Category: Opinion

Buhari’s Dirty Politics
Buhari’s dirty politics is basically hinged on insensitivity with a medley of ineptitude and clannishness. Every populist promise he made to win votes in 2015 has been breeched straightaway. Instead of draining the swamp of discord between the people when he assumed office, he filled it with more hatred, bitterness, cabals and sectarianism. He assumed office of, by and for his section, 97% and left the remaining 5% far worse than they were before.

The myth of ‘I am for everybody, I am for nobody’, that fake anti a establishment phrase also vanished straightaway after his inauguration.

Buhari’s dirty politics and those of his cabals are responsible for the ernomous harm and death to countless millions of Nigerians. Instead of face his failures or resign from lack of carrying capacity, he is swimming in the mire of his badly constructed blame games.

He didn’t become the president by being a good person, he did through dirty politics by the means of an organized populist propaganda which did not allow the people to interrogate his past deeply. Sai Baba, that very insulting clamour to sensibility!

He is now surrounded with crooks and rogues who temper often with our commonwealth. He was recently advised to share the billions of Naira of the Abacha loot from Switzerland to imaginary poor people but to go to borrow billions to fund the budget. Which sane mind thinks like that?

Instead of pursuing peace and stability in the country that has suffered immense divisions, he is greviously encouraging nepotism, breeching all known laws, waging wars against those who disagree with his barbaric style of governance, terrorising minority tribes through either herdsmen or security agents, violating human and civil rights of the citizens.

During his campaigns, owing to the deadly Boko Haram insurgency, Buhari promised to improve and tackle insecurity across the country. Today, the security situation is more dismal than ever. His defence team, built from his section, has become mouth piece for killer herdsmen, paving ways for their grazing routes or otherwise, death in hundreds. Oh, the government is trying to measure up the deaths that occurred during the 16 years reign of PDP, how low a government can fall down to as if lives are pebbles lost in childhood plays.

Today, the economy is in shambles like rice shaffs blown by the wind. This is due to his series of unawares demarketing strategies of the country in hopeless foreign trips that yield nothing. The people struggle to thumb a living from miracles everyday. Farmers have either been killed in hundreds or have been dispatched to internally displaced persons camps, and there are projections of femine next year and the years to come if the killing do not stop.

His harvest is homelessness, hunger, deprivation…pretending prosperity had been hampered by years of corruption even when he sits and dine with the likes of Maina and Babachir and other corrupt cabals.

I do not wish to argue with any insane mind that Nigeria is not worse than it had ever been. The nation is conducive for only a privileged few, the others, 5%, are trampled upon like chattels and exploited. The nation is in a deplorable state of decay under Buhari, a fact not in doubt. His criminal array of administrative officials are there to be seen, his extremist security ministers and agents aid killer herdsmen, and according to TY Danjuma, collude with them to carry out heinous crimes against farmers. How could the Birom people be under attack for two days without any repreive? Up till now, none of his security agents or ministers has been changed since 2015 even in the face of their ineptitude.

Buhari’s voodoo policies are inflicting harm on millions of Nigerians in a far worse situation that can ever be imagined. We must agree things are more dismal and disturbing than any time in our modern history. The nation is sliding into unchecked economic downturn and perhaps war if this killing trend is not handled with finesse.

Lest we forget, a police state is firmly established with the fortitude of tyranny… We are sliding towards a fully-blown anarchy if the people respond in the same vein against the government. All kinds of freedoms are being suspended with unwritten decrees, removed and disappearing before our own very eyes. People now talk in hushed voices, the western world take us as political asylum seekers, senators are being dragged on tarred roads like common criminals for daring to disagree with Buhari’s primal style of governance.

Instead of working to fulfil some parts of his deceitful campaign promises, Buhari is proving everyday he is a dirty politician. My imagination wonders at this moment to how history will judge him when his work here is over.

Elempe Del
July 1, 2018
Change in nomenclature, same ambiguous policy
By Gurumwal George Longjan

The widely rejected proposed National Grazing Ranch/Reserve/Colony Policy has just had a name change to: “The National Livestock Transformation Plan”.

Glancing through the “Transformation Plan”, these are the ten pilot states to “benefit” from the policy: Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara.

94 locations in these states have been “donated” and have subsequently been earmarked for the Ranches/Reserves/Colonies.

Who did the donating?
Were the indigenous people consulted?
Where are the 94 donated lands located?

These basic queries have not been answered since the initial Grazing debate started, up till now that this new “Transformation Plan” is being peddled.

Page 23 of the Transformation Plan partly answered the first of the three questions. It was stated that “Governors and Private Entities” have donated lands for the “Pilot Ranches”. But To the best of my knowledge, there is no vacant land in these states, all lands have owners. So did these owners, from the goodness of their hearts, give their scarce land resources to the State Government for utilisation for the The Plan?

If it was the various State Government’s lands, did the various Houses of Assembly approve such a ceding of State Land to the Federal Government, even if it’s temporary?

Confusingly, it states on Page 27 that:

“Pastoralists to be registered and recognised as cooperatives for the ranching scheme”

and then in the very next paragraph:

“State Governments to grant lands to (these) cooperatives on a leasehold basis”

The mere fact that this paragraph categorically states that Pastoralists will be the ones to form the cooperatives and those cooperatives will be “given the lands” calls for deep concern.

Now we don’t even know who has rights to the lands to do as they please during the implementation of The Plan. Is it the Federal Government? The State Government? The original owners of the land? The Pastoralists?

Furthermore it states that there shall be clusters of these “ranches” within the “donated gazetted grazing reserves”. From my limited knowledge, this group of “clusters” more or less describes a “Grazing Colony”.

The fact that they are being “gazetted” means that the Federal Government will most likely have the rights to the lands, and do whatever they please with it, even if it runs contrary to the interests of the indigenous neighbours. We have not finished recovering from the “Grazing Routes” that were established by Government and “gazetted” decades ago.

Page 12 and 13 of The Transformation Plan says it is to be built on six key pillars. Of interest is the fourth pillar, the “Humanitarian Relief Pillar” which includes “rebuilding and reconstructing of WORSHIP PLACES”.

I’m wondering what an economic/transformation plan or an agricultural project has to do with “worship places”. I guess the interpretation of “worship places” and which religion(s) would benefit is anyone’s guess.

Also of interest is that over 10 years, the Project will gulp more than N179 billion while the first 3 years of the pilot phase will consume N70 billion.

For the Federal Government to be eager and willing to invest so much money in a controversially unpopular project that has been roundly rejected, that has changed names multiple times and involves an activity that is not generally practised by the indigenous people of the selected states, calls for deep thought.

It is concerning that a farming activity like grazing cattle, that involves a significantly lower percentage of the population in the aforementioned area, will consume almost the whole totality of the monumental funds that have been earmarked for future farming related activities and projects in the target areas.

Farming of Potatoes, Yams, Cassava, Millet, Rice, Carrots, Cabbages, Beans, Mai Atili (Olives), Ridi (Beniseed), Cashew, Oranges, Mangoes etc is the predominant agricultural activity in these regions.

This is where I would have thought the Federal Government would invest N179 billion. Long term investments to build processing plants, develop supply chain routes, upgrade the local airports to international Cargo Terminals and provide other technological amenities to improve crop production to meet the local demand and eventual export to countries that are begging for these agricultural resources.

All I would say is that let every one keep their eyes wide open. With current happenings, we definitely can not afford to be complacent.

Beneath every questionable and ambiguous policy, there is an underlying agenda. And in more cases than none, the agenda is nefarious.
June 22, 2018
Open Letter to Mr. President
Dear Mr. President,

You seem to be changing each passing day, each passing day. Our collective dreams about you are no longer quiet as they seem, no longer as quiet as they seem. Prior to 2015 election, we never felt like this, never. Now we are feeling more disappointed these ills are coming from you. We are opening up everyday seeing some strange principalities coming from you, are they demons you can’t leave behind? You are looking and acting strangely different.

We wanted more than this from you Mr. Integrity, that’s why our pain and disappointment are impossible to ignore, impossible to ignore. This that is coming from you is an impossible attitude, an impossible attitude.

And now we are telling you openly, our hearts are broken. You have become what we can’t define. A totally changed man, so insensitive and so unkind. That’s what you have become. You have become everything we do not wish for.

You were supposed to be the concept of service and love. Please come talk to us, what’s on your mind? Do not listen to sychophants; why can’t you no longer hold on to the concept of service and love? Why do you now take power as if it is between life and death, as it is for sinners and infidels? Why are your footfalls going backwards? We can no longer hear you.

We are no longer free and wide open to our thoughts; we now leave in perpetual fear even when we close our eyes to the things happening under you. We have been trying to control ourselves, so please don’t stand on our ways, we have waited for 3 years and there is a climax coming our way, we are no longer fond of you.

Don’t you analysize and tabulize the magic of the revolution to come? There is war in Syria and Libya, can’t you see the rage is building up, the rage from us all? This is not worth it anymore as we are descending into paths of destruction and war. We can’t take it anymore.

So return to where you came from because of this embarrassment, this harassment and this decadence.

We are free to decide and we shall give you our word when the time comes, so please come away with your footfalls, go back to where you come from, go back to where you come from, you have enough time in your hands.

Elempe Dele
June 19, 2018
Going to the USA is not a constitutional criterion to contest for President
We have heard and continue to hear about presidential hopeful Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa going to the United States of America (USA) before he can contest or be voted for. I am alarmed that this went viral even with the knowledge that this is not a criterion to contest for the seat of President, nowhere in the Nigeria Constitution is it stated.

Some say he is on a list, such list has never been produced nor submitted for public viewing, neither has a document or instrument charging him to a USA court for corruption been produced nor is there a warrant for his arrest from any agency here and abroad. He has not been invited by the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), and he never been indicted for any crime.

Bad news travels fast and far, and the opposition has seen it fit to use the grapevine to taint his image, knowing fully well that many Nigerians go by what they hear and many do not verify information nor ask questions before they believe.

Like any other Nigerian who wishes to travel out of Nigeria to a foreign country on a Nigerian Passport, a visa is required, he must submit his passport to the embassy in question and they may or not approve a visa for him. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has traveled on many occasions to several countries including America as an ordinary citizen and as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

What has changed? There is a new sheriff in town called Donald Trump who dislike immigrants though a product of an immigrant family. A white supremacist, who came up with radical policies concerning immigration that even Americans disagree with. Nigeria is obviously a target, some have disgraced Nigeria by participating in fraudulent activities, and of course President Buhari who went about telling the world that Nigerians are corrupt forgetting that he too is a Nigerian. Trump has on more one occasion insulted the African continent, the black race and specifically Nigeria. In the first part of Trump being in office, he placed Nigeria on a list; Nigerians were harassed and disgraced at US entry points, some sent back even with visas or green cards. This harassment and molestation of Nigerians is still going on.

So let’s get the record straight, void of any evidence to prove any wrongdoing by the Waziri Adamawa, this matter should be laid to rest and real politics played. May the best man win.

Omololu Ojehomon
June 19, 2018
Response to Mr. Femi Falana, SAN by Olufab
I have read the opinion of the learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, where he posited that in the main, the President Muhammadu Buhari [PMB] is not prohibited by law to confer national honours on deserving Nigerians, dead or alive.

In this riposte, I intend only to challenge the opinion of the learned SAN that the award of the GCFR on Chief M.K.O. Abiola, of blessed memory, is legal. On the sanctification of June 12 as democracy day and a Public holiday, I do not wish to express an opinion.

In the submission of the learned SAN, the former CJN was wrong as he (the former CJN) did not cite a specific provision of the Honours Act or any other law that had been violated by the president.

Mr. Femi Falana is legally misconceived in his opinion that no illegality has been occasioned by the award of the national honours on Chief M.K.O. Abiola & Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN.

The enabling legislation is the Honours Act and the applicable provisions are as follows:

“3. Mode of appointment to Orders, etc.

(1) The President shall by notice in the Federal Gazette signify his intention of appointing a person to a particular rank of an Order.

(2) Subject to the next following paragraph of this article, a person shall be appointed to a particular rank of an Order when he receives from the President in person, at an investiture held for the purpose-

(a) the insignia appropriate for that rank; and

(b) an instrument under the hand of the President and the public seal of
the Federation declaring him to be appointed to that rank.

(3) If in the case of any person it appears to the President expedient to dispense with the requirements of paragraph (2) of this article, he may direct that that person shall be appointed to the rank in question in such a manner as may be specified in the direction.”

A quick recap. The retired CJN opined that the national honours cannot be awarded posthumously, “much less the GCFR”, which is the highest honour in the land. Mr. Falana, SAN, on the other hand stated that it could and that the retired jurist did not state the law violated.

Mr. Falana is very much mistaken in thinking the former CJN needed to provide the sections of the law violated, when it is quite elementary that violence was done to the entirety of the law itself and general principle of law.

The right of the PMB to award national honours is in no doubt. The germane question to pose is, on whom might a national honour be awarded? The answer stares one in the face much like a star. National honours are to be awarded to persons. If we are agreed, and there can be no divergent opinion on that unassailable fact. The next question is to ask whether Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi fall within the LEGAL definition of persons.

The Supreme Court in Ibrahim v. Judicial Service Committee, Kaduna State (1998) 14 NWLR (Pt. 584) 1 at 36 (1998) 12 SCNJ 255, espoused thus:

“The definition of the word “person” in the legal sense under the Nigerian law is not limited to natural persons or human being only. It clearly admits and includes artificial persons, corporation, sole company or any body of persons corporate or incorporate.”

It follows therefore that persons in the legal sense includes “natural persons or human beings” and also “artificial persons” such as corporate & incorporate bodies. Ipso facto, there can be no doubt that PMB may validly bestow national honours on “natural persons or human beings, and on artificial persons. To add further fillip to the definition of persons, the Interpretation Act, CAP 123 LFN 2004 defines persons as:

“person” includes anybody of persons corporate or unincorporate;

On their demise, could it possibly be argued that Chief M.K.O Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN continued to share or retained the characteristics of natural persons or human beings? Absolutely not; it would be preposterous and do violence to language to contend so. However, reject my own IPSE DIXIT on this matter. Do I have legal authorities in support of my position, that the dead cannot by any stretch of the imagination be natural persons or human beings?

In the case of UDEOGARANYA V. ADEYI (2010) LPELR-4415(CA), the Court of Appeal instructively defined a person as follows:

“It is beyond dispute that the word “person” when used in legal practice, such as in a legislation or statute connotes both a “natural person”, that is to say, a “human being” and an “artificial person” such as corporation sole or public bodies corporate or incorporates”.

Just to pre-empt some of my colleagues or lay men who may say, ‘but the Court of Appeal is not the highest Court in the land’; I have good news. Let me dispel any doubt.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, in OMOKHAFE V. ESEKHOMO (1993) LPELR-2649(SC), explicating on the Legal Personality of a dead person, has this to say, per Onu, J.S.C.:

“Generally, a dead person is no longer in the eyes of the law a person but in the eyes of the law, he is a person who ceased to have any legal personality from the date of his death and as such, can neither sue nor be sued personally or in representative capacity.”

If the highest Court in the land has asseverated that a dead person is no longer in the eyes of the law a person, then to have conferred the respective national honours on both Chief M.KO. Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi has been done in clear breach of the National Honours Act. Respectfully, in my opinion, nothing more needs be said on this said over that issue.

POSTSCRIPT

On the issue of whether the honours bestowed on both Chief M.K.O Abiola & Chief Gani Fawehinmi may be conferred posthumously; it is pertinent to state that there is no specific provisions allowing posthumous awards in the enabling Act. Until the National Assembly amends the Act, it is respectfully submitted that any such posthumous award is clearly illegal. It is absurd for anyone to read into an Act of the National Assembly what is not therein provided for.

Compare the above position with the enabling legislation for members of the Armed Forces, you will find the following:

“3. Eligibility for award of medals

(1) The Nigeria Star may be awarded to any member of any of the armed forces for the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy, or for a pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy, or for devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy, and may be awarded posthumously.”

The legislation pertain to the Armed forces makes specific provision for posthumous award! One would have thought that the lawyers advocating so vociferously for posthumous award would have asked themselves one simple question: “why would one legislation be silent on the issue of a posthumous award whilst another piece of legislation be specific on the point”?
June 10, 2018
Has Aisha Buhari Gone Missing?
In Nigeria, during campaigns, we are used to First Ladies, that’s the wives of Presidents, campaigning for their husbands rigourously for reelections. Prior to 2015 election, we saw Aisha Buhari frying ‘akara’ in the street in support of her husband but forward to 2018, some months to the presidential election, we have hardly noticed this strong willed woman who has been defiling all odds, even shackling religious odds, to speak against her disappointment over her husband’s administration.

Ok let’s say we have not been noticing her disappearance because we are not accustomed to the unusual situations of this administration, people ordinarily talk about things that ail them. But should we have totally forgotten about the first lady that is almost on the side of the suffering masses?

There are some dangerous conspiracy theories concerning her being incommunicado recently but one cannot vouch for such theories. But in 2016, if we can jolt our memory, she said in a BBC interview that her husband has been “held hostage by a cabal” to which the president reacted by sending her to ‘the kitchen and the other room.’ Feminists kicked against his primitive comment all over the world, especially when he was being hosted by a female Chancellor, Angela Merkel of Germany.

Aisha then took to her tweeter handle retweeting both senators Misau and Ben Bruce criticizing her husband’s administration’s lackluster. As if that internalized criticism was not enough, last year, she declared openly that there were no syringes and other items in the Aso Rock Clinic in spite of the huge budgetary allocations for the past two years. And this administration claimed it was fighting corruption. And to this criticisms she was awarded the Vanguard Personality for speaking truth to power even in her difficult condition to do so. She said her position concerning her criticism was not necessarily about confrontation but her sense of justice.

Is it that Aisha, who has apparently shown distaste for her husband’s incompetence has finally been silenced? Who knows, perhaps she has.

Well, the reason behind her lack of many public appearances campaigning for her husband is shrouded in secrecy but might not be unconnected with her perception of her husband’s led administration which had not lived up to expectations. It has rather been bizarre, lackluster and out-of-bound in most cases. We should be interested, especially the women folks to whom she dedicated her last year award, feminists and anti-sexist organizations to know what’s happening to her. Its certain things are not normal, and it will get more abnormal if unchallenged.

#WhereIsAishaBuhari

Elempe Dele
June 3, 2018
President Buhari’s Eroding Democratic Values in Nigeria
To those who know a lot about political engineering and democratic manifestations, would admit that the president is in an effort mission to undermine democratic values in the country. The consequence of this experimental disintegration might be too severe to compensate if the trend is not discarded. The level of his impunity and disregard for the rule of law is not only shocking, but severe, and this has been diagnosed by democratic watchdogs all over the world including Amnesty International and the US State Department. And this endangered institution has been under severe attack since 2015.

Since 2015, Buhari has unleashed war on perceived enemies which some had termed ‘WITCH HUNTING.’ Never in the history of Nigeria, except under his former master, Abacha, has any president used law enforcement agencies for his personal political favours like Buhari is doing today that we sit in the arena of modern day democracy. We can only look at the Senator Dino Melaye’s case, a modern cult hero in Nigeria and a critic of the Buhari led administration, to see the cooperation and collusion between Buhari and these agencies of government. He is using them to attack and silence those who criticize the government by creating a dark climate of fear.

As if this is not enough, his absolute disregard of the separation of powers of the three arm of government has become a talking point on a likely Constitutional Crisis if not discouraged. A while ago, the president withdrew monies from the federation’s account to allegedly purchase military hardwares from the United States of America without consulting the nation’s National Assembly or seeking their constitutional approval. That’s a gross violation of the constitution which is an impeachable offense.

I think what people are worried about, taking examples from history, is that under Buhari, a one time dreadful dictator back in the 80s, Nigeria is again tittering towards autocracy and totalitarianism. What is happening now, if unchecked, would leave the country to move progressively towards having an all-powerful president, and when such a leader continue to engage in his undemocratic nuisances and there is no resistance from the people, his powers are further enhanced. And once he has these powers, he takes more undemocratic actions. (The gods that feed on blood are restless)

Most of Buhari’s action today are abnormal under democratic dispensation, especially the nascent version, and a lot of them are unprecedented and dangerous. No wonder the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Onnoghen said recently that any government disobeying court orders is inviting anarchy. He was referring directly to the government of President Buhari.

The law enforcement agencies ought to be apolitical. It’s under Buhari you will see law enforcement agents that are directly involved in the politics of the day, pitching tent with the ruling party to the chagrin of taxpayers. It is a democratic norm that their activities be under law, (not under political parties) including under the watch of the National Assembly’s oversight functions, as well as other basic values such as conflict of interest and government staying away from influencing their activities – all these are parts of the essential elements of the rule of law, which is key to any modern functioning democracy. But in Nigeria, what we have is a voodoo democracy.

There are listless undemocratic things happening in Nigeria today perpetuated by the government directly and indirectly but somehow, the infrastructure of justice, which are the courts and dissenting voices have been holding up thus far. Despite Buhari’s attacks, people have continued to speak up for and support democratic values and norms. It was the people who spoke against the illegal reinstatement of the criminal fugitive, Maina, before he was let loose from the civil service into the wild. Non-governmental organizations and other busybodies have been showing their displeasures, and to me, that’s a testament to justice.

Whether or not these violations of democratic values will continue would depend on what happens at the 2019 presidential polls. And the question of whether this violations will continue also depend on the continuous reactions of the sensitive people. I do not believe Buhari can dent our democracy forever even if he wins in 2019, which is unlikely though. For power is not eternal. But I think Buhari would continue now to violate these values as far as he is in power for self-interest. And if after 2019 he ends up badly, which is very likely, owing to his undemocratic values, and other infractions, then whoever will take over from him will be deterred from indulging in these things, and we might even witness a strengthening of these democratic values and its institutions.

What we are faced with today in Nigeria is a quiet radical and undemocratic negation and gross violation to which we hold President Buhari responsible for his dangerous and retrogressive high-stake experiment.

Elempe Dele
June 2, 2018
The disingenuous claim by the Buhari Media Organization
This is another attempt to deceive the people of Nigeria. It’s foolishness on the part of the Buhari Media Organization (BMO) to even claim anything Holy in it’s criticism of Atiku’s proposal.

Verbatim, the former Vice President said, “on the restructuring of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector by result oriented and stepwise privatization of some aspects of the ailing sector to engender its vibrancy and enable it to stand solid as Nigeria’s major energy provision source”.

So clearly, the former Vice President in his wisdom talked about means and ways of revitalizing the sector by privatization of “some aspects of its ailing”part.

But of course, when these propagandist want to deceive people, they turn every word on its head to rubbish the substance of the whole story. Why not! when you consider a government that promised to reduce the pump price of petroleum but got to power and increased the pump price instead. Perhaps they think the people have forgotten, no we haven’t!

How could they not misrepresent the former Vice President when this government cannot tell Nigerians for certain how much crude flows out of this country and how much it receives and how much it discloses to Nigerians. This is the most deceitful and malicious government in modern times.

How does this government begin to talk of anti people policies! This is preposterous! This is a government that in all its ramifications is anti people both in words of deceit and by its action in raising the pump price contrary to its promise to reduce same.

This government wants the status quo to remain only because it provides to them a source of illicit funds for their campaign.

You know what! Another shall rise and the whole world would then appreciate the magnitude of the recklessness and decadence of this regime that has no respect to the rule of law.

Neda Imasuen, Esq.
May 18, 2018
IN SUPPORT OF TY DANJUMA; A NATIONAL STATESMAN
TY has benefited from Nigeria and he has a duty to keep it one. He said what we all know. The problem with most of his critics is partisan epilepsy which puts them in momentary fit whenever they are confronted with the truth. That is not patriotism. It is patrimolianism. Some of us were very critical of PDP misbehavior even as Members of the House of Representatives. It may have cost us principal officership, but we are alive by the grace of God to continue to speak truth to power. Party membership or affiliation is not a reason to endanger humanity with indecisiveness on security of lives and properties. Some of us have never witnessed what is now going on in this country in our adult lives.

We heard of Tafawa Balewa. We saw Usman Shagari. We worked with Umaru Yaradua. They were northerners and Muslim. They may have had Fulani blood in them but their sense of national duty was exemplary. None of them would have tolerated this menace of some irresponsible heardsmen spreading terror to the ancestral land of others in a jet age. Rather than restrain them with decent and globally tested policies, the Government is overwhelmed with nepotic constraints and thereby preventing the avoidable deaths of thousands of innocent citizens.

More than any government in our republican history, this government has been the slowest to act on matters that require urgent government attention. It cannot continue like this merely because a few privileged people have formed a vanguard of blame-him-not around President Buhari. They are definitely not helping Nigeria but themselves. Let me remind all such persons of the proverb that those who ride on the back of the tiger, end up in its stomach.

Obasanjo wrote his 20 page letter of caution to the President. He was called names by the holier-than thou supporters of the President. Gen. Babaginda issued a press statement on the way forward. He was lampooned by the same band of economic and tribal clappers.

Gen. TY Danjuma, more than these hallelujah brigade, contributed enormous personal resources to the campaign process of President Buhari over the years. He was the chairman of the President’s advisory group when the President assumed office. He mobilized support for the president across the length and breadth of the country. How would a man who made these contributions to the emergence of Buhari as president standby and watch the ship of State sink deeply without qualms? Danjuma is made of sterner stuff. He was a full blooded General in the Army and knows the difference between the Army they belonged to and today’s Army.

Those casting aspersions on the eminent citizen have done nothing to help our country. They do not want anyone to stand up for Nigeria. They like the country as it is. They are fanning the embers of inefficiency, nepotism and insecurity in order to profit from the situation. How many of these champions drive on Nigerian roads form one part of the country to another? How many of them sleep in their houses without surrounding themselves with armed Police guards?

The truth is that we are now more unsafe than we have ever been in Nigeria in Peace time. I give kudos to the Northern Elders who recently called a spade a spade by telling the nation that they would not vote anyone from their region who has not lived up to expectations. They know that all is not well with our country and are themselves worried about the state of affairs. We cannot say that the professional clappers love President Buhari more than Prof Ango Abdulahi, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed and their group of northern elders. The same group joined others to mobilize the country to vote against President Jonathan and usher in President Buhari in 2015.

The simple message to Mr. President by all those who have cautioned him is that he is performing far below the expectations of most of our country men and women. Let the President listen to them and ignore the Buhari-does-no-wrong group. They would be the first to jump ship if the President doesn’t make it back to Aso Rock in 2019. I wish the President all the best.

God bless Nigeria.

Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa.
March 26, 2018
THAT UNBRIDLED REJECTION OF NECESSARY AUTONOMY BY EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IS DANGEROUS TO DEMOCRACY
Edo State House of Assembly’s recent rejection of financial autonomy marks a new low ground in the on going legislative imperialism of State Assemblies in Nigeria. Executive expansion of dominance and exploitation of the weaker legislature has eroded the sense of placement inherent in the practice of separation of powers characteristic of modern democracy. The unequal exchange of perks of office has led to a final surrender of the power of the purse which is the strength and preserve of the legislature worldwide, by Edo State House of Assembly.

In return, the lawmakers get aids in kind or cash, a few foreign trips and guarantee of second term Party tickets. But what would this mean against the loss of the innate right of the legislature to check the Executive from misusing public funds appropriated for public good? The answer is discernible.

Who will deal with the debt burden of Edo State which has reached astronomical levels? The State’s scarce resources from internally generated revenue borne by the poor man and woman on the streets and federal allocations would end up servicing the huge debt without a wimp from the law makers whose autonomy has been voluntarily mortgaged at the risk of jeopardizing the balance of power in the State.

Plunder of State resources, tax abuses, poverty, wide spread unemployment, disease, maladministration and a host of anomalies would become the cynosure of this new wave of legislative imperialism. The Assembly must save itself this embarrassment by reviewing their decision. A motion ought to be tabled to review that decision and vote on the side of sustainable democracy for the sake of the generations of Edo people alive and those yet unborn. Anything short of this, would entitle the present members of that House to an unenviable space in the political museum of infamy.

The legendary Jimmy Cliff once sang about a hard to travel and a long way to go. I hope Edo State is not yet
there.

Dr. West-Idahosa (Nigerian lawyer and policy analyst)
February 25, 2018