‘Emulate Usani’s Doggedness’ Grop Tells Cross River Youths

The Youth Say Yes Initiative has urged Cross River youths to emulate the dogged spirit with which Hon. Usani Usani has continuously displayed in his political career if they want to succeed in politics.

The group in a statement signed by the State Secretary of the Youth Say Yes in Cross River state Mr. Joel Eju said Hon. Usani showed strong sense for political development by playing credible opposition politics while other politicians were busy jumping ship in order to get immediate gain.

It should be noted that Usani Usani has remained in opposition against the PDP since the inception of our present democracy. He contested the February 12 2012 Governorship election in Cross River state under the Action Congress of Nigeria.

The group while eulogising Usani said he will be receiving its Achievement award for 2015, it stressed that it decided to honour Hon. Usani because he displayed a strong sense for credible opposition despite the allure of being in the winning party and the threats associated with playing opposition politics.

The group described Usani as a strong mobiliser of the All Progressives Congress who despite the threats that came from the Peoples Democratic Party still sought to remain in the party in order to make it attractive to people in the state. It said Usani as Chairman of the party in the state, also brought unity and sense of direction for the party,

YSYI hailed the smooth transition that heralded Muhammadu Buhari as president of the federal Republic of Nigeria describing it as a turning point in the history of Nigeria. The group said in order to succeed Buhari should ensure that he places credible people in positions of authourity who will guarantee the success of his electoral promise which is hinged on change. “We believe that Muhammadu Buhari has Nigeria at heart and wants to bring about positive change. This change can only come about if credible people who have the development of Nigeria at heart are placed in positions of auhtourity. This is the only way the rot that characterized the PDP era can be halted” the group posited.

I haven’t got useful tips from Jonathan – Buhari

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President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has accused the outgoing Goodluck Jonathan government of not giving him “tips” on how to kick-start his administration on May 29.

He spoke on Thursday when a committee from the   Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, presented a five-point policy document to him at the Buhari Support Organisation office in Abuja.

Hours before the event which held behind closed doors, the All Progressives Congress, insisted   that the Federal Government was not cooperating with the transition committee set up by the President-elect.

“Buhari regretted that the outgoing government that is supposed to give him tips on how to take off has done nothing so far,” Garba Shehu, the Director of Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, told journalists after the presentation by the committee.

Shehu added that the President-elect “thanked the Obasanjo initiative for the gesture, assuring the committee that his incoming administration will be needing advice as time goes on.”

Areas covered by committee in the   document    include the economy, security, power, education and infrastructure.

He said that Obasanjo had set up a think tank to carry out a study on the challenges facing the country in the five key areas.

The study, he added, was started four months ago “so that the outcome will be made available to the incoming administration after the election.”

He also revealed that Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who headed the power committee, gave various stages of the proposed power sector development plan to include short-term, medium-term, long-term solutions.

Under the short-term solution, the plan seeks to raise the country’s power generation to 10,000 MW within a very short period of time.

He added that the president-elect described the   intervention of Obasanjo and his team as a great impetus for the incoming government.

The vice-chairman of the committee, who is a former Minister of Finance,   Kalu Idika Kalu, said, “We have looked at education, security, economy, power and Infrastructure. Those are the areas we have made recommendations and which we hope the new administration would be able to work on.”

He further explained that the president-elect was very happy that they had been thinking about how to help him hit the ground running.

The   Chairman of the centre’s   governing board,   Akin Mabogunje. who also spoke to journalists after the event, said the committee had been working on a number of critical issues for the development of the country.

According to him, a delegation of the committee members involved in the preparation of the policy document was sent to present the report to the President-elect.

Earlier on Thursday , the APC described as untrue, a statement credited to the spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party, Oliseh Metuh, that the   Jonathan administration was cooperating with the transition committee constituted by the President-elect.

It also described Metuh in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, as a man with “an incurable disdain for truth.”

The PDP spokesman had   in the said statement accused the APC of raising a false alarm over happenings within the Jonathan and the Buhari transition committees.

However, Mohammed insisted that the uncooperative attitude of the Jonathan team   had continued despite its public posturing.

The   APC statement Read, “We say with all sense of responsibility that as of today, May 14, 2015, just about two weeks to the May 29 handover date, no shred of information as to the status of governance from any ministry, department or agency of government has been given to our transition committee.”

“If that qualifies, in Metuh’s lexicon, as cooperation, then there is a problem somewhere. We dare Metuh or anyone for that matter, to controvert the fact that not a line of handover note has been handed over to our transition committee.”

The APC also restated its earlier call to Metuh to urgently undertake a course on how to be an opposition party spokesman so that he would not talk or write himself into avoidable troubles in the days ahead.

It equally admonished him to always verify information available to him in order to separate rumours from facts.

The statement further read, “Metuh decided to put his foot in his mouth when he latched on to the statement made by our Transition Committee Chairman, forgetting that in making his statement, the chairman was only advising him against anything that would put the Federal Government in a bad light.

“A discerning party spokesman, rather than a rabble-rousing one, would have understood the elder statesman’s stand for what it is instead of using it as a peg to issue a needless, hollow statement that puts his party and government in a bad light.”

The APC said it had decided to allow bygones be bygones, but now that Metuh had stirred the hornet’s nest, it was time to put out the facts for Nigerians to judge.

It added,   “What happened was that, following the request by our transition committee to meet with them, they invited us to what was the first formal meeting between both transition committees.

“But the meeting was a mere photo-op, as it yielded nothing concrete as far as handover notes are concerned.

“In fact, what we met at the so-called meeting was far worse than what we had thought. Whereas we had hoped to get their handover notes on May 14th (the date they had indicated to us informally), they told us point blank that the notes won’t be ready until May 24th.

“Because this date falls on a Sunday that means we won’t be getting the handover notes until May 25th, just four days before the May 29th handover date.

“How do they honestly expect us to peruse thousands of pages of handover notes, ask pertinent questions and seek necessary clarifications within four days? Because we want a smooth transition, we asked if we could meet with some of the ministers pending the release of the handover notes, but they said no.

“When one of their members even suggested that the whole process be fast-tracked, they did not budge.

“Despite this setback, we decided not to put the whole issue in the public domain, until the babbling Metuh decided to look for trouble, describing the deliberate stonewalling by the Jonathan Administration as cooperation.”

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Fashola Advocates Patronage Of Made-In-Nigeria Goods

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Thursday said the country stood to gain a lot if citizens patronised locally produced goods.
The governor made the statement while speaking at the state’s 6th Artisans and Tradesmen Day celebration.
He said that patronage of Made-in-Nigeria goods would enhance local production capacities, resulting in job creation and reduction of poverty.
Fashola pointed out that unbridled appetite for imported goods by citizens not only hurt the economy, but also promoted poverty.
“The answer to poverty and unemployment lies in three words : Made-in- Nigeria .
“As long as we make more things in Nigeria, it would mean that many factories and production units are functioning.
“As long as they are functioning, it would need hands to keep them in operation and that is what will create employment, reduce unemployment and ultimately reduce poverty,” he said.
Fashola said the state had done a lot in the area of entrepreneurship and skills promotion to boost employment.
He said that the story at a time was that Togolese and Ghanians were doing most of the jobs in tiling, masonry and others, owing to dearth of local skills in those areas.
Fashola said with the training of artisans and residents on diversity of skills, local capacities had been enhanced and the story had changed .
The governor said the revival of the five technical colleges in the state had also helped to produce the much needed skilled manpower for the state’s development.
He described the informal sector as very strategic to the survival of any economy, which informed the state’s support for artisans and tradesmen.
Fashola said a number of artisans had been trained on various areas of specialisation, to sharpen their skills and equip them to train others.
The governor, who noted that power supply remained a challenge to informal businesses, urged practitioners to form themselves in clusters to get government’s assistance.
He advised artisans and tradesmen to do their businesses only in approved places.
Mr Olawunmi Gasper, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Board, in his contribution, said no fewer than 2000 artisans and tradesmen had been trained by the board in the last one year.
He said the beneficiaries were trained in their different areas of specialisation and had been issued competency certificates.
Earlier, Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr Seye Oladejo, said no fewer than 9,780 artisans in various trades and vocations had been trained so far by the government.
He said the gesture was to make the beneficiaries more competitive and bring about improvement in what they produced.
Mr Bola Sanusi, President, Lagos State Association of Artisans and Tradesmen, thanked the government for its consistent support for the association.
He said the various forms of support had helped members of the association to grow their businesses and operate competitively.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)reports that the occasion was well attended by tradesmen and artisans of various vocations who dressed in colourful attires.
Some of them, such as farmers, tailors, goldsmith and caterers, exhibited their products, making brisk business from visitors. (NAN)

Sen. Ikisikpo, Others Defect To APC

Barely two months after it lost the presidency to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday suffered another major loss as the senator and House of Representatives member representing President Goodluck Jonathan’s home constituency at the current National Assembly, Senator Clever Marcus Ikisikpo and Hon Nadu Karibo, have both defected to the APC.
Others who dumped their former party the (PDP) include Hon Azibola Omekwe, reprensenting Ogbia Constituency 1; Hon Fini Angaye , Kolokuma/Opukuma constituency 2 of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, former Ogbia local government chairman, Hon Innocent Kaku and a chieftain of the party, Nadari Banigo
Addressing journalists at the APC national secretariat , Abuja, leader of the defectors and senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Clever Ikisikpo, said they believe that Bayelsa State would be better represented under the APC platform.
While berating the PDP for under-developing the state, he said that their new party would work hard to win the governorship election in the state coming up later this year.
Senator Ikisikpo stated that the sentiment that prevented them from moving to the APC before the election was over, explaining that they would have moved earlier but did not want to be associated with the consequence that would have befallen President Jonathan after the election.
“We express our readiness today to work with the APC at the local, state and national levels. We are convinced that APC best represents the future for Ogbia, for Bayelsa and for Nigeria. Together, we hereby join the movement for change in Nigeria,” he said.
Former Bayelsa State governor and leader of APC in the state, Chief Timipre Sylvia, said Bayelsans had realised that they needed change and that time had come for them to embrace it.
He regretted that the party worked hard in the just concluded election to deliver the state to the APC but PDP Forces who were bent at riging the election frustrated their efforts.
The former governor assured the party leaders that APC would clinch the governorship seat in the next election.

Rivers Civil Servants Lay Siege On State Secretariat Over Unpaid Salaries, Pensions

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi

CIVIL servants and pensioners on Wednesday besieged the Rivers State Secretariat in Port Harcourt to protest the non-payment of their salaries and pension arrears by the state government.

The protesters had moved in droves to the secretariat at about 9am, even as workers refused to attend to anybody that sought their assistance at the secretariat.

The protest caused a gridlock for some minutes as workers and pensioners chanted war songs, calling on the state government to pay their salaries and pensions.

One of the leaders of the protesting workers, Mr. Tony Ochiagha, told journalists that the protest became necessary as a result of the two months salaries owed them by the state government.

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Ochiagha pointed out that it was the first time in the history of civil service in the state that workers would be owed for two months, adding that the third month was already approaching.

He stated that pensioners, who were owed five months pension arrears were also going through tough times as they could no longer afford to pay their bills and feed well.

Ochaigha said, “We are talking to the Rivers State Government who is our employer. The civil service is the engine room and the platform on which every administration functions. So, why would they play on the impulse of the civil service?”

Also, the state secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Rivers State, Mr. Joseph Agbo, said pensioners in the state had not been paid for five months.

Agbo urged Amaechi to pay them before leaving office, adding that apart from the five months being owed pensioners, other arrears such as the 14 per cent, 15 per cent and 38 per cent increases had not being paid, even when they had been computed and sent to the governor for action.

“Pension is a right and not a privilege. Before the governor came on board, salaries of civil servants and pensioners were regular, but all these are no more.

“We have, on six occasions, had demonstrations in the past over the anomalies and our members are dying without getting their entitlements,” he added.

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Ex-President, Obasanjo, turns down pleas to help revive PDP

 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has rebuffed repeated pleas from concerned member of the Peoples Democratic Party to help revive the party following its defeat in the March 28 presidential election.
President Goodluck Jonathan, who flew the PDP flag in the March 28 election, lost to his All Progressives Congress challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, a former military head of state.
The party, which has ruled Nigeria since the return of democracy 16 years ago, also lost its majority status in the National Assembly just as it won a fewer number of states unlike in the past election.
With the defeat, the ruling party will now take on the opposition role as from May 29 when Mr. Jonathan hands over power to Mr. Buhari.
Since the defeat, the party’s senior members have been bickering with one another with some demanding the exit of its National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and other officers, who are accused of working against the party during the election.
Concerned about the future of the party, some of its leaders have been reaching out to Mr. Obasanjo to return to the party and help build it ahead of future elections.
The former president had in February directed a fellow PDP member and ward leader to openly tear his party membership card at a forum in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that among those persuading him to return to lead the party were serving governors and federal lawmakers who believed the party should play viable opposition in the next dispensation.
Mr. Obasanjo’s close allies said the anxious party men have been pressuring the former leader, who was the first elected president on the party’s platform, by either visiting him or through telephone calls.
This newspaper learnt that the former president, who was also the PDP leader and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, has repeatedly rebuffed the request to return to the party.
Sources close to him said at some point he told those mounting pressure on him that rather than returning to the party he would encourage viable opposition from other standpoints.
“I’m done with party politics here on earth and in heaven. Period,” Mr. Obasanjo was overheard telling a PDP chieftain who telephoned him recently to raise the matter.
Mr. Obasanjo was also said to have told some people pressuring him that he could have considered returning to the party had his membership card not been publicly thorn before the general elections.
He was quoted as saying his membership card has been shredded and that “as it is now, a goat has eaten up the pieces”.
Mr. Obasanjo confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that he has been under pressure to return to the PDP but vowed not to do so.
“I’m not ready to discuss partisan politics because I’m done with it,” he said.
After a meeting with Mr. Jonathan sometime in February, the outgoing governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, had assured that the PDP would beg Mr. Obasanjo to return to the party.
“When a father is angry with his children, the children should beg him. Baba is more than a party man. He is an icon, a national symbol and a leader and inventor, a creator of all the institutions today in Nigeria from the president to the governors, who are his own sons, are all his creations.”
“And so when a father is angry with his children, we will only say we are sorry to him. But then, we cannot be renounced for whatever it is…….We might have made some mistakes, but abandoning us is not the solution because the country is first before anything else. So, he is our Baba even up to the president.”
But Mr. Obasanjo told PREMIUM TIMES he has foreclosed any possibility of returning to the PDP.
“I agree that Nigeria needs a strong and viable opposition and I will continue to encourage that,” the former President said. “I will continue to do that even without belonging to a political party. I have moved beyond party politics.”

copyright: Premium Times

For corruption to be brought to its kneel in Nigeria, there is a need for a more holistic and deeply thought -out strategic approach than hitherto misconception that the only method of fighting the malaise is through the criminal justice option.

This was the views of former chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC and retired Supreme Court justice, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, and other stakeholders at the yearly lecture of PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors  with the theme:”Anti Corruption and Bribery Laws: Extra Territorial Application and Lessons For Business and Government Agencies” .
Justice Ayoola, who chaired the lecture in Lagos, said Nigeria must be ready to revise and reform its  legal framework in relation to the fight against corruption to facilitate results in the campaign against corruption and engender inclusive and popular fight.

He noted that though  Nigeria’s perception of the fight corruption was strong in sentiment and emotion, it was abysmally weak in action.

According to him,  the fight against corruption  will take longer to win if at all levels of society, a lip-service is paid to the fight.

On the efficacy  of ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in fighting corruption in Nigeria, Justice Ayoola, said evaluation of the performance of these two agencies will certainly not fit comfortably without  constant assessment of their performances.

According to him,  the strategies of fighting corruption in Nigeria must not remain static and agencies set up to fight such must keep up with whatever becomes a developing trend, since the  modalities and strategies of criminality do not remain static but rather are becoming more sophisticated.

Justice Ayoola, who did not support calls for the merging of the two  anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, said the fight against corruption in a developing country as ours, must be  a running battle, which makes the commitment of resources to the fight and steadfastness in the course of the campaign not only imperative but  urgent.

The  jurist noted that there was no  doubt that Nigeria shares the concern expressed by the international community in the United Nations Convention against Corruption about the seriousness of problem and threat posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardising sustainable development and the rule of Law.

The guest lecturer and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, Prof Mariana Mota Prado,  who led discussion on the theme, solicited  for institutional multiplicity in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, because of its inherent benefits, which she said include, competition, compensation, collaboration and complementarity.

She noted that multiplicity of institutions against corruption  had paid off in Brazil and could be useful for a country like Nigeria.

According to her, though, it might be costly and appears to be a duplication of efforts, it could engender competition among the agencies to do a good job.

Prof Prado  cautioned on the call for strengthening the agencies in Nigeria, saying such moves could back fire if not handled with care.

She made a case for special courts to handle corruption cases, but such court should work with regular courts in handling corruption cases to engender competitions.

Earlier, the senior partner of PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN had said the topic of the 2015 lecture was carefully selected in the light of resurgence of momentum towards elimination of corruption and bribery in conducting business and public activities.

Ayoola, others chart path for effective anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria

on May 14, 2015   /   in News 2:14 am   /   Comments

By  Innocent Anaba
For corruption to be brought to its kneel in Nigeria, there is a need for a more holistic and deeply thought -out strategic approach than hitherto misconception that the only method of fighting the malaise is through the criminal justice option.
This was the views of former chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC and retired Supreme Court justice, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, and other stakeholders at the yearly lecture of PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors  with the theme:”Anti Corruption and Bribery Laws: Extra Territorial Application and Lessons For Business and Government Agencies” .
Justice Ayoola, who chaired the lecture in Lagos, said Nigeria must be ready to revise and reform its  legal framework in relation to the fight against corruption to facilitate results in the campaign against corruption and engender inclusive and popular fight.
He noted that though  Nigeria’s perception of the fight corruption was strong in sentiment and emotion, it was abysmally weak in action.
According to him,  the fight against corruption  will take longer to win if at all levels of society, a lip-service is paid to the fight.
On the efficacy  of ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in fighting corruption in Nigeria, Justice Ayoola, said evaluation of the performance of these two agencies will certainly not fit comfortably without  constant assessment of their performances.
According to him,  the strategies of fighting corruption in Nigeria must not remain static and agencies set up to fight such must keep up with whatever becomes a developing trend, since the  modalities and strategies of criminality do not remain static but rather are becoming more sophisticated.
Justice Ayoola, who did not support calls for the merging of the two  anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, said the fight against corruption in a developing country as ours, must be  a running battle, which makes the commitment of resources to the fight and steadfastness in the course of the campaign not only imperative but  urgent.
The  jurist noted that there was no  doubt that Nigeria shares the concern expressed by the international community in the United Nations Convention against Corruption about the seriousness of problem and threat posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardising sustainable development and the rule of Law.
The guest lecturer and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, Prof Mariana Mota Prado,  who led discussion on the theme, solicited  for institutional multiplicity in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, because of its inherent benefits, which she said include, competition, compensation, collaboration and complementarity.
She noted that multiplicity of institutions against corruption  had paid off in Brazil and could be useful for a country like Nigeria.
According to her, though, it might be costly and appears to be a duplication of efforts, it could engender competition among the agencies to do a good job.
Prof Prado  cautioned on the call for strengthening the agencies in Nigeria, saying such moves could back fire if not handled with care.
She made a case for special courts to handle corruption cases, but such court should work with regular courts in handling corruption cases to engender competitions.
Earlier, the senior partner of PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN had said the topic of the 2015 lecture was carefully selected in the light of resurgence of momentum towards elimination of corruption and bribery in conducting business and public activities.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/ayoola-others-chart-path-for-effective-anti-corruption-crusade-in-nigeria/#sthash.BibDIsWS.dpuf

Ayoola, others chart path for effective anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria

on May 14, 2015   /   in News 2:14 am   /   Comments

By  Innocent Anaba
For corruption to be brought to its kneel in Nigeria, there is a need for a more holistic and deeply thought -out strategic approach than hitherto misconception that the only method of fighting the malaise is through the criminal justice option.
This was the views of former chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC and retired Supreme Court justice, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, and other stakeholders at the yearly lecture of PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors  with the theme:”Anti Corruption and Bribery Laws: Extra Territorial Application and Lessons For Business and Government Agencies” .
Justice Ayoola, who chaired the lecture in Lagos, said Nigeria must be ready to revise and reform its  legal framework in relation to the fight against corruption to facilitate results in the campaign against corruption and engender inclusive and popular fight.
He noted that though  Nigeria’s perception of the fight corruption was strong in sentiment and emotion, it was abysmally weak in action.
According to him,  the fight against corruption  will take longer to win if at all levels of society, a lip-service is paid to the fight.
On the efficacy  of ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in fighting corruption in Nigeria, Justice Ayoola, said evaluation of the performance of these two agencies will certainly not fit comfortably without  constant assessment of their performances.
According to him,  the strategies of fighting corruption in Nigeria must not remain static and agencies set up to fight such must keep up with whatever becomes a developing trend, since the  modalities and strategies of criminality do not remain static but rather are becoming more sophisticated.
Justice Ayoola, who did not support calls for the merging of the two  anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, said the fight against corruption in a developing country as ours, must be  a running battle, which makes the commitment of resources to the fight and steadfastness in the course of the campaign not only imperative but  urgent.
The  jurist noted that there was no  doubt that Nigeria shares the concern expressed by the international community in the United Nations Convention against Corruption about the seriousness of problem and threat posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardising sustainable development and the rule of Law.
The guest lecturer and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, Prof Mariana Mota Prado,  who led discussion on the theme, solicited  for institutional multiplicity in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, because of its inherent benefits, which she said include, competition, compensation, collaboration and complementarity.
She noted that multiplicity of institutions against corruption  had paid off in Brazil and could be useful for a country like Nigeria.
According to her, though, it might be costly and appears to be a duplication of efforts, it could engender competition among the agencies to do a good job.
Prof Prado  cautioned on the call for strengthening the agencies in Nigeria, saying such moves could back fire if not handled with care.
She made a case for special courts to handle corruption cases, but such court should work with regular courts in handling corruption cases to engender competitions.
Earlier, the senior partner of PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN had said the topic of the 2015 lecture was carefully selected in the light of resurgence of momentum towards elimination of corruption and bribery in conducting business and public activities.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/ayoola-others-chart-path-for-effective-anti-corruption-crusade-in-nigeria/#sthash.BibDIsWS.dpuf

How Buhari can fight corruption –Nwafor-Orizu’s daughter

Dr Jaana Nwafor-Orizu, daughter of former Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces, is a fearless political commentator. She is canvassing for the reintroduction of the War Against Corruption and other key areas within Buhari’s 100 days in office. In this interview, she warned that the call for change by the APC-led government would remain a far cry if people of questionable char­acters are entrusted with national responsibilities.
You lamented the poor recogni­tion accorded your late dad, the first Nigerian Acting President, Dr Nwa­for Orizu, by the federal and state governments. What has been the response of the Jonathan administra­tion so far?
The word lamented gives a very false impression of self-pity. This is a question of belief in truth and that truth crushed to earth must rise again. It is an attitude of resilience. Just like the fight against corruption in Nige­ria should be continuous until majority get reasonably on cue, so should the cry against such denials continue until such anomalies cease in Nigeria. Such efforts have started to yield results. Concerted efforts have been made by the family to call the atten­tion of government at the federal and state levels. Only recently, and for the first time, the Federal government in remembering our past heroes, included in certain terms, the name Dr A. A. Nwafor Orizu, the First Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who in his capacity as the first Act­ing President of Nigeria handed over power to Aguiyi Ironsi at the close of the first Republic. Recently, the government named after him the Ring Road 11(Outer Southern Expressway from Area One Roundabout to Galadimawa Roundabout). This is a wel­come development from President Goodluck Jonathan.
The late Orizu was given formal recognition during the last centenary celebration organized by President Jonathan. What do you want the in­coming government to do to address this historical blunder?
There should be a constitutional and of­ficial inclusion and straightening of the his­toric events that brought about the first mili­tary government on January 16, 1966. Who is responsible for this historical “vacuum”. I mean, the President should necessarily set up an unbiased and incorruptible committee to fish out the written and video recordings of the first handover to a military government in Nigeria. The 92 days His Excellency, Rt Hon Prince Dr Akwaeke Abyssinia Nwafor Orizu was the President of this great country (albeit in acting capacity) should be given a constitutional definition. Due diligence and due process should include the process of a nation’s historical records. If this matter con­tinues to be unattended to, Nigerian history will never be complete. I sincerely believe that the president –elect is a no-nonsense man and as I welcome him to the onerous task ahead, I believe that this area could be attended to as it is a denial to the Igbo race. It will also enhance unity.
Apart from the state burial accord­ed your dad when he died in 1999, has there been any benefit paid to the family by the government?
It is unbelievable, but it is absolutely true. My father has virtually got nothing for serving Nigeria. The family will be happy not to suffer the same fate. I therefore, call on President Goodluck Jonathan to start pro­cesses that will once and for all correct this anomaly. The incoming President, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) can continue from where he stops.
By the way, many of my siblings are in successful creative, private and public endeavors. We have been contributing to the society in no small ways. We are service -oriented. I believe that government should take a step to redress this.
Looking at the last general elec­tions, Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for change. Were you surprised by the poll results?
The only thing constant in life is change. Politics is a part of life, and political change happens. The focus of true Nigerians should be on the milestones that can be achieved through the contribution of every Nigerian to move the country forward. Well-meaning citizens of this country should be very positive about the future of this country and give all necessary support to the incoming administration to avoid distractive engage­ments. To me, it is not a question of change per se. It is actually a question of continuity. Why do I say this? I said this because it is not a question of new country about to be in­habited by brand new citizens manufactured outside a new national entity, and configured in a brand new socio-economic, and geo-political structures. We must admit that Ni­geria is not an easy country to govern. There is simply no easy process of changing the country by any magic wand. We must realize that we are undergoing a normal process of political, economic and social growth. De­mocracy has been taking its due process in Nigeria. Progress has been going on. If you put a candid graph on the economic, social and political map of Nigeria, you will see a steady growth with successive governments. Corruption is a natural outgrowth that will take its toll and die naturally. When many other processes are put in place, corruption will reduce drastically. It’s very ironic that the electronic voting system was introduced to cub electoral fraud, but what ‘actually’ happened? I remember a saying that one computer is more efficient than 20 men, but one smart man is more intelligent than a thousand computers.
What is your confidence rating of Buhari? Do you think he will live up to the expectations of Nigerian people in a democratic setting?
Nigerians prayed for the will of God during the anxious period of the presiden­tial elections. I believe God answered our prayers. Our role now is to think of how each and every one of us will make Nigeria that ideal nation state we so much clamor for. The job of cleansing Nigeria is a collec­tive responsibility. For when a president hap­pens to be saddled with people of question­able traits, the call for real change may be a far cry. Nigerians are capable of learning. If the incoming president will be allowed with­out undue pressure and distraction, Nigeria will still move a long way from where it is today. One thing must be clear; we should all see ourselves as responsible to the fate of our dear motherland. I believe that is a subtle but effective way to be a good Nigerian. Great expectations can follow.
The people of South East put their eggs in one basket and lost woe­fully in the last election. We saw the alliance of the South West and the North to dislodge power at the center. What would the people of the South East and South South do to gain political relevance in the Buhari administration?
This is begging the issue. Nigeria is one indivisible entity and will always be gov­erned by one man who will be the president of Nigeria and not a geo-political zone or any tribal alliance. I like to seize this op­portunity to express the view that many may not like to air even though it is the truth. The outcome of the last elections may never truly be the yardstick of measuring the reality of the political situation in Nigeria. Let us not overheat the polity by some inexcusable as­sumptions. I strongly believe that every sec­tion of Nigeria remains relevant. Let us not over pre-empt the incoming President. He will become the president and father of the nation. Why not, if not? Again, it is absolute­ly necessary to trust your president. I believe GMB will not want Nigeria to disintegrate under any guise. His patriotic zeal even as an elder statesman is for all Nigerians. I believe he will balance his actions in such ways as to ensure equity, fair play and balance. Let us look forward and do our bits.
Looking at the many problems of Nigeria, what are the key areas you would urge the new administration to address within their first 100 Days in Office?
Since fight against corruption is one of the high points in GMB’s agenda, there should be an initial diagnostic compendium critically x-raying this decease, including its symptoms in all aspects and at all levels without fear or favor. As soon as we read how corruption works in Nigeria in a written form, more people than you can imagine will realize they have been part of this problem, without knowing. This book of facts will also proffer solutions in writing and this will be spread to all institutions and agencies nay, to every Nigerian- that is awareness and national reorientation.
Secondly, there must be more job creation opportunities for our teeming youths. Spe­cific number of unemployed people must be made to leave the streets by direct or indirect employment. Thirdly, non-oil based revenue must be encouraged by increasing soft loans opportunities for other creative endeavors.
Again, there must be reduction of man-hour wastage by possibly completing and building alternate routes on all major roots in the country. Imagine a situation where the entire Nigerians have used the Niger Bridge for 50 years. Think of the man hours that have gone on both sides of the bridge for 50 years. This is a tip of the iceberg considering other such situations in almost all parts of Nigeria. The government can take definite steps in this direction.
Moreover, the new railway systems being introduced in the country should be given priority to help decongest the roads and save man-hours and improve productivity. The waterways should be dredged to help decongest the existing wharfs and increase business and employment.
Another very critical area is the reintro­duction and improvement of War Against Indiscipline. Also, for a start, the new admin­istration should aim at achieving full current 24/7 light for the first 100 days. Credible and sustainable measures must be put in place to bring the dollar closer to the Naira at the international market.
In addition the entire school system should experience a new lease on life. The last but not the least; the prices of food must start dropping even as the gap between the rich and the poor should clearly start closing. This may start by a new salary and tax reform.
What are those specific areas you would like the incoming government to address to reposition Nigeria and strengthen people’s faith in national unity.
I like to observe that I am fully aware that so much has been done in the area of setting agenda for a better Nigeria in all aspects. We have the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We have the Transformation Agenda. When these ideals are put in full practice, I bet you Nigeria will look like our dream nation state. What we need might be certain policies that can bring about some positive shift towards national unity. Let me, therefore, enumerate some here for serious consideration and adoption by the incoming government.
There is absolute need to inculcate the spirit of oneness in all Nigerians.
PDP is like a sinking ship, rocked by internal crises. Do you foresee an imminent end to the party that once prided itself as the largest in Africa?
The decrease in the strength of a politi­cal party should not be the end of its life. In western democracies, ruling parties change from era to era and so it continues. Nigerians must also outgrow the must-win or do-or-die attitude to elections. Failure should be a lesson for future strength. The APC victory today is a result of lessons learnt from almost two decades of disillusionment. I don’t see why PDP should not sit up and face the chal­lenges ahead. The outside world must con­tinue to see us as mature. Nigeria has come of age and should be seen as such. GEJ has given them the lead that he is a real democrat that believes in politics without bitterness.

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