Opinion I The Offa Robbery And Nigeria's Worry

THE OFFA ROBBERY AND NIGERIA’S WORRY

        

I almost concluded that bank cum highway robbery had become a thing of the past in every facet of Nigeria not until two weeks back when I was proven wrong by the unspeakable that befell the country.

         

In the period in review – precisely on Thursday 5^th April 2018 – in broad daylight, a gang of well armed robbers serially invaded five different commercial banks alongside a micro-finance bank in Offa town situated in Kwara State, the home state of the country’s number three citizen Sen. Bukola Saraki.

         

The affected financial institutions included Eco, Guaranty Trust, First, Union, and Zenith banks. The firms weren’t just invaded but were equally robbed by the invaders. In the process, many were reportedly murdered, several individuals maimed and injured while others managed to escape for their dear lives. It’s noteworthy that some of the police personnel on duty were part of those brutally killed.

        

It was gathered that the culprits’ ammunition outshined that of the policemen guarding the various banks. According to the ugly report, the robbers were said to be armed with firearms like machine gun, magazine and other related weapons whereas the police officers could at most boast of AK-47 and its likes.

         

The police had informed that thus far some of the criminals had been apprehended as the government had vowed to ensure that every person involved in the dastardly act is duly arrested and prosecuted without much ado. This implies that as other suspects are still at large, there’s apparently no hidden place for each of them.

         

It is indeed hard to believe that in the contemporary Nigerian society, six different financial institutions were successfully invaded and robbed in broad daylight by a certain group of miscreants. It becomes more mind-boggling when realized that the disaster took place in an era when the apex government had ostensibly considered security as priority.

        

Whatever the case might be, it’s pertinent to painstakingly dissect the Offa incident towards reaching a tangible conclusion. Every discerning mind would comprehend that the affected firms were not robbed simultaneously. It is also very crucial to take into cognizance that we are currently passing through a digital age; an era when even a kid could easily assess telecommunication; a period that makes a distance amounting to various kilometres seem so short.

       

The above paragraph is trying to notify us that the concerned security outfits were so sluggish or reluctant towards responding to the robbery attack. Let’s assume the security men on duty were overpowered as claimed. But it will be difficult to assume or believe, as the case may be, that the various security authorities domiciled in the affected state were equally engulfed by the attacked.

        

For six banks to be robbed one after the other is enough indication that there is a serious lapse as regards curtailing the numerous lingering security challenges not just in Kwara but across the lengths and breadth of Nigeria. The pace in which the police respond to distress call is exactly where the Nigeria’s worry lies.

         

However, since apportioning blames cannot solve our plight or would rather result in further crisis, there’s need for us to focus on the way forward. It is indisputable that no existing bank in Nigeria lacks the CCT camera, hence the need for us to concur with the government’s avowal that there’s no hidden place for the culprits.

        

Though the said device would serve as an aid in capturing each of the suspects, those that have already been apprehended would further assist in providing the consequential details surrounding the ones still on the run.

       

More so, for apt deterrent to be served, adequate prosecution mustn’t be overlooked. The crusade ought not to stop at just capturing the entire fugitives. The concerned authorities must further ensure that the jury’s verdict is duly served, and such needn’t be delayed if we are truly determined to serve a placebo to the people.

       

Similarly, as we eagerly await justice, we can’t shy away from asserting that Nigeria is equally deeply worried over how lowly equipped her security outfits are at the moment. Against this backdrop, the governments at all levels are required to henceforth lay emphasis on how best the personnel that have been mandated to safeguard the people’s lives and property can be armed with a view to rendering effective and efficient services in their respective jurisdictions.

       

Above all, the benefitting companies must on their part endeavour to materially, and otherwise, support the security outfits – particularly the police – so there won’t be any room for excuse when any unfortunate/unforeseen circumstance befalls them. They shouldn’t leave all responsibilities for the government, because the latter cannot handle it alone.

        

It is part of the Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR) of these firms, especially the financial ones that are more in need of security services, to from time to time extend hands of fellowship to the law enforcement agencies in question, mainly in the area of equipment procurement and workers’ incentives.

       

It’s therefore needless to reiterate that all hands are expected to be on deck towards boosting the country’s security system. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

       

Opinion I The Northern Clerics' Call And Buhari's Declaration

THE NORTHERN CLERICS’ CALL AND BUHARI’S DECLARATION

        

It’s not anymore news that several groups of persons, particularly under the auspices of the ruling party – the All Progressives Congress (APC), had for some time now been calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to recontest for a second term in office come 2019.

        

The clamour has been taking place in various quarters across the federation as being engineered by the allies and protégés of the country’s number one citizen, even though many are still in disagreement that the Buhari-led administration does not deserve a continuity bid.

        

In spite of the contrary view of those believed to be in opposition, two weeks ago, it seemed the clarion call assumed a different dimension. During the period in review, on Thursday 5^th April 2018 to be precise, a set of Northern clerics under the aegis of Arewa Pastors’ Peace Initiative (APPIN) paid a courtesy visit to the president at the Council Chambers in Aso Rock Villa and therein outrightly endorsed the chief host to vie for a second term.

         

In his remark on behalf of the group, the leader of the guests, Bishop John Abu Richard disclosed that the call was informed by the ‘numerous achievements’ recorded thus far under the watch of President Buhari. According to him, within a short while, the president had succeeded in fulfilling his campaign promises.

        

Just the following week, barely a few days after the endorsement, Mr. President publicly declared his interest to oblige the numerous calls to recontest for the number one seat in the forthcoming general elections. The president stated he considered accepting the calls from millions of Nigerians after a deep thought. It’s noteworthy that the declaration had triggered mixed feelings among the Nigerian citizenry, both home and abroad.

       

When I got the news of the ‘Northern pastors’, I couldn’t help but continue to ponder over what the country’s religious institutions had turned into, though the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had refuted the genuineness of the clerics’ existence. By that display of the so-called Arewa pastors, every discerning mind wouldn’t desist from ascertaining if our religious leaders have abruptly become political gladiators.

       

When did the church begin to campaign for, or throw their weight behind, a certain political aspirant? The main duty of the religious bodies as regards elections is to stand neutral while relentlessly conscientizing the various key players – including the electoral umpire, political parties and the electorate – on the need to play by the rules.

         

In addition, they are – in their capacity – expected to preach to their respective congregants on the need to participate actively in the elections so that they can favourably elect anyone of their choice at the polls. It is their duty to ensure that each of their followers whom has attained the adulthood could boast of the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), which remains the only tool that can institute power in their hands.

         

It is equally the duty of the clerics to ensure that their wards aren’t deceived or cajoled by any aspirant or party, as may be the case. It is their civic responsibility to ensure that none of them derails in the long run. Hence, it is not in their calling to tell their followers who they ought to vote for; rather, they are only meant to warn them not to vote against their conscience, or compromise their future just for today’s token.

         

So, endorsing a certain politician to vie for a particular position, even when he was yet to declare his interest to do so, was enough indication to assert that the supposed anointed men of God had derailed. Although I believe so much in Buhari’s ability as a person and leader, but can never be a party to any form of tokenism or sycophancy displayed by his allies under any guise.

       

Now that Mr. President has eventually declared his intention to aspire for a second term, the pertinent question becomes; does he really deserve a continuity bid? Before one could tender an apt answer to the enquiry, there’s need to painstakingly dissect the thus far activity of the present administration.

       

He graciously embarked on a mission in 2015 as the President of Nigeria with the seeming candid motive of considering three key factors as priorities. He vowed to fiercely tackle corruption and insecurity headlong as well as restore the country’s dying economy. So far, every sector seems to have come to a standstill despite the dogged efforts of the government to usher in change as earlier promised.

         

However, we can’t forget in a hurry that the APC-led administration has succeeded in fighting corruption to an extent. The outright introduction of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the Treasury Single Account (TSA) are obvious indications. But the problem remains that till date, no single individual or officer had been convicted of any corrupt charges, and that is exactly where the worry of the people lies.

        

Similarly, we can’t equally ignore the fact that terrorism had reasonably been fought in the recent times. Prior to inception of the current administration, the said societal menace was occurring virtually on a daily basis but at the moment, we only hear of it once in a blue moon, although other forms of security challenges had sprang up within the past two years.

         

My optimum concern over the president’s second term bid is his age. We aren’t unaware that age is against him, and handling such a critical and highly demanding position required a heartier Nigerian. It would be recalled that he had remarked earlier, precisely in 2015 “Old age will limit my performance…”

        

Similarly, back in 2011, he declared he would serve for only one term, stating “age is not on my side”.  One, therefore, would wonder what prompted the u-turn seven years after. Well, it’s not unconnected with the fact that anyone who has tasted power wouldn’t like to vomit it.          
        

As much as I candidly wish him well, I urge his Excellency to reexamine himself towards ensuring that he’s truly fit and willing to run, and not based on his allies’ quest. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

Opinion I Imo Lawmakers And Their Fascinating Endorsement

IMO LAWMAKERS AND THEIR FASCINATING ENDORSEMENT

        

The last time I checked, endorsement of aspirants of various political positions by their allies was obviously the order of the day in not just Imo State, the Eastern Heartland but equally at the federal level.

        

Since the commencement of this year, it has been endorsement galore that many have begun to wonder why such trending would abruptly dominate the polity even when campaign era was yet to be declared open by the electoral umpire. Such an intriguing scenario had kept several concerned Imolites pondering over what the future of the state would entail if her subjects continue to dwell in such weird political style or culture.

        

Here in Imo, it has been taking place exceptionally between the governorship aspirants in the state, particularly those aspiring under the auspices of the ruling party – the All Progressives Congress (APC). No week that passed, one wouldn’t witness a certain group of persons or politicos calling on the state’s Executive Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha at the Douglas House just to notify the number one citizen that they have unanimously endorsed his Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu to vie for the state’s number one seat.

        

It had continued that way unabated to the extent that the allies of the other aspirants in the APC, such as the state’s Deputy Governor Prince Eze Madumere among others, thought it wise to borrow a leaf from the Chief Nwosu’s protégés. In view of this, the endorsement scenario has eventually been adopted by virtually every political aspirant in the state, thereby ending up overheating the innocent polity.

       

As if that of the non-political office holders was not enough, recently the Imo lawmakers equally publicly declared that they have thrown their weight behind Chief Nwosu towards ensuring that the said officer emerged the next governor of the state come 2019. In his speech on behalf of his colleagues, the Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Chief Acho Ihim unequivocally disclosed that twenty out of the overall twenty-seven legislators in the assembly were behind the endorsement.

       

Chief Ihim, who was earlier rumoured to be an aspirant of the number one post, stated that Chief Nwosu had proven beyond doubts to be the only suitable individual that could succeed Gov. Okorocha after expiration of the governor’s tenure. He said, among all the gubernatorial aspirants in the state, he alongside his likes looked inwards and understood that no other person could do better than Chief Nwosu if given the chance to govern the Eastern Heartland in the forthcoming interregnum.

        

One may wonder why, of all people, our lawmakers could decide to descend so low. I personally can’t desist from thinking the reason the individuals that constitute the state’s revered legislature could consider endorsing a politician for a certain position. Does it imply that they were left with no other consignment to deliberate on, or that they no longer considered their legislative business as important?

       

As far as I’m concerned, it was an abuse of the legislature for the legislators to even think of endorsing an aspirant let alone making such intent public. Even if they are really – individually or collectively – in support of any person’s aspiration, such an interest never called for public declaration, especially when realized that they are respectively representing the interest of a certain set of people, and not their individual selves as they presume.

        

The actual point here is that, playing politics in the state’s Hallowed Chambers was simply an abuse of power, to assert the least; read my lips. Their respective constituents delegated them to represent their constituencies in the legislature as regards governance. Their statutory consignments are very critical and sensitive compared to those of other existing arms of government. Hence, it’s mind-boggling to observe people whom we look up to when it calls for moving motions and passing bills indulging in political brouhahas.

         

It becomes more saddening and baffling when realized that the ‘aspirant’ in question was, and is still, yet to declare his interest to vie for the state’s governorship position during the forthcoming general elections. To the best of my knowledge, Chief Nwosu has never, even in my dreams, disclosed to the people of his political ward in Nkwerre LGA that he is interested to contest for the Imo number one seat let alone doing so before Imolites in their numbers.

        

Then, one would wonder why some persons would be endorsing an aspiration that is yet unborn; one may wonder if there was an aspiration that ever sought for their endorsement in the first place. This simply signifies that the politicos involved in the lingering endorsement saga are just building mountains out of nothing. It suffices to assert that their pronouncements so far had been out of context.

       

Nevertheless, I enjoin Imolites not to be carried away by the so-called endorsements. They must remain focused and acknowledge that power invariably lies in their hands when it calls for electing anyone that would become the next governor of the state. And, they must also note that such power cannot be exercised by them if they failed to possess their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC).

       

On the other hand, I urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) domiciled in the state to use its immunity to control the political trending occurring herein. They can’t claim ignorance of the several happenings that are bedevilling the wholesomeness of the state at large.

        

Hence, I need not remind the electoral officials that they are expected to sit up towards doing the needful. And, the time to act is now. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

___________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador