Monday, May 26, 2008
OSUN BLAST
Who threw the bomb that shattered part of the ultra-modern government secretariat in Osogbo on exactly June 14, last year? This is one question which ordinarily only the police ought to resolve. Unfortunately, the matter has now moved from the platform of ordinary criminal investigation into the realm of political criminalisation with the leading opposition party in the state, the Action Congress (AC) accusing the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using the exercise to intimidate and persecute its members in collusion with the police.It all began when the press secretary to Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Kayode Oladeji alleged in a government statement that the prime suspect in the June bomb blast has implicated the AC governorship candidate, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola and some other chieftains of the party.Oladeji had said the suspect, Richard Abayomi Adesanmi in a sworn affidavit specifically linked Aregbesola and some of his party stalwarts with the incident. He claimed the suspect had been invited to Lagos by one Taye (who died at the scene of the blast and one Olasogba (his brother) now at large. And that upon arriving Lagos they were invited to a meeting in Aregbesola's house, though the meeting could no longer hold, as they were advised to go back to the hotel. Adesanmi was also alleged to have claimed that the diary which contained clues of all that transpired in Lagos was still in the car as at the time of the bomb blast. According to the governor's spokesman: "The suspect hinted further that he was told that the deal was to deliver some things with a big AC man in the government secretariat in Osogbo and that the big man will lead us to deliver the things at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office near the government secretariat and that it will help the AC in the election petition that they are doing against Oyinlola."The AC has however come out with a counter allegation of its own. The party claimed that the "so-called suspect" had earlier been in Ilesa prison on the order of Osogbo Magistrate court and that it was from there that he was first moved to Special Anti-Robbery Squad, before he finally ended up at Governor's Lodge where he was coached and cajoled into recanting the earlier statement.Aregbesola in his own response added that it was a ploy to distract him from pursuing his petition before the tribunal to the conclusion.Stunned that the accused who did not link him during the initial police investigation could now turn round to implicate him, the AC candidate said: "We have to understand who stands to benefit or lose from the exclusion of evidence at the tribunal. The AC had over 30 people at INEC building at the time of the explosion, so how can we sponsor the destruction of the evidence that will help us in our case."Since the government made the allegation, it has been a rash of arrests of several AC chieftains in the state including Aregbesola's lawyer, one Sunday Olaoye said to be a cousin of AC deputy governorship candidate and the state Chief Magistrate, Mr. Ayo Oyebiyi, while about 20 others said to be AC members have also been declared wanted. The situation is such that most members of the opposition party have been driven underground at a time when they are challenging the candidacy of the governor and other elected officials at the tribunal.Much as we call for a thorough investigation and the need to bring the culprits of the dastardly act to book, we wish to call for caution here. We are not persuaded that the government of Osun State is going about it the right way. First, the government ought to have stayed off the matter and allow the police to do its job. A situation where the government is the one now issuing statements on behalf of the police is not only dishonest but puts a question mark on the whole exercise, moreso at a time the government has come to lay a blame on the opposition it is in court with over its legitimacy.Oyinlola's government ought to know better that its active involvement in investigation and prosecution may not be politically expedient. For now the government has boxed itself into a corner over the whole saga. And we must seriously blame the police for this. It appears that the police have now allowed the state government officials to take over its responsibility at a wrong time.So far the whole report of investigation appears not credible and Nigerians are not in anyway convinced. The best thing to do to salvage the exercise is to allow an independent probe to be set up by the Inspector General of Police with credible members of the security, legal and judiciary institutions involved. This will be more convincing to the public. In the meantime, we call for immediate stop of harassment and persecution of all members of the opposition until the end of election petition exercise
Now it is time to seek a newer world
AFRICA was never considered to be a partner, let alone an authentic one in the processes that led to the formulation and implementation of the idea of a global village. And it is not the first time. It is not the first time that decisions that concerned Africa, decisions that would shake and change Africa would be taken without asking for Africa's contributions or consent.
Many would recollect the sad story of the obnoxious Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the ugly details of which do not bear mentioning here. For those who may not be familiar with this period, I suggest an excursion to the coastal settlements of West Africa for example. Some of the painful chains of that repugnant act still hang today like a nightmare, nearly one hundred and fifty years after, on an island off the city of Dakar in Senegal, at Elmina Castle in Ghana and at 'the point of no return' in Badagry, near Lagos, Nigeria.
Most of us must wonder today how it was possible for some people to decide to take over for their own use and for the benefit of their families, countries and continent, the resources, the treasures and even the rights of other people, other families, other countries and continent. Today we must shudder at the fact that many of these men returned from the colonies with fat loot as heroes only to be honoured at home with knighthoods and national awards. In Africa, we have in our colonial history, partly due to this perverse way of honouring people, such figures like Lord Lugard, Sir Macpherson, Sir Richards and Lord Kitchener.
Of General Kitchener in particular, it is on record that he never considered himself as a foreigner in Africa. Rather he saw the entire land of Africa as belonging to him and to his masters in the Home Office. After all, was the entire British Empire not one vast kingdom where the sun never set? In the line of duty of expanding the empire, Kitchener led the British forces against a small ragtag army of Sudanese natives with little or no arms but pride in their hearts to defend their motherland against the intruder. When the natives had been routed and Mahmoud Wad Ahmed, the leader of the resistance was brought in shackles to Kitchener after his defeat at the battle of Atbara, Kitchener said to him: "Why have you come among my people to commit arson and plunder?" It was the intruder who asked the man whose land it was that question and the owner of the land, the man whose land it was, bowed down his head and said nothing.
A similar scenario was graphically made to play out for nearly a century in South Africa until the whole world rose against apartheid. Today, the colonial masters are as good as gone. I mean those military, gun-totting invaders are gone. But we have new masters who are no different; although they carry no guns, they are decked only in suits and wield nothing more lethal than the pen, they are all over Africa carrying out the same expansionist mission. Only these days they bear different nomenclature and carry their assignment in the new coded language of enslavement. Many of these economic hit-men you would find in the corridors of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, London Club, the Paris Club and the huge multinational corporations.
These men carry in their suitcases economic packages that were designed not to work anywhere under the sun. They persuade countries to undertake huge projects like power generation, road construction, refineries and encourage African countries to borrow money from foreign institutions to finance these projects: Loans that several generations of Africans will never be able to pay back. Or how else would you envisage the new proposed power project in the Congo? It is reputed to be the biggest power project ever in the world and would cost some 80 billion dollars. Long before the project is completed, the money borrowed for the project would have been repatriated to the United States through project consultants and the rest. How, I ask you, will an impoverished and war-ravaged country like the Congo and its equally poor neighbours ever be able to pay for this? This is all part of the new world order; an order which suits only a few.
Eastern African countries like Kenya and Ethiopia are the largest growers of tea. They sell the raw leaves at peanuts to the foreign companies who sell the refined tea to these peasants at simply unaffordable prices. Anyone who was in Zimbabwe in the early 1980s after her independence would be alarmed at how a few white farmers controlled about 80 per cent of its arable land. Today, the country has the highest inflation rate in the world. The current state of implosion was always a matter of time, for all along Zimbabwe sat on a keg of gunpowder and no one was willing to do anything to defuse it. In West Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria are the largest producers of cocoa. Yet it costs more to buy a pack of cocoa beverage there than in Europe.
Nigeria is one of the world's producers of crude oil. We shall not speak here of the politics of petroleum pricing. But I invite you to the Niger Delta where gas flaring is the norm. Gas is a by-product of petroleum. But rather than trap the gas and sell it for home use, the gas is burnt off under extremely intense heat. The consequence of this is that villages which used to know peace and live in the calming ambience of nature in the creeks, are now made to work in the day and sleep at night under the glare of this furnace emitting out flame and heat of hundreds of thousands degrees Farhenheit. When they experience oil spillage, their rivers are polluted and marine life is sorely afflicted. Hardly could they continue any longer with their traditional fish farming. Now people the world over still wonder when the restiveness in the Niger Delta would end.
Some years ago, as part of the globalization policy, the American government came up with the AGOA Act. This is a legislation that encourages the growth and exportation of certain goods from Africa to America. Any other product even if it was cheaper to produce and fetched more money for the farmer was not to enjoy the same tax relief as products that came under this Act. The idea of globalization where countries abroad are encouraged to produce at low cost and export to America to feed the ever-growing consumer demand just cannot work for ever.
Right from the start there is imbalance in the policy. And wherever there is imbalance will always come a fall. A scale heavily weighted on one side will tip over. It is a law of life. History is replete with such instances. It is surprising that till now people never take note that the side that takes all the goodies, the heavier side, is always the first to tilt over. Where is Babylon and its kings? Where is the Roman Empire, where are its Caesars? Where is the Soviet Union of the 15 republics?
Their histories tell us that anything in life built on imbalance cannot last. The excesses of the present globalization are beginning to have dire consequences worldwide. Greed for other people's resources is unhealthy. Greed, I said, not need. Where there is a genuine need for what a country does not possess and it approaches another country for this in mutual respect in a give-and-take, in a win-and-win manner, this is right. But so many things constitute man's wants and not necessarily his needs. Over time our wants have become insatiable that we seem we cannot do without them. Therein, lies a great danger. 'Appetite, a universal wolf, which perforce must eat itself up' is how William Shakespeare described it.
Many would recollect the sad story of the obnoxious Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the ugly details of which do not bear mentioning here. For those who may not be familiar with this period, I suggest an excursion to the coastal settlements of West Africa for example. Some of the painful chains of that repugnant act still hang today like a nightmare, nearly one hundred and fifty years after, on an island off the city of Dakar in Senegal, at Elmina Castle in Ghana and at 'the point of no return' in Badagry, near Lagos, Nigeria.
Most of us must wonder today how it was possible for some people to decide to take over for their own use and for the benefit of their families, countries and continent, the resources, the treasures and even the rights of other people, other families, other countries and continent. Today we must shudder at the fact that many of these men returned from the colonies with fat loot as heroes only to be honoured at home with knighthoods and national awards. In Africa, we have in our colonial history, partly due to this perverse way of honouring people, such figures like Lord Lugard, Sir Macpherson, Sir Richards and Lord Kitchener.
Of General Kitchener in particular, it is on record that he never considered himself as a foreigner in Africa. Rather he saw the entire land of Africa as belonging to him and to his masters in the Home Office. After all, was the entire British Empire not one vast kingdom where the sun never set? In the line of duty of expanding the empire, Kitchener led the British forces against a small ragtag army of Sudanese natives with little or no arms but pride in their hearts to defend their motherland against the intruder. When the natives had been routed and Mahmoud Wad Ahmed, the leader of the resistance was brought in shackles to Kitchener after his defeat at the battle of Atbara, Kitchener said to him: "Why have you come among my people to commit arson and plunder?" It was the intruder who asked the man whose land it was that question and the owner of the land, the man whose land it was, bowed down his head and said nothing.
A similar scenario was graphically made to play out for nearly a century in South Africa until the whole world rose against apartheid. Today, the colonial masters are as good as gone. I mean those military, gun-totting invaders are gone. But we have new masters who are no different; although they carry no guns, they are decked only in suits and wield nothing more lethal than the pen, they are all over Africa carrying out the same expansionist mission. Only these days they bear different nomenclature and carry their assignment in the new coded language of enslavement. Many of these economic hit-men you would find in the corridors of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, London Club, the Paris Club and the huge multinational corporations.
These men carry in their suitcases economic packages that were designed not to work anywhere under the sun. They persuade countries to undertake huge projects like power generation, road construction, refineries and encourage African countries to borrow money from foreign institutions to finance these projects: Loans that several generations of Africans will never be able to pay back. Or how else would you envisage the new proposed power project in the Congo? It is reputed to be the biggest power project ever in the world and would cost some 80 billion dollars. Long before the project is completed, the money borrowed for the project would have been repatriated to the United States through project consultants and the rest. How, I ask you, will an impoverished and war-ravaged country like the Congo and its equally poor neighbours ever be able to pay for this? This is all part of the new world order; an order which suits only a few.
Eastern African countries like Kenya and Ethiopia are the largest growers of tea. They sell the raw leaves at peanuts to the foreign companies who sell the refined tea to these peasants at simply unaffordable prices. Anyone who was in Zimbabwe in the early 1980s after her independence would be alarmed at how a few white farmers controlled about 80 per cent of its arable land. Today, the country has the highest inflation rate in the world. The current state of implosion was always a matter of time, for all along Zimbabwe sat on a keg of gunpowder and no one was willing to do anything to defuse it. In West Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria are the largest producers of cocoa. Yet it costs more to buy a pack of cocoa beverage there than in Europe.
Nigeria is one of the world's producers of crude oil. We shall not speak here of the politics of petroleum pricing. But I invite you to the Niger Delta where gas flaring is the norm. Gas is a by-product of petroleum. But rather than trap the gas and sell it for home use, the gas is burnt off under extremely intense heat. The consequence of this is that villages which used to know peace and live in the calming ambience of nature in the creeks, are now made to work in the day and sleep at night under the glare of this furnace emitting out flame and heat of hundreds of thousands degrees Farhenheit. When they experience oil spillage, their rivers are polluted and marine life is sorely afflicted. Hardly could they continue any longer with their traditional fish farming. Now people the world over still wonder when the restiveness in the Niger Delta would end.
Some years ago, as part of the globalization policy, the American government came up with the AGOA Act. This is a legislation that encourages the growth and exportation of certain goods from Africa to America. Any other product even if it was cheaper to produce and fetched more money for the farmer was not to enjoy the same tax relief as products that came under this Act. The idea of globalization where countries abroad are encouraged to produce at low cost and export to America to feed the ever-growing consumer demand just cannot work for ever.
Right from the start there is imbalance in the policy. And wherever there is imbalance will always come a fall. A scale heavily weighted on one side will tip over. It is a law of life. History is replete with such instances. It is surprising that till now people never take note that the side that takes all the goodies, the heavier side, is always the first to tilt over. Where is Babylon and its kings? Where is the Roman Empire, where are its Caesars? Where is the Soviet Union of the 15 republics?
Their histories tell us that anything in life built on imbalance cannot last. The excesses of the present globalization are beginning to have dire consequences worldwide. Greed for other people's resources is unhealthy. Greed, I said, not need. Where there is a genuine need for what a country does not possess and it approaches another country for this in mutual respect in a give-and-take, in a win-and-win manner, this is right. But so many things constitute man's wants and not necessarily his needs. Over time our wants have become insatiable that we seem we cannot do without them. Therein, lies a great danger. 'Appetite, a universal wolf, which perforce must eat itself up' is how William Shakespeare described it.
The new EFCC chairman
THE other day, the Federal Government announced the appointment of Mrs. Farida Waziri as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in succession to Malam Nuhu Ribadu, who was sent on a controversial one-year course of study at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, in Plateau State. The appointment took effect from Thursday, May 15, 2008. Subject to her confirmation by the Senate, Mrs. Waziri will take over from Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, who took over from Malam Nuhu Ribadu as acting chairman.
Mrs. Waziri comes with seemingly impressive credentials. She is a retired police officer and a lawyer, with LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Lagos, a BL from the Nigerian Law School and a M.Sc degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. She is, for good measure, a graduate of the Nigeria War College, Abuja. Mrs. Waziri also attended various professional and administrative courses at home and abroad. She is also the author of a book on Advance Fee Fraud, the subject of her dissertation at the War College, Abuja.
Born on July 7, 1946, Mrs. Waziri had worked in the defunct highly dreaded National Security Organisation (NSO), now re-christened State Security Service (SSS). In the course of her career, she also served in the Force CID Unit and in the "E" Department, which is in charge of police training and police colleges nationwide. From the point of view of her qualifications and cognate experience, including, in the main, the statutory provisions for the appointment of chairman for the EFCC, Mrs. Waziri appears to be a qualified candidate for the daunting job of chairman of the anti-graft commission. The EFCC Act, 2004 requires that the appointment by the President of chairman and member of the EFCC be confirmed by the upper chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate, which is now unhappy with the fact that the Presidency has presented before it for confirmation, not a chairman, but an acting chairman, a title that is unknown to the EFCC Act 2004. Additionally, the Senate is reportedly miffed by the fact that Mrs. Waziri may have assumed office before her confirmation, a situation the lawmakers regard as a breach of due process. The lawmakers are in order to insist on due process. If Mrs. Waziri is found acceptable by the National Assembly, she will be saddled with an onerous responsibility, namely, stemming the lethal tide of corruption in the Nigerian nation-state.
The first time Nigerians witnessed some seriousness in the war against corruption was when Malam Nuhu Ribadu became chairman of the EFCC. Malam Ribadu was easily the most daring knight in the war against corruption, which he waged with relentless single-mindedness. If confirmed as chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Waziri would be required not only to tread in the footsteps of Malam Ribadu but improve on his performance. She would be required to sustain the spirit of fearlessness with which Ribadu is associated. Mrs. Waziri should understand that the nation has lofty expectations of the anti-corruption institutions, particularly of the EFCC, which the public now has cause to believe is either moribund or, at least, has seen better days.
Today, Nigeria continues to occupy a top stratum in the corruption scale of Transparency International as economic and financial filthiness and other forms of under-the-counter dealings and perfidious manoeuvres have become chronic cankerworms in the body politic. It is public knowledge that the greatest obstacle to socio-economic development and progress in Nigeria today is rancid corruption among our civil and public servants, both elected and selected alike.
Accordingly, Nigerians do not expect Ribadu's successor to fall below the high standard set by him. Indeed, it is expected that Ribadu's successor should steer clear of the foibles and shortcomings, such as selective justice and disrespect for the rule of law and due process of which the EFCC had been accused. If her appointment is confirmed by the Senate, Mrs. Waziri must not distinguish between edible and sacred cows. All corrupt people, patricians and plebeians alike, should be treated on a plateau of mutual equality. She should avoid doing the right thing in the wrong way. The EFCC could obey the rule of law and due process and still be effective. She should ensure thorough investigations and effective and fearless prosecutions, which could lead to discharge and acquittal or to condign penalties, to serve as a deterrent to other unethical manipulators in the land.
In this regard, all cases already investigated or being investigated by the EFCC must be pursued with vigour. Prosecution of all former public officers facing trial for corruption, including ex-governors must continue faithfully.
If and when she resumes as EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Waziri must fight the temptation to carry out wholesale reorganisation of the commission. That must not be her priority. If anything the experience acquired by operatives of the EFCC within its short life span, must be harnessed and channelled towards a more vigorous anti-corruption effort. This is why it would appear to be precipitate for the police authorities to transfer the former Acting Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Lamorde, to Ningi as Police Area Commander when his services are most needed to strengthen the new chairman.
Mrs. Waziri should shun politics and being led by the nose by any political party or group of politicians. Her previous association with any of them must not impair her duties to the nation. Mrs. Waziri should now show Nigerians how truly disciplined and averse to fraud and malfeasance she is. She must prove early to Nigerians that she is the mistress of her own ship.
Mrs. Waziri comes with seemingly impressive credentials. She is a retired police officer and a lawyer, with LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Lagos, a BL from the Nigerian Law School and a M.Sc degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. She is, for good measure, a graduate of the Nigeria War College, Abuja. Mrs. Waziri also attended various professional and administrative courses at home and abroad. She is also the author of a book on Advance Fee Fraud, the subject of her dissertation at the War College, Abuja.
Born on July 7, 1946, Mrs. Waziri had worked in the defunct highly dreaded National Security Organisation (NSO), now re-christened State Security Service (SSS). In the course of her career, she also served in the Force CID Unit and in the "E" Department, which is in charge of police training and police colleges nationwide. From the point of view of her qualifications and cognate experience, including, in the main, the statutory provisions for the appointment of chairman for the EFCC, Mrs. Waziri appears to be a qualified candidate for the daunting job of chairman of the anti-graft commission. The EFCC Act, 2004 requires that the appointment by the President of chairman and member of the EFCC be confirmed by the upper chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate, which is now unhappy with the fact that the Presidency has presented before it for confirmation, not a chairman, but an acting chairman, a title that is unknown to the EFCC Act 2004. Additionally, the Senate is reportedly miffed by the fact that Mrs. Waziri may have assumed office before her confirmation, a situation the lawmakers regard as a breach of due process. The lawmakers are in order to insist on due process. If Mrs. Waziri is found acceptable by the National Assembly, she will be saddled with an onerous responsibility, namely, stemming the lethal tide of corruption in the Nigerian nation-state.
The first time Nigerians witnessed some seriousness in the war against corruption was when Malam Nuhu Ribadu became chairman of the EFCC. Malam Ribadu was easily the most daring knight in the war against corruption, which he waged with relentless single-mindedness. If confirmed as chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Waziri would be required not only to tread in the footsteps of Malam Ribadu but improve on his performance. She would be required to sustain the spirit of fearlessness with which Ribadu is associated. Mrs. Waziri should understand that the nation has lofty expectations of the anti-corruption institutions, particularly of the EFCC, which the public now has cause to believe is either moribund or, at least, has seen better days.
Today, Nigeria continues to occupy a top stratum in the corruption scale of Transparency International as economic and financial filthiness and other forms of under-the-counter dealings and perfidious manoeuvres have become chronic cankerworms in the body politic. It is public knowledge that the greatest obstacle to socio-economic development and progress in Nigeria today is rancid corruption among our civil and public servants, both elected and selected alike.
Accordingly, Nigerians do not expect Ribadu's successor to fall below the high standard set by him. Indeed, it is expected that Ribadu's successor should steer clear of the foibles and shortcomings, such as selective justice and disrespect for the rule of law and due process of which the EFCC had been accused. If her appointment is confirmed by the Senate, Mrs. Waziri must not distinguish between edible and sacred cows. All corrupt people, patricians and plebeians alike, should be treated on a plateau of mutual equality. She should avoid doing the right thing in the wrong way. The EFCC could obey the rule of law and due process and still be effective. She should ensure thorough investigations and effective and fearless prosecutions, which could lead to discharge and acquittal or to condign penalties, to serve as a deterrent to other unethical manipulators in the land.
In this regard, all cases already investigated or being investigated by the EFCC must be pursued with vigour. Prosecution of all former public officers facing trial for corruption, including ex-governors must continue faithfully.
If and when she resumes as EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Waziri must fight the temptation to carry out wholesale reorganisation of the commission. That must not be her priority. If anything the experience acquired by operatives of the EFCC within its short life span, must be harnessed and channelled towards a more vigorous anti-corruption effort. This is why it would appear to be precipitate for the police authorities to transfer the former Acting Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Lamorde, to Ningi as Police Area Commander when his services are most needed to strengthen the new chairman.
Mrs. Waziri should shun politics and being led by the nose by any political party or group of politicians. Her previous association with any of them must not impair her duties to the nation. Mrs. Waziri should now show Nigerians how truly disciplined and averse to fraud and malfeasance she is. She must prove early to Nigerians that she is the mistress of her own ship.
Between husbands and wives
THIS is a true story of a man who died in his early 40s. He left a wife and four young children between the ages of 2-8. His wife had not been working and could not fend for herself and the kids when he died. The man had insisted that his wife be a stay-home mum and never allowed her to trade or do any form of business.
Now, she has to fend for herself and the four children of the union. No job or work experience, no house to live in because the rent is now due and the landlady who herself is a widow cannot allow them to stay because she needs the rent to take care of her own children. Her husband's friends help out with the school fees of the children from time to time. She cannot work because she cannot afford a maid to look after the children and pick them from school whilst she is at work. Her husband's family has taken the functional cars in the house.
Most men for one reason or the other never allow their wives to work or to build themselves in one business or the other. Some feel good being the breadwinner, some feel their Madams are too sophisticated to work, some feel women should be home 24/7. Fine, no problem with that, but have you opened the pages of our newspapers lately? Have you noticed that these days young men have strokes, become sick or even die suddenly from one thing or the other? Gone are the days when we see only old people in the obituaries in our newspapers. Those are the ones that we see, what about the ones we do not see or hear about?
Men, lend me your ears. Build your wives up to enable them stand. Enable them to stand on their own in case anything untoward happens to you. Some of you know that in the event of an unanticipated eventuality your wife and children are in trouble because your family will deal with them, yet you do nothing to protect them whilst you are alive. Some of you know that your jobs are risky and that when you go to work you may not return, yet you do not prepare for the future of your family.
Wickedness is what I call it. You could never have loved that woman. If you did, you would not have left her so exposed. She has to mourn you, fend for herself, your children and in some instances your mother and the many relatives that you have brought into the house to live with you; but she is just one person. You can imagine what both of you go through to bring up the children together? Imagine her having to do that by herself, with no job, no house to live in, no car, no money or business of her own. Wickedness! That's what it is. Your children may be left having to drop out of school and become beggars on the streets or robbers because they have to fend for themselves by whatever means possible.
Men. Listen. Yes, women can be head-strong or proud, they can be intolerant or argumentative, or even ungrateful, but it is your duty to protect them now and hereafter. That is the promise you made to her and to God when you married her. Failure to keep that promise could leave you gripped in eternal restlessness. When you build your house, nothing stops you from building in her name or both your names. She doesn't even have to know it. If or when you pass on, then at least she and your children would have a roof over their heads, and that's one problem solved.
Another way of safeguarding your family is to buy shares or make investments in the name of your wife and your children, so that when the children grow up and in case of a rainy day, they have something to hold on to. They can pay their school fees, buy a house or learn a trade. Again you can make these plans with or without the knowledge of your wife and children. You have to know your family well and then decide whether or not you want them to have the knowledge of those investments. Some wives and children knowing what is coming to them tend to misbehave and be irresponsible.
Most men die intestate i.e. without a will. Every man must write a will from the age when he begins to acquire property. When I say property I mean cars, wrist-watches, houses, shares, shoes, clothes, bank accounts etc. Anything you own can be given to any person of your choice in your will. If you die intestate, you can rest assured that all you own will probably go to those you least expect.
Men. Daddies. Guys. Buddies. Take a good look at your wife and then your lovely children. Those children who make your day each time they hug you or smile at you. Those children who make your heart skip and make you proud each time they get an award in school, each time they win a race, each time they take part in a competition, each time they write a poem or play the piano to a listening and admiring crowd. Do you want them to suffer? Do you want them to beg on the streets? Do you want them to become miscreants? School dropouts, drug addicts etc. I know your answer is No. Then start to build their tomorrows today.
No matter how bad your wife may be, you do not want her to suffer. Start to encourage her today. Assist and encourage her in her work, trade or business. Improve her, educate her, supervise her, support her, make her a good worker or business woman in whatever she does. Do this in love and she will be a success. When she is a success, you are a success. If she is a failure, then you are a failure. "Mrs. Foolish is Mr. Foolish's wife". If or when you die or become sick or incapable of taking care of your family, she, being a success will stand strong behind you. She will be capable of supporting you and your family, because you laid the right foundation by supporting her and training her to be strong and responsible. Do not allow her to sit at home doing nothing even if she prefers to do so and is not complaining.
I know of a woman whose husband had his leg amputated after a gangrene infection. She and she alone has been looking after her husband and three children for the past 12 years. She has never once complained. You may say people like that are rare, but at least they exist. Chances are, if you care for your family, they will care for you in your times of need. To you men who are irresponsible, who leave your families in disarray when you die, with several wives and concubines, those of you who leave your families with heavy debts to pay, those of you who have very many or even little secrets which eventually destroy your families, listen. You have a chance to tidy up. If you want to rest in peace, you have to leave in peace.
Now do not say I'm only 30 or 40 or 50. I tell you, even babies die. The only reason why we have VGC Cemetery and Vaults & Gardens following soon after is that Abatan, Atan, Ikoyi Cemetery and all the others are full. If you visit these, you will notice that many of the departed are young men and women like you and I. So it may be you or me tomorrow. There are no particular types of people that die at particular times. Tidy your affairs as best you can, so that your family will only have to contend with the sorrow of losing you and much less.
Women. You must be wise. You must be strong and you must be sensible. Listen well. Listen very well I tell you. Do something with your life. Don't leave this world without having achieved anything, even if it is to be able to bring up your children properly, it is an achievement. Some of you will say, I stay at home so that I can have time for my children. Hmm! God forbid you lose your husband tomorrow. Will you stay at home to bring them up properly? Who will pay the bills? I beg you, be sensible. Pray for your husbands everyday so that God will preserve them but even as you are at home, you can still do something, even if it is between 8am and 3pm when the children get back from school.
If you die, your husband is likely to remarry.
Now, she has to fend for herself and the four children of the union. No job or work experience, no house to live in because the rent is now due and the landlady who herself is a widow cannot allow them to stay because she needs the rent to take care of her own children. Her husband's friends help out with the school fees of the children from time to time. She cannot work because she cannot afford a maid to look after the children and pick them from school whilst she is at work. Her husband's family has taken the functional cars in the house.
Most men for one reason or the other never allow their wives to work or to build themselves in one business or the other. Some feel good being the breadwinner, some feel their Madams are too sophisticated to work, some feel women should be home 24/7. Fine, no problem with that, but have you opened the pages of our newspapers lately? Have you noticed that these days young men have strokes, become sick or even die suddenly from one thing or the other? Gone are the days when we see only old people in the obituaries in our newspapers. Those are the ones that we see, what about the ones we do not see or hear about?
Men, lend me your ears. Build your wives up to enable them stand. Enable them to stand on their own in case anything untoward happens to you. Some of you know that in the event of an unanticipated eventuality your wife and children are in trouble because your family will deal with them, yet you do nothing to protect them whilst you are alive. Some of you know that your jobs are risky and that when you go to work you may not return, yet you do not prepare for the future of your family.
Wickedness is what I call it. You could never have loved that woman. If you did, you would not have left her so exposed. She has to mourn you, fend for herself, your children and in some instances your mother and the many relatives that you have brought into the house to live with you; but she is just one person. You can imagine what both of you go through to bring up the children together? Imagine her having to do that by herself, with no job, no house to live in, no car, no money or business of her own. Wickedness! That's what it is. Your children may be left having to drop out of school and become beggars on the streets or robbers because they have to fend for themselves by whatever means possible.
Men. Listen. Yes, women can be head-strong or proud, they can be intolerant or argumentative, or even ungrateful, but it is your duty to protect them now and hereafter. That is the promise you made to her and to God when you married her. Failure to keep that promise could leave you gripped in eternal restlessness. When you build your house, nothing stops you from building in her name or both your names. She doesn't even have to know it. If or when you pass on, then at least she and your children would have a roof over their heads, and that's one problem solved.
Another way of safeguarding your family is to buy shares or make investments in the name of your wife and your children, so that when the children grow up and in case of a rainy day, they have something to hold on to. They can pay their school fees, buy a house or learn a trade. Again you can make these plans with or without the knowledge of your wife and children. You have to know your family well and then decide whether or not you want them to have the knowledge of those investments. Some wives and children knowing what is coming to them tend to misbehave and be irresponsible.
Most men die intestate i.e. without a will. Every man must write a will from the age when he begins to acquire property. When I say property I mean cars, wrist-watches, houses, shares, shoes, clothes, bank accounts etc. Anything you own can be given to any person of your choice in your will. If you die intestate, you can rest assured that all you own will probably go to those you least expect.
Men. Daddies. Guys. Buddies. Take a good look at your wife and then your lovely children. Those children who make your day each time they hug you or smile at you. Those children who make your heart skip and make you proud each time they get an award in school, each time they win a race, each time they take part in a competition, each time they write a poem or play the piano to a listening and admiring crowd. Do you want them to suffer? Do you want them to beg on the streets? Do you want them to become miscreants? School dropouts, drug addicts etc. I know your answer is No. Then start to build their tomorrows today.
No matter how bad your wife may be, you do not want her to suffer. Start to encourage her today. Assist and encourage her in her work, trade or business. Improve her, educate her, supervise her, support her, make her a good worker or business woman in whatever she does. Do this in love and she will be a success. When she is a success, you are a success. If she is a failure, then you are a failure. "Mrs. Foolish is Mr. Foolish's wife". If or when you die or become sick or incapable of taking care of your family, she, being a success will stand strong behind you. She will be capable of supporting you and your family, because you laid the right foundation by supporting her and training her to be strong and responsible. Do not allow her to sit at home doing nothing even if she prefers to do so and is not complaining.
I know of a woman whose husband had his leg amputated after a gangrene infection. She and she alone has been looking after her husband and three children for the past 12 years. She has never once complained. You may say people like that are rare, but at least they exist. Chances are, if you care for your family, they will care for you in your times of need. To you men who are irresponsible, who leave your families in disarray when you die, with several wives and concubines, those of you who leave your families with heavy debts to pay, those of you who have very many or even little secrets which eventually destroy your families, listen. You have a chance to tidy up. If you want to rest in peace, you have to leave in peace.
Now do not say I'm only 30 or 40 or 50. I tell you, even babies die. The only reason why we have VGC Cemetery and Vaults & Gardens following soon after is that Abatan, Atan, Ikoyi Cemetery and all the others are full. If you visit these, you will notice that many of the departed are young men and women like you and I. So it may be you or me tomorrow. There are no particular types of people that die at particular times. Tidy your affairs as best you can, so that your family will only have to contend with the sorrow of losing you and much less.
Women. You must be wise. You must be strong and you must be sensible. Listen well. Listen very well I tell you. Do something with your life. Don't leave this world without having achieved anything, even if it is to be able to bring up your children properly, it is an achievement. Some of you will say, I stay at home so that I can have time for my children. Hmm! God forbid you lose your husband tomorrow. Will you stay at home to bring them up properly? Who will pay the bills? I beg you, be sensible. Pray for your husbands everyday so that God will preserve them but even as you are at home, you can still do something, even if it is between 8am and 3pm when the children get back from school.
If you die, your husband is likely to remarry.
Changing our penchant for indiscipline
THE pages of our newspapers are replete with prescriptions for progress by our policymakers. "Making Vision 2020 a reality" is the current catch-phrase in public policy speak. Alongside this is our fervent drive to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Articulating the big picture has never been the problem. After all, our leaders did not just start waxing lyrical about vision today. Alas, it is some of the smaller and much more easily identifiable challenges that seem to elude the vision, and it is one of these that I want to underscore here: discipline and respect for the rule of law. The best economic prescriptions will amount to precious little if we do not create the right enabling environment in which they can take root. A country where there is little or no regard for the rule of law can only expect limited progress.
Our penchant for indiscipline is legendary. Nigerians are a naturally gregarious people and that is wonderful. But there is a difference between gregariousness and indiscipline. Sadly, we tend to let our wanton disregard for the rule of law overshadow our more positive attributes. Years ago, the military administration of then General Muhammadu Buhari and Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon boldly launched what it called its "War Against Indiscipline" programme, or "WAI" as the programme came to be referred to more popularly. Pursued with vigour by the authorities, the programme worked splendidly-for a while. We became orderly. We were less aggressive towards one another. We queued at airports and in post offices, and we displayed common courtesy on our roads without finding it necessary to abuse our fellow motorists' parents in the process.
Today, the most visible reflection of our indiscipline can be seen on our roads. They are the perfect microcosm. I have always thought how interesting it would be to launch a public information campaign to introduce the concept of the unmanned four-way stop sign in Nigeria. But then I try not to delude myself. It would never work as an initiative on its own-not without another "WAI" to create the right foundation. That is because I do not think we have the civility or the discipline it takes to stop and yield to one another in traffic on the first-come-first-go basis with which the system works in other countries. And I don't necessarily mean industrialised countries. In other African countries motorists drive with far more civility and discipline than we do on our roadways. I become absolutely apoplectic when I see the melee my fellow citizens cause as they jam intersections unreasonably in the absence of a traffic warden.
Then there is the plethora of Nigerian VIPs who plough obnoxiously through traffic with blaring sirens and weaving patrol cars in complete disregard for the fact that sirens have been banned except for use by the head of state and emergency vehicles. But what do laws mean to these errant citizens? Absolutely nothing of course, which is why they continue to make the lives of ordinary motorists living hell on our highways. And who are these people? Why, for instance, should the managing director of a commercial bank need a siren in traffic? Woe betide you too should you get in the way. Their mobile police escorts will not hesitate before taking their rifle butts to an offending vehicle. Between these obtrusive convoys and the ubiquitous okadas, or motorcycle taxis, that reign our roads darting in and out of traffic at will and often riding illegally against on-coming traffic, driving has now become the ultimate encounter with indiscipline in Nigeria.
There are no visible standards or controls. Everyone does what one pleases, safe in the knowledge that should any controls be exacted, as little as a few hundred naira can always do the trick. Unfortunately, our leadership's proclaimed preoccupation with safeguarding the sanctity of the rule of law is little more than lip service.
We can do better than this. We can become a far more disciplined people and go about our daily business with less aggression, less anger and more passion for order in society. How refreshing it would be if we could make this happen. How nice it would be if we could also project a more favourable perception of ourselves to the outside world on this score. As Nigerians we customarily take pride in our well-known penchant for being forthright and independent-minded. That is a good thing. But we can do so while at the same time observing and respecting the rule of law and being a disciplined society. When we get this right, then we can aspire to the more lofty goals of a real Vision 2020.
Our penchant for indiscipline is legendary. Nigerians are a naturally gregarious people and that is wonderful. But there is a difference between gregariousness and indiscipline. Sadly, we tend to let our wanton disregard for the rule of law overshadow our more positive attributes. Years ago, the military administration of then General Muhammadu Buhari and Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon boldly launched what it called its "War Against Indiscipline" programme, or "WAI" as the programme came to be referred to more popularly. Pursued with vigour by the authorities, the programme worked splendidly-for a while. We became orderly. We were less aggressive towards one another. We queued at airports and in post offices, and we displayed common courtesy on our roads without finding it necessary to abuse our fellow motorists' parents in the process.
Today, the most visible reflection of our indiscipline can be seen on our roads. They are the perfect microcosm. I have always thought how interesting it would be to launch a public information campaign to introduce the concept of the unmanned four-way stop sign in Nigeria. But then I try not to delude myself. It would never work as an initiative on its own-not without another "WAI" to create the right foundation. That is because I do not think we have the civility or the discipline it takes to stop and yield to one another in traffic on the first-come-first-go basis with which the system works in other countries. And I don't necessarily mean industrialised countries. In other African countries motorists drive with far more civility and discipline than we do on our roadways. I become absolutely apoplectic when I see the melee my fellow citizens cause as they jam intersections unreasonably in the absence of a traffic warden.
Then there is the plethora of Nigerian VIPs who plough obnoxiously through traffic with blaring sirens and weaving patrol cars in complete disregard for the fact that sirens have been banned except for use by the head of state and emergency vehicles. But what do laws mean to these errant citizens? Absolutely nothing of course, which is why they continue to make the lives of ordinary motorists living hell on our highways. And who are these people? Why, for instance, should the managing director of a commercial bank need a siren in traffic? Woe betide you too should you get in the way. Their mobile police escorts will not hesitate before taking their rifle butts to an offending vehicle. Between these obtrusive convoys and the ubiquitous okadas, or motorcycle taxis, that reign our roads darting in and out of traffic at will and often riding illegally against on-coming traffic, driving has now become the ultimate encounter with indiscipline in Nigeria.
There are no visible standards or controls. Everyone does what one pleases, safe in the knowledge that should any controls be exacted, as little as a few hundred naira can always do the trick. Unfortunately, our leadership's proclaimed preoccupation with safeguarding the sanctity of the rule of law is little more than lip service.
We can do better than this. We can become a far more disciplined people and go about our daily business with less aggression, less anger and more passion for order in society. How refreshing it would be if we could make this happen. How nice it would be if we could also project a more favourable perception of ourselves to the outside world on this score. As Nigerians we customarily take pride in our well-known penchant for being forthright and independent-minded. That is a good thing. But we can do so while at the same time observing and respecting the rule of law and being a disciplined society. When we get this right, then we can aspire to the more lofty goals of a real Vision 2020.
New Law To Fund Police
THE latest concerns about the poor capacities of the Nigeria Police to meet the security needs of Nigerians must be at the centre of the proposed law to raise money, through taxes, for the police.Under the bill, which is before the Senate, two per cent of companies’ profit would go into a fund reserved for the police.
The promoters of this bill estimate that it would cost about N4 trillion to raise the standards of the police, if they are to tackle the country’s growing security concerns.
The needs of the police include better welfare package to attract and keep better personnel, training to meet the sophistication of crimes, and equipment to match the technological advances criminals employ.
Earlier efforts to tackle these have been ad hoc. At best, they ended in the sort of controversy trailing the police equipment fund, a matter that is currently in court. Individuals and businesses, especially banks and oil companies, donate equipment and cash to the police. State governments also make donations to aid the police in their areas.
None of these has resulted in any visible improvement on the operations of the police, a major indication that the major problem of the police is not funding.
Few would oppose the setting up of a special fund to cater for the police, considering the importance of security. However, we think promoters of this bill are sustaining a consistent Federal Government policy of dumping its responsibilities on others, while clutching to a bigger chunk of the federation account with the excuse that it has more responsibilities.
Similar laws that created the Education Tax Fund, ETF, for example, have not been effective. The ETF has become arbitrary and allocations to various institutions do not follow any established pattern. Instructively, private educational institutions do not benefit from the ETF, which is sourced from taxing companies, which are mainly private concerns.
In the case of the Universal Basic Education, UBE, direct deductions are made on the federation account to fund it, yet States have to provide counterpart funding to access the fund. The scandals swirling round the multi-billion Naira UBE scheme are confirmations of rooms for abuses in the proposed police fund.
More funds for the police cannot be a panacea for its effectiveness. There are no assurances that the funds would be used to improve the lot of the police. Allocations for specific security operations during elections do not get to the ordinary policeman. A former police chief is about to be prosecuted for allegedly attempting to convert the funds to personal use, months after the elections.
This bill, without intending to, admits the failure of central policing for Nigeria . It is a matter the Senate should consider reversing instead of making a law to fund a failed enterprise. Whether N4 billion or N4 trillion is allocated to the police, the funds would travel the long bureaucratic routes from Abuja to zonal headquarters to the state commands down to thousands of police stations Abuja does not know, yet it determines their fate.
Our police high command is too distant from operational bases and cannot improve their capability to combat crimes. These demands vary from one police station to the other, even within the same division in a State.
Structural and administrative encumbrances for the police are issues funding cannot solve. They deserve urgent attention.
The promoters of this bill estimate that it would cost about N4 trillion to raise the standards of the police, if they are to tackle the country’s growing security concerns.
The needs of the police include better welfare package to attract and keep better personnel, training to meet the sophistication of crimes, and equipment to match the technological advances criminals employ.
Earlier efforts to tackle these have been ad hoc. At best, they ended in the sort of controversy trailing the police equipment fund, a matter that is currently in court. Individuals and businesses, especially banks and oil companies, donate equipment and cash to the police. State governments also make donations to aid the police in their areas.
None of these has resulted in any visible improvement on the operations of the police, a major indication that the major problem of the police is not funding.
Few would oppose the setting up of a special fund to cater for the police, considering the importance of security. However, we think promoters of this bill are sustaining a consistent Federal Government policy of dumping its responsibilities on others, while clutching to a bigger chunk of the federation account with the excuse that it has more responsibilities.
Similar laws that created the Education Tax Fund, ETF, for example, have not been effective. The ETF has become arbitrary and allocations to various institutions do not follow any established pattern. Instructively, private educational institutions do not benefit from the ETF, which is sourced from taxing companies, which are mainly private concerns.
In the case of the Universal Basic Education, UBE, direct deductions are made on the federation account to fund it, yet States have to provide counterpart funding to access the fund. The scandals swirling round the multi-billion Naira UBE scheme are confirmations of rooms for abuses in the proposed police fund.
More funds for the police cannot be a panacea for its effectiveness. There are no assurances that the funds would be used to improve the lot of the police. Allocations for specific security operations during elections do not get to the ordinary policeman. A former police chief is about to be prosecuted for allegedly attempting to convert the funds to personal use, months after the elections.
This bill, without intending to, admits the failure of central policing for Nigeria . It is a matter the Senate should consider reversing instead of making a law to fund a failed enterprise. Whether N4 billion or N4 trillion is allocated to the police, the funds would travel the long bureaucratic routes from Abuja to zonal headquarters to the state commands down to thousands of police stations Abuja does not know, yet it determines their fate.
Our police high command is too distant from operational bases and cannot improve their capability to combat crimes. These demands vary from one police station to the other, even within the same division in a State.
Structural and administrative encumbrances for the police are issues funding cannot solve. They deserve urgent attention.
Osun Blast: Time for Independent Probe
Who threw the bomb that shattered part of the ultra-modern government secretariat in Osogbo on exactly June 14, last year? This is one question which ordinarily only the police ought to resolve. Unfortunately, the matter has now moved from the platform of ordinary criminal investigation into the realm of political criminalisation with the leading opposition party in the state, the Action Congress (AC) accusing the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using the exercise to intimidate and persecute its members in collusion with the police.It all began when the press secretary to Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Kayode Oladeji alleged in a government statement that the prime suspect in the June bomb blast has implicated the AC governorship candidate, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola and some other chieftains of the party.Oladeji had said the suspect, Richard Abayomi Adesanmi in a sworn affidavit specifically linked Aregbesola and some of his party stalwarts with the incident. He claimed the suspect had been invited to Lagos by one Taye (who died at the scene of the blast and one Olasogba (his brother) now at large. And that upon arriving Lagos they were invited to a meeting in Aregbesola's house, though the meeting could no longer hold, as they were advised to go back to the hotel. Adesanmi was also alleged to have claimed that the diary which contained clues of all that transpired in Lagos was still in the car as at the time of the bomb blast. According to the governor's spokesman: "The suspect hinted further that he was told that the deal was to deliver some things with a big AC man in the government secretariat in Osogbo and that the big man will lead us to deliver the things at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office near the government secretariat and that it will help the AC in the election petition that they are doing against Oyinlola."The AC has however come out with a counter allegation of its own. The party claimed that the "so-called suspect" had earlier been in Ilesa prison on the order of Osogbo Magistrate court and that it was from there that he was first moved to Special Anti-Robbery Squad, before he finally ended up at Governor's Lodge where he was coached and cajoled into recanting the earlier statement.Aregbesola in his own response added that it was a ploy to distract him from pursuing his petition before the tribunal to the conclusion.Stunned that the accused who did not link him during the initial police investigation could now turn round to implicate him, the AC candidate said: "We have to understand who stands to benefit or lose from the exclusion of evidence at the tribunal. The AC had over 30 people at INEC building at the time of the explosion, so how can we sponsor the destruction of the evidence that will help us in our case."Since the government made the allegation, it has been a rash of arrests of several AC chieftains in the state including Aregbesola's lawyer, one Sunday Olaoye said to be a cousin of AC deputy governorship candidate and the state Chief Magistrate, Mr. Ayo Oyebiyi, while about 20 others said to be AC members have also been declared wanted. The situation is such that most members of the opposition party have been driven underground at a time when they are challenging the candidacy of the governor and other elected officials at the tribunal.Much as we call for a thorough investigation and the need to bring the culprits of the dastardly act to book, we wish to call for caution here. We are not persuaded that the government of Osun State is going about it the right way. First, the government ought to have stayed off the matter and allow the police to do its job. A situation where the government is the one now issuing statements on behalf of the police is not only dishonest but puts a question mark on the whole exercise, moreso at a time the government has come to lay a blame on the opposition it is in court with over its legitimacy.Oyinlola's government ought to know better that its active involvement in investigation and prosecution may not be politically expedient. For now the government has boxed itself into a corner over the whole saga. And we must seriously blame the police for this. It appears that the police have now allowed the state government officials to take over its responsibility at a wrong time.So far the whole report of investigation appears not credible and Nigerians are not in anyway convinced. The best thing to do to salvage the exercise is to allow an independent probe to be set up by the Inspector General of Police with credible members of the security, legal and judiciary institutions involved. This will be more convincing to the public. In the meantime, we call for immediate stop of harassment and persecution of all members of the opposition until the end of election petition exercise.
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