Wednesday 31 July 2013
Tuesday 30 July 2013
Monday 29 July 2013
A man with no Integrity as our President..
When I started this year, one of my new year resolution is not to abuse or give comment about Goodluck Jonathan, I think I managed doing that for January and February probably because I had exams and project to do; but after then, I went back to the news papers and articles to be updated about the governance of Nigeria. It was then I found it difficult to keep to my resolution.
We all should remember President Goodluck Jonathan’s first shocking statement immediately he got into office. He remarked: “I will not talk about the tenure of my government; the constitution has said four years, though, some believe that four years is too short to make any change which I also believe. I believe because if you are a new person and you are elected as a governor or president today; it will take one to one and a half years for you to really stabilize. By the time you want to go for another two and a half years, it is another election and you are all busy about winning the election.”
After that statement, he proposed a single six years for the president/governors in which several comments and articled were rolled out concerning it. Personally, I disagree with the president. The government belongs to the people. The people do not change every four years and neither is the society replaced every four years. So continuity is the key. Before contesting as a candidate for any post, one should be prepared and be ready to take up the good works of the past governments and bring new ones. Candidates should not over commit or promise what they cannot deliver within four years tenure. We do not need change of constitution; we need a change of mindset.
That is by the way, the main reason for this article is my observation of the inconsistent words of the presidency. Recently, a senate committee reviewed the constitution for a six years single term for the president/governors in which they put a condition that the present administration won’t be able to ‘benefit’ from the new law. Which means that with this new proposed amendment, Jonathan, the vice president and the 16 governors and deputy governors will end their tenure by 2015. Now the presidency sees the new recommendation as a huge threat to his ambition.
Just two days ago, the presidency disagreed with the amendment and later came up saying that “if the amendment must take place, it has to start from 2019.” Which I think by reasoning means that his initial statement about a single term was from a selfish point of view.
My question to Goodluck Jonathan is that “when he was elected and spoke about a single term, was he speaking for Nigeria at large or for his own selfish interest?” if it was Nigeria, then why the change of mind at this time?
Nigerians, please be wise, we should not be ignorant of what is going on. Our vote is our right! Think before you vote. Thanks.
Odekunle Ifemidayo
@odex4real
We all should remember President Goodluck Jonathan’s first shocking statement immediately he got into office. He remarked: “I will not talk about the tenure of my government; the constitution has said four years, though, some believe that four years is too short to make any change which I also believe. I believe because if you are a new person and you are elected as a governor or president today; it will take one to one and a half years for you to really stabilize. By the time you want to go for another two and a half years, it is another election and you are all busy about winning the election.”
After that statement, he proposed a single six years for the president/governors in which several comments and articled were rolled out concerning it. Personally, I disagree with the president. The government belongs to the people. The people do not change every four years and neither is the society replaced every four years. So continuity is the key. Before contesting as a candidate for any post, one should be prepared and be ready to take up the good works of the past governments and bring new ones. Candidates should not over commit or promise what they cannot deliver within four years tenure. We do not need change of constitution; we need a change of mindset.
That is by the way, the main reason for this article is my observation of the inconsistent words of the presidency. Recently, a senate committee reviewed the constitution for a six years single term for the president/governors in which they put a condition that the present administration won’t be able to ‘benefit’ from the new law. Which means that with this new proposed amendment, Jonathan, the vice president and the 16 governors and deputy governors will end their tenure by 2015. Now the presidency sees the new recommendation as a huge threat to his ambition.
Just two days ago, the presidency disagreed with the amendment and later came up saying that “if the amendment must take place, it has to start from 2019.” Which I think by reasoning means that his initial statement about a single term was from a selfish point of view.
My question to Goodluck Jonathan is that “when he was elected and spoke about a single term, was he speaking for Nigeria at large or for his own selfish interest?” if it was Nigeria, then why the change of mind at this time?
Nigerians, please be wise, we should not be ignorant of what is going on. Our vote is our right! Think before you vote. Thanks.
Odekunle Ifemidayo
@odex4real
WHAT YOUR MONTH SAYS ABOUT YOU... FIND OUT!!!
This seems to be fairly accurate…
JANUARY
Ambituous and serious, loves to teach and be taught,always looking at people's falls and weakness.like to criticize,hardworking and productive,smart,neat and organized,sensitve and has deep thoughts,knows how to make others happy,quite unless excited or tensed.rather reserved,highly attentive,resistant to illness but prone to colds, romantic but in difficulties expressing love,love children, homely person,loyal,needs to improve social abilities, easily jealous.
FEBRUARY
Abstract thoughts,love reality and abstract,intelligent and clever.changing personality,temperamental,quiet,shy and humble,low self esteem,honest and loyal,determined to reach goals.love freedom,rebellious when restricted,love aggressiveness,too sensitve and easily hurt,showing anger easily,dislike unneccessary things,love making friends but rarely shows it,daring and stubborn,ambituous,realizing dreams and hope.loves entertainment and leisure,romantic on the inside not outside, learns to show emotions.
MARCH
Attractive personality,affectionate,shy and reserved,secretive,naturally honest,sensitive,geneous and sympatnetic,love peace and sensitive to other,love to serve others,not easily angered,trustworthy,appreciative and returns kindness,observant and assess others,revengeful,loves to dream and fantasize,loves travelling,love home decors,musically talented,love special things,moody.
APRIL
Active and dynamic, decisive and haste but tend to regret,attrative and affectionate to oneself,strong mentally,love attention,diplomatic,consoling,friendly and solves peoples problems.Brave and fearless,adventous,loving and caring,geneous,emotional,revengful,aggressive.Sickness usually of the head and chest,easily get too jealous.
MAY
Stubborn and hard hearted,strongwilled and highly motivated,shape thougths,easily angered,attract others and love attention,deep feelings,beautiful physically and mentally,firm standpoint,easily influenced,needs no motivation,easily consoled, loves to dream,strong understanding,sickness usually in the ear and neck,good imagination, love literature and art.loves travelling,dislike being at home, restless,not having many children,hardworking,high spirited.
JUNE
Think far with vision,easily influenced by kindness, polite and softspoken,having lots of idea,sensitive, active mind,hesitating,tends to delay,chosy and always want the best,temperamental,funny and humorous,loves to joke,a good debating skill,talkative,day dreamer,friendly,know how to make friends,abiding,able to show character,easily hurt,prone to getting colds,loves to dress up,easily bored,seldom show emotions,takes time to recover when hurt,stuborn,says those who love are enemies while those whohate me are friends.
JULY
Fun to be with,secretive,difficult to fathom and to be understood,quiet unless excited or tensed,takes pride in oneself,has reputation,easily consoled,honest,concern about people's feeling,tactful,friendly,approachable,very emotional,temperamental and unpredictable,moody and easily hurt,forgiving but never forgets,dislike nonsensical and unneccessary things,Guides others physically and mentally,caring and loving,treat other equally,loves to be alone,hardworking,never look for friends,likes to be quiet.
AUGUST
Loves to joke,attractive,naughty,always attentive,suave and caring,brave and fearless,firm and has leadership qualities,knows how to console others,too generous and egoistic,takes high pride in oneself,thirsty for praises,extra ordinary spirit,easily angered,angry when provoked,easily jealous,independent thoughts,love to lead and to be led, loves to dream,talented in art,sensitive but not petty, poor resistance to illness,learn to relax,hasty and rushy, romantic,loving and caring,loves to make friends.
SEPTEMBER
Suave and compromising,careful,cautious and organized,like to point out people's mistakes,likes to critize,quiet but able to talk well,caml and cool,kind and symparthetic,concerned and detailed,trustworthy,loyal and honest,does work well,sensitive thinking,good memory,clever and knowledgeable,love to look for information,must control oneself when criticizing,able to motivate oneself,understanding,secrective,loves sports,leisure and travelling,hardly shows emotions,lves wide things,systematic.
OCTOBER
Love to chat,love those who love them,love to take things at the centre,attractive and suave,inner and physical beauty,does not lie or pretend,sympathetic,treats friends importantly,always making friends,easily hurt but recovers easily,bad tempered,selfish,seldom helps unless asked.day dreamer,does not care what others think,emotional,soft spoken,decisive, strongly clairvoyance,loves to travel,loves the art and literature,loving and careing,romantic,touchy and easily jealous,concerned,just and fair,easily lose confidence.
JANUARY
Ambituous and serious, loves to teach and be taught,always looking at people's falls and weakness.like to criticize,hardworking and productive,smart,neat and organized,sensitve and has deep thoughts,knows how to make others happy,quite unless excited or tensed.rather reserved,highly attentive,resistant to illness but prone to colds, romantic but in difficulties expressing love,love children, homely person,loyal,needs to improve social abilities, easily jealous.
FEBRUARY
Abstract thoughts,love reality and abstract,intelligent and clever.changing personality,temperamental,quiet,shy and humble,low self esteem,honest and loyal,determined to reach goals.love freedom,rebellious when restricted,love aggressiveness,too sensitve and easily hurt,showing anger easily,dislike unneccessary things,love making friends but rarely shows it,daring and stubborn,ambituous,realizing dreams and hope.loves entertainment and leisure,romantic on the inside not outside, learns to show emotions.
MARCH
Attractive personality,affectionate,shy and reserved,secretive,naturally honest,sensitive,geneous and sympatnetic,love peace and sensitive to other,love to serve others,not easily angered,trustworthy,appreciative and returns kindness,observant and assess others,revengeful,loves to dream and fantasize,loves travelling,love home decors,musically talented,love special things,moody.
APRIL
Active and dynamic, decisive and haste but tend to regret,attrative and affectionate to oneself,strong mentally,love attention,diplomatic,consoling,friendly and solves peoples problems.Brave and fearless,adventous,loving and caring,geneous,emotional,revengful,aggressive.Sickness usually of the head and chest,easily get too jealous.
MAY
Stubborn and hard hearted,strongwilled and highly motivated,shape thougths,easily angered,attract others and love attention,deep feelings,beautiful physically and mentally,firm standpoint,easily influenced,needs no motivation,easily consoled, loves to dream,strong understanding,sickness usually in the ear and neck,good imagination, love literature and art.loves travelling,dislike being at home, restless,not having many children,hardworking,high spirited.
JUNE
Think far with vision,easily influenced by kindness, polite and softspoken,having lots of idea,sensitive, active mind,hesitating,tends to delay,chosy and always want the best,temperamental,funny and humorous,loves to joke,a good debating skill,talkative,day dreamer,friendly,know how to make friends,abiding,able to show character,easily hurt,prone to getting colds,loves to dress up,easily bored,seldom show emotions,takes time to recover when hurt,stuborn,says those who love are enemies while those whohate me are friends.
JULY
Fun to be with,secretive,difficult to fathom and to be understood,quiet unless excited or tensed,takes pride in oneself,has reputation,easily consoled,honest,concern about people's feeling,tactful,friendly,approachable,very emotional,temperamental and unpredictable,moody and easily hurt,forgiving but never forgets,dislike nonsensical and unneccessary things,Guides others physically and mentally,caring and loving,treat other equally,loves to be alone,hardworking,never look for friends,likes to be quiet.
AUGUST
Loves to joke,attractive,naughty,always attentive,suave and caring,brave and fearless,firm and has leadership qualities,knows how to console others,too generous and egoistic,takes high pride in oneself,thirsty for praises,extra ordinary spirit,easily angered,angry when provoked,easily jealous,independent thoughts,love to lead and to be led, loves to dream,talented in art,sensitive but not petty, poor resistance to illness,learn to relax,hasty and rushy, romantic,loving and caring,loves to make friends.
SEPTEMBER
Suave and compromising,careful,cautious and organized,like to point out people's mistakes,likes to critize,quiet but able to talk well,caml and cool,kind and symparthetic,concerned and detailed,trustworthy,loyal and honest,does work well,sensitive thinking,good memory,clever and knowledgeable,love to look for information,must control oneself when criticizing,able to motivate oneself,understanding,secrective,loves sports,leisure and travelling,hardly shows emotions,lves wide things,systematic.
OCTOBER
Love to chat,love those who love them,love to take things at the centre,attractive and suave,inner and physical beauty,does not lie or pretend,sympathetic,treats friends importantly,always making friends,easily hurt but recovers easily,bad tempered,selfish,seldom helps unless asked.day dreamer,does not care what others think,emotional,soft spoken,decisive, strongly clairvoyance,loves to travel,loves the art and literature,loving and careing,romantic,touchy and easily jealous,concerned,just and fair,easily lose confidence.
The Weeping Senator: Lessons For ‘ASUU’, ‘NANUS’ And Nigerians By Timi Olagunju
“Nigerians, do not think of what your fathers have failed to do, rather think of what you will not fail to do as fathers” – Timi Olagunju; paraphrased from President J.F Kennedy.
It was reported in The Guardian of Tuesday, July 23, 2013 that the Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District was obviously overwhelmed by the outrage exhibited by delegates from the 6 (six) local council over the issue of the controversial Section 29 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) on the Girl Child Rights; a subject matter that has attracted public concern and criticism of some Nigerian Senators. According to The Guardian “the Senator burst into tears as he TRIED HARD to convince the obviously enraged CROWD”. In his words “I am very sorry for this costly mistake. I actually voted in error. I pressed the “No” button during the electronic voting session thinking that I was kicking against the early marriage. I can never support such barbaric and wicked bill”.
As I read through the above, my mind flashed through different shades of thought ranging from the Girl Child Rights to Education.
Firstly, a question for Mr. Senator, what were you doing in the Legislative House at that material time when this Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed, sitting, looking, wandering? As if speaking to the Senator directly I asked ‘if you were thinking as you claimed, not sitting; would you have pressed No, when you meant to press a Yes? Can you imagine a student who answers question 1 for question 10 in an objective question? Wouldn’t his fate be a fatal failure? Maybe, it is time the Legislatures look into amending, adjusting or even scrapping ‘sitting allowances’ in place of ‘productivity allowance’ first, as well as address key issues such as under-development, under-nutrition, under-employment affecting the life and limb of Nigerians.
Secondly, Mr. Senator, there was neither a vote for early marriage nor any Bill specially designed for same. Why confuse the people more by justifying your fault? The bone of contention is as to the removal or non-removal of Section 29(4b) which states: ‘Any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age’. As regards the Right of the Nigerian child, the big question is: ‘should we read the provisions on the Renunciation of Citizenship in section 24 (4b) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution in isolation; or is it best interpreted in the light of the Federal Child Rights Act 2003, which states that anyone who wants to marry must attain the age of 18? Many opinions seem to favor the former position. As a constitutional lawyer, treading the paths of the few, I see the latter as the correct position. The Senate should be aware that in addition to my above position, Section 29 (4b) is not necessary as it contradicts the Child’s Right Act.
Looking deep at the public outcry over the rights of the girl child, the words of the Late Ken Saro Wiwa stared at me ‘the pen is mightier than the sword, the pen is mightier than the sword, the pen is mightier than the sword”. In this case, the Media (online and offline), the Civil Society, individuals with a proactive intuition proved that Nigerians are mighty enough to make our Legislative Chamber accountable; in this case Nigerian Senate. These praise-worthy Nigerians have shown we have the power to shape the future of this country; with our collective will, intellect and voice.
This brings us to the issue of the ASUU strike. As Nigerians, have we tapped into the power to shape the education of this country; collectively? Or are we in a state of neglect, nonchalance and dissension over the state of our educational system?
I read in a National daily that the National Association of University Students (NANUS), led by its National President, informed the Senator Chukwumerijie-led Committee that ‘ASUU did not consult with the students before embarking on the prolonged strike and that ASUU’s incessant strikes had failed to impart on the infrastructural status of GOVERNMENT universities nation-wide, accusing the lecturers of pursuing selfish ends at the detriment of students’. Pause a moment, does it sound correct accusing the lecturers for asking the Nigerian Government to honor a gentleman’s agreement? Accusing the lecturers for asking the Nigerian Government to protect the future and purse of the academia? Accusing the lectures for asking the Government to make the Nigerian academia attractive to the best and able minds like yours?
Least we forget some students will also be lecturers some day. To follow the path of truth, Mr. NANUS President, how has lecturers strike directly affected the infrastructure of Universities as much as the continued neglect of education by successive Nigerian governments? Shouldn’t we rather question the Nigerian President for the common sense behind building a Federal University in each state of Nigeria, when such funds could be used to upgrade science, technology, arts and commerce in the existing Universities, with leftovers to equip Technical Colleges to produce skilled craftsmen? Look at those Asian expatriates around us, most went to Technical Colleges.
Government should know, if she cannot honor prior gentleman’s agreements with her own people, what message are we sending to foreign investors, to the world?
This is the time to shape the future of this country; it is in our collective effort. Let the same intelligent voice that still speaks on the removal of Section 29 (4b), come as the saving voice to salvage the future of education in Nigeria; with ASUU. And let all Nigerian join in.
Timi Olagunju {T.O},
Legal Practitioner, Sync Legal.
It was reported in The Guardian of Tuesday, July 23, 2013 that the Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District was obviously overwhelmed by the outrage exhibited by delegates from the 6 (six) local council over the issue of the controversial Section 29 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) on the Girl Child Rights; a subject matter that has attracted public concern and criticism of some Nigerian Senators. According to The Guardian “the Senator burst into tears as he TRIED HARD to convince the obviously enraged CROWD”. In his words “I am very sorry for this costly mistake. I actually voted in error. I pressed the “No” button during the electronic voting session thinking that I was kicking against the early marriage. I can never support such barbaric and wicked bill”.
As I read through the above, my mind flashed through different shades of thought ranging from the Girl Child Rights to Education.
Firstly, a question for Mr. Senator, what were you doing in the Legislative House at that material time when this Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed, sitting, looking, wandering? As if speaking to the Senator directly I asked ‘if you were thinking as you claimed, not sitting; would you have pressed No, when you meant to press a Yes? Can you imagine a student who answers question 1 for question 10 in an objective question? Wouldn’t his fate be a fatal failure? Maybe, it is time the Legislatures look into amending, adjusting or even scrapping ‘sitting allowances’ in place of ‘productivity allowance’ first, as well as address key issues such as under-development, under-nutrition, under-employment affecting the life and limb of Nigerians.
Secondly, Mr. Senator, there was neither a vote for early marriage nor any Bill specially designed for same. Why confuse the people more by justifying your fault? The bone of contention is as to the removal or non-removal of Section 29(4b) which states: ‘Any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age’. As regards the Right of the Nigerian child, the big question is: ‘should we read the provisions on the Renunciation of Citizenship in section 24 (4b) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution in isolation; or is it best interpreted in the light of the Federal Child Rights Act 2003, which states that anyone who wants to marry must attain the age of 18? Many opinions seem to favor the former position. As a constitutional lawyer, treading the paths of the few, I see the latter as the correct position. The Senate should be aware that in addition to my above position, Section 29 (4b) is not necessary as it contradicts the Child’s Right Act.
Looking deep at the public outcry over the rights of the girl child, the words of the Late Ken Saro Wiwa stared at me ‘the pen is mightier than the sword, the pen is mightier than the sword, the pen is mightier than the sword”. In this case, the Media (online and offline), the Civil Society, individuals with a proactive intuition proved that Nigerians are mighty enough to make our Legislative Chamber accountable; in this case Nigerian Senate. These praise-worthy Nigerians have shown we have the power to shape the future of this country; with our collective will, intellect and voice.
This brings us to the issue of the ASUU strike. As Nigerians, have we tapped into the power to shape the education of this country; collectively? Or are we in a state of neglect, nonchalance and dissension over the state of our educational system?
I read in a National daily that the National Association of University Students (NANUS), led by its National President, informed the Senator Chukwumerijie-led Committee that ‘ASUU did not consult with the students before embarking on the prolonged strike and that ASUU’s incessant strikes had failed to impart on the infrastructural status of GOVERNMENT universities nation-wide, accusing the lecturers of pursuing selfish ends at the detriment of students’. Pause a moment, does it sound correct accusing the lecturers for asking the Nigerian Government to honor a gentleman’s agreement? Accusing the lecturers for asking the Nigerian Government to protect the future and purse of the academia? Accusing the lectures for asking the Government to make the Nigerian academia attractive to the best and able minds like yours?
Least we forget some students will also be lecturers some day. To follow the path of truth, Mr. NANUS President, how has lecturers strike directly affected the infrastructure of Universities as much as the continued neglect of education by successive Nigerian governments? Shouldn’t we rather question the Nigerian President for the common sense behind building a Federal University in each state of Nigeria, when such funds could be used to upgrade science, technology, arts and commerce in the existing Universities, with leftovers to equip Technical Colleges to produce skilled craftsmen? Look at those Asian expatriates around us, most went to Technical Colleges.
Government should know, if she cannot honor prior gentleman’s agreements with her own people, what message are we sending to foreign investors, to the world?
This is the time to shape the future of this country; it is in our collective effort. Let the same intelligent voice that still speaks on the removal of Section 29 (4b), come as the saving voice to salvage the future of education in Nigeria; with ASUU. And let all Nigerian join in.
Timi Olagunju {T.O},
Legal Practitioner, Sync Legal.
Professor Olufemi Odekunle's Arrest by Al-mustapha 3
After you had been discharged and acquitted, as you rightly said, and you were still being held in prison, did they relax the sanctions on you? Were you allowed more freedom than before? Essentially no. Those discharged and acquitted were still held in handcuffs and leg irons.Any relaxation you got at all was either on individual basis or on the discretion of the people guarding you. Both the discharged and acquitted and the convicted were still held inthe same wards and rooms, as we were before the judgment,in wards C, D, J and a fourth one.In my own cell, to my right was Colonel Bako who was convicted- actually all the detaineessurrounding me in WardC were those convicted. They were with me from April 28 to about June 8 when they were eventually taken away with [General] Diya. So, I was in the company of those people who were convicted - Engineer Adebanjowasin Cell 2, Niran Malaolu (your fellow journalist) was in Cell 3,Colonel Bako was in Cell 4 and I was in Cell 5. Upstairs, we had Major-General Olanrewaju,Major Mohammed, DSP Adebowale and Ibrahim Kotangora.
We have heard alot about your experience in prison but we shall come back to that later.Meanwhile can you recount theday of your arrest? How did it happen? Oh yes it was a fateful day in the sense that I had got my family together to travel for Christmas.Already I had applied for leave to last from Monday, December22 tillJanuary5. I had borroweda pick-up van from a friend tocarry yams, rice andotheritemsto my hometown for theChristmas celebration. It was expected to be a special one for me and my family because barely a week before the proposed commencement of my leave, we (the CGS [i.e.,General Oladipo Diya's] entourage) had just escaped what looked like an assassination attempt through a bomb blast at the Abuja airport.My family was looking forward to having a thanksgiving dinner for friends and well-wishers on December 25. Thus everybodyhad packed and was ready to leave Abuja for Ilesa the following day. At about 3.30a.m., I was feeling tired and decidedto have a nap and wake up at 6.30a.m. or there abouts ... It couldn't have been more than forty minutes after I decided to sleep when my wife tapped me and shouted, "Femi, Femi,Femi,what's that noise about?" So, Igot up and looked through the window and saw people with guns. They were not in army uniforms, rather they were in jeans and T-Shirts and fez caps with machine guns. I was thrown into a panicky situation because I didn't know what to do. I was hearing heavy footsteps and the whole place was soon turned into a bedlam.And here I was in a khaftan-like night dress without underpants!I started lookingfor something to wear but meanwhile it waslike I didn't know exactly what to do. I was just walking up and down and I was hearing noises.Soon Iwas telling my wife, "Goto the bathroom, go inside thebathroom."Before I could even finish telling her that, I just heard this heavy bang onthedoor and the cocking of gunswith the warning: "If I count three and you don't open, I'll shoot!" I said, "Wait, I'm coming, I'm opening thedoor."By thistime I had been able to lay myhands on something, this boxer short [pants] to wear. The next thing I heard waswham! I was slapped with the side of the machine gun. I was almost unconscious. I startedasking:"Why? Why? Why are you beating me?" The next thing I received was another blow to my face. By the time I was led tothe sitting room, my children had been lined up like areception committee (for me).By that time, I had a cut on my lips and another on my head. I was bleeding like a punch-drunk boxer. On my way downstairs, I saw somebody in handcuffs who later turned out to be the ADC to General Diya. Apparently, if I may rewind the tape (ofevents) for you, as I gatheredseven months later, it was the ADC, Major Kayode Keshinrowho was picked up from hishouse and asked toleadtheteam to my house. As I laterlearnt, he was picked up almostin asimilarcircumstance but he was allowed to dress up and was not beaten like me.I needto stress this point because minewas a special treatment. They kicked me, slapped me, shovedand pushed me like a criminal. I suddenly regressed into childhood because I had never received that kind of beating in my life before. Somebody just comes into your house, he is not telling you that you are underarrest, not informing you aboutany crimecommitted,just started beating you up andbanging your head withmachine gun. I was literally thrown down the staircase infront of my children. I can remember one of my children telling me after my release: "Daddy, I know you to be a strong man. I have never seen fear in your eyes in my life. But thatday I saw fear in your eyes." It's as bad as that. My children saw their father being battered and there was nothing they could do. It was so uncivilised.
We have heard alot about your experience in prison but we shall come back to that later.Meanwhile can you recount theday of your arrest? How did it happen? Oh yes it was a fateful day in the sense that I had got my family together to travel for Christmas.Already I had applied for leave to last from Monday, December22 tillJanuary5. I had borroweda pick-up van from a friend tocarry yams, rice andotheritemsto my hometown for theChristmas celebration. It was expected to be a special one for me and my family because barely a week before the proposed commencement of my leave, we (the CGS [i.e.,General Oladipo Diya's] entourage) had just escaped what looked like an assassination attempt through a bomb blast at the Abuja airport.My family was looking forward to having a thanksgiving dinner for friends and well-wishers on December 25. Thus everybodyhad packed and was ready to leave Abuja for Ilesa the following day. At about 3.30a.m., I was feeling tired and decidedto have a nap and wake up at 6.30a.m. or there abouts ... It couldn't have been more than forty minutes after I decided to sleep when my wife tapped me and shouted, "Femi, Femi,Femi,what's that noise about?" So, Igot up and looked through the window and saw people with guns. They were not in army uniforms, rather they were in jeans and T-Shirts and fez caps with machine guns. I was thrown into a panicky situation because I didn't know what to do. I was hearing heavy footsteps and the whole place was soon turned into a bedlam.And here I was in a khaftan-like night dress without underpants!I started lookingfor something to wear but meanwhile it waslike I didn't know exactly what to do. I was just walking up and down and I was hearing noises.Soon Iwas telling my wife, "Goto the bathroom, go inside thebathroom."Before I could even finish telling her that, I just heard this heavy bang onthedoor and the cocking of gunswith the warning: "If I count three and you don't open, I'll shoot!" I said, "Wait, I'm coming, I'm opening thedoor."By thistime I had been able to lay myhands on something, this boxer short [pants] to wear. The next thing I heard waswham! I was slapped with the side of the machine gun. I was almost unconscious. I startedasking:"Why? Why? Why are you beating me?" The next thing I received was another blow to my face. By the time I was led tothe sitting room, my children had been lined up like areception committee (for me).By that time, I had a cut on my lips and another on my head. I was bleeding like a punch-drunk boxer. On my way downstairs, I saw somebody in handcuffs who later turned out to be the ADC to General Diya. Apparently, if I may rewind the tape (ofevents) for you, as I gatheredseven months later, it was the ADC, Major Kayode Keshinrowho was picked up from hishouse and asked toleadtheteam to my house. As I laterlearnt, he was picked up almostin asimilarcircumstance but he was allowed to dress up and was not beaten like me.I needto stress this point because minewas a special treatment. They kicked me, slapped me, shovedand pushed me like a criminal. I suddenly regressed into childhood because I had never received that kind of beating in my life before. Somebody just comes into your house, he is not telling you that you are underarrest, not informing you aboutany crimecommitted,just started beating you up andbanging your head withmachine gun. I was literally thrown down the staircase infront of my children. I can remember one of my children telling me after my release: "Daddy, I know you to be a strong man. I have never seen fear in your eyes in my life. But thatday I saw fear in your eyes." It's as bad as that. My children saw their father being battered and there was nothing they could do. It was so uncivilised.
Professor Olufemi Odekunle's Arrest by Al-mustapha 2
He spoke for two days with Dele Omotunde, TELL's deputy editor-in-chief and Dare Babarinsa, executive editor at his Ilesa country house. The interview, both a confession and a narration, was also a catharsis. Excerpts:- Professor Odekunle, we welcome you back from detention after all these days. On behalf of TELL magazine, we congratulate you on your release and for coming back home alive.
Could you tell us what you have gone through? How the news of your release came about, did it come as asurprise and what exactly was your immediate reaction? You'll recall that the judgment of the Special Military Tribunal, SMT, was given on April28 and we had expected by that verdict, to be released that same day or the next day. But from one day it became two days, then from days to weeksand later months.thus, expecting to be released was a daily affair.Now, when you asked me whether it came as a surprise, I'd say it didn't come as a surprise. yet it came suddenly because we were always kept in the dark as to what was going to happen.Anyway, to answer your question,I'd say I was surprised though at the same time, I was expecting that one day they would eventually come to effectthe tribunal's judgment. At the same time, we were expecting that the cases of those sentenced would be reviewed by the PRC [Provisional RulingCouncil]. (1) Theinformation at the time was that the PRC had not met. But as far as we were concerned, those of us discharged and acquitted had no business with the PRC since the convening letter stated clearly that only those who were sentenced would still have their cases reviewed by the PRC and the judge advocate - the lawyer assisting the tribunal – had stated that those who were discharged and acquitted were free "right from this courtroom."So we had been expecting that we would be released but it [the release] never came ... Since that April 28, it had been a waiting game. So, this particular day they just came about 10.30 p.m.or so and said "Prof., pack your load.
"What date exactly were you set free? July 15 [1998].I think it was a [Wednesday] around 10.30 p.m. when Major Mumuni and others came and woke us up. We were led from the ward to the prison comptroller'soffice where they called out our names. After the roll-call, they took us to the Rukuba Barracks where we slept for the night, in the officer's mess. So, these other people who were with you in Jos, I mean those who were freed.
how many were you and who was among them? I think we should be 14. Now I'm recalling from the number of us taken out in two Peugeot 505 cars [station wagons] from the Jos motor park to Abuja. Six were in one vehicle while eight were in the other, making 14. I don't know whether you want me to recount the names so as to make the number?
You can mention some of them.Okay.Lieutenant-Commander Bola Soetan, staff officer [finance] to General Diya,(2)who was accused of stealing but he was discharged and acquitted.Hajia Halima Bawa, who was also accused of stealing along with him - that's another story entirely. Then the four body guards who were said to have marched to the house of chief of army staff: Abimbola Owatimehin, Ibrahim Kotangora; DSP [Deputy Superintend of Police] Bawa, accused of receiving stolen goods and of aiding and abetting and whatever, one corporal who was serving the wife of General Tajudeen Olanrewaju.I can'tremember his name now ... and, of course, the Abacharist man, what do you call him ... emmm ... ehen en... Yomi Tokoya who was really mad about the injustice of keeping us for so long after we had been discharged and acquitted.
Could you tell us what you have gone through? How the news of your release came about, did it come as asurprise and what exactly was your immediate reaction? You'll recall that the judgment of the Special Military Tribunal, SMT, was given on April28 and we had expected by that verdict, to be released that same day or the next day. But from one day it became two days, then from days to weeksand later months.thus, expecting to be released was a daily affair.Now, when you asked me whether it came as a surprise, I'd say it didn't come as a surprise. yet it came suddenly because we were always kept in the dark as to what was going to happen.Anyway, to answer your question,I'd say I was surprised though at the same time, I was expecting that one day they would eventually come to effectthe tribunal's judgment. At the same time, we were expecting that the cases of those sentenced would be reviewed by the PRC [Provisional RulingCouncil]. (1) Theinformation at the time was that the PRC had not met. But as far as we were concerned, those of us discharged and acquitted had no business with the PRC since the convening letter stated clearly that only those who were sentenced would still have their cases reviewed by the PRC and the judge advocate - the lawyer assisting the tribunal – had stated that those who were discharged and acquitted were free "right from this courtroom."So we had been expecting that we would be released but it [the release] never came ... Since that April 28, it had been a waiting game. So, this particular day they just came about 10.30 p.m.or so and said "Prof., pack your load.
"What date exactly were you set free? July 15 [1998].I think it was a [Wednesday] around 10.30 p.m. when Major Mumuni and others came and woke us up. We were led from the ward to the prison comptroller'soffice where they called out our names. After the roll-call, they took us to the Rukuba Barracks where we slept for the night, in the officer's mess. So, these other people who were with you in Jos, I mean those who were freed.
how many were you and who was among them? I think we should be 14. Now I'm recalling from the number of us taken out in two Peugeot 505 cars [station wagons] from the Jos motor park to Abuja. Six were in one vehicle while eight were in the other, making 14. I don't know whether you want me to recount the names so as to make the number?
You can mention some of them.Okay.Lieutenant-Commander Bola Soetan, staff officer [finance] to General Diya,(2)who was accused of stealing but he was discharged and acquitted.Hajia Halima Bawa, who was also accused of stealing along with him - that's another story entirely. Then the four body guards who were said to have marched to the house of chief of army staff: Abimbola Owatimehin, Ibrahim Kotangora; DSP [Deputy Superintend of Police] Bawa, accused of receiving stolen goods and of aiding and abetting and whatever, one corporal who was serving the wife of General Tajudeen Olanrewaju.I can'tremember his name now ... and, of course, the Abacharist man, what do you call him ... emmm ... ehen en... Yomi Tokoya who was really mad about the injustice of keeping us for so long after we had been discharged and acquitted.
Professor Olufemi Odekunle's Arrest by Al-mustapha 1
Professor Olufemi Odekunle's Arrest and Trial and His Experiences in Prison (Text of an Interview Published by TELL, a Lagos-Based Magazine, August 31, 1998, No.35 pp10-24.) [Professor Olufemi Odekunle has spent his entire career studying criminals and the raw materials that spur them within society. He sits often in the relative comfort of his office and pays short clinical visits to prisons. Then in 1994, he got a job in Abuja, the nation's seat ofpower as the chairman, Advisory Committee to the Chief of General Staff, CGS, on Socio-Political and Economic Matters.He wrote papers. He lectured others in a professorial manner.He learnt a lot about criminality and its influence in the seat of power. He fought the subtle abuse of power; he rode with the powerful and mighty. He almost believed he was just doing his job until the wee hours of one Saturday last December.Odekunle slept late on December 20, 1997, for he was preparing to go home for the long Christmas holiday. Everything was packed and the children were back home from schools, including two teenage sons and a teenage daughter. Ilesa, Osun State, where Odekunle was born 56 years ago, would be sweet, he must have thought.After 12years of trying, he had just completed his country house.Then crime came crashing into the sanctity of Odekunle's home. At 3 a.m., plain-clothes members of the Strike Force forced down the door of Odekunle's Abuja home and seized him from his matrimonial bed. He was beaten blue and black in front of his wife and wailing children. The children, including a toddler, were detained in the house for many months while the head of the family went to hell. The invaders not only arrested Odekunle, they arrested his three cars, including two private ones, all his personal documents,his passports, his children's birthcertificates, his educational certificates and his share certificates. The invaders simply decided to clean him out believing that the professor was on a journey of no return.Now, Odekunle is back to tell his story. He was an inner player in the bitter struggle within AsoRock battlement until the blood-curdling climax last December when Odekunle, along with General Oladipo Diya and many top military officers and civilians, were arrested for allegedly plotting to topple the evil regime of General Sani Abacha. A graduate of the University of Ibadan, 1968, he got his Ph.D. in sociology and social psychiatry from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in the United States in 1974. He has worked at the Ahmadu BelloUniversity, ABU, Zaria, the intellectual power house of the old North since 1970. There, he collided with what he called "The Northern oligarchy." His clinical training under the wings of the famous Professor Adeoye Lambo must have fore warned him about the danger of his AsoRock adventure.Now that he is free from the horror of the arrest, the torture in the Aso Rock chambers of the devil, the trauma of the trial before a secret military tribunal, the nightmare of the Jos prisons,and the agony of his family, he believed he is duty-bound to tell Nigerians the story from the valley of death.He spoke about the inside working of the Abacha presidency, the story of the arrest and trial of Diya and company, the all-pervading influence of the Northern oligarchy, the need for arestructured federation if Nigeriais to survive and the danger of dictatorship.
Why We Are Going On Strike-ASUU
Gentlemen of the Press,
At the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) held at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, between 29th and 30th June 2013, a number of issues were raised on developments affecting the country’s education system and the Nigerian nation as a whole. These include the lingering crisis at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), the continued violation of the rights of the re-engaged 49 academics at the University of Ilorin, and the non-release of the White Paper on Special Visitation to the University of Abuja. Others include the parlous state of the economy, and Government’s disregard for its Agreements with our Union.
The Nigerian Educational Logjam
Gentlemen of the Press, the crisis affecting the Nigerian education sector stems largely from the failure of the Nigerian governments, over the years, to boldly address the suffocating challenges, which have stymied the development of the sector. It seems that while the Government is fully aware of the enormity of the infrastructural, personnel and other forms of decay at all levels, it does not have the courage to tackle these challenges for the good of the nation. This attitude on the part of Government has given critics the impression that perhaps Government is more comfortable with the uneducated class than it is with the educated one.
To compound this problem, the impression is often given that we are not in control of our educational policies as external and other influences have tended to show a national inclination to a weakened intellectual class which in turn prognosticates a desire for an ideologically barren, colonially dependent and financially deprived structure that is not primed for the growth and development of the system. ASUU challenges the Federal and State Governments, and other stakeholders who have responsibility for the education of the Nigerian people, to show great courage in implementing decisions, policies and agreements produced over time so as to put Nigerian education back on the fast lane. This should lead to the liberation of the Nigerian education system from the cloud of despair and despondency.
Gentlemen of the Press, you will recall that ASUU recently issued a Press Release over the untimely death of some Students’ Union leaders who were on their way to the University of Uyo. We used the opportunity to call for the common struggle to enthrone democratic governance in our tertiary institutions, with full respect for the rights of students to unionize. While this must be invigorated, we wish to note the unfortunate situation on our campuses today wherein most Students’ Union leaders, especially at the level of NANS, are possible drop-outs, government agents, Youth Corp members, and other questionable characters being foisted on genuine undergraduates in our universities by politicians and other officials of the State.
As a Union with a stake in the future of our youth and our nation, ASUU shall use her networks to monitor and identify the true status of those who currently parade themselves as student leaders nation-wide. We are determined to indigenize student unionism on our campuses. This is the only way the Students’ Union Movement can genuinely engage issues of noncommercial education with access to all; allocation of at least 26% of yearly budgets to education; declaration of emergency on the whole education system, revitalization of University system, etc.
The Crisis at RSUST
Gentlemen of the Press, you will recall that the crisis at River State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, has become a recurring decimal at our interactions with the media since August 2012 because it is an issue that is very close to our hearts. We remain steadfast in our support and solidarity with our members at RSUST in their principled struggle against poor governance and maladministration being perpetrated by the Vice-Chancellor and the Governing Council of the University.
It has become more evident that the Visitor to RSUST, Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, is brazenly adamant in his refusal to respect the laws establishing the University. The assault and harassment of our members in that University has continued unabated since the because of his determination to stick with the re-appointment of Prof. B. B. Fakae as Vice-Chancellor, after serving an undeserved first term which did not follow due process. The most worrisome dimension is the scandalous involvement of security agents in this show of shame.
Today, at RSUST, there is widespread abuse of university statutes and mind-boggling illegalities; unqualified lecturers teach postgraduate courses while examinations conducted without respect for requisite requirements. It is disheartening to observe that the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) has been playing an active role as an accomplice in the desecration of our University system by giving its approval to these despicable acts at RSUST. NUC’s continued disregard for its statutory responsibility as a regulatory agency, with the responsibility of maintaining the highest level of ethical and academic standard in Nigerian universities, as evident in RSUST, creates a grave cause for concern among the membership of our Union. We call on the National Assembly, through its oversight functions, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the role of NUC in the shameless acts of executive obduracy at play in RSUST.
Re-engaged University of Ilorin Lecturers
You would recall that 49 lecturers of the University of Ilorin were unjustly sacked for participation in a nation-wide strike action of our Union in 2001. Despite the Supreme Court judgment, which re-validated their right to unionize and removed the toga of criminality woven around union activities by Unilorin authorities, their entitlements are still denied them. Three years after the landmark judgment, the University still withholds the salary and allowances of some of the affected staff while their entitlements for sabbatical leave and promotions have not been addressed.
We, once again, call on authorities at Unilorin to desist from gagging our members and pitching academics against themselves. A university scholar cannot creatively engage knowledge in an atmosphere of rancor and sponsored bitterness. Neither can they auspiciously fulfill their obligations as agents of change and transformation in their micro community and the wider context of humanity. We shall, therefore, continue to use all legitimate means available to us to protect and defend the interests of academics at the University of Ilorin.
The Seemingly Intractable University of Abuja Crisis
Gentlemen of the Press, it is becoming crystal clear that the Government is insincere in resolving the crisis at the University of Abuja. As you are possibly aware, the Special Visitation Panel, which looked into the monumental crisis that engulfed the University last year, submitted its report in September 2012. However, the Visitor to the University, President Goodluck Jonathan, has continued to vacillate on what to do with the report of the Panel. Meanwhile, the Uniabuja Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Adelabu, continues to operate like a lord and master whose words are laws!
ASUU-NEC calls on the Visitor to Uniabuja to release the White Paper on Special Visitation to Uniabuja without further delay. It is only by doing so and implementing the recommendations of the Visitation Panel that the University can be given a new lease of life that befits a 25-year old university.
IMF/World Bank and Nigeria’s Economic Development
Gentlemen of the Press, as you are well aware, the Nigerian economy is fraught with contradictions and inconsistencies. Unfortunately, it is glaringly under the jugular clutches of Western economists, experts and interests who promote exogenous (external) instead of endogenous (internal) model of development. This model took a firm root when, in “the early 2005 a group of economists, mainly from the Breton Woods Institutions introduced the concept of Inclusive Growth (IG) to replace the erstwhile notion of Growth and Development (GD).” What is most significant about the IG model is its “attempt to run away from the need to accelerate economic development through deliberate policy interventions so as to move millions of humanity out of poverty”.
Having imposed the IG on the country by agents of the World Bank and IMR, it is little surprising that today “economic growth” does not equate to “Nigeria’s development” and prosperity of Nigerians. Key sectors that ought to provide the planks for development and prosperity such as education, power/energy, agriculture and health are in dire state. Government at all levels rather hoists frivolities over the essentials. As recently observed by Prof. Akpan Ekpo, “The implementation of the Transformation Agenda does not preclude the fact that the economy today is characterized by high and rising rate of unemployment particularly among the youths, decayed public school system at all levels, lack of quality public health system, massive corruption, security challenges, among others”.
ASUU-NEC rejects externally imposed models of economic growth that discounts human elements in the equation. The Bretton Woods experts can only further under-develop Nigeria and pauperize her citizens. This is because IG “stresses productive employment rather than income redistribution”; implying that the tiny rich Nigerians will continue to get richer while the mass poor will become poorer.
A non-insulated economy will only be a subservient economy. The solutions to our problems as a nation must be wholly Nigerian-based, Nigerian-driven and Nigerian-centered. The current reliance on the veiled but obvious drivers of our “envelop economy” being presided over and supervised by agents of the IMF/World Bank will only leave us in a worse state than the IBB era. The current jig-saw dilemma of economic blueprints of NEPAD, Vision 20 2020, Transformational Agenda, etc. are bound to fail in so far as they are not based on any indigenous economic paradigm.
2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement
You will recall that ASUU declared a total, indefinite and comprehensive strike on 4th December 2011 in order to prevail on government to sincerely and judiciously implement the 2009 Agreement it freely entered into with our Union. Specifically, ASUU identified the following key areas that were yet to be implemented:
i. Funding requirements for Revitalization of the Nigerian Universities
ii. Federal Government Assistance to State Universities
iii. Establishment of NUPEMCO
iv. Progressive increase in Annual Budgetary Allocation to Education to 26% between 2009 and 2020
v. Earned Allowances
vi. Amendment of the Pension/Retirement Age of Academics on the Professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years
vii. Reinstatement of prematurely dissolved Governing Councils
viii. Transfer of Federal Government Landed Property to Universities
ix. Setting up of Research Development Council and Provision of Research Equipment to laboratories and classrooms in our universities.
However, the strike was suspended on 2nd February 2012. As our Union noted then, “NEC decision had been taken in the interest of the revitalization of the Nigerian Universities. To achieve these goals, ASUU expects the government to fulfill its obligation in respect of funding and all other matters contained in its offers.” When the strike was suspended, ASUU drew attention to the fact that the unimplemented agreement was due for renegotiation in June 2012.
Following the suspension of the strike, government responded by setting up a Committee via TETFund to assess the needs of Nigerian Universities in terms of infrastructure and required quantum of fund. Government also mandated the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) to document and compute the financial implication of implementing the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement. At ASUU’s insistence, many of these conditions have now been met. Yet, the Government has continued to dilly-dally on the implementation.
Out of nine items earlier highlighted, only two of the commitment - reinstatement of Governing Councils and the Amendment of Retirement Age Act - were met. For the past 16 months, several steps, including formal and informal consultations, meetings, personal contacts, have been employed to avert resumption of the suspended action. We seem to have now exhausted all available options. Our members cannot understand why a Government finds it difficult to fulfill an Agreement voluntarily entered into with the Union in 2009 as well as the MoU that was introduced following ASUU’s protest against government’s demonstration of bad faith in 2012
Gentlemen of the Press, one key aspect of the Agreement where Government has demonstrated insincerity is on the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). Components of these allowances include responsibility allowances to Heads of Department, Deans of Faculties and other functionaries of the university system.
After the MoU of 26th January 2012, Government accepted in principle to pay EAA. As if to demonstrate its commitment, the IMC under the chairmanship of Dr. Wale Babalakin was assigned the responsibility of working out practical and sustainable ways to do this. When the IMC submitted its recommendations on this aspect of the Agreement, which has run into almost four years, however, the Government suddenly began to give excuses. And, finally, it set aside the recommendations of the IMC on the account of financial difficulties; these were recommendations that came out of serious engagements with officials from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Our Union sees this sudden reversal of gears as a betrayal of trust.
From all indications, it appears Government is yet unprepared to address the challenges facing the Nigerian University System with the urgency that is required. This trend is dangerous, as it constitutes a threat to the relative peace in Nigerian Universities. There can be no justification for Government’s position given what all Nigerians know about the management of the nation’s resources. It is evident that Government is highly deceptive and is not interested in sustaining relative stability in our universities. If Government can betray our Union on the 2009 Agreement, where is the basis of trust for the impending review that was due for 2012?
It is in the light of the above, especially having exhausted all other options, that ASUU-NEC at its meeting in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, between 29th and 30th June 2013 resolved to call out all its members on a nation-wide strike action beginning from Wednesday, 3rd July, 2013. The strike action is comprehensive and total. Our members shall withdraw their services until Government fully implements all the outstanding aspects of the 2009 Agreement, and commences the process of review of the same Agreement.
Concluding Remarks
Gentlemen of the Press, the time has come to rise in defense of the true liberation of our country. We believe this liberation must begin with education, which is a veritable weapon for socio-economic transformation. The IMF/World Bank and their local collaborators would make Nigerians believe that “basic” or little education is good enough for the children of the poor. It is a ruse.
Our Union counts on the renewed support of the media in challenging agents of underdevelopment who deny less-privileged Nigerians quality higher education, health, employment and other life-transforming elements of development. We equally invite labor activists, students, traders, professional groups, civil society organizations and other progressive segments of the public to join our determined efforts to save Nigeria from her captors.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Nasir F. ISA
President
1st July 2013
At the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) held at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, between 29th and 30th June 2013, a number of issues were raised on developments affecting the country’s education system and the Nigerian nation as a whole. These include the lingering crisis at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), the continued violation of the rights of the re-engaged 49 academics at the University of Ilorin, and the non-release of the White Paper on Special Visitation to the University of Abuja. Others include the parlous state of the economy, and Government’s disregard for its Agreements with our Union.
The Nigerian Educational Logjam
Gentlemen of the Press, the crisis affecting the Nigerian education sector stems largely from the failure of the Nigerian governments, over the years, to boldly address the suffocating challenges, which have stymied the development of the sector. It seems that while the Government is fully aware of the enormity of the infrastructural, personnel and other forms of decay at all levels, it does not have the courage to tackle these challenges for the good of the nation. This attitude on the part of Government has given critics the impression that perhaps Government is more comfortable with the uneducated class than it is with the educated one.
To compound this problem, the impression is often given that we are not in control of our educational policies as external and other influences have tended to show a national inclination to a weakened intellectual class which in turn prognosticates a desire for an ideologically barren, colonially dependent and financially deprived structure that is not primed for the growth and development of the system. ASUU challenges the Federal and State Governments, and other stakeholders who have responsibility for the education of the Nigerian people, to show great courage in implementing decisions, policies and agreements produced over time so as to put Nigerian education back on the fast lane. This should lead to the liberation of the Nigerian education system from the cloud of despair and despondency.
Gentlemen of the Press, you will recall that ASUU recently issued a Press Release over the untimely death of some Students’ Union leaders who were on their way to the University of Uyo. We used the opportunity to call for the common struggle to enthrone democratic governance in our tertiary institutions, with full respect for the rights of students to unionize. While this must be invigorated, we wish to note the unfortunate situation on our campuses today wherein most Students’ Union leaders, especially at the level of NANS, are possible drop-outs, government agents, Youth Corp members, and other questionable characters being foisted on genuine undergraduates in our universities by politicians and other officials of the State.
As a Union with a stake in the future of our youth and our nation, ASUU shall use her networks to monitor and identify the true status of those who currently parade themselves as student leaders nation-wide. We are determined to indigenize student unionism on our campuses. This is the only way the Students’ Union Movement can genuinely engage issues of noncommercial education with access to all; allocation of at least 26% of yearly budgets to education; declaration of emergency on the whole education system, revitalization of University system, etc.
The Crisis at RSUST
Gentlemen of the Press, you will recall that the crisis at River State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, has become a recurring decimal at our interactions with the media since August 2012 because it is an issue that is very close to our hearts. We remain steadfast in our support and solidarity with our members at RSUST in their principled struggle against poor governance and maladministration being perpetrated by the Vice-Chancellor and the Governing Council of the University.
It has become more evident that the Visitor to RSUST, Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, is brazenly adamant in his refusal to respect the laws establishing the University. The assault and harassment of our members in that University has continued unabated since the because of his determination to stick with the re-appointment of Prof. B. B. Fakae as Vice-Chancellor, after serving an undeserved first term which did not follow due process. The most worrisome dimension is the scandalous involvement of security agents in this show of shame.
Today, at RSUST, there is widespread abuse of university statutes and mind-boggling illegalities; unqualified lecturers teach postgraduate courses while examinations conducted without respect for requisite requirements. It is disheartening to observe that the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) has been playing an active role as an accomplice in the desecration of our University system by giving its approval to these despicable acts at RSUST. NUC’s continued disregard for its statutory responsibility as a regulatory agency, with the responsibility of maintaining the highest level of ethical and academic standard in Nigerian universities, as evident in RSUST, creates a grave cause for concern among the membership of our Union. We call on the National Assembly, through its oversight functions, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the role of NUC in the shameless acts of executive obduracy at play in RSUST.
Re-engaged University of Ilorin Lecturers
You would recall that 49 lecturers of the University of Ilorin were unjustly sacked for participation in a nation-wide strike action of our Union in 2001. Despite the Supreme Court judgment, which re-validated their right to unionize and removed the toga of criminality woven around union activities by Unilorin authorities, their entitlements are still denied them. Three years after the landmark judgment, the University still withholds the salary and allowances of some of the affected staff while their entitlements for sabbatical leave and promotions have not been addressed.
We, once again, call on authorities at Unilorin to desist from gagging our members and pitching academics against themselves. A university scholar cannot creatively engage knowledge in an atmosphere of rancor and sponsored bitterness. Neither can they auspiciously fulfill their obligations as agents of change and transformation in their micro community and the wider context of humanity. We shall, therefore, continue to use all legitimate means available to us to protect and defend the interests of academics at the University of Ilorin.
The Seemingly Intractable University of Abuja Crisis
Gentlemen of the Press, it is becoming crystal clear that the Government is insincere in resolving the crisis at the University of Abuja. As you are possibly aware, the Special Visitation Panel, which looked into the monumental crisis that engulfed the University last year, submitted its report in September 2012. However, the Visitor to the University, President Goodluck Jonathan, has continued to vacillate on what to do with the report of the Panel. Meanwhile, the Uniabuja Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Adelabu, continues to operate like a lord and master whose words are laws!
ASUU-NEC calls on the Visitor to Uniabuja to release the White Paper on Special Visitation to Uniabuja without further delay. It is only by doing so and implementing the recommendations of the Visitation Panel that the University can be given a new lease of life that befits a 25-year old university.
IMF/World Bank and Nigeria’s Economic Development
Gentlemen of the Press, as you are well aware, the Nigerian economy is fraught with contradictions and inconsistencies. Unfortunately, it is glaringly under the jugular clutches of Western economists, experts and interests who promote exogenous (external) instead of endogenous (internal) model of development. This model took a firm root when, in “the early 2005 a group of economists, mainly from the Breton Woods Institutions introduced the concept of Inclusive Growth (IG) to replace the erstwhile notion of Growth and Development (GD).” What is most significant about the IG model is its “attempt to run away from the need to accelerate economic development through deliberate policy interventions so as to move millions of humanity out of poverty”.
Having imposed the IG on the country by agents of the World Bank and IMR, it is little surprising that today “economic growth” does not equate to “Nigeria’s development” and prosperity of Nigerians. Key sectors that ought to provide the planks for development and prosperity such as education, power/energy, agriculture and health are in dire state. Government at all levels rather hoists frivolities over the essentials. As recently observed by Prof. Akpan Ekpo, “The implementation of the Transformation Agenda does not preclude the fact that the economy today is characterized by high and rising rate of unemployment particularly among the youths, decayed public school system at all levels, lack of quality public health system, massive corruption, security challenges, among others”.
ASUU-NEC rejects externally imposed models of economic growth that discounts human elements in the equation. The Bretton Woods experts can only further under-develop Nigeria and pauperize her citizens. This is because IG “stresses productive employment rather than income redistribution”; implying that the tiny rich Nigerians will continue to get richer while the mass poor will become poorer.
A non-insulated economy will only be a subservient economy. The solutions to our problems as a nation must be wholly Nigerian-based, Nigerian-driven and Nigerian-centered. The current reliance on the veiled but obvious drivers of our “envelop economy” being presided over and supervised by agents of the IMF/World Bank will only leave us in a worse state than the IBB era. The current jig-saw dilemma of economic blueprints of NEPAD, Vision 20 2020, Transformational Agenda, etc. are bound to fail in so far as they are not based on any indigenous economic paradigm.
2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement
You will recall that ASUU declared a total, indefinite and comprehensive strike on 4th December 2011 in order to prevail on government to sincerely and judiciously implement the 2009 Agreement it freely entered into with our Union. Specifically, ASUU identified the following key areas that were yet to be implemented:
i. Funding requirements for Revitalization of the Nigerian Universities
ii. Federal Government Assistance to State Universities
iii. Establishment of NUPEMCO
iv. Progressive increase in Annual Budgetary Allocation to Education to 26% between 2009 and 2020
v. Earned Allowances
vi. Amendment of the Pension/Retirement Age of Academics on the Professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years
vii. Reinstatement of prematurely dissolved Governing Councils
viii. Transfer of Federal Government Landed Property to Universities
ix. Setting up of Research Development Council and Provision of Research Equipment to laboratories and classrooms in our universities.
However, the strike was suspended on 2nd February 2012. As our Union noted then, “NEC decision had been taken in the interest of the revitalization of the Nigerian Universities. To achieve these goals, ASUU expects the government to fulfill its obligation in respect of funding and all other matters contained in its offers.” When the strike was suspended, ASUU drew attention to the fact that the unimplemented agreement was due for renegotiation in June 2012.
Following the suspension of the strike, government responded by setting up a Committee via TETFund to assess the needs of Nigerian Universities in terms of infrastructure and required quantum of fund. Government also mandated the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) to document and compute the financial implication of implementing the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement. At ASUU’s insistence, many of these conditions have now been met. Yet, the Government has continued to dilly-dally on the implementation.
Out of nine items earlier highlighted, only two of the commitment - reinstatement of Governing Councils and the Amendment of Retirement Age Act - were met. For the past 16 months, several steps, including formal and informal consultations, meetings, personal contacts, have been employed to avert resumption of the suspended action. We seem to have now exhausted all available options. Our members cannot understand why a Government finds it difficult to fulfill an Agreement voluntarily entered into with the Union in 2009 as well as the MoU that was introduced following ASUU’s protest against government’s demonstration of bad faith in 2012
Gentlemen of the Press, one key aspect of the Agreement where Government has demonstrated insincerity is on the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). Components of these allowances include responsibility allowances to Heads of Department, Deans of Faculties and other functionaries of the university system.
After the MoU of 26th January 2012, Government accepted in principle to pay EAA. As if to demonstrate its commitment, the IMC under the chairmanship of Dr. Wale Babalakin was assigned the responsibility of working out practical and sustainable ways to do this. When the IMC submitted its recommendations on this aspect of the Agreement, which has run into almost four years, however, the Government suddenly began to give excuses. And, finally, it set aside the recommendations of the IMC on the account of financial difficulties; these were recommendations that came out of serious engagements with officials from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Our Union sees this sudden reversal of gears as a betrayal of trust.
From all indications, it appears Government is yet unprepared to address the challenges facing the Nigerian University System with the urgency that is required. This trend is dangerous, as it constitutes a threat to the relative peace in Nigerian Universities. There can be no justification for Government’s position given what all Nigerians know about the management of the nation’s resources. It is evident that Government is highly deceptive and is not interested in sustaining relative stability in our universities. If Government can betray our Union on the 2009 Agreement, where is the basis of trust for the impending review that was due for 2012?
It is in the light of the above, especially having exhausted all other options, that ASUU-NEC at its meeting in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, between 29th and 30th June 2013 resolved to call out all its members on a nation-wide strike action beginning from Wednesday, 3rd July, 2013. The strike action is comprehensive and total. Our members shall withdraw their services until Government fully implements all the outstanding aspects of the 2009 Agreement, and commences the process of review of the same Agreement.
Concluding Remarks
Gentlemen of the Press, the time has come to rise in defense of the true liberation of our country. We believe this liberation must begin with education, which is a veritable weapon for socio-economic transformation. The IMF/World Bank and their local collaborators would make Nigerians believe that “basic” or little education is good enough for the children of the poor. It is a ruse.
Our Union counts on the renewed support of the media in challenging agents of underdevelopment who deny less-privileged Nigerians quality higher education, health, employment and other life-transforming elements of development. We equally invite labor activists, students, traders, professional groups, civil society organizations and other progressive segments of the public to join our determined efforts to save Nigeria from her captors.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Nasir F. ISA
President
1st July 2013
ASUU and its consistent fight
At the press conference by the ASUU President, Dr. Nasir F. Isa delivered on Monday, July 1st, 2013, he offered a concise explanation on the inevitability of a nationwide strike action by our lecturers scheduled to commence officially on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013. True to his word, academic activities in all public universities in the country especially our prestigious University of Lagos have come to a disappointing halt. In the midst of this impasse, it is important for us to reflect on the many issues that surround this strike action and other discussions it has thrown up.
To begin with, it is important to explicate on the contents of ASUU demands. As noted in their press release, ASUU posits that in 2009, it had an agreement with the federal government (whose team was led by Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, O.F.R.). This agreement was modified in January, 2012, following the intervention of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim in the bid to resolve the ASUU strike that lasted between December 4th, 2011 and 2nd February, 2012. The contents of the agreement which has remained the bone of contention hitherto include funding requirement for the revitalization of Nigerian universities (N100 billion annually for 4 years), federal government assistance to state universities, progressive increase of the annual budgetary allocation to education to 26% between 2009 to 2020, payment of earned academic allowances (allowances for project supervisions at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, allowances to HODs, Deans, e.t.c.), establishment of the Nigerian University Pension Fund Administrator (the Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company), transfer of landed properties to university, setting up of Research and Development Units by companies operating in Nigeria (to bridge the industry-academia lacuna) and the establishment of a budget monitoring committee in each university. It is also important to note that only 2 of the agreement in 2009 have been fulfilled namely the reinstatement of Governing Councils of various universities on or before February 12, 2012 and the amendment of the pension/retirement age of academics on the professional cadre from 65 to 70 years.
The sad story staring us in the face is that our government prides itself on a score of 2/10, having fulfilled only 2 of 10 of an agreement it wilfully entered into in the bid to develop a very strategic aspect of our national life, the educational system, dating back to 2009. The rhetorical question is that where on earth is 2/10 (20%) a pass mark. Without doubt, it is safe to conclude that this fake sense of fulfilment has beclouded the sense of the government of the day, and it has become manifest in every aspect of our national life. Hence, Benin-Ore expressway has perpetually remained an eyesore with the government still foot-dragging. Holistically, the lesson for us all is that the government is NOT DEVELOPMENT-ORIENTED. This is particularly important for us to know, as it has been constantly reiterated by scholars especially Mkandawire, T. that the existence of a developmental state (a state that is development oriented) is important in the bid to guarantee societal development. Hence, the Nigeria of our dreams remain nothing but utopian.
Of all the contents of the FG-ASUU agreement, a number of them are of resounding and emotive interest to me. ASUUs demand for a progressive increase in the allocation to education sector to the tune of 26% in line with international standards advanced by UNESCO is quite pertinent in this discourse. The importance of education in the development of any society cannot be overemphasized. Hence, it beclouds my imagination when the federal government finds it difficult to accede to this particular demand in the face of the fact that the head of the government is a member of the academia. Looking at the 2013 budget, the Ministry Of Education is allocated N360,822,928,272 (Total Recurrent) and N71,937,785,489 (Capital) making a total of N432,760,713,762. This figure represents a paltry 8.67% of the total budget put at N4,987,220,425,601. This is quite mediocre when juxtaposed with the budget of Ghana who has in the last twenty-five years or more consistently dedicated at least 30% of its annual budget to the very strategic sector called education. The permeating culture of prebendalism has ensured that education has been starved of the requisite nutrients, hence our universities are in a parlous state of nature. This is particularly evident in the realities in our classrooms, hostels, libraries, e.t.c. This is a clarion call to those who mean well for the future of this country. 26% at least of the annual budget is not too much to ask for and be given in line with the biblical tenet Ask and it shall be given unto you.
The earned academic allowance also falls under the above category. The place of motivation in ensuring effective and efficient employee productivity cannot be overemphasized. However, it is quite sardonic and preposterous to comprehend the sad fact that our government is claiming incapacitation in the bid to pay our lecturers in the face of massive corruption and personal aggrandizement among political officers in the country. Though the total earnings of our legislators for instance cannot be appropriately quantified, report has it that a senator carts home officially N2, 456, 647.7 monthly. This monthly pay of a Senator is roughly equivalent to the per annum pay of a Lecturer I on step 5 (steps 1 9). What a ludicrous situation!
The popular maxim is that the reward of teachers is in heaven. A pertinent question I have to ask is that, Is it a sin to reward these teachers here on earth, in order to ensure their survival in this derisively materialistic society of ours. The above fact brings me to my next question which is based on the reverence paid to members of the academia in this country. According to the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure II (CONUASS II) which details the salary structure of the academic staff of universities, a Graduate Assistant on step 1, 3, 5 and 6 has a monthly salary of N106,181, N112,327, N118,474 and N121,547 respectively (exclusive of tax and other deductions). Furthermore, a Senior Lecturer on step 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12 earns annually N3,329,638, N3,556,972, N3,784,306, N4,125,306 and N4,352,640 respectively (exclusive of tax and other deductions). The preceding figures is no doubt an evidence of profoundly unsatisfactory esteem placed on education in our country. This is particularly evident when these figures are juxtaposed with contemporaries in the private sector and other aspects of the public sector. The lesson therefore for budding Nigerian citizens currently at the primary, secondary and tertiary level of education, is that the intelligentsia or the academia we dream of joining is in nothing but a melancholic state where material survival remains a herculean struggle/hustle.
Conclusively, though the protracted ASUU strike to a very reasonable extent has affected our academics, my opinion however, is that it is a worthy cause being fought by the Union. Disheartening however, is the fact that the government has appeared unconcerned and maintained an apathetical stance to this very critical issue of national, if not international importance. Hence, all sane Nigerian citizens must join forces with ASUU the Stallion of Unionism to correct this incessant anomaly and entrench positive development in our indispensable educational system.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE!!!
ISHOLA EBENEZER
President,
Social Sciences Students Association (SOSSA),
University of Lagos.
To begin with, it is important to explicate on the contents of ASUU demands. As noted in their press release, ASUU posits that in 2009, it had an agreement with the federal government (whose team was led by Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, O.F.R.). This agreement was modified in January, 2012, following the intervention of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim in the bid to resolve the ASUU strike that lasted between December 4th, 2011 and 2nd February, 2012. The contents of the agreement which has remained the bone of contention hitherto include funding requirement for the revitalization of Nigerian universities (N100 billion annually for 4 years), federal government assistance to state universities, progressive increase of the annual budgetary allocation to education to 26% between 2009 to 2020, payment of earned academic allowances (allowances for project supervisions at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, allowances to HODs, Deans, e.t.c.), establishment of the Nigerian University Pension Fund Administrator (the Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company), transfer of landed properties to university, setting up of Research and Development Units by companies operating in Nigeria (to bridge the industry-academia lacuna) and the establishment of a budget monitoring committee in each university. It is also important to note that only 2 of the agreement in 2009 have been fulfilled namely the reinstatement of Governing Councils of various universities on or before February 12, 2012 and the amendment of the pension/retirement age of academics on the professional cadre from 65 to 70 years.
The sad story staring us in the face is that our government prides itself on a score of 2/10, having fulfilled only 2 of 10 of an agreement it wilfully entered into in the bid to develop a very strategic aspect of our national life, the educational system, dating back to 2009. The rhetorical question is that where on earth is 2/10 (20%) a pass mark. Without doubt, it is safe to conclude that this fake sense of fulfilment has beclouded the sense of the government of the day, and it has become manifest in every aspect of our national life. Hence, Benin-Ore expressway has perpetually remained an eyesore with the government still foot-dragging. Holistically, the lesson for us all is that the government is NOT DEVELOPMENT-ORIENTED. This is particularly important for us to know, as it has been constantly reiterated by scholars especially Mkandawire, T. that the existence of a developmental state (a state that is development oriented) is important in the bid to guarantee societal development. Hence, the Nigeria of our dreams remain nothing but utopian.
Of all the contents of the FG-ASUU agreement, a number of them are of resounding and emotive interest to me. ASUUs demand for a progressive increase in the allocation to education sector to the tune of 26% in line with international standards advanced by UNESCO is quite pertinent in this discourse. The importance of education in the development of any society cannot be overemphasized. Hence, it beclouds my imagination when the federal government finds it difficult to accede to this particular demand in the face of the fact that the head of the government is a member of the academia. Looking at the 2013 budget, the Ministry Of Education is allocated N360,822,928,272 (Total Recurrent) and N71,937,785,489 (Capital) making a total of N432,760,713,762. This figure represents a paltry 8.67% of the total budget put at N4,987,220,425,601. This is quite mediocre when juxtaposed with the budget of Ghana who has in the last twenty-five years or more consistently dedicated at least 30% of its annual budget to the very strategic sector called education. The permeating culture of prebendalism has ensured that education has been starved of the requisite nutrients, hence our universities are in a parlous state of nature. This is particularly evident in the realities in our classrooms, hostels, libraries, e.t.c. This is a clarion call to those who mean well for the future of this country. 26% at least of the annual budget is not too much to ask for and be given in line with the biblical tenet Ask and it shall be given unto you.
The earned academic allowance also falls under the above category. The place of motivation in ensuring effective and efficient employee productivity cannot be overemphasized. However, it is quite sardonic and preposterous to comprehend the sad fact that our government is claiming incapacitation in the bid to pay our lecturers in the face of massive corruption and personal aggrandizement among political officers in the country. Though the total earnings of our legislators for instance cannot be appropriately quantified, report has it that a senator carts home officially N2, 456, 647.7 monthly. This monthly pay of a Senator is roughly equivalent to the per annum pay of a Lecturer I on step 5 (steps 1 9). What a ludicrous situation!
The popular maxim is that the reward of teachers is in heaven. A pertinent question I have to ask is that, Is it a sin to reward these teachers here on earth, in order to ensure their survival in this derisively materialistic society of ours. The above fact brings me to my next question which is based on the reverence paid to members of the academia in this country. According to the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure II (CONUASS II) which details the salary structure of the academic staff of universities, a Graduate Assistant on step 1, 3, 5 and 6 has a monthly salary of N106,181, N112,327, N118,474 and N121,547 respectively (exclusive of tax and other deductions). Furthermore, a Senior Lecturer on step 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12 earns annually N3,329,638, N3,556,972, N3,784,306, N4,125,306 and N4,352,640 respectively (exclusive of tax and other deductions). The preceding figures is no doubt an evidence of profoundly unsatisfactory esteem placed on education in our country. This is particularly evident when these figures are juxtaposed with contemporaries in the private sector and other aspects of the public sector. The lesson therefore for budding Nigerian citizens currently at the primary, secondary and tertiary level of education, is that the intelligentsia or the academia we dream of joining is in nothing but a melancholic state where material survival remains a herculean struggle/hustle.
Conclusively, though the protracted ASUU strike to a very reasonable extent has affected our academics, my opinion however, is that it is a worthy cause being fought by the Union. Disheartening however, is the fact that the government has appeared unconcerned and maintained an apathetical stance to this very critical issue of national, if not international importance. Hence, all sane Nigerian citizens must join forces with ASUU the Stallion of Unionism to correct this incessant anomaly and entrench positive development in our indispensable educational system.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE!!!
ISHOLA EBENEZER
President,
Social Sciences Students Association (SOSSA),
University of Lagos.
Gani Adams Challenges Fasheun to Name His Sponsors Or Cover His Face In Shame
The criticism is contained in a statement released by the organization and signed by the General Secretary, Mr. Tanimowo Babajide, and the Publicity Secretary, Akeem Ologunro
Referring to Fasheun’s threat to name Adam’s sponsors, he challenged Fasehun to come out and name them or cover his face in shame and keep quiet.
“Unlike Fasheun, whose antecedents have proved beyond any doubt that he has always had a price tag that can be paid for anytime by the highest bidder, Otunba Gani Adams has remained consistent with the dream behind the formation of the OPC, which was to fight for the rights of the Yoruba race and the right for self-determination,” the statement said.
It noted that “the same people who are paying [Fasheun’s] bills” tried several times to enlist the support of Otunba Adams to support their cry for the release of their man, Al-Mustapha, but he rebuffed them on each occasion, remaining steadfast to upholding the Yoruba’s age-long logic of ‘Oruko rere san j’owo lo’.
Mr. Adams described Mr. Fasheun as a flip-flopper who has over time reneged on collective objectives and values to pursue personal political interests in the company of oppressors of the masses. In doing so, Adams said that Fasehun’s greed has manifested from the time of General Sanni Abacha, who callously attempted to elongate his stay in power.
The fraudulent scheme, according to Gani, attracted Fasehun who had fallen in with the military dictator, even though he also publicly claimed a stance again the gruesome murder of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola.
The statement further said that the OPC, which was said to have formed to collectively demand justice and restore the mandate of the June 12, 1993 presidential election to the winner, late Chief MKO Abiola, broke into factions from the greed of Mr. Fasehun which most members of the group felt was antithetical to the objective that created OPC.
The statement is reproduced below:
FASEHUN A WOLF IN SHEEP'S SKIN
With the comments credited to the Dr. Fredrick Fasheun’s group in Sunday Punch, casting aspersion on the person of Otunba Gani Adams, it is now very clear to us that Fasehun has chosen to thread the path of perfidy and self-destruct, with all the dire consequences.
Ordinarily, we would have dismissed the comments as coming from a drowning man seeking to hold onto anything for survival, having realized his grievous and damning miscalculation, but we have realized that there is need for us to answer him and put the records straight.
While trying to justify his support for Major Al-Mustapha, Fasehun, in the story, entitled ‘Gani Adams sponsored to criticize me, claimed that Otunba Adams was sponsored to criticize him, and that the sponsors were afraid of his (Fasehun’s) acceptance in the North.
Laughable as this accusation may seem, we would, however, want him and his cohorts to stick to the subject matter rather than beat aro it. Let him be reminded that Otunba Adams’ criticism was based on Fasehun’s unholy romance with Al-Mustapha, who was fingered in the killing of late
Kudirat Abiola, a Yoruba woman and wife of late MKO Abiola, the martyr of our democracy.
He also claimed that his visit to Kano had given his political party a political mileage in the North, and that Otunba Adams is losing members in drove.
With his threat to name the alleged sponsors of Otunba Adams, Fasehun would do well to come out and name the sponsors now or better still cover his face in shame and keep quiet. Unlike Fasehun, whose antecedents have proved beyond any doubt that he has always had a price tag that can be paid for anytime by the highest bidder, Otunba Gani Adams has remained consistent with the dream behind the formation of the OPC, which was to fight for the rights of the Yoruba race and the right for self-determination.
At this juncture, let us inform Fasehun that the same people who are paying his bills tried several times to enlist the support of Otunba Adams to support their cry for the release of their man, Al-Mustapha, but he rebuffed them on each occasion, remaining steadfast to upholding the Yoruba’s age-long logic of ‘Oruko rere san j’owo lo’. But it is now very clear that Fasehun knows little or nothing about this age-long practice.
Recent happenings have also confirmed our suspicions over the role played by Fasehun in the crisis that engulfed the OPC in the past.
While professing to fight for the rights of the Yoruba race, Fasehun had always been a mole eating from both sides of the mouth. For the benefits of those who do not know the genesis of the crisis, it started after a large portion of our members realized that Fasehun was trying to use the group as a platform to join the Abacha’s five political arrangements in 1998.
In those dark days of the battle for the restoration of the June 12 mandate, most of us were always surprised that Abacha and his men always seemed to know much about our strategies and plans. But we are now convinced that the source of those leaks was no other person but Fasehun. What this means is that Fasehun’s unholy alliance with Al-Musapha predates his trial for the murder of Kudirat. No wonder then, that in 2008, after visiting the Abachas, Fasehun came out to say the late dictator was the best president for Nigeria.
In trying to deceive the Yoruba race, Fasehun decided to choose the UPN as the name for his political party. He also claimed that his visit to Kano has given his party a political mileage. But nothing can be further from the truth than this claim. Fasehun’s party lacks any base in any part of the country. His case is like a builder who starts construction from the roof rather than the foundation. All popular political parties have their strong base and followers in the base of the founder. This perhaps informed the decision of political parties like APGA, AD (later ACN) and the CPC to first build a base in their strongholds before seeking further acceptance outside of their bases. But where can we say is the strong base of Fasehun’s UPN? Fasehun is like the ostrich that covers its head in sand, and forgetting that its anus is open to everybody.
There is no gain repeating the fact that Fasehun is misrepresenting the OPC and the Yoruba race in general. His claim that we are losing members in dove is indeed laughable. Let us state here that the truth of the matter is that true members of the OPC who are still loyal to the original cause of the group have left the Fasehun group to join our group, and many more have shown interest in joining us having realized Fasehun’s deceit and warped sense of leadership.
I hereby throw an open challenge to Fasehun to join me on a walk on the street of any town in Yorubaland for a popularity test if he is
truly sure of his acceptance.
Barrister Tanimowo
Babajide, comrade. Akeem Ologunro,
General Secretary, OPC Publicity secretary
Friday 26 July 2013
Tension ahead of 2015 disturbing —Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday vowed to use his influence as the President of the country and as the leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to end what he described as “political excesses” currently characterising the nation’s polity.He said his intervention had become necessary because politicians’ excesses were unnecessarily overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted Jonathan as making the pledge during a closed-doors meeting he had with a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association, led by its President, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), and three of his predecessors, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
While responding to the concerns raised by the NBA on political developments in the country, especially the happenings in Rivers State, the President said he would do all that was humanly possible to curb the rising political tension in the country, which he described as uncalled for.
He said, “The political tension in the country is mainly built around the 2015 elections, which should not be the case. It is quite disturbing. The year 2015 is still far off. I expect politicians to focus on the business of governance now. We must do what we were elected to do first. “We will do our best to curb the overheating of the polity.”
The President, who had been roundly criticised alongside his wife, Patience, as being behind the crisis in Rivers State, was also said to have told the NBA delegation that he had asked for a detailed brief on the security situation in the state.
He, therefore, assured the group that all necessary actions would be taken to ensure adherence to the rule of law and maintenance of law and order in the troubled state.
Addressing other issues raised by the delegation, Jonathan said his administration was implementing the right policies, programmes and projects to accelerate economic development and boost employment in the country.
He called for “a little more patience” from Nigerians, saying that the results of the present administration’s efforts in areas, such as power supply, would become even more apparent in due course.
“In its address to the President delivered by Mr. Wali, the NBA conveyed its views on the state of the national economy, national security, the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, the anti-corruption crusade, elections and the electoral process as well as the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution.”
In an interview with State House correspondents shortly after the meeting, Wali said his association was greatly concerned about the negative developments in Rivers State, and had therefore called on Jonathan to do all within his powers to ensure that peace returns to the state.
Is Jonathan the President or the precedent?
As a child, I was advised to watch the television and listen to the radio, especially to news bulletins, as well as read newspapers and magazines, so as to learn how to speak and write good English. That piece of advice proved useful.
However, in recent times, I have started questioning that. I have found myself regrettably warning younger ones and those I coach on spoken and written English to be wary of what they hear or read from the Nigerian media. This is because the bug of mediocrity, which has eaten deep into all facets of our national life, has not spared our media industry.
Except for about two newspapers, one of which is The PUNCH, one TV station and one radio station, I have not seen any serious attempt by our media houses to ensure that the language of their broadcasters or reporters is of top-notch quality. The emphasis seems to be only on the information passed across.
Therefore, every day when I listen to the radio or watch the TV, I hear most broadcasters and presenters call our President “precedent” instead of “president”. The “s” in “president” must always be pronounced as /z/ and never as /s/. Once the “s” is pronounced as /s/, the word becomes “precedent” /presɪdÉ™nt/ instead of “president” /ˈprezɪdÉ™nt/. Painfully, this anomaly has spread from the media houses to the Senators, members of the House of Representatives, ministers, governors, and our professionals, most of who now call the President “precedent,” thereby unintentionally insulting the President. That is the power of the media. People believe that the media is the bastion of knowledge. Whatever emanates from it is assumed to be correct.
Just as the “s” in “president” must be sounded as /z/, so also must the “s” in some other words like “present/presentation”, “reside/residence,” “design/designation,” ”resign/resignation,” “resound/resounding,” “resume/resumption,” “presume/presumption,” “oppose/opposition,” “compose/composition,” “lose,” must be pronounced as /z/.
On the other hand, there are some words whose “s” must be pronounced as /s/ and not as /z/. These words include: base, basic, bass, basin, assume, consume, consult, increase, decrease, release, rehearsal, loose, etc.
In English, the pronunciation of a word is not primarily determined by its spelling. If it were so, the ending of “tough” and “though” would be the same, while the verb “read” and its past tense “read” would be pronounced alike. The rule is that the pronunciation of each word must be confirmed from a dictionary. Every serious broadcaster should have the Daniel Jones pronunciation dictionary, which is to be consulted regularly. That dictionary also has the soft copy version that sounds each word, making life easy for a broadcaster.
Furthermore, it is sad to hear a broadcaster or reporter pronounce “airport” as “hairport” or “earport.” You wonder why a person who has not conquered his or her intrusion is allowed to come on air. If a broadcaster cannot overcome some speech defects, he or she can perform well behind the cameras: news production, administration, operations, marketing and advertising. But allowing such a person to come on air to broadcast news, present programmes or file in news reports shows that the radio or TV station has no respect for its audience, neither does it value excellence.
Also, there are some words and expressions that have been so wrongly used in both the electronic media and the print media that it is difficult convincing a Nigerian that such words and expressions are not correct. For example, “several” does not mean “many,” neither does “severally” mean “many times”: “severally” actually means “separately” or “individually.” A “dupe” is the person who has been deceived or tricked, not the person who dupes another: the culprit is the duper. “Stature” is not the shape or figure of a human being; it is the natural height of a human being. So, someone’s stature can be 6 feet or 5 feet. From this meaning comes the other meaning of “stature” as someone’s reputation gained through achievement, as in literary stature or political stature.
It is also un-English to say or write that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Even if taken literally, this statement is fallacious. Since the gander is the male of a goose, it is not all that is good for the goose that is good for the gander. For example, it is good for the goose to lay eggs, but abominable for the gander to do so. The correct saying is: what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Similarly, he who pays the piper calls the tune: he does not “dictate” the tunes. That is a stock expression. It cannot be changed. Tunes are not dictated; they are called. Also, a person worms his way into people’s hearts; he does not “warm” his way into their hearts. That expression is meant to draw a parallel between the winding movement of a worm and the subtle and indirect way a person makes himself liked by another. Moreover, someone who has the gift of oratory has the gift of the gab, not garb. Since “garb” means “clothing,” a person with the gift of the garb should be a person with a great fashion sense. In addition, a trouble-shooter is a problem solver, not a trouble-maker.
Furthermore, it is sad to see or hear a media person write or say that a person is a staff, a personnel, an elite or a riffraff, when it is known that these words represent a group of people. Therefore, one can only be a member of staff or a member of the elite.
Recently, the media has made strange efforts to change the forms of some verbs like “assure” and “inform.” These are transitive verbs: verbs that must take a direct object. These days, one hears or reads curious statements like: “The Governor informed that the project would be completed by the end of the year,” or “the Minister assured that he would look into the matter.” One is forced to ask: Inform whom? Assure whom? One cannot inform or assure a vacuum: one must inform or assure somebody. So it should be: “The Governor informed the community that the project would be completed by the end of the year,” or “the Minister assured the school that he would look into the matter.”
It is accepted that perfection is impossible, especially given the pressure under which media people work. However, there is a difference between an oversight and a mistake which stems from ignorance, laziness or presumptuousness. The media professional is supposed to be a language teacher to the public. He should not be a mediocrity. (The reader would notice that I did not say “a mediocre” as is often wrongly written or said). The dictionary should be with him always like his shadow. Luckily, different dictionaries are available online that one can refer to on one’s phone any time.
In addition to the poor political leadership that has promoted mediocrity in our land over the decades, much of the blame should also go to most owners of media houses. It is said that he who pays peanuts gets monkeys. Some owners of media houses are even notorious for not paying their staff for more than six months. That scenario makes it difficult for the best hands to remain in the industry. The salaries of journalists should not just be regular, they should reflect the enormous challenge that goes with the job. Journalists in the United States and the United Kingdom don’t easily run off to become aides to politicians, because some of them earn more than the politicians. Frequent training is also necessary.
However, whatever the challenges, the journalist must always strive for excellence, for as David W. Johnson said: “There are no speed limits on the road to excellence.”
The Dangerous Script To Set Al-Mustapha Free
Anybody can be deceived by the well-prepared and well planned script of the notorious conman and serial killer, Al- Mustapha in the past few days just to get undeserved attention but I am not. I wrote the Book; Heroes of Democracy in 1999 and everything anybody needs to know about the lost years from 1985 to 1998 is well-documented for history and generations yet unborn. The Heroes of the renascent democracy we enjoy today were clearly identified as well as the enemies of democracy who are still ravaging the political landscape and calling the bluff of all us.
The game plan is to use the platform of the Lagos High Court and the presence of Nigeria’s huge media industry to raise wild allegations against the Heroes of the Yoruba Nation living or dead and the Media will simply go for it to sell their papers. The factional leaders of OPC, Chief Ganiyu Adams and Dr. Frederick Fasheun who have lost focus and ideas will lend credence to the spurious claims and unpardonable lies of Al Mustapha having been motivated or purchased to do so. Before you say Jack Robinson, the whole nation will be awash with the news of Al Mustapha’s gambit. Consequently, the hidden persuaders will begin to call for Al Mustapha’s release. But this is a familiar road and we understand the game very well.While I admit that we have been wasting the precious gift of time to conclude this case, let me warn that those of us who were part of the struggle for democracy in Nigeria will resist every attempt to pervert justice in this case.
It is a well-known fact that Al-Mustapha used his undeserved position as Abacha’s CSO to coordinate a clinical and well-designed plot to decimate the Yoruba nation and their first class leaders for standing up for June 12 1993 Presidential Elections won by their great son, Chief Moshood Abiola. At a time in the history of this country, all Yoruba leaders were either in exile or in prison custody courtesy of Al- Mustapha and the forty thieves.
The late Chief Bola Ige told me that when all their evil machinations to provoke the Yoruba nation to war through deliberate and programmed incarceration of Chief Abiola and other Yoruba leaders failed, Al-Mustapha figured that the only way to achieve their diabolical desires is to kill Kudirat Abiola. Al- Mustapha and his partners in this heinous crime believed that the brutal killing will sufficiently provoke Yoruba to war and this will provide them with the ample opportunity to destroy Lagos within 12 hours. Those who can remember events vividly should not forget that it was the then Minister of Works , Major General Katangora who said in the peak of the crisis that Lagos will be destroyed within 12 hours if they so wish.
Today I hear that some purchased youths went to the Lagos High Court to ask for Al-Mustapha’s release. This is not only an absurdity but an attempt to render nugatory our judicial process and consequently pervert the cause of justice. Impunity has become a way of life in Nigeria and we are all the biggest losers. If Al-Mustapha and his gang, Ganiyu Adams and Dr. Fasheun continue to tell us that Chief Bola Ige and Chief Abraham Adesanya collected bribe to betray the struggle, then those who know the truth must speak out now. We have told those who care to listen that Al-Mustapha is no friend of Chief M.K.O Abiola or the Yoruba nation. If Al-Mustapha and company had their way, they would have wiped out the Yoruba nation as a result of greed, petty jealousy and envy. I enjoin those in the army, navy, air force, and the police etc who know Al-Mustapha heinous crimes to speak out. Evil triumph in every society when good men and those who know the truth do nothing. The late Dr. Nwafor Orizu taught me that the offended are not always so heartless to forgive but the problem is that the offenders cannot repent.
Al Mustapha was Abacha’s hatchet heartless liquidator. He called the shots and the world was at his feet. He decided those who must live and those who must die. He must have killed more than 200 people to sustain Abacha for 5 years in office. Other Nigerians may not know Al Mustapha, but we know him very well.
The World must know that it has been proved beyond reasonable doubts through Sergeant Roger’s empirical evidence that Al Mustapha gave him guns and money to kill Alhaja Kudirat Abiola to provoke Yoruba to war so that they can destroy Lagos. No power in the tongue of any man born of a woman can change this obvious and painful truth. And as we toy with this weighty case, let us not forget that Kudirat was killed, Chief Abiola was killed and his huge business empire destroyed by Al Mustapha and company. Let us remember the orphans left behind by Chief Abiola and Kudirat.
They are watching us and the World is watching us also. If a writer is silent, he is lying!
Joe Igbokwe
Lagos
How Notorious Al Mustapha Tried to Kill Me! By Alex Okiemute Kabba
Suspicion has arisen that this judgment which freed Al Mustapha may not stand the smell test. Consider what has happened since his freedom. The Military authorities in Nigeria have made it known that Al-Mustapha is still in the army and will soon be decorated with a new rank of Brigadier-General presumably the rank of his mates (since denied by the military). It cannot be said that the Military authorities will gleefully announce that a disgraced and fallen murderer would be promoted without ASO Rock having no inkling of the development. A man who pursued me in Abuja in 1994 to 1995 with Vengeance detaining me in Alagbon, (Lagos), Wuse, Kuje (Abuja), detention Centers and finally sending a 20-man Killer squad made up of soldiers, State security services , SSS, operatives and Policemen to arrest me and finish me off is now allegedly to be promoted to a two –star general for all the atrocities that he committed with his Boss, Abacha. Could this be a desperate political play by President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 calculations?
What do we tell the family of Bagauda James Kaltho, a Journalist Colleague of Mine at the Abuja Bureau of THE NEWS / TEMPO/ PM / News, who succeeded me as bureau chief after I fled to the USA, who was eventually murdered by the goons of Al Mustapha and his body dumped at the Durbar Hotel, Kaduna and destroying his name by blood-labeling him as a bomber?. I cannot believe that a civilian government will attempt to use a serial killer like Al Mustapha for any useful purpose in a democracy, which the Yobe-born Major fought so hard to abort. A military major who, on account of his activities, dislocated my life and that of my family and barely escaped his killers by the grace of God. We wait to see what the powers that be in Abuja are planning with the schemed release and probable elevation of Al Mustapha.
Since President Jonathan does not know history of those who fought for the democracy that he is enjoying now, I call on him to promote Al Mustapha to a four Star general and make him his chief of Army Staff so that he can make history to repeat itself.
A writer wrote that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
I hope Jonah is listening. Any role for Al- Mustapha so soon after his technical acquittal of murder of numerous Nigerians whom he killed in cold blood would make the Nigerian President an accomplice of Abacha and Al Mustapha, to be spitting on the graves of the heroic Nigerian fighters for democracy, many of whom lost their lives, and many scattered in exile un-rehabilitated.
Al Mustafa’s quick rehabilitation in the book of President Jonathan taught me two lessons: this kind of swift rehabilitation of murderers and criminals is the reason why not many are willing to die for Nigeria and which is why Nigeria under President Goodluck Jonathan has become one of open sesame of Looting, Kidnapping, and abuse of Presidential Power.
The Ingrates who inherited power have forgotten the blood and the suffering of the patriots who fought Abacha to a stand still to smoothen their way to Aso Rock and are now behaving like drunks who do not know how democracy came to the country. At the appropriate time we will tell them.
Thursday 25 July 2013
In Search Of Role Models By Ahmad Salkida
As my parents would say; when they were growing up and getting married in the 60s, they revered great leaders and wished that their children would grow up to emulate these leaders. They proudly recalled.
Nigeria's past heroes as if 'they once walked on water'.
The Sardauna of Sokoto, Tafawa Balewa, the Nnamdi Azikiwe and their likes were wonderful role models. Our parents looked up to them, and so do we today, because of their accomplishments. These leaders, it would appear, placed the needs of their subjects ahead of theirs and made selfless sacrifices their ethos in public service.
Great thinkers like Aristotle believe that we learn to be ethical (virtuous) by modeling the behavior of moral people, and depending on the role models we have, people can learn both good and bad habits.Today, many Nigerians feel betrayed whenever our leaders stand on podiums to extol the excellent work of our heroes past. At the funeral of late Chinua Achebe, Nigeria’s literary icon, the follies of our leaders played out glaringly when President Goodluck Jonathan recounted reading 'Things Fall Apart' in 1971. Many in the audience that evening felt the President did not learn any lessons from the book.
And so, for me and numerous other countrymen, the question rings profoundly: Who are the role models in Nigeria's contemporary political leadership? There’s hardly any voice that speaks hope. Both from the camps of those occupying the various Government Houses today and the ones in opposition you routinely receive in different decibels the voices of deceit. There’s nothing in the open pointing towards affordable housing, healthcare, quality education, electricity, and access to potable water.
Steadily, it has been more of those that uphold ethical precepts that are routinely losing out, and those with dubious characters are heavily on the ascendancy. Merit and hard work are hardly any qualification for elevation in any field of endeavour instead nepotism and crass political patronage are the rule.
Journalism that ought to be the ground of cultivated values is up to the dogs, sadly.
This is the case in many spheres of our public life, where many that decided not to thread the path of corrupt and retrogressive leaders, and chose to adhere to the highest ethical conduct are silenced and hounded into submission or passivity. I have asked myself who among today’s rulers could inspire and not despair. Who could be a leader and not be a dealer? Who could be a real refreshing breath of fresh air, not a grandstanding, dubious claimant? I can only think of one or maybe two, but I couldn't think of a third person in a country with over 160 million people.
Although, a role model can vary from one person to another, however, my focus, here is; are today's leaders as selfless and committed to the overall good of Nigeria like what we see in some of the names mentioned here? Why is the disconnect between today's leaders and their followers so wide that they have to protect themselves with armoured vehicles and heavily armed guards? Can a leader serve without accumulating questionable wealth for himself and for his family?
Can we have a Madiba in Nigeria whose mission in governance was not the institutionalization of self, who served a single term and stepped down without being heckled? Who left power willingly for the younger generation of South Africans at a time he could command a landslide to win in any national election?
There was something about most of Nigeria and Africa's founding fathers that made them very special. They led by example, raised the bar for us, and we wish to be like them but today, I doubt if I want my children to be like any of the Governors or presidents that emerge today.
A look at one of my favorite pictures of our founding fathers, the picture of Nigeria's Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa with his two children taking sugarcane in his farm. He sat on the mat with very modest clothes during a vacation in 1963. Such modesty was glaring when these leaders were found to have near empty bank accounts when they were killed in 1966.
Can our local council chairmen today live a modest lifestyle? Today's leaders at all levels of governance in Nigeria are in a race to have the fattest foreign bank accounts, the most palatial mansions, who will be treated in the best hospitals around the world when they or members of their families fall sick.
Today's leaders or 'bad' role models have no compunction with the way they globe-trot with their private jets amidst the squalor and indignation of the people they claim to be working for. Apart from the general despair of any likelihood that things will ever change for the better in our lifetime, the generality of Nigerians have not witness practical dividends of democracy other than the strange cute scorecards that are published regularly.Today, the absence of role models have made it practically difficult for our traditional rulers, religious leaders, elders, or political leaders to ask restive or irate youths to rest their fists and shun violence. Many youths will say; we have never seen your kids in the schools we attended, under trees, with no instructional manuals, no teachers, where we have to stay at home many times due to strikes. Many youths will say; how can they stop violence when, in fact, it was you, politicians that provided them with money to buy hard drugs, money for training, provided them with weapons and charms to kill or intimidate people, especially their opponents for them to win elections. Today's political elites erected high parameter fences around their houses, built private boreholes while the community in which they live is bereft of any public amenity. These rulers siphon the resources meant to build hospitals, roads and schools to support the industrialization drive and real estates of many developed countries and invested heavily in their companies and banks, while our industries that can provide jobs to teeming youths are in ruins. Nigeria is indeed, in need of role models.
Salkida writes from the United Arab Emirate and can be reached at
salkida@gmail.com / @contactSalkida
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