As Anenih Retires, Who and What Next?

AS ANENIH RETIRES, WHO AND WHAT NEXT?

        The last time I checked, the renowned political gladiator – Chief Tony Akhakon Anenih – had graciously retired from active politics. The Edo-born 83-year-old statesman disclosed this penultimate week, precisely on Saturday 26^th November 2016, in Abuja during the public presentation of his autobiography entitled ‘My life and Nigerian politics’.

       ‘I am persuaded that I have no more ambition nor any point to prove in politics. I am, therefore, glad to declare that, from today, I shall be withdrawing from active partisan politics. I shall, however, continue to avail the country of my experience, give suggestions and offer advice, as a statesman’, he rightly stated. He went further to seek support and prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari to steer the country away from recession to prosperity, saying the present difficult situation is a national plight that must be tackled in unison, regardless of affiliations.

        Chief Anenih served as the Minister of Works and Housing from 1999 to 2003 during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, and was subsequently appointed as the Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In his early political life, he was state Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) from 1981 to 1983; later, he emerged as the National Chairman of Social Democratic party (SDP) between 1992 and 1993. He was a member of the Constitutional Conference in 1994. He was the Deputy National Coordinator of the Olusegun Obasanjo’s Campaign Organization in the 1999 and 2003 Presidential elections respectively.

       Considering his age and the level attained in politics, there’s obviously no gain saying that the recent decision taken by him was not just timely and commendable but well informed. Asserting that he has made history, and succeeded in doing what Napoleon couldn’t do wouldn’t be an overstatement, because retirement from political career is one thing an average Nigerian politician sees as a bad omen and forbidden. It appears this is the time to address the anomaly.

       In every profession, one ought to be ready to retire at a ripe age, and politics isn’t an exception. It’s indeed baffling and mind-boggling when we realize that the Nigerian political terrain is awash with men whom are supposed to be acting as grandfathers, or what have you. It becomes more troubling and pathetic to acknowledge that they still nurture ambition to vie for one political position or the other when they are supposed to act as reputable advisers. Some of them who see the country as their farmyard would be of the view, albeit ignorantly, that they are meant to be life president.

        Worse still, some of them would arguably be unhappy that Chief Anenih had gone for a rest at 83. I wonder if such set of persons wanted him to retire at 100, or perhaps when old age has told on him. If truth be told, at 83, Chief Anenih ought to be resident in the clan where he hails from, with a view to acting as an elder kinsman. His gray hair shouldn’t only be a blessing to Nigeria, but his people in particular.

        It has become conspicuous that everyone in the contemporary Nigerian society is afraid of retirement. Those in the civil service are not left out. But, it’s very understandable why on the average, a civil servant in the country is profoundly afraid of going for rest; they are not sure of gratuity and pensions after retirement. When they retire, the politicians sit on the pensions accruable to them as if they need to beg to have their entitlements. It’s only an uninformed mind that’s yet to realize that pensions are cumulated contributions made by a worker while in service.

         Since it’s clear the reason Nigerian workers are invariably filled with fear each time they overhear ‘retirement’, we are yet to know why those in the political circle equally exercise fear. Is it that they are also afraid their pensions wouldn’t be paid, or afraid of taking a sound rest having served meritoriously? Pension payment shouldn’t be their plight, because theirs are intact, even when we think they have been officially deprived of such entitlements. Although most of them aren’t constitutionally eligible to receive pensions, the unofficial pensions they receive on a weekly basis in the name of ‘royalty’ or what whatever is numerically twenty times greater than the wages of a professor in a certain Nigerian university.

        They keep telling the youth that they are the leaders of tomorrow while they are not willing to vacate the seats today. How do you reconcile this? Won’t the youth come in and settle down today before they could lead tomorrow; how possible can they emerge as the leaders come tomorrow when virtually all the positions are presently occupied by these gladiators? Yet, the youth in question seem so myopic to realize that things aren’t at ease. An average Nigerian politician intends to taste all the available political posts, and if he eventually emerged the president of the country having tasted all the lower positions, he would want to remain there till he kisses the ‘six feet’.

        The teeming Nigerian youths have been pushed to the wall to the extent that the few who are politically aware have begun to see revolution as the only option. They shouldn’t be allowed to dwell in such obnoxious mindset, else, soonest we might be colossally taken aback. It’s only in this part of the world that you would see a politician who would never train his aide to become a leader someday; rather, he would wish he remains his aide for eternity. And peradventure, if he eventually decided to rest owing to inevitable old age, he would import his child from nowhere to fill the position.

        As Chief Anenih takes a bow, who is the next person? I expect many others to follow suit. In the state where I hail from, Imo to be precise, there are countless of them. The funniest thing is, most of the existing socio-cultural groups across the federation, such as the Ohaneze Ndigbo, are dominated by these old politicians. If such observation holds water, you may begin to wonder the correlation between culture and politics. Really, things have fallen apart, and this cannot be the arrow of God; rather, manmade. In other words, fixing the problem lies in our bare hands.

        Inasmuch as I candidly bid Chief Anenih farewell, as well as wishing him success all the way in his future endeavours, I would want him to conscientize his allies to join him. Since we are ostensibly in the era of ‘change’, let the change start taking place in every facet, and such change ought to begin with the elders. They must be prepared to lead by example so that we will celebrate them many years after their eternal exit here on earth. Unless there’s something they are not telling us; if so, it’s high time they let the cat out of the bag because time really is ticking.

       Chief Anenih truly deserves tremendous applause for this step taken by his person. But, come to think of it, has he really retired from active politics? Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador

      

Murdered For Attempted Garri Theft?

MURDERED FOR ATTEMPTED GARRI THEFT?

        If what is currently trending on the social media holds water, then Wednesday, 16^th November 2016 – a day that reportedly claimed the life of a 7-year-old boy owing to alleged attempted misdemeanour – was another day Nigeria, and mankind at large, would live to mourn; a day that would cease to rest until justice is duly done to wickedness; a day that would stop at nothing to ensure that humanity is separated from insanity; a day that could commit murder on attempt to restore normalcy in this seemingly infested society.

        On that fateful day that could be best described as unfortunate, the said kid was reportedly set ablaze by a so-called angry mob at a locality in Lagos State for allegedly attempting to steal ‘Garri’ from a trader’s shop. He was caught by dwellers cum passersby, brutally tortured to stupor, and therein burnt to ashes with fuel and condemned tyres. The report equally had it that, while in the hands of the monsters, he pleaded, and pleaded for freedom, for the umpteenth time, still the vulnerable plea fell on cancerous and deaf ears. Even if he was more than seven or that he was involved in felony as claimed by the police, did it call for such reaction?

        As I lay soberly in my bed the subsequent night to the incident and tried to recall the news, my emotions kept burning till I ostensibly lost my senses that I couldn’t see nor hear anything, not even the like of the horn of a moving train. Therein, my pillows became drenched owing to the intense tears that kept rolling from the subconscious eyelids.

       Whilst in the tattered mood, my utmost worry remained that, the public kept watching the scene until that helpless ‘kid’ was engulfed by the fire; probably they were deriving pleasure from it. Worse still, the scene was videotaped, perhaps having been considered a mere melodrama. Any sane and rational being that takes a closer look at these two observations would begin to wonder how wicked the heart of man is, as well as in whose image he was really made of.

       It’s even more mind-boggling to realize that the police, or any other law enforcement agency, was nowhere to be found throughout the incident that lasted for over an hour. I’m yet to believe that while the duration of administering the obnoxious jungle justice lingered, no bit of notice got to any security outfit within, in spite of the obvious fact that the arena in question is urban. I refuse to be convinced that there’s a district in any state in Nigeria, let alone Lagos, that lacks at least a police station.

       Don’t get it twisted, because the truth remains that some incidents deserve a query and tangible response. You’ll never be right in your feelings till you try to put yourself in the shoes of the bereaved family, if any; ‘if any’ in the sense that it could be the murdered kid was homeless. You can never give this case the thought it truly deserves unless you make effort to painstakingly study what actually transpired therein.

       Let’s assume the kid had a family. How would the parents live to narrate what befell them on that godforsaken day; would they tell the world, particularly sympathizers, that their poor child was put to death because he attempted to steal a handful of garri to quench hunger? Such narration wouldn’t just be hurtful but disastrous; indeed very painful and unspeakable, to say the least. It becomes more painful when we realize that so many unimagined extrajudicial killings had taken place across the country in recent times.

        Since the evil deed is already done, it would be pertinent to jettison retrogressive issues towards concentrating on progressive ones, though the former would invariably be needed if the latter must be successful. As an ardent rights activist, what else would I ask than justice? Regarding this one, the anticipated justice is meant to be all-inclusive, thus not only those who carried out the ungodly act should be dealt with but everyone who witnessed it. My gladness is that, even if they succeed in running away from legal justice, Karma – which unleashes the ultimate justice – will never spare them.

        Few weeks ago, it was learnt that the five prime suspects in connection with the murder of the 74-year-old Mrs. Bridget Abgahime in Kano State had been acquitted by the Magistrate Court handling the case. Mrs. Agbahime who hailed from Imo State was gruesomely killed on 2^nd June 2016 at Kofar Wambi market over alleged blasphemy by a group of Islamic fanatics. According to the report, the freedom granted to the accused wasn’t unconnected with the directive of the Kano State’s Attorney General.   

        This implies that, as we await justice from a legal proceeding, let’s not forget that Law of Karma supersedes all. God will relentlessly fight for the vulnerable and tailless cow.  However, I can’t help but continue to marvel whether ‘Obi’ would remain a boy in respect of Nigeria’s pattern of issuing justice. Isn’t it time he metamorphosed into a full-blown man?

        Believe it or not, those who lynched the poor kid are already feeling nauseous, even as the wrath of the law is yet to catch up with them. Just imagine; rather than giving him foods to eat, they preferred to become fools. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador

                 

As NBA Makes Fantastic U-turn

AS NBA MAKES FANTASTIC U-TURN

        It’s indeed mind-blowing to realize that after all the brouhahas made by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) alongside its allies, following the recent clampdown on some judges by the State Security Service (SSS), it has thought it wise to brace up to the reality.    
         Speaking on Thursday 20^th October 2016 during the valedictory court session held in honour of Justice Sotonye Denton-West of the Akure Division of the Court of Appeal, the association’s President Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) noted that towards safeguarding the sanctity of the judiciary, it had become imperative for the arrested judges to excuse themselves from further judicial functions.

        He equally suggested that they may proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is fully established. The NBA boss went further to state that the bar has set up a task force after its meeting with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation as well as past and serving leaders of the association, to urgently review the recent developments and come up with clear specific recommendations on how best to clean up the nation’s judiciary toward rebuilding confidence of the citizenry. He concluded with the anticipation that the report is expected to be available in two weeks time, having called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to suspend the judges if they fail to comply to the directive.

        It’s noteworthy that four of the judges arrested between October 7 and 8, 2016 are still serving whilst the rest of the three had been recommended for compulsory retirement and dismissal by the NJC prior to the clampdown. Suffice it to say that the NBA boss was actually referring to the four.

        Personally, I was not surprise regarding the abrupt U-turn made by the NBA. I knew as acclaimed learned professionals, they would surely agree with the content of the constitution. The drama earlier performed by them was what is known as ‘self defence’ when discussing crime and security. Self-defence is a legal measure required by one to save himself when his life is in danger, or someone else is making physical attempt to claim it. If one commits murder while employing self-defence, the law is liable to forgive him for such crime committed if proven beyond doubts that his actions weren’t informed by any criminal tendency.

        So, the NBA alongside the NJC was trying to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary that was ostensibly under ‘attack’ as was staged by the SSS. They were taken unawares and they were of the view that their lives were in danger, thus they decided to employ the self-defence tactics. Little did they know that the DSS was only trying to protect their lives, and not the other way round. Remember, they hadn’t experience such before. Hence, making such a U-turn was something I saw coming. I wasn’t taken unawares, that’s why I only smiled the moment I got the news on my desk. I am sure the NJC has also jettisoned its sword, even though the Chairman has disclosed that none of the indicted judges would be suspended.

       Now, I’m deeply perturbed. Some of the arrested justices, such as John Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta, have alleged that some of the serving ministers respectively made attempt to bribe them over a few of the court cases they handled recently. They made the shocking allegations via separate epistles they sent to the NJC. Should we fold our arms and allow such striking accusations to be buried? No, something must be done. Doing otherwise would be the biggest mistake to be made by the relevant law enforcement agencies. Thus, investigations in that regard ought to commence without much ado. This is when the FG needs to practically prove to the people that it is not biased.

        I’m equally baffled over the way and manner most of these anti-graft agencies handle cases in recent times. Sometimes, we would observe that investigation commences after an accused person had been arrested; this is absurd and totally unconstitutional.  Arrest is meant to be preceded by investigations, and not otherwise. An arrest marks the end of any ongoing investigation in respect to the case in question. As soon as an allegation or petition is tendered, investigation commences, then followed by an arrest. An arrest is constitutionally succeeded by arraignment; meaning literally that the moment an indicted person is arrested, you are expected to file a suit against him/her in relevant court of competent jurisdiction.

        My second concern is the duration of court proceedings in Nigeria. Some prosecutions linger for many years. The legislature really needs to address this lapse if we must get it right. Let’s amend the constitution and other relevant Acts toward creating a stipulated duration a certain prosecution is bound to last. Civil, criminal, and electoral cases ought to have a particular period of time they are meant to last in any court of law they are being entertained, irrespective of its jurisdiction.

        However, now that our judges have been found culpable, and they are required to be tried by a law court soonest, the question is: who is going to try them? It’s obvious that they would be prosecuted as well as convicted, if need be, by their colleagues. So, what’s the guarantee that the proposed prosecution, and the awaited justice, would be done dispassionately by these judicial custodians? Think about it!

Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador