An Entity Yearning for Panacea

AN ENTITY YEARNING FOR PANACEA

     

Recently, several unpredictable scenes ranging from the #DasukiGate to rapid fall of the crude oil price, hike of petrol pump price, reemergence of Biafra agitation cum Niger-Delta militancy, the governors’ protest over continued payment of the #18000 minimum wage, the alleged abrupt disappearance of original copy of the 2016 appropriation bill from the National Assembly alongside its alleged discrepancies thereafter, the sudden 40% increment of electricity tariff, CBN’s #50 stamp duty charge, and the ongoing drowsy physiognomy  of the Nigeria’s foreign reserve, among others too numerous to mention, have in different occasions transpired on the socio-political platform of an entity reckoned to be the ‘giant of Africa’ thereby posing an astronomical threat to its citizenry at large.

     

The aforementioned seemingly foreseen anomalies had made many of the its citizens both at home and in the diaspora coupled with concerned observers to unequivocally insinuate that it’s doomed. Though such presumption or insinuation presently preoccupying the mindset of the majority of Nigerians might not be unconnected to the fact that quick assertion of conclusion to happenings is peculiar to the human nature, but it’s worthy to note that that isn’t a wholesome perception; hence, not acceptable by any logical and rational creature.

     

Every sane being as well as anyone who thinks good of the acclaimed giant of Africa ought to be concerned with the panacea for this vertex of quagmire that seems not unlike a paradox. To this end, it’s needless to state that the topic of this piece was informed by this very fact – acknowledging the inevitable role of panacea in a situation like this.

      

In any circumstance, while searching for the most viable way of settling a crisis or putting a holistic end to any menace, it is imperative to firstly ascertain the origin or foundation of the plight in question; therefore the ongoing societal crises in this entity called Nigeria won’t be exceptional. In view of this obvious fact, there’s a compelling need for us to look inwardly with a view to unravelling the genesis of this apparently poignant odyssey initiated by a group of unscrupulous elements.

     

Thus, before seeking for the way out, the paramount question is, how did we get here? In some quarters, people are of the view that these predicaments are attributable to the 16-year misrule of the acclaimed largest political party in Africa – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); some persons in their understanding are preoccupied with a belief that these plights are attributed to so much promises made by the ruling party – the APC; on another axis, people believe that most of the ongoing crises were occasioned by Nigeria’s unending sole dependence on the oil sector. Among all, some schools of thought are strongly of the opinion that the origin of this state of poignancy is traceable to the presumed high level of docility that marred the Goodluck Jonathan’s leadership.

     

If I’m bound to be whole in my analysis, in a concise term I would say that there are two major factors responsible for all these tantrums and brouhahas currently ravaging all facets of our economy. One is that those whom are negatively affected by the ongoing anti-graft war or whom have perceived a ‘witch-hunt’ as the case may be had vowed to make the country ungovernable by the Mohammadu Buhari  led administration.

      The second factor is scepticism; various Nigerians are still sceptical over the established notion that President Buhari was the awaited Messiah; people are still sceptical over the sincerity surrounding the ongoing colossal anti-corruption cases; the electorate are sceptical over the anticipated actualization of the 2016 proposed budget; people are still sceptical if this administration truly has a genuine agenda that would lead this country to the anticipated promised-land. Therefore, the two factors are: the wrong use of opposition in a democratic dispensation as well as scepticism on the part of the electorate which is not unusual. Any interregnum often yields scepticism, apprehension, uncalled fear and what have you.

     

Undoubtedly, in such situation, it is the prerogative of everyone to nurture or be entitled to his/her own opinion. But for the interest of Nigeria whom is already crying foul, we are not meant to be concerned or bothered over people’s personal opinions rather how to salvage them from this untold hardship irrespective of whose ox is gored. Thus at this juncture, the most consequential and rational question becomes - what’s the panacea?

     

For the present administration to be thoroughly described and recognized as a responsible and responsive government, it must be ready to absorb constructive criticism, which remains an inevitable veritable tool in nation-building. It is expected to spread its hands open for any form of criticism that is aimed at addressing any anomaly or ill.

     

In the same vein, the administration must at all cost be willing to adhere to the principles guiding the rule of law. If anyone detained by the EFCC or the DSS has reached or tendered all the required conditions for him to be bailed, he should be released without much ado prior to when next he would be needed for further scrutiny or interrogation; it is only the military that does not understand the language of bail. To restrict the person’s movement afterwards or after the bail, they must endeavour to seize his/her International Passport or travelling documents.

     

And anyone who is still in detention that pleads to be allowed to see his doctor abroad or claims to be passing through a severe medical condition, should be allowed to travel out but in custody of the DSS, EFCC or ICPC as the case might be, or better still his doctor should be invited from abroad to attend to him in the cell. We must note that the person’s health condition is very crucial in such situation; a detainee must be medically sound to enable him/her pass through any stress during arraignment. In other words, one must be alive to attend to any query.

     

More so, the government ought to be prepared to charge accused persons to court; that is no doubt what every sane Nigerian yearns for. Unarguably, constitutionally it is only the judiciary that has the immunity to tender justice. Looters or corrupt individuals/organizations shouldn’t just return stolen monies and be allowed to get  away scot-free; if such practice is to be upheld, subsequently public office holders would attempt to steal funds in their custodies since they would only be asked to return them thereafter. In the same vein, the judicial custodians or members of the bench must endeavour to give speedy hearing to any prosecution with a view to salvaging the electorate from the bondage of unending suspense invariably witnessed during court proceedings.

      

Regarding the renewed Biafra agitation, I urge the government to handle the matter with extreme diplomacy. First, it ought to endeavour to unravel what actually prompted the reemergence of a protest that is believed to have faded off long ago, after all the aggrieved group in question has a constitutional right to ask for freedom if it felt marginalized; hence its members deserve a fair hearing. Thus, the treasonable felony established against the leader of the IPOB, Mr Nnamdi Kanu should be reviewed in earnest for the interest of Nigeria in its entirety.

     

Above all, the 2016 proposed budget was estimated on the targeted oil benchmark of $38 per barrel but right now the crude oil price is already below the stipulated benchmark and it is liable to fall further in the nearest future; this simply implies that for the said budget to be feasible when duly implemented, the government must not compromise every effort targeted towards diversification of the sources of the country’s economy. Against this backdrop, I enjoin the government to take the education, health, power, science and technology, tourism, agriculture and solid minerals sectors as priorities; the aforesaid sectors that were maltreated in the past need to be strengthened headlong. Taxing the poor masses by outrageously hiking their electricity tariffs as well as imposing a stamp duty charge of #50 on them isn’t the panacea. Honestly, if we do the needful, the ongoing continuous decline of the crude-oil’s value would soon be seen as a blessing in disguise.  

     

In the same spirit; as regards the alleged discrepancies in the proposed budget, the Senate Committee on Budgetary among other relevant standing committees in collaboration with those of the Green Chamber ought to invite the parties involved with a view to making amends where necessary rather than keeping us in suspense. They must acknowledge that the ongoing suspense is very detrimental to the country’s ostensibly pitiable economy since it’s obvious that budget remains the bedrock of any developmental strive.    

     

The educational arena requires a drastic upgrade or total overhaul in order to encourage entrepreneurship drive among our young ones; isn’t it ridiculous that among the best one thousand universities in the world, no Nigerian university is included? On a daily basis, millions of naira are being transported to foreign countries by most Nigerian parents/guardians to cater for their wards’ tuition fees. The health sector too, cannot be neglected because ab initio billions of naira are invariably sent to foreign nations by the rich for payment of medical treatments at the expense of our foreign reserve. This country is blessed with enormous cultural heritage; hence it’s high time we harnessed the viable and lucrative ones for the sake of tourism. It’s so pathetic that our farmers are still using farming implements used by our great grandfathers. The governors, rather than depending solely on the federal allocation should also be mandated to follow suit as regards diversification of the IGRs in their respective states to enable them not to see the continued payment of the #18000 minimum wage as a far-fetched concernment.

     

Most importantly, right now our leaders are expected to note that Nigeria requires meritocracy towards actualizing her anticipated change. People ought to be considered important and relevant based on their abilities and competence rather than their wealth, social statuses or political affiliations.

     

Inter alia, the electorate on their part must desist from cantankerous lifestyle. We can’t continue sitting on the fence and expect miracles to happen.  More so, we ought to learn how to use civil language while tendering lamentations, criticisms, protests, commentaries and what have you, if truly we pray and earnestly seek for a salvaged Nigeria. At least the political wills being showcased by this administration deserve some credit or kudos; thus let’s exercise a little faith while we wait, after all Rome wasn’t built in a day. Think about it!

 

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
Follow: @mediambassador  

As We Embrace Altercation-free Imo

AS WE EMBRACE ALTERCATION-FREE IMO

    

It’s only a sadist that would have wished to continue observing Imo acts not unlike a confused state. It’s no longer news that barely few weeks ago, Imo State – the Eastern Heartland, which is invariably reckoned as a peaceful arena, attracted the attention of not only Nigerians but the global community owing to a misunderstanding that transpired between the government of the state and the labour union.

    

The last time I checked, the dusts had settled. Of course, it’s apparent that currently the state in question is altercation-free. The long awaited moment was occasioned by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was duly signed by the state government through its Solicitor General, the organized labour, and the traders’ union (TUC) penultimate week, specifically on Wednesday February 10, 2016.

    

In the MOU, which disclosed that the disengaged workers had been reinstated and that the concession policy had been put on hold, government stated categorically that it would source for funds to pay workers which would be verified by the joint committee of government and the labour union. It further stated that, government would fund its operations with not more than thirty percent (30%) of the verified revenue for the affected month whilst the working committee would apply the balance of seventy percent (70%) in the settlement of salaries of public servants as well as pensioners in the state.

      

Now that Imo is altercation-free, every rational entity or individual would want to realize what the future holds for the great state. In other words, every concerned body is presently no doubt interested in the way forward since it’s obvious that ‘after rain come shine’.

     

It’s in this regard that I considered it wise and ideal to come up with this piece. Suffice it to say that this critique was informed by the need to inform as well as advise Imolites and all the concerned parties on what is actually expected of them, either collectively or individually, at this moment of sober reflection that requires pensive moods. Thank God it’s happening at the apt time – the Lent period.

    

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the person of Chief John Oyegun who was in Imo State on the day of the protest staged by the NLC that led to the signing of the MOU had appealed to workers in the state to face the reality and have a round table with the government with a view to proffering possible solutions that would continue to unite them. Thus, I urge the concerned groups not to do otherwise if the interest of Imo is paramount to them.

    

Similarly, in his words the governor Chief Owelle Rochas Okorocha made it known that he never sacked any worker nor owed any, but only suspended them due to their indolence. In view of this claim, there’s no need asking the members of the said workforce to reexamine their consciences especially at this period of Lent. This is a period of penance, abstinence and of course total repentance; so we are expected to embrace it in its totality. 

     

It was the famous philosopher, Socrates of the blessed memory that said, ‘an unexamined life is not worth living’, and I assent to the aphorism. Every sane and sincere being in Nigeria is aware of the obvious fact that truancy, apathy, self-centredness, and what have you, are peculiar to the country’s public service sector. To this end, I would personally like to be of help to the government towards ensuring that the bad eggs amid the workers are fished out without much ado. Enough is enough!

     

Such practices as falsification of age, forging of promotion letter (Genre 35), lateness to duty, stealing of government properties, filling of the payroll with ghost workers, lousiness while at work, and deceit, among other forms of sabotage, theft and cruelty have unarguably in recent times become a tradition to most public servants, particularly those at the top. Every Nigerian invariably laments over the ongoing crises occasioned by unemployment, but it’s pertinent to acknowledge that in the real sense most current serving civil servants are in their seventies (70s). How would you reconcile these assertions?

    

Another worrisome issue we are required to note is that, according to Gov Okorocha, Imo in spite of being an oil producing state, receives one of the least allocations from the federal government. For the past ten months, Imo has been receiving between #1.9 billion and #2.3 billion on a monthly basis with a wage bill of over #4 billion. Though the governor needs to address this lingering anomaly with the sitting President – Mohammadu Buhari, but it’s imperative to acknowledge that diversification of the sources of the state’s IGR remains an inevitable measure.

    

This is undoubtedly the era of total turnaround. Any element of deceit emanating from any angle must be swallowed or thrown to the waste bin headlong. Anyone who truly loves Imo State ought to do everything humanly possible to avoid further emergence of acrimony in the state.

      

At this juncture, I must sincerely appreciate the governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha for the urgent and humane step taken to address the altercation; he has indeed proven beyond any reasonable doubt that he’s a listening governor. Notwithstanding, his Excellency must take into cognizance that though Imo is in the hands of God but he’s the god the Imolites are seeing, hence must be extremely cautious of all his actions as he works vehemently towards rescuing Imo people in their entirety. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador  

 

Imo @40: Whither Ndi Imo?

IMO @ 40: WHITHER, NDI IMO?

     

The news is everywhere that Imo State popularly known as the ‘Eastern Heartland’ alongside other six states across the federation including Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Niger, Ogun and Ondo had clocked 40. Imo currently comprising 27 local government areas is among the seven states created in Nigeria forty years ago during the country’s military regime.

    

The state was created specifically on Tuesday February 3, 1976 out of the old East Central State by the then regime of Gen Murtala Mohammed. It has Owerri as its capital and largest city. Thereafter, Abia State was carved out of the state during the state creation exercise of 1991. Its major districts/towns include Orlu, Okigwe, Awo-Omamma, Oguta, Mbaise, Ngor-Okpala, Ohaji, Egbema, Ideato, Mgbidi, and Ogbaku, among others.

 Imo State, which is situated in the South Eastern region of Nigeria, covers a land mass of about 5, 530 Square Kilometres. It shares common boundaries with Enugu and Ebonyi states to the North, Abia, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states to the East, Rivers State to the South, as well as Anambra State to the West. The official languages of the state’s inhabitants, whom are predominantly Christians, are Igbo and English.

    

The name ‘Imo’ was derived from Imo River, which takes its course from the Okigwe cum Awka upland. It lies within latitudes 4*45`N and 7*15`N, and longitudes 6*50`E and 7*25`E. Other major rivers in the ancient state are Orashi, Otamiri, Nwaorie, and Njaba. Its main lakes are Oguta and Abadaba situated in Oguta and Obowu LGAs respectively.

    

The state no doubt is richly blessed with abundant natural resources including crude oil, zinc, white clay, lead, limestone, natural gas and fine sand in commercial quantities. Agricultural produce such as cocoa, palm products, rubber, yam, cassava, maize and cocoyam are as well found in the state.

     

Human resources are not left out in the state. Learned professionals, seasoned artists, renowned entrepreneurs, world-class teachers, and notable politicians abound the state. Works of art peculiar to the state remain walking sticks of different designs, sculptures, carved doors, gongs, wooden mortars and pestles, talking drums and flutes; metal works coupled with numerous kinds of fabrications are also produced in Imo State.

    

Ancient art and cultural centres in the state are, but not limited to, Eke Nguru in Aboh Mbaise, Mbari Cultural Centre at Owerri, and Igwekala Shrine in Umunoha. Economic trees to include the Mahogany, Obeche, Iroko, Bamboo, Gmelina, oil palm and rubber palm are invariably in abundance in the state. There are various traditional festivals or dances observed in Imo State including the Ahiajoku Festival which is observed in all the communities that practise farming, Iwakwa festival, Iwa-Oji, the Owu cultural dance, Ekpe dance, the Okorosha and Mmanwu masquerades, Abi-igbo dance, as well as Ikoro and Okonko dances.

    

Some of the major ancient industries in the state, which are currently moribund, are Fuason Industries at Owerri which produces galvanized iron sheets, Afrik Pharmaceutical Company in Awo-Omamma, Card Packaged Industry in Orlu, Resin Paints Limited in Aboh Mbaise, Aluminium Extrusion Industry in Inyisi, Sab Spare Parts and Allied Accessories both in Okigwe – which make motor spare parts, Nichben Pharmaceutical Company in Awo-Omamma, Magil Industries in Atta – which manufactures paper, steel, sponge, bread and polythene.

     

In the political arena, upon the creation of the state, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, who assumed duty in March 1976, emerged the first military Governor of the old Imo state. Thereafter, Admiral Adekunle Lawal, Col Sunday Adenihun, Dr Samuel Mbakwe, Chief Ike Nwachukwu, Rear Admiral Allison Maduke, Commodore Amadi Ikwechegh, and Navy Commodore Anthony Oguguo became the governors of the old Imo State respectively. Subsequently, Chief Evan Enwerem, Navy Captain James Aneke and Col Tanko Zubairu respectively assumed duty as governors of the state prior to the emergence of the fourth Republic which saw Chief Achike Udenwa as the twelfth governor of the state; after the expiration of his second tenure, he was succeeded by Chief Ikedi Ohakim. Presently, the state is being governed by Chief Rochas Okorocha.

     

Surely, Imo has gone a long way, and perhaps thank God we are not fool at 40. The rightful and most rational question needed to be asked at this juncture is, where specifically are we headed for? To which place, Imolites do we wish to arrive at? In view of the history of the state as categorically stated above, it implies that we are enormously endowed with both human and natural resources, thus it’s time for us to harness those that have been sidelined, reactivate those presently moribund as well as reengineer or overhaul those that are seemingly in use.

    

To this end, it’s high time we swung into action towards revamping the tourism sector. Obviously, the state has all it takes to make the said sector booms effectively and efficiently. We need to revive most of our cultural resources/heritage that are socio-economically viable. Similarly, we are required to conscientize our citizenry, particularly our teeming young ones, to go back to their farms rather than relying or hoping on white-collar jobs that are apparently not forthcoming. It’s time for green-collar jobs.

    

What about our solid minerals, which we possess in mass quantities, as mentioned above? Now that we are bothered with diversification of sources of our economy, since the value of the petroleum products mainly the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) commonly known as fuel is currently not favourable, isn’t it time we started discussing how to harness other resources the state has in abundance? Thus, let’s attract the attention of the federal government to this effect. 

      

Inter alia, we need to reawaken most of the aforementioned state-owned industries located across the lengths and breadths of the state especially at this time the current administration ably led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha is determined to industrialize the state. It is worth noting that most of these moribund industries were established by the past governors such as Dr Sam Mbakwe whom are mostly of the blessed memory; hence, rather than making their spirits restless by maltreating the firms in question, let’s endeavour to make them rest in peace.

 

Truly, if we do the needful, Imo would be far better and greater; and it’s worthy to acknowledge that the time to act is now. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
Follow: @mediambassador