Southern Governors' Wives Forum

SOUTHERN GOVERNORS’ WIVES FORUM: WHAT’S IN A UNION?

     

The last time I holistically checked, Nigeria in her entirety could strongly boast of a union that unites the wives of the governors of all the seventeen states in the Southern part of the country comprising South-East, South-West and South-South.

     

It’s no longer news that in virtually every quarter, it’s being cited that ‘what a man can do, a woman can do even better’. As one who never believed in equating the men folk to the womenfolk, I almost disagreed with this ideology but currently it appears I’ve been propelled to have a change of mindset as regards the perception.

      

Honestly, the pace at which our women are making histories nowadays is really fascinatingly striking my innermost imagination that I’ve come to see them as societal frontiers. Though personally I’ve always been of the view that women remain the controller of any society they find themselves but not to an extent that seems as if when the men are deeply snoring in their sleeps, their wives are seriously thinking.

     

Believe it or leave it; the fact remains that our women have made a remarkable and formidable history having thought it wise to inaugurate the aforementioned group – Southern Governors’ Wives Forum, thus I’m strongly proud of them and I enjoin every right thinking man that hails from the Southern part of Nigeria to do same.

       

I want to hastily broaden our mindsets a bit. Most Nigerians are of the opinion that the people from the North in its totality are united in all ramifications. I beg to disabuse them of this lingering notion. Believe me, socially, Northerners have never been together; but politically, they are. For instance, on a social ground, if you dare address an average man who hails from Plateau State as an Hausa man, he may be tempted to design your entire body with dagger or any weapon within his reach.

      

The truth is that ordinarily people from the North Central geo-political zone don’t share similar philosophies or traditions with those who hail from such other geo-political zones of the Northern region as the North East or North West. However, on political ground, people from all the nineteen states in the said region enjoy an unalloyed unity or togetherness. Suffice it to say that they have one voice when it calls for politics; this remains the singular reason the Northern politicians are invariably ahead of their counterparts in the South.

     

Politically, even when the Emir of Kano, for instance, speaks, the overall citizens of the 19 Northern states would listen to him without much ado. In the entire North, only one traditional ruler can decide what would happen in the political cycle because they are formidably together. In view of this assertion, it’s therefore needless to reiterate that these set of Nigerians (Northerners) who understand the rudiments of politics have gone too far in the game; this is why, they continue to ostensibly suppress those in the South whenever they tango.

      

Before now, I’ve been reiterating the need for the politicians in the entire South to speak with only one voice, all to no avail. This implies that the history that was recently made by the female politicians in the region, which might not be unconnected to the dogged effort reportedly displayed by the wife of the Imo State governor Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha and her likes prior to the emergence of the group, is no doubt a wake-up call. Hence, I sincerely pray their husbands replicate this gesture that is obviously worthy of emulation.

     

Unarguably, this wondrous union whose leadership is ably pioneered by the above named First Lady, is timely as well as a giant step in the right direction. When members of the epoch-making amalgam had their inaugural meeting in Imo State, specifically on the 3^rd and 4^th of March 2016 respectively, the state was tremendously agog. Of course, the convergence of the amazons deserved the overwhelming applause.

     

Unequivocally, their male counterparts are presently faced with no other option than to follow suit; hence, it’s high time they awoke from their long-lasted slumbers. I challenge them to prove to their respective amiable wives that they are in charge and on form too. Ironically and intriguingly, it’s apparent that their Excellencies cannot actualize this without employing or seeking the indefatigable efforts of the women in question.

     To this end, I implore the affected governors to employ their wives as Special Advisers on Issues relating to Way Forward. Thus, I urge them to wave farewell to anachronistic views or outings with a view to concentrating solely on the needful. Frankly, I wouldn’t like to come up with a piece similar or related to this very one in subsequent time; in other words, the time to act is now.

    
Most importantly, as these able First Ladies strive unrelentingly towards creating a greater political atmosphere in the South and Nigeria at large, they are expected to do everything within their reach to ensure that they aren’t carried away by trivial or retrogressive issues. Think about

   

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor 

Imo and her Antics during polls

IMO AND HER INVARIABLE ANTICS DURING ELECTIONS

    

The last time I checked, pathetically among the several states across the federation that were meant to witness the rerun elections scheduled to hold on Saturday 20^th of February 2016, only Imo State the acclaimed Eastern Heartland was deprived of the awaited event.

     

After a long unabated wait by the concerned electorate as well as Imolites in general, they were abruptly informed the previous day by the electoral umpire that the said elections had been postponed indefinitely owing to foreseen security hitches. The most pitiable aspect of the melodrama was that most of the electorate weren’t even aware of the postponement due to their inability to acquire news on time; the vulnerable persons in question left their various homes for their respective polling units to cast their votes on that fateful Saturday.

     

The moment the news got to my humble desk, having tried to reach the state Police Commissioner in the person of Mr Taiwo Lakanu via cell phone to acquire more detail from his noble office to no avail, I was deeply wondering what kind of sensed security threat could warrant the postponement of elections that had enjoyed all the needed and consequential preparations.

     

Though my inward inquiry yielded no tangible answer but luckily I was able to grab an antidote that succeeded in calming my boiling system down. The said antidote wasn’t unconnected to the conversation I established therein through phone call with an astute electoral officer; I was rightly intimated by the INEC official that Imo wasn’t safe for the proposed rerun polls, thus going ahead with the election was not unlike risking the mandate of the electorate coupled with their precious lives.

     

It appears as if Imo is synonymous with anomalies considering how far she has fared ab initio during electioneering eras thereby making her seem laughable. A state that is meant to be educating others particularly her sister states, when it calls for electoral issues in view of her age and experience political wise, and what have you, is ironically found doing otherwise.

      Members of a certain political party would be freely talking from both sides of their mouths whilst the other staunch political party on its part would be busy seeking for an avenue to defend itself. Every now and then the god-sent state is being besieged by fathomless tantrums accompanied with lies while concerned stakeholders like us would prefer to observe, hoping that Imolites already know where to go from here.

    
For crying out loud; isn’t it time we detested these jaundiced appellations that are really and seriously telling on our polity? Rather than acting childishly, I expect every Imo statesman to act child likely because a childlike idiosyncrasy, which is a quality that befits us, is no doubt worthy of emulation. Noisemaking, name-calling, character assassination, et al, aren’t what are required of people who address themselves as ‘politicians’.

     In any society especially in democratic societies, leaders are gotten from the political class. Needless to say that every politician ought to see him/herself as a potential leader. If this assertion holds water, then why are the teeming politicians in the state acting or reacting as the case may be, like followers? Honestly, something must be wrong somewhere and needs to be addressed in earnest.

    
Please I’m earnestly appealing to Imo politicians irrespective of their party affiliations, to endeavour to desist from indulging in activities that are liable to make our young ones or their children laugh at them. It’s really absurd and disgusting to observe that when we are expected to educate them (the children) on the ethics as well as modus operandi surrounding a worthy lifestyle, we are busy dancing Makosa.

     My joy remains that our consciences are very much alive even when we try to pretend that they are dead; hence, our consciences will continue to judge us based on what we do on a daily basis even in seemingly secret arenas. Come rain come shine the law of Karma will invariably prevail; and it must surely surface while we are still alive and not after our deaths as most of us presume.

     When I try to embrace despair over the antics usually displayed by these so-called politicians or statesmen, I often find solace in the fact that majority of Imolites cannot be deceived again; they now understand their left from their right because they are politically aware at the moment. To this end, I enjoin them to concentrate only on the individuality of the candidates involved rather than laying emphasis on their respective political parties. Unequivocally, the era of party-politics has gone for eternity not just in Imo State but in Nigeria at large.

     My utmost worry now is the INEC. Considering the obvious fact that the said independent body is answerable for any failure recorded in any election regarding Presidency, gubernatorial, federal and states Assembly that took place in Nigeria, its personnel needn’t be told or reminded that the country’s future lies in their bare hands. In other words, they are expected to do nothing but the needful towards ensuring that every election becomes an absolute success. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

  

    

        

    

Who Raped the Naira?

WHO RAPED NAIRA?

    

The last time I checked, the Nigeria’s currency, Naira suffered a seemingly unpredicted rape though the identity of the rapist in question was significantly unknown. This critique was informed by the compelling need for every Nigerian to comprehend fully the overall nomenclature of the masked rapist.

    Currently, the worth of naira per a US dollar is almost #400 in the parallel market as against its official exchange of #198. Though it isn’t only Nigeria that is confronting the US dollar that is presently ravaging her once respected currency, naira and local economy – some other countries are obviously passing through similar fate, but it’s pertinent to acknowledge that the ongoing misfortune of the said currency didn’t abruptly emerge; suffice it to say that the above mentioned ‘rape’ was apparently a foreseen circumstance.

     Going down the memory lane, it would be recalled that from 1972 to 1985, the official worth of naira per a US dollar was between #0.66 and #0.89 involving a consistent slight fall and rise. From 1986 to 1992, it was worth between #2.02 and #9.91 involving a steady fall. Subsequently, from 1993 to 1999, its worth was between #17.30 and #21.89 involving an onward apparent constant exchange rate after an initial decrease. Similarly, from 2000 to 2009, it was between #85.98 and #145, which involved an outrageous continuous fall.

   
Then, recently from 2010 to 2015, we witnessed a steady fall from #150 to #171. And presently, barely from last year till date, it has declined to #198 per a US dollar, witnessing a free fall. The bone of contention is that ab initio, excluding the initial point when it was ostensibly steady, there has been a continuous fall of the value of naira when compared to the US dollar.

    
Hence, having painstakingly perused the above comprehensive chart, I have succeeded in disabusing us of the notion that the fall of the exchange rate of naira either at the official market or parallel market commenced in recent time. Needless to say that naira had suffered an untold hardship from genesis till this moment.

     But if you take a closer glance at the above analysis, you would observe that it was during the democratic era that the naira’s value fell outrageously, although the origin of its downward depreciation could be traceable to 1986 or thereabouts. In view of this assertion, one may be challenged to ascertain the reason for such anomaly.

     The answer is simple. Any democratic leadership, compared to military regime, is usually synonymous with loose principles or policies. This implies that the former often ends up overlooking the invariable nonchalant or lackadaisical attitudes of its citizenry which is definitely not a wholesome practice in any society that intends to grow economically. Most times, sustaining a certain policy requires a nonhuman face.

     Looking beyond the history, currently it’s obvious that the value of the Nigeria’s currency, naira is diminishing on a daily basis as if it’s being relentlessly and endlessly pursued by a hidden monster. The ongoing phenomenon unarguably is categorically not unconnected to the recent stiff measures taken by the nation’s apex bank – the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    
It’s no longer news that penultimate year, foreign exchange for importation of various commodities into the country was banned by the said bank. This severe approach warranted people particularly importers to divert their attention to only the various illicit Bureaux De Change (BDCs) situated across the nation. Consequently, the CBN ordered the closure of all the existing branches of the BDCs in Nigeria, and thereafter stated that it could not continue selling foreign currencies directly to them (the BDCs).

    
Owing to the above sanctions, the various seekers of foreign exchange have shifted their entire attention to the parallel market thereby causing an alarming increase of the demand for forex at the market. This is no doubt the sole reason a US dollar is being unofficially sold at almost #400.

    
However, the question remains: who raped Naira? Unequivocally, naira was dastardly raped by some unscrupulous elements in Nigeria as a result of their selfish interests. This signifies that the present pitiable physiognomy of naira was occasioned by the fact that she was gang raped. One of the rapists is the inability of Nigeria to export a finished product to other nations, not even the oil and gas which are in abundance in the country. How can a country be importing a product that is being generated from its land? Doesn’t it sound ridiculous? Undoubtedly, the relative steady rate of the foreign exchange in Nigeria during the early years such as between `72 and `85 or thereabouts might not be unconnected to the obvious fact that the various Nigeria’s refineries - in Port-Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, were functional during the said era.

     It doesn’t end at the fact that we are importing virtually everything including toothpick, our education and health sectors are also fundamental plights to our forex. It’s obvious that due to inadequacy in spite of the uncountable number of tertiary institutions situated across the federation, millions of our children are currently studying abroad even in such educationally less-privileged countries as Kenya and Niger Republic thereby warranting the export of billions of naira on a daily basis. Same nauseous practice is applicable to the health sector; none of our prominent citizens receives medical treatment in Nigeria, especially in issues relating to surgery. Every pregnant Nigerian woman wishes to deliver her unborn baby in the US.

    
Inter alia, the country’s science sector that was relatively alive and viable had abruptly become soared. All the country’s technical colleges are currently moribund thereby posing a deterrent to our teeming young ones in regard to production of scientific gadgets contrary to what was formerly witnessed among them. In the same vein, none of the government owned industries is functional at the moment. Frankly, everything has completely gone wrong, thus requires a total turnaround.

     The demand for foreign currencies, in particular dollar which remains a global commercial currency, is presently astronomically high in Nigeria as a result of the fact that virtually nothing is seemingly happening in the country; Nigerians want to get everything done outside Nigeria or by foreigners. Almost every contract is being awarded to foreign firms as if ours aren’t equal to the tasks. An average Nigerian would prefer embarking on a trip to England for a football match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC to travelling to Owerri for a match between Heartland FC and Enyimba FC. A two-day relaxation period or a honeymoon would be spent abroad as if our hotels are mere hatches. In a nutshell, we are currently enjoying foreign services in all our day-to-day activities. This is why the country is being hit by soaring inflation. Without mincing words, our past leaders assisted in raping naira because they had the immunity to address all these anomalies but they never cared.

     To restore normalcy, first we need to start by believing in ourselves which would enable us to at all times encourage our locally made products as well as our indigenous services. In other words the ban on forex against most goods and services ought to be strengthened headlong; this implies that our various borders need to be holistically checkmated at all cost. In the same spirit, the ban needs to be extended to other activities to include travelling abroad for trivial issues.  Similarly, all the illicit forex dealers must be captured and thereafter brought to book without much ado; the saboteurs don’t deserve any mercy. Hence, the Money Laundering bill that was recently sent to the National Assembly by the Presidency must be considered seriously.

      Most importantly, we must revive such most of our essential sectors as the aforementioned ones. In addition, the power sector ought not to be left out; it’s imperative to note that several countries not unlike the USA that can’t invariably boast of up to 15 degree Celsius are currently sourcing their electricity from the solar energy let alone a country like ours that constantly boasts 40 degree Celsius that lasts for a long period of time. Indeed, this proposed measure is meant to be handled with an utmost political will.

    
Surely, devaluing naira as being agitated in some quarters isn’t the required avenue towards bringing the group of monstrous rapists that are on the run to book. Hence, we needn’t a soothsayer to notify us that we’re expected to drastically do the needful to return naira to her initial resplendent countenance that has suffered a colossal rape. Think about it.  

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador

Photos of #TheMediaAmbassador

Aftermath of Fr Mbaka's Transfer

FR MBAKA’S TRANSFER AND THE POLITICS THEREAFTER

    

The last time I checked, the Enugu-based controversial Catholic Priest in the person of Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka who doubles as the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu had been transferred from his parish, Christ the King Catholic Church (C.K.C), GRA, Enugu metropolis in which he had spent over a decade to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Emene, Enugu State – a suburb of Enugu metropolis where the former is situated. 

    

It’s pertinent to note that fathomless public criticisms had greeted the aforesaid action. In some quarters, people are of the view that the decision to transfer the Priest was aimed at checkmating his activities which are apparently generating unpleasant wave within the body of Christ and the country at large. In their further reactions, they insinuated categorically that the Church’s plan to transfer all the priests in Enugu Diocese was to dilute any suspicion.

    

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had alleged that the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Callistus Onaga was manipulated by external forces into effecting Fr Mbaka’s transfer. In their official briefing via their South-East caucus’ Spokesperson Mr Osita Okechikwu, they stated unequivocally that “As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, the attack, assault, and unpleasant comments hurled against Fr Mbaka since he providentially prophesized that President Buhari would win the 2015 elections” among other issues raised therein.

    

The Catholic Church on its part had clarified the transfer of the clergyman, saying that the controversial Priest was merely being sent to where he would be more useful to the church which wasn’t an unusual exercise. It further claimed that the posting, which was strictly in line with the church’s tradition, was not meant to be punitive or to witch-hunt the Priest in question as being speculated by the public.

     

It would be recalled that earlier in the year 2014, the Catholic Priest Fr Ejike Mbaka had prophesized that President Mohammadu Buhari would emerge victorious in the 2015 Presidential election, and fortunately or unfortunately his prophesy came to past. Hence, the various speculations regarding his recent transfer might not be unconnected to the aforementioned assertion.

    

In view of these altercations or brouhahas, I was tempted to enquire which political party Fr Mbaka belongs to. And at this moment, I’m still fascinated to know which party’s membership card could be found in his robe’s pocket; an inquiry that is dying for a candid answer.

    

Frankly, in recent times, the manner in which people try to link religion to politics is really becoming unbearable, thus requires a compelling attention. People need to understand that politics and religion, both which are no doubt essential and veritable tools in any society, are not unlike two parallel lines therefore have no meeting point.

      

In one of the works I did previously entitled “Taking worship beyond politics” as was published on the back cover page of the New Telegraph Newspaper penultimate year, specifically on Monday 6^th of April 2015, I wholly made it clear that the church is an institution specially meant for the liberation of mankind from all forms of bondage, to strengthen or uplift their faith, as well as to bring them nearer to their salvation, and not otherwise as most Nigerians see it.

     

In a similar spirit, in a piece I wrote entitled “Letter to the Pope” as was published in the Daily Times Newspaper on Wednesday 3^rd February 2016, having disclosed that religious bodies were to work towards actualizing good governance and not to take part in politics, I stated that if an institution like the church that’s widely regarded as ‘opium of the people’ was being abused or misused, it signified that the society was liable to encounter unimaginable comatose circumstance.

     

Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with a man of God prophesying about an unforeseen or a future situation; such practice is undoubtedly as old as the world, if not older. The angle I’m against is playing politics with such spiritual act; hence, people must be guided in this aspect before they attract curses upon themselves, or even on their generations yet unborn.

    

In view of this, let the politicians play their politics and allow the church to do its work. Most times the derailment witnessed on the part of the clergymen is attributable to the activity of some so called politicians; for crying out loud, let’s allow them concentrate on their callings. Rather than distracting them, what we are expected to do is nothing but to pray for them because they are unarguably in a seemingly hot zone.

    

Even if Fr Mbaka’s transfer was targeted to punish him, let’s not absorb it as an action that was politically motivated; rather, ought to be seen as a consequential step or something that was called for in the priesthood. We must take into cognizance that the church, particularly the Catholic dominion, has its unique method of handling issues.

   

Thus, instead of raising cloud of dusts as regards the exercise that seemed abrupt, all we need to do for the affected Priest if we truly care for him is to pray vehemently for his person. The priest had already stated that he alongside his ministry was going to ‘suffer’, so let’s not aggravate the anticipated suffering. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
Follow: @mediambassador  

         

How many Media Aides has Buhari?

HOW MANY MEDIA AIDES HAS BUHARI?

     

The last time I checked, if I wasn’t mistaken, the amiable President of Nigeria in the person of Mohammadu Buhari had four substantive media aides. You can put up a disapproval hereafter if you have a contrary view.

     

The portfolios of the concerned appointees/technocrats are as follows: Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Special Assistant on New Media as well as Personal Assistant (PA) on New Media. Owing to these uncalled and inconsequential discrepancies, I was tempted to insinuate that this administration is equally synonymous with bureaucracy, which is not unusual in the Nigeria’s democratic terrain ab initio.

     

The worrisome part of the scenario is that it’s taking place at the moment when every dick and harry in Nigeria is deeply concerned over how the acclaimed giant of Africa can step down on excesses with a view to saving more funds for the anticipated economic diversification thereby ensuring that the ongoing crises emanating from the country’s dependency on mono-economy becomes a thing of the past.

    

Similarly, it’s being witnessed when we are bothered with or looking forward towards acquiring more experienced and respected economic aides for the Presidency that would look inwards on how the country could be salvaged from this unfortunate and unforeseen state of economic morass, especially at this time all eyes are on the 2016 appropriation bill that’s presently and pitiably lying in the National Assembly.

     

Undoubtedly, we are all aware how veritable the media, which is an inevitable tool, is; particularly in this era when everyone needs to be duly informed to avoid mere speculations among the people which are liable to constituting more severe societal tantrums and brouhahas in addition to the already existing ones. But such obvious fact never called for the engagement of several professionals all in the name of ‘media aides’.

     

One may appreciate the President for ensuring that the youth were carried along as regards the appointments in question, but it’s pertinent to acknowledge that there are various other vacant political positions the said group of persons (the youth) can fit in rather than involving too many hands in the media concernment which might even end up spoiling the soup.

    

Prior to when the current ministers were assigned respective portfolios, the country’s various ministries were merged whilst few others were scrapped which was aimed at eradicating bureaucracy thereby curtailing the not uncommon astronomical cost of governance on the nation’s democratic platform. This very step, which was indeed in line with the expectations of the citizenry, was really complimented in most quarters across the federation and beyond.

    

If this recollection holds water, then the Presidency is not expected to dampen the spirit of its followers that is already high as a result of the political wills showcased so far in regard to reviving the country’s economy. Thus it’s high time we started concentrating only on the needful and overlooked trivial issues solely for the sake of our collective national interest.

     

Right now, I urge our paramount interest to be shifted to the seemingly dying power sector. We must invariably note that the targeted diversification cannot be effectively and efficiently actualized if the aforesaid sector remains ostensibly moribund. We can’t meaningfully improve the agricultural sector without adequate and reliable power supply, likewise other sectors seriously yearning for revival. Hence, I’m of the view that switching over to solar energy as a source of electricity generation is long overdue. Countries that can’t even boast of up to 15 degree Celsius are already relying on solar, so what stops a country like ours that can currently boast of up to 40 degree Celsius from following suit?

     

So, as much as I appreciate as well as congratulate President Buhari for remembering the youth, I equally want to humbly and candidly appeal to his Excellency to endeavour to employ the role of ‘Scale of Preference’ as he ebulliently pilots this administration that’s targeted to ushering in the desired change. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
Follow: @mediambassador