Cry Not For Northern Nigeria!

 By Yakubu Mohammed

Apparently, the North deserves pity. But is it worth crying for?  Whichever angle you want to look at it, and through whichever prism you want to look at the Hobbesian state of its conditions today, the inevitable conclusion is that the North has nobody to blame but itself.

In its heydays, with good leadership that was imbued with sound vision, the North was united and monolithic in more senses than one. And relatively, it was more economically viable, self-confident, arrogant even.

But today, it is at war with itself, thanks to rabid ethnicity and religious bigotry with a system that wallows more in mediocrity than merit. Home to soulless insecurity with Boko Haram and other assorted criminals, armed bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and herdsmen, both local and foreign, unhinged, the once united and peaceful North has turned into a hot bed of grotesque abnormality.

Wole Soyinka To President Buhari: The Roof Of National Edifice Is On Fire!

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Between ‘Dividers-In-Chief’ And Dividers-In-Law 

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By Wole Soyinka

I am notoriously no fan of Olusegun Obasanjo, General, twice former president and co-architect with other past leaders of the crumbling edifice that is still generously called Nigeria. I have no reasons to change my stance on his record. Nonetheless, I embrace the responsibility of calling attention to any accurate reading of this nation from whatever source, as a contraption teetering on the very edge of total collapse. We are close to extinction as a viable comity of peoples, supposedly bound together under an equitable set of protocols of co-habitation, capable of producing its own means of existence, and devoid of a culture of sectarian privilege and will to dominate.

*Soyinka and Buhari 

On Africa Day, May 2019, organised by the Union Bank of Africa, I similarly seized an opening to direct the attention of this government to warnings by the Otta farmer over the self-destruct turn that the nation had taken, urged the wisdom of heeding the message, even while remaining chary of the messenger. That advice appears to have fallen on deaf ears. In place of reasoned response and openness to some serious dialogue, what this nation has been obliged to endure has been insolent distractions from garrulous and coarsened functionaries, apologists and sectarian opportunists.

When Will Nigeria Stop Fuel Importation?

 By DAN AMOR
Sometime ago, the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke hinted that the Federal Government had planned to stop the importation of refined petroleum products in 24 months. I had said in this column then that if that ambitious plan was not met, Mrs. Alison-Madueke should be prepared for a legal battle with concerned Nigerians as her wild goose chase would amount to perjury, a criminal offence since she made the statement under oath in her official capacity as minister of petroleum resources. The truth, however, is that our government officials make statements just because they have to read out something to the expectant public for the fun of it. 

There is usually not substance or truth in their mouths. Otherwise, why would the former Minister predicate the stoppage of importation of refined petroleum products on the turn-around maintenance of the four decrepit refineries? She knew that even if the four traditional refineries were to function optimally their total output would still not meet the demand for local consumption. All things considered, the business segments of the society and the consuming public that suffer the brunt of petroleum products importation would have jubilated at the pronouncement of the then Minister in far away Vienna, Austria. 

Why Character Matters In Politics

By Patrick Utomi

One of the sad paradoxes of Nigeria’s political journey is the current widely held view that in politics anything goes. To explain the most disgraceful personal conduct, it seems ‘okay’ to just say ‘na politics na’. 

                                                                     *Prof Utomi 

This dominant vice of politics, as the art of the indecent, rather than the art of the possible, which is dominant in contemporary political culture in Nigeria is exactly opposite the core issue in Western political thought and history. There the central issue has been morality or public virtue, as Montesquieu calls it. 

The great escape from misery for Western civilisation, beyond Angus Deaton’s case for the contribution of health care and the discovery of the germ theory of disease, has largely come from freedom that democracy offers. 

How To Hold Elections Safely And Uphold Democracy During The COVID-19 Pandemic

By Nic Cheeseman

Free and fair elections face a new kind of threat. In addition to scheming leaders and compromised electoral commissions, there is now the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

In response, a new report published by the British Academy sets out how elections can be held safely and democratically amid COVID-19. Edited by renowned political scientist Sarah Birch, it covers a range of topics, including how to establish health protocols and manage the risk of election violence. The report sets out the options for international election observers.

*Election Day in Benin Republic 

This is critically important because despite the health crisis, there will be no letup in controversial elections – starting with Tanzania in October and the United States in November. International observation will not insulate these polls from malpractice, but it will make it less likely and allow it to be exposed.

Yet the kind of observation carried out by the Carter Centre, European Union , Organisation of American States, and other international organisations requires flying large numbers of people between countries. It is therefore one of the election activities threatened by the pandemic.

The Disinvitation Of Nasir El-Rufai By The NBA

By Tony Ademiluyi

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai came into the public limelight in 1999 when democracy returned back to the country after a sixteen year hiatus of military misrule. The then President Olusegun Obasanjo made El-Rufai the Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) which was saddled with the gargantuan responsibility of disposing some of the assets hitherto held by the government to private investors. It was as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory that his name became permanently etched in the minds of many Nigerians as he had the ambition of restoring the original master plan of the city.

 

*El-Rufai

Many houses including those owned by prominent Nigerians were bulldozed as the then diminutive minister spared no one and took no prisoners. Some of his die-hard supporters pushed his name forward as a possible successor to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007 after the alleged failure of the latter’s third term bid. For some reasons best known to Baba Iyabo as the former President is fondly called, he settled for the Late Umaru Musa Yar’adua who was then governing Katsina state. El-Rufai went into political winter for eight years after his former boss’s Presidency and he was hounded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to give an account of his eight-year stewardship especially as the minister. He went on to write his memoir – ‘The Accidental Public Servant’ which was an interesting read even though some critics accused him of hagiography.

Six Million Nigerians Flee Boko Haram Terror Attacks In 10 Years, Says Report

By Adelowo Adebumiti

In the last 10 years, an estimated six million Nigerians have fled their homes for fear of extermination, abduction, and other forms of treatments by the Boko Haram group in Nigeria, a recent report has revealed.

The report, titled, ‘Managing Internal Displacement Crisis in Nigeria: Toward Global Best Practices in Guaranteeing the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) through the Media’, was published by Journalists for Christ with support from the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) and the Waldensian Church’s Otto Per Mille.

The research, which is a follow –up of an earlier project titled, ‘Monitoring Media Reportage and Portrayal of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): Cases studies of Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya’, stated that in the Northeast alone, the decade-long attacks by the group have displaced over 1.8 million people.

According to the study, the Internally Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) estimates the total number of IDPs in the country between January and December 2018 to be above two million with Borno State alone accounting for 1.4 million of that figure.

India: Celebrating An Economic Giant At 73

By DAN AMOR

India has been celebrating since penultimate week its 73rd independence anniversary as a democratic nation having been juristically established on August 15, 1947 after several decades of British colonialism. But the great Indian nation did not begin only about seven decades ago. Rather, it is the proud beneficiary of several millennia of great and memorable history, culture and civilization. Indian independence movement began in 1857 spanning 90 years before achieving self rule in 1947. 

As the enterprising people of India celebrate their bold attempt at shaking off the yoke of British imperialism and economic strangulation, yours sincerely is pleased to join millions of people, nations and organizations all over the world to congratulate this wonderful and spicy nation on her march from poverty and despair to a position of preeminence, respect and pride. It would not be an overstatement to say that the transformation of India is not only a challenge to the sub-continent of Asia but has also provided a shining example for most other countries still battling with the vagaries of underdevelopment, militarism, poverty and corruption.

The Enugu Massacre And Why Tribe Matters

By Aloy Ejimakor
The invitation admittedly extended to the Army by the Enugu State  Police Commissioner ahead of the deadly shooting at Emene was too prompt and bears stark evidence of premeditation for lethal violence against the Igbo element on the part of the Commissioner of Police.

This premeditation stems from the customary lack of compatriot empathy often exhibited by some Northern Muslim security chiefs and other ranks towards Igbos when it comes to law enforcement of this kind, even when the target of such enforcement is, without regard to their numbers, unarmed and nonviolent.

Nasir El Rufai And Wages Of Sin

by Yinka Odumakin  

The Nigerian Bar Association, in an audacious move and a very classic naming and shaming act, has withdrawn its invitation to Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, to speak at its conference following protests from some lawyers. 

The tweet on Thursday announcing the decision read, “The National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association at its ongoing meeting resolves that the invitation to the Kaduna State Governor, H.E. Nasir El-Rufai, by the 2020 Annual General Conference Planning committee be withdrawn and decision communicated to the Governor.” 

*Gov El Rufai and President Buhari 

A petition to stop the governor started by a lawyer, Usani Odum, had garnered over 3,150 signatures on Change. Org as of 4 pm on Thursday.            

In a separate letter titled, ‘Request to Withdraw the Offer of Platform at the 2020 Annual General Conference of the NBA to Mallam Nasir el-Rufai,’ addressed to the Chairman, Technical Committee on Conference Planning, NBA, Prof. Koyinsola Ajayi(SAN), some lawyers said the governor must not be allowed to speak at the conference. 

El-Rufai: Disinvited

By Sam Omatseye

This is not the time to hold grudges against Malam Nasir El-Rufai. It is not the time to say he, like Napoleon, suffers a small man’s syndrome, or that he pulled down the homes of rivals. It is not the time to say his mind has not grown above his height, and that he does not deserve to speak about who is a Nigerian.

*Gov El Rufai and President Buhari 

So, some avatars of liberty will say the Nigerian Bar Association railed against the three Johns of thinkers: Locke, Mill, Rousseau. They invited him to their conference only to disinvite him. The man salivated over an empty table. They probably did that because the man has a sour tongue, a fratricidal impulse, pitches tribe against tribe and, in the vexed issue of southern Kaduna, El-Rufai has taken sides, and has anointed violence against peace.

NBA Had Also Withdrawn Maurice Iwu's Invitation

By Usman Okai Austin

In 2008, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu's invitation as a Guest (not even a Speaker) to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)’s  Annual General Conference (AGC) of that year was withdrawn because of a protest from a cross section of Lawyers, due to his unremorseful and very poor handling of the 2007 general elections as the then INEC Chairman?

Do you know that no sectional, partisan, religious or ethnic group threatened boycott of the AGC as a result of the de-invitation of Prof. Iwu?

Elrufai is not the founder of this country neither is Nigeria named after his father. NBA only responded to public outcry and condemnation.

Enugu Massacre: Forget IPOB, They Are Ndigbo

By Aloy Ejimakor

A famous Nigerian politician once said (in spirited defense of the Yoruba) that “before I became a Nigerian, I was Yoruba”. And another one said: “We will write this for all to read. Anyone, soldier or not that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it takes.”

The Yoruba has, in moderation, said his own. The Fulani has, in extremism, said his own. Let me now, as an Igbo, say my own, and here it is: Whoever takes the life of an IPOB member is taking the life of an Igbo and therefore will ultimately account to Ndigbo. It’s not a threat; it’s a fact.

Mamman Daura Seeks ‘Competence’

By Lasisi Olagunju

Leader of the 'unseen' persons ruling us, Alhaji Mamman Daura, spoke last week. He said enough of turn-by-turn presidency for Nigeria. He decreed that North-South rotation of the presidency of Nigeria should be dead; from 2023, the most competent among contenders would be put in the Presidential Villa.

*Daura 

The Afenifere reacted sharply; the North is silent; the Ohanaeze spoke hard. Leaders of the Niger Delta also kicked against Daura's executive order banning zoning of the presidency. But what can their puny noise do to a people who built their confidence on solid rock? When a man whose lips rarely move decides to speak out, you had better drop all you are doing and listen carefully. The man who spoke is not known to be a flippant person.

How Greed Diminishes A People!

By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

 To a people addicted to the tragic luxury of self-delusion, truth hurts so badly. But then, truth always refuses to go away. It lingers around to perpetually taunt and haunt those that loathe and despise its face.

And the truth we can no longer afford to deny today is that anybody, in fact, any animal can rule Nigeria. I mean, even a bird or baboon can become Nigeria’s president or governor. It is that simple! All it will take, after all, is for the person to get a Prof Mahmood Yakubu and his band of magicians at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce his “victory,” and that would be all. But if, for whatever reason, they fail, the Supreme Court can be relied upon any day to perfectly deliver the mandate!  

*Senate President Lawan, President Buhari, Speaker Gbajabiamila  

Ironsi: Nigeria, The Army, Power And Politics

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Ironsi: Nigeria, The Army, Power And Politics

Author: Chuks Iloegbunam 

Year Of Publication: 2019

Publishers: Eminent Biographies, Awka, Anambra State

Pagination: 300

Reviewer: DAN AMOR

"Life is terribly deficient in form.

Its catastrophes happen in the wrong way.

There is a grotesque horror about its comedies.

And its tragedies seem to culminate in farce."

– Oscar Wilde (1854-1900).

How do we begin a critical review of a book on a personality such as Major-General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi? Many writers have been devoted to investigations of great events and great leaders. Few have combined that devotion with the ability to write effectively, amusingly, even brilliantly about those events and people – about the great moments and the low moments, the great men and women and those who were only interesting, entertaining or absurd. Chuks Iloegbunam combines devotion to investigations with ability, as all who read this book will testify. 

Okonjo-Iweala, The WTO And A Naysayer

By Chuks Iloegbunam

If the current controversy surrounding the search for a replacement for the outgoing director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Brazilian Roberto de Azevedo, were not global and intense, it would mean that the position was worth little more than a sinecure. Appointed in 2013, Mr. de Azevedo has served notice that he will step down this August, a year before his term concludes.

 

*Okonjo-Iweala

Up came eight candidates from all regions of the world, three of which are Africans: Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; the former Kenyan foreign minister Amina Mohamed, who previously was the chairperson of the WTO General Council; and Abdel-Hamid Mamdouhm, an Egyptian lawyer who also had a stint as a senior WTO official. Because the headship of the WTO is not geographically rotational, no region of the world can claim it is its turn to produce the organisation’s next D-G.

Rot In NDDC: Beyond Titillating Tales From ‘Port Harcourt Girl’ And ‘Uyo Boy’

By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

Nigerians are fond of turning very serious matters, even ones threatening the very life of their country, into objects of jokes and laughter.

*Joi Nunieh  and Godswill Akpabio

And so, as President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption posturing  and grandstanding which have for some years now been on life-support finally breathed its last and was wheeled out for burial (without an autopsy), and the loud attempt by some shameless pretenders to clean up  the cesspit of corruption called the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) degenerates into a public trial of the National Assembly, Minister of Niger Delta and the remorseless (mis)managers of affairs at the NDDC, instead  of there to be a national mourning and grand coalition against graft and its perpetrators, Nigerians are all over the social media and at various points of gathering, demonstrating that they have only found in the calamitous development fresh ingredients for juicy comedy skits and colourless jokes. What a tragedy!    

To make matters worse, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which should have moved in immediately to clear the Augean stable is presently incapacitated by the crushing weight of its own self-inflicted woes as its once ebullient leader is embroiled in earth-shaking allegations of corruption and facing a panel set up by the Minister of Justice who himself is equally struggling to ward off unrelenting fingers pointing at him and raising weighty allegations of graft against him.

Adams Oshiomhole Was A Mistake!

By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

Just like the All Progressive Congress (APC) which was driven by very poor judgment to ask him to pilot its affairs, there is no doubt that having Mr. Adams Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the ruling party was a horrendous mistake, which, by the way, should surprise no one, given that there is hardly anything the APC has got right since 2015 when Nigerians naively (or, more appropriately, blindly) stampeded themselves into inflicting the malformed party on themselves. 

*Oshiomhole 

But Mr. Oshiomhole has not always been like that – a huge liability to the people he is leading. As the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), he was admired by many Nigerians, including this writer. He had the facts and eloquence as he confronted the government about the plight of the masses. He was often unbeatable and it was such a delight to listen to him. I would recall that I sometimes quoted him in my column, especially, during the Obasanjo regime. When then he indicated interest to go to the Edo State Government House to function as governor, he easily won the support of people, even beyond the state. 

Is Nigeria A Country Of Morons, Imbeciles, Idiots Or All Of The Above?

By Bayo Oluwasanmi

It is no secret that Nigeria’s ruling elite are cruel, amoral, unfit for the office they hold. They are all fucking morons. Ironically, this hasn’t stopped them from becoming presidents, governors, ministers, and what have you.

*Buhari 

Though the citizens are aware of their leaders’ flaws, they choose to be willfully blind, dumbed down and misinformed. Both citizens and leaders are deficient in self-respect and courage. The oppressed are afraid to rattle the cage of their oppressors.