ShortStory I Greater Day Ahead (II)

 

GREATER DAY AHEAD (II)

        One week later, as God would have it, his church raised the required fund on his behalf. In consequence to this, his Pastor accompanied him to his school for the awaited registration. It was indeed a miracle just like his mother kept telling him.

        Prior to the exam period, Uzo left no stone unturned towards ensuring that he made distinction in all his subjects. He was thoroughly determined to make his mum who he regarded as an ‘angel’ proud. He was a notable science student in his school that in every interschool exhibition/competition involving the school, he must be the school’s representative or one of the representatives as might be the case.

        When the results were released in August 1994, he came out with flying colours just as he anticipated. More interestingly, he was not just the best candidate among his set/peers but was the overall best in the whole of Lagos State. As regards the amazing performance, he was granted a scholarship by the state’s government to study his dream course, Medicine and Surgery in any university across the federation.

          His mum, Ugonma couldn’t hold her joy. On hearing the latest development, she felt like running from Lagos to Abia State – her home state. She alongside her entire family dedicated the rare victory to God. And, she challenged her other four children to follow suit. They were made to realize that their elder brother had laid a tremendous foundation for them, hence had no reason to fail.

          The following year being 1995, Uzo sat for the University Matriculation Examination (UME) – now known as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). He enrolled for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to study Medicine.

        Consequently, he made an excellent grade when the result came out later in the year, and he successfully secured admission in the university on merit toward the end of the year in question.

          Before he departed for the campus, he had an indoor one-on-one meeting that lasted for several minutes, if not hours, with his wonderful and darling mother.

        “Uzo my son,” Ugonma called. “I have always told you that God makes a way where there seems to be no way.”

         Uzo grinned, visualizing the memory lane.

         They were seated on separate plastic chairs situated in their humble room. Ugonma who was plump, about 4.8-foot tall and chocolate, was putting on a pink casual dress and barefooted. On his part, Uzo was clad in multiple-coloured knickers, green polo spotted with white colour and equally barefooted; he was slim, fair and about 5.5-foot tall – he was a reminiscent of his late father. They were seated directly opposite each other, but very closely.

        “Now you can see for yourself.” she proceeded. “Of course you have seen how miraculous our Lord is.”

        “Mum, you are absolutely right.” he responded. “He is indeed a miracle working God.”

        “I am happy for you, my son.”

        “Thank you mum.”

        “Now that you are in the university.” she proceeded, calmly grabbed his two hands with hers respectively. “You must not forget where you are coming from.”

         She continued relentlessly till both of them became saturated. It was a holistic counselling section.

         The following three days, Uzo left for the campus. While in the university, as an ardent and gifted singer as well as one who could play an organ perfectly, he never abandoned his artistic talent rather he became more devoted to the calling.

         As time progressed, as a first year medical student and a well brought up chap, Uzo was taking three major things very seriously; they were – his prayers, studies and talent. He resisted everything that was liable to make him a failure.

         Amazingly, his singing talent took him round the state and beyond owing to uncountable public functions as well as competitions he was engaged in, that at a point, he was chosen to represent Nigeria in one international singing competition that involved students of various tertiary institutions in the world.

         In the aforesaid competition, Uzo emerged as the overall best. In addition to the astonishing prizes attached to the award which included hundred thousand US dollars, a duplex in Lagos State and a Range Over Jeep, the organizer of the event – the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – issued him a scholarship to study his discipline in any university of his choice across the globe up to any level. But Uzo chose to remain in UNILAG so he would not be far from his beloved family.

         On receiving the incredible news, his mother Ugonma passed out due to overwhelming euphoria but regained her wellness after forty-eight hours in a hospital bed.

         Little did the poor widow know that, there was a greater day that lied ahead when her son was granted a scholarship by the Lagos State government.

        From that moment onwards, their family’s life changed overnight. Everything including food, clothes and adequate shelter became available. To assert the least, they never lacked again.

       The rest is history, please.

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

_____________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador 

 

 

 

          

          

Opinion I Today is World Water Day!

PROMOTING REGULAR INTAKE OF CLEAN WATER AS THE 2018 WORLD WATER DAY IS COMMEMORATED ON THURSDAY MARCH 22

     

      

Today, Thursday March 22, the world over is marking the 2018 World Water Day. The international World Water Day is held annually across the globe as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This year’s theme is ‘Nature for Water.’

         

Water is a clear, colourless and transparent liquid that has no taste or smell, and that is required for the survival of all plant and animal lives. In the same vein, a large amount or area of either natural or manmade water such as lake, pond, pool, river, sea, ocean, and so on, can be referred to as water or waters.

        

Water, which is as old as the world, is consumed as food by both animals and humans, and it is also required in various fields of endeavour or human activities including, farming, cooking, manufacturing, sports, bath, hand washing, brushing of teeth, laundry, sanitation cum other forms of domestic and environmental activities, just to mention but a few.

         

The functions of water in the body ranging from cell life, to chemical and metabolic reactions, transport of nutrients, body temperature regulation, elimination of waste or toxic substances, among others, are numerous and innumerable. Water is a carrier that distributes essential nutrients such as minerals, vitamins and glucose, to cells. Furthermore, it removes waste products including toxins rejected by the cells through urines, sweats and faeces. It also participates in the biochemical breakdown of whatever we consume.

         

Inter alia, water has a large heat capacity which helps to limit changes in body temperature in a warm or a cold environment. It allows the body to release heat when ambient temperature is higher than body temperature. Most importantly, water is an effective lubricant around joints; it also acts as a shock absorber for eyes, brain, spinal cord, and even for the foetus through amniotic fluid.

         

Water is indeed at the centre of life. This is why nobody can live more than three to five days without any water intake. Suffice to say that, its role in the body is not just important, but inevitable. It has succeeded in proving to mankind that it is the most important form of food among the six classes of food in existence.

        

 Considering the agricultural sector; the absence of water would simply cripple the entire activity in the aforementioned area thereby terminating the lives of crops or livestock, as the case may be. Same is obtainable in the manufacturing industry, like the pharmaceutical firms, bakery and breweries, that requires water as one of the basic raw-materials for its day-to-day activities.

         

The positive impact of water on cooking and other household cum industrial works, is another factor that cannot be taken for granted whenever the societal importance of water is discussed. It is noteworthy that without water, most other forms of food or diet would not be prepared or provided. On the other hand; swimming, which is one of the most lucrative kinds of sporting activities in recent times, wouldn’t have been founded if water is not obtainable.

         

As it is widely noted that the significance of water to mankind cannot be overemphasized, it is also worthy to note that intake of dirty or impure water remains one of the primary causes of several diseases or infections such as, typhoid, diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, staphylococcus and other sexually transmitted diseases, experienced across the globe.

         

Without mincing words, statistics show that over sixty percent (60%) of death rate recently is attributed to consumption of unclean water as well as residing in an unsafe environment. We shouldn’t forget that accommodating dirty stagnant water such as gutter, pool et cetera, in our environments or vicinities attracts mosquito which remains the sole cause of a killer disease known as malaria. According to the United Nations (UN) findings; 768 million people worldwide lack access to improved water sources while 2.5 billion persons have no improved sanitation.

         

As the global community commemorates the World Water Day, I call on all stakeholders and the civil society to pledge to develop the policies needed to ensure that sustainable water and energy are secured for the many and not just the few as it is presently the case. In this regard, we should ensure that our respective communities are provided with adequate and safe water sources.

          

On their part; the various ministries of Water Resources and their Environment counterparts, ought to ensure that adequate and reliable boreholes are sunk in every community that is related to them and also endeavour to sponsor series of radio/television jingles to sensitize the populace on the unavoidable role of clean water as well as safe environment. The various Water Corporations are also expected to live up to the expectations. 

         

Similarly, there’s equally an urgent need to monitor borehole drilling by residents in various quarters with a view to avoiding any future manmade disaster such as earthquake or what have you. Improper sinking of borehole and other related activities poses environmental threat to the affected dwellers.

          

Among all, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) ought to, from time to time, endeavour to checkmate the activities of the various registered water companies. Also, it should not hesitate to sanction or closedown any one that is set up illicitly.

           

Most importantly, in our individual capacities, we ought to endeavour to properly boil any water we intend to drink, and also adequately sanitize any stagnant pool of water within our surroundings as well as fumigate the said environments when necessary, in order to guarantee purity and thorough sanitary thereby boasting the safety and well-being of our bodies. To before warned is to before armed. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador                    

Opinion I On The Controversy Trailing NASS' Pay Package

ON THE CONTROVERSY TRAILING NASS’ PAY PACKAGE

        

There are three major arms of government in any democratic terrain to include the executive, legislature and the judiciary. The legislature, which is our subject matter, is a group of people with the power to make and pass laws. We aren’t unaware the crucial and inevitable role of law-making in every existing country across the globe, hence Nigeria isn’t an exception.

       

Nigeria operates a bicameral system of legislature, whereby the country’s legislative responsibilities are shared among two separate assemblies. They are regarded as the Upper (Red) and Lower (Green) Chambers otherwise called the Senate and the Federal House of Representatives, respectively.

       

It’s noteworthy that a bill can originate from either chambers but cannot become law until it has been duly passed by both as well as assented to by the President. However, constitutionally, the Legislature can override the President’s veto, if both assemblies agree to do so with a two-third majority vote of its overall members after thirty days.

        

In recent times, many in various quarters have opined that the bicameral legislative mode being operated in Nigeria is an epitome of bureaucracy. According to them, the system has bedevilled the country’s financial status. This has overtime ensued tremendous debates among concerned citizens both home and in the Diaspora.

        

It seems the set of Nigerians with the above notion was vindicated penultimate week. In the period in review, during his interaction with the TheNews Magazine, the lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani reportedly disclosed that each of the legislators in the Red Chamber goes home every month with N13.5 million as ‘running cost’ allowance. He further informed that that was in addition to the N750,000 monthly consolidated salary coupled with other allowances the senators invariably receive.

        

It’s worthy of note that ever since the shocking revelation was publicly made, the colleagues of the whistle blower have began to condemn such an abrupt gesture. In their words, they could not expect Sen. Sani to act as the Spokesman of the Senate let alone ‘misinforming’ the people. Having claimed that the notice was false and unfounded, they feared that it could make their respective constituents lose their trust in them.

        

It is apparent that Sen. Sani who is a well known activist may have spoken against the wish of his colleagues. Little wonder they reacted in a displeased mood, stating that the said legislator had brought his ‘silly’ activism cause to the Senate. But, the question is; why did they think it wise to refute such information that bears an element of truism? Does it imply that they are not only seeing Sen. Sani as a ‘silly activist’ but an insane lawmaker?

       

This is exactly reminding me of the case of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin who sometime ago equally blew a whistle in the legislature, the Green Chamber though. At the time, Hon. Jibrin disclosed that the country’s 2017 budget was ‘padded’ by his fellow legislators. In consequence to the unexpected avowal, his colleagues ganged up against him and subsequently succeeded in suspending the poor lawmaker who was seemingly standing alone.

        

In the same vein, Sen. Sani’s colleagues are ostensibly making a frantic move on how to silence him. They are perhaps of the view that relegating the whistle blower to the background would enable them to discredit his confession. Whatever move they intend to make, they ought to acknowledge that the actual figure, which has long been shrouded in secrecy, has eventually been divulged.

         

A discussion has been on that some persons venture into politics for service whilst a few others do so for self. I cannot concur less with the belief that several Nigerians participate in the aforementioned profession for the sake of the latter. This is the reason, for instance, a lawmaker having collected his/her constituency allowance, rather than using the fund for what it is meant for, would end up siphoning it into his personal purse.

        

Our politicians are really taking advantage of the civil servants. In other words, the former is obviously cheating the latter. How could one reconcile the fact that a lawmaker that sits at intervals and also goes on a recess is entitled to a bogus monthly allowance of N13.5m or thereabouts while a civil servant that works on a daily basis receives a minimum wage of N18,000? No wonder a Nigerian politician, on the average, is apparently ready to kill just to win an election.

        

Each day, we are being reminded that Nigeria is passing through recession, yet the pay package of a certain group of workers is enough to revive the country’s moribund refineries as well as resuscitate her dying institutions. The acknowledgement of such occurrence does not in any way bring hope for the weary citizenry. Hence, the time has arrived for us to take our future into our hands.

       

The public servants, particularly the political leaders, must take into cognizance that they were only mandated to plough our land, and not to plunder it. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

 

   

ShortStory I Greater Day Ahead

GREATER DAY AHEAD

        “When would this suffering end?” Uzo soliloquized. “Or, could it be for eternity?”

         Uzo whose father died four years back after a brief illness when he (Uzo) was barely thirteen, was lamenting alone right in his family’s bedroom. He was obviously an exemplarily brilliant chap who was about sitting for his Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) which included WAEC and NECO. Apart from his academic excellence, he was an out-and-out child every parent wished to behold.

         Uzo who happened to be the first child among him and his four siblings, was residing in Lagos State with his family. It’s noteworthy that the whole family was living in only one-room apartment. That was where they had been managing since two years back life became tougher and unbearable than it was.

         What actually prompted the above lamentation was owing to the fact that the poor boy was yet to register for the aforesaid exams because the needed fund was not available. What else could he do than to wallow in anguish?

         His mother, Ugonma who just obtained her National Certificate in Education (NCE) via in-service programme was a primary school teacher, and was in Grade Level 5. She actually entered the Civil Service few years back with her Senior School Certificate. Life wasn’t in any way easy with her; taking care of a family of six including herself was not unlike asking a palm wine tapper to ensure that he produced at least five kegs of palm wine from a particular palm tree on a daily basis.   
         Indeed, the poignant state of the family was seriously telling on every of its member.

        “God,” Uzo called sorrowfully. “Please, come and rescue me from this unending bondage.” He cried, looking at the ceiling.

        “Why can’t I be like Musa?” He wondered. “Or, Segun?”

          Musa and Segun were his classmates whose parents were well-to-do; their respective drivers drove them to school daily. Just like the saying invariably goes ‘all fingers are not equal’.

          Hence, he kept on wondering if his own world was different from that of his aforementioned colleagues, but more pitiably, his candid questions were left unanswered.

         He therein began to sing frantically. He was an ardent singer since his childhood. In his church, he happened to be one of the gifted and respected choristers in spite of his tender age.

         The soliloquy continued unabated not until his mother who was busy in the kitchen entered the room to checked on him having sensed his absence, unknowingly to her that her precious and lovable son had almost committed suicide.

          Uzo’s face coupled with the pillow that was lying on his thighs was covered with fathomless tears. He was helplessly sitting on a bed.

         “Uzo...!” His mum exclaimed as soon as she walked into the room, hastily walked to the bed and sat very closely to him, tenderly placed her left arm on his shoulders. “Uzo my son.” She soberly called.

         “Mum,” He managed to dish out.

         “Why are you doing this to yourself?”

           It was on Saturday morning at about some minutes past nine O’clock, and a very sunny moment. His siblings were as usual busy catching their funs outside.

         “At 17, you are not meant to bother yourself so much about things of this world.” Ugonma asserted, paused.

           He adjusted himself a bit.

         “Besides,” She rode on. “That you are poor this year 1994 doesn’t imply you remain poor by next year.”

        “Who knows if I would be alive till next year?” He thought aloud.

        “Stop saying that.” she scolded. “Where does your faith lie?”

          Uzo remained calm, couldn’t utter a word.

        “Is this what I have been teaching you?” she queried, frowning. “I keep telling you that God knows everything we are passing through in this family.”

          He seemingly became sober.

        “And only He knows the expiring date.”

          His calm posture that abruptly metamorphosed into a pensive countenance was really absorbing the opium.

         Ugonma’s pious nature had obviously helped in her children’s upbringing. Each day that passed in the family was loaded with the needed recipe as regards faith uplift. That was the only gold the poor widow could offer them come rain come shine.

         “That you are yet to register for your SSCE does not mean you won’t sit for the exams.” She faithfully assured.

          This time, Uzo became stronger emotionally and psychologically.

         “Don’t worry,” Ugonma continued. “God will surely provide the money, okay?”

           He nodded passionately as he remained seated on the weary bed.

         “So, wipe your tears.”

          Ugonma who was only putting on a single purplish wrapper, partially untied it and used it to assist him in wiping out the tears in his face.

          Thereafter, she made effort to rise him up from the bed and he complied accordingly. “Come and help me in the kitchen.” she urged the moment he rose.

        “Okay mum.” He wholeheartedly concurred without hesitation.

          To be continued, please.

 

Fred Doc Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador 

 

Opinion I Imo Government, The Church And Imolites

IMO GOVERNMENT, THE CHURCH AND IMOLITES

        

The last time I checked, there was a perceived rift between the Imo State Government led by Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Catholic communion in the state’s capital under the leadership of Archbishop Anthony Obinna.

       

The difference seemed to have emanated penultimate month from a certain burial ceremony that held in the state, precisely Owerri North LGA. In the said event, Archbishop Obinna was reportedly spotted in the church lamenting over all the perceived ill activities being carried out by the Gov. Okorocha-led government otherwise known as the ‘Rescue Mission’ Administration.

         

In a swift reaction to the lamentations, the governor’s allies therein allegedly assaulted the clergy. It’s noteworthy that the Archbishop had afterwards publicly refuted the rumour that his person received an assault from the aides of the state’s number one citizen. Notwithstanding, the spokesman of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese in the person of Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu, on his own accord, insisted that his principal was actually assaulted.

         

I could not reconcile the two distinct public speeches separately given by the religious leader and his subject. The two different press statements were obvious indication that someone somewhere was trying to play prangs on the people. Please, don’t get my assertion twisted, because the truth of the matter remains that something is definitely missing somewhere.

        

However, some concerned Imolites have opined that the archbishop’s press release was not unconnected with the clergy’s intent to forestall likely societal upheaval or chaos. In other words, he might have foresaw that an uproar would ensue if he aligned with the report that he was assaulted, or even insulted, by the protégés of the Imo Governor.

        

At this point, I wish to candidly ask; who is really misinforming who? How could the archbishop clarify the people that he was never assaulted and his ally would on the other hand disqualify his boss’ notice? I’m still trying to fathom what exactly went wrong.

       

Be it as it may, I want to sincerely analyze what transpired in the church during the aforementioned burial ceremony. It was gathered that the archbishop, having aired his view, handed the microphone over to a certain politician believed to be of the extraction of the opposition political platform, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). And the political juggernaut therein began to pour out series of criticisms targeted to the APC-led government right before the congregation as well as the lying corpse.

        

When I got the news, I didn’t hesitate to ascertain if a requiem Mass was in the long run converted to a political gathering. How could a place designated for last respect to be paid to a deceased person be eventually used for political jamboree? Honestly, if I were the person in the casket, I would have without much ado become a living being just for the purpose of descending on whosoever that derailed in the process, because such a gesture was a slap on the soul  of the deceased.

         

I won’t hesitate to declare that the governor’s supporters equally derailed on that fateful day. How could an individual in his/her right senses think of insulting an ordained man of God let alone making it public? Such attitude of theirs was an eyesore, to assert the least. Even if the archbishop wasn’t assaulted as claimed, the fact remains that there was an attempt to abuse his priesthood.

         

No matter the provocation, a conspicuous attempt to humiliate an anointed individual is enough reason to scold whosoever that thought of such an act talk less of displaying it. Anyone who fails to condemn such manner of retaliation in its entirety is actually concealing evil, hence deserves to be scolded too. The best thing they could have done at that point was to leave the scene if they were really hurt. After all, two wrongs do not make a right.

        

Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that this piece was not informed by some persons’ quest to aggravate the perceived existing rift between the church and the state’s government; rather, was necessitated by the need to mediate between the ‘warring’ parties with a view to bringing an everlasting end to the ongoing uncalled melodrama.

        

I’ve chosen to remain mute all these while because I don’t like to speak or react when many are still talking. No matter how long it took my pensive pen to react, the fact is that I cannot claim ignorance of such serious issue trending in a state in which I’m a stakeholder. It suffices to say that I’m bound to do the needful whenever such a matter comes into play; and the needful is to play the role of a mediator come rain come shine.

         

Hence, at this juncture, I’m earnestly appealing to all concerned to endeavour to sheath their sword. What Imo need right now is to face a subject matter that would usher in nothing but absolute oneness. The people of the state are already divided owing to political interests, thus we shouldn’t harbour anything that could bring further division among us. The Eastern heartland is at the moment seriously in search of harmony and peaceful coexistence among her people.

        

Everyone or any human creature is arguably an affiliate of the church. This is the reason anything that affects the church, in one way or the other, equally affects the human race. So, we wouldn’t want the church to be aggrieved with the government because we cannot cope with her ‘venom’ which she may vomit when pushed to the wall.

       

All in all, not minding who had wronged who at the burial ceremony, or so far, I enjoin the governor to swallow his pride towards ensuring that an unalloyed apology is tendered on behalf of his allies or the government in general. This is the best way a formidable harmony can be actualized among every party involved. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Doc Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

___________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador

                 

Opinion I Death Sentence For Hate Speech?

DEATH SENTENCE FOR HATE SPEECH?

         

As days unfold, it seems every political leader in Nigeria is deeply concerned about how all sorts of deviant acts would be tactically flushed out of the country’s system in its entirety. This is perhaps the reason different forms of bills pertaining to criminality or social deviance won’t cease to flood our various lawmaking chambers, both at the federal and state levels.

         

Presently, in the National Assembly (NASS), there is a certain bill lying on the floor of the hallowed chamber that’s targeted at ending every kind of ‘hate speech’, which is at the moment the order of the day mainly on the new media platform otherwise referred to as the social media. It’s being sponsored by the Spokesman of the Red Chamber, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi.

         

The bill, which seeks establishment of an ‘Independent National Commission for Hate Speech’ that would enforce hate speech laws across the country as well as advise the federal government in that regard, if passed into law, shall grant a ‘not less than five-year jail term or a fine of not less than N10 million, or both, for offences such as harassment on the grounds of ethnicity or racial contempt.

          

Among other prescriptions captured in the amazing bill, it’s further advocating that upon conviction, hate speech offenders ought to face the hangman’s noose; meaning literally that a convicted culprit shall be facing a death sentence via hanging. The particular clause that’s seeks capital punishment actually concerns hate speech that resulted in the death of someone.

        

This bill if eventually signed into law, will unequivocally be in disagreement with Section 39 (1) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, that allows freedom of expression. The said section empowers Nigerians to freely hold opinions as well as receive and impart ideas cum information without interference. Hence, the NASS probably is equally thinking of how to amend this very section.

         

Criminalizing an activity – free speech – that showcases the true mark of any democratic terrain is enough indication that the people we elected to represent us have abruptly turned against our collective existence. The truth is that, the so-called hate speech does not in any way deserves to be tagged a criminal act let alone warranting a death sentence.

         

It’s mind boggling that this is happening at a time every bloc across the globe, particularly the United Nations (UN), is seriously condemning prescription of capital punishment as a penalty for any kind of conviction whatsoever; at an era when rational thinkers consider such type of sentence as barbaric and archaic; at a period various civil societies are advocating life imprisonment as the greatest punishment to be served by any court of law irrespective of the nature of the offence.

        

The reason life sentence should be preferred to that of death has overtime been made clear. One might be erroneously sentenced, thus if such person is serving a life imprisonment, the judgement could be revisited in the long run when an authentic alibi, or as may be the case, is eventually tendered to the court that convicted him/her. Hence, it’s retrogressive for any legislature to advocate capital penalty at this 21^st century.

         

Besides, it’s baffling to acknowledge that till date, our revered legislators are yet to sponsor a bill that would prescribe the hangman’s noose upon conviction as regards a case involving looting. It’s indeed amusing, to assert the least, that this set of elected officers we look up to is still finding it difficult to align with our notion that looters ostensibly deserve capital punishment if convicted.

         

Why would someone who indulge in an act (looting) that could render thousands of Nigerians jobless and equally results in untimely death of several others be allowed to walk freely and boldly on the streets, but one who expresses his/her feelings or opinions toward the country’s leaders, or public servants in general, would be meant to serve a death sentence? How do we reconcile this? If your thought is as good as mine, then you will agree with me that the bill in question is simply controversial, hence doesn’t merit a second hearing let alone passing it.

        

Time has obviously arrived for us to start placing priorities in all our doings concerning governance. Our continuous misplacement of ‘scale of preference’ virtually in our everyday activity remains one of the basic reasons we often times move aback when expected to drive ahead. The collective yearnings of the people shouldn’t be shortchanged for our individual interests.

       

I’m as well using this medium to urge Nigerians as a people to be much focused whenever they are seeking governance. We ought not to allow our personal hatred for a certain public servant override our collective quest for good leadership. It’s more disturbing when realized that even the leaders seemingly don’t like themselves, thus on a daily basis, display speeches that bear hatred in the name of acting in opposition.

        

As much as I’m in support of the NASS’ dogged move to eradicate the so-called hate speech among Nigerians, it’s also worth noting that such movement isn’t meant to erode the fundamental rights of the people. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador            

      

            

Opinion I JAMB, Ongoing Melodrama And The EFCC

JAMB, ONGOING MELODRAMA AND THE EFCC

         

In the first Nollywood play pertaining to crime titled ‘Rattle snake’, it was one of the characters named Peter that referred the protagonist, Ahanna who happened to be his bosom friend to as ‘snake’ when the latter indulged himself in a certain criminal act.

       

The sobriquet was informed by a weird behaviour displayed by Ahanna in order not to be apprehended. The play, which was reportedly based on true life story, is reckoned to be a product of one of the best scripts ever written in the Nigeria’s movie industry.

         

This arguably implies that in some occasions, a human being could act not unlike a living snake. I can’t concur less with the assertion that emanated from the movie because I’ve personally come to realize that in our respective individual endeavours, we sometimes prefer to conceal our real features; an attitude which is similar to that of a snake.

         

As I dispassionately write on the above subject matter that mentions snake, I can’t help but deeply recall the aforementioned play that was produced over twenty decades ago. In the second week of February 2018, precisely on the 10^th, the news went viral that some proceeds amounting to about N36 million were allegedly swallowed by a ‘snake’ in the office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) situated in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

         

It would be recalled that in the past, applicants had to purchase scratch cards from JAMB state offices and other designated centres across Nigeria, to enable them gain access to the Board’s website for either registration or to check their admission status. But the reforms newly introduced by the current JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede put an outright end to the use of scratch cards.

        

Hence, a team of auditors was recently dispatched to different state offices of the JAMB to take inventory of the sold and unsold scratch cards as well as recover whatever money that might have either been generated or squandered during the period of the sale of scratch cards. Intriguingly, on their visit to the Makurdi office, the sales clerk Mrs. Philomina Chieshe disclosed that she could not account for the aforesaid amount, which she made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards in 2016.

         

The clerk claimed that her housemaid connived with another JAMB officer called Mrs. Joan Asen to ‘spiritually’ steal the proceeds from the vault in the accounts office. According to her, Mrs. Asen and her accomplices had confessed that they had been stealing from the proceeds through a mysterious snake that usually sneaked into the vault to swallow the money.

       

The bilious and actionable confession angered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) just as it did to other well-meaning Nigerians, hence the agency swiftly swing into action. Just  penultimate week – on Tuesday 6^th March 2018, which marked three weeks after the incident, the same Mrs. Chiesha upon the EFCC’s interrogations, eventually made a u-turn, revealing that the missing money was collected piecemeal by her coordinator Mr. Samuel Umoru.

        

She further tendered painstaking statistics, with dates, on how the withdrawals were made by her in line with the directives of the superior staff. The EFCC had reportedly verified the alleged withdrawals and afterwards arrested Mr. Umoru. At this point, it’s needless to state that every concerned Nigeria cannot wait to see how this intriguing melodrama would end, especially as it is under the control of the revered EFCC.

         

Whether the proceeds were mysteriously swallowed by a snake or embezzled by a human being, the fact remains that some snakes made away with the money. And in this case, Mrs. Chiesha ought to be regarded as a first-class ‘snake’. Of course, for her to have initially cooked up the story of a mysterious creature – be it in a sober mood or under the influence of anything whatsoever – makes her the most culpable individual in the ongoing melodrama.

         

This indicted theatre involving the JAMB does not deserve any pity in any way if the needful must be done. A holistic scrutiny needs to be conducted towards ascertaining why in the first place a ‘feat’ allegedly recorded by a human was credited to an animal. The opaque scenario must be unravelled headlong by the anti-graft agency or anybody involved. I still strongly believe that there’s more to the story than we can presently see.

         

It’s now conspicuous that corruption is seriously fighting back as was earlier alleged by the present government led by President Muhammadu Buhari. If not, how on earth could a public servant in his/her right senses anywhere in Nigeria think of squandering a whooping sum of N36m or thereabouts and when interrogated, would summon the courage to get the whole story twisted in spite of the ongoing war against graft?

         

It’s noteworthy that barely a few days after the Benue saga, yet another N26m was discovered missing in the JAMB office situated in Nasarawa State. It was gathered that the former Coordinator of the jurisdiction was responsible for the alleged embezzlement. The indicted officer whose name was simply given as Tanko, having confessed to the crime, claimed that the unsold scratch cards in his custody were burnt when he was involved in an auto crash.

        

All these, which reportedly transpired prior to the emergence of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, are strong indications that the said financial measure fully implemented by the President Buhari’s administration in the country’s public service is a welcome development thus ought to be sustained at all cost.

        

As Prof. Oloyede’s audit team uncovers these mysterious snakes that had long been hidden in various JAMB offices, there’s a compelling need for each of them to be tactically caught with a red-hot cage by the EFCC with a view to extracting their venoms without much ado. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador