Our notes will be incomplete if we do not pause to invite some reflections upon the recently concluded Local Government elections that took place in Lagos, the economic and financial capital of Nigeria. Lagos states also proudly terms itself as the centre of excellence, whilst that appellation might be disputable and even relegated to the status of commendable aspiration when benchmarked against international standards there is no doubt that Lagos state stands out when compared to other states in Nigeria. With its almost no dependence on revenue from crude oil, good governance, cosmopolitan composition and metropolitan structure, Lagos epitomises one of the dreamlands for experts of international development.
The last time we openly pondered about Lagos was earlier this year towards the general elections, under the title “Made in Lagos for Nigeria” and we observed that the televised gubernatorial debates that took place in Lagos had forcefully placed Lagos state on a level that requires some respect and special consideration. We noted that Lagos is quite a lucky state as none of the candidates on the podium came across as a thug, dullard or a freak and although a few untruths were proffered, they all deserve our applause for behaving with dignity and trying their best to appear competent. In a period littered with uncertainty and doubts that things can really change for the better, one of the many things the Lagos gubernatorial contest showed us is that decent debates like many other simple but necessary things can be conducted in Nigeria and that if well-managed Nigerian politicians too can follow simple rules. Lagos stood out as a model.
Alas, the same cannot be said of the just concluded Local Government elections wherein voters showed little excitement in participating, a lot of disappointment in most of the incumbent candidates and practically no trust in the challengers. On their own part, contesting and supporting politicians greeted the results with protests and allegations of rigging and other electoral malpractices. Sadly, there were also cases of violence and even loss of lives. Those who orchestrate violence should be ashamed of themselves; mark my words: nothing goes unrewarded in life one day those that do evil to our land will pay for it.
In politics, silence is a statement. With their reluctance and in some cases outright refusal to openly and passionately embrace their sitting Local Government Chairs and councillors, Lagos is speaking and what the people are saying is that they cannot feel or see the impact of those local administrators. Ideally, the Local Government Area politicians should be the ones presenting and defending the instances of their residents to the state and eventually to the national authorities. Many residents don’t even know their local representatives. The newly sworn in Chairs and Councillors need to start a new page in which they prove they can listen to Lagos by connecting with their residents. They need to be active for their people and be seen to be present in their territories.
The main opposition party in Lagos state is yes the PDP but just in case they don’t get it, they need to be told that Lagos does not like them at all. With its deafening silence and active apathy towards the PDP, Lagos is saying again as it has said with its history that it is a state of progressives and wants to continue to be so, to change that a lot needs to be done. In the meantime, just as we tell the PDP not to quash opposition in Nigeria ACN needs to give space to opposition parties in Lagos.
With its behaviour in the elections, Lagos is however also speaking to the ruling party in the state and it is telling the ACN that the people of Lagos do not like to be taken for granted. Something needs to be done about internal democracy an accountability of stewardship. Three of the most essential elements for a successful selection of political candidates are capacity to represent and connect with voters, ability to perform in office and loyalty to ideology and party; any political party missing these points in on its way to disaster. Those with vested interest in the party, from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the national level to Mr Kayode Adeniyi at the local level in Anthony Village, need to find a way to synthesise these three elements.
Lagos is also speaking to the electoral regulator and it is telling INEC and co that this democracy needs to make space for independent candidates. It is unfair and undemocratic to force people to shut their nose and to tolerate existing parties when voting or contesting. Many good people are out of politics today because they cannot identify with existing structures. For the benefit of the country we need to find a way to let them in. The desire for a simplified system with a few parties and candidates is understandable but an imposed simplification is ridiculous and annoying. Though it might appear difficult to implement, I am sure my colleague, Prof. Attahiru Jega, understands the benefits the introduction of independent candidates will bring to the system, he has the duty of exploring that option.
Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman representing Kogi Central on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has restated his vow to ensure the transformation of Ebiraland for the benefit of the people before the end of his four-year mandate in the Senate.
Abatemi-Usman, who is the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, made the remark at the palace of the Ohinoyi Anebira in Kaduna, Alhaji Sadiq Obari Isah during his visit to the Ebira community in the state.
In a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Michael Jegede, the Senator was quoted as saying that the people of Kogi Central will have cause to celebrate at the end of his tenure in office.
While enumerating the various steps he has taken so far in his effort to pave way for the growth and development of the zone, the youngest lawmaker in the Red Chamber, told the Ebira people in Kaduna that they will never regret their decision to elect him as their Senator.
“Prior to my election, I was here to seek for your prayers and support. Today, I am here to thank you all for the confidence you have reposed in me by deciding to elect me as your Senator. I want to assure you all that you won’t have any cause to regret your decision,” Abatemi-Usman, a member of African Union Parliament declared.
He added: “I love this job. I am prepared for it. And so, I will not fail to deliver and put smile in your faces. I and my team are working round the clock to bring lasting solution to the protracted water problem in Ebiraland. We are equally not resting on our oars on the issue of Ajaokuta Steel because we know the impact its completion will have on our people and the country at large.”
Responding, the Ohinoyi who said he has been in Kaduna for about 49 years, noted that the Senator’s visit was the first of its kind. The traditional ruler urged Abatemi-Usman to continue with his good work in the Upper Chamber.
Members of Ebira Peoples Association (EPA) Kaduna branch led by their President, Abdulmalik Mohammed, National Association of Ebira Students (NAES) Kadpoly chapter and other Ebira groups in Kaduna were on hand to receive the Senator whom they described as God-sent.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) scanning machine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja had detected two suspected drug traffickers. The suspects during interrogation reportedly told narcotic investigators that they were advised to use Abuja Airport because of the attention on Lagos airport over ace actor and comedian Babatunde Omidina also known as Baba Suwe who has been under observation of the Agency.
Onyegbuna Patrick
According to the NDLEA Abuja Airport commander, Alhaji Hamisu Lawan gave the names of the suspects as Nnoli Valentine, 41 and Onyegbuna Patrick 25. Nnoli is a Nigerian based in Berlin, Germany ingested 99 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 1.6kg. He was arrested while attempting to board a KLM flight to Amsterdam. The second suspect Onyegbuna Patrick ingested 67 wraps of substances that that tested positive for cocaine weighing 1.250kg. Onyegbuna was caught returning from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The commander also faulted their permutation as the Agency has scanning machines in all the international airports in the country. “We are prepared to stop drug traffickers at the Abuja airport. All our airports are equally equipped with the 3D scanning machines and it was a wrong calculation by the suspects to have opted for Abuja airport. This arrest will serve as a warning that it is difficult for them to smuggle drugs here” Hamisu stated.
Nnoli who is married to a German woman with two children works in a restaurant in Berlin. The suspect who would have been given 5,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the drug said that he was stranded after a visit to his home town in Anambra State. “I was stranded after spending some time with my family in Anambra State. A friend I contacted to assist me with money to buy ticket lured me into drug trafficking with a promise of 5,000 Euros. They gave me the drug in a Lagos hotel and told me to go through Abuja airport and that there will be no problem. Unfortunately, I was arrested. I regret my involvement in drug trafficking” he lamented.
Nnoli Valentine
Similarly, Onyegbuna who sells footwear in Onitsha, Anambra State said that he was moved to indulge in drug trafficking to save his father’s life. “My father is very sick and I cannot watch him die. My mother is dead and I must do my best to protect my father. That was how I got involved in drug trafficking. I was promised the sum of 4,000 dollars and my travel expenses paid to Brazil to smuggle the drugs to Nigeria. They also asked me to return through the Abuja airport. I am deeply sad over the incident” he stated. He hails from Anambra State.
The Enugu State Government has dismissed as laughable and mischievous, claims by a purported human rights body that it was behind the current travails of one Osmond Ugwu who is currently facing charges in court for attempted murder.
The government also dismissed the threat reportedly made by the group to “make Enugu State ungovernable” if Ugwu was not released from prison custody within one week as uninformed and ill thought.
A release signed by Chukwudi Achife, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sullivan Chime, said that the tone of the claims and the threats made by the group as published in a national daily newspaper, confirmed its suspicions that the labour issues in the state were being sponsored and orchestrated by some disgruntled elements trying to create a false impression of crisis in Enugu State.
He said that even the most uninformed person would know that a criminal trial was a matter totally within the domain of the judiciary and that an order to remand or release an accused person in or from prison custody can only be made by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Achife said that even though the group mentioned in the report remained faceless and amorphous, it was still important to observe that a demand that the state government should release someone who has been remanded by a court of Law, can only stem from either ignorance of judicial processes or a mischievous intent of the person making the demand.
He noted that the concomitant demand by the said group for the Governor to give an account of his stewardship within one week and the reflection of similar comments made by a defeated gubernatorial candidate in the same story, clearly confirms the sinister motives of the people behind it.
Achife also said that the continued reference to the minimum wage as a cause even when it had been paid in Enugu State since August, was an indication that those behind the attempt to use it to create disaffection against the state government, had woefully failed.
He said, “It is amazing that people who claim to be human rights activists will be asking the executive arm of the government to take over the functions of the judiciary. The rule of law obviously means nothing to them. It has always been clear to government that some persons having no other way to blackmail it, have sought albeit unsuccessfully to use a non-existent minimum wage issue to cause disaffection against the government. Even people who do not belong to any Labour Union are now described as labour leaders”.
Achife restated Governor Chime’s commitment to securing the welfare of workers and to the establishment of a functional public service, adding that no amount of threat, blackmail or political intrigues can distract him from his commitment to the transformation of Enugu State.
Chief Mrs. Aisha Audu [nee Emeje], the former first lady of Kogi State has made her ambitions public as she recently announced her intentions to join the upcoming gubernatorial elections to govern Kogi State as the first female governor. In this interview, she argues that as a former governor’s wife, she had no specific function in government that would have assisted the people the way she wanted. She spoke about her plans for Kogi State.
What motivated you to join the race in which your former husband, the former governor Prince Abubakar Audu is one of the major contenders?
I am compelled by the socio-economic reality in the state. A group of youths called “Kogi Youth Vanguard” and a host of other civil society called me and state their plight, they encourage me to join the process to liberate them. I wept for my people. Go to Lokoja, the state capital, and see a glorified village. Up till now, our people even in Lokoja have not gone beyond rudimentary existence. They have a static life.
They are held hostage by poverty and ignorance. I weep for them. We want to re-brand the state. The state
They are held hostage by poverty and ignorance. I weep for them. We want to re-brand the state. The state deserves more than what it is getting. We want to attract visitors who could be potential investors. We need investors to grow the state.
But it looks more like a waste dump. It is lamentable that we have not been able to use the symbolism of the state as the first capital of Nigeria to boost tourism. The myriad of tourism attraction centres in the state is yet to be harnessed. Tourism provides 60 percent of revenue in most advanced countries. It is a tool for education relation and it is better than revenue from oil. We will showcase the rich tourism potentials in the state.
Though Kogi may lack the attractive pull of Lagos and the sophistication of Abuja, its historical antecedents can make it a tourist haven. When visitors come to the state they come with a lot of expectations but leave disappointed.
Available statistics have proved that women in Nigeria prefer to support the men in the race for elective position, especially that of the president and governor, for instance, it happened during the last PDP presidential primaries where the only female aspirant in the contest, Mrs Sarah Jubril, lost to the incumbent president due to lack of support from the women folk. What magic do you think will work in your favour in the December poll?
It is only in Nigeria that eligibility for political offices takes the colour of gender and tribe without consideration for the content of character, blueprint for development, and vision. We are in an era of increased agitation for more visible role for women in governance all over the world. But in a place like Kogi, they are locked
Kogi State is faced with serious underdevelopment since its creation in 1991 due to lack of good leadership, poverty, ethnic mistrust and youth restiveness. What do you intend to do when given the mandate to salvage the people?
The problem starts with lack of vision. Many never prepared for the position they occupy. They lack the required vision. A governor of a state is like a driver of a luxury bus. It is not just enough that you can drive, but do you have a good sight? Without a good sight, your driving ability is zero.
Another question is, do you know the road? Vision is very important. That is why the Bible says without vision the people perish. Governance goes beyond tarring of roads.
Those are normal responsibility of government and should not be seen as achievement because after all why were you elected in the first place? The vision sets you apart from the crowd. That is what set me apart from some people whose reasons for contesting is to display their wealth, or on a vengeance mission. If you have a compelling vision like the one we have, you will definitely be dissatisfied with the status quo.
Going by the public opinion, it was widely believed that your former husband, Prince Abubakar Audu performed credibly during his tenure as governor and you were part of the government, now that you have decided to throw your hat into the ring, are you saying his achievements were just a media hype?
If I have my way I would not want to speak on individuals. We are around to enrich the quality of debate in the polity. Having said all this, I want to say that there is too much hype in our politics in the state and propaganda has helped to make heroes out of mediocrity and our people to see hell as paradise.
You are a journalist and you should know that there are universal indices for leadership assessment. We do not need to go to the political graves to exhume political ghosts to come and govern us in the name of experience when we have vibrant youths. C. S. Lewis said no rearrangement of bad eggs can ever make a good omelette.
It was rumoured that you are in the race to spoil the chances of your ex-hubby. Are we saying the crisis that led to the dissolution of your marriage is irreconcilable?
My brother, I naturally do not respond to rumours. But I think it would be extremely uncharitable for anyone to reduce my governorship project to spoiling the chance of another person. I think I and my party deserve more than that. What we are saying is, our elections in Kogi do not reflect the best that Kogi could offer
What if your party, Justice Party, as one of the opposition parties in the state endorses Prince Abubakar Audu, what would be your next step? Would you support his candidature?
No way
How much do you know of the published report by the World Bank on women investment in the growing global economy, and how can you tap into that to improve the lot of women in your state and also improve its economy?
Yes I have been very much involved in most World Bank activities in the past one year; I was actually a delegate in the last IMF/WORLD BANK FORUM. I am aware the women deserve more assistance in many areas, such as health, discrimination in the workplace, lack of rights at home, land rights, education, more opportunities to enter the job markets and control over their lives, and many more areas.
In this year report the World Bank made significant progress with narrowing the gender gaps especially in the labour markets and education. As a woman I will increase opportunities for women and girls by increasing social enterprise development. Except we want to deceive ourselves, investing in women is an economically sound strategy, if women were given opportunities the overall development prospects would improve for all. Mind you women are the 40% of the global workforce. I will encourage women entrepreneur and involve them in all areas of governance.
Who is Aisha Audu Emeje. What makes you think as a politician, I mean your background and political network in the state?
I attended primary schools in Lagos and Calabar, which saw me through the prestigious Queen of the Holy Rosary Secondary School, Gboko in Benue State. I went to Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo for my Ordinary National Diploma (OND).
Then, I went for an online degree in Accounting and Finance from the American International University (AIU), Illinois, United States. Even though I lost my father (Chief W A. Emeje), a Chief Petty Officer in the Nigerian Navy when I was 13 in 1984, my mother was my role model.
She never gave up on us. All the grace I am enjoying today were the principles of life that my mother inculcated in me. I started from a humble beginning by selling cashew nuts. Through sales and dealership in automobiles, I now preside over a vast business empire that cuts across telecommunication, real estate and agriculture.
While I was the first lady, I ran a pet project known as Family Advancement and Care Programme (FACAP), which aimed at advancing family life. Though I had no specific function in government that would have assisted the people the way I wanted, I did not fail my people. I handled issues that were brought to me as the First Lady of Kogi State. Though I never had an office allocated to me. I never went to any.
I did not know what the office of the First Lady looked like. I was running my businesses from the house. Being a First Lady, I am not a politician rather a business woman. I believe that when you occupy a political office, a lot is expected of you. I do not know if I can meet up with those challenges.
I prefer to deal with everybody and not just the political class alone. I am very passionate about improving energy and the power sector.
I am also working with some foreign technical partners to provide 1,000 megawatts of electricity. I hope to partner the government or eventually go into Independent Power Project (IPP) to meet the needs of our society.
Kogi Politics is known to be Violent. How do you Hope to Tackle it?
. The fact is, it is not only in soccer that you have hard tacklers who deliberately leave the ball and go for the legs of opponents so the opponents can be stretched out of the field of play. One, I have divine coverings because the project is not mine. So, even if I walk in the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil because He is with me. If a small boy looks straight into your face and challenge you to a fight, you will know that he has a backing. If God is with us, who can be against us. We will play according to the rules, and live the rest to God, the police and INEC
How do you rate the quality of campaign in the state?
Poor! Many are just out to deceive the electorate. Many are saying they will do this and that. But a discerning mind would know that you cannot build something on nothing. The people of the state are unhappy. They are disenchanted and hostile. Experiences have shown that the pillar of democracy must first be erected before we can obtain benefits of responsible government. From there we will enhance the performance and service delivery capacity of civil servants. in a civil service state like Kogi, the welfare of the civil servant is very crucial.
Many believe you should have waited for four years to enable you do a thorough mobilization before you contest.
I am not new to the people and their challenges even if the party is. And let me tell you, if you wait for a perfect condition you will not get anything done in life. One thing is certain in life; what isn’t tried won’t work. inches make champions. It is from a little spark that you burst a mighty flame. And you should know that I can do all things through Christ. The sixth lessons in Collin Powell’s leadership primer says, “You don’t know what you can get away with, until you try”.
Why do governments fail?
The problem starts with lack of vision. Many never prepared for the position they occupy. They lack the required vision. A governor of a state is like a driver of a luxurious bus. It is not just enough that you can drive, but do you have a good sight? Without a good sight, your driving ability is zero. Another question is, do you know the road? Vision is very important. That is why bible says without vision, the people perish. The road to development can take a lifetime in the hands of a driver who does not know his way. There is great power in vision because our future is in our picture. Vision comes from visual ability to see beyond the immediate
Governance goes beyond tarrying of roads. Those are normal responsibility of government and should not be seen as achievement because after all why were you elected in the first place? Vision is a mental picture of a preferable future. Vision is not what you can see with your physical eyes. It is what you can see with your inner eyes. As people are blind physically, so it is in the inner eyes. Observe the artist or architect it is what they are seeing that they draw. If you can’t see you can’t lead. Jer. 33.3 “says call upon me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you know not”. What drives governance is the vision. If you have vision it is not every contractor that can work for you. He must build according to what you are seeing. The vision sets you apart from the crowd. It is the vision that determines your manifesto, your staff and other things. That is what set me apart from some people whose reasons for contesting is to display their wealth, or on a vengeance mission. If you have a compelling vision like the one we have, you will definitely be dissatisfied with the status-quo. You have to pity them, because, it is not that they are unwilling, it is just that they are unable. You can’t give what you don’t have. Many lack capacity for intellectual projections.
Your plan for the state
We want to re-brand the state. The state deserves more than what it is getting. We want to attract visitors who could be potential investors. We need investor to grow the state. But it looks more like a waste dump. When you lack vision you can’t project accurately .And that is why they wait for problem to come before solving it. You build one road this year and later you expand it. No, you should have seen it through intellectual anticipation and visual projection in the 21st century; you anticipate and plan.
Many believe that women are not strong enough to withstand the rigor of governing a state
Governance is not about brawn it is about brain. And governance does not need a strong personality. Instead, it needs strong institutions. It is not a one man show but collective efforts and collective responsibilities
Do you have enough money to actualize your goal?
Positioning is greater than cash. I don’t know why our media put so much emphasis on cash? Positioning is the key thing in life. It helps a great deal to determine the height one eventually attains in life. It is your position that determines your connections while your connections determine your contacts. And a man is as rich as his contacts. There are people, they don’t have cash but they don’t lack what cash can offer.
Written by Donald Ojogo, Warri Sunday, 30 October 2011
Former President and chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, may have abandoned President Goodluck Jonathan to handle the constitution of boards of parastatal agencies the way he deems fit.
Similarly, former BOT chairman, Chief Anthony Anenih, has been said to be leaving the president alone as jostle for appointments, particularly chairmanship and membership of boards of agencies heightened over the weekend.
Leaders of the ruling PDP from across the federation stormed Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seeking for placements in the dissolved federal agencies.
However, it was learnt that appointment seekers, who are not members of the PDP, could be more than those who are card-carrying members of the party.
The development is coming amidst reports that President Jonathan will, in a matter of weeks, make public a list of ambassadorial and high commissioner nominees as the nomination process has reached an “advanced stage.”
In the midst of all these, however, BOT chairman, former President Obasanjo, and his predecessor, Chief Anenih, have kept their distance from the “hassles of the appointments,” Sunday Tribune authoritatively gathered.
Their previous unsuccessful attempts to influence President Jonathan in certain appointments gave rise to their individual decisions to keep away from the ‘scene’, a highly competent source told Sunday Tribune in confidence.
However, despite the reported stance of the PDP elders, the party has expressed optimism that President Jonathan will “ultimately do what is right for the party and the nation.”
National Legal Adviser of the party, Chief Olusola Oke, told Sunday Tribune that it was too early to conclude that the party was or would be short-changed, adding that “tolerance is an unavoidable ingredient in politics.”
Nevertheless, Sunday Tribune source said major hotels in Abuja had been booked by appointment seekers, mostly members of the PDP, as of Friday, October 28, as President Jonathan was expected back from Australia where he had attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) summit.
“As I talk to you now, most of the major hotels have been fully booked by those who seek placements in federal parastatals. Interestingly, most of these persons are not even party men and women as some of them claim they know one godfather or the other to enable them sail through in their desires.
“The disturbing aspect of it all is that everyone is coming on his own without any coordination.
“It is also worrisome that anywhere you go to for assistance, it is the same story of ‘I don’t want to worry myself,’ or ‘let him (president) do what he likes.’
“As I speak with you now, the former president, I mean Obasanjo, has told lobbyists that there is little he can do to assist them.
“The story was not different when I personally went to Chief Anenih’s place to seek his support. I was surprised to hear from him that he has made up his mind not to lobby for any one.
“He pointedly told me that he has kept away from the scene of the hassles of appointments,” Sunday Tribune source said.
However, Chief Oke admonished members of the PDP to place national interest above every other.
“Yes, it is true that some leaders of the party may think they are short- changed; but the party believes in the president’s vision for the nation as well as his desire for national transformation. It is always the case when a party wins an election after which the need for political patronage arises.
“What we have always told the people is that the president will ultimately do what is right for the party and the nation, but we all have a duty to be tolerant with him because tolerance is an unavoidable ingredient in politics,” he said in a telephone interview with our reporter.
He was called when all attempts to get the reaction of PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Alkali, failed.
President Jonathan had, penultimate week, approved the dissolution of boards of all federal parastatal agencies, just as he constituted a national committee to work out acceptable modalities for the reconstitution of the agencies’ boards.
The committee, headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo, has the Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim; Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadome; as well as the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje, as members.
It is not surprising at all that in less than six months since the return of Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as governor of Kano state, by some accident of fate and through the treacherous actions of some ingrates , that the people are today regretting the outcome of the April elections and are biting their fingers for this phenomenal misfortune. Instead of seeing a leader with democratic tendencies, who is determined to improve on his past dismal record, what they saw was old Kwankwaso displaying his usual autocratic manner of doing things as if he owned everything and everyone.
Soon enough, there was so much discontent. At a point, it was as if the people would rise up against the man they are so sure would end up wasting everybody’s time by chasing the shadows rather than the substance. Right now the common talk wherever you go in town is that things are not going the way they should because, “Muna fama da Wujuwuju”(we are suffering under Wujuwuju – a nickname for Kwankwaso).
Already the man, as expected by all those who knew him well, has antagonized almost all sections of the society he is supposed to lead. First to show their displeasure with the new style of leadership are commercial motorcyclists, or ‘YanAchaba, who could not stomach his policy of charging levies on their operations, on the pretext that he was borrowing a leaf from the governor of Lagos state who reportedly had a successful revenue generation exercise by levying, among others, the motorcyclists. They staged a few rowdy protests, including that of burning red caps (symbol of Kwankwasiyya), to express their displeasure.
Next were senior civil servants, who he has been persecuting since he came to power last May. This group suffers in silence as there is nothing they could do to air their grievances. Out of the scores of them he deposed as administrative heads of various ministries, departments and agencies, only a handful have been reassigned to irrelevant positions. Nevertheless, it must be pointed out that the governor has never been a friend of civil servants; the only civil servants he likes are those he uses to achieve his selfish ends.
Already, there are talks that he intends to drastically reduce the salaries of permanent secretaries to accommodate the new minimum wage his government is being forced to implement by labour leaders. This is besides the sidelining of some workers who have played prominent roles under the government of his predecessor, Sardaunan Kano Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. For the workers, therefore, there has been a complete reversal of fate from the honeymoon they had under Shekarau to the present quagmire in which they find themselves.
The recent verification exercises conducted simultaneously for workers and pensioners was specifically designed to cause hardship. As a matter of fact, workers like poor old pensioners, the governor’s traditional foes, have always known that the return of Kwankwaso as governor would mean trouble for them. Indeed, the man lived up to his bad reputation; these two groups have been in big trouble since his return to power.
During his first term, in the course of his prolonged confrontation with them, Kwankwaso even referred to pensioners as ‘dead people.’ He said even the living, meaning serving workers, could not succeed in their confrontation with him, not to talk of the dead (pensioners) who were down and out. Many old and dying pensioners went to their graves vowing not to forgive him for his audacity to disrespect them despite their old age and contributions to the development of the state.
The verification exercises for workers and pensioners, which lasted for almost a month, was obviously aimed at punishing the two groups. Many old and tired pensioners – some of whom came from villages as far-flanged as Doguwa and Ririwai – suffered untold hardship for days on end and cursed him openly for it. Predictably, up to the end of October many workers and pensioners could not be paid their September entitlements.
Other set of people who have suffered since Kwankwaso’s return include innocent citizens whose plots he revoked and caused some of their property to be destroyed and are yet to be compensated, as well as hundreds of local and foreign investors who have shown interest in the promising ICT Pack initiated by the past government, but which the governor jettisoned. On the orders of his imperial majesty, all these people have apparently lost their investments. Indeed, for them Kano government has never been as autocratic as now.
Then there are thousands of indigent environment workers who were massively sacked and mercilessly deprived of their only means of livelihood. These street cleaners, mainly old men and widows, were the bread-winners for their poor families. Just for political reasons, thousands of these people and their dependents are now left to starve so that their political leaders can live comfortably.
Also distraught about what is happening in Kano today are communities where viable projects such as hospitals, roads, water and electricity supplies, etc. that have not been completed are located. As these projects are abandoned, the people have been expressing their disappointment about the outcome of events. Many now regret that the past government has been supplanted, and its developmental momentum curtailed by a new set of people who are only keen on enriching themselves.
But by far the most intriguing set of disgruntled elements in the state are some of his own political appointees who cannot stomach his dictatorial disposition. An incident illustrating this which is now talk of the town occurred on September 26, 2011, as reported by www.247ureports.com, an on-line newspaper. That incident, which was a physical fight between the governor and his commissioner, has since exposed the deep crisis brewing within the cabinet. The show of shame came on the heels of grumblings by some cabinet members about how they were being maltreated by the governor.
According to the report, the old erratic behaviour of the governor sitting his commissioners and raining abuses on them as if they were his children, well practised during his first term, has sadly resurfaced. The revelation by the on-line newspaper that he was being suspected of using some high intoxicants, including cocaine, did not however come as a surprise to many people who had always suspected something like that.
On that particular day, he was said to have assaulted one of his commissioners who was so incensed by the abuses that he stood up ready to engage him in a physical fight. It is important that the commissioner, a member of the royal family, had the courage to tell him off to his face. Only courageous encounters like this will let the man know that his political appointees are not his servants that he can abuse like that, whether he is on drugs or not.
The man appears to think that he alone is the party and everyone else is working for him. He doesn’t seem to understand that a party is a collection of individuals and interest groups that unite to work for its success and as such they all have legitimate rights to whatever positions and privileges that are given to them. Just because he is their leader doesn’t make him the sole owner of the rights and privileges offered by that success, whether it was achieved legitimately or otherwise.
Even though one is tempted to say ‘serves them right,’ as they knew that the man had personalized the party by naming it after himself and they all seemed not bothered but worked to ensure the ‘success’ of Kwankwasiyya, and not PDP per se, then it behoves them to take with equanimity whatever ‘shit’ he offers them for their troubles. As the saying goes, “you’ve made your bed and you must lie on it.”
Without doubt, democracy is, and can only be, predicated upon the rule of law. Under the rule of law, justice and fair-play must not only be done but be seen to have been done to all manner of people. This is without regard to whether they belong to party ‘A’ or ‘B,’ or whether they are friends or foes. Otherwise, any other style of governance can only be described as something else; and autocracy is one of such descriptions. Based on the foregoing, therefore, is Kwankwaso democratic or autocratic? For the answer to this question, the reader is left to judge for himself.
Chief Chekwas Okorie Bags Doctorate Degree In America
The University of America, Murrieta, California, has nominated Chief Chekwas Okorie the National Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance for the award of the degree of Doctor of Humanities and Leadership (Honoris Causa). Chief Okorie’s nomination was conveyed to him in a letter dated 7th July, 2011, and signed by Professor T.E Vanbuskirk, the Vice President of the University. The letter stated inter alia: “This is to inform you that you have been selected as one of the FEW out of our numerous nominees for an honorary doctorate degree of the prestigious University of America”
Chief Chekwas Okorie has accepted his nomination for the award with immense pleasure and profound gratitude to the Almighty God. The University considered the pioneering effort of the National Chairman in initiating the formation of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, which grew rapidly to become one of the foremost political parties in Nigeria.
As the founder of APGA, Chief Okorie has stood firm in accordance with his convictions and vision that propelled and strengthened him in the three attempts he made at party registration in 1996, 1998 and 2002 which culminated in the ultimate registration of APGA by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a political party in Nigeria. As a credible opposition political party leader, Chief Chekwas Okorie has remained consistent and constructive in his interventions. As a human rights crusader/activist which has spanned over a period of 35 years from 1976 when he was an undergraduate at the University of Nigeria (Enugu Campus) till date, Chief Chekwas Okorie has been uncompromising and relentless in spite of all the vicissitudes of life which he has undergone as a result of his involvement.
It is a pleasant irony that while some of the highest beneficiaries of Chekwas Okorie’s initiatives, blood and sweat on the platform of APGA have engaged the founder of the party in an unprovoked and gruesome leadership tussle that has threatened the very existence of the party and retarded its growth and expansion, the prestigious American University in California selected him for the award of a doctorate degree in Humanities and Leadership (Honoris Causa) for his contributions in deepening democracy in Nigeria.
Chief Chekwas Okorie has completed all arrangements to personally receive the award at the University’s convocation ceremony scheduled to hold on, Saturday 5th November, 2011, at the University Campus in Murrieta, California. APGA Leaders in various States of America and Canada have indicated interest to join him at the ceremony.
The leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has described the idea behind the proposed removal of the subsidy on petroleum products next year by the Federal Government as evil.
Delivering a key note address at the auditorium of the main campus of the Anambra state University, Uli (ANSU) during the Executive Council meeting of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) South-East/South-South at the weekend, the SSANU chairman, Comrade Vincent Asoegwu cautioned the FG to drop the move in the interest of suffering masses.
The labour chief noted with dismay that even the figures of the alleged subsidy have been varying from N1.2trillion to N1.3trillion. That even the Senate, apparently befuddled by the varying figures has smelt a rat and want to probe the whole thing to unravel who actually benefits from the so-called subsidy.
Asoegwu who is also the chairman of the Joint Action Council(JAC) of the university insisted that the subsidy removal proposal should be jettisoned in the interest of peace and harmony for all citizens. He doubted if any such thing as subsidy existed at all, or it’s a gimmick the authorities like falling back on whenever they want to devalue the nation’s currency.
According to him, “if it costs the FG up to N2trillion to subsidize petroleum products, so be it. After all this is the only benefit the common man enjoys from our National Wealth”. He observed also that the chairman Senate Committee on Petroleum, Senator Ayogu Eze has canvassed for the battering of refined products with crude oil.
On the lingering crisis over the minimum wage payment within the states, he commended the initiative of Owelle Rochas Okorocha who has gone beyond the vexed N18,000 to sign agreement to Imo state workers N20,000 as minimum wage. While encouraging other governors to emulate him, Asoegwu drew the attention of Anambra Gov Peter Obi to the Imo example and stop playing to the gallery always.
The Vice Chancellor of the University who declared the meeting open commended the workers for their maturity in handling industrial matters so far.
