The Oyo Legislator, Abuja Preacher and their Untimely Exits

THE OYO LEGISLATOR, ABUJA PREACHER AND THEIR UNTIMELY EXITS

      The last time I checked, the overall members of the Oyo State House of Assembly were deeply bereaved as a result of the sudden and untimely demise of one of their own in the person of Mr. Gideon Aremu. The deceased was reportedly shot dead by unknown gunmen who stormed his Ibadan residence few weeks ago, precisely on Friday 1^st July 2016.

     The Late Aremu who until his sad departure was the Chairman of the Oyo State House Committee on Information and Security, was gruesomely murdered while driving into his house situated at Alakia area of Ibadan district. More devastatingly, the Labour Party (LP) legislator representing Orelope State Constituency and the only opposition member of the chamber was slain in his wife’s presence, while she was opening the gates for him on his arrival. As the said gates were let open, two men riding motorcycles shot at him severally.

     Funnily enough, according to the source, the assassins waited several minutes afterwards toward ensuring he was really dead before taking their leave, as if the bullets weren’t enough. It was equally reported that they left with his cell phone. The spokesman for the state’s Police Command, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu who confirmed the assassination disclosed that the Oyo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Leye Oyebade had directed an outright commencement of thorough investigation into the extrajudicial killing.

     It might interest, or perhaps shock you to acknowledge that the deceased lawmaker was going to be conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by the prestigious University of Ilorin the following week. It was learnt he had already collected his convocation gown as well as invited his teeming colleagues and friends to the awaited graduation. This implies that he wasn’t just a legislator but a true Nigerian who knew his onions.

     One may boldly be of the notion that Oyo State is synonymous with suchlike aforementioned crime. It would be recalled that penultimate year, on 1^st April to be precise, the then Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Agugu police division in the person of Mr. Ike Nworgu was brutally killed by a certain angry mob. It was gathered that the deceased who until his death was a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), was performing his legitimate duty at about 4pm on that fateful day till he responded to a distress call that a house located at Adekile area of Ibadan was about to be set ablaze by an irate mob over an unsubstantiated allegation that the place was being used as a ritualists’ den.

     The DPO, on arrival at the scene, made a passionate appeal to the mob and prevailed on them to jettison their intent to commit arson. Therein, a holistic search of the house in question was conducted by the police officer with the help of some civilians present at the gathering but the allegation could not be confirmed. However, some disgruntled unscrupulous elements attacked the DPO in the process and inflicted fatal machete cuts on him, and further shot him dead. The callous hoodlums equally made away with his service pistol and eventually set the controversial house among two others on fire having looted valuable property from the affected buildings.  

     It appears extrajudicial murder has become a legitimate act in Nigeria. Barely few days after the assassination of the Oyo legislator, a certain group of religious fanatics slew an Abuja-based female preacher, Evang. Eunice Olawale in cold blood, at Kubwa - a suburb of Abuja metropolis. The 41-year-old Mrs. Olawale who happened to be wife of a pastor of the famous Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was dastardly butchered at about 5:30am on Saturday July 9, 2016 as she was, as usual, delivering her early morning street sermon otherwise known as ‘Morning cry’ in her neighbourhood, with her megaphone and Holy Bible. Her throat was reportedly slit, and therein her head was meant to rest on the Bible she used for the preaching.

     Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command disclosed that it has arrested some suspects in connection with the murder of the passionate preacher who was longing to clock 42 on July 23. The spokesperson of the command, ASP Anjuguri Manzah said the Commissioner of Police (CP) – Mr. Alkali Usman had directed the homicide department to take over the investigation with the sole aim of producing useful and genuine information in earnest.

     What baffles my imagination remains that, each time such crime is committed, the Nigerian police would invariably make some successful arrests thereafter, but what comes up afterwards often seems not unlike an apparition. We are, of course, not unaware that what follows an arrest anywhere across the globe is arraignment coupled with rigorous prosecution as requested by law. But in this part of the world, particularly Nigeria, most criminal cases are usually ended with just a mere arrest, rather than verdict as clearly stipulated in the constitution.

     Shall we continue to allow criminal-minded Nigerians parade themselves with extreme impunity? It’s unequivocally conspicuous that it seems Nigeria condones crimes; such phenomenon isn’t unconnected to the high level of laxity in which the concerned law enforcement agencies handle them (the offences). It’s very, very painful to realize that extrajudicial treatments have abruptly become a daily occurrence; still, someone is yet to be convicted of such ugly and nauseous attitude.

     It’s obviously worrying and appalling that in the midst of the overwhelming discussions concerning the brutal murder of the aged Madam Bridget Agbahime in Kano State, other related injustices are springing up like water. This, no doubt, is a colossal challenge to the new police Inspector General, Mr. Ibrahim Idris. He must prove to Nigerians at large that his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari wasn’t a mistaken gesture, thus I put it up to him that all eyes are on him towards ensuring that the bloody culprits are duly brought to book.

     I’m glad these are happening when the government is treating corruption as a priority. At least, with the reopening of the cases involving the murder of the former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) - Chief Bola Ige as well as the former Deputy Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) - Chief Aminasoari Dikibo as mandated by Mr. President, well-meaning Nigerians can at this point exercise a sigh of relieve. Notwithstanding, the police must note that, Nigerians aren’t only interested in arrest or inquest, but verdict as well. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador

   

   

Today is Int'l Youth Day

REJUVENATING THE TEEMING NIGERIAN YOUTHS AS THE 2016 INT’L YOUTH DAY IS MARKED TODAY FRIDAY AUGUST 12

     Today, Friday August 12, the world over is commemorating the 2016 edition of the International Youth Day. The International Youth Day is annually held on August 12 to celebrate the achievements of the world’s youth and to encourage their participation in enhancing global society. It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions in their respective communities or countries.

     The idea for International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 by young people who were gathered in Vienna, Austria for the first session of the United Nations (UN) World Youth Forum. The forum recommended that an International Youth Day ought to be declared, especially for fund-raising and promotional purposes to support the United Nations Youth Fund in partnership with various youth organizations.     

      In 1998, a resolution proclaiming August 12 as International Youth Day was adopted during the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth Affairs. That recommendation was later endorsed in 1999 by the UN General Assembly. The International Youth Day was first observed in the year 2000; one of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the UN’s World Youth Awards to the eight Latin American and Caribbean youths and youth-related organizations, in Panama City, Republic of Panama.

      It’s generally noted that the youth is the main productive class or workforce of any society/nation. This is the sole reason anyone in a youthful stage sees himself as one of the major parts of the engine room of any society he belongs. To say the least, the youth remain the main building block of a given society, regardless of its size or location. Suffice it to say that, arguably, any society that cannot boast of, at least, a youth is not unlike a tree that is being deprived of its major root. This is why any country that has lost its youths to social vices invariably lives like a blind man as well as sleeps with both eyes open.

      The definition of the youth regarding age bracket varies from one school of thought to another. Though in a nutshell, it could be described as a group of young people who are in their adulthood stage. Hence, a youth is simply an adult or a fully grown person that is young. Considering the above description, two paramount factors constitute an average youth anywhere in the world, namely: adulthood and youngness. In other words, anyone addressed as a youth must be a young adult.

      Against this backdrop, it’s needless to reiterate the already established fact that the youth, especially the vibrant ones, constitute the major part of the engine room of any nation. When the youth are deeply involved in activism, there are usually greater chances of actualizing the prime motive of the cause. They are regarded as the only class that can vigorously pursue a societal goal with a high level of vitality owing to their nature. In view of this assertion, a society like the contemporary Nigeria, et al where the youth are relegated to the background, often finds it very difficult to accomplish the best of its goals as regards governance or societal uplift.

      As a result of the overwhelming positive attribute of the youth in any society, it’s extremely pathetic and mind-boggling to see a society comprising irrational ones. It’s not anymore news that presently, about ninety percent (90%) of the overall youths in most countries across the globe, particularly developing nations like Nigeria, South-Africa, Zimbabwe, Benin Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, and what have you, have intensely derailed thereby constituting series of inconsequential tantrums, cacophonies, as well as societal menace in various quarters. This might not be unconnected to why their absence is immensely felt in suchlike countries, in regard to youth involvement in nation building.  

      In Nigeria for instance; during the post-colonial era, or thereabouts, virtually every political position in the country was occupied by such youths who were mostly in their twenties as, but not limited to, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Chief Tafawa Balewa, Gen Murtala Mohammed, Gen Theophilus Danjuma, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, Gen Sani Abacha, Gen Shehu Musa Yar’adua, Gen Aguiyi Ironsi, Gen Chukwuemeka Odumegu-Ojukwu, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, and Gen Mohammadu Buhari. The list is undoubtedly endless.

      But today, the reverse is totally the case; you would hardly see a youth in his thirties becoming a commissioner in his/her home state, let alone occupying a ministerial position. Unequivocally, the ongoing profound apathy coupled with complete loss of vision among the majority of the new generation youths who occupy about one-third of the country’s population, calls for an outcry. The most worrisome aspect of their lukewarm attitudes remains, indulgence in partisanship when critical issues bordering the socio-economic and political status of the country are being deliberated.

      As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate the International Youth Day, I’m soliciting for awareness-raising campaigns to ensure that all the youths are fully sensitized towards reviving the ongoing alarming pace of moral decadence, docility, laxity, and mediocrity found among them. To this end, I call on the governments at all levels, non-governmental bodies, religious institutions, the civil society, mass media, and other relevant bodies, to join hands in this enticing crusade targeted toward salvaging our teeming youths from the lingering untold bondage, so that, in no distant time Nigeria can boast of a country filled with only resourceful, vision and conscience-driven youths.

      There’s indeed a compelling need to bring back this set of useful persons who have obviously gone astray, considering that the derailment in question is to the detriment of the country’s wellbeing. We must acknowledge that there cannot be better time for such laudable crusade than now, thus procrastination is needless. Without mincing words, a second delay is liable to causing an unspeakable mayhem.  

      We can contribute our respective quotas by initiating or sponsoring both social and academic activities such as youth seminars cum conferences on education and empowerment, concerts promoting the Nigerian youth as well as various sporting events, parades and mobile exhibitions that will showcase young people’s accomplishments with a view to thoroughly sensitizing the mindset of the said group on its civic responsibility, rights and privileges.

      If the gospel truth must be told; the youth are today’s leaders; hence, it’s pertinent for them to understand where they belong. This is the prime essence of the ongoing crusade. Hence, we must enjoin them to possess their possession without any fear or favour. It’s time they woke from slumber and do the needful as expected of them.

      The current leaders, on their part, must equally be willing to relinquish most leadership positions to the youth, or accommodate them, as the case may be. Unequivocally, the era of addressing them as ‘leaders of tomorrow’ has come and gone; so it’s high time we stopped the deceit and face reality. The earlier we comprehend such fact, the better for all of us and the country at large, thus prolonging the long awaited phase is completely inconsequential and unacceptable.

      Let’s borrow a leaf from the post-colonial era, where the youth were the major determinant, if we are truly determined to get it right. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Researcher, Blogger, Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador 

Alleged Budget Padding and Fate of Nigeria's Legislature

ALLEGED BUDGET PADDING AND FATE OF NIGERIA’S LEGISLATURE

      The last time I checked, the heat was really on in the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly (NASS), unwholesome to the polity though. The ongoing melodrama isn’t unconnected to what recently transpired in the said chamber. It would be called that penultimate month, precisely on Wednesday 20^th July 2016, the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation in the person of Mr. Abdulmunin Jibrin was outrightly removed by the Speaker of the House, Mr. Yakubu Dogara following a misunderstanding that emanated between the duo who are both members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

     The aforementioned misunderstanding that led to an altercation was occasioned by a claim made by the ousted officer, Mr. Jibrin that the Speaker – Mr. Dogara and three other principal lawmakers allocated projects worth about #40 billion in the just approved 2016 budget, to themselves, out of the #100 billion earmarked for the constituency projects of all lawmakers. It’s worth noting that soonest after his removal, on Friday 22^nd July 2016 to be precise, the other nine legislators that constitute the appropriation committee headed for the press to refute the accusation towards attesting their unalloyed support for the accused speaker.

     The rebuttal read thus, ‘…The Honourable Speaker is a decent man, a man of high intellect, integrity and character, who cannot descend to the gutter where Hon Abdulmunin Jibrin holds sway.’ The press briefing went further to state that the Speaker, Mr. Dogara didn’t need to do so considering that all the honourable members were adults who could hold their own positions and could as well defend themselves without any fear or favour.

     Reacting to the press statement, the Kano legislator Mr. Jibrin, particularly representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in the NASS, said vocally that the nine lawmakers who addressed the press conference to throw their unflinching support behind the speaker in the alleged budget padding scandal were induced with about $20 thousand each. According to him, the lawmakers in question agreed to participate in such a ‘dishonourable’ press outing having ‘shamelessly’ collected the money that was allegedly distributed among them two days earlier. Similarly, on Wednesday 3^rd August 2016, Mr. Jibrin further allegedly disclosed that the embattled speaker bribed some Honourable members with $25 thousand each to sign Vote of Confidence on him.

      The Speaker of the House, Mr. Dogara had in a statement gave the purported whistle-blower a seven-day ultimatum to tender an unreserved apology to him and retract all allegations made against him or face legal action. The latter, however, described the ‘legal action’ threat as ‘quite predicable’, thereby insisted that he would not and would never apologize to the speaker as demanded, stating that his allegation held waters. The unperturbed Mr. Jibrin who has called for the immediate resignation of the speaker, also disclosed that his lawyers had already approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

       In his petition against Speaker Dogara among three others including the Deputy Speaker – Mr. Yusuf Lasun, the Chief Whip – Mr. Alhassan Doguwa, and the Minority Leader – Mr. Leo Ogor coupled with the documents to backup the allegations tendered to the EFCC upon request, Mr. Jibrin who expressed readiness to help fight corruption in the NASS, called for security of the appropriation office as well as his office at the NASS where more indicting documents could be found. In view of this, the Department of the State Security Service (DSS) stormed the NASS on Saturday 30^th July 2016 to seal the secretariat of the Appropriation Committee and therein took possession of all workstations inside it. The outing equally led to the closure of Mr. Jibrin’s office.

      At the moment, any concerned Nigerian or well-meaning individual ought to be concerned about the way forward. The way forward remains ensuring that the ongoing investigation by the EFCC and other petitioned authorities is concluded as soon as possible toward enabling the agencies to head for a court of competent jurisdiction. Such manner of accusation, which involves a criminal case, cannot be possibly swept under the carpet; hence, the accused persons/officers deserve to be duly prosecuted in earnest in order to free the Nigerian polity from this uncalled state of quagmire.

      If we must tell ourselves the gospel truth, we would boldly attest to the fact that the lingering allegations cum counter-allegations accompanied by rebuttals, which have generated unwonted and bilious tantrums, aren’t in any way healthy to the Nigerian state as well as the awaited governance. The lingering uproar, which isn’t unusual to the Nigeria’s overall legislature, has made teeming Nigerians in various quarters to insinuate that the country’s legislative arm is under a spell. Of course, for quite some time now, there’s no day that comes into limelight that we wouldn’t hear of or witness a pandemonium coming from a certain state/federal legislative chamber; if it isn’t impeachment saga, it would be alleged sexual abuse or whatever.

      It’s deeply baffling and mind-boggling that barely few weeks after the leadership of the NASS’ Red Chamber was accused of forgery over the Senate Standing Rules, its counterpart in the Green Chamber refused to convince the electorate that the highly respected legislators are in the NASS to protect our national interest. This, no doubt, portrays a great danger to the intensely anticipated change. The scenario is just obviously not unlike a situation where someone who is ostensibly fighting the devil with you turns out to be the devil.

      Indeed, as it stands, nobody knows what the fate of the Nigeria’s legislature in its entirety entails. This significantly implies that, if adequate measure isn’t taken, the country’s well-being is liable to be doomed, considering that the legislature of any existing nation remains her backbone. To this end, the various relevant law enforcement agencies must act drastically with a sole view to salvaging us from this tainted omen.

      Right now, several rights groups and what have you, are calling for Mr. Speaker’s resignation. Since it’s apparent that the embattled speaker can only resign over his dead body, though he can be mandated to step down while the ongoing investigations last, there’s no gain reiterating that the judiciary is seen as the country’s messiah at this critical point. But, come to think of it; can we wholeheartedly entrust this task to the said arm, especially as we are already earnestly and desirously awaiting several verdicts, which seem not forthcoming, from its various juries? Think about it!  

 Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

 Twitter: @mediambassador            

      

          

Reducing Imo Workers' Working Days to Three

REDUCING IMO WORKERS’ WORKING DAYS TO THREE

      The last time I checked, the five existing working days of civil cum public servants in Imo State had been graciously reduced to three days, precisely from Monday to Wednesday, by the state governor Chief Rochas Okorocha. The state chief executive officer who made the disclosure two weeks ago, on Friday 29^th July 2016 to be precise, during his meeting with the delegation of Imo Royal fathers in Agriculture led by Eze Chidume Okoro, stated that the two days of grace including Thursday and Friday would be utilized strictly for farming.

     According to the governor, the declaration was informed by the urgent need to engage the teeming workers in the state’s new agricultural programme ‘Back to land for agriculture’ that was to commence on 1^st August 2016, which is expected to last for one calendar year. The governor who categorically made it clear that workers on essential duties to include those in the information, health, security, teaching and IGR drive sectors as well as political appointees are exempted from the free working days, went further to disclose that the bill for the initiative would be sent to the state’s House of Assembly for legal backing.

      It would be recalled that prior to the said declaration, the governor had during an interactive session with journalists in Owerri revealed that the state Executive Council was considering slashing the working days of Imo civil servants from the normal five days to three, to avail them the opportunity of engaging in other businesses or economic activities towards earning extra income to augment their respective salaries.

      As a constitution and rights activist, it’s pertinent to let the amiable governor comprehend fully that he had derailed by even thinking of such idea let alone making it public. Announcing suchlike policy is simply unconstitutional and lawless. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) constitutionally prescribed, at least, forty (40) hours per week to be spent by any public servant anywhere in the world; and the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, abides by the directive. This implies that the issue of workers’ working days isn’t even an affair to be deliberated by a group of state legislators let alone an individual in a position of authority.

     Our leaders must stop playing politics with constitutional matters, especially highly sensitive ones like this. They must learn to treat the constitution as a sacred document, or see its contents as sacrosanct. Putting up suchlike controversial policy or initiative unannounced is not unlike creating room for anarchy. The basic and rudimentary role of any executive leader is to fiercely safeguard the constitution guiding the society led by him/her, and not the other way round.

      It’s more troubling and mind-boggling that the idea came up when we are deeply concerned about the ongoing indolence on the part of the public servants. I’ve always been of the view that five days a week aren’t even enough for the workers to put up effective and efficient services; now we are discussing just three days. In other words, the well celebrated governor is encouraging the workers to be marred by laxity or apathy, which doesn’t augur well for the state. Even if the prime motive of the measure is to enable the workers create other sources of income, the free hours they already enjoy every week is sufficient for such intent if truly the worker is determined to diversify his/her income source.

      Funnily enough, the leader in question never bothered to discuss the opinion with other leaders or stakeholders before announcing it. Is he leading alone? Without mincing words, one person cannot lead a society, regardless of its size, talk more of a society like Imo State. A leader ought to learn to carry others along; the opinion of his/her subjects should equally be considered as paramount whenever such critical matter is being proposed.

      Besides, who told Gov Okorocha that the best way to encourage agriculture is by reducing the workers’ working days? The moment the news got to my desk, the first thing that occurred in my mind was that the governor lacked an adviser on agriculture. Even at that, he would have adequately consulted the cognoscenti before making his idea known to the general public, particularly Imolites. He may have a laudable and genuine mission as regards agriculture to execute, but the bitter truth is that he started wrongly.

       However, His Excellency never told us how he intends to monitor the workers toward ensuring that the free days in question are judiciously utilized as expected. For crying out loud; farming practices can be encouraged in so many ways without thwarting the healthiness of the civil/public service. The workers can be encouraged to massively embark on farming without asking them to work for only three days per week, contrary to the existing five working days. Someone who goes to work by 8am and comes back by 3pm on a daily basis, and only during the weekdays, has all the time in the world to participate actively in agriculture.

      Aside the workers, there are other groups that can be encouraged to embrace farming. For instance; the pensioners, if properly mobilized, can do wonders regarding the anticipated agricultural development. What they need is just the required funds coupled with farming incentives. What about the teeming jobless youths roaming the various streets/roads of the state on an hourly basis? Can’t they be mobilized as well as equipped to go into agriculture? So many jobless Imolites are earnestly yearning for an opportunity to venture into farming, but pathetically, the longed opportunity isn’t seemingly forthcoming.

      Agriculture which has been reckoned to be a very lucrative occupation cum business has abruptly become a thing of mockery not just in Imo State but Nigeria at large. We really need to go back to the drawing board. When everything is apparently going wrongly in any field of human endeavour, the most apt thing to do is to retrace our steps back to the genesis. In view of this, I enjoin Gov Rochas Okorocha, whom I owe an explicit respect for, to please for the interest of the state in general, reverse this policy in earnest and revisit the drawing board.

      Frankly, adjusting the working timeframe of the workers to between 7am and 4pm daily, unlike the usual 8am to 3pm, cannot in any way heal the wound this newly implemented measure/policy would cause the state in the long run, thus let’s make hay while the Sun shines. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Researcher, Blogger, Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador