Opinion I Owelle, It's Time You Named Your Prospective Successor

OWELLE, IT’S TIME YOU NAMED YOUR PROSPECTIVE SUCCESSOR

       

The last time I checked, the sitting governor of Imo State – the Eastern Heartland – Chief Rochas Okorocha had been compelled to publicly announce who he would like to baptize to take over from him come 2019 when he would be graciously vacating the revered Douglas House.

        

The scenario has lingered that it has succeeded in making both the governor’s protégés and sycophants to take advantage of it. There is no day that passed, you wouldn’t hear them say to the governor’s hearing ‘Owelle, show us the man and go to sleep’.

        

Some of them would gather their friends and well-wishers and pay the number-one citizen a visit at the Government House, only for the sole purpose of asking the leader to quickly disclose who he has ordained to be his successor during the next interregnum that would take place in the state.

          

Some would even go extra mile to tell the governor that they have already selected someone for the position, thereby urging him to grant his fatherly approval to the nomination. At the end of the day, the governor would tell them that the time was not ripe for him to make such anticipated declaration, assuring at the right moment he would gladly do the needful as expected of him.

        

Each time I recall the existence of this set of allies, I can’t help but continue to smile in Latin. I invariably do so because I truly know that most of them are not for real; because I’m aware that many of them are up to something funny; because I strongly believe that they are only interested in their individual interests, and not that of the state; because I’m not unaware that virtually all is just being dramatic and sycophantic and nothing more.

         

Sometimes when I write or talk, people feel I am cracking mere jokes or just being comic, not knowing that whenever I appraise facts, I usually present it in form of jokes with a view to easing the tension that may follow suit. I always make effort not to be vulgar each time I write or communicate one-on-one with any fellow or group of persons.

       

This action of countless political elements in the state has intensely heated the polity. The waves it bears have the tendency of distracting the governor from concentrating on what is required of him, which is good governance. Such a circumstance could obstruct so many ongoing genuine activities of the Rescue Mission Administration. The atmosphere is so dense that it could make the governor to vacate the Douglas House and thereafter start operating from Ogboko, his home town.

         

Nevertheless, it’s imperative to acknowledge that the joy of every leader or ruler, as may be the case, is to produce a good successor. And it’s worth noting that every leader would stop at nothing to ensure that only the person he baptized becomes his successor when the time comes. It suffices to say that there’s no leader that does not want the anointed individual from his ‘lineage’ to take over from him. Sure, we all look forward to having a trustworthy, competent and loyal successor irrespective of the nature of the position.

        

If I must tell Gov. Okorocha the gospel truth, I would say it’s high time he named his prospective successor; it’s time he disclosed whom he would like to succeed his leadership as the governor of Imo State. There are various reasons the number-one citizen needs not observe any further delay towards naming his prospective successor.

        

One of the reasons is that it would tremendously help to ease the tension that has been mounted by his so-called allies. At least, such step would assist in lessening the alarming noises that have been generated so far as a result of the burning quest to realize who succeeds the governor come 2019. It would equally help to make these men, especially the appointees, to focus on their respective political consignments.

         

Secondly, naming the prospective successor at this point would enable the governor to thoroughly heal the wounds that would be incurred afterwards. It’s needless to assert that the moment the name of the awaited man of the moment is eventually disclosed, some persons would be pleased whereas some other members will definitely feel shortchanged or aggrieved.

         

So, if the governor could name the person on time, it would give him enormous opportunity to bring back those who would leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) owing to grievances; it would give him the chance to make some amends where need be; it would give him enough space to console the wounded hearts.

       

The factual point remains that, there’s no body Owelle would project that wouldn’t make some members to be aggrieved. In other words, the moment a name is mentioned by the Ogboko-born celebrity, factions will surely be created among the teeming members of the ruling party (APC). The APC is already reportedly divided in the state let alone when the pronouncement is finally made. This is the reason the man at the top needs to name the anointed person right now; the earlier, the better.

        

This is conspicuously the ripe time the number-one citizen needs to listen to strategists towards ensuring that the needful is carried out at the apt time. Against this backdrop, he must be ready to extend hand of fellowship to the cognoscenti if he truly wants to excel in his political mission with a view to ushering in his vision. So, at this point, he ought not to rely only on his political advisers, because there’s a tendency that they might be rendering their services for the sole aim of safeguarding their individual interests.

         

Hence, it’s needless to reiterate that as I call on the governor to ‘show us the man’ right now, he must be very mindful on the strategy he deploys toward fulfilling the request. Most importantly, if he truly intends to remain the overall leader of the APC in the Eastern Heartland, he must ensure that he doesn’t get carried away by his personal interest as regards pronouncing the anointed man. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Doc Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri
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frednwaozor@gmail.com

Follow me: @mediambassador              

   

Opinion I Before Blackout Becomes Bomb Blast

BEFORE BLACKOUT BECOMES BOMB BLAST

           

Recently, the Nigeria’s Power Minister – Mr. Babatunde Fashola – publicly uttered that the country’s economic plight could not be attributed to steady electricity outage. The utterance was arguably in conflict with the popular belief that power supply remains the backbone of any economic development.

        

The Nigeria’s power sector is presently yearning for rescue that if drastic measure isn’t taken, soonest the country won’t only reckoned to be synonymous with blackout but a place invariably used as a case-study whenever non-electricity supply is being discussed.

        

It’s indeed worrisome to acknowledge that in spite of the intimidating size of the acclaimed giant of Africa, both in landmass and population, she’s currently striving toward boasting of steady 7,000MW of electricity supply, whereas nations like Ghana, South-Africa, Iran, and South-Korea, among others alike, that aren’t up to 60 million people on the average, presently boast of over 50,000MW. Such a shocking phenomenon calls for thorough examination in the said sector.

        

During the past administration, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s particularly, the Power Reform Act was introduced, which was aimed at boosting electricity supply. In addition, the then existing National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) was changed to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) owing to concession. National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) was equally initiated.

        

Piqued by the epileptic power situation, Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, on assumption of office in 2007, lamented that the government under Chief Obasanjo squandered about $10 billion on the NIPP with little or no effect.

        

On power sector alone, the administration of Chief Obasanjo reportedly spent $16 billion approximately equivalent to #3.52 trillion, his successor Late Yar’Adua expended $5.375 billion (#1.183 trillion), whilst immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan’s administration spent $8.26 billion (#1.817 trillion). In a nutshell, the country, within the years in review, spent about $29.635 billion amounting to #6.52 trillion only on quest for steady power supply.

        

It would be recalled that during Dr. Jonathan’s reign, the distribution section/phase of the power sector was totally deregulated, thereby leading to Public-Private Partnership (PPP); a measure that Nigerians thought would salvage the power industry. It’s worth noting that the power sector comprises three major sections (phases) namely: the generation, transmission, and distribution sections. These three phases collectively contribute to the production of the two hundred and twenty Alternating-Current Voltage (AC220V) required by electricity consumers in Nigeria.

         

Despite all these measures, rather than improving, the country’s power sector remains in a comatose state, or even deteriorates on a daily basis. The various distribution firms, instead of concentrating on how to serve the teeming consumers, end up compounding the already existing plight. At the moment, an electricity consumer in Nigeria, regardless of locality, would be faced with a utility bill even though he never enjoyed any power supply in the past; one might wonder where such bill was fabricated.

          

The problem with the Nigerian power sector remains lack of technical know-how cum initiative as well as decay in maintenance culture. Most times, the personnel at the generation phase would inform Nigerians that the supply of gasoline has depreciated due to pipeline vandalism. Suchlike report is ridiculous and laughable in a country like ours that can boast of so many sources of electricity generation in abundance. Frankly, over-dependence on mono-source is really telling on the Nigerian economy at large, not just in the power sector.

          

A few of the country’s mineral resources alone, such as coal and what have you can generate enormous electricity required by the overall Nigerians. Similarly, biomass and wind-power, which are renewable and reliable energy sources – if properly harnessed – can generate electricity that can serve the entire Nigerian population. Biomass can either be used directly via combustion to produce heat, or indirectly after converting it to various forms of biofuel. Its conversion to biofuel can be achieved by different methods broadly classified into chemical, thermal, and biochemical methods.

          

Besides, why is solar energy in abeyance? Most western countries that cannot boast of a steady fifteen degree Celsius (15*C) depend mainly on solar energy as regards power supply let alone Nigeria that can steadily boast of over 30*C. The country is abound with the four energy sources mentioned so far; but pathetically, the resources are lying fallow. The government needs to create an industry that would produce the required facilities; the proposed approach cannot be actualized without lifting embargo on PPP.

          

Above all, considering the ongoing power generation via turbine or hydro-plants, there’s compelling need for the government to decentralize the transmission grid. Rather than sustaining the national grid, since it’s obvious that such sustenance is cumbersome, each region or zone ought to be entitled to a transmission grid, thereby easing the maintenance cost.

         

The aforementioned approach won’t only reduce cost, but will equally boost adequate and uninterruptible power supply across the federation. The private sector must also be given a room to key in. The various established private transmission grids such as the Power Geometrics in Aba, Abia State invented by Prof. Bart Nnaji and his team needs to be encouraged effectively.

          

Before this blackout becomes bomb blast, it’s consequential to notify Mr. Fashola that it’s time he had a rethink over such a misleading ideology. Think about it!

 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

 

 

 

 

Opinion I On Cancellation of Imo Free Working Days

ON CANCELLATION OF IMO FREE WORKING DAYS

         

The last time I checked, the two free working days currently enjoyed by the workers in Imo State – the Eastern Heartland – would soonest be put to stop. This was disclosed on Monday, 5^th February 2018 by Governor Rochas Okorocha during an interactive session held between the number-one citizen and practicing journalists in the state at the Douglas House, Owerri, in the spirit of Imo at 42.

        

According to the governor, as from 1^st March 2018, every worker domiciled in the state would be expected to participate actively in his or her office in all working days, ranging from Monday to Friday. He stressed that any civil servant found wanting as from the stipulated date would be shown the way out without much ado.

         

It would be recalled that in about two years ago, precisely on Friday, 29^th July 2016, Gov. Okorocha graciously announced the outright reduction of the globally recognized five existing working days of the workers to three, from Monday to Wednesday to be precise, thereby allowing them to be off between Thursdays and Fridays. The governor who granted the grace during his meeting with the delegation of Imo Royal Fathers in Agriculture, stated that the two days off were mapped out strictly for the sake of farming.

         

He explained that the declaration was informed by the urgent need to engage the teeming workers in the state’s new agricultural programme branded ‘back to land for agriculture’, which was scheduled to commence on August 1, 2016. The governor who then categorically made it clear that workers on essential duties to include those in the information, health, security, teaching and IGR-based sectors coupled with political appointees were exempted from the free working days, further notified that a bill for the initiative would be sent to the state’s legislature for legal backing.

         

I could recall vividly that in a swift reaction to that declaration on this very column, one of my major lines read “…if Gov. Okorocha isn’t a famous leader, I will insinuate he’s just trying to attract popularity to his name”. In that piece, I made it unequivocally clear that as a constitution and rights activist, it was pertinent to let the governor comprehend fully that he had derailed by even thinking of such an idea let alone making it public.

        

In my words, I further informed that announcing suchlike policy was simply unconstitutional and lawless, citing the International Labour Organization (ILO) that constitutionally prescribed that at least 40 hours per week must be spent by any public servant anywhere in the world. I equally reminded that the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, abides by the ILO’s directive, which implied that the issue of workers’ working days wasn’t even an affair to be deliberated by a group of state legislators talk less of an individual in a position of authority. It’s therefore needless to reiterate that I personally frowned over the declaration in its totality.

         

However, it’s noteworthy that almost two years on, that very grace granted to Imo workers is yet to yield the fruit for which it was initiated. At the moment, farming is yet to be taken as a priority by an average Imolite, particularly among the direct beneficiaries of the free working days’ initiative; all to the detriment of the state’s public service and her economy in general.

        

I said it earlier that His Excellency never told us how he intended to monitor the workers towards ensuring that the free days in question were judiciously utilized as expected. Unfortunately, that constructive and candid criticism of mine was absorbed by many allies of the governor as a sign of hatred for the leader, and the Rescue Mission Government at large. But today, I have been vindicated from the guilt which was wrongly placed on my innocent person for tendering the statement.

         

Presently, there’s honestly no how a sane and rational individual wouldn’t cry for the public service if he/she took time to visit any of the state’s ministries on a Thursday or Friday. When you take a walk to the place on the aforementioned days, you would be told by the security personnel on duty that the workers had gone to farm; yet, on a daily basis, our children cry of severe hunger in our various homes. How do you then reconcile the scenario?

         

I sincerely thank God that the governor had realized the mistake he inadvertently made two years ago. By publicly putting up that directive penultimate Monday, he had eventually concurred with my candid analysis that such an initiative wasn’t the required way forward for economic emancipation, or the anticipated boom in the agric sector. In other words, I congratulate him for retracing his steps. We never needed a seer to tell us that the free working days’ initiative had caused, and still causing, the state more harm than good.

         

Now that the affected workers have been mandated to return from their ‘farms’ to their respective offices, it is needless to inform the governor that a tangible measure needs to be implemented in order to ensure compliance. Proactive approach must be put in place towards ensuring that those so-called farms are left by the workers for their various offices. And for such to be actualized, it would be ideal and wise to set up a standing committee – comprising competent and reliable individuals – that would checkmate the day-to-day activity of the affected civil servants.

        

Among all, as these workers have been asked to return to their offices, the government ought to equally ensure that prompt payment of salaries cum allowances is sustained come rain come shine. Thus far, I must candidly appreciate the governor for maintaining the tempo as regards payment as and when due, but it would be more commendable if all that is accruable to the workers are duly given to them without any form of deduction. It suffices to say that I’m using this medium to advocate for a regular hundred percent (100%) salaries and allowances for the working class in the state.

       

So, as the free working days in the Eastern Heartland have been graciously scrapped by the initiator, it would be ideal for both the government and the workers to be invariably mindful of the needful for the sake of Imo at large. Think about it!

 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

_________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Follow me: @mediambassador