asaba Airport to allow for bigger aircrafts to land.
Commissioner for Economic Planning, Kenneth Okpara, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, stated that the contract was initially awarded to one firm at the sum of N7.4 billion. Okpara stated that the demolition of the hills became necessary so that “special and bigger” aircrafts can start landing before the commencement of the South-south Economic Summit scheduled for April ending.
“The President is coming to the summit and we want him to land here in Asaba and not in Benin,” he stated, adding that “we have just ten days to put the airport in proper shape because that is one of the conditions given by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for bigger aircrafts to land.”
The opposition to this development reverberated all over the state. The state government was going to spend N7.4biilion in ten days to demolish hills at the airport so that President Jonathan’s aircraft could land at Asaba was something the citizens of the state could not understand. This excludes the billions that would be spent in hosting the delegates. This is happening in spite of the myriads of problems confronting the state. To Deltans, it was unacceptable.
This opposition to this wasteful expenditure led the state government to look for ways of managing the situation and diffusing tension. From the Governor’s explanation it became more difficult to know the truth of this N7.4billion. In a forum in Warri “Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan says the ongoing expansion of the Asaba International Airport was aimed at meeting the requirements of the Aviation regulatory authorities to enable bigger planes land at the airport.

“Speaking in Effurun while responding to the issue raised over the airport by the publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka at an on-going retreat tagged ‘Landmarks and Legacies’, Governor Uduaghan said with the success so far recorded in the use of the airport by smaller planes, people are now anxious to see bigger planes land at the airport.

According to him, “We are on target to make the Asaba International Airport meet the required standards set by the aviation authorities and we are doing everything necessary to ensure that larger planes can land there”.

Continuing, he said, “there is so much pressure for bigger planes to start landing at our airport and we needed to speed up the pace so that when the regulatory authorities come, they would see that we have done all we need to do”.

The Governor clarified that the regulatory authorities requested that the hills around the airport must be reduced as one of the requirements to be met before approval can be given to enable bigger planes land at the airport.

The Governor added that the demolition of the hills had nothing to do with the visit of dignitaries to the recently concluded South South Summit at Asaba.

In his words, “the contract to bring down the hills around the airport was not awarded because of the South South Summit, the contract had been awarded from the onset but the contractor was slow, so because of the time frame, we had to engage two other contractors to fast track the completion of the work”.

Explaining further, Dr. Uduaghan said the ongoing work to demolish the hills is at no additional cost to the total project sum as it was conceptualized from the beginning.”
The governor’s explanation raised more questions. Was N7.4billion awarded for the demolition of hills at Asaba Airport? Was this amount not too high for such a project? If actually, the demolition of the airport was not for the presidential jet to land and not for the summit, how come the rush to demolish the hills in ten days before the commencement of the summit?
All Deltans are asking is for the government to honestly tell them the truth about this project and other projects in the state. It is only when this trust have been built that the citizens of this great state will become more responsive to the government.
Threatening Deltans that “the governor has many powers; he can do whichever thing he likes. The governor has powers to demolish any house and he has power to even kill, whatever you can think of...” will not make Delta State a better place. Deltans never elected anybody to kill them but someone that will improve their lives. Any unconstitutional means used by any elected official to suppress the will of the people will be resisted. In any case, history has never favoured any despot.
The only way that Deltans will stop question the actions of government is when there is good governance and provision of dividends of democracy. Let us discuss on ideas that will move the state forward and not threats. Let there be fertilization of ideas in the state.
Meanwhile, what is the truth about this N7.4billion?

PRESS RELEASE - DELTA STATE GROPING IN AVOIDABLE DARKNESS

2013-01-04T10:46:00.000-08:00

We welcome all Deltans to this annual ritual of the anniversary of the so called Democracy Day. So it is another Democracy day. What are we actually celebrating in Delta State? What democratic culture, practice or dividend is there to celebrate in Delta State since 1999?

Delta State has not had it so bad. As in the past so it is with the present and even worse with the Uduaghan regime. It is a highly unimaginative and clueless government that has no agenda for the development of the State except wondrous projects such as the asphalt tarring of the middle of a dilapidated road from Effurun Roundabout to the Oleri haven. Or is it the paper tiger that is called Warri Industrial Park? You want a Delta without oil, good, but where do we place the moribund Bendel Glass Factory Ughelli and the African Timber and Plywood Factory Sapele in a Delta without oil? His Excellency has correctly stated unemployment as the most challenging social issue in Delta State as indeed in other parts of Nigeria. How in the past four years of the first tenure has the oil boom revenue to the state been ploughed into the real sectors to generate jobs for the teeming unemployed? The mania about direct foreign investment will only make sense when the state builds confidence in potential investors by showcasing its own investment in the local state economy, If you are serious about the relentless call for Delta without oil, let charity immediately begin at home and the time is now; we have heard enough sermons of intention, we want the intention actioned in concrete policies, programmes and projects to actualise the lofty desires.

Delta Rescue Mission (DRM) has noted with dismay the decay in governance and infrastructure. Since 1999, the people’s will has not been allowed to prevail. There has always been imposition of candidates on the people though later confirmed by the courts because of the difficulty in producing convincing evidence in court, but the people know better who they gave their votes to and who is ruling without their mandate; but the courts have spoken and there must be an end to litigation.

Uduaghan’s Government has been dull and uninspiring but with enough sycophants willing to turn black into white, the people are confronted and confounded with superlative performance on television against the opposing reality in their localities. Rather than the State moving forward, it has stagnated on a number of variables and has slipped into retrogression on many fronts.

Delta State is in a state of collapse and economic quagmire. The filth of copiously hopeless waste management is an embarrassing stigma as refuse from drains heaped on roads does liter those roads for days and weeks on end. The roads, health sector, education, security, employment, agriculture are nothing to write home about. In terms of human indices and development, Delta State is on the slide. The credit claimed for improved security is most insincere; Delta State is fast returning to the hobbesian state of nature where the fittest survive and criminal impunity is on the rise in all aspects of our society.

The only thing that this Government has been known for is profligacy. Over- inflated contracts have been awarded severally and most of the jobs are never done. Abandoned projects litter the State. A Government that spends N7.4 Billion to demolish anthills and refer to patriotic critics as detractors cannot be said to be a serious and prudent Government. Since the inception of this Republic, Delta State has been noted for corruption and corruption alone. Any wonder that the former Governor of this State is jailed in London for money laundering. The same fate awaits those who will not learn any lesson from this.

DRM calls on the State House of Assembly to rise up to the challenge by performing their constitutional functions of oversight so that Delta State will be a place that Deltans will be proud of. Deltans and history will never forgive them if they decide to dine with the executive in a criminal conspiracy of maladministering the State. The temptation to reach the conclusion that the legislators are periodically settled to be idle is substantiated by the curious silence of the honourables on issues of development and corruption and their enviable lifestyles.

DRM calls on all Deltans not to sit on the fence but to rise up as one and democratically elect a Government of their choice come whenever they are invited to the polls. The platform has been provided. DRM will not rest on its oars irrespective of the intimidation from some quarters in ensuring that Delta State is rescued from the hands of shenanigans, looters of the treasury and election riggers. There is no job for youths but there is an armada of political employees called special advisers who have no known jobs but who pick profane monthly pay packages, weep not governor, you have created jobs for those you care about. The rest of us should wait for our miracles.

Today, there is nothing to celebrate in Delta State. We call on all Deltans to begin to sensitize, mobilize and join democratic forces indemocratically providing policy alternatives to this inert and inept Government come when the time comes. For now, it is not yet uhuru in Delta State.

M. Ahweyevuu Mukoro Esq
Director General, DRM.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT CRISES IN DELTA STATE

2013-01-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

Eddy Aghanenu

Unemployment in Delta State is becoming abnormally high. This is in spite of the fact that Delta State is one of the richest states in the country in terms of the revenue it receives from the federation account. This has probably led to increase in crime.

Recently, during the workers’ day celebration, the state leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress accused the civil service of collecting six hundred thousand naira (N600, 000) from applicants before they can secure employment. The State Governor has vowed to investigate this and assured that anyone found guilty will be dealt with. We hope that this avowal will not be mellowed by party intrigues as it was with a similar promise made by the governor on DESOPADEC some years ago.

First, it is surprising that the governor heard of this rumour only during the May Day celebration. This is a rumour that has spread all over the state and appeared consistent with the opportunistic hustle for employment in Delta State where those who do not need the jobs are offered jobs in the first instance by allocation according to hierarchical political importance rumoured to begin with the governor’s interest. It was not hidden. In his attempt at defending his employment record, the governor said that the state wanted to employ only two hundred and fifty workers but had to raise it to one thousand. Only one thousand to be employed from a sea of hundreds of thousands of unemployed youths – any wonder why criminal activities have gone up in the state?

Where will the newly employed get such huge sum to pay for the alleged bribe demanded by the state or its agents? How many unemployed can afford to pay such stupendous sum? Does it not show that only the relations of those bleeding the state dry are the ones who would afford this? In a state where minimum wage is little above eighteen thousand Naira (N18, 000), how many years will it take these newly employed to recoup their investment? If such money has been borrowed, how many years will it take them to pay back? What moral lessons are we teaching these newly employed? Are we not telling them that corruption pays? Are we not telling them that once they are employed, they should look for all available means to recoup what they have invested? Are we not telling them that the process of getting money does not matter but that the end justifies the means? Is Delta State now Delta State Corruption Limited? Has the DTHA become so spineless or they secured their own quota in the allocation of the jobs that were eventually traded to the hapless applicants who have received their authoritative baptism of corruption?

Setting up an investigating team is not a wrong move but the governor should first and foremost accept full responsibility for this alleged offence by his subordinates. The buck stops at the governor’s table. If a very transparent process has been put in place, this embarrassment wouldn’t have occurred. That the governor can boldly say that he employed one thousand workers goes to show that the state has no plans of reducing unemployment menace in the state. When states like Osun and Oyo are employing twenty thousand workers each, Delta State is employing one thousand and in a controversial manner too. Government and government policies drive the economy. We agree that government cannot employ all but government policies can help in creating that employment. So far, we have not seen the policies that will create employment in Delta the state. All we see are inflated contracts and abandoned projects and drain pipes such as theN7.4billion meant to demolish hills at Asaba Airport. These will not create employment.

Let the government honestly and holistically reduce drastically the crime rate in the state. If this is done, investors will troop into the state to invest. Delta State is still a virgin land waiting to be explored and developed. Opportunities abound in the state. Once kidnappings, armed robberies and political crimes are reduced to the barest minimum by using a sociological approach that taked most of the criminally inclined off the street, then Delta State will be a haven for investors. These investments will create employment opportunities and jobs.

Energy must be provided to run homes and industries. Once energy is constant, cottage, small and medium industries will begin to grow and in the process reduce unemployment. Delta State has an advantage over many states in the country. It is blessed with gas. This can be utilized in generating power that can even be sold to other states. The gas being flared in Ebedei, Orogun and other numerous communities could be channeled into making Delta State the power state of the country. We are not referring to the haphazard and insincere job at Oghara power project. These power projects will be able to employ thousands of Deltan youths.

In the short term, agriculture is another major sector that can reduce unemployment in the state. Agriculture is the greatest employer in the country. Unfortunately, the Delta State government has not done enough in this sector. The only thing it claims to have done is joint venture between the state and Obasanjo Farms for which a curious sum of over N2 billion was paid to Obasanjo Farms a few years ago. This cannot employ more than a hundred workers. Youths want investments that can yield dividends, more jobs and quickly too. They have not got the patience for long term investments hence most of them shun agriculture. Vegetables and tomatoes are quarterly farm products. Within months, anybody farming these will begin to make returns. Our soil is good enough for these products. Who says that Delta State cannot supply the South South need for vegetables, pepper and tomatoes. Our dependence on the north will be reduced. From Umunede to Ogwashi Uku to Jesse and all over the state; the land is there to grow these crops. The youths will gladly embrace this because of the quick dividends. It is only when they have started reaping the fruits that some of them may now venture into other areas of agriculture. All government need do is to provide improved seedlings, fertilizer education and an enabling policy and programme.

Tourism is another source of major employment in the state. Tourism can only thrive if there is peace and security, good roads and a well developed infrastructure and hospitality sector. Countries such as Kenya, Senegal and Uganda have tourism as their major source of revenue. Delta State can develop her tourism sector to be at par with Cross River. Again, sincerity of purpose is needed. The Udu tourism centre that is being planned is a welcome development but the true financiers have to be made known since it has since emerged that the foreign partners have not got the wherewithal to embark on such a gigantic project.

The illogically of asphalting the divide of the Express Road from Effurun Round About along the DSC Expressway to Oleri and casing the edge of a road that was not constructed by the Delta State Government at a price that cannot be anything but provocative resonates of the kind of planlessness and waste that that the Asaba Airport symbolizes.

Let the Delta State government revive all ailing and dead industries in the state. These industries can yield revenue for the state and also create employment. Beta Glass Company is functioning and making profit while Delta Glass directly opposite it is dead. Why is there no partnership with serious private sector investors to restore Delta Glass Factory, the idle Gold mine that is wasting away, that uses the same principal raw material with Beta Glass Limited just opposite it?

While government is embarking on its investigation of the said employment bribery scandal, it must be said that the Uduaghan administration has not scored a pass mark in employment creation in the state. It also shows the rot in the system in the state.

In the words of M. Ahweyevu Mukoro Esq, Director General of Delta Rescue Mission (DRM), in a recent press conference, “the unemployment situation in Delta State is alarming and unacceptable. If not urgently tackled, we may have a crisis in our hands which may prove difficult to handle. Government should make judicious use of the people’s wealth to do the best for the majority of the people and not the few that have turned the state’s asset to their personal gold mine. A situation where the budget for Government House and Governor’s Office is more than that of four ministries in the last in the last four years can never create employment”

THE BRACED COMMISSION – MOTION WITHOUT MOVEMENT

2013-01-04T10:27:00.000-08:00

Eddy Aghanenu

The recent BRACED Commission Summit in Asaba, Delta State, has come and gone. The ripple effects of the summit are expectedly still being felt across the state and beyond. The BRACED Commission, the regional South-South body formed to integrate and fast track development in the zone was formed over two years ago by governors in the region. It has begun to dawn on the governors that for states to develop fast and integrate their economy and resources, regional cooperation is needed. It is with this in mind that the South-South governors decided to take a cue from what is going on in the South West Zone of the country.

The summit started on a note of controversy and shame. Few days before the summit, a former governor from the zone was convicted of money laundering and sentenced to thirteen years imprisonment by a British Court. This brings to three, former governors from the zone who have been convicted for financial crimes and breach of trust. They are the former governors of Bayelsa, Edo and Delta States. The South-South Zone has churned out the highest number of convicted governors in the country. It speaks volumes of the financial rascality and recklessness of leaders in the zone and the judicial system of this country is held comatose by another former Braced governor who secured an injunction of perpetual immunity against which the EFCC as an organisation is too terrified or too knowing to appeal because that former governor is now “justice”

In the words of Wole Soyinka, a guest speaker at the summit “ Ask yourselves how it comes about that one of your former members of this very governorship consortium is currently basking in immunity, having succeeded in obtaining a judicial injunction against prosecution for his crimes against the future, perpetrated while in office. Do we need to point out that as a nation we are covered with shame that it took an external court of justice, of the former colonial masters, to finally put an end to the costly shenanigans of another of your former brother governors, one who held the forces of anti-corruption at bay, led them a merry dance all the way to Dubai until he was plucked out of his imagined sanctuary?”

Another controversy that trailed the summit was Delta State’s decision to spend N7.5billion in demolishing hills at Asaba Airport so that the presidential jet could land safely. How come a whooping N7.5billion was being spent in ten days to demolish hills in the Airport? Where there no feasibility studies before they started construction? In a State crying for health reforms, qualitative education, good roads, security, provision of water, power, was it economically advisable for the Governor to waste N7.5billion in the demolition of ant hills at Asaba Airport? And yet our governor had the temerity to tell us that Deltans would praise him in future for the bold decision to demolish ant hills for N7.5b notwithstanding its present opportunity cost to the development of the state.

Another show of shame occurred during the summit when there was power outage for over an hour. That power outage symbolizes the ineptitude and chaotic planning by the organisers of the event and the Delta State Government that hosted it.

The BRACE Commission is a welcome idea but we envisage the challenge of implementation of ideas. Regional integration is necessary if the South-South Zone is to move forward. The BRACED Commission Summit organised on the broad theme “Integrating the South – South for Sustainable Development” (with special emphasis on Development, Investment and Security) was held at the Convention Centre, Asaba, Delta State under the auspices of the BRACED States – Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta. Various papers were delivered at the summit. President Kigame of Rwanda called for the need for integration and accountability. He said integration can only take place when we have upright leaders who are accountable to the people. To him, "we recognised as Rwandans that our development depended on our efforts, we owe it to ourselves to succeed, not to any other person. Similarly, the South-South has felt that it does not want to be held captive by its past. I want to state that you have enormous advantage over most countries, you have huge oil deposits and other natural resources."

The huge oil deposits are the bane of the region. The powers that be in conjunction with oil multinational companies have combined to steal the people’s wealth and also to destroy their various means of livelihood and the environment. President Kigame said that developmental decisions must involve the people. It is when the people are involved in decisions affecting them, that their need can be met. He said: "All these mean that solution to national challenges came from within and that is that people own the entire development process. In my view, countries can only develop if governments enable a qualitative improvement in their citizens' life. This means that a suitable business climate that facilitates better production and more trade and investment must be established." Unfortunately, this is yet to happen in the South-South geo political zone.

As earlier stated, Prof. Wole Soyinka, a guest at the occasion commended the governors for agreeing to integrate economically. To him, it is through integration that states can be viable. He was in agreement with President Kigame on the need for regional integration. “Let each regional grouping and its member states single-mindedly project and pursue their strategies for the enhancement of the quality of life and the dignity of their people. Let them quarry into their resources to extract the material required for their very existence, material that they can exchange among one another based on their spatial developmental advantages. In short, they should share among themselves, areas of specialisation, substituting strength for the weakness of their partners, expertise for deficiencies in one member or the other.” He equally admonished leaders to deliver good governance to the people. He also queried the corruption going on in the zone as exemplified by the jailing of former Governor James Ibori of Delta State.

The host governor spoke glowingly of his economic plans for the state. He spoke of industrial parks, tourism and Export Free Zone. "The major outline of this goal is to build key infrastructure in the areas of power, transportation (including airports and sea ports) and industrialisation anchored on our Special Economic Zones. In pursuit of this vision, we have struggled with enormous challenges. But we have remained focused.” To the citizenry in Delta State, these projects are seen more on television than on ground.

Earlier, Delta Rescue Mission (DRM), a group aimed at liberating the state from socio economic and political collapse had issued a press statement. In the press state, DRM spoke the feelings of the people of the Niger Delta. The group called on member states to implement people oriented programmes. “DRM also calls on member states to urgently tackle the twin issues of unemployment and insecurity. Regional integration of roads, rail and water transport is of utmost priority. DRM hopes that the BRACED Commission will urgently address these. DRM equally hopes that a strategy for the development of the region will emerge from this summit. Above all, DRM calls on member states to ensure that transparency and accountability become the order of the day and a watch word in the region.”

DRM further demanded that “Fresh building blocks of accountability and integrity must be honestly laid by the Braced Commission coupled with demonstrable will by the promoters of the Braced Commission to implement same. It is a matter of regret that the few governors convicted so far for monumental fraud and theft of state funds are from the BRACED states. “As a sign that the inglorious past will not return, the governors of the BRACED states should openly denounce the looting of public funds by their predecessors some of whom are openly patronised by the present governors.”

The summit was filled with good speeches, a very good communiqué and brilliant ideas. But the question then arises; will the Commission implement these ideas? Will it not be another jamboree? Will it not be another talk-show where Government Officials line their pockets with the people’s money? A Commission whose website is not functional or updated, will it be able to function effectively. A Commission whose website has the last posting in October, 2011, has no information on the Asaba summit or the outcome of the summit; can such a Commission be relevant and responsive to the yearnings of the people in its present setup? Is there a secretariat in between the summits that implements the decisions? Is there a template for development common to the Braced States? Has there been an attempt for the people of the Braced states rather than their governors to own the process? Have we worked out regional infrastructural projects? Is there a peer review mechanism, for instance can airports been built to the same standards at near identical costs? Is there a common degree of intolerance to corruption and wasteful and avoidable expenditure among the members?

For the Commission to be effective, it must be unbundled from the clutches of the Governors. It must not be political. It must be neutral in the affairs of member states though a benchmark of good governance must be set. It should be managed by tested and patriotic professionals and technocrats drawn from the member states who may earn token wages if they earn at all. It must be accountable. Personal aggrandizement should not be welcome in the Commission. Above all, the welfare of the people in the South-South zone should be of paramount interest to the Commission.

PRESS RELEASE

2013-01-04T10:24:00.000-08:00

THE BRACED COMMISSION

Delta Rescue Mission (DRM), a movement aimed at rescuing Delta State from imminent economic, social and political collapse, welcomes delegates to this year’s summit.

The BRACED Commission aimed at fast tracking development in the South South is a welcome development. DRM is in total support of the aims and objectives of the commission. We feel that regional cooperation and integration is necessary if we are to catch up with the rest of the world.

The South South geo political zone is the richest in terms of natural and human resources. It is a blessed region but the poorest and most backward in the country. Its full potentials have not been realized. Infrastructure and good governance are lacking.
DRM calls on delegates to ensure that the BRACED Commission summits are not annual jamborees, a talk show where the tax payers’ money are wasted without achieving any result or implementing agreed programmes.

DRM calls on member states to allow internal democracy to flourish in the region. No development can take place in the absence of internal democracy.

We also call on member states to implement people oriented programmes.

DRM also calls on member states to urgently tackle the twin issues of unemployment and insecurity.

Regional integration of roads, rail and water transport is of utmost priority. DRM hopes that the BRACED Commission will urgently address these.
DRM equally hopes that a strategy for the development of the region will emerge from this summit.

Above all, DRM calls on member states to ensure that transparency and accountability become the order of the day and a watch word in the region.

Fresh building blocks of accountability and integrity must be honestly laid by the Braced Comm coupled with demonstrable will by the promoters of the Braced Commission to implement same. It is a matter of regret that the few governors convicted so far for monumental fraud and theft of state funds are from the BRACED states.

As a sign that the inglorious past will not return, the governors of the BRACED states should openly denounce the looting of public funds by their predecessors some of whom are openly patronised by the present governors.

Once more, DRM welcomes delegates to this year’s summit and wish all a successful deliberation.

Thank you.

Bar. M. Ahweyevu Mukoro Esq.
Director General (DRM).

N7.4 BILLION – WHAT DELTA STATE COULD DO WITH IT

2013-01-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

Eddy Aghanenu

The Delta State Government recently awarded a contract for the demolition of certain hills in Asaba International Airport. The demolition of the hills will enable the presidential jet to safely land. The president was coming for the BRACED Commission Summit which held in Asaba, Delta State. The contract sum is N7.4 billion. It is a job that should be completed in ten days.

Some pertinent questions arise from the award of this contract. Didn’t the state government know that there were hills around the airport before carrying out the project? Like Nnimmo Bassey of ERA observed, Asaba is in a flat geographical plane, how come N7.4billion will be used to demolish hills there? Couldn’t the airport have been built in surrounding communities that had no hills to demolish? Having spent over N24 billion on the airport project and another N7.4 billion to demolish hills and is still not sixty percent completed, how much more does the state need to spend before completing this money draining project?

The new cash cow for the very big boys of the inner circle of the government of Delta State to whom DESOPADEC is obsolete as a honey pot and to whom bleeding the state has become a pastime is the Asaba international airport. It is even more worrisome and suggestive of premeditated plunder of state resources that one of the contractors engaged to remove the now vegetative hills from the Asaba airport is the main contractor for the airport project. A commissioner in this state is designated as the Commissioner for economic planning, has he gone on indefinite leave? Were there no feasibility studies before the contract was awarded? Who were the consultants? What was the basis for choosing the present site if the topography of the site was this unsuitable and unreliable? Somebody is swindling the state and embezzling the money of Delta State with the active connivance of the chief guard of the treasury of Delta State. Couldn’t the state use the N7.4 billion to impact positively in the lives of the people?

With N7.4billion, the state would have been able to construct the the Amai – Ogume – Kwale Road and Abbi – Ogume Road. The Abraka – Ugono – Umuebu – Amai Road would be constructed. If this had been done, it would have gone a long way to reduce or stop the constant conflict between the people of Amai and Umuebu. With N7.4 billion, Okpe Road in Sapele would have been dualised – complete with drainage. With N7.4 billion, Amukpe Junction to Okurivhre Junction in Sapele would have been dualised.

With N7.4 billion, a flyover would have been constructed at Enerhe Junction in Warri where vehicular movement is a nightmare. N7.4 billion would have been enough to dualise Deco Junction to Okumagba Lay Out in Warri.and drainages in Asaba and Abraka

N7.4 billion would be enough to construct drainages in Jakpa Road, Ekpan Road. The road from Enerhen Junction to Udu Bridge that has become a nightmare to the teeming commuters including Udu people as well as non indigenes who go through the Udu Road daily from Enerhen Junction .

N7.4billion will go a long way in supplying computers to all the secondary schools in the state. The computers will be cheaper if sourced directly from the manufacturers. Hopefully, President Kagame was the guest speaker in this year’s summit. Delta State government should have asked him, how Rwanda, a country emerging from war and genocide was able to supply computers even to primary schools in that country.

With N7.4 billion, more primary health centres would be built, equipped and drugs made available across the state. N7.4 billion will in no small measure go a long way in equipping hospitals in the state rather than being mere consulting clinics that they are presently.

With N7.4 billion, soft agricultural loans can be given to farmers. Government can equally get modern farm implements and fertilizer which can then be sold to farmers at subsidized rates. The youths will be encouraged to go into farming if they know they have the financial support of the government.

With N7.4 billion, the police command will be better equipped to fight crime which is almost overwhelming the state government. With this, vehicles, communication equipment and other needs of the police would be taken care off.

A mini independent power project to serve a specific area could be constructed with N7.4 billion. This is the type that Gov Raji Fashola is building in Lagos State. The first is meant to serve Iju Water Works and neighbouring communities. The second is in Lagos Island is meant to serve the courts and other government agencies within the area. If this type had been done in Asaba the shame experienced by the governor of Delta State during the BRACED Commission Summit wouldn’t have happened. During the summit the conference centre was put in total darkness as there was power outage for almost an hour.

N7.4billion would have gone a long way in eliminating or reducing infant mortality in the state. It would have also reduced maternal death rate.
Social benefits to the elderly for the next three years can be taken care by this N7.4 billion that is being or was wasted by the governor of Delta state. Ekiti State which is not as rich as Delta State is offering social benefits to her senior citizens.

N7.4 billion would be more than enough to engage twenty thousand youths in the state as was done by the Aregbesola government in Osun State and Ajimobi government in Oyo State.

The scholarship to Delta State students in tertiary institutions that are paid more in the breach or in piece meal can be solved or greatly improved upon with this N7.4 billion.

Modern High Court and magistrate court buildings in the state befitting a state like Delta could be constructed with N7.4 billion. This same amount can also cover the equipping of the courts with computers and other electronic recording gadgets that can prevent our judges from the drudgery of long hand recording reminiscent of colonial type judges.

Supply of pipe borne water can be given to about a hundred communities with N7.4 billion. It is surprising that Isele Uku and other neigbouring communities as indeed with most communities in Delta State have no source of water supply. Most of these communities depend on rain water all year round. Citizens of the N7.4 billion hills blowing state are thereby exposed to water borne diseases and other health hazards.

N7.4 billion is more than enough to empower the women who bear more the economic hardship in the state occasioned by bad leadership. Loans can be given to them to start small scale businesses. Modern market stalls could be built in major cities in the state with this money that is about to be wasted. These markets should not be of the gigantic and grandiose type that traders cannot afford but the simple type that is built in every neighbourhood as done in Ondo State. This reduces street trading, is affordable and helps to ease of traffic as there will be markets in every neighbourhood.

There are more than a hundred ways by which this amount that is meant to demolish the hills whose existence at the Asaba airport in the first place represents blame worthy failure of the government of Delta State, could have been spent including saving Effurun market and most parts of Warri from being a refuse dump.

DELTA STATE - WASTED OPPORTUNITIES by Paul Ebinum

2013-01-04T09:43:00.001-08:00

Delta State was created out of the old Bendel State. It was the dreams of the founding fathers of the state that Delta State will in no distant time be a state where economic development, infrastructure, employment, security, peace and equality will be guaranteed. To them, Delta State would be Nigeria’s Asian tiger. Were their hopes misplaced? Were they being too idealistic? They saw the potentials in the state and had hoped that these would be properly harnessed and managed that will give meanings to their hopes. Delta State is rich in mineral resources – oil. It is rich in human resources. It has a large agricultural land that can produce food not only for Deltans but neighbouring states. It has a sea port that could be a catalyst to economic development in the state. The state generally surrounded by water, will be an ideal place for aqua farming. The optimism of the founding fathers and Deltans were not misplaced. There was hope for state. The state had a bright future. The state was and is viable. What do we have today after about twenty years of the state’s creation? Corruption, insecurity, unemployment, lack of infrastructure, lack of social services such as health and water. The educational sector in the state is collapsing. Abandoned projects litter the state. Few are feeding fat on the wealth of the people. While it could be said that the Felix Ibru government tried to lay a solid foundation for the state, same cannot be said of governments that came after his. The decline started when an ex convict was elected as governor in 1999. He came with the intention of plundering the state. Plunder he did. He neglected infrastructural development and began to empower his cronies. Roads where constructed were substandard and without drainages. Today, most of those roads have become death traps. Corruption was raised to a high level. Agencies such as DESOPADEC became conduit pipe to loot funds. Creation of employment was nil. There was no developmental agenda. This was the situation that one had expected the present government in Delta State to tackle head long. What did the citizens get? Elections were won by Uduaghan without winning the heart of the people. There was a disconnect between the leaders and the people. There was and still a mistrust between the leaders and the people. Rather than seizing the opportunity of winning various elections in the state, the Uduaghan government further alienated the people by its non performance. Development of infrastructure has been neglected. Where the government remembers to do, the job is abandoned half way. Today, abandoned projects litter the state. From the Ughelli – Asaba Road dualisation project to the Otu Jeremi abandoned stadium, carcass of abandoned work has become the common site. It is the same scenario all over the state. The state also has the unenviable record of awarding the most expensive contracts in the country. The Asaba International Airport is one simple example. Having gulped over nineteen billion naira (N19billion), and yet to be completed after several years, the airport remains the most expensive in the country if not the world. Recently, another seven billion naira (N7billion) contract has been awarded to level some hills or anthills in the airport. Meanwhile, Asaba is in a flat terrain. Akwa Ibom Airport was constructed with less than five billion naira (N5billion) and done in less than three years. The Oghara Independent Power project has already consumed over fourteen billion naira (N14billion) and work has not gone up to ten percent. The governor said that the state has ordered for the turbines from Canada. The turbines must be delivered before construction starts. This is after several years of the contract being awarded. What logic! The educational sector is almost collapsing. The standard is still as poor as ever. The tertiary institutions are just tertiary in name. There is no encouragement for real academic work and research work. He has been busy establishing more polytechnics all over the state. These are nothing more than glorified secondary schools. Bursary awarded to students are not paid or haphazardly paid. Most students have not been paid their bursary for the last session. In fact, some students said they have been applying every year, yet they are never paid. The health sector is in shambles. The hospitals are poorly equipped. Medical personnel are few and drugs are scarce. The primary health centres are never functional. The sick have to seek for alternative means of treatment since the government owned hospitals cannot cater for them. This is a government by television. Completed projects in Delta State are completed on television. The reality is different. This was why the former NUPENG leader, Chief Ovie Kokori, accused the governor of non-performance. In his response, the governor challenged Chief Kokori to a television debate. Deltans do not need debate to know if their governor is performing or not. What they want to see is good roads, good schools, water, electricity, security, employment, favourable business environment and many other dividends of democracy. The so called integrated business park in Warri is another white elephant project embarked upon by this government. Yet, billions are budgeted for this project annually. In a workshop organized by Delta Development Initiative (DDI), a non-governmental organization, in Warri recently, on Delta State Budget from 2007 – 2011, it was discovered that the amount budgeted to the Governor’s Office and Government House was more than what was budgeted for four key ministries. If four key ministries are underfunded, what then will the affected ministries use in bringing development to the people? What will the Governor’s Office and Government House be doing with a bloated budget? Uduaghan’s government is a government of vendetta. He was quoted as saying that he has no obligation to those that never voted for him. He was alleged to have told the Udu people that he has no obligation to do anything for them since they did not vote for him. Today Udu community is worse for it. The same applies to the Ukuani people. They are a neglected people. From Amai to Kwale, from Abbi to Ogume, from Abbi to Kwale are all neglected areas in terms of road network. Kwale, one of the oldest local government headquarters in the country is still as backward as it was in the sixties. This also applies to Abraka, the home town of his greatest opponent. In spite of the fact that the town hosts the state university, it is still an underdeveloped place. There are no good roads within the town. Flooding is an annual occurrence. Power supply is near zero. There is no public water supply. The present government in Delta State has no concrete plans for tackling the unemployment crises in the state. Every year, thousands of youths are churned out from our tertiary institutions. Provisions have not been made for their employment. The result is that most of them resort to crime. Delta State is probably the most insecure state in the country. Robberies are daily occurrences. The highways are not safe. Kidnapping is no longer news in the state. The state is under siege. Yet government is not making any concerted effort in addressing the underlying issue that is leading to high crime rate in the state. There are even unconfirmed rumours of applicants paying huge sums in order to secure employment in the few government openings that are available. The Uduaghan government has taken the state backward in terms of development. It is only a very committed, patriotic and progressive Deltan that can restore this state to the path of glory.

FORENSIC FORCE: WikiLeaks And Nigeria’s Intelligence Agencies

2011-01-06T00:59:00.000-08:00

By Salisu Suleiman

If anything has emerged from WikiLeaks’ exposure of thousands of secret cables from American diplomatic missions worldwide, it is the confirmation that there is only a superficial line between diplomacy and espionage. The details and complexity of some of the cables also indicate that American intelligence networks have become victims of their own success.
From Nigeria alone, reports indicate that there are over 4000 cables, dating back to the 1960s. This boils down to about 1000 cables every ten years or 100 every year. Of course, thousands more must have been discarded, as only first class intelligence make it to the highest echelons of the US State Department. The frantic efforts of the US government to prevent further leakages suggest that the WikiLeaks documents are the real thing.
Nigeria’s intelligence agencies should be interested in the CIA’s ‘mission contacts’ in Nigeria (local spies) that provide information to the American (and probably other foreign intelligence agencies). Who are the moles that sell us out at every stage to foreign interests? And what is the level of penetration of the Nigerian government by these foreign intelligence agencies and commercial interests? And the final question: does the Nigerian government have any secrets that have not been compromised?
All these questions bring us the crux of today’s piece: the role of Nigeria’s intelligence agencies and operatives in not only protecting the country’s interests by gathering strategic (as against pedestrian) intelligence critical to our national security, but ensuring that foreign intelligence operations and operatives in Nigeria are identified, and possibly fed false information through the nuances and subtleties expected of intelligence agencies and operatives. Do our intelligence agencies have any idea of who is spying on what in the country? Do we have efficient counter espionage mechanisms and operatives? The inferences from the details exposed by the WikiLeaks revelation on Nigeria are alarming.
Many factors account for this scepticism. The discussion between President Jonathan and former US Ambassador to Nigeria Robin Saunders shows clearly that the president was not briefed nor prepared for the meeting. It was a meeting between a very efficient intelligence operative and a self-confessed novice. But beyond the Jonathan debacle is the revelation of the existence of moles in virtually every arm of government. Interested foreign intelligence officials and their governments already know policies that are yet to be articulated by the Nigerian government. It must be the dream of every career intelligence official to be posted to Nigeria. It must be the easiest place to gather intelligence unhindered and without the fear of being deliberately fed incorrect information by counter-operatives who are well versed in the spying game.
Apart from gathering strategic intelligence abroad, how efficient are our intelligence agencies in sourcing and processing local intelligence? How come the US was aware of the Boko Haram uprising while Nigerian agencies had little or no information? In spite of the huge (and largely undisclosed) sums spent by the federal and state governments on ‘security’, how come the Independence Day and Christmas Eve bombers got away with the planning and execution of their terrorist plots?
Is there any truly intelligent intelligence agency in Nigeria?

Zoning: Lesson from Cote d’Ivoire

2010-12-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

By Salisu Suleiman

Laurent Gbagbo, Cote d’Ivoire’s president for the past 10 years, should know better. He is a professor of history. When his predecessor in office Robert Guei rigged elections and attempted to prolong his stay in office, he ended up dead – shot, like a dog, on the streets of Abidjan.
Propelled by inordinate ambition, Gbagbo has chosen to forget that lesson. But it is not what happens to him that matters. The tragedy is that he has allowed his ambition to destroy the fragile peace that was beginning to emerge in Cote d’Ivoire.
The crisis in Cote d’Ivoire and possible return to armed conflict has useful lessons for Nigeria. The two countries have some similarities; both are multi-ethnic and multi-religious. Muslims, who make up about 38 percent of Cote d’Ivoire, are mostly from the north while Christians, who make up about 32 percent of the population, are mostly found in the south. Eleven percent of the population practice African religions while about 9 percent are free-thinkers.
Until the death of the country’s founding President, Félix Houphouët Boigny, Cote d’Ivoire was one of the most stable and prosperous African states and had one of the largest expatriate populations of any African country. This was to change when Boigny died. The then Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara could not become president, so the then Parliamentary Speaker Henri Konan Bedie succeeded Boigny. Bedie then masterminded constitutional amendments, which excluded large sections of the population from participating in the electoral process. Many were denied citizenship.
The political instability that followed led to the first ever military coup in Cote d’Ivoire, and eventually a brief civil war. A peace accord was eventually signed, paving the way for a new constitution and a more inclusive political and electoral process.
Laurent Gbagbo, who swore himself in as president last week despite losing the election, had postponed elections several times and managed to hang on to power for 10 years, using a mixture of guile and delay tactics. Having waited since 1994 to actualise his ambition, Mr. Alassane Ouattara, the acknowledged winner of the elections, also swore himself in as president. So we are confronted with a country with two presidents. The situation is very volatile, especially as the former rebels from the north still have control of their arms and virtually control half of the country.
So what are the lessons for Nigeria and the rest of Africa?
The most important message must be that there are no perfect democracies anywhere in the world. Even Western democracy, particularly the American presidential model, which is very often our reference point, has significant drawbacks. A critical factor in the democratic experience is the inclusion of as many citizens as possible in the electoral process. If, in the process, certain compromises like zoning or rotation of offices have to come in, it may be worth paying that price in the interest of peace and stability.
I am not an advocate of zoning, but If Ivoiriens had zoned the presidency to one region, the sharp ethnic and religious connotations in the aftermath of the elections would be less obvious. The contest between Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae in 1999 is a case study. The same thing happened in 2007 when late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua contested against Buhari and Atiku.
In the run up to next year’s presidential elections in Nigeria, the debate has assumed the discordant tunes of north/ south with a dangerous religious overcast. Every debate has been reduced to what the mother tongue of the president should be. At the moment, the undeclared battle between President Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku’s camps is degenerating to new lows. No prisoners are being taken. Every voice of reason is branded as being either ‘for us or against us’.
Today, every newspaper article or opinion piece is viewed as having been paid for by one camp or another. Responses by readers of articles published in various media are rabidly sectional. All voices of reason have been drowned by the north/ south divide. Few people have bothered to enquire about what the candidates have to offer. The overriding concern is: if he is from my zone, he should president (regardless of antecedents) and if he is from another zone, he cannot be president (regardless of merit).
Of course the concept of zoning only came about because of the ineptitude of successive governments and leaderships in Nigeria. But the lesson from Cote d’Ivoire must be clear: the personal ambitions of politicians should not accentuate ethnic and regional divisions in Nigeria’s political square.

NIGERIAN OZYMANDIAS

2010-11-29T13:36:00.000-08:00

By

Eddy Aghanenu

Like a whirlwind, they came. Like the dangerous tsunamis, they flooded the land. Like the hurricane, they swept off the landscape. Like earthquakes, they left destruction in their paths. It was called mainstream politics.
Theirs was not to appeal. It was not to plead with the people. It was not to solicit for support or understanding. It was not to allow the rule of law take its course. Neither were there programmes for the people. The people were irrelevant. With or without the people, the apostles of mainstream politics were sure of acquiring power.
It was a conquering army on the move. It was a “do or die” affair. Theirs was to subdue, enslave, subjugate loot and enshrine a reign of terror in the land. They were antithetical to development. They de-flowered the innocence of the people. They left behind tears, sorrow and blood. The people became the victims.
In Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Edo and Delta States, The Emperors reigned supreme. Like John Keats’ Ozymandias, they became tin gods. They were worshipped and their words became law. Nothing was too big to be sacrificed so that they can perpetually remain in power. People and resources were therefore sacrificed. The people were cowed but not forever.
They bestrode the land like colossus, trampling on the people and their resources. Because, they were bereft of ideas, looting and brute force became the order of governance.
They were already planning on how to continue their plunder in 2011 but not reckoning with the power of the people and rule of law.
Like the son of Ogun (the one that spits fire like Sango) once said: “the man died in all men who keep mute in the face of tyranny”. Thankfully, the man has not died in the life of the people. Led by the generalissimo, the Asiwaju, with such able lieutenants as the comrade orator of Edo, the Marxist in Ekiti State, the Iroko of Ondo, the technocrat in Lagos, the political engineer of Oshun State and the millions of foot soldiers, it was a matter of time before the emperors and their empires crumbled. The people confronted the devil. With the law and God on their side, victory was certain. Light will always triumph over darkness.
We expected an epic fight, a battle royal. It turned out to be an anticlimax. The wind has blown and we have seen the strength of their majesties. In fact, strength they have not. We thought they were giants not knowing they were mere paper tigers. It was a David and Goliath fight. A fling of stone and they were blown away. The wind of change has swept some of them off. There is liberation fever in the land. Delta State is next on the line. This wind of change will continue to 2011. Those emperors still remaining learn from the story of Ozymandias. If they do not know it, I crave the indulgence of the publisher to reproduce it below:
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

FORENSIC FORCE: Unspoken and unemployed

2010-11-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

By Salisu Suleiman

According to some reports, close to 80, 000 people stormed the National Stadium for the event. They were not there to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympic, or the All Africa Games. They were not there to watch the Super Eagles play a visiting team. They were not there for any Evangelical Crusade, and neither did Muslims decide to observe the Eid prayers at the stadium. They were there to write examinations to be shortlisted for employment by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
The 80,000 candidates were just at the Lagos centre alone. All over Nigeria’s major cities, similar scenes played out that day. In all, over half a million candidates applied for the few thousand job openings at the NDLEA. (The agency itself reportedly netted N750 million from the N1, 500 fees charged each applicant).
Scenes like these are by no means unusual. Reports also indicate that millions of people applied for a few thousand job openings at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; the Federal Road Safety Corps; Nigeria Immigration Service and others.
Nobody has the exact numbers of unemployed people in Nigeria. Last year, government accepted World Bank estimates that nearly 30 percent of Nigeria’s workforce is unemployed. Other observers believe the figures are higher. A recent study warns that Nigeria would have to create 24 million jobs in the next 10 years just to halve unemployment. Whatever the actual figures may be, unemployment is a major challenge confronting Nigeria.
While these scary statistics stare at us, government recently announced that the Niger Delta Coastal Road project would be constructed at the sum of N 1 trillion. Typically, there was no indication of the number of jobs the project would create. Yet, properly planned and executed, a project of this magnitude can create millions of direct and indirect jobs of all kinds in addition to more obvious benefits.
This single example is symptomatic of government approach to the challenge of job creation. Projects and programmes are embarked upon without indicating the specific number of jobs the project would create. How many jobs have been created in the real sector as a by-product of huge government spending? What strategies have been put in place to help mitigate the effects of unemployment in Nigeria? Do the unemployed have hope? Do we even have a current database of unemployed Nigerians?
Government must view unemployment in Nigeria from a national security perspective. Nigerians are generally hardworking and creative. If you follow a street hawker darting in and out of heavy traffic for a whole day in the hot sun, (often burdened with goods they are hawking), you will understand. But when people who are able and willing to work so hard just to get by find themselves unable to earn a living, then we are asking for trouble.
While not justifying the spate of armed robberies and kidnappings of recent, they are no doubt linked to unemployment. When university graduates, retired (and even serving) members of the security forces are forced into a life of crime, the level of sophistication and complexity is often beyond the capacity of the police and civil defense corps to handle.
So what is to be done?
There must be a census of unemployed people in Nigeria. From the exercise, a constantly updated base of unemployed Nigerians should be developed to introduce a basic ‘unemployment’ allowance. If all our ‘dishonourable honourables’ at the National Assembly can emerge as billionaires after each four-year term, then the treasury can find funds for this payment, which stops as soon as a person gets a job.
Responsibility for this payment should be shared among the federal, state and local governments. Compared to the billions spent every year on security (and much more looted), it is not asking for too much for government to give a token sum to every unemployed Nigerian. That way, a lot of petty theft and crime would be reduced and millions of lives would be touched. There would also be a positive impact on the economy, as most of the money would go directly to purchase goods and services.
The public sector cannot employ everyone in the country even if it had the resources. The private sector must be enabled to create employment and stimulate economic growth. Policies (and spending) at all levels must aim to stimulate the real sector, especially small and medium scale enterprises. Agriculture and industry are critical.
The warning lights are on: politics may dominate national discourse today, but the effects of unmitigated unemployment will destroy the polity.

How Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan Perpetuates Fraud In Delta State

2010-11-26T14:25:00.000-08:00

By Tony Ikelegbe

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has virtually littered every available space on road junctions/roundabouts, street corners with billboards and newspapers of supposedly completed projects around the state.
His government and DESOPADEC have spent over N500 million on advert placements in an attempt to broadcast the falsehood of these phantom projects to the unsuspecting public and the federal government. Over N1 billion has also been spent in bringing senior government officials to the state in an attempt to launder the image of the failing government. But, good things speak for themselves; the projects executed and completed in Lagos state speak volumes much louder than Uduaghan’s billboards. We believe these projects would have served us all better on land rather than in billboards, newspaper pages or CNN.
The budget is the fiscal instrument for implementation of government policies and projects and therefore the ultimate tool for assessment of the overall performance of any government. For the Uduaghan government, the yearly budgetary provision is regarded as a mere annual ritual, as it is just an avenue to allocate public funds to sectors after which they are diverted to phantom projects and/or completely spirited away.
The question now begging for answer is why are projects indicated in budgets and not implemented? Is it lack of funds? Obviously no. Why has Delta State been assuming a financial insolvency status when our Actual Receipts more than meet our Actual Expenditure? Where is the balance money going to?
Records obtained from the Federal Ministry of Finance and Delta State Ministry of Economic Planning shows revenue receipts and expenditure for the past 3 and half years as follows.
YEAR RECEIPTS BUDGETED EXP ACTUAL EXP. DIFF
Jan – Sept
2007 132,968,492,04 89,660,092,831 34,951,322,263 98,017,169,778
2008 155,137,500,694 232,810,646,314 92,051,405,662 63,086,095,032
2009 168,339,224,576 168,083,331,057 Not available
2010 (Jan-Jun) 114,939,466,431 217,176,003,604 Not available
Total monies received by Delta State government from Statutory Allocation, Oil derivation, IGR, VAT, etc. from January 2007 to June 2010 is over N571,384,683,742, one begins to wonder how these monies were spent and which beneficial projects it was used on. It is also most atrocious to note that Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan single handedly authorized the disbursement of over N114 billion been amount received since the beginning of this year as no cash budget has been done in the state as at August 2010 and no virement made.
It is apparent that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has hijacked the state’s resources presuming Deltans are docile and dim-witted citizens hence his obnoxious display of resentment for criticism. The monthly cash budgets for the allocation of resources to various sub heads for payments/disbursement has been cancelled by Dr. Uduaghan in Delta State. Hence, payment to contractors is not possible unless you are a “slave loyalist” or one of his mole contractors who represent him. The reason The Governor has given for non-payment of certified jobs done for the government for which he has claimed ownership of is that, He (Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan) does not want to empower his enemies. Is everybody in Delta state his enemy? If he does not pay for those contracts which formed basis for the past budgets, who does he expect to pay for them?
The highest level of insult the governor has thrown at Deltans is the “Anger Management Seminar” purportedly organized for Deltans – certainly the governor knows, we Deltans are very very angry with his total presentation of a government. A state where contractors are not paid after over 2 years of job completion, teachers’ promotion arrears and welfare have not been effected for the past 3 years. Jakpa/Ekpan road of less than 8km, 4 years running and is still under construction at snail speed but now being hurriedly done as election is drawing near. Yet the Governor has embarked on the dualisation of the 143kms Ughelli/Asaba road including several bridges were over 40% of total sums have been disbursed but not up to 10% of job completed. Obviously he will require 24 years for these elephant projects to be completed. So, why tie down needed funds that could have gone into meaningful township roads/drainage construction and economic projects into these white elephant projects? Definitely, these preferred projects are his drain pipe. As at today over N30billion has been paid out for these elephant projects, which will never be completed.
A whopping N14 billion naira was appropriated for street lights, and maintenance whereas the education and health sector is comatose – dilapidated infrastructure and shortage of staff. Doctors and medical workers are currently on strike for over 9 weeks in a state where we have a medical doctor as governor! Instead of managing the situation, the good Doctor has drawn a battle line with his colleagues.
Uduaghan is propagating poverty inducing policies so that come 2011 elections, Deltans will be all too vulnerable to accept stipends and evil political inducements so as not to revolt against his return. He has craftily paralyzed businesses in Delta state and enriched a very select few “slave leaders”. The end goal – no rivalry, no questions. But would it work? Not this time!
Budgeted sums approved by the state house of assembly for some selected projects from 2007 to 2010 are as follows.

TOTAL SUM APPROPRIATED
2007 TO 2010 STATUS
1 Warri Industrial Park 3,650,000,000 Paper Work
2 Agricultural Youth Development programme 2,100,000,000 Money Disbursed to Loyalist
3 Independent Power Project 25,000,000,000 Site not known
4 Establishment of Gas utilisation scheme 1,100,000,000 No clear direction
5 Installation & Reactivation of street lights in the state 16,666,971,759 Running with the states blood
6 LED Display boards/Electronics decorations round the state 3,550,000,000 Located along busy roads
7 Jakpa/Gbokoda Road 200,000,000 Slow pace of work
8 Sapele/Abigborodo Road 3,950,000,000 No visible work
9 Asaba Airstrip 22,200,000,000 Still under construction with completion date shifted thrice now.
10 Expansion of Osubi Runway 4,502,158,208 No work done
11 Construction of Effurun/Eku road 4,900,000,000 No work done
12 Construction of Ughelli/Asaba dual carriage way 24,000,000,000 %6 completion & Fed Road
13 Construction & Equipping of Specialist Hospital, Oghara 7,700,000,000 completed
14 Construction of Governors Office (New govt house, Asaba) 6,550,000,000 Work Given urgent attention
15 Naval logistics Corps, Oghara 1,160,000,000 Fed.project.
16 Maintenace of govt. house/landscaping 420,000,000 Urgent attention given
17 Beautification and landscaping of Effurun roundabout 290,000,000 Urgent attention given
18 Warri/Effurun Water Supply scheme 4,348,181,053 No drop of water after over 4years
19 Faculty of Engineering (DELSU, Oleh Campus) 1,100,000,000 Snail speed
20. Civic/Event Centre 3,700,000,000 Urgently completed
21. 1.5km Maryam Babangida Way without drainage but with streetlight 500,000,000 Urgently completed without drainages