ABUJA…YET ANOTHER BLAST!!!

 

With the bombing of the Emab shopping plaza in wuse Abuja, on Wednesday 25^th June, which claimed about a dozen lives, one is left to wonder where the Boko Haram insurgence would attack next, better still, if a fortress such as the Federal Capital of Nigeria, optimally protected by the military who are visible in strategic locations around the City, where cant they attack in Nigeria? The most worrisome is that these ugly incidences are happening under the nose of the presidency “Aso Rock Villa”. Questions begging for answers by the citizen of Nigeria are left to be answered. The effrontery displayed by the insurgence questions the faith we have in our government in their ability and capability to guarantee the safety and security of lives and properties of Nigerians who cannot afford the engagement of heavily armed security forces for their personal protection.

It is most devastating that barely a week goes by in Nigeria without attacks on innocent lives being the major headlines of our daily newspapers, perhaps we were even wrong in our postulations that the rate of attacks by the insurgency would reduce during the period where the FIFA 2014 world cup is ongoing. To our dismay, on the day of the first match of the Brazil 2014 world cup, the insurgency attacked a viewing centre in Damaturu, Yobe State, leaving innocent football fanatics dead and many suffered various degrees of injuries. 

We have in recent times witnessed an unusual hobnobbing between the government and the Military, where they are deployed “unnecessary” even to serve in stop and search operations allegedly engineered against perceived political enemies of the administrations. Instead of this, the Military Might should be harnessed to fighting insurgency in all fronts; it would be only right if harmless institutions and individuals are less harassed by the military, undemocratic acts such as the clamping down of newspaper and distributors in parts of the country despite the Special Adviser to Mr. President on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati categorically stated that they were not against the content published by media organizations.

The scenario which played out with the deployment of security personnels to man the nooks and craning of Ekiti State, during the June 2, 2014 gubernatorial elections, led most Nigerian to ask the Government to deploy the same number of security men to Borno State, the presumed “headquarters of the insurgency” in order to ensure that their ungodly activities are reduced drastically.

Another question asked is that how true is the government’s support of the Nigerian Military, when retired military officers are protesting for unpaid allowances owed them by the FG. This action cannot be a motivation for serving military men on the battle front needing the full assurance for their future welfare and that of their families after retirement. 

It is gradually becoming a norm that after any attack, Government officials have an already prepared press statement(s) where the date(s) and location(s) of the attack(s) are only edited and presented to Nigerians through the media. The vehement verbal condemnation of the attack is not enough to pacify Nigerians, we understand that the President is doing his best, but in desperate times such as this, desperate actions must be taking as human lives are been terminated indiscriminately on a daily bases as a result of attacked by insurgencies, war between farmers and Fulani herdsmen and politically motivated community clashes predominantly in the northern part of Nigeria. It is more saddening when political gladiators use the media to accuse one another for being responsible for supporting the insurgency. A recent statement by Wale Oladipupo, National Secretary of the PDP, stating the obvious that anti-government forces who are against the PDP led government are behind the attacks, he went  on further to state that the attacks are meted on Nigerians mostly when PDP government records a milestones. One is left to wonder if the milestone achievements of this present administration are commensurate to the number of attacks or lives lost to insurgency in Nigeria. 

 

If the claim by the PDP led government are true that the oppositions are behind the myriads of attacks that is becoming cancerous in our system, is it not therefore the responsibility of this Administration to checkmate their activities and ensure the arrest of these individuals funding terrorism? This administration is not doing us justice by simply condemning the insurgency and their supporters especially those in President Jonathan led government without taking the bold step of arresting and prosecuting any found guilty for this treasonable offences and crime against humanity.  Mr. Presidents aides and advisers should realize that majority of Nigerians are behind the President, this was demonstrated during the 2011 presidential elections where he was voted for en masse. If these trends of bombings are not curtailed by our security forces and foreign counterparts soonest, people will loose faith in this administrations as some are already as we have seen the call for the disintegration of Nigeria from some quarters, It will be only a matter of time when people will realize that they are not safe and will be forced to take up arms to protect themselves, these will only leave the country in a state of anarchy as the political tension in the country is high and leavened with corruption, poverty, strikes, oil theft,  xenophobia, Islamophobia, communal clashes and much more as we approach the 2015 general elections. 

As we await for the results of the actions of the Federal Government towards the fight against the endemic of the Boko Haram insurgence, we can only be more security conscious and pray for the release of the over 200 Chibok girls kidnapped who are now living in the camp of the insurgent for over two months waiting to be rescued as the world watches us.  

AS ANOTHER BATCH OF CORPS MEMBERS PASSES OUT!

  

On Thursday 13, February, 2014, the 2013/2014 Batch A Corps members held their passing out parade across Nigeria, customarily, these passing out parade are attended by State Governors and their representative, the highlight of the event is rewarding of outstanding corps members distinguished  for their meritorious services at their respective places of primary assignments.

The remark by the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi in Abuja emphasized the need to make the scheme have more relevance and acceptable  in the society.

Since the establishment of the NYSC scheme under the decree no. 24 of 1973 in May 22, 1973, the scheme was no doubt a welcomed development, especially in promoting mutual relationship and national ideals across states in Nigeria. Although alleged to be a move by the then government after the Civil war for the purpose of national integration and reconciliation, the scheme has encouraged employees across Nigeria to have the opportunity to engage qualified graduates from other regions of the country to contribute to their productivity.

It is no doubt that the educational sector have gained more from the NYSC scheme by engaging over 80 percent of the corps members across each states, academic institutions in suburbs and remote villages where they are understaffed are privileged to have corps members as additional teaching staffs which uplifts the standard of education there.  From my research and experience garnered from serving in a North-Eastern state of Nigeria, most schools in the remote areas survive through the contributions of corps members posted to these schools as they lack teaching staffs. Also various community development projects embarked by divers NYSC, Community Development Services (CDS) groups go a long way to contribute to their host localities especially in the areas of health services, sanitation, skill acquisition training and guidance counseling, some groups go as far as facilitation of the contrition of minor roads, drilling of bore holes and provision of free health care facilities and services to host communities. Members of the NYSC Corps are also engaged in electoral processes as ad hoc staffs across the country.

As another batch of Corps members completes their mandatory one year national service, it is worthy to note that some served under acrimonious circumstances and working conditions and some lost their lives to religious, ethnic and political violence, the rest move into Nigeria’s saturated Labour market, the reality that awaits them is the fact that there are very few available jobs out there for the numerous well qualified applicants. 

According to a World Bank statistics, youth unemployment in Nigeria is about 38 percent, but the vivid reality in Nigeria today shows that only 20 percent would be able to gain employment form both the Government and corporate organizations, 10 percent become entrepreneurs and employers of labour, another 30 percent are unemployable as a result of poor quality of education from our troubled academic institutions bedeviled with the quandaries of underfunding, incessant strikes, cultism, sexual harassment and poor moral values. The remaining 40 percent are left to their providence, they end up depending on menial jobs available, and others depend on friends and families for survival as they keep going from pillar to post in search of a mirage-job.

After many months and in many cases, years of unemployment among Nigeria graduates, who are regularly victims of scam vacancies and exploitation by recruitment agencies, they are left frustrated, in some cases laziness and lack of proper mentorship, while others out of sheer greed, they succumb to peer and societal pressure as they engage in despicable activities such as robbery, scamming, prostitution, kidnapping and terrorism. Other are used as political thugs to unleash mayhem on opponents and thwart election processes through the snatching of ballot boxes and rigging of elections, diversion of election materials and creation of violent scenarios to catalyse the nullification of electoral results in areas where they perceive is unfavourably to their political godfathers. This dilemma of unemployment is now posing as a major threat to our national security as the spate of insurgency in the north-east, kidnapping in the south-east which has gradually crept to the western part of Nigeria has negatively depicted Nigeria as a troubled region and retrogressively deterring foreign investors from investing more in our economy.  This has also led the federal government of Nigeria to increase the budgetary allocations towards the fight against insurgency in the northern part of Nigeria and also for maintaining of the Amnesty programme in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria which about N63bn is been budgeted, these funds could have been channelled to capital development across the country if the issue of fighting corruption and development of our institutions are taken more seriously and Nigerian youths gainfully employed and resourcefully engaged.   

The Nigerian Government should ensure that it restructures our educational system especially the tertiary institutions and colleges, emphases should be given to Technical Colleges, Polytechnics and Colleges of Educations, they should be revamped and properly funded as they are major institutions established for building and developing vocational skills as we hope to diversify our economy and become a manufacturing country once again in the nearest future. We hope the industrial revolution would boom in Nigeria as we patiently monitor the on-going reforms in the power sector which is the bedrock of development in any manufacturing country all over the world. Many industries, SMEs, would be able to employ more youths if the issues bordering on power is dealt with by our government, the humongous budget for fueling generators and purchase of inverters could be used to service the salaries of more workers across the country, Manufacturers companies would no longer to close down or relocate to other countries leaving their workers jobless.

Youths should also be willing to tap into the various government empowerment programmes where they engage entrepreneurs with viable ideas and grant them loans to start up their businesses. Recently, the Lagos State Government engaged about 100 youths in an agricultural empowerment schemes, other State Governors across Nigeria have also taken up the responsibility to engage youths one way or the other resourcefully. Accolades must be given to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina for championing various empowerment programmes in the agricultural sector across the country and improving the welfare of farmers and increasing their productivity.

The most vital challenge to the Federal Government is the call for the diversification of our nation’s economy from the oil and gas sector. There are potentials and a relatively huge market in many sectors such as the Information Technology business in which Nigeria is the biggest market for telecommunications and its subsidiaries in Africa. The School curriculum in our academic institutions should be upgraded to meet up to the level of technological advancements globally. This would enable us to produce qualified graduates for each sector of the economy who can easily gain employment or become self employed after years of study in our schools.  

As another electioneering year draws near, we can only hope that our youths would be positively engaged to reduce the number of youths that would be engaged and endangered as political miscreants to some political godfathers who would want to win elections at all cost.  I wish all those who just completed their NYSC programme good luck. 

THEY CAN’T KILL THE INK

Toyin Obadina

On February 2, 2014, the Fourth estate of the realm was thrown into mourning after the news of the demise of the Deputy Editor of the Daily Newswatch Newspapers, Mr. Toyin Obadina who was shot and killed by unknown assailants around Ikorodu area of Lagos. This is coming barely two months after the Nigeria media industry lost a marketing communications sage, the GMD of Eminent Communications and Spot-On Media, Mr. Sesan Ogunro who was shot dead around Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos, on the 23rd of December,

Sesan Ogunro

2013. It will be noted that on the January 1, 2014, the Sales representatives of The Nation and Thisday Newspapers were knocked down by a careless young driver on their way from a vigil on Mokola road, Ibadan. Mr. Timothy Adeosun of The Nation Newspaper later died while Mr. Juwon Babalola survived. On January 12, 2013, Mr. Ikechukwu Udendu, Editor of Anambra News, was murdered in Onitsha by unknown gunmen, while some of these attacks can be said to robbery gone wrong, others are clear assassinations as valuables by the victims were not taken from the scene.The serial killing of journalist by unknown gunmen over the years is alarming and denting the image of Nigerian law enforcement agencies as no one have been prosecuted for these killings.

 Oppression of the Press 

Waheed, molested by NSCDC officials

Many media practitioners have suffered ill-treatment and brutalization while carrying out their duties. Recently, Mr. Waheed Adebayo, a reporter of the Leadership Newspapers in Oyo State experienced brutality from men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in January, 2014 while trying to cover the installation of the new Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan despite due accreditation and identification as a journalist.  Others that have been brutalized were Mr. Okanyi Enemali, a photo journalist in Lokoja in December, 2013 as a result of him taken some photo shots of a police officer while collecting bribe from a citizen, most notable was the case of Mr. Benedict Uwalaka of Leadership Newspapers, who was vividly recorded on camera as he was been beaten by staffs of TOS funeral home, when he covering the account of the victims of the Dana Air mishap in August 2012.  Another to have come

Uwalaka and Ogundeji after attack

under this siege of attacks was Mr. Tunde Ogundeji, a former Photo Editor of Nigerian compass Newspapers who was beaten up by thugs while taking pictures of passengers hanging dangerously on coaches of trains of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC in Lagos.  Female journalists are not spared of this wicked act perpetrated by men of the underworld as a female staff of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Akure, Mrs. Olubunmi Oke spent three days in the deadly hands of kidnappers but was later released in March 2013. 

…Some by Road

The Akinwales

On the 1st of February, 2014, a reporter with NTA Akure, Mr. Alex Akinwale died along with his wife and children in a fatal road accident involving the convoy of the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi and a traditional monarch, Oba Taofek Olaposi, the Osunmakinde of Ife Tuntun at the Aponmu-Owena area, along Akure-Ondo road. it would be recalled that in August 2013, three Nigerian journalist died in an auto crash along Ilesa-Akure express road on their way from Abuja, the deceased were Adolphous Okonkwo, NUJ National financial secretary, Mrs. Kafayat Odunsi of NTA, Mr. Tunde Oluwanike, Chairman, Radio Nigeria, Ibadan Network Centre of NUJ.

…Murdered at home

The Nigeria Media industry lost some promising journalists, in February 26, 1998, a senior correspondent with The Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Tunde Oladepo, was murdered by gunmen in his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State in front of his wife and children, in a similar fashion in 2012, the Principal Private Secretary to

late Oyerinde/Oshiomole

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde was shot in his house in the presence of his family on the 4th of May, 2012 by assassins in ugbor, Benin. Two months later, in July, 2012, Mr. Steve Nwosu, Editor of the Daily sun Newspapers, was shot around Maza Maza area of Lagos but was lucky to have survived the attack from the unknown gunmen. Another of such gruesome murder was the case of Mr. Ogunbayo Ayanlola Ohu, The Assistant News Editor of The Guardian Newspapers who was shot and killed at his home in Lagos in the presence of his family, on the 20th of September 2009. Do these assailants ever take into cognizance the level of trauma and psychological effects these act will leave on the relatives of their victims?

In 2010, Mr. Nathan Sheleph Dabak and Mr. Sunday Gyang Bwede, both of The Light Bearer Newspapers were reportedly stabbed to death by unknown attackers on the 24th of April, 2010 in Jos, Plateau State. On this same day in a south-western State of Nigeria, Mr. Edo Sule Ugbagwu, a reporter for The Nation Newspapers was shot twice in the head at his house in Lagos.

…Some on the tour of duty

Members of the press have also counted losses resulting from attacks by the dreaded Islamic insurgence “Boko Haram” in the Northern part of Nigeria, amongst those killed are Mr. Zakariya Isa, a reporter and cameraman of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, on October 22, 2011 in Maiduguri, Borno State,   according to the Sect, he was killed for allegedly spying on their activities, on January 20, 2012, the reporter of Channels Television, Mr. Enenche Akogwu, was shot during an attack in Kano State, a day before the killing of Enenche, the remains of Mr. Nansok Sallah of Highland FM, Jos was found dead on in Jos. On April 26, 2012, a suicide bomber rammed a bomb-laden vehicle into the offices of Thisday Newspapers in Abuja and Kaduna States, which left about three people dead and many injured.

Dating back to March 31, 1999, Ms Bolade Fasasi of the National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Ibadan, same year in November 5, Mr. Samson Boyi a photo Journalist of The Scope Newspapers was killed during an attack on the convoy of the former Adamawa State Governor, Boni Haruna. 

Dele Giwa

This and many more I may not be able to iterate for now, have been assassinated for no just cause while practicing and their killers are still at large. The most devastating case of assassination of Nigerian Journalist was in October 19, 1986 when Mr. Sumonu Oladele Baines Giwa, popularly known as Dele Giwa, the Editor and Founder of Newswatch magazine, was murdered by a letter bomb delivered to him at his home.   

It is pertinent that Government intensifies their efforts in providing security for the lives and properties of citizens and create of jobs in diversified sectors of our economy.  Community policing should also be encouraged and a rapid response to emergency should be well facilitated by State Governments. A proper framework for protection of medical institutions  to enable them accept gunshot victims would go a nautical mile in saving the lives of people as it is next to impossible for gunshot victims in their battle for survival to produce police reports before treatment. Media organizations should also follow suite with bodies like the Nigeria Union of Journalism to ensure a formidable insurance scheme for members of their organizations so as to help reduce the suffering and dilemma of families of fallen media heroes. 

May their souls find eternal repose. 

ARE WE FATED TO PDP OR APC?

The spate of defections from one political party to the other, especially from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC, and vice versa, according to many political analysts is said to be good for the politics of Nigeria today, the question also coming to bare is that how will the APC be able to field candidates for various political seats come 2015 noting that there are so many politically desperate gladiators in their arena. Another question is that how will the ruling PDP ensure that they do not lose their seats come 2015. The aggrieved members of the PDP who defected to the APC are alleged to be the same class perpetuating the snag within the PDP; many Nigerians have said that this class of defectors will be the catalyst of crisis in the newly formed APC, it is also likened to the case of a product changing its brand and not its content, the difference is the same.

Many Nigerian have criticized the national  and economic growth under the ruling PDP for about 15 years, the internal democracy and series of open letters by the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR to the incumbent revealed the state of disharmony within PDP. Responses to OBJ’s letter unanimously iterated the fact that the writer is guilty of the same allegations stated in his letters, responses from the Presidency and issues between OBJ and PDP big wigs shows that the former president was neither a saint judging from the stench of corruption during his administrations. The removal or subliminally, forced resignation of the erstwhile PDP chairman, Alhajhi Bamaga Tukur is a confirmation that the internal implosion within the PDP is unequivocal, the big question now is “Will APC be the credible alternative? There is seemingly a fresh air of relief for PDP as the new National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu is set to steer the party’s ship through the boisterous wind of defections and reconcile aggrieved party members in an effort to strengthen the party before 2015 elections, this tasks seems to be herculean as 11 Senators have also cross-carpeted to the APC with speculations of more to decamp. PDP Members in House of Representative, lead by Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande Adeola  requested the National Chairman to grant them automatic tickets in 2015 as an incentive for not defecting from the Party, however, the PDP Chairman have stated that there will be no automatic tickets for members as internal democracy will be followed through primaries.  

Mu'Azu

The coming together of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, CPC, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC to form the biggest merger ever in Nigeria, the All Progressive Congress, APC, which was finally registered in July 2013 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is set to be a revolutionary move to salvage Nigeria’s democracy from being a mono-party lead country. The APC is not; however, immune from internal crisis, recent cases in north and south–west of Nigeria over territorial leadership of the party sends the wrong signals to Nigerian electorate. The same set of politicians changing their political togas for another does not seem to have any serious significance to the objective of transforming the lives of the masses rather than seeking political relevance. The issue that bothers Nigerians today is the fact that APC is yet to come out with a clear itemized agenda for Nigerians. Rather they seem to have concentrated more in exhausting media time and spaces to criticize the ruling PDP. The APC should lay a formidable foundation to educate the electorate on their achievable schema for Nigerians come 2015 if given the golden mandate.

There is no doubt the PDP and APC can boast of some of their Governors doing well in their respective states, other minority parties such as Labour Party, LP and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, can also boast of the same as well as. But the major battle line was drawn since the merger plans for the APC began, with the prolonged registration of the APC alleged to be influenced by the PDP in connivance with INEC, sealing off of the provisional APC Secretariat in Abuja, to the mud-spattered fight between PDP Helmsman, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.  This predicted fight between the two major parties took a new dimension when APC directed its members in the National Assembly to frustrate the passage bills initiated by the PDP which includes 2014 Budget, confirmation of the newly appointed service chiefs as well as the screening of prospective ministers until tranquility is restored in Rivers State. Opinions from Nigerians defer on this issue, some stated that such moves will strengthen our democracy as practiced in advanced country which is considered to be healthy rivalry; some claim it is an act of sabotage and an act of insensitivity towards the plight of the people of Nigeria, either way, both parties have their vested interest in directing governance in Nigeria. The questioning of Mallam Nasir El Rufai, an APC chieftain on alleged incendiary statements by the State Security Services, SSS is debatable when considering statements made by some supporters of Mr. President in time past on PDP’s continuation to rule Nigeria .

Many Nigerians have come out to criticize the merger to be parading recycled class of politicians on one hand and also condemn the ruling PDP on the other. It is ironic that Nigerians who called for a strong opposition party are also criticizing it, these leads me to ask Nigerians if we are bound to either vote APC or PDP come 2015?

There are other parties duly registered by INEC, for credible Nigerians progressive in ideology and driven by the passion for a democratic change come 2015, now is the opportunity for such groups and individuals to identify themselves and play an active role in Nigeria’s politics by contesting or forming another merger if they feel the political strength of their party is not strong enough to win the mandate, instead of critiquing the PDP and APC yet complaining being passive in politics.

My hope is that in 2015, we will have to choose the best among the best and not the lesser of the evils for any seat of power in Nigeria as I hope we have a credible and LOVEly election come February 14, 2015 as it coincides with St. Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love.

DON’T EXPECT A PERFECT ELECTION!!!

…Statement emanating from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the new U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James F.  Entwistle, who took over from Ambassador Terence McCulley in October 2013. Although the INEC Chairman may have thought he was being pious and sincere on the notion of not having a perfect election anywhere in the world, I rather believe that the herculean task and responsibly of being the Chairman of the nations electoral body, whose final collation and declaration of result would determine the fate of Nigeria in the next four years is not acceptable. 

Firstly, the statement is not fair to Nigeria’s economy and electorate as elections are pecuniary and proposed to gulp a whooping sum of about N93 billion as proposed by INEC. Mr. Jerry Manwe, Chairman House of Representative Committee on Electoral matters assured that INEC would be properly funded for 2015 elections.  

Secondly, it will not be fair on Political Parties who must have spent billions of Naira and resources campaigning round the clock to win over voters or in some cases “buy voters” with the hope of winning available seats during the elections. 

Thirdly, INEC is vindicating itself of any irregularities come 2015 elections ahead. I believe INEC as a body should take full responsibility of the outcome of an electioneering process, flawless or otherwise. 

Some of the issues we should address as Nigerians and also question our Dear Prof. Jega are:

What are the indices for not having a perfect election?

What can be done to have a perfect election acceptable by all standards to be deemed free, fair and credible come 2015? 

Is HE Really bothered?

A good leader is characterized by the level of pro activeness and decisiveness in responding to issues that affects his or her followers. In Nigeria today, it is becoming worrisome , the seemingly unperturbed disposition of our dear Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, towards the spate of cases bordering on corruption under his administration. 

In fairness to this present administration, the rate of corruption and maladministration in Nigeria under former civilian presidents and military rulers lead to the ranking of Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. The advent of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2011 was welcomed as a new hope for Nigeria as he was the more preferred presidential candidate, most  Nigerian then proposed a political hypothesis in that “they are voting for the Man (Jonathan) and not the party (PDP) which was ironic as I believe a party and its candidate are inseparable.  The then assessment was based on the sincere empathy that our dear Mr. President rose from grace to grace with the punch line of not wearing shoes in his elementary days in Otuoke and knows the ravaging effect of corruption on our economy especially in the Niger-Delta, He would bring in change. However, the fresh air of relief after his swearing-in seems not to be breathed for long given the rate of continuous impunity in corruption cases in the country.

At several occasions, mostly from church pulpits to the holy land of Israel, our dear Mr. President have made speeches iterating the fight against corruption, he stated emphatically his resolve to tackle the evil menace which is the bane of the degradation in our nation, little is yet to be seen of the prosecution of any official found guilty of corrupt charges.

With so many indicators that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC is labelled as a citadel of corruption where gross financial misappropriations thrives as it is the major institution where past governments have collaborated intrinsically to siphon the nation’s oil wealth, the guise of reducing corruption by the removal of oil subsidy in January 2012 was welcomed by a national strike by Nigerians across the country. In tackling the rot in the oil sector, a House of representative Ad hoc Committee on fuel subsidy regime was set up to investigate the issue of subsidy payment to oil marketers, unfortunately the hunter became the hunted as the Chairman of the Committee, was caught on tape collecting money from Mr. Femi Otedola, chairman, Zenon oil, in order to thwart the report of the committee on indicted companies involved in the oil subsidy payment theft over the years. Since then the case have been adjourned from one date to another and presently adjourned till March, 2014. No one was asked to resign or was suspended.

In the same guise to investigate the near collapse of Nigeria Capital market by the house of representative

Ad hoc committee on Capital markets where Ms. Arunma Oteh, DG of the Security and Exchange commission, SEC, was indicted also with the case of the fraudulent financing of the controversial “Project 50” in 2011 to commemorate 50 years of the capital market regulation in Nigeria. In similar streak, the credibility and integrity of House Committee on Capital markets, chaired by Hon. Herman Hembe was questioned by the DG, SEC as she alleged funding of the committee to attend conferences and demanding of extacode monies amounting to about N45 million. The Hunter once again became the hunted, However, Ms. Oteh has since resumed back as the DG, SEC despite protests and allegations.

Another feather to the cap of corruption in this administration was the pilfering of about N32 billion meant for retired police officer’s pension payment.  The Anti graft agency arraigned Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo and five others on a 20-count charge on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. The recent adjournment of the case is scheduled for February 2014, we earnestly wait to the final verdict and prosecution of those to be found guilty. Powerful and influential people apply inappropriately the controversial ‘plea bargain’ in the Nigeria judicial system in crimes like corruption, kidnapping, murder and rape.

The controversial CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, over the non-remittance of $49.8 billion crude oil revenue into the federation account.

The allegation was found incoherent after the meeting between the NNPC , CBN and the Finance Minister and Coordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Sanusi later admitted that it was $12 billion that was yet to be remitted, however, the Minister of finance stated that it was only $10.8 billion. After further reconciliation and political ruse, it was stated that no amount was missing and that the money in question is part of the subsidy payment yet to be reconciled.  The irony of the story is the call for the resignation of the CBN governor whose tenure would end in less than 5 months by some quarters in this same Country where a minister indicted over N255 million car scam is still in office!. Is this to say that the CBN governor is immune to the endemic corruption in high places? Is there justification to his largesse of about N20 billion donated to six academic institutions in Nigeria in 2012 and 2013, where Lisabi Grammar School, Ogun State got N500 million through the influence of Mr. Tunde Lemo, Deputy Governor ,Operations, CBN?

Dr. Kolade

Nigerians have lost faith in the controversial Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, a further prove of this was the honourable resignation by the Chairman, SURE-P, Dr. Christopher Kolade, in September, 2013 although he stated that his resignation was not influenced by the alleged missing N500 billion  SURE-P fund. Many Nigeria criticized him for accepting the Chairmanship of the SURE-P initially and they predicted that it would lead to a dent in his image as a credible and eminent elder state man in Nigeria. Many Nigerian youths are awaiting the promise of job creation through the scheme.

The last is yet to be heard of the alleged purchase of BMW B7 series bullet proof cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah.  As usual a committee was set up to investigate the matter –The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation’s report is yet to be acted upon by our dear Mr. President after many calls for her to resign. Will Princess Oduah’s latest certificate scam where she claims she had a Masters degree in Business Administration from St. Paul’s College, Lawrenceville, Virginia, US be enough for her to be sacked? I certainly think not, as the minimum qualification to be the number one citizen of Nigeria is a secondary School leaving Certificate (SSCE)… 

I sincerely hope our Dear Mr. President would tackle corruption especially among high ranking officers in his administration by enforcing the combination of the prosecution of culprits with his articulated communication of the gospel of his government fighting corruption in the mass media. This will give Nigerians hope and set the right premise for 2015 elections. God save Nigeria.