Proposed May 28 Handover, Unconstitutional

PROPOSED MAY 28 HANDOVER, UNCONSTITUTIONAL

      

        

In the Nigerian political terrain, Sen David Mark made a remarkable history, precisely in June 2011, as the first Nigerian to become the President of the Senate for two consecutive terms. Indeed everyone look forward to making history including an ‘imbecile’, though not all histories are appropriate or acceptable.

        

On Wednesday April 1, 2015, as soon as the electoral umpire (INEC) announced the winner of the Presidential polls, virtually everyone rushed to the media, including social, electronic and print, to express his or her personal feelings. In view of this, one of the paramount opinions that were raised was that, at last democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. According to the public, for an incumbent President in an African country to be unseated, speaks volumes in the democratic development of the affected country. Suffice to say; a remarkable history was recorded in Nigeria on the aforementioned date.

        

Yes a history was made on April 1, 2015, but the overwhelming and astonishing one remains the concession of defeat that was wholeheartedly expressed or registered by President Goodluck Jonathan. In other words, some historic events or records could be far more extraordinary than others.

        

During my last trip to Asaba, Delta State, a bosom friend of mine who resides in the city told me unequivocally that he was yet to see a man or a leader loaded with absolute integrity than the present Nigerian President, Dr Jonathan. From my perspective, I told him, though President Jonathan tried in saving the nation from a possible state of anarchy or chaos, but sometimes we might not really explain how things transpire in our lives. I made effort to let him acknowledge the spiritual aspect of the step taken by the leader in question.

        

Of course there is no need reiterating the fact that the peaceful outcome of the Presidential polls was as a result of the Almighty’s timely intervention and not by any human effort as being presumed. Needless to say that, if God wasn’t by our side, Mr President would have reacted differently contrary to the exemplary gesture he showcased. Acknowledging this singular fact would enable us to give God the deserved glory each time we discuss the said epoch-making occasion.

        

Right now, almost every Nigerian is anxious or cannot wait to embrace the forthcoming handover ceremony, which is constitutionally expected to take place on Friday May 29, 2015. Regarding the handover, several concerned Nigerians, likewise myself, are currently apprehensive or filled with mixed feelings which is not unconnected to the news making the rounds that the incumbent administration intends to hand over Power to the incoming one on Thursday May 28, contrary to the date stipulated in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is May 29.

         

I grew up to comprehend the fact that the content of the constitution, bye-law or the Act as the case may be, of any organization/society remains sacrosanct and must be treated as such unless until any of its section or subsection is duly altered or amended by the concerned authority or apt quarters. If such mandate still holds water, I wonder why the Presidency would want to act otherwise, or propose to hand over the helm of affairs on May 28 which is wholly unconstitutional. 

         

I’m of the view that an action or intended plan that is candid and genuine may awaken a state of imbroglio if wrongly expressed or implemented. Sure, the Presidency might not have any skeleton in their cupboard or any sinister motive, but for the fact that the proposed exercise is against the directive of our law as well as the expectation of the people, I suggest they have a rethink.

        

This is not a matter of reaching an agreement; even if the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the incoming administration concurs with the proposal, I still don’t believe it would be fair and legitimate for such intended practice to take place; it won’t be healthy to the nation at all. This is about Nigeria; it is about the entire citizenry; it is about the electorate; it is about the nation’s nobility; it’s about the impression we are about to create in the sight of the international community; it’s about the anticipated implication of the intended illegitimate act.

         

If I’m to air my view, I would say without mincing words that the proposed May 28 handover is not just an innuendo but a misconceived plan that is liable to create a mischievous circumstance. No gain saying that; it is not unlike placing a round peg in a square hole. Even seemingly innocuous plans or intentions, in certain contexts, are taken to be offensive, not to talk of when our constitution which its content is bound to be kept sacred is about to be abused.

        

The judiciary, which remains the law custodian, must come in at this juncture; they shouldn’t be silent at a time their services are needed most. They ought not to await our reminder before they do what is expected of them, or before they take up their due responsibility. Or, are they on sabbatical? I’m just thinking aloud.

         

Since I was ten, I was taught that no one is mightier than the law, not even the makers. Thus, a different impression must not be cited before our young ones, for posterity sake. We should note that as we lead, some other persons are rightly watching our footsteps; so we must endeavour to showcase exemplary ideas at all times in order not to mislead our teeming followers. Mind you; he who thinks he is leading but has no one following him, is only taking a walk.

         

I know Nigeria is in a hurry to embrace ‘a change’, but on the contrary, she can’t afford to encounter a comatose state. To be frank; the history the Presidency intends to make is completely unacceptable. Besides, the difference between Thursday May 28 and Friday May 29 is barely twenty-four (24) hours; so why the rush? Think about it!

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)
Founder, Docfred Continental Social Clinic (DCSC) - Owerri
_________________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056

     

Incoming National Assembly Leadership: The Way Forward for Ndigbo

INCOMING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP: THE WAY FORWARD FOR NDIGBO

              

One of my childhood friends, as well as my university mate, Engr. Chuka Esonini resident in Holland, called penultimate week to congratulate me personally as a staunch member of the civil society, for the recent peaceful and successful political history recorded in the Nigerian polity. ‘Chukas’ as he’s fondly called is a vibrant young man who strongly believes in appreciation; those days on campus, precisely Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), both of us were into school activism. He thought it wise to congratulate/salute my humble self because he was of the view that I and many others who are into this crusade contributed immensely towards the sensitization of the electorates and the citizenry at large on the need to accept the results of the said polls in good faith or with a spirit of sportsmanship.

        

In response to the aforementioned commendation registered by my old time buddy and fellow technologist, I told him unequivocally that the peaceful outcome of the Presidential polls was owing to God’s timely intervention, and not by the making of any individual or statesman as being presumed or circulated in some quarters. On the long run after exchange of series of ideas and experiences, he saw reason with my perspective thereby at a juncture he willingly concurred with my person.

         

Thank God the long awaited Presidential cum National Assembly elections have successfully came and gone. Presently, Nigeria in her entirety is looking forward to witnessing a totally different political transition and dispensation since her birth. No doubt, Friday May 29, 2015 shall usher us into a dawn of a completely new era as far as Nigerian democracy is concerned.

         

As millions of Nigerians are presently filled with anxiety coupled with high level of curiosity in regard to the forthcoming democratic dispensation, on the contrary several others are preoccupied with challenging political talks as well as tussle. In view of the latter, the incoming legislators of both the upper and lower Chambers of the National Assembly are not left out.

         

Of course, it is only a dummy that is yet to acknowledge the fact that as soon as Chief Mohammadu Buhari is being sworn in or assumes duty, what next would be the leadership of the National Assembly, as stipulated or mandated by the Nigerian constitution. Please pardon me; I prefer to go by “Chief” rather than “General” in order to free the entire Nigerians from biased mindset. On this note, I humbly suggest to the President-Elect to urge the media and Nigerians in general to stop addressing him as a “General” since he is now a full-fledged ‘converted’ democrat. Sorry for the digression anyway. Let’s ride on!

         

Like I was saying prior to the break in transmission; after May 29, Nigerians would be discussing the legislators that will lead the Senate as well as the Federal House of Representatives as the Senate President and the Speaker respectively. As it stands, the Igbos or the members of the South-Eastern geopolitical zone are of the view that the leadership of the apex legislature is their prerogative.

          

Before I air my view, let’s briefly go back to history. During the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration which commenced in 1999, the South-West having occupied the Presidency position, which is the “number one” position in the country, and the North being in the position of Vice-Presidency, a South-Eastern legislator in the person of Late Senator Evan Enwerem was unanimously elected by the members of the Senate as the Senate President in order to balance the equation. Subsequently, the Late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’dua became the President of the Federal Republic in 2007, and the South-South had their share in the position of the Vice-Presidency thereby making the North-Central to stand in as the Senate President in the person of Senator David Mark.

         

And finally as fate would have it, in 2011 the South-South in the person of Dr Goodluck Jonathan emerged as the President and he is currently deputized by a Northerner. At the commencement of the ongoing dispensation ably led by Dr Jonathan, the position of the Senate Presidency, by virtue, was due for either the South-West or South-East, but unfortunately as a result of some political mechanisms, the North still occupied the said position leaving the South-West empty-handed and compensating the South-East with the position of the deputy leadership of the Senate; a mechanism that made Sen. David Mark to make a history as the first Nigerian to serve as a Senate President for two consecutive terms.

          

Due to the anomaly, the leaders of the South-Western region cried foul, claiming that they were treated unfairly; a scenario that almost constituted a chaos. Let’s not delve into the detail of what prompted the foul play. Though afterwards, the South-West appeared to have been compensated by having the privilege to serve in other positions of high hierarchy; meanwhile, we’re all aware that it won’t function exactly like analgesic if it is an adulterated one.

         

Going by the current look of things, it is obvious that by equity sake, it is the prerogative of the Igbos to occupy the position of the Senate Presidency as regards the incoming transition. But pathetically, there is a major political loophole that might make the South-East to lose the said leadership bid.

         

Considering the just concluded National Assembly election, it occurred that virtually all the positions of the National Assembly in the South-East were won by the opposition, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Few of the contestants who emerged victorious under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not legitimately qualified to lead any of the Chambers of the National Assembly; courtesy demands that any law maker to be elected as either the Senate President or the Speaker must had served for at least a term in the Senate or the House of Reps as the case may be. And by political tradition, it is far-fetched for a member of any opposition party to be at the helm of affairs in the National Assembly; besides, PDP would constitute the minority come the 8^th Senate. Therefore, having APC in the position of the Presidency, courtesy demands that, in order to sustain a stable political system, APC ought to lead both the upper and lower Chambers of the legislative arm.

         

However, to ensure that Ndigbo wouldn’t forfeit the anticipated position, there is only one way out and must be considered imperatively and seriously. The totality of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East is expected, as a matter of urgency, to look beyond their respective individual interests and adopt someone or better still a trusted and eligible person among the incoming legislators in the opposition party - the PDP. For this vision to be actualized, the persons involved must place the interest of Ndigbo at large ahead of their personal interest.

        

To this end, the political leaders in South-East under the auspices of Ohaneze Ndigbo should rally round and discuss collectively as one united and indisputable family with the sole aim of adopting a worthy son of Igbo extraction that will represent the zone irrespective of his political affiliation.

        

Suffice to say; this critical and sensitive circumstance can only be unraveled by embracing consensus. In other words, Ndigbo as a family ought to reach a consensus now or never. They shouldn’t allow mere sentiments to becloud their sense of logic. Think about it!

 

COMR FDN NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056

 

         

World Book and Copyright Day (Aired News-Commentary)

TACKLING PLAGIARISM IN NIGERIA AS THE WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHT DAY IS MARKED TODAY, THURSDAY APRIL 23, 2015

        

       

Today Thursday April 23, the world over is commemorating the World Book and Copyright Day. It was on this day – April 23 in the year 1616 that some prominent authors including Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso Vega left the world; it is also the date of birth or death of other global literary icons like Maurice Druon, Haldor K. Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejia Vallejo.  

        

It was a natural choice for the General Conference of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held in Paris in 1995, to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors on this date in order to encourage everyone, particularly young people, to discover the pleasure of reading as well as gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity. In this regard, UNESCO created the World Book and Copyright Day.

          

A book is a collection of pieces of paper comprising a set of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets made of ink, parchment and other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. In the same vein, copyright can be defined as the legal prerogative of ownership and exclusive distribution of any creative work such as article, book, music or movie originally done by a person or a group of persons.

        

On the other hand, plagiarism is the illicit practice of using or copying someone else’s idea or creative work and the impersonation of its ownership. In other words, plagiarism is an unauthorized and unlawful faking or imitation of thoughts or works that are already legally credited to a person or group. Suffice to say; plagiarism, which is popularly known as piracy, is a criminal act that is punishable by law.

         

A text-filled book, which could be either in a printed or electronic format, is often a product of creativity. In some cases where it has to do with poetry, prose or drama, it is referred to as work of literature or a main division of such work. In Library and Information Science, a book is called a monograph to distinguish it from serial periodicals to include magazines, journals or newspapers.

         

A book could be majorly classified into two namely, academic and literary. An academic book is one that is written on a certain subject or about a particular area whilst a literary book is mainly a creative work that is written with the knowledge of literature. Irrespective of its class, just as anything under the sun can be identified by one or two idiosyncrasies, the unique or basic features of any book include the content, authorship, the ISBN, its title and cover page, among others.

         

No doubt, every book has a unique content regardless of its size or number of pages. Likewise a movie or music, a book may go beyond a particular edition or version, hence can transcend to additional two or more editions based on the choice of the author or the kind of message intended to be conveyed by it. The content of any book is expected to be original; in the sense that, it must be the initiative of the acclaimed author/writer.

         

Also, any book must be authored by one or two persons and as long as the book lasts, the specified author(s) remain the rightful owner of the intellectual property. Needless to say; no part of such publication would be reproduced or translated to any other language, or even transmitted in any form or by any means without the authorization or written permission of the author or publisher as the case might be.

         

The International Serial Book Number (ISBN) is another unique feature or mode of identification of any book. The ISBN of a published compilation, which is widely regarded as its individual identification number, is the only globally recognized means of identifying a text-filled book. Thus, any published book is entitled to a certain ISBN which will never be allocated or assigned to any other publication across the globe. Even if the book in question is expected to have a subsequent edition/version in future, each of the additional editions, when published, would be entitled to different ISBNs.

          

Furthermore, the title and the cover page of a book speak volume as regards its identification; though in some cases, not unlike in the movie or music sector, two books authored by different writers might comprised of the same or similar title. In a situation of coincidence of titles or where two/more publications of different authors comprise the same title, the books involved would be contrasted by the names of the respective authors.  Apart from other features of a book, it is noteworthy that, its title and cover page are the major recipes that attract the target audience, especially in a situation where the name of the author is relatively new in the system. This is the reason most notable authors pay much attention while creating a title for their works. Due to the significance or delicacy attached to titling of a book or any creative work, sometimes the title of a work in progress may be yet to be created by the author/inventor until the work is duly completed.

         

Taking a painstaking consideration of the aforementioned features of a book, there is no gain reiterating the fact that book publication is all about creativity. Surely, it is obvious that every aspect of book compilation coupled with its publication cum printing thoroughly deals with originality which is the basic element of any creative work.

         

Apparently, the societal impact of a book cannot be overemphasized. It is through a book that a literate society is formed; it is through a book that an awaited civilized society is actualized; through a book, an intellectual group can be created; of course through a book, the socio-economic level of a nation can be uplifted or boasted; it is through a book that a nation can actualized its utmost desire; and  it is through a book that a leader can be made; above all, it is a book that can guarantee optimum peace and unity in any society.

          

This is why those who are widely read such as the likes of late Marcus Tullius Cicero and Jane Austen would always tell you that “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Or that “A person, be it gentleman or lady, who has no pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid.” It was the late Jorge Luis Borges that said “I have always imagined that paradise would be a kind of library.” In the same vein, Lemony Snicket stated “Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”

         

Considering the indelible role of a book in any society, there is need to fiercely safeguard the copyright of a book or any other creative work such as music or movie. Against this backdrop, as the world commemorates the World Book and Copyright Day, I enjoin every group in Nigeria concerning authorship such as the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Nigerian Literacy Society (NLS), and many others to join in the crusade towards the complete eradication of plagiarism.

          

The production of fake works which is on rampage in Nigeria is solely attributed to the ongoing alarming pace of plagiarism. It is longer news that plagiarism has indeed endangered the lives of thousands of creative persons across the globe thereby constituting apathy among prospective writers or artistes as the case may be. This singular fact is the reason many incoming/potential creative individuals have chosen to remain idle rather than embarking on a venture that would end-up being worthless.   

         

ANA and other indigenous authorship associations is expected to form a synergy with other related societies such as the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in order to fight the scourge squarely and with a dogged approach. In view of this, the concerned groups ought to urge the legislators to enact a strict law that would assign capital punishment to anyone found guilty of any form of piracy by any court of competent jurisdiction.

          

Among all, no one is meant to sit on the fence towards the elimination of this cankerworm that constitutes colossal individual and national economic menace. On the other hand and most importantly, the parents, guardians, counsellors, various teachers at all levels, and what have you, must take the act of imparting and uplifting reading culture among our young ones very seriously. In addition, reading should be regarded by all and sundry as the only practice that can guarantee absolute literacy as well as intellectual ability. And we can’t afford to be left behind regarding the said qualities. Think about it!

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056